Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

City of Russell hit with golf-ball sized hail, 82 mph winds; homes and vehicles damaged

The City of Russell says they have been hit with extensive damage caused by severe weather on Sunday afternoon. “The damage to our community is extensive,” the City said in a Facebook post. “Numerous power poles and lines are down and trees block roadways. Buildings are damaged, including a garage that is flattened. We have requested mutual aid from other utilities. We do not have an ETA on power restoration. When we can estimate the restoration time, we will update.” In a release Sunday afternoon, the city says they were hit with golf ball-sized hail and 82 mph wind gusts as a tornado-warned storm passed through the area. City staff opened up their Emergency Operations Center in response to the severe weather event. City crews are surveying the damage. Current reports include downed trees, broken power poles, downed power lines and a large portion of the city and rural customers remain without power. Emergency crews are working to clear roadways. Electric crews are assessing the damage and working to make repairs. Several reports of damage to property have been received, including damage to both homes and vehicles.
Source: KAKE – News

Gearhead Curios in Galena wins award and grant for roadside attraction

The souvenir shop Gearhead Curios in Galena has received an award and grant. The Jefferson Highway Association recently presented Gearhead Curios the first-ever Roadside Attraction Award. The Galena attraction is the first Jefferson Highway Information Center, with souvenirs. Aaron Perry bought the establishment in 2018, and began to transform it into what it is today. One of the next additions to the souvenir shop will be a 22-foot muffler man. Kansas Tourism awarded a $12,500 tourism attraction grant to cover a third of the cost. “When you take the trip on roadside America, for that weekend, that week, that month, you’re going back to nostalgia America. I’m offering people an escape almost to a fantasy make-believe world that I get to live in every day. I get people from all over the world, my oldest honeymooner was 80 years old,” said Aaron Perry. The total cost of the muffler man will be $35,000.
Source: KSNF/KODE

ATV vs UTV: What’s the difference?

Warmer weather means more people are beginning to head outside, and one popular way to travel off-road is by using ATVs and UTVs. But what is the difference between an ATV and a UTV? All-terrain vehicles, better known as ATVs, quads or four-wheelers, are typically designed to seat one rider, but some have a second seat for another rider. The vehicles are compact and maneuverable, making them ideal for a variety of riders. There are many types of ATVs on the market, including those used for trail riding, mudding (driving on muddy terrain) and even small utility uses. Another distinctive feature of ATVs is the seating position. Much like riding a motorcycle, the operator straddles the seat and uses handlebars for steering. While utility task vehicles, better known as UTVs, are similar to ATVs, especially in name, there are major differences. When thinking about UTVs, the closest visual comparison is a golf cart. The UTV often features a roll cage, with some also sporting a roof. Unlike an ATV, which is controlled more like a motorcycle, UTVs are operated like a car, using a steering wheel and foot pedals. Most UTVs also are equipped with seatbelts, which ATVs do not have. UTVs are highly customizable; some feature an open tailgate with no doors, while others have doors and an enclosed trunk. They can also seat more people, from 1-3 riders with one row of seats and 4-6 with a second row.

Source: KSN-TV

Florence Grand Prix riding again Memorial Day weekend

Hundreds of riders from across the U.S. will descend on Florence in Marion County Memorial Day weekend. The Florence Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, May 26. The original Florence Grand Prix was held from 1972 to 1978 and saw hundreds or riders and thousands of spectators during its original six-year run. The race was revived in 2022 for its 50th anniversary. This is now the third Florence Grand Prix since its revival. The race begins at 10 a.m. with vintage motorcycles racing across the Flint Hills, followed by the 100-mile modern-bike Enduro race, which kicks off at 1 p.m. It will feature both men’s and women’s classes along with age classes, pro and amateur.
Source: KSN-TV

Wichita Fire Department hosting Summer Kids Camp

The Wichita Fire Department is hosting Summer Kids Camp. The summer camp will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, and Friday, June 21, at Wichita Sports Forum & Aviate Jump Park, 2668 N. Greenwich Rd. The WFD says the camp is designed to introduce kids to roles and responsibilities of the WFD with hands-on experiences. “Through education, demonstration, and participation, campers will gain a unique perspective of firefighting tasks,” said the WFD. “Daily activities include exciting team exercises crafted to demonstrate a day in the life of a Wichita Firefighter.” Summer Kids Camp is for 8 to 13 year olds and is free to attend. Attendees will get a free lunch box and t-shirt. Registration is now open. For questions, email wichitafire@wichita.gov.
Source: KSN-TV

New coloring book showcases Southeast Kansas attractions

There’s a new coloring book highlighting attractions in Southeast Kansas. The unique project was completely designed by art students at Pitt State, with Gus as the tour guide. The first installment of the coloring book was created and released in the spring of 2022. Tourism officials say the demand for it every year continues to grow. It won first place in the Small Budget Print category at the Kansas Tourism Conference – and was so popular with residents and visitors, the decision was made to do a reprint. “We wanted something that the hotels in particular could give to kids when they walk through the door. It’s for us, it’s been better than a travel guide sort of speak. Because it’s something that the kids can actually do, it’s something the kids can actually look at, mom and dad can read it to them,” said Chris Wilson, Explore Crawford County Marketing & Communications Manager. Copies will be distributed to libraries, government buildings, the campus of Pitt State, hotels, and many other places across the county.
Source: KSNF/KODE

City of Emporia reveals $500,000 skate park design

The City of Emporia has released design images for the new skate park that will be built in Emporia. The project started after an anonymous donation of $250,000 was given to the city for a skate park. The city matched the funds and hired American Ramp Company to make the final designs. The City of Emporia took feedback from an advisory committee and reviewed designs. City staff will present the design to the City Commission on May 15. The skatepark design features a bowl, a hip, a bump to rail, a down rail, a manual pad, two handrails, a double stair set and more. In 2021, 13-year-old Maddox Gutierrez started a petition asking for improvements to be made to the Santa Fe Skateboard Park in Emporia. After 27 News covered the story, an anonymous local family made a quarter-million-dollar donation to the Kahola Lake Park Fund with the Emporia Community Foundation. Since then, the project ran into a problem with the lease on the land. According to the city, BNSF owns the land and leases the property to the city. The lease specified the land only be used for ballparks. Due to this development, the city found a new location for the project. The skate park construction is expected to begin in late summer 2024 with construction contingent on weather conditions.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Wichita City Hall says it won’t yet release key info on cyber attack, citing security risks

A deluge of unanswered questions continue to swirl around Wichita City Hall, where a ransomware attack has disrupted some city services for two weeks. But city officials aren’t answering them now, instead directing anyone with questions to a city webpage that focuses on how public-facing city services have been affected. They won’t say who the city hired to help get the city’s systems back online or how much it is expected to cost taxpayers. They won’t say whether the city will notify residents whose information was compromised — or whether the city plans to pay for identity theft protection for those residents. They won’t say how much revenue the city is losing each day. They also won’t say publicly whether the city paid a ransom, a move that could be illegal under sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury earlier this year that forbids U.S. entities from paying ransoms to the group that’s claiming credit for the Wichita cyber attack. Federal law enforcement, which the city is working with on the cyber attack, also discourages victims from paying ransoms.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Report: At least $630 billion needed for wastewater, stormwater over next 20 years

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently transmitted a report to Congress outlining clean water infrastructure investments – including wastewater and stormwater system upgrades – that are needed over the next 20 years. Through the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, states and U.S. territories report on future capital costs or investment needs to maintain and modernize publicly owned wastewater treatment works, stormwater infrastructure, nonpoint source control, and decentralized wastewater treatment systems like septic tanks. “Protecting our nations waterways is vital for healthy communities. They provide sources of drinking water, support farming, power economic opportunity and transport and allow for recreation and fishing,” said EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “This survey is an important estimate of needs that is based on information collected from the communities themselves. President Biden has secured the largest investments in history for water infrastructure, putting America in a strong position to help local systems protect our nation’s water quality.” The 2022 survey represents the most recent comprehensive and robust report on wastewater, stormwater, and other clean water infrastructure needs in the U.S., and shows that at least $630 billion will be needed over the next 20 years to protect our nation’s waterbodies. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) said this represents a 73 percent increase in total reported needs since the previous 2012 report a decade ago.
Source: Water Finance & Management

Goats return to Wichita to clear 3 acres of brush, city says

They’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! The City of Wichita says goats with Restoration Grazing, LLC have been sent to clear brush from city grounds starting this weekend. The city said Friday that the goats will make their return to Wichita this Saturday to remove three acres of invasive bush honeysuckle and other undesirable underbrush. The goats will be working just west of Botanica near Sim Park Road. The last time the goats were in Wichita was last June when they cleared five acres of brush from Sim Park. Rex Rutledge, owner of Restoration Grazing LLC, says the goats’ goals go beyond just clearing brush. They want to educate people about the benefits of using goats. “I think this could be a lifesaver for lots of people,” Rutledge said. “Here we’re mainly grazing for brush mitigation but in other parts of the country they are grazing literally to save their homes from burning on fire.” The city said that the goats are estimated to be working near Sim Park for 10-14 days.
Source: KAKE – News

Municipal Bond Trends for May 17, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Consultant suggests Topeka have tiny homes and low-barrier homeless shelter

A consultant hired last year by Topeka’s city government recommends the creation of a low-barrier homeless shelter, a village of eight tiny homes and a resource center where homeless people could access various services. … The low-barrier shelters and tiny homes community wouldn’t be operated by Topeka’s city government, slideshow documents said.
Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for May 16, 2024

Municipal Bond Trends for May 15, 2024

Municipal Bond Trends for May 14, 2024

50 years after its dedication, here’s what the Keeper of the Plains means to Wichita

Sandra Victors was a teenager when she had a front-row view to artist Blackbear Bosin’s creation of the Keeper of the Plains sculpture in the early 1970s. Bosin was close with Victors’ mother, Ruby Davila, and one day came to see her at the family’s home on the north end of Fairview off 21st Street, where Victors was sitting outside. He had scrolls of drawings under his arms. “He came flying up the steps with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and he said, ‘Your mama home?’ Victors took a seat on the living room couch as her mother and Bosin talked. “Ruby, I’m having so much trouble with this statue’s arms,” Victors remembers Bosin saying. “I can’t figure out what to do with them.” Victors said her mother took an eraser, erased the arms Bosin had drawn and then drew her own version. “I was shocked.” Her mother’s advice was to “make them praying hands and have them go up.” Victors explained that “we pray with our hands up when we’re praying to the Creator. Lift them up to the Creator, I should say.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Wichita cyber attack: Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, payment info compromised

Wichita police and traffic records were compromised in the ransomware attack on city government, giving hackers access to an unspecified number of people’s personal information, including names, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses and other state IDs, and payment card information, the city announced Tuesday. “As part of our thorough review and assessment of this matter, we identified that certain files were copied from our computer network without permission between May 3 and 4, 2024,” the city said in a news release.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Merriam is latest Johnson County city to adopt stricter rules for AirBnbs

Short-term rental owners in Merriam have five months to adhere to newly adopted regulations. Like some of its Johnson County neighbors, the Merriam City Council on Monday in a 7-1 vote approved an ordinance that outlines new, stricter regulations for short-term rentals, such as AirBnbs and Vrbos. C
Source: Johnson County Post

When your small-town store also becomes your post office

The modest general store on the corner of Second Avenue and Main Street in Norwich, with its angled awning on wooden pillars, echoes back to a time before two World Wars and automobiles brought profound change to retailing…. In a walled-off corner, carved out of the back office on the south end of the store, sits another of the store’s goods and services. That is where Norwich’s community post office is tucked away, where residents can access their post office boxes and basic postal supplies 24 hours a day. Norwich has not had a post office for many years. But residents say having that secure location in the heart of town is vital for this community of little more than 400 people less than 40 miles southwest of Wichita.
Source: KLC Journal

Bentley hires gun-carrying city clerk

Bentley’s new city clerk is a familiar face around town. Shannon Catlin has served as a part-time police officer in Bentley for about three years. She joked that she’s “probably the only gun-carrying city clerk in the State of Kansas.” When the city clerk position opened up, Catlin stepped in to help the city’s deputy city clerk, Becky Thompson, fill the void. She said that helped her test the waters to see if it is something she’d like to do.
Source: Harvey County Now