Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Fed Chair Powell says inflation has been higher than thought, expects rates to hold steady

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated Tuesday that inflation is falling more slowly than expected and will keep the central bank on hold for an extended period. Speaking to the annual general meeting of the Foreign Bankers’ Association in Amsterdam, the central bank leader noted that the rapid disinflation that happened in 2023 has slowed considerably this year and caused a rethink of where policy is headed. … However, Powell also repeated that he does not expect the Fed to be raising rates.
Source: CNBC

Should Wichita pay cyberattack ransom? Tulsa city leaders explain how they handled similar attack

As the City of Wichita continues fighting the nasty cyberattack, many are wondering what it’s going to take to get back to normal. Tulsa city leaders say from experience that it is possible to get through it without paying, but it’s not easy.
Source: KAKE – News

Home ownership program available soon in Clay County

A pilot program that seeks to make home ownership more affordable will be available for a limited time in Clay County beginning May 13… The pilot Clay County Home Ownership Program will offer up to $12,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance. The program’s incentives include a combination of a fixed rate 3% down payment assistance loan of $10,000 and a closing cost grant of $2,500 when purchasing a home of $50,000 or greater in Clay County. Eligible homes include existing ones, existing homes with planned/financed upgrades totaling $50,000 or greater, manufactured homes including lot and infrastructure, or new construction.
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com

Meet Paul Kramer, Shawnee’s new city manager

Paul Kramer, the former long-time Leavenworth city manager who has roots in Johnson County, is Shawnee’s new city manager. … After spending more than 14 years in Leavenworth’s city government, he said the offer to be Shawnee’s new city manager was too good to pass up. “I knew without a doubt that it was the right move for my career and my family,” he said. “Once I closed that page, I haven’t looked back.”
Source: Johnson County Post

Wichita commits to municipal IDs in 2025, confirms homeless resource center will move forward

Cities that have dealt with cyber hacking share their experience

Wichita is only one city on a long list that have faced a cyber attack in the last few years. It’s a growing problem that has local governments across the country doing their best to make sure their networks are secure. “There’s a lot of issues out there and you need to make sure you’re prepared for that,” said Kile Mangus who is the city manager for Derby. Derby is one of many places that faced a ransomware attack in the last few years. Mangus was working as the city manager when it happened in January 2023. He says it was shocking because the city had taken steps to be proactive and avoid this. “You had to go through your testing, you had to work with your consultant that was brought it, and so it was about a month for us,” he said. He says the biggest impact on the city was learning to really focus on securing the network and making sure there are no cracks in the system that a criminal may be able to slip through. “It’s just the realization of the investment we need to make in our infrastructure in our network. We had things planned on the horizon and I think we kind of picked up the pace for some of those things,” he said. He says this is unfortunately a reality many cities face and are constantly working against. “It’s something that’s very critical that everybody’s looking at and in our Kansas City manager conferences they’re addressing cyber security and talking more about options and things you can do to better prepare yourself for the future,” he said.
Source: KAKE – News

Kansas counties offer $12,500 to help home buyers

Two Kansas counties are offering first-time home buyers a big discount in a new pilot program. The North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) announced on its website that Clay and Marshall Counties will be taking part in a new home ownership pilot program. This is expected to launch on May 13, 2024. The program is available due to a partnership between the NCPRC and Four Rivers Housing Opportunities. The local community organization Grow Clay County said in a recent social media post that the program will offer home buyers up to $12,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Other incentives of the program include a combination of a fixed rate 3% down payment assistance loan of $10,000 and a closing cost grant of $2,500 when buying a home with a value of $50,000 or more in Clay or Marshall Counties. “Home ownership can be a tough goal to achieve,” said Keegan Bailey, NCRPC Housing Director. “We hope the Clay County Home Ownership Program can be a tool to help make home buying a reality for individuals and families.”
Source: KSNT 27 News

‘He was incredible for the people of Columbus’: City mourns loss of their police chief

The City of Columbus is mourning the death of not just one of their own, but also their police chief for the last ten years. Jason Daniels passed away Wednesday (5/8) after a battle with colon cancer. He was 49. Today, Columbus City Administrator, Jake Letner spoke about his long-time friend and colleague. Letner recalled his friend’s love for his wife and three children, and the town he grew up in. Letner commented on Daniels’ career in law enforcement for the City of Columbus. “He Dedicated his professional life to keeping our community safe. He did a fantastic job of running his department and developing leaders. He really cared about the people that worked for him and was always willing to do whatever was necessary to keep his city safe.” – Jake Letner, Columbus City Administrator. 20 years ago, Daniels joined the Columbus Police Department as an officer. In 2014, Daniels became the city’s police chief. Letner says the only thing Daniels loved more than his career, was his family. “He was a good man. He was an honest man. He was a family man. He was a man of integrity and honesty who adored his wife and three kids.” Speaking on behalf of the City of Columbus, Letner continued by saying, “On behalf of the entire city staff and the entire community, we’re so sorry that this happened. Our hearts, our prayers, and our thoughts are with the family in their time of grief.” Several benefits are now planned for the family of Jason Daniels. All proceeds from those benefits will go to the Daniels family. If you’d like to make a private donation, an account has been set up at Commerce Bank in Columbus.

Source: KSNF/KODE

Clay Center gets beautified with large mural

One northeast Kansas community is honoring its town with a custom mural. On Wednesday, May 8 Clay Center celebrated getting a brand new mural, as well as it being the artists’ 30th mural installation. According to a news release form C. Stanley Creative, Christian Stanley created the mural titled “Prairie Thunder”. The mural spans 3,800 square feet of CVA grain bin at the corner of Fourth Street and Grant Avenue. “The completion of the ‘Prairie Thunder’ mural represents not just a beautiful addition to our
town but also a testament to the transformative impact public art has had on Clay Center over the last four years,” Clay Center Mayor Jimmy Thatcher said. “These murals, including ‘Prairie Thunder,’ have become symbols of our community’s creativity. They have sparked conversations, brought people together, and revitalized our streets, making Clay Center a destination for art enthusiasts and visitors alike. We are proud of the artists, organizers, and residents who have made this mural movement possible and look forward to seeing the continued positive impact it brings to our town.” Depicted in the mural is the Kansas state animal, the American Buffalo, storms, sunsets and the burning Flint Hills prairie.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Wichita, county officials commit to municipal IDs in 2025, further action on homeless resource center

Wichita city officials announced their commitment to implementing a county-wide, low-barrier municipal ID program in 2025 as well as an annual $600,000 operating budget for a one-stop homeless resource center to roaring applause at the inaugural Nehemiah Assembly on Thursday evening. The Assembly, hosted by Justice Together, a grassroots coalition of interfaith communities in Sedgwick County, was held to announce the organization’s intent to directly address policy issues in mental health and homelessness. They asked representatives of Wichita and the county to commit to a fully-funded photo ID program in 2025 and to agree to meeting with them and other services providers within the next 30 days to work on a sustainable budget plan for the city’s multi-agency campus center. Officials in attendance — including Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, City Manager Robert Layton, Sedgwick County Commission Chair Ryan Baty and Secretary Andrew Brown of the Kansas Department of Aging & Disability Services — gave a resounding “yes” to each goal.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Bus rides in Wichita are free — for now — while city grapples with cyber attack

Wichita bus rides are free “until further notice,” the city announced Thursday as it grapples with a cyber attack that forced government to shut down many of its payment systems. Wichita’s bus system had initially switched to a cash-only payment system after the city discovered the ransomware attack on Sunday. “Attention Riders,” Wichita Transit announced on its Facebook page. “All Wichita Transit and Paratransit services are fare-free until further notice. If you are looking to request Paratransit services please call 316-352-4824 or 316-352-4810.” Wichita Transit’s Paratransit Division provides accessible van service to people with physical or cognitive disabilities that prevent them from using the fixed route bus system, according to the city’s website. For maps and schedules of the city of Wichita’s buses, visit wichita.gov/1460/MapsSchedules.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Boot Hill Solar Project Announcement held in Dodge City

Where there’s sunlight, there are boundless possibilities. Sunflower Electric Power Corp., Alluvial Power, National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO), and The Victory Electric Cooperative hosted more than 100 elected officials, media, and other guests on April 17 in Dodge City, Kan., for the official announcement of the 150-megawatt Boot Hill Solar Project. Construction of the state’s largest solar facility by Sunflower’s partner, Alluvial Power, will begin later this year and is expected to be operational in 2026. Alluvial will design, own, and operate the facility, which will include approximately 300,000 solar panels on single-axis tracking. “The Sunflower board analyzed the costs, risks, and benefits, ultimately determining that additional solar will complement our already diverse electric generation portfolio,” said Steve Epperson, Sunflower’s president and CEO. Sunflower is a generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale energy to its seven member distribution utilities in central and western Kansas. Sunflower’s members use the most electricity in July or August. Because this project will provide maximum output on the hottest days of summer when demand for electricity is at its highest and market energy prices can be volatile, energy from Boot Hill Solar will replace market energy, helping stabilize the cost of electricity for Sunflower’s member-utilities.
Source: Sunflower Electric Power Corporation

USD 383’s Food Service Program to keep local children fed in the summer

The USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Summer Food Service Program is keeping local children nourished while school is out by providing free meals and snacks. From May 28 to Aug. 2, several schools in the USD 383 district will offer free meals to children aged 1-18. Stephanie Smith, the director of child nutrition for USD 383, said the program fed more than 1,000 children last summer. When Smith began working for USD 383 16 years ago, she said there were five feeding sites. The program has since expanded to nine as of this year. Children don’t need to be USD 383 students to get a meal. “Sometimes we’ll have kids visiting grandparents, and they bring their kids, and that’s fine,” Smith said. “We feed anyone ages 1-18.” The sites will give out hot meals like the ones served at the schools during the school year. They’ll be eaten on-site. “It’s to make sure kids are fed during the summer,” Smith said. “Once school’s out, it doesn’t mean kids aren’t still hungry, so they still need to be nourished.” (…) The site will serve breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Source: themercury.com

Traffic tickets in Kansas can cost low-income drivers their licenses. There’s a new law to help

Frank Meade originally lost his driver’s license nearly 40 years ago. When he was young, Meade was fined for driving drunk. But he couldn’t afford the cost and the state suspended his license. That didn’t stop him from using his vehicle for the many years following, and he wound up racking up a load of debt from traffic violation fines and court fees. He would need to pay those if he ever hoped to have a legal driver’s license again. “I just continued driving and continued driving and they just stacked up,” Meade told the Kansas News Service. “I had more fines and fees than I could even begin to deal with.” It’s a cycle many people get stuck in. They lose their license and can’t afford to pay the fines to get it reinstated. That means they drive illegally to places like work or risk losing their jobs and livelihoods. But that might become less common under a new law. Meade, a 62-year-old Topeka resident, is now retired and lives on a fixed income. He said at one point his debt was up to $3,000 — an amount he would never be able to cover. Kansas Legal Services, a nonprofit law group serving low-income clients, helped Meade resolve his remaining traffic violations and the state fees required to reinstate a driver’s license. Finally, for the first time in decades, Meade is driving with a legal license. He can now easily travel to important meetings with his probation officer and to Alcoholics Anonymous to help him remain sober. Otherwise, he would have had to spend hours using public transportation each day. “It’s already made my life so much simpler,” Meade said. Kansas Legal Services plans to help more low-income Kansans get similar help reducing fines, resolving court cases and getting their driver’s licenses back in good standing.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Municipal Bond Trends for May 13, 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.

Municipal Bond Trends for May 10, 2024

Assistant city manager for Dallas chosen to be Topeka’s next city manage

Robert Perez, assistant city manager for Dallas, has been picked to be Topeka’s next city manager…. “The governing body invested considerable time and effort into their selection process, and we’re excitedthat Dr. Perez has been selected,” Mayor Michael Padilla said in the release. “I have full confidence in his ability to lead the city of Topeka and guide us toward our strategic goals.”
Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for May 9, 2024

Sedgwick County rejects RHID incentives for apartment project in Goddard

The Sedgwick County Commission has vetoed Goddard’s plan to give a developer $3.5 million in state incentives to build apartments at the Genesis Sports Complex. Commissioners voted 5-0 against the incentive package, which would have diverted property taxes from that land to pay for up to $3.5 million in eligible costs for a 108-unit apartment complex. County staff recommended nullifying Goddard’s agreement …
Source: Wichita Eagle

Retired fire chief continues to serve Halstead

He spent his entire career selflessly helping others during their greatest times of need. Now, retired fire chief Jim VanSchaik has taken on a different form of community service: that of city council member. VanSchaik took the oath of office on April 22 to fulfill the final 20 months of Brody Flavin’s term. Flavin resigned from the council on April 11.
Source: Harvey County Now