Kansas Municipal News
SW Kansas treasurers to meet in Liberal
Next Wednesday, county treasurers and their staff from across Southwest Kansas will converge in Liberal for a conference. The Southwest Kansas County Treasurers Association will host its annual conference at the Activity Center, and Seward County Treasurer Mary Rose said the association is made up of offices from 17 counties. “The Kansas County Treasurers Association is all 105 counties, and they’ve divided it up into districts,” she said. “Southwest Kansas is one. They go down the list starting in alphabetical order of who gets to host the county treasurers event for Southwest Kansas. This year, we were asked to host it, and we accepted.” This is the first time Seward County has hosted the conference in 20 years, and Rose said the event is a chance for area treasurers to meet and talk about issues pertaining particularly to Southwest Kansas.
Source: Liberal First
Municipal Bond Trends for September 25, 2023
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.
Kansas counties eager for lawmakers to resurrect property tax relief fund
The Legislature’s perennial failure to invest in lowering local property taxes left Miami County with a budget dilemma this year. The sheriff’s office, competing with higher wages for law enforcement in the neighboring Kansas City metro area, was about 20 deputies short of a full staff. Faced with the prospect of raising property taxes to pay for better salaries, Miami County Commissioner Rob Roberts said the question he had to ask was: “Are we going to have law enforcement in Miami County?”… Roberts joined Bruce Chladny, executive director of the Kansas Association of Counties, on the Kansas Reflector podcast to talk about the benefits of the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund, which has been dormant for 20 years. “This actually is a program that started way back during the Dust Bowl days, back when Kansas was struggling, the economy was in the tank and citizens were really having a hard time to make ends meet,” Chladny said. “Luckily, the state started to recover a little bit faster than the economy did. And so they actually had extra tax dollars that they purposefully pushed back out to the local government to help lower property taxes for the struggling citizens.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
EPA announces new round of WIFIA loans
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $7.5 billion in available Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding. To date, EPA’s WIFIA program has issued $19 billion in loans to help finance 109 projects across the country, creating more than 60,000 jobs. This announcement initiates EPA’s 7th round of WIFIA financing with $6.5 billion available through the WIFIA program and $1 billion available through the State WIFIA (SWIFIA) program, which provides loans exclusively for State infrastructure financing authority borrowers. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for both WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. Prospective borrowers can also receive technical assistance to develop a funding request that meets the WIFIA program’s requirements. This assistance will help small and disadvantaged communities benefit from WIFIA funding. Learn more about the WIFIA program, our selected projects, and this funding announcement. Email the WIFIA team (wifia@epa.gov) for more information about technical assistance.
Source: Water Finance & Management
Lenexa is building a new $73 million public safety complex
The city of Lenexa is planning another big move. In 2017, the city moved its downtown and city hall to the Lenexa City Center campus at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard. Next summer, the city’s police department and municipal court will pack up from the 1980s-era complex at West 87th Street and Monrovia Street and head west to the new Lenexa Justice Center, which is now under construction, at Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street. The new $73 million public safety complex will house the city’s police headquarters, municipal court, and a police training facility. It will also feature a state-of-the-art communications center for dispatchers, dedicated space for mental health co-responders, detective work areas, and a public meeting room for community events.
Source: KC Star Local News
What’s that smell? Mystery odor pervades in Wichita, but city says air quality is good
Wichitans took to social media on Monday to talk about a mystery odor that apparently started on Sunday. One south Wichita resident on Monday described the smell of oil in a Facebook post comment. “We live in south city and you’re right… it was bad yesterday [Sunday], like an oil spill smell,” the resident said. The city of Wichita said in a Facebook post on Monday that they do not know what is causing the odor, but that it is not negatively affeciting air quality.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
With new round of $3,000 teacher incentives, Topeka USD 501 drops attendance requirement
Topeka USD 501 will offer each employee a $3,000 “incentive” this fall, and the district will drop its controversial condition that staff maintain near-perfect attendance to receive the bonus payment. The incentive is meant to help recruit new teachers and support staff, Topeka USD 501 officials said. Part-time workers will receive pro-rated payments. The payments, which will be made in two installments of $1,500 in October and December for full-time, active staff members, will use $8 million of the district’s $42.2 million in the latest round of federal COVID-19 relief funding.
Source: CJonline
Few parents are paying their school fees, and Topeka USD 501 wants to crack down
Topeka USD 501 isn’t getting a big chunk of the fees it asks parents to pay to help fund school materials and activities, and the district is looking to clamp down on collecting that money. In a financial overview of the district to the Topeka Board of Education on Thursday, director of fiscal services Gary Menke shared that the district has been having trouble getting parents to pay for those school fees in recent years. While state law generally bars schools charging tuition, it does allow districts to collect fees for such items as textbooks, workbooks, musical instruments, technology and other school materials used by students.
Source: CJonline
Valley Center Fall Festival is back for its 61st year
The 61st annual Valley Center Fall Festival is Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22 and 23. “The Fall Festival is what makes Valley Center feel like home. It’s a tradition that you don’t see in every historic downtown, especially in the Wichita area,” Brent Clark, Valley Center city administrator, said. “I love bringing my kids to all the events and creating those memories that will last a lifetime.” Some of the new activities this year include a pickleball tournament and the Fastest Hook in Valley, which is a crocheting competition.
Source: KSN-TV
Baxter Springs faces job losses as two companies close their doors
In 10 days, National Safety Apparel, formerly known as King Louie, will close its doors in Baxter Springs, leaving over 70 people without jobs. But this isn’t the only blow to the local workforce. Just a few weeks ago, Yellow Corporation, a trucking company, also ceased operations in the same city, resulting in more than 30 people losing their employment. Teresa Humphrey, have been working for NSA for more than 35 years and is among those facing this uncertain future. “It’s sad, makes me want to cry. It’s emotional. I’m scared because I don’t know what to expect. I’m just going to stay here and work as long as I can,” says Humphrey.
Source: KOAM News
Parsons residents seek brick souvenirs from Washington School
There’s quite the demand for bricks, right now, in Parsons. We’ve brought you the story before about the demolition of the old Washington School building on Stevens Avenue. Folks want the bricks as keepsakes. The problem — they’ve been showing up at the site — and keeping crews from doing their work. That demo process began last week. District officials understand the emotional ties so many people have with the building — so they’ve set some aside for those people to pick up at the district office. “A lot of people went to school there, have good memories there when they were in elementary school. …. Washington school is significant to our community. It’s been here a long time, the whole town loves that school…”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Delia school mural celebrates Potawatomi culture
On the east wall of the former Delia Grade School in southwestern Jackson County is a painted mural that features a depiction of two young members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Knowee Potts and Kiwe Miller, performing a Native American dance — a mural that was recently completed by Rossville High School art teacher Garrett Larson. On Sunday afternoon, a crowd composed mainly of Potawatomi and Delia residents gathered in front of the mural to watch Potts and Miller dance in front of the mural that celebrates them and their people. “It brought back memories of being there as a little kid, seeing all my nephews and nieces playing in the old Delia playground,” said Potts, who spent part of his childhood in Delia and graduated from Royal Valley High School in 2019. “It was an honor to dance my style in front of everyone in Jackson County.”
Source: Holton Recorder
Maple Leaf set for Saturday in downtown Hiawatha
The Hiawatha Maple Leaf Festival is set for Sept. 23 and organizers with the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau are excited about this year’s line-up of activities. Maple Leaf will be bringing in some fantastic music — as the Chamber is featuring Maria the Mexican of the Kansas City area as the headlining band, scheduled for an 11:45 p.m. performance on the north side of the courthouse steps. Also new this year is the Brent Isom Trio of St. Joseph, Mo., who will play at 10:45 a.m. Favorites back for solo performances in the afternoon include Stephanie Gummelt at 12:45 p.m., Nirvana Petersen at 2:15 p.m. and Tori Wist at 3 p.m. Find all of them on the north steps of the Brown County Courthouse.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Great Bend awaits storm damage totals
The sounds of hammers continue to reverberate around Great Bend and the site of uprooted trees is still common after the July 16 supercell ripped through the area. In the meantime, the City of Great Bend still awaits learning the toll the thunderstorm took on its many far-flung properties scattered around the community. “Last week, a lot of our staff stayed busy taking (insurance) adjusters out from building to building” to assess the damage, City Administrator Brandon Anderson said, updating the City Council Monday night. “We’re just going through what all of our citizens have gone through. Certainly, that storm was unprecedented.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Ford County Commission green lights Seaboard Foods project
The Ford County Commission permitted Seaboard Foods to build on two sites in southeast Ford County near Bucklin at the regular meeting on Sept. 18. Both sites will have two buildings housing 2,500 hogs. Each hog will consume approximately five gallons of water daily, but apart from this, the project will funnel the water back into the system and will not be a drain on the water supply. The hogs will be fed by crops purchased from area farmers and the manure used for soil fertilization.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Wichita High School East turns 100: ‘History walks our halls’
Can you imagine a teacher today throwing a chalkboard eraser at a student for not paying attention in class? Or a coach buying his high school sports team beer and cigars because they won a tournament? How about a school making its boys swim naked in their gym class? Such stories are part of the lore of Wichita High School East, the city’s oldest high school, along with the more serious legacy of educating generations of Wichitans. East is celebrating a big anniversary next month. Though it opened as Wichita High School in 1873, the anniversary celebrates the 100th year the school opened in its current building at Douglas and Grove. “They called it the million dollar school at that time,” said current principal Sara Richardson of the school’s cost, which was $1,044,810.85. Due to the money, innovation and modified Collegiate Gothic style, Richardson said, “It was like the showcase of the Midwest.”
Source: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |
Lawrence Transit launches overnight rides on demand
If you need a ride overnight, Lawrence Transit has launched a new, fare-free option to get a lift anywhere within city limits. Lawrence Transit On Demand service runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, according to a recent news release from the city. “You can expect to see the same friendly bus drivers in our smaller buses that are all ADA accessible and equipped with bike racks,” according to the release. The service will be fare-free for 2023, as are all fixed route buses and T Lift. It’s a shared ride service, so you might not be the only person getting a ride, but drivers will take you from door to door, meaning you can schedule rides between any two places in town and you don’t have to get on and off at set bus stops. Drivers can take passengers anywhere within Lawrence city limits.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Propane bid awarded with a coin flip
After receiving two identical bids for propane, commissioners awarded the bid based on a coin flip last week. Landfill Director Rhonda Carroll presented commissioners with three propane bids for 4,000 gallons. Propane Central $1.499 a gallon while Sapp Bros. and Hoover’s both bid $1.29 a gallon.
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com
Mahaska water tower is crumbling
The replacement of Mahaska’s water tower is urgent because chunks of concrete are falling off the tower, two city council members told the Board of County Commissioners on Monday. Cal Livingston and Wiley Kerr met with the commissioners to ask if any county money or ARPA funds were available to help with a portion of the city’s water tower replacement.
Source: Backroads News
Municipal Bond Trends for September 22, 2023
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.