Kansas Municipal News
AG Opinion 2023-08: RNR Notice Requirements
K.S.A. 79-2988(b)(2)’s use of “shall” is mandatory. As a result, a governing body of a taxing subdivision may not levy a tax rate in excess of the revenue neutral rate where the county clerk fails to timely send out the required notice to the taxpayers pursuant to K.S.A. 79-2988(b)(2).
Source: KS AG Opinion No. 2023-08
Lenexa Animal control officer educates public and advocates for animal welfare
From picking up roadkill on a hot summer day to chasing a loose cow back into a pasture and removing bats from inside a home, the sights for Lenexa Police Department Animal Control Officer Noah Jaksetic are ever changing. “It was kind of a long journey to find my niche, but I did it,” he said. Having pets didn’t necessarily come naturally for Noah. “I got an American-Eskimo poodle named Sammy for my 11th birthday,” he said. “That was the first pet I had growing up.” But he did work on a ranch when he was younger that exposed him to non-domestic animals.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Two key Fed officials express support for keeping interest rates high
Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins expressed support Friday for keeping interest rates elevated as the battle against too-high inflation continues. In remarks to a banking group in Maine, the central bank official said there’s still the possibility that the Fed will have to raise rates further if economic data doesn’t cooperate. “I expect rates may have to stay higher, and for longer, than previous projections had suggested, and further tightening is certainly not off the table,” Collins said in prepared remarks. “Policymakers will stay the course to achieve the Fed’s mandate.” The commentary comes two days after the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee decided not to raise rates following its two-day meeting. Collins is an FOMC voting member this year. The federal funds rate is currently targeted in a range between 5.25%-5.5%.
Source: CNBC
Savonburg residents talk tenuous future
Color David Janssen a realistic optimist. The Savonburg City Councilman was asked to peer into a crystal ball and eye the community’s future, say five or 10 years down the road. On one hand, the future of small towns like Savonburg is bleak, Janssen admitted. With an aging population, fewer and fewer quality homes to entice out-of-towners and an infrastructure that has well outlived its realistic life span, it’s easy to see why rural populations continue to decline, he said. To wit, Savonburg’s population at the 2010 census was over 100. As of 2022, that number had dropped to 75. “If nothing happens, I can see the community going away,” Janssen warned, “and becoming unincorporated.” But Janssen isn’t one to give up without a fight.
Source: The Iola Register
Municipal Bond Trends for September 21, 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.
Fed declines to hike, but points to rates staying higher for longer
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision released Wednesday, while also indicating it still expects one more hike before the end of the year and fewer cuts than previously indicated next year. That final increase, if realized, would do it for this cycle, according to projections the central bank released at the end of its two-day meeting. If the Fed goes ahead with the move, it would make a full dozen hikes since the policy tightening began in March 2022. Markets had fully priced in no move at this meeting, which kept the fed funds rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.5%, the highest in some 22 years. The rate fixes what banks charge each other for overnight lending but also spills over into many forms of consumer debt.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Program to eliminate poverty to kick off
A Bourbon County program aimed at addressing the poverty issue is preparing to launch this fall, officials said. During the Bourbon County Commission meeting Monday, commissioners were updated on the progress of the program, called Core Communities. Local business owner Bill Michaud, who has helped get the program off the ground, and Cherri Walrod, one of two staff members who have been hired for the program, spoke to the commission.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
USD 231 joins national class-action lawsuit against social media platforms
Lynne Hermansen Gardner News School officials discuss cell phone usage The Gardner Edgerton Board of Education is joining a class-action lawsuit for vaping ads targeting youth on social media. Board officials decided to join the suit at Monday’s monthly board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Brian Huff said the lawsuit was similar to a previous class-action lawsuit several Johnson County school districts participated in against Juul tobacco and vaping products.
Source: Gardner News
USD 112 superintendent asks county for daycare funds
Central Plains USD 112 Superintendent Bill Lowry met with Barton County Commissioners on Tuesday to discuss a matching funding request for daycare in the Claflin community. “I’ve raised some funds,” Lowry said, referring to donations to the school district’s Childcare Network established in October 2022 that provides 70% in state tax credits toward renovating an existing classroom in Wilson and a new building in Claflin. The program reached 50% of its goal by December 2022, but a year later Lowry was in hopes that he could move the fundraising along. “I don’t have enough at this time to really start a project,” he said. “Even if you have the funds to hand and you can commit to a project, there’s still a timeline involved to find a contractor to take on the project. I’ve got a lot of people here that really need daycare,” he said.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Fire fighting training site seeing upgrades
The Boy Scout motto “be prepared” also applies to the Great Bend Fire Department, Fire Chief Brent Smith told the City Council Monday night as he outlined improvements taking place at his department’s training facility behind Fire Station 2. “We’ve been working with Hazmat Response, our neighbor to the west of us out there station,” Smith said. The business has “been nothing but generous in donating equipment and time to do some dirt work and hauling some buildings for us to add to our burn facility.” In addition, “we’re going to be putting in a grain elevator rescue props and some confined space stuff,” he said. “We’ve eventually going to expand into some hazardous material stuff with a tank car from the railroad.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Baxter Springs School District reflects on introduction of 4-day school week
This year, the Baxter Springs School District introduced a new 4-day school week. A month into the school year, administrators say the 4-day school week has been a success thus far. Superintendent David Pendergraft says he’s received various emails from parents who were a bit skeptical of the change initially, but now they’re seeing the benefit of how it helps them to balance their work life and personal life. The schedule change has also helped with the recruitment of teachers to the district.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Outside help: Wichita plans to outsource management of city animal shelter
Wichita is seeking a private operator to take over day-to-day management of the city’s animal shelter from the Wichita Police Department. The vendor will be asked to “manage shelter services and improve communications with rescue partners to find homes for abandoned pets, provide veterinary care and overall improvement of services that fit standards and best practices,” according to a city news release. The request for proposal was issued on Sept. 15 and will close on Nov. 3. City spokesperson Megan Lovely told The Eagle that plans were already in motion to outsource management of the animal shelter before the Sept. 6 incident when 12 dogs were improperly euthanized without approval.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Festival Planned in Central Kansas to Celebrate Monarch Butterflies
A host of butterflies, bees and bugs will all be in residence at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s (592 NE K 156 Hwy, Great Bend) annual Butterfly Festival from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 23. In addition to a variety of family-friendly activities, “The Instars,” Steve Craig and Amy Short, will present their “Butterfly Magic” show – a melding of humor and magic that illustrates the astonishing butterfly life cycle. “This year promises to be a much better year for the monarch butterfly migration, as millions undertake their annual fall flight to Mexico,” said Pam Martin, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks education specialist.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Riley County gives go ahead for new mural at Zeandale fire station
Riley County officials on Thursday approved a motion for a new mural to be installed at the county fire station in Zeandale. Resident Diane Hoobler, representing the Friends of the Zeandale Fire Station 101, presented a draft example of the mural which the artist plans to start painting on Oct. 7. She says some of the art depicted in the mural, including the train station will be made larger, for a better visual perspective. She discussed some of the other identifying landmarks. The train station, the Pawnee Trail and the old Zeandale school will be depicted in the mural.
Source: 1350 KMAN
City of Manhattan enters agreement with Ottawa nonprofit to contract out animal shelter services
The City of Manhattan will contract out services at the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter. City commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement with Prairie Paws, a nonprofit organization out of Ottawa to manage the shelter. Mayor Mark Hatesohl says the move should give the city a better understanding of how much it’s spending on services. The city began discussions in January to explore avenues to outsource shelter services, without requiring additional tax dollars. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers noted on Tuesday’s edition of In Focus that the city has struggled with turnover at the shelter for several years.
Source: 1350 KMAN
New playground, equipment celebrated at GC Achieve
Garden City Achieve, 1312 N. Main Street, this week celebrated a new playground area and equipment located on the south side of the school building. The new playground, designed for children from five to 12 years old, includes a slide and many climbing structures. The playground equipment is designed to build motor skills, cognitive skills and social emotional skills through sensory play. The area around the playground equipment has a soft artificial turfed surface to ensure safety for the developmentally appropriate jungle gym for young learners. “This new playground is a very welcome addition to our school and for the students we serve,” said Lucas Sullivan, GC Achieve principal. “We are grateful for the support from the Board of Education and the school district for making this a reality at our school.”
Source: Greater Garden City » Feed
Municipal Bond Trends for September 20, 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.
Saline County needs diesel mechanics
Amid a challenge to hire and retain diesel mechanics, Saline County has approved hiring incentives of $2,500 for those roles in the Road and Bridge Department. Two diesel mechanic positions are vacant as of Sept. 19, one of which has gone unfilled since August of last year. Saline County Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel said these jobs are critical for the department to run smoothly. “Currently the crews are repairing their own equipment under the tutelage of the shop services manager,” Fishel said. “So, when something breaks they bring it in and fix it.”
Source: Salina Journal
Governor Kelly Announces $10M for Utility Infrastructure Improvements in 18 Communities
Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is awarding $10 million from the agency’s Small Town Water and Sewer Infrastructure Assistance (STWSIA) grant program to help 18 small communities improve water and wastewater services. That program received the funds through the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) program funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Grant applicants were comprised of water and wastewater utilities with a population of less than 1,000 and that have a public health or regulatory compliance issue that infrastructure improvements would help resolve.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Governor Kelly Announces Launch of $200M Build Kansas Fund to Accelerate Transformative Community Infrastructure Projects
Governor Laura Kelly, alongside the Kansas Infrastructure Hub (KIH), announced the launch of the Build Kansas Fund, which provides state matching dollars to Kansas communities for infrastructure projects approved under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The Build Kansas Fund will invest $200 million directly into Kansas communities to support projects that include water, transportation, energy, cybersecurity, and broadband through Fiscal Year 2027.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas