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Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2026-08-07T10:07:18-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

Governor Laura Kelly Touts Kansas as a Wind Energy Leader

Governor Laura Kelly today touted Kansas as a leader in wind energy, citing the recently released Wind Energy Market Report from the U.S. Department of Energy. “The latest report from the Department of Energy confirms that Kansas is a national leader in wind energy and is poised for even more growth in the coming years,” Governor Kelly said. “My administration will continue supporting our businesses and our nation in meeting aggressive and imperative energy goals.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway gets state OK to start sports betting

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is set to begin offering sports betting beginning at noon Thursday. The Kansas City, Kansas, casino said Friday that it has received approval from the state to offer sports betting from a temporary space overlooking the Kansas Speedway and through a mobile app. Kansas will open sports betting at approved operators on Sept. 1 — in time for the Sept. 8 start of the NFL season and the Sept. 9 start of three days of racing at the Kansas Speedway. The capstone of the racing weekend will be the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook, part of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals

Lawrence’s land development code getting updated

A lot has changed in the past 16 years — but that’s not reflected in the document that lays out the regulations meant to help the city implement its goals and visions. Aging it further, Lawrence’s land development code, adopted in July 2006, was based on the city’s comprehensive plan that was adopted in 1998 — Horizon 2020. What is Lawrence’s land development code? In simplest terms, the 559-page code basically says what can be built where. It’s a lot more complex than that, however. It covers everything from how closes together houses can be to whether you can raise livestock in your backyard; from how many parking spaces different types of housing and businesses must have, to how many trees and different tree species must be planted — just to name a few examples.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Sportsbooks open Thursday in Kansas

Legalized sports betting in Kansas is set to officially launch on Thursday. Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill into law in June that legalized sports betting in the state, paving the way for casinos to establish sportsbooks. Kelly has called the move a “common-sense solution” that will keep Kansans’ money in the state while supporting businesses in the leisure and hospitality industry. Dustin Gouker, an analyst from the industry website PlayUSA.com network, told The Center Square that the new law is a positive “in terms of creating a competitive market that should be good for both the state and the consumer.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now

New Seaman superintendent Brad Willson focuses on making sure students are learning and safe

One of the first things Brad Willson learned when he took the USD 345 job is that he wouldn’t be moving to Topeka. He’d be coming to Seaman. “It’s a very tight-knit community,” he said. “We’re north of Topeka, but that’s not what this community is built on. This community is built around its schools and considers itself a small town even in the larger metropolitan area.” As he starts the job, Willson says one of his priorities is building a reputation for communication. He’s modeling that by taking the first few months on the job to meet with families, parents, teachers, staff and anyone else with a stake in the district’s mission to educate and develop kids.
Source: CJonline

Wildfires growing in size, number

After years of largely ignoring a legislative audit identifying problems and solutions to wildfire response, Kansas has a new task force set to rekindle the efforts. If the system needs more money and less bureaucracy — as the audit found four years ago — will the lawmakers who hold the purse strings push for change this time? The governor’s task force comes after wildfires have grown, both in number and size.
Source: Hutch News

Powell warns of ‘some pain’ ahead as the Fed fights to bring down inflation

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivered a stern commitment Friday to halting inflation, warning that he expects the central bank to continue raising interest rates in a way that will cause “some pain” to the U.S. economy. In his much-anticipated annual policy speech at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell affirmed that the Fed will “use our tools forcefully” to attack inflation that is still running near its highest level in more than 40 years. Even with a series of four consecutive interest rate increases totaling 2.25 percentage points, Powell said this is “no place to stop or pause” even though benchmark rates are probably around an area considered neither stimulative nor restrictive on growth.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Open street festival planned in Emporia

Empovía — pronounced Empo-vía — is a blend of the words “ciclovia” and “Emporia.” The concept? To bring an open street festival to Peter Pan Park. “The idea itself is not a new concept,” said Visit Emporia director LeLan Dains. “A ciclovia comes from Latin America and describes events that close down streets to automobiles so people can engage in human-powered activities within that space.” So, between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sept. 17, a half-mile section of streets around the park will temporarily close to traffic to allow community members to safely ride, skate, rollerblade, scoot, walk, jog, run and more, in an environment completely closed to auto traffic.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Jackson County’s cities put ARPA funds to good use

Cities in Jackson County are putting American Rescue Plan Act funds – available through the county – to good use, it has been reported. Last February, the Jackson County Commissioners announced that each city was eligible to receive up to $25,000 in ARPA funds through the county. The county has received a total of $2,558,312 in ARPA funding. During recent county commission meetings, the commissioners received letters from city officials at Hoyt, Mayetta and Netawaka outlining how the funds will be spent in those cities. The letters are required for the cities to receive the funds. The Hoyt City Council reported that it plans to spend the funds to establish an emergency shelter at the community building. The funds will be used for structural improvements to the building and to purchase cots, water and food rations for citizens in the event the shelter is necessary.
Source: Holton Recorder

Supply chain issues impact Holton city projects

Supply chain issues are plaguing cities and counties across the country that need certain pieces of equipment to continue to operate smoothly and efficiently, and as the Holton City Commission was reminded on Monday, Aug. 17, the City of Holton is no exception. Commissioners approved a bid of $25,900 from the Harold K. Scholz Company of Ralston, Neb., for the purchase and installation of two electrical relays in the city’s electrical distribution system, but as Electrical Production Superintendent Ira Harrison told commissioners, the new relays would not likely be available for installation for about six months due to supply chain issues.
Source: Holton Recorder

Wellington testing thermal energy ceiling tiles

Wellington City Hall now has thermal energy-storing ceiling tiles to help reduce energy use. These Passive Thermal Energy Storage (PTES) ceiling tiles are similar to how gel packs for cold shipping functions. The tile is composed with a Phase Change Material (PCM) that will absorb heat as it changes from a solid form to liquid. After temperatures in the attic have dropped, the tiles release the stored heat. This project comes through the Department of Energy and aims to reduce cooling, heating, and electric demand. The goal with these tiles is a 10-20% reduction in use.
Source: KSN-TV

History explored during week of Little Balkans Days events in Pittsburg

An annual festival timed to the Labor Day holiday makes its return with a week full of events. Little Balkans Days, a festival of history and heritage, will begin with contests and classes Monday and work its way to a full festival of fairs, concerts and even a polka dance throughout Labor Day weekend. Mining activity throughout in the 1800s offered promises to immigrant families, attracting more of a diverse population than other regions of Kansas, according to the event’s website. Most of those immigrants hailed from the Balkans in southeastern Europe — an area that includes present-day Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and several other countries.
Source: www.joplinglobe.com

Kansas District courts in 34 counties to begin operating on new case management system September 12

Atchison and Leavenworth District courts are among district courts in 34 counties that will transition to the new Kansas eCourt centralized case management system between September 7 and 12. Collectively, the courts in these 34 counties are known as Track 6 in the Kansas eCourt statewide rollout plan. They are predominantly in southwest and southcentral Kansas, with the exception of the 1st Judicial District in the far northeast corner of the state. After Track 6 courts complete the transition, 95% of all trial courts in Kansas will operate on the eCourt centralized case management system.
Source: atchisonglobenow.com

Oswego museum looking for new home

Historical Museum is looking for a new home for the city’s treasures after a storm damaged the building on Commercial Street. A portion of the roof of the museum at 410 Commercial St. collapsed under the weight of rainwater during a May 5 storm. Some items in the museum were destroyed because of this, including a piano and a display relating to trains of Southeast Kansas. Kevin Sheddrick, museum board president, said the building was beyond repair.
Source: Parsons Sun

Bonner Springs celebrates sunny Tiblow Days

The Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce celebrated all things Bonner this weekend at Tiblow Days, the annual end-of-summer festival in honor of Henry Tiblow, a Delaware Indian who operated a Kansas River ferry in the late 1800s on the future site of the town. Saturday’s events included a pancake breakfast, 5K run, parade, car show, carnival and concert. The parade route was shortened from previous years, allowing the festival area to spread out and encourage more shopping in the downtown area, a key purpose of the event.
Source: Wyandotte Daily

KPERS on a roller coaster

It has been an eventful year for pensions in Kansas. Usually a topic that will send all but the hardiest actuary to sleep, officials pursued a number of policy items in 2022 that will have a major impact on the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and its more than 300,000 total members. But if it been a roller coaster for KPERS lately, the stock market was even more volatile. Indeed, the oldest retiree on record to receive a KPERS check was 111 years old and the state’s actuaries might feel they have similarly aged over the last year. A year after posting one of its strongest investment returns in recent history, the 2022 fiscal year brought a negative return for the KPERS investments, one of only a small number of times that has been happened in the past quarter century.
Source: CJonline

All-inclusive playground in Salina helps all children

A lot of children have good ideas, but not all of them are like Olivia Bloomfield. Before this 10-year-old died of congenital muscular dystrophy in July, she spearheaded and witnessed the grand opening of Olivia’s Playground, 323 Center St. The park is the only all-inclusive playground of its kind in Salina, giving children with disabilities a place to play. Olivia and her grandparents, Sid and Susy Reitz, wanted to create an outdoor space where all children, including those with disabilities, could explore and play. She also advocated for a park in Leawood.
Source: Hutch News

Lawrence wins another federal grant to purchase electric buses; first ones to roll out Monday

The wheels of change are bringing more electric buses to the streets of Lawrence. The City of Lawrence has received a federal grant to purchase electric buses for the third straight year, and is preparing to roll out its first all-electric buses on Monday. In an announcement regarding the award, Transit and Parking Manager Adam Weigel said that the Federal Transit Administration continues to recognize the city’s commitment to its sustainability goals. “I’m proud of our staff and community for leaning in to this effort so fully, as it will pay off in a big way for this community in noise and pollution reduction,” Weigel said. The city received an approximately $3.28 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s “Low- or No-Emission” grant program for 2022, according to the news release.
Source: LJWorld

Iola, meet Iola

Iola Speck, a teenager who lives in England, and her father are exploring the city of Iola this week. A few years ago, they Googled her name, discovered the town and decided it would be “quite cool” to visit…. Iola and her father, Ivan, spent two days in Iola as part of a driving tour around the Midwest. They live in Higham, a village near Rochester in Kent, which is in southeast England. They flew into Chicago last week, where they rented a camper van airbrushed in bright colors. It was sure to get attention, and it would be their home for about two weeks; they slept in the back, taking up residence at “car parks” (the British term for parking lots) at Walmarts in cities they visited. They arrived in Iola on Wednesday afternoon, where they visited the Register’s office. Ivan is a sports reporter, so he appreciates the value of a quirky story and thought Iolans might like to know about Iola’s visit.
Source: The Iola Register

Lawrence to begin updating development code that determines where and how city grows

The City of Lawrence is preparing to begin a two-year process to update its land development code, dictating where and how the city grows as well as changes that could affect the look and function of existing neighborhoods and commercial areas. The city’s land development code, which has not been updated since 2006, covers building density, parking requirements and land uses, or what type of use can occur where, as well as various other aspects of development. Along with seeking to make the development code more concise and user-friendly, the update will create regulations to implement the city’s comprehensive plan, Plan 2040. Goals in the plan include more density and infill development, more variety in housing options and more walkable neighborhoods with a mix of uses, among other goals.
Source: LJWorld

Salina Fire Dept. joins community commemoration

Since beginning in the role in March, Salina Fire Chief Tony Sneidar has looked for ways to get the department more exposure and involved in the Salina community. The department takes a big step this next month as they commemorate and raise support for firefighters and their families who sacrificed on 9/11. The inaugural Central Kansas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and 5K Walk takes place on the 21st anniversary of that fateful day from 9 a.m. to noon at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. This isn’t the first time that Sneidar has organized a 9/11 stair climb, having done similar events during his time in the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Source: Salina Journal

Roots Festival returns to Paola this weekend

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Roots Festival is set to return to Paola this weekend. The two-day festival will once again fill Paola’s Park Square with music, games, crafts, and barbecue beginning Friday, Aug. 26, and continuing throughout Saturday, Aug. 27. It will be the festival’s 33rd year. One of the highlights of the festival will be the East Central Kansas State Barbecue Championship. About 65 barbecue teams will once again compete at the festival during the championship, which Jon Smail will oversee. It is the 23rd year the festival has hosted the championship.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

A chalk walk: Contest means sidewalks, paved spots in JoCo get a bit more colorful

Overland Park is getting a little more colorful — courtesy of an art supply beloved by children and creative adults. The Chalk the Walk program has encouraged residents of all ages to create their masterpieces on sidewalks, driveways and even paved park surfaces. Those who participate can submit a photo of their creation at opkansas.org/events/chalk-the-walk to enter the associated contest. But if you haven’t done it already, hurry. Submissions close Aug. 28.
Source: Joco 913 News

This morning’s Powell speech may reveal interest rate plans

U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Friday as investors awaited a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell who is expected to give an indication of the central bank’s hawkishness…. Markets will be watching Powell’s speech at 9 a.m. CT for clues on inflation, the U.S. growth outlook, front-loading and the potential for monetary easing in 2023, analysts at ING said in a note. … Powell is likely to say that the central bank will not back away from using interest rate hikes to snuff out inflation. Fed watchers also say Powell may indicate that after the Fed finishes raising rates, it is likely to hold them there. The market currently expects it to start cutting interest rates next year.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Independence introduces online budget resource accessible to citizens

City introduces online budget resource accessible to citizens the City of Independence is working through its annual budget process and is offering a new tool to aid citizens in budget understanding. In furtherance of its goal to continually improve operational transparency and communications with residents, the City is introducing a new online platform with complete information on the 2023 Municipal Budget. The site provides insight into budget processes, explanations of line-item allocations and how the budget is divided among City departments, as well as tax calculations for residents.
Source: Independence, KS – News

Pittsburg business receives Economic Development Grant

A Pittsburg business is hoping to breathe new life into an old building. Owners of the White Elephant Emporium have started renovating their new home at 804 North Broadway. The project is expected to cost more than $100,000 with the city covering roughly 10%. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the home decor business received a non-repayable loan made possible by Pittsburg’s Economic Development sales tax. “It kind of takes a village to get some of these projects done and to purchase a building like this, for us it’s definitely taken the help of Pittsburg, Kansas,” said Stephanie Watts, White Elephant Emporium Co-Owner.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Local museum re-enacts Newton Massacre

Audie Heller portrayed Hugh Anderson in the Hide Park shootout re-enactment on Saturday night, strolling into a “saloon” and blasting away at one man at point blank range. As he shot during the two performances, which took place on about the same spot the actual shooting did 150 years ago, a loud bang rang out from the gun, as did a flash of orange and yellow glow. The gun was real but only had black powder to light it up. Heller is an experienced re-enactor, so he knew how to use it. Another actor, Tristin England, portrayed another shooter, Riley, who shot many of the other men in the “saloon” with a prop gun. England said his gun couldn’t fire more than six, so he didn’t shoot more than six guys. One of those guys was the actual Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay, who was one of the actors, and he didn’t portray a law enforcement official. He was just a man sitting at a table who ended up slumped over.
Source: Harvey County Now

Scott City takes steps to adopt tree ordinance

City Administrator Brad Pendergast said the city has an ordinance to deal with diseased trees, but not trees that are dead or are a risk to surrounding property. At the risk of “opening a can of worms” with respect to tree removal, Mayor Green and the council advised Pendergast to prepare an ordinance that gives the city the ability to remove trees. Pendergast said the ordinance will be written so that trees can be removed if a qualified individual determines they are a risk to public safety or property.
Source: Scott County Record

Johnson County leaders debate truck traffic enforcement on rural roads

As Johnson County leaders continue to debate how to best manage truck traffic on rural roads, people that live in the unincorporated part of the county say the traffic is putting their safety at risk. During the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting Thursday, Public Works Director Brian Pietig provided an update on plans for 199th Street. Pietig said the county will begin making some improvements on 199th Street between Clare Road and U.S. 169 Highway next spring, but larger upgrades will likely be needed as the area becomes more developed.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Barton County backs water district improvements

A half century ago, Barton County Rural Water District 1 was formed to serve a small territory just north of Hoisington. Now, it wants to join forces with the sprawling Russell County Rural Water District 3 in a multi-million plan allowing Hoisington to sell water to Bunker Hill, replace aging infrastructure and eventually allowing the districts to merge.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Evergy, FreeState considering solar array in Osage County

A solar array may be coming to Osage County relatively soon. On Wednesday, Evergy announced it had broken ground on a solar array near Auburn as part of a collaboration with FreeState Electric Cooperative. Two other sites are part of the overall plan, with one array to be installed near Silver Lake and another possibly to be installed at a currently-unspecified location in Osage County. Evergy will build and operate the solar arrays through a power purchase agreement with FreeState. The solar arrays help FreeState manage its peak demand on the hottest summer days when solar energy is at its highest, a similar approach to 4 Rivers Electric Cooperative’s partnership with Today’s Power out of Arkansas for its solar arrays near Americus and Fredonia.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Kansas Department of Commerce Announces New Grant Opportunity to Support Economic Development in Smaller Communities

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced a new grant opportunity today that will help support economic development and revitalization efforts in smaller communities across Kansas through investments in quality-of-life initiatives. The brand-new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) program will make grants between $5,000 and $50,000 available to communities in 78 designated counties with a population of 5,000 or less. Grants will be available in the following categories: Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment; Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals and signage; Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion; and Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture and building improvements.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Sedgwick’s Fall Festival schedule is taking shape

In honor of Sedgwick’s sesquicentennial (it’s easier to spell than to pronounce), the Fall Festival in September will be bigger and better, according to Sedgwick Connect president Randi Tolin. Fall Festival will be Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, rain or shine. The historical society is expanding its activity to include a living history reenactment, a junior deputy deputizing, and the Delano Dollies performance. State Senator Carolyn McGinn is hosting a brewmaster contest at the old gas station parking lot. People can pay $15 to taste homemade brews and vote for their favorite. Next door to the brewing contest, SW Nutrition is bringing in ax throwing.
Source: Harvey County Now

Harvey County ups broadband funding for expanded project

One week after the Board of Harvey County Commissioners agreed to provide $75,000 in funding toward broadband infrastructure as part of an IdeaTek grant proposal, commissioners upped their contribution to $250,000. James Krstolich, community relations manager of IdeaTek, opened his pitch for more funding by thanking commissioners for the county’s commitment of $75,000. He said he understood the need for expanded broadband in Harvey County and how bad some areas were. He noted that the original grant proposal planned to provide service to 150 homes, but his company expanded its proposal to include the City of Walton. Its new proposal could provide service to 672 homes or businesses.
Source: Harvey County Now

Emporia enters into agreement to design new city logo

A new logo design for the city of Emporia is now in the works according to an announcement Wednesday. Emporia City Communications Manager Christine Johnson in an email Wednesday stated the city has signed a contract with Lot and Ilk to produce a logo to be presented during a meeting in September. The announcement follows the city commission’s recent meeting last week where commissioners chose to purchase two crowdsourced logos for $600 and submit those to Lot and Ilk for additional refinement.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Police departments in Cowley County to provide protection from catalytic converter thefts

Several police departments in Cowley County are providing CATETCH kits or kits that prevent catalytic convert thefts. A CATETCH is a label that is easily installed onto a catalytic converter. According to mastergard.com, the label is laser cut with a unique code and the URL of a secure, accredited database and installed on a catalytic converter. It will break into pieces if an attempt is made to remove them. In addition, a fluid that etches into metal is applied to the labels so that even if they are removed, the code and URL will remain clearly readable.
Source: KSN-TV

KDHE to hold meetings in western Kansas for public water supply lead and copper rule implementation

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will be holding public meetings in western Kansas in September to inform communities and public water supply systems about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Lead and Copper Tule Revision (LCRR). According to the KDHE, under the LCRR, public water supply systems are required to prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials. The inventory will be submitted to the KDHE by Oct. 16, 2024. The KDHE is inviting public water supply system decision-makers, operators and the public to attend its public meetings to learn more about the inventory requirements and actions that can be taken to reduce lead exposure risks in drinking water.
Source: KSN-TV

New solar farm construction begins in Shawnee County

Construction has begun for a new solar site in Shawnee County as part of a partnership between Evergy and FreeState Electric Cooperative. The new solar site, the FreeState Crooked Post, is located at Southwest 41st and Auburn Road. This will be the largest of three FreeState Solar projects. Evergy was selected by FreeState to access renewable energy from solar for all of their customers at a competitive rate.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Wellington Council taking serious look into adopting a ‘Land Bank’ system to help with urban blight

The Wellington City Council could soon be voting on an ordinance that would establish “land banks” – a practice in which the city of Wellington could purchase property, redevelop it, and then sell/donate it to prospective developers. Land banks are used to address development issues as well as urban blight. They are set up through city ordinances and give the city leverage as to what is done with the properties while also reducing the number of absentee landowners. The City would be obligated to mow and maintain the land bank property until sold or developed. Land Banks could define the standards for the property and abate the back taxes.
Source: Sumner NewsCow

Blue Valley, Blue Rapids celebrate town’s new internet connections

Blue Rapids and Blue Valley Technologies joined Aug. 16 with state, federal and local officials to celebrate the town’s newly upgraded internet connections. Tech connections enjoyed by Blue Rapids today are something sought by rural communities across the country as the web now serves as a critical highway for doing businesses and connecting people for multiple needs.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

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