Kansas Municipal News
Shawnee hires veteran KC area official as new city manager
The Shawnee City Council on Monday cleared the way for a veteran Kansas City area municipal official and Johnson County native to become the city’s next permanent city manager. During the city council meeting on Monday night, Mayor Mickey Sandifer formally introduced Paul Kramer as the new city manager. Kramer is currently the city manager in Leavenworth, Kansas, a position he has held for nearly a decade. The Shawnee City Council voted unanimously 8-0 to approve a negotiated contract between the city and Kramer. “Paul is a very qualified individual to come out and hit the ground running with our city,” Sandifer said. “This is what we need at this period in time.” For the past nine years, Kramer has served as the city manager for Leavenworth. According to the Leavenworth city website, before becoming the city manager in Leavenworth, he also served as the assistant city manager and executive director of the Leavenworth Housing Authority. Sandifer said Kramer’s experience made him stand out from the other candidates. “He’s been involved with every facet of the city [of Leavenworth],” he said. “(That’s) very useful for our city.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
‘Short Term Rentals’ top of mind for College Hills residents as they discuss improvements to neighborhood
College Hill residents held their first open house meeting Monday night to discuss a plan to improve the lives of its residents. One of the issues top of mind is how the city deals with short-term rentals, through companies like Airbnb. “Short-term rentals have been a concern,’ says city council member Brandon Johnson. “Not because of how great they are access-wise for people. But many of our short-term rentals have been rented out for parties, especially recently, some parents will rent those out for their kids, which shouldn’t be happening.” Some of those parties have ended in violence. Johnson said that a shooting recently near College Hill is proof of problems. And in 2021, at Douglas and Oliver, one person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting at a party at an Airbnb. Because of that violence, the city is cracking down. It’s requiring licenses and rezoning to run a short term rental. “We have to be safer with our young people,” Johnson said. “Today is a different day and age, access to guns is a lot higher than when we were younger. So we’re going to look at that as a council, but definitely always want community input on that.” Johnson said that he expects the council to continue working on short-term rental policy. However, there are already some hoops to jump through to get up and running.
Source: KAKE – News
Douglass fire adds new truck to their fleet
Butler County Fire District #8, (Douglass), has recently got a new truck to add to their fleet. The fire department now has a total of nine apparatus: two engines, three grass trucks, one tanker, one rescue and water rescue, and two support trucks. The biggest obstacle is water,” said Fire Chief Aaron Guyot. That shouldn’t be an obstacle anymore with the new beast of a tanker the fire department received in late January. This truck is made by Fouts Bros out of Georgia with a 515 Horsepower engine and a 4,000 gallon tank that can pump 1,500 gallons per minute. The powerful motor will help add to faster response times for the team. This truck is only suited to hold two firefighters. This truck was not purchased through grants; the department took out a lease and made a down payment using the station’s budget. This truck comes with a price tag of $489,000. The new tanker was ordered on January 5th and was picked up January 31st. When purchasing this truck, the Douglass Fire Department had to retire tank 83, which was sold to Andale Construction. Douglass Fire Department has a crew of 27 volunteers. The team has welcomed 17 new volunteers since the month of December. The current station, located at 108 S Forrest St, was built in 1997.
Source: Andover American
Lawrence school district looks to staffing incentives, other cost-saving ideas as enrollment declines
As enrollment keeps trending downward, Lawrence school board members on Monday heard some additional details about possible ways to cut costs, including hiring specialized positions rather than going through contractors. Executive Director of Finance Cynde Frick gave the board a budget update on Monday, which included data from the district’s annual enrollment headcount, taken every Sept. 20. The district counted 9,820 students enrolled for the 2023-24 year, down 135 from the 9,955 total for 2022-23, according to the presentation. Frick said the district could consider incentives to hire speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, plumbers, carpenters and other professionals as district employees rather than filling those positions through contractors. She said although those positions are already established on salary matrices, the district has struggled to fill them in-house because it doesn’t offer competitive wages, but that it would cost less than using contractors. “We haven’t quantified the trades section of that yet, but I’m expecting it will be millions of dollars,” Frick said. “And so the question is how to make it happen. We will need support and cooperation from our unions to figure this out. But there is money there to be saved.” Enrollment is projected to continue decreasing each year through 2027-28. State funding to schools is on a per-pupil basis, so even as the amount of funding per student increases, the increase could be offset by continuing enrollment declines.
Source: The Lawrence Times
City officials seek community input regarding “Pittsburg 150”
Pittsburg is preparing for its 150th birthday and the community has to opportunity to help plan the celebration. According to a press release from the city of Pittsburg, the celebration “Pittsburg 150” is a year-long celebration honoring the community’s past and highlighting its resilience and progress. “Celebrate Pittsburg is a group representing organizations across the community that is working with the City of Pittsburg to create a structure for a year-long, community-wide celebration,” says City of Pittsburg Community Development Specialist Sarah Runyon. “We want businesses, civic groups, churches, schools, individuals, and anyone else to feel ownership in this milestone.” City officials say participants of any age will be able to stop in and jot down any ideas or memories. The planning meeting is set for Thursday, March 28 from 5:30 P.M. to 7 P.M. at Root Coffeehouse and Block 22 Co-Work Space in Pittsburg.
Source: KOAM News
Citizens talk pros, cons of proposed lake project
Concerns about state legislation that would create a lake and other developments in the northwest part of Bourbon County drew a crowd of more than 100 people to a community meeting on the subject Friday evening in Mapleton. The meeting, which was led by Joe Bisogno, owner of Timber Hills Lake Ranch in Mapleton, provided a forum for county residents and others to voice questions about Kansas Senate Bill 497, which according to Kansas District 13 Sen. Tim Shallenburger, who introduced the bill, has been removed from a legislative committee after hearing concerns from the public.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
FSCC to switch to 4-day class week starting fall of 2024
A few schools across the 4-States are testing 4-day class weeks and FCCC is also giving it a shot. Fort Scott Community College announces the plan to move to a 4-day class week on a Facebook post. According to the post, the school is making the change in hopes students will have more study time and relaxation. The move to 4-day class weeks is expected to begin the fall semester of 2024.
Source: KOAM News
Pittsburg Installs 14 Cameras: Deputy Chief of Police Clarifies Purpose
Some Pittsburg residents have noticed the 14 cameras installed around the city, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. Speculations ran rampant on social media platforms. “I hope it’s not so they can start charging us for driving on the highways,” expressed one resident, while another voiced, “They want to track our every move.” Others labeled the initiative as “unconstitutional” and compared it to “Big Brother.” In an attempt to answer these concerns, KOAM reached out to the Pittsburg Deputy Chief of Police for clarification on the purpose and function of the cameras. “One of the speculations that we’ve heard is privacy concerns, which are a big deal. But this going to be more of a societal question than it is our question to ask right now,” said Pittsburg Deputy Chief of Police Ben Henderson. “The cameras are available as a technology and they’ve been shown to actually help detect and reduce crime. So while they’re available, I think we should make the best opportunity we have to utilize these to help the citizens of our community.” According to the Pittsburg Deputy Chief of Police, the cameras capture a one-time snapshot of vehicles and retain the images for 30 days. These images are then checked against the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database for associations with wanted persons, stolen vehicles, or missing persons alerts.
Source: KOAM News
Rural area EMS departments in Kansas facing staffing shortage, potential closures
A southern Kansas county is in danger of losing one of its EMS departments as rural area EMS departments are being stretched thin. Barber County EMS coverage consists of two departments: one in Kiowa and one at the hospital in Medicine Lodge. Both are made up of volunteers. With many of them now at retirement age and the inability to recruit younger people for a position that is not full-time pay, EMS and County leaders say they are looking for solutions. Barber County Commissioner Michael Roe says this is an issue faced statewide. “Out of 105 counties, I’d say half of them are concerned or very concerned about their EMS and their volunteer services,” said Roe. Barber County Emergency Manager Mike Loreg says several volunteers in both departments are nearing retirement. Losing qualified replacements to areas that will pay full-time positions has become a serious concern. “We seem to be a training ground for the bigger services; it takes two jobs for people to make ends meet, a lot of these folks are going to urban areas or moving to the urban areas or they’re commuting to the urban areas, which leaves them less time to volunteer,” said Loreg. He says fewer volunteers are able to be on standby and still work to make ends meet. “Our local employers, that used to allow these folks to go on calls, they’re needing them at their employment and they’re not wanting their folks to leave for 4-5 hours at a time,” said Loreg. Barber County sent residents a survey to see what they think of the service being provided.
Source: KSN-TV
Garden City cleaning up tornado damage despite blizzard-like conditions
Cleanup continues despite blizzard-like conditions after a tornado caused damage in Garden City. A National Weather Service team surveyed the damage Monday morning. They say the tornado was an EF1 with winds of 90 miles per hour. It started around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The path was 2.5 miles long and 50 yards wide. The NWS did not issue a tornado warning for the storm. According to KSN Storm Track 3 Meteorologist Jack Maney, Garden City saw a 30-degree difference in temperatures. Cleanup crews have been out since 9 a.m. working on cleaning up some of the mess caused by this tornado. This is some of the worst of the damage in this residential neighborhood just east of U.S. Highway 83. In the video above, you can see fences that have been knocked over; nothing is left but metal supports. You might wonder where all the knocked-down wood is. Crews were in the alleyway earlier in the day, using heavy machinery to pick up pieces of broken fence. Homeowners in the area were already told earlier today to bring other debris to the curb to be disposed of. Garden City Public Works & Utilities Director Mike Muirhead says the City was on high alert leading up to the tornado with people on call from every department.
Source: KSN-TV
Shawnee could use grant to add exercise area at city park
An outdoor fitness court could be part of $3.8 million in improvements coming to Garrett Park in Shawnee this year. As part of a plan to build 5,000 courts in the the U.S. by 2030, the National Fitness Campaign awarded the City of Shawnee $40,000 to build an exercise area at the park off of West 47th Street near Monticello Road. The court would be incorporated into a $3.8 million redevelopment plan for Garrett Park, which also includes improvements to its playground, parking lot and sidewalks. The Shawnee City Council will consider whether to accept the grant at tonight’s meeting at 7 p.m. at Shawnee City Hall. The court’s equipment uses bodyweight exercises intended for adults of all ages, abilities and fitness levels. “The intent of it is to provide opportunities for free fitness areas for the public to use,” said Tonya Lecuru, Shawnee’s parks and recreation director. It features seven exercise zones: Core, Squat, Push, Lunge, Pull, Agility and Bend. It guides people through them via a downloadable app and QR codes they can scan. It will also incorporate art and social opportunities for people to gather and workout. “Monticello in itself is a really highly used area for walkers, bikers and runners,” Lecuru said. “It just kind of adds to the overall opportunities for people to have healthy choices within the parks.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Overland Park police officials say shoplifting is a ‘crisis.’ What does the data say?
In recent public presentations to city leaders, Overland Park police officials have called shoplifting and retail crimes a “crisis.” The statement, made by Interim Police Chief Simon Happer during the Jan. 10 Overland Park City Council Public Safety Committee, followed two relatively high-profile incidents involving shoplifting that seriously endangered bystanders. “It’s been a big crisis,” Interim Chief Happer said. But a review of data the Post obtained through public records requests tells something of a different story. Those figures suggest that, in fact, the prevalence of reported retail thefts and arrests are not increasing but staying broadly static over the past decade. That being said, department officials say they aren’t so worried about run-of-the-mill shoplifting but what they call organized retail theft. Happer said the department and the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office are working together to “put an end to this crisis of these thefts.” “It’s run and grabs,” he said. “They walk in, they grab as much as they can, they walk out.” A review of data the Post obtained through public records requests suggests — despite a few headline-grabbing incidents — combined reports and arrests stemming from shoplifting and retail theft remain below their pre-pandemic peaks.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Municipal Bond Trends for March 26, 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.
Celebrating ag’s impact focus of new public awareness campaign
An idea designed to shine a light on agriculture’s role in Franklin County has sparked a regional effort celebrating the contributions of local farmers and producers throughout a three-county area. Across Franklin, Anderson and Miami counties, brightly colored banners are posted as a reminder of agriculture’s role in local communities. The banners are being used to increase public awareness as part of National Agriculture Month and National Agriculture Week, which was observed last week with several special local events.
Source: Ottawa Herald
Municipal Bond Trends for March 25, 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.
Fed holds rates steady and maintains three cuts coming sometime this year
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady as expected and signaled it still plans multiple cuts before the end of the year. Following its two-day policy meeting, the central bank’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee said it will keep its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a range between 5.25%-5.5%, where it has held since July 2023.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Barbie’s world in Wyandotte County? Mattel plans to build theme park near Kansas Speedway
Toy company Mattel, Inc. on Wednesday announced plans to open a $487 million amusement park in western Wyandotte County — marking the latest example of major development interest near the Kansas Speedway. Dubbed the Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City, the theme park would feature roller coasters, mini-golf, a theater, an indoor play arena, and a rooftop restaurant and bar. Rides and activities are to carry the company’s top-known brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie.
Source: KC Star Local News
Osawatomie considers program addressing stray cat issue
Osawatomie City Council members are considering a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to address the community’s stray cat problem, but opinions are mixed. Council members discussed the proposed program with Eunice Mollett of Four Kids For Kritters during the Feb. 22 council meeting. Mollett said she would train volunteers to set cat traps in the city. Captured feral cats would be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped before being released back where they were found. Mollett said she’d be willing to launch the program at no cost to the city.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Grow Clay County Director: Economic Development is changing
Since several organizations merged together to become Grow Clay County two and a half years ago, the organization has accomplished a lot, Grow Clay County Director Natalie Muruato said at last week’s Lions Club meeting. “Rural (economic development) can be very hard and very difficult, we have to look at it differently,” Muruato said after listing the organization’s accomplishments. “And not only that, now it’s not only about business attraction, it’s about people attraction. If you have the people, the businesses will come, the businesses will grow.”
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com
Lutz retires after 36 years with Butler County
Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works/Butler County Engineer will be hanging his hat at the end of March as he retires from his position. After working in the engineering department of Butler County for 36 years, he’s ready to move on with his wife. Engineering has always been a part of Lutz’s life. As his mother boasted at his retirement party, he was very bright even as a young boy. Coming from a small farm town in Kansas by the name of Olpe just over an hour northeast of Butler County, little Lutz had no idea where his future career would take him.
Source: Andover American