Kansas Municipal News
Celebrating Heritage: Arvonia hosts history preservation tour
A busload of tourists converged on tiny Arvonia, Kansas, on Labor Day, ready to learn about the historic Welsh settlement and efforts to restore and preserve local heritage. More than 30 people participated in the tour, a supplemental excursion offered through the North American Festival of Wales, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, the previous week. Arvonia Historical Preservation Society board members and volunteers prepared the restored Township Hall for lunch with wooden tables and benches, decorated with daffodils and small Welsh flags. Displays of local maps and platts, correspondence, newspaper articles, school records and other documents and pictures were set up around the room.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Kelly touts budding economic development as boon for state
With a number of economic initiatives propelling Kansas forward, Gov. Laura Kelly believes the State of Kansas is taking monumental steps to invigorate its economy and foster industry growth in the Emporia area. Kelly, who spoke to The Gazette this week, emphasized that this achievement is a direct outcome of the state’s strategic plan for economic development. This comprehensive plan, instated under her administration, provides a modern roadmap for growth — a departure from the outdated strategies that had hindered Kansas’ economic progress for decades.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Claflin Fire District receives donation from Anheuser-Busch
Claflin Fire District No. 1 has received a grant from Anheuser-Busch through the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program. Drinking water is used directly for firefighter comfort and safety. The grant included a case of powdered electrolyte replacement additive and 98 cases of canned drinking water, which is loaded to coolers on each truck and helps firefighters stay hydrated on fire calls.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Amid housing fight, Prairie Village residents confused by judge’s contradictory rulings
PV United, a group opposed to proposals to increase affordable housing in Prairie Village, circulated three petitions that would change the city’s government and zoning rules. A judge this week gave an oral ruling on which petitions could appear on the ballot in November, but later contradicted that decision in her written ruling.
Source: KCUR
Wichita city council to vote on short term rental regulations next week
If you ask Patricia Hileman why she and her family moved to the college hill neighborhood of Wichita 14 years ago, its a fairly simple answer. “I just like old houses and I love the trees that come with old houses and the community.” When she moved in, short term rentals like Airbnb were not really wide scale in Wichita. However since then more and more have popped up. She doesn’t oppose people having short term rentals but said, “I love having relationships with neighbors, and short term rentals, you don’t build relationships, they’re not going to be here, right?”
Source: KAKE – News
Overland Park Arboretum will open $22M visitor center this weekend
After years of planning, the new $22.7 million visitors center at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will open to the public this weekend. Named after a major donor to the project, Janet Long, the LongHouse Visitors Center will be the new entrance to the 300-acre arboretum. When guests enter the 21,000-square-foot building, they’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the gardens, ponds and natural scenery. The new center includes a gift shop, space for exhibits, meeting rooms and a café, as well as various rental spaces that can be used for weddings and community events.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Russell under mandatory water usage reduction
The City of Russell on Saturday called for a mandatory reduction in water usage. A news release from the city says Big Creek is one of the city’s two water sources and has stopped flowing over the lowhead dam immediately downstream from the city’s intake structure. This development caused the city to move to a Stage 2 Water Warning. Here are the following mandatory water conservation measures for the use of potable water from the City’s municipal water supply system:
Source: KSN-TV
At least 71 Kansas public schools have 4-day week schedules this year. Here’s where
More Kansas public school students than ever are attending classes only four days per week. Data from the Kansas State Department of Education lists 71 public schools with four-day weeks this year, up from 69 schools last year and just 56 the year before. These schools are located in 31 different school districts, mostly located in the southern and western portions of the state. New to the list this year is the West Elk school district, where two schools are adopting 4-day schedules for the first time.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Police, code enforcement shut down an illegal animal rescue in Parsons
Parsons Police Department and the city’s code enforcement officer have shut down an illegal animal rescue in Parsons. Community Service Officer Ricky Thompson has been conducting an investigation into the well-being and treatment of dogs in the 500 block of North 25th Street in Parsons. He learned about a potential illegal number of dogs in the area. While investigating Thompson met with the homeowner who had claimed to be running a nonprofit animal rescue. Thompson gathered details of the apparent business and contacted City Attorney Ross Albertini and the city Code Enforcement Officer Tyeler Riggs. Thompson and Albertini reviewed pictures of the animals and their living conditions.
Source: Parsons Sun
JoCo election office says it’s too late for Prairie Village petitions
It’s too late for any of the Prairie Village petitions to make it onto the Nov. 7 ballot, says the county election office. In a statement issued Friday evening regarding the three resident-led petitions, Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman said it was too late to add any additional items on the upcoming general election ballot. The statement came as the legal case over the petitions’ fate remains unresolved. The city and the group of residents pushing the petitions were still waiting Friday to receive a final ruling from Johnson County District Court Judge Rhonda Mason, who is deciding whether any of the three petitions are legally valid to put before voters.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Knife competition comes to Columbus, KS
The steel was sharp, the atmosphere charged with excitement, as Columbus, Kansas played host to an exhilarating Knife Competition today. This unique event brought together blade enthusiasts, forging aficionados, and fans of the hit TV show “Forged in Fire” for a day filled with impressive displays of craftsmanship and skill. The competition not only showcased the talents of those who participated but also reinforced the importance of passing down the tradition of bladesmithing to future generations.
Source: KOAM News
City commission to discuss future downtown plans
Manhattan city commissioners will go over the Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan during Tuesday’s upcoming meeting. Senior planner Ben Chmiel will present an update to the improvements made in downtown and present upcoming projects. Commissioners will take no action during the meeting because it is a work session.
Source: themercury.com
Is Wichita’s disorderly conduct law unconstitutional? Kansas Supreme Court to decide
The Kansas Supreme Court is poised to consider whether a provision of Wichita’s disorderly conduct ordinance unconstitutionally limits freedoms of speech and assembly protected under the First Amendment. On Tuesday, the court will hear an appeal brought by Gabrielle Griffie, the Project Justice ICT organizer who was sentenced to probation for her role in demonstrations demanding accountability after the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The city accused Griffie of planning the protest to engage in “disorderly conduct,” more specifically, engaging in “noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.” Griffie argued that the law in question infringes on a wide range of protected activities.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for September 8, 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 property tax increases have homeowners objecting and legislators looking at new laws
Despite record-breaking temperatures, an overflow crowd of frustrated taxpayers crammed into the Shawnee County Commission chambers recently to voice concerns about rising property taxes driven largely by growing home values. … It’s a scene playing out across the state as local governments hold public hearings on their budgets required by state law. Local budgets continue to rise and some taxpayers are frustrated as their property taxes increase and they feel their voices aren’t being heard. The interest shows that legislative action in recent years didn’t resolve concerns over rising property taxes. Lawmakers, local officials, and taxpayers alike are gearing up for action in the next legislative session. But local government officials are pushing back against the concerns, saying the budget growth is needed to simply provide the same services. “Inflation hurts the county as well as individuals,” said Bill Riphahn, chairman of the Shawnee County Commission. “We are consumers. We buy trucks. We buy asphalt. We buy all sorts of things. What hurts the general consumer hurts us as well.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Minneapolis building kept alive as The Farm and the Odd Fellows meeting place
he Farm and the Odd Fellows has transformed a century-old building to help “plant and cultivate relationships” in the Minneapolis community. Sitting at the corner of Second and Sheridan Streets in downtown Minneapolis, this business, which opened in May of 2021, isn’t just one thing for the community, but six different and unique pieces and parts, including a coffeehouse, pickleball court, brewhouse, brewpub and games environment, all in one location. The Farm and The Odd Fellows, 205 W. Second St. opened in 2021 to be a place for the community of Minneapolis to gather. The century-old building was renovated but continues to keep much of its history alive with details like original wooden floors and tin ceilings. Lynda Schneider, general manager at the Farm, said this place has been in the works for a few years for owners Ashley and Keir Swisher, who completely renovated the Odd Fellows building during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We actually opened the coffee café (and the pickleball court) in May of 2021,” Schneider said. “I believe the Seed (opened) right around the same time.”
Source: Salina Journal
Experience life as an inmate during this Saline County event celebrating its new jail
Those who might wonder what it is like to spend a night in jail will have the opportunity to try it in early November. The Saline County community is invited for a Slumber in the Slammer event hosted by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, where participants will experience life as an inmate without the usual prerequisite of breaking the law. Among other benefits, the event will aim to help spread community awareness of how inmates are treated and the day-to-day routines that take place in a jail facility.
Source: Salina Journal
Pittsburg Middle School unveils new facilities & more after $16.5 million bond project
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The historic Pittsburg Middle School building unveils some newly completed renovations Friday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of the $16.5 million bond project. New additions include a fully renovated auditorium and flexible learning spaces. Over the last ten years, administrators say certain sections of the 1921 building were unable to house students and staff. The new space now allows the middle school to function at full capacity. … “So we have a lot of open collaborative spaces. It was also built in such a way that if we do need to put up walls for additional classrooms as our student population continues to grow, we can do that, but we will function at capacity in this building, and we needed this space to grow,” said Richard Proffitt, Superintendent.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Update on Fort Scott water warning
“Because dry conditions normally can lead to fires,” said Dave Bruner, Fort Scott Fire Chief. That’s a big reason why officials with the Fort Scott Fire Department and School District are trying to limit their water usage. City officials announced water storage has fallen below 70% capacity on Tuesday — and will not recover in the usual amount of time. “We are on water conservation efforts right now, our lake levels are really low, they’re probably as low as they’ve been historically. And so the city has put out that they want us to conserve water,” said Destry Brown, Fort Scott School District Superintendent. Destry Brown is the superintendent of the Fort Scott School District and says they are going from watering the school’s soccer fields and courtyards multiple times a day — to once every other day for only 15 minutes. And the Fort Scott Fire Chief tells us — the department has to cancel their city-wide fire hydrant test, which they usually do every year.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Bridge projects in Kansas benefiting from BIL revenue
Bridge projects across Kansas are getting a boost thanks to two local bridge improvement programs benefiting from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Thirty-five local and off-system bridge projects across the Sunflower State will receive a combined total of $42.3 million – which combined with matching funds from the awarded cities and counties, comes out to $48.8 million. Governor Laura Kelly along with Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed announced the projects in Dodge City on Thursday. KDoT’s Off-System Bridge program (OSB) awarded $20.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funds to 20 projects. The Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program (KLBIP) awarded $21.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024 KDOT funds to 15 projects – with 16 bridges to be replaced plus 12 more to be removed.
Source: KSNF/KODE