Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for September 7, 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.
A love for community: Local historian Charlie Troutner shares his passion for his hometown at Edgerton museum
Edgerton History Museum prepares for 10th anniversary in October Tucked away on the other side of City Hall on Nelson Street in downtown Edgerton sits a two-story house holding all the historical treasures of stories from the city’s past. Local lifetime resident and historian Charlie Troutner has meticulously curated artifacts, scraps, donations from residents past and present to share the story of Edgerton. Troutner said he volunteers out of love. “I feel like it is important for our residents to know the history of the town they live in…”
Source: Gardner News
More motions and requests for jury filed in the Pot-Bellied Pig case
The owner of Ginger the Pig requested an advisory jury to help hear the case as well as filed two separate motions to dismiss the case and strike information from the complaint against them. The City of Newton since May 10 has been in the process of seeking to remove a pot-bellied pig owned by Jessica D.Grigoreva. The City holding the pig is not allowed within the City by ordinance. During past public meetings, Grigoreva previously stressed the pig’s importance to her family and its service as an emotional support animal for her son. She said the family had had the pig for two years.
Source: Harvey County Now
Johnson County Government celebrates 166th anniversary of first meeting
The old courthouse, designed by famed Kansas architect George Washburn, was in operation from 1891-1952. A cornerstone from the courthouse is part of the Johnson County Square. The first meeting of Johnson County, as an organized local government initially led by an appointed “county tribunal,” is celebrating its 166th anniversary on Thursday, Sept. 7. Members of the tribunal were John T. Ector, John Evans and William Fisher Jr. They were appointed by Kansas Territorial Gov. Robert J. Walker. Dr. John T. Barton (founder of Olathe) was appointed county treasurer.
Source: Johnson County Kansas
Housing frustration prompts call for new city government in Prairie Village
Prairie Village residents soon will vote on a proposal that could restructure city government and remove multiple elected officials from office. After two days of testimony last week, Johnson County District Judge Rhonda Mason ruled Wednesday that one of three resident-led petitions can progress onto the November ballot. Earlier this summer, Stop Rezoning Prairie Village, a resident group opposing city-proposed housing initiatives, began collecting signatures on three petitions: one to restructure city zoning and two that would reshape how city government operates.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
New program helps juvenile offenders in Reno County
A new project in Reno County called Project YES (Youth Empowerment Services) works with juvenile offenders ages 10-17. “A lot of times we hear parents that really are struggling and need or want additional help with their kids,” Jessica Susee, Juvenile Intake and Assessment supervisor, said. “And they have done everything that they know to do, and they just need some additional support.” The program helps the juveniles to make positive changes and good life choices so they don’t have repeat offenses.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County workers get 8-weeks paid parental leave
As of Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission has adopted a parental leave policy for County employees. Eligible Sedgwick County employees can get eight weeks of paid leave after a birth, adoption, or placement of a foster child in their home. Before the commission voted, the County had no parental leave policy. Parents could use their paid sick leave or vacation pay to cover some of the time off. If they wanted a longer time, they could use the Family and Medical Leave Act, which is unpaid but protects their jobs. The County’s chief human resources officer, Sheena Schmutz, said adopting a parental leave policy could help the County improve staffing levels. She asked the commissioners to approve the eight weeks of paid leave.
Source: KSN-TV
Galesburg Days will be Sept. 15 and 16
Galesburg Days, which celebrates the town’s history and community, will take place next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16. Most events take place on Saturday, Sept. 16. On Friday, Sept. 15, the Galesburg Relief Fund building will have an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. The building is north of the middle school. The celebration kicks off Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7:15 a.m. with a 5K cemetery run.
Source: Parsons Sun
Alumni recall Allen Community College’s early days
With Allen Community College set to celebrate its centennial anniversary, the Register spoke with several former Red Devils on why ACC remains a special place in their hearts. Today, we speak to Red Devil alums George Catron, David Heard, Gary Hoffmeier, Ken and Kit McGuffin and Gary McIntosh. All attended Allen when it was still Iola Junior College, and located on the third floor of Iola High School. Ken McGuffin compared the third-floor environment to a New York City cocktail party, with hundreds of students, often shoulder to shoulder, moving from class to class.
Source: The Iola Register
Municipal-Bond Investors Pay a Hefty Price for Not Being Taxed
Municipal-bond investors are paying a greater premium than should be expected for the “pleasure of not being taxed,” a new study finds, often negating the bonds’ benefit. In a perfectly priced world, a muni bond would pay interest equivalent to a Treasury bond minus the investors’ tax burden on the Treasury and adjusted for liquidity and credit quality of the issuing state or municipality. But munis pay investors even less than that, according to the study, which appeared in a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper in June. On average, the study found, the yield of the muni bonds was nearly 15 basis points, or 0.15 percentage point, lower than what would be explained by their favorable tax status. “Investors are willing to accept a lower interest rate on their munis, which is the same as paying more,” says Francis Longstaff, professor of finance at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and co-author of the research. “It’s like they’re paying an extra tax-avoidance fee” for munis, just as they’re willing to pay more for the safety of Treasurys, he says.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets
Hoisington looking at city-owned pound
After about two decades of outsourcing animal control services to the local veterinary clinic, the City of Hoisington is looking to go back to self-service. At last Monday’s meeting of the Hoisington City Council, City Manager Jonathan Mitchell told council members that Hoisington Veterinary Hospital will terminate its city animal control contract effective Dec. 31, and so the city needs an alternative solution up and running by the first of the year. City council discussion of alternatives began in early August, when Mitchell informed council members that fees for services from the Hoisington Veterinary Clinic would be going up. Investigating the prospect of a city-owned facility ensued. Mitchell told the council that the city now has a limited time to find another alternative, and there are other time-sensitive issues to iron out of the city wants its own facility.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Shawnee adjusts fireworks rules — Here’s what’s different
The city of Shawnee is making some adjustments after the first summer of the city allowing for the limited sale and usage of fireworks. On Monday, the Shawnee City Council voted 7-1 to make a series of amendments to the city’s fireworks ordinance. Most notably, the city shortened by a day the time for when fireworks can be sold legally around the Fourth of July. The city is also exploring whether to drop its lottery for handing out permits to sell fireworks and instead use a system that prioritizes vendors who are local and have sold fireworks with good reviews in the past.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Streetlight inventory reviewed for the City of Edgerton
Edgerton city officials are reviewing the community’s streetlights as they develop plans to modernize them after a 2022 citizen survey showed residents were dissatisfied with the quality and number of streetlights throughout the city. … The city has 294 streetlights within its city limits. Of those, 120 residential street lights are 10 to 15 years old and owned by Evergy, but leased to the city. The lighting at Logistics Park and the Homestead Street interchange bridge are owned by the City of Edgerton. …[engineer’s] staff used a collector app to document each fixture with photographs and looked at inventory types of poles and lights, rated them from poor to good.
Source: Gardner News
Buhler High School ‘leading by example’ during sports official shortage
The high school football season kicks off this week amidst a shortage of referees from the middle school level all the way up to varsity. There’s one high school in Reno County that’s trying to do something about it. Buhler High School has a half dozen teachers and administrators who also serve as game referees and officials. It’s also one of only a handful of schools across the state that is offering a class in sports officiating. The classrooms and hallways at Buhler High School are filled with current and possibly future football and basketball referees. “Within a few walking steps, there’s three of us that are on a football crew together. We have another crew member on our crew that’s at the middle school. And we have a retired teacher who’s our white hat who’s in our building every day doing some things,” says teacher and girl’s golf head coach Brennan Torgerson.
Source: KSN-TV
Splash Pad opening postponed amid supply chain issues, water crisis
The Strong City Splash Pad opening will be delayed, amid a statewide water crisis putting strain on many communities’ water supply. Wednesday evening, the Strong City Council made the decision to postpone the opening of the new splash pad, which was tentatively set to open over the Labor Day weekend before supply chain issues delayed the final touches on the pad. With the severe drought conditions threatening the state’s water supply, the grand opening could be postponed until next year. “With so many struggling during these extremely dry days and delays in some equipment, we will more than likely save our grand opening for Spring,” Mayor Lydia Simmons said in a Facebook post. “Huge thanks to those who have worked so hard and volunteered their time. What a great community we live in.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
‘We want to stay in the area’: Burlington breaks ground on new chips manufacturing plant
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, along with Coffey County commissioners and leadership from Secure Semiconductor Manufacturing, broke ground on a new 30,000 square foot facility Friday afternoon. The facility will be located just north of the Coffey County Airport on U.S. Highway 75. SSM is a microelectronics manufacturer who will primarily supply semiconductor components for EMP Shield and other semiconductor manufacturers across the United States as part of a $1.9 billion investment that includes a partnership with Flint Hills Technical College and area high schools to provide the necessary training for potential employees. Gov. Laura Kelly announced the project in February. SSM’s $20 million investment into the region is projected to create 64 jobs, and along with producing semiconductor components, the company will also provide rapid prototyping for other manufacturers across both U.S. defense and private sector applications.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Wichita Public Library opens library card design contest
The Wichita Public Library is asking for designs from customers for three new library cards that will be introduced next year. A contest is underway through 5 p.m. on Friday, October 27th for people in three age categories to submit designs. The categories are kids ages 5-12, teens age 13-17, and adults 18 and older. The rules call for one entry per person and the artwork must be in color, original and not published elsewhere, and it should be free of copyright restrictions. … The public will choose the winner in each category on social media platforms. The winners will be announced in January and the cards will go out in February, 2024.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Russell gets over $2 million from FEMA for power upgrades
The city of Russell has been awarded over $2 million from a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities” program. A news release from FEMA says the grant program is intended to help states, local communities, tribes and territories fund projects that reduce the risks from disasters and “emphasize the need for resilient infrastructure.” Russell received a total of $2,039,650 to fund the project’s second phase, which will rebuild the entire power distribution system from north Russell city limits from St. John Street to Culp and 9th Street to the 1900 block of North Main. In all, 124 FEMA grants totaling $1.8 billion in federal cost share were chosen among all 10 FEMA regions in 38 states, including 115 communities, one Native American tribe, territories and the District of Columbia. Final grant figures will be available when the projects are completed.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita considering policy for fines regarding retaliatory landlords
Wichita is considering fines for landlords who retaliate against tenants who are otherwise in good standing. The proposed ordinance introduced Aug. 22 to City Council would penalize landlords who evict or raise rent within six months of a tenant’s complaint to the city or landlord about housing conditions. It would not apply to tenants who are late on rent or fail to uphold other tenant responsibilities. The council has not yet voted on the ordinance. State law makes it technically illegal for landlords to retaliate against tenants for complaining to city inspectors. But there is no agency to enforce the rule. “There’s nowhere to make complaints other than some kind of discrimination complaint,” said Nate Johnson, an assistant city attorney for Wichita. The proposed ordinance is based on a similar one Topeka passed in July.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Kansas $451 million project to spread high-speed internet statewide
Jade Piros de Carvalho sits in the control center of an ambitious $451 million, five-year initiative to deliver high-speed connectivity to tens of thousands of Kansans left behind by an internet revolution intersecting commerce, education, health care and entertainment. Piros de Carvalho, director of the Kansas Office of Broadband Development, was appointed in 2022 after working for internet service provider IdeaTek and serving on the Hutchinson City Council, including three terms as mayor. Her job with the state is to facilitate growth in affordable, reliable internet for homes and businesses. Passage of federal legislation prompted the National Telecommunication Information and Administration to earmark $451 million to Kansas for the purpose of narrowing the digital divide.
Source: KAKE – News