Kansas Municipal News
Marion revives historic district
An effort to get Marion’s downtown designated as a historic district — opening the door to tax credits to pay for building improvements — will continue after a five-year hiatus touched off by 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Renovations ‘seem to create more energy,’ Marysville developer says
Marysville’s iconic Koester Block rust-brick buildings, which date to the town’s early days of the 19th century, stand to see new life once housing is added to their upper stories.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Sand Creek path a huge project, both difficult and ‘cool’
The City recently received an offer for an estimated $3 million from the State of Kansas to help extend the Sand Creek trail by 1.2 miles and connect its two pieces.
The City has had plans and estimates for the project, but until now, no funding existed, and solving the exact details was not something to spend staff time on.
Source: Harvey County Now
Lt. Governor Toland Announces Rural Economic Development Grant Recipients
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the award recipients for the Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. In this round of funding, more than $250,000 was distributed among 12 recipients across the state. “Through the SEED grant program, we’re helping our small and rural communities grow stronger and become more resilient,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These investments will drive economic development, enhance local services and create a more prosperous future across the state.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Building community
The chief has a vested interest in taking care of his town. For the past three years, Adelman and his two part-time officers have done a lot to gain the trust of Mulberry’s 400-plus residents using what Adelman calls proactive police work. Since Adelman became chief, Mulberry’s crime rate has dropped significantly. He and his officers have taken the time to learn everyone’s name, instilling a sense of community that was lost for a time.
Source: Morning Sun
���Happiness is a warm puppy���
A local city is distributing free straw to help citizens insulate outside dog houses and pet shelters during some of the coldest days of the winter, so far. A yearly occurrence, the city of Arma is giving free straw to area pet owners as a way to keep their pets from freezing during the winter season. According to assistant city clerk Vanessa Kent, the straw is acquired by the city from Blue Ribbon Farm & Home, an animal feed store in Pittsburg.
Source: Morning Sun
USD 383 to outsource groundskeeping to local contractors
The USD 383 school board on Wednesday unanimously voted to outsource mowing and upkeep services to two outside companies, making up for staff shortages and saving the district some cash.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Andover Mayor Price says connection to El Dorado lake can help solve water problem
With Wichita increasing their water rates, which passes onto Andover residents, Mayor Ronnie Price says the issue could be solved by connecting Andover to the El Dorado Lake. The Wichita City Council approved a 6.75% rate increase for water on Tuesday, December 3, effective with bills issued on or after January 1, 2025. Low-volume water users will see their bills rise by $3.21, mid-volume users will experience a $4.79 increase, and high-volume users will face an increase of $9.59. The rate increase comes due to inflation, operational adjustments, and other challenges.
Source: Andover American
Local governments should provide better access to information
The City of Arkansas City is a model in providing public access to its City Commission meetings and information about those meetings in advance so that residents know what their local representatives are up to and how their tax dollars could and are being spent.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
City Hall might finally get into historic district
Arkansas City’s downtown historic district be reshaped with the removal of some properties and the addition of others — City Hall, the police department and Ben Givens Park. Arkansas City commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the city to apply for a $25,000 Historic Preservation Fund Grant from the National Park Service to change the boundaries.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Winfield to study future usage of city hall, police station
A study to determine the future use of Winfield City Hall and the current police station was approved 3-0 Tuesday by Winfield city commissioners at their regular meeting. The study was approved with Agora Architecture of Winfield, for a total of $44,950. The study will be funded with capital improvement sales tax dollars. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Swiss rail company coming to Winfield
Schwihag, a global leader in railroad equipment and track design, has selected Winfield as the location for its new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility. The site is located at 1108 Industrial Blvd. in Winfield, in the former Fluid Kinetics building.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Sales tax for HCH moving forward
A special retailers’ sales tax to solely benefit Holton Community Hospital operations is moving forward after talks between HCH administrators and the Jackson County Commissioners. During a recent commission meeting, the commissioners agreed to formally ask Kansas House of Representative Francis Awerkamp of St. Marys to introduce a county-wide quarter percent sales tax during the current legislative session on behalf of the hospital. If passed during the legislative session, the quarter percent retailers’ sales tax would be placed on a ballot during the November general election for county voters to approve or reject.
Source: Holton Recorder
Gardner Edgerton schools to ask voters to approve $100M bond issue. What would it pay for?
The Gardner Edgerton School District officially kicked off its school bond campaign earlier this month. Voters who live within the school district’s boundaries will vote this spring on the proposed $100 million bond. If approved, the bond will bring in funding to pay for an early education center, a new district service center and a new elementary school south of Pioneer Ridge Middle School, among other proposed projects.
Source: Johnson County Post
Johnson and Wyandotte county homeless shelters filled over capacity during extreme cold
Persistent cold this month has meant more unhoused people in the Kansas City area have needed warm, safe places to spend the night. But neither Johnson or Wyandotte counties have enough beds, and consistently have to turn people away.
Source: KCUR
Goodland police have new tool to detect skimmers
The Goodland Police Department has a new tool to prevent credit and debit card fraud. The department applied for and was approved for a $470 grant from the Goodland Lions Club. The funds were used to purchase a Skim Scan device. Built by Berkley Varitronics Systems, the device can detect if card skimmers are installed on ATMs, gas pumps, and other devices that take credit and debit cards.
Source: KSN-TV
12 small Kansas communities receive SEED grants
12 small communities in Kansas are sharing $250,000 in grant funding from the Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. The grants fund programs focused on economic development and revitalization efforts to improve the quality of life in communities of 5,000 people or less.
Source: KSN-TV
Salina company to close, laying off 98 workers
A Salina company is closing and laying off almost 100 workers. Coperion K-Tron notified the mayor, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and KansasWorks that it is closing its manufacturing facility at 606 N. Front Street by the end of the year, and 98 people will lose their jobs. “This closure is expected to be permanent and will affect all employees, with the exception of approximately 50 roles, mostly in engineering and sales, which will be transitioned to remote work roles,” Mike Gregozeski, Coperion K-Tron Salina Inc., wrote.
Source: KSN-TV
Stafford County receiving $25 million for transload facility
Stafford County is receiving $25 million to build a transload facility in St. John. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Port Authority of Stafford County will use the grant to design and construct a transload facility, grain terminal, and industrial park next to the BNSF rail line in St. John. The location will allow for the shipment of grain, commodities, and other products to be shipped by truck or by rail.
Source: KSN-TV
Leaders to discuss how to resuscitate local economy in wake of report
According to a report earlier this year by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan under-performed in several metrics that indicate economic health. Manhattan posted 0% job growth, according to a 2024 report, which was well below that of the four peer cities the report used for comparison. For instance, Ames, Iowa, had 10.1% growth, and Columbia, Missouri was at 8.2%. Morgantown, West Virginia had 7.8% job growth for the same period, and Stillwater, Oklahoma, was at 7.7%. Manattan was near the bottom compared to the other middle-of-the-country college towns in other economic categories, as well.
Source: 1350 KMAN