Kansas Municipal News
Flushable wipes clog up city resources
Toilet clogs can be a pain for homeowners, but flushing wipes may turn into an issue for neighbors, as well. Newton’s public works recently spent time unclogging a large sewer blockage caused by flushable wipes. Suzanne Loomis, director of public works, said the wipes are a problem because although they’re labeled as flushable, they don’t dissolve, and they clog lines. Loomis said marketing them as flushable is a problem, because it’s misleading and makes people think they’re safe to flush.
Source: Harvey County Now
Rejecting car wash plan sparks debate on downtown Overland Park’s future
A new Tommy’s Express Car Wash location proposed in downtown Overland Park won’t be able to move forward due to concerns about whether it would fit in with the city’s long-term plans to reinvest in the corridor…. Councilmembers who voted to deny the plans for the Tommy’s Express worried that the car wash fails to support the community’s goal of remaking its downtown into a more pedestrian-friendly urban core.
Source: Johnson County Post
JoCo cities say bills threaten local control
Cities in Johnson County are lining up in opposition to two bills circulating in the Kansas Legislature that take aim at municipalities’ powers when it comes to zoning and citizen petitions. One bill would sharply curtail a city’s ability to rezone private property, and the other would strengthen petitioners’ efforts to put a question on a local ballot, circumventing a city’s ability to stop it.
Source: Johnson County Post
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-3: Election-Day Buffer Zone
Synopsis: County election officers may constitutionally prohibit electioneering on private property within 250 feet of a polling place on election day. Cited herein: K.S.A. 21-6602; 21-6611; 25-2430; 25-2435.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-2: Transient Guest Tax
Synopsis: The Transient Guest Tax Act is a nonuniform act. As such, a county may exempt itself from provisions of the Act under its home-rule powers through a charter ordinance or resolution. Sherman County’s Charter Resolution No. 18 was a permissible use of its statutory authority. However, once it exempted itself, Sherman County cannot then require the Kansas Department of Revenue to collect the tax. Cited herein: K.S.A. 12-1696; K.S.A. 12-1697; K.S.A. 12-1698; K.S.A. 12-1699; K.S.A. 12-16,113; K.S.A. 19-101; K.S.A. 19-101a; K.S.A. 19-101b; K.S.A. 75-704.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
City manager pushes for updated Newton city plan
After looking over the current comprehensive plan for the City of Newton, planning commissioners realized that much of the plan had already been done. Daniela Rivas, Newton’s city manager, said at the planning commission meeting on Monday, March 4, that she would like to see a “refresh” of the plan as well as begin work for the new comprehensive plan. The current plan deals with the city’s goals for several areas, such as land use and transportation. City employees said the plan is a guide for the direction they take. The current plan is for 2010 to 2030.
Source: Harvey County Now
Wichita City Council lifts ban on corporate political donations, with one requirement
The Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to lift a short-lived ban on corporate campaign contributions to city candidates. The rollback of the campaign finance reform was approved 7-0 as council members came together in support of an amendment requiring candidates to report the name of the principal owner of the company that gave to their campaign. Another amendment introduced by council member Brandon Johnson that would have banned the practice of giving multiple donations through different companies failed 3-4 without the support of the council’s three Republican members or Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian. In cases where one limited liability company is owned by another, candidates for Wichita mayor and City Council will be required to list the name of the parent LLC’s owner in their campaign finance reports.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
USD 259 parents petition to stop closure of six schools
After the Wichita Public Schools board voted to close six schools, parents are petitioning to have the decision reviewed on the state level. Parents KSN News has spoken to are upset, and you can see it. In the video above, you can see signs dotting a lawn, protesting the BOE decision and encouraging parents to get involved. On Tuesday, parents started going door to door to get a petition signed trying to stop these closures. Parents say closing the six schools was a decision they don’t feel they had a say in. “I think it’s pretty evident that most of us already felt like the decision was made when we walked in the building,” said Thomas Montiel, a parent at Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School. “We found out the same day the staff members found out and the staff members only got notified I think an hour or two before the news stations published their articles so we all were in shock together,” said Ruth Lehman, a parent at Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School. The district says no one likes to close schools and that their hands were tied.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita Fire Department to host Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring
The Wichita Fire Department will be hosting another Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening starting in April and go through the beginning of June. Although the WFD has not released what time the classes start, they say the classes will last 2-3 hours and take place at the Regional Training Center, 4746 E. 31st St. S. #4494. The last meeting will be held at a City Council meeting to recognize the participants for completing the academy. (…) “The Wichita Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy is dedicated to increasing public awareness by familiarizing and informing the citizens of Wichita, our customers, and associates of the various divisions, duties, and responsibilities of the Fire Department,” said the WFD. “Through education, demonstration, and participation, class members will better understand what we do, how we do it, and why.” The WFD says after completing the program, participants will be able to use their knowledge to create a safer home and work environment as well as educate others about the Wichita Fire Department and the services it provides to the community.
Source: KSN-TV
Abilene in the running for best historic small town contest
A small town situated in the heart of Kansas is in the running for a national contest hosted by USA Today. The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in a press release on Monday, March 4, that Abilene will be a finalist for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice ‘Best Historic Small Town’ contest. Abilene came close to the number-one spot in 2022 and 2023. “This honor is truly remarkable!” Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Julie Roller-Weeks said. “Achieving this recognition once is a significant accomplishment, and securing it for six consecutive years in a nationwide contest against other exceptional small towns is beyond imagination!” Abilene has routinely appeared in the top ten for the contest due to the town’s rich history. Places like the Seelye Mansion, Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, Old Abilene Town and more are part of what makes Abilene stand out. “Embracing Abilene as one of the nation’s best historic small towns also embraces the impact tourism plays: a positive ripple effect, boosting our local economy and enriching the lives of our residents,” said Jessica Goodale, Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation Director.
Source: KSN-TV
Governor Kelly Announces More than $14M to Improve 37 Kansas Airports
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 58 projects at 37 airports have been selected to receive $14.3 million through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP). “Improvements made to our aviation infrastructure are vital to local economies, even in rural parts of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These enhancements ensure that no matter where they are in the state, businesses and communities have every opportunity to grow and prosper.” The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 135 applications seeking more than $84 million for projects in this round of KAIP grants. The selected projects focus on pavement preservation, safety, and air ambulance accessibility. “These general aviation airport improvements couldn’t happen without local partners and KDOT working together,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “Programs like this help Kansans have access to renewed and reliable transportation options available to them in every region of the state.” Local matching funds are required, though the amount varies depending on the project. With the matching local funds, the total KAIP project value is more than $34 million.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Powell reinforces position that the Fed is not ready to start cutting interest rates
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday reiterated that he expects interest rates to start coming down this year, but is not ready yet to say when. In prepared remarks for congressionally mandated appearances on Capitol Hill Wednesday and Thursday, Powell said policymakers remain attentive to the risks that inflation poses and don’t want to ease up too quickly. “In considering any adjustments to the target range for the policy rate, we will carefully assess the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,” he said. “The Committee does not expect that it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent.” Those remarks were taken verbatim from the Federal Open Market Committee’s statement following its most recent meeting, which concluded Jan. 31. In total, the speech broke no new ground on monetary policy or the Fed’s economic outlook. However, they indicated that officials remain concerned about not losing the progress made against inflation and will make decisions based on incoming data rather than a preset course. “We believe that our policy rate is likely at its peak for this tightening cycle. If the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year,” Powell said in “But the economic outlook is uncertain, and ongoing progress toward our 2 percent inflation objective is not assured.” He noted again that lowering rates too quickly risks losing the battle against inflation and likely having to raise rates further, while waiting too long poses danger to economic growth.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Solar Regs not about single project
Thursday evening, Feb. 29, the Barton County Planning Commission held a public discussion meeting at Barton Community College campus. The Barton County Planning Commission will hold another meeting Monday, March 4, to begin working through the feedback that has been received on the DRAFT changes to the “Current” Barton County Zoning Regulations – Version II as they pertain to Solar Energy Conversion Systems (SECS) and the future development of Large Scale Non-Commercial SECS or Commercial Scale SECS in Barton County. This meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Upstairs Meeting Room at the Hoisington Activity Center at 1200 Susank Road, Hoisington. The public is invited to attend. Copies of the DRAFT Zoning Articles and the DRAFT Zoning Map are available for review on the county website.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Etzanoa annexation comes back to Ark City commission
Arkansas City commissioners will consider an ordinance today to approve an annexation petition filed by the Etzanoa Conservancy for its property on 28379 81st Road. Since the property does not adjoin the city, Cowley County Commissioners were first required to determine whether that annexation would interfere with the growth or development of that area or in any other incorporated city within the county. The county approved that request in February. The location is home of the future Etzanoa Cultural and Immersion Center, based on the ancient Native American community here that is expected to benefit the surrounding area with economic development related to tourism. The Conservancy had requested the annexation so that the center could make use of city services and municipal utilities. Work has already started to clear the property. The proposed 80-acre museum and research center would include a 15,000 square foot facility, walking trails, a replica village, outdoor classroom and a simulation dig area. The conservancy hopes to break ground in June, and open sometime in 2026. If approved, commissioners will then consider an ordinance to rezone the property from low-density to high density residential.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Westwood kicks off planning for new park after legal dispute over other green space nearby
The city of Westwood’s park planning steering committee is meeting for the first time on March 4. The committee is charged with guiding city officials on development of the new 3.8-acre park that is part of the Karbank Real Estate Company’s office-park project headed to West 50th Street and Rainbow Boulevard. Karbank plans to build six office-retail buildings along Rainbow Boulevard on the sites of Joe D. Dennis Park and the former Westwood Christian Church. In exchange for building on Joe D. Dennis Park, Karbank is giving the city of Westwood money to purchase the original Westwood View Elementary building and build a replacement park on that site just to the west.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Homebody: The good and the bad of home associations
A homeowner association (HOA) is typically a nonprofit corporation within a community of housing. Most HOAs exist in planned multi-unit community projects such as condominiums and townhomes or in newer developments filled with new construction. Membership is mandatory and the association is governed by a board of directors made up of elected community residents once control is passed off from the developer. Practically all incorporated HOAs are subjected to state laws in addition to unique governing restrictive covenants and bylaws. These restrictive covenants and bylaws define community standards so as to protect property values. It’s this intention that is the good of HOAs. The bad? That’s mostly in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately, most homebuyers never read the governing documents of an HOA representing a community. This has a couple potential negative effects. First, the buyers could unknowingly violate the covenants. An example of this would be if a homeowner installed a wood privacy fence only to get served a notice by the HOA that the wood violates the restriction of only allowing aluminum fencing. This would result in the owner being required to either legally fight the restriction or to remove the violation and re-install the approved fence, costing both time and money.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
New Johnson County coffee shop inspired by nature opens in an old fire station
Birds chirping overhead, horses galloping in the distance — and in the middle of the rural scene, a coffee shop. The building’s mural, depicting a field of sunflowers and rolling hills, matches its serene backdrop. Owner Courtney Nelson said Station 3 Coffee has quickly become a hit with bicyclists and walkers on the winding trails nearby. Over the weekend, a group of cyclists were racing down the trails to try their first cup of Station 3 coffee before it closed for the day, Nelson said. Station 3 opened Friday near Shawnee Mission Park at 19115 Midland Drive in Shawnee. It features a full-service coffee bar with pastries. Its indoor and outdoor seating draws neighbors and park-goers. “We’ve been pleased with the turnout,” Nelson said. “The dogs, the kids, everybody enjoying it … coming together and meeting the neighbors.” Customers walk through the front door of a brick building covered in painted sunflowers and into an entry area with long windows and high ceilings. Natural light pours onto a red tiled bar with a marbled countertop. On one half of the coffee shop, a painting of Mill Creek and Little Mill Creek wraps around the room. On the other, a mural of a rocky, mountainous scene. (That’s in honor of Nelson’s son, who’s a climber.) Station 3 tees and mugs are on display in a light-washed wooden hutch, available for sale. Outside, a spacious patio with an outdoor bar, wooden bench and a handful of bright yellow tables.
Source: Joco 913 News
Lawsuit against Dodge City’s voting districts could affect other Kansas communities
More than half of the population in Dodge City, Kansas, is Latino. But in the past 20 years members of the community argue they have never had the power to elect city officials of their choice. A federal judge heard arguments last week in a lawsuit that aims to change this, with critics of Dodge City’s current local government structure arguing it denies representation and voting rights to its Hispanic and Latino residents. The outcome of the case holds major consequences for the Southwest Kansas city. And if Dodge City loses, other Kansas cities may face their own legal challenges or calls for change. The lawsuit, filed in 2022 by the ACLU of Kansas and other voting rights groups on behalf of two Dodge City voters, argues that Dodge City’s at-large voting system violates federal voting rights law because it denies Hispanic and Latino residents who live in the same part of the city the ability to elect representatives of their choosing. Several other Kansas communities also use at-large voting systems – where every city council member must be elected by a vote from the entire city, rather than a specific district.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for March 5, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for March 4, 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.