Kansas Municipal News
Reno County offering orientation class for childcare providers
The Reno County Health Department will be holding a childcare orientation class in September. The orientation class is for adults interested in becoming childcare providers. It will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7, in the conference room of the Reno County Health Department, located at 209 W. 2nd Ave. in Hutchinson. The cost of the class is $20, but you will need to reserve your spot by calling Jeanette or Tammy at 620-694-2900.
Source: KSN-TV
Prairie Village takes legal action to keep petitions off ballot
The increasingly testy fight over three Prairie Village petitions to put rezoning and governance measures on the ballot is now going to court. The city announced Thursday afternoon that it has filed a lawsuit seeking to have the petitions declared “legally insufficient,” arguing that both the petitions and the process to gather signatures for them violated state laws. Because of those reasons, the city argues, the petitions should not be put on the ballot. Prairie Village city officials want a Johnson County judge to reach a “declaratory judgment” that will “once and for all” decide the legal status of the three citizen-led measures before the Nov. 7 general election.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for August 17, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for August 16, 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.
Pittsburg featured in KCUR’s Adventure! newsletter
The history of Pittsburg, Kansas, runs deep. Located in Crawford County — the Fried Chicken Capital of the World — the city started out as a mining camp. It became “New Pittsburgh” in 1876 (named for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), though it dropped the “New” and the “h” somewhere along the way. Now the southeast Kansas city is a center for academics, artists, entrepreneurs, and technology. … The city of Pittsburg is centered around the intersection of 4th and Broadway, where two of the original buildings are still standing. Check out the Downtown Walking Tour, which includes over 100 locations of historic buildings, mostly along Broadway. You can also see some of the city’s latest additions: murals by local artist Jenna Spencer brightening 100-year-old brick walls.
Source: KCUR
City of Salina looking to move public notices online
The City of Salina has started the process to move public notices onto the city’s website this week. During its meeting Monday, the Salina City Commission voted, on first reading, to “charter out” of a Kansas statute requiring it to publish legal notices in a print newspaper. This is the first step the city will need to take if it wishes to move such notices to the city’s website. “Adoption of this charter ordinance would allow, in the future, if the city commission decided to, to designate the city website as the official city newspaper,” said Shawn Henessee, assistant city manager.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for August 15, 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.
Girard City Clerk achieves MMC designation
Girard City Clerk Karen Buck recently earned the prestigious Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation from IIMC, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Inc. At Monday’s regular meeting, Mayor Mickey Pyle presented a plaque to Buck for her hard work and dedication towards obtaining the designation. The council members also expressed their appreciation to Buck during council comments. Marking the 33rd-ever clerk in the state of Kansas to obtain the MMC, the designation is granted only to municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements and have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community, and state.
Source: Morning Sun
Westwood neighbors push back on tall, colorful Rainbow project
A redevelopment project along Rainbow Boulevard in Westwood remains in the discussion phase amid recent concept changes. The Westwood Planning Commission on Aug. 7 discussed a preliminary development plan — along with two rezoning requests and two replatting requests — for the mixed-use project Mission Woods-based developer Karbank Holdings LLC, wants to build. After about three hours of hearing from the developer and dozens of public commenters, the planning commission decided to revisit the item to the September meeting. The most recent conceptual designs show taller, colorful buildings on the site, which sparked pushback from several residents who spoke at the meeting.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Wichita to close tax financing district in Old Town
Wichita City Council members have approved the closing of a tax financing district in Old Town. The Old Town Cinema Redevelopment District was established in 1999 with a project for a parking garage, a plaza and street improvements. The project included improvements to Rock Island and Mosley streets between 2nd and 3rd Streets. The city issued close to $5 million in debt to finance the project costs, using the increases in property tax revenue from the district. Mark Manning with the city’s finance department told the council that the debts have been paid and the district has reimbursed the city’s debt service fund for all expenses from the project.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Kansas sets $5.5 billion agricultural export record in 2022
Governor Kelly announced that agricultural exports reached $5.46 billion in 2022, the highest export total in decades. In a press release issued Tuesday, Kelly touted significant agriculture industry growth since she took office; citing $3.8 billion in exports in 2019. The top export for Kansas was red meat, which made up $2.1 billion (38.9%) of all agriculture exports. Second were cereals (including corn, wheat, and sorghum), and third was oil seed (primarily soybeans), making up 24.5% and 12.5% of total agricultural exports, respectively. Mexico was Kansas’ largest ag importer with $2.17 billion in 2022, Japan was the second largest with $781 million, and Canada was third with $594 million.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Derby set to decide sales tax future in general election
Following efforts that started back in fall 2022, the city is nearing a tipping point on an important question: Do Derby citizens want to pay a 1% (one cent) sales tax to help fund the city’s budget? It’s a question that will be answered in the Nov. 7 general election. After discussion with focus groups, a community survey was put out at the start of 2023 to help shape the future of sales tax utilization in Derby. From input received, top priorities identified by local residents were public safety, parks maintenance and street maintenance – with all three outlined as areas sales tax funds will go to should the ballot question be approved.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Loose dogs a big concern for many residents after vicious attacks
Halstead’s city council was met Monday night by a room full of residents with one thing on their mind: dog attacks. In total, 13 people voiced their concerns about dangerous dogs roaming free and the threat to everyone’s safety that those dogs impose. Bud Bryant started by saying that he was attacked by two pit bulls recently, and they drew blood. He said for several towns it’s a one-time deal and then the dog is euthanized. He said he was told that a one-time attack means the dogs can’t be in the city.
Source: Harvey County Now
A new dog park is coming to west Wichita
The Wichita City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to create a new dog park on the city’s west side. The 7-0 vote approves the design and construction of the dog park at Country Acres Park northwest of Central and Ridge Road. The 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Program contains $750,000 for design and construction and $50,000 for public art. The council proposal said the city has received many requests for a dog park on that side of town. The only other one on the west side is K-9 Rooster Dog Park at 21st Street North and Meridian.
Source: KAKE – News
New pickleball complex could be a noisy addition to southside Wichita
The Wichita City Council approved a sound study Tuesday to determine how loud the planned South Lakes Pickleball Complex will be and whether measures need to be taken to reduce noise. Neighbors and pickleball players seem excited about the building, which would be the biggest city-built pickleball complex in Wichita. Sound studies are standard procedure before breaking ground on big projects, according to the City. The sound of the plastic ball connecting with paddles is a welcome rhythm for lovers of the sport.
Source: KSN-TV
One Kansas school bans popular app over privacy concerns
Where do you draw the line with privacy? The Buhler school district has banned one app over privacy concerns for the new year. “As a district, we have blocked this app from all of our devices from our network,” said Buhler USD 313 superintendent Cindy Couchman. “And that is due to the privacy concerns that we noticed right away, and our technology director pointed out.” Concerns arose after the tech director for the school noticed some apps were sharing a lot of information and making it public. The latest app to get scrutiny is called Saturn – Time Together.
Source: KSN-TV
Argonia moves to four day school week, creating challenges for parents
As of Tuesday, there are no classes on Mondays for Argonia Public Schools. Many kids are happy about an extra day off, but some parents now need to find child care. The district’s superintendent believes they have taken steps to help with that issue. “One thing we did do, is we have day care available on Mondays for parents that have to work five days a week,” said Argonia Superintendent Rustin Clark. The cost of the daycare is $25 for the day, and they will provide a lunch for the children who are attending.
Source: KSN-TV
Hays Police Department says not to worry if you see these birds on the ground
The Hays Police Department says not to worry if you see a Mississippi kite on the ground. According to the HPD, many of their CSOs have been responding to multiple calls for young Mississippi kites on the ground. “Reporting parties believe the kites to be injured because they spread their wings to make themselves look bigger to anything that may harm them,” the HPD said. The HPD says while they appreciate people caring enough to call, it is the time of year when the youngsters are learning to fly.
Source: KSN-TV
Interim chief picked to permanently lead Hutchinson PD
The City of Hutchinson has named a familiar face to lead the police department. Interim Police Chief Brice Burlie has been chosen to permanently serve as chief of the department. Burlie had been serving in the role since June, taking over for a previous interim chief who had been serving in the role since the March firing of former chief Jeff Hooper. Burlie has been with the Hutchinson Police Department for 24 years, where he reached the level of Operations Captain before moving into the interim chief role. He is a graduate of Kansas State with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and sociology and has also completed extensive command-level training at Wichita State, KU, and Northwestern University.
Source: KSN-TV
Johnson County adopts new policy after man sends hundreds of harassing phone calls
Incessant and often angry, harassing calls and emails from one Overland Park resident to Johnson County and Overland Park employees have so overwhelmed law enforcement that it has slowed their ability to answer 911 calls, interfered with their focus and eaten up untold staff time deciphering lengthy emails, county officials said. The alleged author of those emails and calls — Leonid Khayet, a man who last year gained some local recognition for raising $200,000 to help Ukrainians flee war — was booked into the county Central Booking Facility on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and released on bond, charged with violating a protection order in an unrelated battery case.
Source: Prairie Village Post