Kansas Municipal News
Agriculture built these High Plains towns. Now, it might run them dry
Brownie Wilson pulls off a remote dirt road right through a steep ditch and onto a farmer’s field. He hops out of his white Silverado pickup, mud covering nearly all of it except the Kansas Geological Survey logo stuck on the side with electrical tape. Dry cornstalks crunch under his work boots as he makes his way to a decommissioned irrigation well. He unspools a steel highway tape measure a few feet at a time and feeds it into the well until gravity takes over. He keeps a thumb on it to control the speed. How much of the tape comes out wet lets him calculate how much water has been lost here. Wilson crisscrosses western Kansas every January to measure wells and track the rapid decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, which contains the nation’s largest underground store of fresh water. Last year, some wells had dropped 10 feet or more because of the severe 2022 drought. But this year, they stayed about the same or dropped a couple feet. Some of these wells have dropped more than 100 feet since Wilson started working for the agency in 2001, he said. “Some of our issues looking forward look gargantuan,” Wilson said. “But I do think we can peck away at it and make some headway.” The Ogallala Aquifer, the underground rock and sediment formation that spans eight states from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle, is the only reliable water source for some parts of the region. But for decades, states have allowed farmers to overpump groundwater to irrigate corn and other crops that would otherwise struggle on the arid High Plains. Now, the disappearing water is threatening more than just agriculture.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Here’s where Sedgwick County plans to build a 50-bed psychiatric hospital
Construction of a 50-bed psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of southwest Wichita could be completed by 2026. The Sedgwick County Commission voted unanimously Friday to acquire 11 donated acres at the northwest corner of MacArthur and Meridian for the project. The land is being donated by real estate broker and investor Jeff Lange, who has been developing plans for a 70-acre behavioral health complex at the site for the last four years. Lange Realty is Sedgwick County’s on-call real estate agent. “I’m excited this day is here,” Commissioner David Dennis said. “A lot of people came together for this today so that we can finally say yes, we are going to have a regional mental health hospital in Sedgwick County.” Selection of the southwest Wichita site was made at the recommendation of a committee made up of Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and Sedgwick County staff.
Source: The Wichita Eagle
‘Stealing from the kids’: Reward offered for recovery of Jackie Robinson statue
The hunt to find a bronze Jackie Robinson statue and the thieves who stole it from McAdams Park is ramping up. The Wichita Metro Crime Commission and League 42 are offering up to $2,500 for any tip that leads to an arrest, and an additional $5,000 if the statue is recovered. “Our city wants the statue returned. We also want the individuals who robbed our community of a treasure to be held accountable for their actions, and I assure you they will,” Police Chief Joe Sullivan said at a Friday afternoon press conference. One key element of the investigation has been contacting scrap metal businesses from around the region to notify them of the theft. Surveillance footage shows the vandals sawing off the statue at its feet and loading it into a dark-colored, short-bed pickup truck before making off with it early Thursday. “I’m hoping that they didn’t know what they were doing,” Parks Director Troy Houtman said. “If they would just bring it back, no questions asked. We’d move on and repair the statue. Hopefully, they’ll wisen up to do that.” But he said the statue, which is valued at $75,000, will be replaced “one way or another.” “We’re either going to do repairs or replace. We’ve already started investigating on what that’s going to take,” he said. District Attorney Marc Bennett said the window for leniency is rapidly closing.
Source: The Wichita Eagle
Newest Council Member Brings Grant Writing Experience, Passion To Bentley City Council
A few years ago, Jeff Witherspoon experienced a couple of shootings within a few blocks of their house, so after living in Wichita all his life, Witherspoon and his wife, Rhonda, moved to Bentley. They were already tired of the crime and traffic. So Witherspoon used UbuildIt to build his house and said he chose Bentley, because his biggest challenge in relocating was finding land, and Bentley offered him an affordable lot. Now retired, Witherspoon spent 25 years with Consumer Credit Counseling Service, a nonprofit company, helping people with financial issues. His degrees from Wichita State University include business management and financial planning. Witherspoon said his passion is helping people spend their money more wisely and help them get out of debt. He’s taught some classes at Bentley’s senior center and regularly teaches at nonprofits and schools in Wichita. “It bothers me to see people struggle, and sometimes they struggle for reasons they don’t understand,” Witherspoon said. “There’s people that spend money, and they just feel like that’s the way you’re supposed to do it. But I’m always looking for ways to still survive but to spend less money.” Witherspoon joined the Bentley City Council this month after being elected back in November.
Source: Harvey County Now
Friends on the Farm gives students a glimpse of agriculture
Area fourth graders attended the 25th annual Friends at the Farm event Thursday at the Finney County Fairgrounds. Carol Deaver, Finney County Farm Bureau Board president, said about 775 fourth grade students attended the event this year from Finney, Gray, Haskell and Kearny Counties. At their first event 25 years ago, they only had 250 students attend, Deaver said. It’s grown considerably since then. Deaver said the goal of the event is to inform students about what happens on farms and ranches in Finney County and southwestern Kansas and how many of the things they use daily originate on a farm or ranch. “Whether a seed or livestock or that kind of thing, people don’t realize all the byproducts that come from out of commodities and livestock raised on farms in addition to food, fiber and energy that we’re all pretty familiar with,” she said. Jennifer Gerber, Finney County Farm Bureau member and County Coordinator, said the event is about helping students make connections between food and where it comes from, it’s what she likes most about the event. She’s gone into classrooms and helped with after school programs and when kids are asked where chocolate milk comes from, unfortunately a lot of times they say brown cows, so she feels events like Friends at the Farm are needed to help people understand where the food comes from.
Source: Garden City Telegram
LCECC to bring 911derWoman Academy to Emporia next month
The Lyon County Emergency Communications Center will present the 911derWoman Academy: Finding Your Career in 911, from Feb. 6 – 7 at the Anderson Building. 911derWoman Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit started by Sara Weston after the death of her close friend that began as an online support group. The membership of 911derWoman across the world has grown from a group of 100, to over 15,000 women on social media. 911derWoman now not only has a large presence online, but has grown its mission to include educational offerings that are both virtual and in person. According to a written release, the two-day academy will focus on transforming the attendees’ 911 career into a journey of continuous growth and advancement. Attendees will focus on areas of improvement, promotion, and gain the tools, skills, and inspiration to take control, advance their careers and thrive in emergency dispatch.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Broadband Acceleration Grant makes $10M available
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $10 million is available to enhance broadband infrastructure statewide through the Broadband Acceleration Grant program. Grants funded through this program are designed to offset the capital expenses needed to deploy in unserved areas. In its fourth year through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), the Broadband Acceleration Grant program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need. “Empowering communities through broadband infrastructure buildout allows Kansas to lean into our innovative spirit as we grow businesses, keep talent here, and pursue new opportunities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The IKE program is a great example of how state agencies, local communities and the private sector provide high speed internet to all Kansans.” During the first three years of this program, high-speed internet has been delivered to 8,000 homes and businesses in 25 counties. The cumulative $15 million generated another $17.5 million in matching funds.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
County discusses possible zoning
At Friday’s county commission meeting, the possibility of zoning the entirety of Crawford County was discussed as a way to combat the building of solar and wind farms within the county. As of now, three-quarters of the county is not zoned, meaning any developer that wants to build such a farm can do so with little interference from the county. Commissioners discussed asking for a moratorium to delay construction of wind and solar farms. According to County Counselor Jim Emerson, a moratorium can only be used to create zoning ordinances, or at the very least, to pass regulations that address some issues. Several neighboring counties are considering the same. Passing zoning laws can allow the county to outright ban the construction of farms in the county. The issue is that zoning laws are very unpopular with Crawford County residents. When broached in the past, the issue was met with angry residents packing the courthouse.
Source: Morning Sun
Long time, no see
After nearly eight months of restoration, the two-story building known as “Gay Parita” has returned to the town of Carona, which is nestled at the north end of Cherokee County, just five minutes west of Scammon. Under building owner John Parsons’ leadership, the Gay Parita, which has been vacant for decades, is restored to its former state. From the mid-1930s to the mid-1970s, the Gay Parita served as a destination for dance and music lovers from across the Four-State area and beyond. Parsons said in restoring the iconic night spot, he is seeking to bring back its historical relevance. Carona was initially one of the many settlements that sprang up during the coal mining era in southeast Kansas, where immigrants came in the late 1800s, seeking employment in the mines. One of the many immigrants seeking a job included Pete Ferraro, who immigrated from Italy in 1901, according to James M. Green’s historical account from 1985 of the Gay Parita Ballroom. Ferraro soon opened a grocery store that burned down before building another during the prohibition years. In 1934, Ferraro entered a partnership with Frank (Chee Chee) Parise, building a huge ballroom for $11,000. The two inserted a local newspaper advertisement announcing a contest for the new ballroom’s name. The name “Gay Parita” was chosen and the opening night of the ever-popular event center was June 23, 1934.
Source: Morning Sun
Kansas communities receiving $1.4 million in rural economic development grants
21 projects across Kansas will receive almost $1.4 million in funding from the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant program. The program, which receives bipartisan support from Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature to provide annual allocations, aims to help rural communities revitalize downtown buildings and create safer downtowns with more job opportunities. Projects being funded in this round of awards include upper-story housing, child care facilities, retail businesses, and restaurants. In addition, the projects will receive more than $3.4 million in private local matching funds. “Vibrant, safe downtowns spur economic growth by attracting businesses and jobs and establishing community pride,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Investments like this bring life back into these communities and are instrumental to their long-term success.” The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity, Community Development Division, and Kansas Main Street collaborate on HEAL to revitalize underutilized and dilapidated downtown structures where the cost to rehabilitate exceeds the limit that conventional financing can cover. Downtown landmarks that get new life breathed into them through HEAL are transformed into spaces that serve multiple purposes. Projects are to be completed within two years.
Source: KAKE News
New fire engine arrives in Holton
It’s been almost 25 years since Holton’s volunteer fire department welcomed a new fire engine with a high aerial ladder for fighting fires from above. But shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, a brand-new fire engine with a 109-foot aerial ladder — 44 feet longer than the aerial ladder on the fire department’s previous “first-out” fire truck — arrived in Holton, and members of the fire department were on hand to welcome it. “We’ve been wanting a new aerial for about 10 years,” Holton Fire Chief Scott Baum said on the arrival of the new fire engine, purchased through Hays Fire and Rescue Sales and Service of Hays and built by Rosenbauer Motors of Wyoming, Minn., where Baum and four other firefighters visited earlier in the week to give the new fire engine it’s final inspection. On Thursday, after a long and arduous two-day drive through snowpacked Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, that “new aerial” was backed into a rear bay at Holton’s Public Safety Building by Greg Moody of Hays Fire. Baum said he plans to get Holton’s firefighters trained on all aspects of the new fire engine before making it the department’s “first-out” vehicle. In the meantime, the department’s current “first-out” truck, a vehicle with a 65-foot aerial ladder in service since 1999, will remain in service. “We’ve got some training coming up,” Baum said. “We’re going to go over the aerial operations and the general operations of it all, and then as a department, we’re going to train on it and make sure that we’re knowledgeable on all the parts.”
Source: Holton Recorder
Municipal Bond Trends for January 26, 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.
Salina remains proactive with ‘forever chemicals’
Substances that are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” show up in everyday items and as they are now being found in drinking water systems across the United States, cities like Salina are taking steps to figure out what’s next. … Martha Tasker, director of utilities for the City of Salina, said the city’s public water supply system was first tested for PFAS in 2014, with results returning as “non-detect,” but at the time, they were testing in parts-per billion, and since then the standards for testing have changed.
Source: Salina Journal
Smallville may be fictional, but the names of these Kansas cities highlight the ‘ville
In celebration of Kansas Day, here are the 24 incorporated Sunflower State cities identified in U.S. Census records as having names that end in “ville,” listed in order of population, plus one in Nemaha County that’s unincorporated but nevertheless has 182 people. The list doesn’t include “Larryville,” a common nickname for Lawrence, or “Aggieville,” the Manhattan bar district.
Source: CJonline
Chapter closes on JoCo’s oldest library branch, but patrons can visit new spot soon
Vaughnie Tinsley and Darline Cyre are eager to turn to the next chapter of their storied love for a library in Merriam. The two friends are among the readers preparing for the permanent closure of the Antioch Library at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. With six decades of operation, the library, at 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, is the system’s oldest branch. It is being replaced with the new Merriam Plaza Library at 6120 Slater St., scheduled for an official opening on March 20.
Source: Joco 913 News
Overland Park launches effort to address changing College-Metcalf area
Overland Park will study ways to support reinvestment in the busy College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue “employment hub.” This week, the city is starting the public engagement leg of a months-long process to develop a College & Metcalf Overlay District Study. The resulting document will focus on possible reinvestment in the corridor in the area bounded by I-435 and 119th Street on the north and south and Nall and Metcalf avenues on the east and west
Source: Johnson County Post
Can Johnson County residents vote on controversial city park sale? A judge will decide
The city of Westwood is asking a judge to rule that it can move forward with the sale of its only city park for new development — a move that several residents have hoped to stop at the ballot box with a public vote on the matter. The city last week filed a suit in Johnson County District Court, asking a judge to decide whether a resident petition aimed at preventing the sale of the park is legally sufficient to be placed on the ballot. Residents filed the petition after the Westwood City Council in October, following months of debate, voted 5-1 approving plans for a mixed-use development on 8 acres, including the 1-acre Joe D. Dennis Park at Rainbow Boulevard and 50th Street. Johnson County-based Karbank Real Estate Company is looking to build an office and retail development on the land, which also includes the former Westwood View Elementary School, as well as a piece of vacant city property, previously occupied by the Westwood Christian Church. Karbank has agreed to pay off a $275,000 debt the city still owes on the church property, and has offered the city $2.65 million to purchase the school property from the Shawnee Mission district. It would demolish the building and grade much of the land for the city to build a new 3.8-acre park to replace Joe. D Dennis.
Source: Joco 913 News
BAK riders get set for 50th trip across the state
The 50th Biking Across Kansas tour, the annual celebration of bicycling and the Sunflower State, will hit the highways and byways Saturday through Saturday, June 8-15. BAK organizers revealed this special golden anniversary route at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 20. Online registration will open at 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at bak.org. “This year marks an amazing half-century for our annual bike tour across the state of Kansas,” said David Rohr, BAK board president. “As we pedal into our 50th year, we want to invite new and veteran BAK cyclists to help us celebrate this milestone. Whether you crossed Kansas with us fifty years ago, last year, or sometime in the decades in between, we welcome you back to ride in 2024. Participants will enjoy the fun of traveling with this friendly community of bicyclists, taking in the beauty of the Kansas landscape, and experiencing the warm hospitality of the Kansas towns and people.” The 2024 route begins just west of Tribune, KS where the first tour began in 1975. Riders will cover approximately 489 miles in the span of a week, staying overnight in Scott City, Ness City, Hoisington, Lincoln, Concordia, Frankfort, Holton, and concluding in Atchison, KS on the banks of the Missouri river. Riders pedal between 50 and 80 miles each day. With this many cyclists on the roads, BAK organizers urge motorists to be vigilant and share the roadways, said Executive Director Bryan Toben, noting state and local law enforcement will be helping keep everyone safe. Riders may be in groups or alone, and they may be strung out over several miles.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Pittsburg Fire and Police Departments participate in Battle of the Badges
The Pittsburg Fire and Police Departments participate in another year of Battle of the Badges Chili Cookoff with the American Red Cross. People donating blood today and tomorrow can try both types of chili and then vote for their favorite. Organizers say the event has brought in more than a hundred sign ups for donations. The Fire and Police Departments both say the competition is heating up this year.
Source: KOAM News
City of Emporia begins community survey process on priorities, programs and services
The city of Emporia is into a community survey designed to get “crucial information and feedback” on city priorities, programs and services. The city effort follows a 2022 collaboration with the ETC Institute on a similar survey. The goal with this survey is to compare perspectives on items including but not limited to communications, facilities, streets and sanitation. The city is requesting “candid feedback” for “a deeper understanding of areas for improvement and concerns,” saying survey results will have a big role in upcoming city decisions. Several residents have already received a mailed survey. The survey will go online at a later date. Word on when results will be posted is pending.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio