Municipal News & Jobs

The city of Maize wants in on the region’s growth. Historically, the bedroom community has struggled to compete for retailers and commercial development against the neighboring city of Wichita and the NewMarket Square shopping center. “One of the biggest complaints we hear from residents in Maize is the lack of options for food,” said Joe Dessenberger, the deputy city manager for Maize. But the city has grown over the past few years with new housing and is projected to reach more than 10,000 residents by 2030. To support its population and the visitors that come to Maize for school and sporting events, the city is working with a consultant, Oklahoma-based Retail Attractions LLC, to market the municipality to national and local businesses.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal

Way back in 1963, as he tells it, Steve Hirsch’s father traveled farm to farm in the rural areas surrounding Simpson, Kansas, to gather signatures in support of a rural fire district. He got the support of all but one of his neighbors, and the fire service was born. Hirsch was just 1 year old. Today he’s an attorney by trade, but his passion is firefighting. He’s the training officer for Sheridan County Fire District No. 1 – an all-volunteer fire department – as well as treasurer for the Kansas State Firefighters Association and chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council. There are plenty of incidents needing the fire department’s attention in Sheridan County, in northwest Kansas. “No. 1 is gonna be field grass fires, pasture fires, outdoor wildland,” he says. The department gets about 70 calls a year. The bigger job, though, might be ensuring there is a next generation of volunteer firefighters – in Sheridan County, in Kansas and nationally. 
Read more: KLC Journal

The Columbus Police Department launches an investigation after local high schools partake in an “unsettling” TikTok trend. According to the city, a TikTok user posted footage of themselves allegedly urinating on playground equipment at the city park. Columbus officials ask that anyone who has any tips or information regarding the identity of the user to contact the police department.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

Rose Hill residents will soon follow Wichita’s permanent outdoor watering rules as part of the city’s water contract. Starting Sept. 18, homes will be limited to set watering days based on address: odd numbers on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday; even numbers on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. No watering will be allowed on Mondays. Watering is only permitted before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Well users are exempt, and hand watering is allowed any day within the same time limits. Residents planning to reseed or lay sod can request a variance from the city.
Read more: KSN-TV

Many people may not know, but Caldwell is the Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World. The city is celebrating 40 years of the title by creating 12 unique pieces of art. “I think every aspect of town is kind of leaned in to the turtles,” explained local artist, Brooke Cink. “It’s like instead of necessarily the blue jays or the outlaws, we are now also like turtle town.”
“In April of 1986, the governor actually came to Caldwell and signed the bill, making the ornate box turtle the state reptile,” added Caldwell City Administrator Leah Sommerhoff. To honor this unlikely mascot, Sommerhoff asked several artists, including lifelong resident Brooke Cink, to design 12 ornate turtles to place around town.
Read more: KSN-TV

Garden City leaders have approved nearly $50 million in STAR bonds to move forward with the second phase of the Sports of the World project. The new phase will add four competition softball fields, four baseball fields, and space for future restaurants, hotels, and retail near U.S. Highway 83 and East Mary Street. The bonds, totaling up to $49.7 million, will be paid back using sales tax revenue generated within the project area. City officials note this means the bonds will not raise property taxes.
Read more: KSN-TV

A dog blood bank is not coming to southern Kansas. The Harper County Commission rejected a zoning change that would have placed the bank in the small town of Danville. The potential blood bank has been in the works for a while. The decision to change zoning laws on the property owner’s land was presented to the county commission last week for a vote, but was pushed back. Despite the zoning committee recommending that they pass the change, it was denied on Monday. The blood bank would have housed dozens of dogs, which would have had their blood taken periodically and then sold to a variety of buyers, including veterinary clinics.
Read more: KSN-TV

Starting today, permanent watering restrictions begin in Wichita. Under the rules, water will be allowed every other day but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Addresses ending in odd numbers can water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Even numbers can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Watering is not allowed on Monday. Those who use wells will not be affected by the changes.
Read more: KSN-TV

A greyhound that has been on the run in Arkansas City has finally been captured. The City of Arkansas City says Wade, a skittish greyhound, had been living on the outskirts of town, surviving on its own for nearly two years. Numerous attempts to capture the dog had failed because the dog was too fast and clever, evading nets and other methods to capture it. Arkansas City says Animal Control Office Erica Petry, who joined the department in April, began efforts to bring Wade in. Wade was frequently spotted behind a Walmart. Using their equipment and with the help of volunteers, they tried numerous times to capture Wade, finally succeeding on Sept. 5. Wade has been reunited with her owners.
Read more: KSN-TV

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Why did it take five years for officials to discover two Wyandotte County District Court bookkeepers had allegedly, and illegally, pocketed almost $1 million in public funds? The federal government has accused the two former government employees of conducting a criminal, widely profitable wire fraud scheme and committing identity theft by allegedly writing and depositing forged checks into the Bank of Labor, a Kansas City-area bank with ties to labor unions that was founded by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.
Read more: KC Star

At least one Johnson County city is supporting a push to make Spanish language voting materials more readily available, with more discussions in other cities underway. “We believe that democracy is strongest and most effective when more people can participate,” said Micah Kubic, the executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas. “When we get rid of barriers to participation by any group we believe that democracy is at its strongest, and that your ability to participate should not be based on your ability to surmount those barriers on your own.”
Read more: Homepage

Eisenhower High School entered a brief lockout period Friday morning after a student received a tip that a gun had been brought to school. The tip was later found to be unsubstantiated. At 12:30 p.m. Friday, USD 265 Police Chief Joe Camp notified staff and families that an Eisenhower student had received a message from an individual outside the school, who authorities also believed to be a student at Eisenhower. The message suggested that a student had taken a gun to school. In a statement, Camp said the student who received the message reported it to a teacher and then left the classroom. The school then entered a lockout period.
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The Maize school district plans to discuss additional security measures after a gun was found in a backpack at Maize High School on Thursday. It also plans to add more police officers during Maize High’s homecoming activities this weekend, Superintendent Raquel Greer said in a statement Friday. “Yesterday was an example that our school district is not immune to the reality and importance of school safety, and I know many in our community are feeling that today,” Greer said in the statement. “ School security is ongoing work, and we remain fully committed to these daily efforts. We are already working on what the next level of security looks like in Maize USD 266.”
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A new art piece, titled “Greetings from Winfield,” has been installed at 820 Main St., adding a vibrant and welcoming touch to the downtown area. The project was commissioned by Frontier Investment Group to cover a vacant display window and contribute to its ongoing efforts to make downtown Winfield more dynamic and engaging. The artwork was designed by area artist Lindsay Kernodle, who has a strong connection to the Winfield art scene. Kernodle is known for her detailed projects for clients ranging from the Sedgwick County Zoo to National Geographic. She has previously created three murals in Winfield at 1105 Main, 210 E. Ninth and 523 Main.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

The city of Riley is considering merging its fire department with Riley County Fire District No. 1 as the city struggles to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. Discussions between the city and county began in August after council members were approached by residents citing concerns about a lack of volunteers. The Riley city council on Tuesday reached consensus to move forward on an official agreement with the county to merge operations. Riley is the only city in the county outside of Manhattan that has its own city-run fire department, which has been in place since 1922.
Read more: themercury.com

The future of Marmaton Market is uncertain as mounting debt and weak sales threaten to shutter Moran’s only grocery store. At a public meeting Wednesday evening, board members and residents gathered to weigh options for keeping the store open, acknowledging its financial challenges. “Basically, we’re here to see if we can save the store, and if not, what can we do next,” said board chairman Ken McWhirter as the meeting opened.
Read more: The Iola Register

LaHarpe voters will decide in November whether to approve a 1.5% sales tax for street repairs and other capital projects. City Council members approved a resolution Wednesday, putting the question on the ballot. The city’s 1% sales tax expired in April after voters rejected an extension last November that would have bumped the local rate to 1.5%. Council members noted there may have been confusion in the 2024 question, that led some voters to believe the 1.5% would have been tacked on to the 1%, and not a replacement.
Read more: The Iola Register