Kansas Municipal News
Riley County Police Department announces new public information officer
The Riley County Police Department announced its new public information officer on Monday. While Ashley Tokoi, the new PIO, had been going through the hiring process, Hali Rowland served as a remote interim PIO since Aaron Wintermote left RCPD Sept. 22. Tokoi told The Mercury she’ll be sharing responsibilities with Rowland until her training is complete in the upcoming months. Tokoi will eventually perform all duties of the job, which is “plan, organize and implement communication and activities” for all five divisions: Patrol, Corrections, Dispatch, Administration and Support. Prior to being formerly introduced as the PIO at the law enforcement agency board meeting, Tokoi served as the Public Affairs Specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture.
Source: themercury.com
KDOT addressing issues with U.S. 50 in western Kansas
The Kansas Department of Transportation says they are addressing issues with U.S. Highway 50 in western Kansas. The department says they are aware of the deteriorating road conditions between Offerle and Spearville. Numerous potholes have developed in the pavement affecting travel between the two communities. KDOT says a resurfacing and passing lane project will be getting underway next construction season that will address issues with the road’s condition. The department says that in the meantime, they will continue to maintain the road until the projects begin. For the latest on road construction across the state or road conditions, visit KanDrive.gov.
Source: KSN-TV
Mounted units apprehend Wichita shoplifter with $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise
Mounted units apprehended a shoplifter in Wichita with $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise in their vehicle. The Wichita Police Department said its mounted unit was doing a routine holiday patrol on North Greenwich Road Monday when someone waved them down about a shoplifting incident at Cabela’s. The WPD said the officers investigated and located the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle nearby. According to the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Wylie and Sergeant Thomas from the Caldwell Police Department assisted the Wichita Police Department’s mounted unit in the arrest. As seen in the photo, stolen merchandise included a blanket, jackets, a hat, gloves, and plush fish. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of two misdemeanor theft cases. “This swift action not only protects our community but also supports our local businesses during this busy holiday period,” the WPD said on its Facebook page. “Kudos to our WPD Mounted Unit for their efficiency and dedication to ensuring a safer holiday shopping experience for everyone.”
Source: KSN-TV
Cherryvale Historical Museum announces a move
The Cherryvale Historical Museum board has announced that the museum will move to a new building in the new year. In January, board members and volunteers will begin transitioning from the current location, 215 E. Fourth St. in Cherryvale, to the new building at 322 E. Main, the former First Baptist Church and Fellowship Hall. The church congregation had grown small, and without a permanent pastor, the remaining members decided that it was time to offer the structure to another nonprofit group. The museum board saw this as an opportunity to bring the museum onto Main Street in a more visible and larger location, opposite the public library and Lincoln Elementary School. The museum board said in a prepared statement that it looks forward to preserving the 1902 historic Baptist Church building to honor past and future generations. The Cherryvale Museum began in 1964 with the donation of the glass and china collection from the estate of Opal Conduitte Evans, a former Cherryvale citizen. In 1964, the building on East Fourth Street had become vacant as Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. upgraded from a bank of phone operators at switchboards to a modern dial headquarters on East Main Street. Volunteers moved the museum into the 1,700-square-foot building in 1964 and board members quickly began acquiring historical items from the first 100 years of Cherryvale’s history. Since the museum’s beginnings, the building has reached capacity, with display cases and file drawers filled to the point that new items have had to be limited.
Source: Parsons Sun
Hutchinson Fire Department rescues two Cargill workers from 70 feet in air
The Hutchinson Fire Department rescued two Cargill Salt workers from 70 feet in the air on Monday afternoon. The HFD responded around 3:30 p.m. to the report of two workers stuck on a hydraulic man lift approximately 100 feet in the air at Cargill Salt. Fire crews found the workers uninjured approximately 70 feet off the ground. The HFD says the lift had mechanical problems and could not be lowered to the ground. In less than 15 minutes, Hutchinson Fire was able to use a 100-foot aerial ladder to get the men off the lift, onto the aerial platform, and to the ground.
Source: KSN-TV
Shop With a Cop helps 30 children with Christmas
Sunday marked the ninth year that Parsons police provided a little Christmas cheer to the community with its annual Shop With a Cop program. The Parsons Police Department helped 30 children from the community shop for Christmas. The partnership with USD 503 identifies children and families in need. The continued support from The Duke Mason Band, which does a yearly Christmas concert and donates the proceeds to the program, along with the personal donations from community members provided the means of helping. The department also gets donations yearly from St. Vincent de Paul and has a great partnership with Walmart for its donations and support for the program. “We are gearing up for next year, which will mark the 10th year the department has been able to help families and children of the community,” Police Chief Robert Spinks said. “This program is one of the most important opportunities that we get to really reach out and interact with children of the community in a truly positive manner. This really helps the public’s perception of law enforcement as well as connecting officers with the future of our community. It’s like planting seeds of positivity and we just wait to see them grow a little each year.” The department also partners with other agencies to help with the shopping event. “This has become so large it is too much for just our staff to handle alone,” according to Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd.
Source: Parsons Sun
City leaders approve zones for drinking alcohol in two Topeka neighborhoods
Topeka city leaders have approved designated zones for drinking alcoholic beverages in the Capital City. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, members voted to approve certain common consumption areas (CCA). Earlier this year, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill to allow local governments to create designated areas for drinking. The city looked to the stakeholders in Topeka to create CCAs in high-traffic areas. Topeka City Council members unanimously approved designated areas in NOTO and downtown Topeka to become CCAs. For NOTO, the CCA is outlined by Fairchild Street as the north boundary, Norris Street as the south boundary, Quincy Street as the east boundary and Jackson Street as the west boundary. For downtown, the area inside Fourth Street on the north, 10th Avenue on the south, Quincy Street on the east and Jackson Street on the west is the CCA. City leaders voted and approved the times of the CCAs will be 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. seven days a week. Businesses within the outlined zone will be in charge of setting their own times within the approved timeline. According to a spokeswoman with the City of Topeka, no start date for the CCAs has been set. Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) must approve these zones before this will take effect. After getting approved by ABC, the ordinance will get posted, and signage will be put up to mark the designated CCA.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Municipal Bond Trends for December 19, 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.
Feds tout pedestrian, cyclist safety measures in new road design rules
The federal government issued new road design standards Tuesday for the first time in 14 years, and Biden administration officials say the long-delayed manual will make roads safer for walkers, cyclists and even motorists on crowded streets. The latest edition of the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways,” a go-to reference for traffic engineers, includes new advice on how state and local governments should set speed limits. The new standards downplay—but do not eliminate—long-standing guidance that instructs engineers to set speed limits at a rate that 85% of drivers travel under. Safety advocates have argued that the 85th-percentile rule encourages people to drive faster, regardless of whether it’s safe to do so.
Source: Route Fifty
City of Salina website set to be the official city ‘newspaper’ for public notices
The City of Salina is moving more into the digital age after it decided to use its own website to publish notices beginning with the new year. This move comes after the city commission Monday adopted a resolution to designate the city’s website as the official city “newspaper.” While the change in official newspapers begins Jan. 1, the city has already taken steps to have notices also published on its website, which was updated in August, in anticipation of this move and to make sure that the notice function on the site was working properly. “Back in August, the city commission approved a charter ordinance which allowed the city to charter out (of state statutes requiring print publication of most notices),” said Shawn Henessee, assistant city manager.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 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.
Some Kansas towns are using AI-powered tools to try to attract people and businesses
AI is doing everything from making art to writing computer software, and now community leaders in western Kansas are hoping it can help them crack the code for bringing people and businesses to their areas. The rural communities are turning to AI to identify the businesses, services and housing residents need. That helps them target the types of businesses they should work to attract and where housing is needed to buck long-term trends of rural population loss…. Using AI-powered foot traffic software, officials in Seward, Finney and Ford counties now can track when people come to town and where they shop through anonymous cellphone data. That gives them information they can use to help local business owners and towns.
Source: CJonline
New trails in Rossville are connecting and invigorating this Shawnee County community
New trails are creating buzz in Rossville. Phase 1 of the new Rossville Community Trail, a quarter-mile stretch of concrete, starts at the Rossville Fire Department just south of US-24 highway and circles around the nearby high school to the east. Phases 2 and 3 are expected to complete the nearly 1.5-mile route by next year. To the west of the new concrete paths are another first for the town: a natural surface trail spanning about 0.65 of a mile that was completed earlier this year. The two new trails are just the beginning for the Shawnee County community looking to give alternative routes for its residents.
Source: CJonline
Purge of some city licenses would affect Wichita clairvoyants, auctioneers, others
The city of Wichita is expected to move forward with a purge of unused and outdated licensing requirements. Fortune-tellers, auctioneers and airport limousine operators are among those who may soon be free of the legal requirement to obtain a license from the city. The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to strike 15 such licensing requirements from the books. “There are a lot of changes that we want to do, but we thought we’d pick basically the low-hanging fruit first and go for the easy ones that we don’t use very often,” Assistant City Attorney Jan Jarman told City Council members at a recent workshop where she outlined the licenses identified as obsolete by the law department. License requirements should only exist if they protect the public or otherwise promote a healthy community, she said. Those that don’t aren’t needed. Wichita issued only one clairvoyant/fortune teller license in 2023, records show.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Pittsburg nears full recovery after September cyber attack
The City of Pittsburg is nearly back to operating at full capacity following a cyber security issue earlier this year. As we reported back in September, the City of Pittsburg experienced the incident impacting the city’s network. The breach caused an IT outage, as well as preventing access to city emails, phones, and online payments. The city has cyber insurance and they’ve been working with them to recover and update their system to ensure an incident like this doesn’t happen again. Online payments can now be made again. The city also has restored the phone and email systems. “I think 70 to 80 percent is probably a good number. There’s definitely some systems that we want to have back online fully and then there’s some additional security measures we’re gong to put in place probably for the next year. That we would want before we’re considered fully operational, fully back to were we need to be going in the future,” said Jay Byers, Pittsburg City Manager. Byers says they’re continuing to work with security experts to implement those new security features. He expects the city to be back to fully operational by the middle of next year.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Parsons Police Department’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ a success
Typically, you can find them at the front lines of emergencies – but today, they were at Parsons Walmart, providing a shopping spree for many local families. “Well, you know this is really the best day of the entire year. This is where we get to turn all the police officers, firefighters, and emergency service personnel and the Santa’s little helpers,” said Robert Spinks, Parsons PD Chief. It’s part of Parsons Police Department’s “Shop with a Cop” program. The department joined forces with the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Parsons Fire Department to provide a 2-hundred dollar shopping spree at Walmart. “So they’re out here with 30 families buying all of those great Christmas gifts, you know, and ideas and stuff to make this the very best holiday season that we hope they can have,” said Spinks. It’s just another way for local first responders to give back. “In law enforcement, you know, we’re guardians first or enforcers second. And I think this helps to embrace, you know, that spirit of guardianship, to reach out to help people who might need that extra helping hand. You know, in this day and age, you might think kids will immediately just go for toys. That’s not always the case. You see kids going and getting winter coats for themselves or a brother and a sister shoes,” said Spinks. That was the case for 9-year-old Bella Carson. She says she’s using her money to not only buy gifts for herself but also for her brothers. “I got this monster control truck RC for my little brother, cause I’m grateful to have him in my family and he’s just the best little brother I could ask for,” said Bella Carson, Parsons Resident. Sunday’s Shop with a Cop was something Bella says she’s also thankful for. “I’m thankful that they gave us money to and they picked us out of a bunch of kids to shop,” said Carson.
Source: KSNF/KODE
‘A true Kansas legend:’ Harland Priddle, Kansas’ first Secretary of Commerce and Agriculture, dies at 93
Harland Priddle, the state’s first Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Agriculture, has died. He was 93. Priddle was born in Hutchinson and grew up on a farm near Haven. After graduating from Kansas State University in 1953, Priddle enlisted in the United States Air Force and spent 22 years before retiring as a Colonel in July 1974. He served seven years overseas assignments and nine years in Washington D.C. including tours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He also served in the White House as Deputy Commander of the White House Communications Agency for the President at the White House in Washington D.C. for four years from 1970-1974, according to his obituary. He participated in the planning and execution of over two hundred presidential trips, including three international trips to Europe and Asia. He received nineteen awards and decorations including the Bronze Star for duties in Southeast Asia, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Service Badge, two Legions of Merit, the Presidential Service Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation. Priddle was also the first person in Kansas history to serve as both Kansas Secretary of Commerce and Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. In a statement on social media, Governor Laura Kelly said Priddle was “a true Kansas legend,” and that “He embodied what it meant to be a public servant, and his contributions will continue to live on for future generations.” Priddle died peacefully in his home in McAlester, Oklahoma on December 12, 2023. He is survived by his wife of over 75 years, Winifred, and his three children Valorie Ann Dick and her husband William, Harland Gregory Priddle and his wife Ann and Kevin Eugene Priddle and his wife Michelle. 10 grandchildren: Angela Dick Akamine and her husband Andres, Aubrey Dick White and her husband Jacob, Jonathan Dick and his wife Lara, Crystal Dick Langdon and her husband Bryan, Shalerie Priddle Headley and her husband Jon, Shalise Priddle Quinlan and her husband Patrick, Shalaine Priddle Alexander and her husband Keaton, Kate Priddle, Tyler Moore (step grandson) and James Bean (step grandson). He had 16 great-grandchildren.
Source: KAKE – News
Andover Fire Department crew honored with prestigious award
The Andover fire department is being honored with the 2023 Tom McGaughey Fire Service Award for one of its fire crews heroic actions and dedication when working a house fire earlier this year. It was May 1st when fire fighters were heading to a home that was already full of smoke and flames. While heading there they found out there were two people who were trapped. A man and a woman, both with limited mobility. “It’s what we do; we just adapt to the conditions and situations that we have,” said Chad Cheslik who was the supervisor for the crew of six people working the house fire that day. He explains because of the circumstances they weren’t able to respond to the house fire how they normally do so he had to think and act quickly. Other agencies like Wichita, Sedgwick County, and Rose Hill were sending additional help but Cheslik says there was no time to waste. He and his crew immediately sprung into action, searching the burning house to find the two people and pull them out. “It was extremely hot. We were crawling on our bellies trying to get through, but we knew at that point we weren’t going to make it all the way through the house so we decided to back out and vest through the back window and found her in her bedroom,” he said. The state Fire Marshall’s Office says typically a search and rescue isn’t going above and beyond but because of the conditions and circumstances the fire fighters were working in it describes this rescue as exceptional. While the department is honored to receive the award for a second year in a row Cheslik says it isn’t all celebration. “Unfortunately there was one lost and our hearts go out to the family. So, it’s something you don’t take lightly,” he said. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell says he’s incredibly proud of every single crew member. He says they train tirelessly to prepare for situations like this one and so many others and they care deeply. “As soon as the bell rings they fly into action because seconds count and this is a great example of that,” he explains. The award is given to a fire fighter or crew that goes above and beyond their basic job responsibilities. Throughout the year nominations are submitted and looked at by the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs and the Kansas State Firefighter’s Association.
Source: KAKE – News
Successful Downtowns Major Components
I recently participated in a book study with colleagues over “13 Ways To Kill Your Community” by author Doug Griffiths. Griffiths visits common issues that communities face when they begin to struggle and see the population relocating when trouble seeps into a community. Change in a small town is often difficult. Griffith’s publication works hand in hand with a First Friday E-Call with Nancy Daniels of K-State Research and Extension. Daniels hosted Scott Sewell, from Kansas Mainstreet to share his organization and their offerings to small-town businesses and local main street revitalization. Part of his presentation focused on what success looks like for downtown/main streets. Sewell lists the following as key components to a successful downtown: (1) Open and Thriving Downtown- A thriving business district builds a positive image for your entire community. It will also attract new businesses, create new jobs and keep local dollars in your community. Even businesses outside of the “downtown” area should be concerned with how the downtown area is healthy and viable. (2) Maintained Buildings– Looking at a main street, often look at how many of the buildings within that downtown district are upkept and functional. How many of those buildings located in the blocks of the main street are condemned and not functional for any new opportunities to open within the community? In “13 Ways To Kill Your Community” author Griffiths talks about how a coat of paint can change the character and looks of a vibrant downtown, enticing people to visit and become a part of the culture. (3) Utilization of Public Space– Having space that is open for the public to utilize to host events to bring more individuals into the community is a vital part to success. An event that brings people that don’t reside in the community, will bring more revenue to the town and in return those people may return at a different time to revisit a new favorite location within the town. (4) A Place to Live– Many older buildings in the main street areas were once used for a housing opportunity above businesses. In the past few years many towns and business owners have started to revitalize those spaces as apartments or short-term rentals. How many businesses in your main street district have livable spaces to use or renovate into functional living spaces? Swell mentions that 4-6% of the population in past towns they have visited are interested in living in downtown loft apartments. (5) Includes Culture and History- A main street that in-cooperates and exhibits the history of the town and past main street businesses will also preserve the historical character of the whole community. Swell talks about the importance of building in downtown, builds assets that are easily noticeable by the architectural aspects, a sense of place as well as a personal service that you can’t find anywhere else. (6) A “Cool” Environment- Unique features within the downtown area, make people want to visit and spend time with local businesses and want to return to enjoy those features they cannot get at another location.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
County firefighters up to speed on staffing in Sedgwick County
After years of struggling to keep up with staffing changes, the Sedgwick County fire department has reached full staff. Part of that has to do with recruitment, another piece is better pay. “You know the Sedgwick County Commission over the last two years has done significant salary enhancements,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell. “And at this time we are doing a pretty good job keeping our staff up where it needs to be.” The latest recruiting class was welcomed to the team Friday evening with a ceremony. “It was my childhood dream to be a firefighter,” said new recruit Josh Smith. “I started out doing wildfire work across the country and I wanted to come home.” Smith says better pay was part of the equation to choose Sedgwick County. “I left for a while, came back. And I’m going to retire here. I’m not leaving again,” said Smith. “So I’ll be here. The pay is good, yes.” Starting the first of the new year, Sedgwick County firefighters will make a starting pay of $18.36 an hour for Sedgwick County Fire District 1. “But we are competitive and compared to all the other firefighting organizations around us, we are very close to the top of what firefighters can get right now,” said Howell. “We’re doing pretty good. Are we perfect? No. There’s still some work to do but I think we are doing better than we were a few years ago.” Other commissioners point out there have now been three classes to bring on fire recruits for the county this year alone. They also plan on keeping a close eye on what the City of Wichita pays. “We always have to pay attention to what the city is doing with both police and with the fire,” said commissioners David Dennis. “Because if we don’t stay competitive with them we will lose them across the street.” Howell points out that the pay after the first of the year for a paramedic in Sedgwick County will be $22.96 an hour. Deputies with the sheriff’s department will start at $23.97 an hour.
Source: KSN-TV