Municipal News & Jobs

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 city of Wichita wants to establish its own Homestead Property Tax Relief Program if a 1% sales tax proposal is approved by voters on March 3. The state already has such a program, which provides low-income residents with up to hundreds of dollars in property tax rebates each year.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

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.

CoreCivic is a step closer to reopening its private prison in Leavenworth as a lucrative immigration detention center after the city planning commission approved a special use permit over objections from local advocates. A four-hour planning commission meeting on Monday included input from advocates on both sides of the issue, ejection of a long-time community teacher after he yelled about free speech and police escorts for CoreCivic officials when they went to the restroom. Approval, with one no vote from board chairman Ken Bateman, came after the planning commission made changes in the permit originally recommended by city staff, including questioning CoreCivic officials in attendance about their processes.  The permit will now move to the Leavenworth City Commission for a vote. 
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Panasonic’s Kansas battery plant will ramp up to 50% of its production capacity in the next few months, a company executive said Monday. Kristen Walters, Panasonic Energy vice president of human resources, said the company is starting two new production lines at its De Soto plant, adding to two lines already in operation. Construction has begun on the second wing of the lithium-ion battery cell plant, and two of the wing’s four lines will be in operation in 2027, Walters said in a virtual interview. The plant opened in July amidst concerns political changes would affect operations. The Trump administration eliminated tax credits for buying electric vehicles, which dropped the industry’s sales at the end of last year in the fourth quarter by 36%, year over year, according to Cox Automotive. Walters said Panasonic Energy has added battery customers in addition to Tesla, which is its largest customer. 
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Manhattan city officials are discussing ceasing the publication of legal notices in The Mercury and instead posting them on the city government’s own website, driving through a loophole in state law. City manager Danielle Dulin proposed the switch during the city commission’s retreat Tuesday, saying that it would save $17,000 to $20,000 per year and streamline workflow. Under Kansas law, cities are required to designate an official newspaper for publishing legal notices, which also go to the newspapers’ websites and a searchable database of similar notices from around the state and nation. A legal notice is an advertisement to notify the public about impending government actions, like a tax increase or a rezoning of property.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

The City of Hutchinson is launching Build Hutch, a new small-scale developer program designed to help local residents turn interest in development into action and reinvest directly in Hutchinson neighborhoods. Build Hutch represents a new approach to local development. Rather than relying solely on outside developers, the City is intentionally building capacity among residents who already live, work, and invest in the community. The program focuses on small, achievable projects that collectively strengthen neighborhoods and support long-term growth. The program is led by the City of Hutchinson’s Strategic Growth Department, with funding awarded by the Hutchinson Community Foundation and program delivery provided by Neighborhood Evolution, a national leader in small-scale development training.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

McPherson County Commissioners Monday approved the final resolutions to extend moratoriums on battery and hydrogen energy storage systems to Sept. 1 and another for data centers to Dec. 1. All three resolutions have a provision where they can be lifted individually as such time as regulations are in place. Also approved was a zoning code amendment related to race tracks that sets out requirements for special use permits, including that they be at least one mile from existing homes, schools, hospitals or platted subdivisions. It also includes a notification requirement for property owners within a five-mile radius and sets out other regulatory criteria. Even with the enlarged radius, the area from which protest petitions can be filed remains as is. Purchase of new service weapons for McPherson County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Officers was approved. Sheriff Jerry Montagne said in the past reserve deputies had to furnish their own weapon, but that changed largely for liability reasons, including a desire to have all officers, regular or reserve, to have the same weapon.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

Cowley County will consider actions it can take to try and slow down the construction of a proposed Evergy electric transmission line through the county, commissioners discussed during their Tuesday meeting. The project has been met with widespread opposition from property owners, who say it will damage the land and infringe on private property rights, among other concerns. The Cowley County Commission has also formally opposed the project. The transmission line, called the Buffalo Flats project after the name of the substation near Garden Plain where the line would begin, would cross through Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley and Chautauqua counties, ending at the Kansas/Oklahoma border, with the remaining 30 miles built by another company before ending at an electric substation in Delaware, Okla. Evergy has said the project will enhance electrical reliability and strengthen the power grid.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

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 Finney County Commission approved a task order for a US Highway 83/50 Bypass study at its regular meeting on Monday. Derek Ramos, Finney County Administrator, said Finney County Commission and the Garden City Commission directed staff to develop a task order via Wilson and Company in order to provide technical assistance to both governing bodies on the US Highway 83/50 Bypass study the Kansas Department of Transportation is conducting. A Request for Proposals for professional services related to the study is due to KDOT by Feb. 4, Ramos said. “KDOT anticipates executing an agreement with the selected consultant by the end of March 2026, with the study scheduled to begin April 1, 2026, and take approximately one year to complete,” he said. Ramos said the task order will have Wilson and Company serve in a technical advisory position specific to the Bypass study, providing technical representation for the governing bodies throughout the study’s process, assisting staff and elected officials in communicating and advocating for local interests.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

The Harvey County Food & Farm Council is celebrating a decade of finding ways to get food to people. They’ve done that in many ways, and they’re working on more. One of the council members, Peace Connections Director Kendra Davila, said she feels they’re building a more resilient food system. An example of that is the Double Up Food Bucks, which is a statewide food program. People can use the food bucks at the local farmer’s market if they qualify and then can purchase $20 worth of food there for $10. The council is an advisory group of the Board of Harvey County Commissioners, said Harvey County Health Department Director and Council Coordinator Lynnette Redington. The council has 16 members and two vacant spots. They don’t lobby. They just educate and advocate, if need be. They advise the commission on food and tell them about the council’s stance on topics.
Read more: Harvey County Now

The Halstead City Council referred another new technology to its planning and zoning committee for consideration and reporting back. Instead of a battery energy storage system (BESS), this time it’s data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. Following Harvey County’s moratorium on data centers, Halstead Mayor Gary Faelber asked the Halstead City Council to consider a moratorium on commercial data centers, as well. Council Member Charlie Robinson said he was opposed to a ban without P&Z having a chance to look at it and weigh in. Faelber said the facilities are a nuisance. “In my opinion, the people have already voted on such a subject, and it was a resounding, ‘We do not want this kind of stuff in our city,’” Faelber said. City Attorney Brad Jantz told the council they could instill a moratorium with little notice, and they could rescind it at any time, even if they put a specific time period on it. On Jan. 13, Harvey County Commissioners agreed on a moratorium on data centers in the unincorporated areas of Harvey County until Jan. 1, 2029.
Read more: Harvey County Now

With inflation at 3% and Hays City sales tax collection only up 1% in 2025, Finance Director Kim Rupp told City Commissioners that savings “across the board” helped keep the City operating in the black. “You can’t pinpoint any one particular thing. A couple of departments, Fire in particular, operated almost the whole year under-staffed so they saved some salaries,” said Director Rupp during the January 22nd City Commission Meeting. He added that a number of departments also did not use their contingency funds. “They kept expenses down, even with their regular general supplies and materials across the boards throughout all the budgets,” Director Rupp said.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Lawmakers are attempting to resolve a water dispute between two Kansas cities and a neighboring county that has spawned three lawsuits, one administrative case and, most recently, a piece of proposed legislation that could modify county authority. The outcomes could determine what roles state officials and local governments will play in securing quality water supplies for future generations. One lawsuit has been dismissed, another is making its way through the court system, and the administrative case before the state’s Water Transfer Panel is in a holding pattern. But a bill that advanced out of a House committee Tuesday would amend state law to forbid county authorities from regulating water appropriation in ways that may conflict with state authorities.
Read more: Kansas Reflector

As dozens of local officials and advocates recently took a peek at Maura Heft’s new three-bedroom home, she proudly showed off her spacious kitchen with dark wood cabinets and joyfully explained that the home came with a finished basement. Heft and her 6-year-old daughter were moving into their first home that they own. They are the first tenants to move into a new type of affordable housing constructed by Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City on the southern edge of Olathe in Johnson County. It’s a 14-home neighborhood built on a community land trust. That’s a real estate tool that allows the organization to sell the homes at a reduced price — and keep them affordable in the future. Habitat for Humanity sold the home to Heft for about $250,000, less than half of the average home price in the county. Heft said moving into the new home is a life-changing moment for her and her daughter — who have been homeless for five years while staying with family or living in transitional housing — despite Heft working a full-time job.
Read more: KLC Journal

The Leawood City Council has approved a new ordinance requiring minors to wear helmets on ‘motorized’ devices. The ordinance, passed Monday night, requires anyone under age 18 to wear a secured helmet while operating or riding as a passenger on electric-assisted bikes, scooters, skateboards, mopeds, and similar devices. City officials said the change follows concerns raised by police about the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters by juveniles, often without helmets. Violations of the ordinance can result in a warning or a citation carrying a $25 fine. Police have said enforcement will focus first on education and voluntary compliance as residents adjust to the new rule.
Read more: KMBC

Across Kansas, more judges are becoming attuned to the mental health struggles of those who step into their courtrooms. In Ellis County, 23rd Judicial District Chief Judge Curtis Brown has witnessed the revolving door of people who are battling addiction and untreated mental illness while simultaneously dealing with the court system. “I really like to try to help people out,” Brown says. “You’ve just got to bring in a human element and help these folks.” More than 250 miles to the east, Johnson County District Judge Robert Wonnell has grown more aware of the behavioral health challenges some people face through his work presiding over Division 6 of the 10th Judicial District. Wonnell gained a new perspective in 2019 when he attended a regional conference hosted by the National Judicial Task Force to examine state courts’ responses to mental illness.
Read more: KLC Journal

Thursday, Wyandotte County commissioners will decide whether they’ll give back a portion of new sales tax revenue to pay off a domed stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. The development would go west of 118th Street, between State Avenue and Parallel Parkway, east of 126th Street. All 10 commissioners get to vote on this issue Thursday. Christian Ramirez is the Commissioner for the southeastern portion of the county. The stadium would go in the far western portion. “I don’t, no,” Ramirez said when asked if he knew how he was going to vote Thursday. “I still am reviewing all our comments. We’re taking all comments from yesterday. Right now, I’m just listening.” About 45 people spoke Tuesday night at a public hearing. Only a couple of them supported the way that the potential deal is drawn for Wyandotte County.
Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County Fire announced on Saturday via Facebook that it now has a new tool that helps firefighters locate people underwater. The AquaEye Pro is a handheld sonar system designed to help first responders quickly locate drowning victims. According to the company’s website, the tool cuts the average search time by 90%. It can also scan up to 8,000 square meters of water in five minutes, equivalent to 1½ football fields. The device is currently housed at Fire Station 32 in Park City. Sedgwick County Fire says it’s hoping to get another device to keep at a station in Haysville.
Read more: KSN-TV

Sen. Jerry Moran announced on Wednesday that rural Kansas hospitals and community health centers are getting more than $7 million in federal funding. The money comes from fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills, including the one approved by Congress and signed into law by the president this week. “Access to medical care is often a deciding factor for many Kansans when determining whether they will remain in the rural communities they call home,” Moran said in a news release. “These resources will support rural hospitals and community health centers across our state and help to improve outcomes, invest in new medical capabilities, and bolster the critical work of rural providers in caring for Kansans.”
Read more: KSN-TV

The Pratt Regional Medical Center is delinquent on its rent, the county says. On Tuesday, KSN obtained a letter sent from an attorney representing Pratt County to the hospital. It is labeled “Notice of Default and Intent to Terminate Lease.” The letter, dated Jan. 23, said the hospital owed more than $1.58 million for rent from October 2024 to January. An additional $99,000 in rent was set to come due on Feb. 1. The letter also accuses the hospital of being out of compliance with two requirements in the lease: the debt-to-income ratio and the cash on hand clause that said the hospital should keeping a cash balance of at least 75 days of average operating expenses.
Read more: KSN-TV

Recent political advertisements from a Wichita organization are raising questions from the public about their legality. Wichita Forward, the group that introduced a citywide 1% sales tax proposal that will go before voters next month, is at the center of the controversy. On Tuesday, a complaint was filed alleging that one of the group’s ads may violate election or ethics laws by using a city employee in campaign messaging. The commercial features Wichita firefighters standing at what appears to be a fire station, along with several vehicles moving around the area. It includes a message from a firefighter named Warren, who focuses on how the sales tax could affect the fire department if it passes.
Read more: KSN-TV

The City of Wichita has renewed the Water Conservation Rebate Program for another year. On Monday, the city announced it has allocated $125,000 for rebates for customers who make purchases to help them save water. New this year is the inclusion of drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs.
Read more: KSN-TV

Incorrect information was sent to some Wichita voters, raising concerns about confusion, trust, and turnout ahead of the city-wide 1% sales tax vote. Wichita Forward, the organization that brought the sales tax to the council, circulated a mailer that included an advance ballot application listing the wrong deadline and time to vote. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett held a news conference on Tuesday. On Monday, KSN heard from the League of Women Voters and the Sedgwick County district attorney about why accuracy matters and when a mistake could become a legal issue.
Read more: KSN-TV

Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night whose lead vocals powered a string of hits including “Joy to the World," “One” and “An Old Fashioned Love Song” for one of the top rock acts of the late 1960s and early ’70s, died Monday. He was 83. He died of complications from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to his publicist Zach Farnum.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

There are important meetings Tuesday night regarding the future home of the Chiefs. Late in December, the team announced they planned to build a new stadium in the western portion of Wyandotte County, near I-70 and I-435. If you want to weigh in on the city giving back some of its future sales tax revenue back to paying off the stadium development, you need to show up to Kansas City, Kansas, City Hall for Tuesday night’s meeting that starts at 5:30 p.m. The commission won’t vote on this issue until Thursday at 5:30 pm, but after talking with Unified Government of Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnston Monday, he wants the state and the local sales tax increment to be a much smaller portion of the county.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

USD 244 Burlington has a new superintendent. Donalyn Biehler was chosen as the district’s new leader last week. She currently leads USD 487 Herington. Biehler replaces Craig Marshall, who is retiring after 10 years leading the district. She officially begins her new duties July 1.
Read more: KVOE

Removing the ban on three dog breeds considered to be aggressive went nowhere at Monday night’s city council meeting. Police Chief Aaron Slater proposed lifting the ban on pit bulls and Rottweilers about a month ago. Council members did not see the need, and since the policy was not changing, no vote was needed.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

After interviewing outside candidates for its new superintendent Renwick USD 267 realized it had the right person at home as the district announced Friday that Assistant Superintendent Lacee Sell will become superintendent of Renwick USD 267 on July 1. Sell joined the school district last summer. She previously served as superintendent of Chapman USD 473 for five years and Clinton County R-IIII School District in Plattsburg, Mo., for three years. She also has been a system alignment and collaboration specialist with Kansas Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and Alignment, associate superintendent with Geary County USD 475, and executive director of teaching and learning with Manhattan-Ogden USD 383. “The board is certain in our choice of Mrs. Lacee Sell and confident that, under her leadership, Renwick will continue to be recognized as an exceptionally strong school district for academics as well as extracurricular activities,” Board of Education President Mark McFadden said in the announcement. “Our board is extremely proud of Renwick and the culture, values, and history on which we are built. We believe Lacee will be an excellent steward for Renwick moving forward.”
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Everyone who spoke at Monday’s Yates Center City Council meeting was unanimous in saying they support law enforcement. But paths diverged when discussion turned to how much the city should pay to maintain its own police force. Monday’s 2-hour discussion was the first after a pair of mid-January Council meetings, during the first a split Council voted to greatly downsize the department; and a special meeting one night later to undo that decision. Anticipating a large crowd for follow-up debate, the city moved Monday’s meeting from City Hall to Yates Center Town Hall to accommodate a large crowd. Roughly 70 attended.
Read more: The Iola Register

Iolan Braxton Curry, who graduated from PSU in December with a degree in graphic communications, provided the winning submission in a community billboard contest. Braxton Curry graduated from Pittsburg State University in December, having earned a bachelor of science degree in graphic communications. It didn’t take her long to make her first mark in her post-college career. The Iola native’s design was picked this week by Iola’s Community Involvement Task Force-PRIDE members as the winner in a citywide billboard drawing contest. Curry’s design is a relatively simple one, with the word “IOLA” written in thick block letters, with each letter illustrating various community attractions, including imagery of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, the courthouse clock, Iola’s trails and the downtown business district.
Read more: The Iola Register

Southwest Kansas might take a big step toward water conservation in ways previously thought to be impossible. Groundwater Management District 3, headquartered in Garden City, is looking for feedback from local farmers on its plan to use less water for crop irrigation in the region. A discussion on proposed water cuts recently attracted farmers from counties across the southwest part of the state, who filled a small community building. Trevor Ahring, civil engineer for the district, told the sea of Kansas State University baseball caps and flannel shirts the details of the plan – all with the objective of easing the strain on the Ogallala Aquifer, which stretches from South Dakota to Texas. “Our goals are to stabilize the aquifer over the course of 20 years; that’s a 27.7% reduction in use in this area,” Ahring said. For the first time, the groundwater management district is proposing potentially significant water cuts, reducing water pumping by 5% each year for the next 20 years. Farmers are ready to do the work, but these kinds of changes are not going to come easy, and there is still a lot of pushback.
Read more: The Iola Register

Iola’s newly established land bank is open for business. This bank is not a financial institution in a traditional sense. You can’t go in and ask for a loan, or even make a deposit. In fact, its only “assets” will be vacant lots, with the intention of filling them with new homes or businesses. The City of Iola Land Bank announced last week it is now accepting residential properties for donation. There are a few notable stipulations, said Matt Rehder, city administrator. For one, the land must be vacant with no structures, and at least 50 feet by 100 feet. The current owners must have a clear title, and must be up to date on property taxes. Secondly, the land must be donated. The city has no such thing as a “land bank” budget, Rehder noted, and thus will not be able to pay for any pieces of land. Similarly, the city would donate the property to prospective developers.
Read more: The Iola Register

The Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board has advanced new clarifications on Riley County’s short-term rental regulations, aiming to make enforcement more consistent and less subjective. The decision attempts to clarify vague wording with how county staff interpret when a 500-foot separation distance between units can be waived, so that decisions are based on clear standards and not arbitrary in nature. Short-term rental regulations have been in place since Riley County adopted its updated land-development regulations in 2022. County counselor Jacob Hansen told the planning board Monday that staff didn’t have any clear direction on when and how to interpret when a waiver should be granted.
Read more: themercury.com

Synopsis: K.S.A. 2-611 mandates that county residents elect the members of county extension councils. Because this statute concerns elections, counties may not invoke their home rule authority to exempt themselves from it.
Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2026-3

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 Kansas Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a long-running dispute over an amended planned unit development application by the Riley County Commission, which Prairiewood Holdings LLC has appealed. The dispute centers on whether a protest petition from neighboring landowners has met the legal threshold under state law. The county board initially ruled the protest petition did not apply because the project was only a PUD and not a rezoning. The Court of Appeals disagreed, holding that because the amendment increased building square footage by more than 1% county regulations required the same process as a rezoning, including allowing protest petitions.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

The organizer of a petition against an agreement between the Cowley County Sheriff’s Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement said this week more than 200 people had signed the petition and that she hoped to speak with Sheriff David Falletti about the issue. “That’s all I want is a conversation that will hopefully lead to change,” Kaitlin Hicks said. “Sheriff Falletti has done a lot of really great things for our county and I have a lot of respect for him. Do I deeply, deeply disagree with the action the Sheriff’s department has made regarding this issue? Yes. Do I think it’s harmful to our county? Yes. However, I still respect him and I am thankful for his years of service.” The sheriff’s department signed an agreement with ICE in March that authorizes it to serve 48-hour detainers on behalf of ICE for people held in the Cowley County Jail, although Falletti said this week the jail had not implemented the practice because it had not yet received training to do so.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

County officials say they are ready to take legal enforcement action against several property owners who have not complied with sanitation code regulations of wastewater lagoons. During the Jan. 29 County Commission meeting, Lyon County Counselor Molly Priest said that after having given notices to a number of property owners in the county, four or five had taken “little to no steps” towards compliance — mainly to do with fencing and vegetation issues — and could face Class C misdemeanor cases.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

The Olathe City Council is set to vote on a plan to use tax pledges to repay STAR bonds for the construction of a new Kansas City Chiefs team headquarters and practice facility, estimated to cost around $300 million.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports

We could know as early as next week the exact location of a new Chiefs domed stadium in Wyandotte County. The Unified Government (UG) said a public hearing on the project will be held in the near future, but the date for that has not been set. The public hearing comes before the UG Commission must vote to approve allowing incremental sales tax growth in the stadium and surrounding district to be used to help pay off the Sales Tax and Revenue or STAR Bonds. The commission must vote by Feb. 20.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

The only thing missing was fateful “spaghetti western” music blaring from the sky. An impromptu snowball fight broke out on Jan. 28 between kids and members of the Newton Police Department in Military Park which resulted in heavy casualties for Newton PD. According to Chief Craig Dunlavy, the kids challenged members of the police department to the frozen water war in the afternoon and the department immediately accepted. “Who can resist a good snowball fight?” Dunlavy said. “Some of us in the office just went out, ‘let’s go have a little fun,’ we haven’t had snow in a while. We underestimated them, though.”
Read more: Harvey County Now

All through 2025, Halstead’s new industrial park speculative building sat empty. Mayor Gary Faelber wants to get someone into it by bringing in the assistance of a realtor. He told the council he was looking for a consensus to list the building with a realtor at the council’s meeting on January 28. The council discussed that possibility and agreed to meet with a realtor at a future date. City Manager Ethan Reimer confirmed that the building had been shown and that it’s available to all realtors through the LOIS (LocationOne) system, which is specific to commercial and industrial properties.
Read more: Harvey County Now