Kansas Municipal News
Speaker at Salina forum shares strategies to end homelessness
People passionate about homelessness in Salina braved the bitter cold to listen and packed into a standing-room-only setting to hear about and discuss solutions Thursday night. The City of Salina invited Julia Orlando, a consultant from New Jersey who also is the director of the Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center, to speak about strategies it used to bring homelessness to “functional zero” in that county.
Source: Salina Journal
Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $5M for Digital Skills Training
Governor Laura Kelly today announced a $4.75 million initiative to improve the digital skills of Kansans not yet able to maximize the power of the internet. The Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program strengthens access to necessary digital tools and opportunities…. DOCK promotes access to digital resources by providing awards for digital skills development programs. The maximum individual award is $250,000, with required matching funds at 5 percent…. The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) encourages local governments, community organizations, educational institutions, and others to partner in making the DOCK program a success.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Shawnee Mission superintendent to step down. District will start search for new leader
Shawnee Mission Superintendent Michelle Hubbard, who was recently named 2024 Kansas Superintendent of the Year, will retire after this school year. The school board accepted Hubbard’s resignation during a special meeting Thursday evening. Hubbard, who was named superintendent in 2021, will serve the remainder of her contract through June.
Source: Joco 913 News
Great Bend Fire Department answered over 2,583 fire and EMS calls in 2023
With the ringing of a new year, the Great Bend Fire Department thought residents might be curious about the number of calls it handled in 2023, Fire Chief Brent Smith said. The information was presented to the City Council. “We thought you may wonder just how many calls we respond to in one year,” Smith said. This is the number of calls from Jan. 1 through Dec. 18. In all, the Great Bend Fire Department made 2,583 fire and Emergency Medical Services runs in that time span…
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Shawnee moves forward with new rules for Airbnbs
The Shawnee City Council Committee is getting closer to setting new rules and restrictions for short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO. On Monday evening, the committee reached a consensus for amendments to Shawnee Municipal Code Chapter 5 to regulate short-term rentals through the city’s business licensing department. Short-term rental property owners would also face penalties if they violate existing ordinances, like noise violations or health and safety codes.
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park mulls changing development rules
As Overland Park continues to build its new comprehensive plan, the city is also mulling some possible updates to regulations for future development and redevelopment projects. That collection of ordinances called a Unified Development Ordinance, or UDO, lays out the rules for development in a community, including land use and architectural standards. The plan is to work with a consultant to review the UDO, the cost of which Overland Park Senior Planner Danielle Hollrah said is already budgeted into city’s 2024-28 capital improvement project list.
Source: Johnson County Post
County commission approves cost of living increase for county employees
The Chase County Commission approved a 3.5% cost of living adjustment across the board for county employees at its meeting Monday morning. Commissioner Matt Miller said he was in favor of making the 3.5% increase standard for all county employees, regardless of full-time or part-time status, to help with cost of living increases. “The departments have done a good job of getting some internal pay scales and structures put in place. We have made a lot of progress there with department heads meeting and updating our leave policies. Those are definitely big steps forward,” Miller said. “I encourage us as we go into budget season this year to take the pay into consideration a bit more.” The motion to approve a 3.5% increase passed unanimously.
Source: Emporia Gazette
“Need rural water!”
After fighting for clean, oil-free water since September, mother of three and wife, Jenna Krob, says she’s tired of being redirected. “I feel like I’m getting tossed around just like I did when I didn’t have water at first,” said Krob. “Now I’m being tossed around again just trying to find a permanent solution.” The problem began as a foul smell filling their newly purchased home located at SW Thunder Rd and SW 150th St in rural Augusta. Soon after, their plumbing pipes, toilet tank, shower and sinks were coated in a black oily substance. The family suspected crude oil to be in their private water well but were still disappointed when the test came back positive. The family has gone without water in their home since Oct. 1, despite extensive efforts of testing, advocacy, and multiple attempts of finding a grant to cover the cost of a permanent solution. After testing the water, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, (KDHE), concluded that the oil was in fact crude oil from previous activities being 10 years or more older, without identifying the source of the oil. After hearing about the Krob family and other community member’s ongoing issue, Rural Water District #5 was willing to help find a permanent solution to the problem. That solution would be connecting the community to rural water. While the crew and community knew it would be a big undertaking, they were still hopeful of finding a way to bring clean water to their families. The biggest hurdle would be to find financing.
Source: Andover American
‘Wage war’: Sedgwick County hikes pay for sheriff’s officers after Wichita police raises
Sedgwick County boosted pay for sheriff’s office employees Wednesday in an escalating law enforcement wage war with the city of Wichita. The county will transfer approximately $4.5 million from reserves to cover 8.7% increases for all sheriff’s employees, including Sheriff Jeff Easter, who presented the funding request to commissioners Wednesday. That’s on top of the 2% increase that went into effect at the beginning of the year. The new raise comes a month after the Wichita City Council voted to give police employees 13.27% raises and one-time $5,000 bonuses. “If people don’t believe that we’re going to lose people to Wichita, they’ve got their head in the sand, because they’ll go where the money is,” Commissioner David Dennis said before the unanimous commission vote. With the Wichita Police Department increases, starting officer pay is now $29.75, compared to $23.97 at the beginning of 2024 for new sheriff’s deputies. The pay bumps approved Wednesday get the county’s starting pay to $26.02. “It is threatening to see this wage war continue,” Commissioner Jim Howell said. “I don’t know how it’s going to stop. I have a concern that it’s just going to continue ping-ponging back and forth because as soon as we do this, they’ll use our increase as a rationale for another increase across the street.” The Wichita police union is entering another round of negotiations with the city in 2024.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
County leadership program serves to develop leaders
K-State Research and Extension Agent Tristen Cope has learned to look at leadership differently, especially after taking a class on the topic through Kansas Leadership Center and helping run the Marion County Leadership Program. “I was in a lot of leadership positions in high school and throughout college, but I was never taught or shown leadership as a verb. I was always taught that leadership was a noun,” said Cope. “It’s an act of how you’re a leader as opposed to a noun— acting as a leader— it’s what you do to gain those leadership skills or to help engage and empower others into leadership positions. It’s a different mindset when you’re looking at it as a verb. As a leader, what are you doing to empower others?” Marion County Leadership is a seven-week program that seeks to identify, motivate and continually develop new and emerging leaders from business, non-profit and private sectors to affect change in the quality of civic, cultural and economic life in Marion County. Thanks to funding from the Marion County Leadership Endowment held by Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF), Marion County residents have an opportunity to participate in the county leadership program that is designed to teach leadership skills while learning about the county’s needs. The course is facilitated by the KLC and includes tours of the county as well as discussions about how to apply learnings to opportunities and challenges in Marion County. The program, made available by Marion County, CKCF and KLC, originally started in 1992.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Hesston gives OK to expanding police force
The Hesston Police Department will hire an additional police officer. The Hesston City Council approved the action after some discussion of shifting budgets Monday night. Police Chief Chris Eilert made the case to the council for the hiring. An officer informed him that he plans to pursue another job in 18 to 24 months. Eilert said the city, in the past, had trouble finding quality applicants for open positions, and he had a strong applicant, a Hesston resident currently working at another interested department. “He will be getting out if he can’t find something,” he said. “He fits perfectly what I’m looking for in this position. I know it’s a big undertaking.” The undertaking would represent around $90,000 of unbudgeted expense for the city to add the position until the other officer leaves. Eilert said he planned to defer the purchase of vehicles to help offset the cost. He also noted savings in part-time and overtime for the department with the hire of around $10,000. Other savings would come from one officer planning on being gone for more than a month due to a deployment with the National Guard. These savings still leave the city slightly short of the cost. “I’ll look, and if I can’t find it, I’ll give my 5.5 percent back,” Eilert said of his past raise. “That’s how much I want to get this guy.” Council Member Susan Swartzendruber asked Eilert what the new officer would bring skill-wise to the city. Eilert said he didn’t want to divulge too much to give away the applicant’s identity but he had skills and training the department currently didn’t possess.
Source: Harvey County Now
‘Nothing in the middle’: Senior housing options limited
After getting divorced in her mid 60s, Darlene Palsmeier was forced to look for a new home. She didn’t like what she found, a least in terms of cost. With an annual income of $38,640, Palsmeier doesn’t consider herself well off. But when she began applying for apartments in government-subsidized senior living communities around the area, she discovered she was above the income limit for residents by almost $3,000. Needing a place “pretty quick,” she rented an apartment on Rock Road in east Wichita for $1,400 a month. That equals 43 percent of her monthly income, well above the 30 percent recommended by the government and most experts. “I didn’t have any idea this was going to happen at 66,” Palsmeier said. “Now I’m going to be 68 in a couple of weeks.” Palsmeier’s income comes from Social Security and a pension from her former job at Cessna Aircraft. She said she knows “there are a lot of people who make a lot less than I make” but feels like there’s “nothing in the middle” range for people like herself. Her experience is not unusual for older residents seeking a new home, the large majority of whom are women. “We do get calls like that,” said Melissa Espinoza, resource center supervisor with Central Plains Area Agency on Aging. “We also get calls that they can’t afford any rents in the area any longer, or that the rent has increased from the previous year.”
Source: KLC Journal
Pottawatomie County offices briefly evacuated due to mystery odor
An odor issue caused a brief closure Wednesday of the Pottawomie County Office Building in Westmoreland. The facility was evacuated and closed for about an hour and a half as Kansas Gas Service performed a check of lines in the building. They were able to rule out any gas leak. Employees and customers were allowed back into the building at 2 p.m. The office building has been deemed safe for employees and customers. County officials say more work will be done to narrow down the mysterious odor. The building houses offices for the Pottawatomie County Treasurer, Clerk, Appraiser, Register of Deeds, Planning and Zoning, GIS and Administration.
Source: 1350 KMAN
State sales tax on food drops to 2 percent
Kansans are now paying less tax at the grocery store as the state tax rate on food dropped from four to two percent on Monday. During the 2022 Legislative session, lawmakers passed the “Axe The Food Tax” bill, which phases out the state tax on food at the grocery store. At the start of 2023, the state tax rate on food decreased from 6.5 to four percent. Now in 2024, the rate is dropped to two percent. The tax will be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2025. “Axing the food tax down to two percent keeps more money in Kansans’ pockets. High prices shouldn’t force anyone to choose between paying their bills or feeding their family,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “In 2024, we’re giving Kansans some additional tax relief at the grocery store.” According to Gov. Kelly, Kansans saved more than $187 million when the food tax was cut in 2023. In 2024, Kansans are expected to save about $12.5 million per month, which is $150 million in savings throughout the year. The “Axe The Food Tax” bill reduces the tax on food and food ingredients, as well as certain prepared food. Most grocery store food items are included in the tax reduction, as well as bottled water, candy, dietary supplements, soft drinks, bakery items and food sold through vending machines. The bill excludes alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Food sales will still be subject to sales taxes imposed by counties and cities, it was reported.
Source: Holton Recorder
Cherokee County Sheriff Reports Significant Decrease in Crimes for 2023
The Cherokee County Sheriff is reflecting on the last year and what he calls some “good news.” Last year’s numbers show a 61-percent decrease in aggravated assaults and batteries from 2022 in Cherokee County, as well as a decrease in thefts when compared to the five-year average. “The trend has been over the last ten years for violent crimes to be going up. And so for us to see that significant of a decrease with regards to aggravated assault matters was certainly something we welcome,” said David Groves, Cherokee County Sheriff. Sheriff’s deputies were also able to log a 5-percent “solvability rate” higher than the national average for thefts. In addition, they also logged a 16-percent solvability rate higher than the national average for burglaries. “When they go out to a call and somebody has been victimized, the data shows that they’re taking it as far as they can take it. And they’re really working hard to try to solve those crimes for the victims here in our county and hopefully not only bring justice to their case, but in the case of property crimes, get that property back to the rightful owners,” said Groves. Groves also points to the relationship deputies have with the community, and he’s looking forward to building on that relationship in 2024 with their new Community Outreach Deputy. “Engaging members of the community, whether through civic groups or other organizations, and provide education on what is fentanyl. How is it getting here? Why is it a danger? And what do we collectively, not just law enforcement, or citizens, but as a team, what do we as a community do to help slow that pandemic issue here in our community,” said Groves. He’s also excited for the addition of the Tru-Narc device.
Source: KSNF/KODE
USD 250 continues search for new super
Since USD 250 Superintendent Rich Proffitt announced his retirement, effective at the end of the school year, the Board of Education has begun the process of hiring his successor. To that end, the board has hired Omaha-based McPherson-Johnson Consultants’ Randy Gilson and his colleagues to meet with USD 250 staff, students, and parents to get a feel for the right person to take over the school district. Gilson met with certified staff at Pittsburg High School on Wednesday night to discuss what they are looking for in a new superintendent. About a dozen 250 teachers gathered Wednesday evening to share what qualities and skills they are looking for in a new leader. Among the top desired traits the teachers shared is a leader who is passionate about education and will build a cohesive and supportive staff that sets a positive tone. They are looking for someone with good communication skills with both the USD 250 family and the general public and will be an advocate on their behalf with the state legislature and board of education. The ideal candidate understands the value of building lasting relationships is someone who is personable and takes the time to learn the names of students and staff members. The candidate needs to be open to personal development and constructive criticism as a leader without being vindictive. He or she needs to understand that the teachers are the subject-matter experts who don’t need to be micro-managed, and the students are more than just test scores and that many of them are at or below poverty level.
Source: Morning Sun
Osawatomie launches Comprehensive Plan 2040
The city of Osawatomie has kicked off its Comprehensive Plan 2040 initiative, and residents are encouraged to share their insights and get involved in the process of planning for the community’s future. Comprehensive Plan 2040 will be a visionary road map that will guide the future development and growth of Osawatomie, according to a city news release. The key components of the plan will be community engagement, manageable development and preserving heritage, according to the release. The city is inviting all residents, businesses and stakeholders to actively participate in the planning process. The first phase of engagement is a public survey that is available now. Community members can participate by going online to osawatomieks.org/2040survey. The survey covers a variety of topics, including housing, transportation, economic development, recreation and more. The city release states that, “Comprehensive Plan 2040 will focus on practices that promote stewardship of community assets, economic resilience, and building a community that will last another 150 years. By embracing responsible and strategic growth, we aim to create a city that thrives while respecting our natural resources and supporting a high quality of life for all residents.”
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Municipal Bond Trends for January 11, 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.
Lawrence has nearly $2B in retail sales in 2023, but city’s growth since pandemic has been slower than average
Even if we are browsing through the clearance items at the Goodwill store, all of us Lawrence shoppers can feel like we are almost part of an exclusive club — the $2 billion club. Lawrence fell just short of posting $2 billion in total retail sales in 2023, which would have made it just one of six communities in the state to do so. Now that the Kansas Department of Revenue has released its final sales tax figures for the year, we can look at what cities in the state are the biggest when it comes to serving and attracting shoppers.
Source: LJWorld
Attracting new affordable housing developers will be key to hitting the goal of adding 1,700 new units throughout Douglas County in the next 5 years
Five years from now, there may be well over a thousand new affordable housing units constructed throughout Douglas County. That idea is no secret in Lawrence. Lawrence City Commission candidates regularly highlighted the hundreds of affordable units currently in the development pipeline along the campaign trail in late 2023, and such projects have been an emphasis for local leaders when allocating American Rescue Plan Act funds and Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars for the past several years.
Source: LJWorld