Kansas Municipal News
Cato Days; a fall tradition
The hint of fall in the air and clear, blue October skies are a reminder that it’s almost time for an area historical event that has become an annual autumn tradition in the area. The 2023 edition of Cato Days will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, in Cato, Kan. As always, admission is free. Presented by the Cato Historical Preservation Association, Cato Days is designed to preserve and promote the tiny community’s pioneer history. This year’s Cato Days program starts with registration at 9 a.m. followed at 9:30 by old-time hymns performed by Ralph Carlson and Friends in the historic Cato Christian Church. Ann Rawlins will talk about the history of the church. At 10:45 a.m., in the Old Stone School, Anna Portwood Swank, Elizabeth Portwood Thompson and Jamie Thompson will talk about the school and Jerry Lomshek will discuss Cato’s early history and its involvement in Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War.
Source: The Morning Sun
Overland Park looks to change fair housing rules — What does that mean?
Overland Park will repeal its current fair housing codes and take steps to reaffirm its ongoing commitment to supporting fair housing. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee voted 5-0 to recommend approval of three measures attached to the fair housing affirmation. Taking these actions doesn’t mean the city has stopped supporting fair housing in Overland Park, but that it is putting all of the enforcement responsibilities back on the federal government, said Overland Park’s Grant Program Manager Ruanda McFerren. The action will also dissolve the Overland Park Fair Housing Committee, which hasn’t met in years.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
‘Gravel Kansas’ cycling group puts Marshall County on map
Marshall County is now on the map of Gravel Kansas, a new cycling initiative dedicated to crafting unforgettable gravel cycling routes across picturesque Kansas landscapes. The map was the brainchild of LeLan Dains, Emporia tourism director, cycling enthusiast and founding chair of Gravel Kansas, who thought the public should have a guide to Kansas’ most scenic cycling routes. In Marshall County, so far three routes have been designated and posted to the map, which can be found online at gravelks.com.
Source: Marysville Advocate
Riley County jail overpopulation leads to nursing needs
The county clerk said Thursday Riley County Corrections needs another nurse because of overpopulation. During the Riley County Commission meeting, county clerk Rich Vargo said a corrections officer will soon come in to request money for a second nurse. As previously reported, the jail averaged 124 inmates in August, which is the highest it’s ever been. Vargo said the facility is now holding around 140 inmates. Kathryn Focke, county commission chair, asked if it was possible to partner with Kansas State University to have a student nurse work the second needed position. The commissioners discussed that the county would pay for this, since this is not considered a Riley County Police Department expense.
Source: The Mercury
Mulvane pledges support for DPD gun range
The cities of Mulvane and Haysville recently agreed to contribute $15,000 each toward a concrete project to help improve the Derby Police Department gun range operated jointly (since 2012) by all three municipalities. Over the past year, there have been ongoing discussions between city and police leadership about improvements needed at the joint gun range – one such being additional concrete to create a better training environment. The concrete would also help with operations during inclement conditions. Derby PD has also noted plans to make improvements to other portions of the range (compressor, warning system, etc.).
Source: Derby Informer
Led by a cool-down in online shopping, Lawrence sales tax collections on pace to be about $3M below budget
The latest sales tax numbers show the city of Lawrence is on pace to have a more than $3 million budget shortfall in sales tax collections this year, in part due to local online shoppers becoming less spend-happy. … During the pandemic, citywide collections of those taxes — called a use tax — soared by nearly 28% and 25% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. This year, the use tax dollars are on pace to grow by less than 1%, a sign that shoppers haven’t abandoned online shopping, but seemingly are no longer treating it like the national pastime. If the trend holds, Lawrence City Hall will see one of its cash cows turn sickly. In 2022, the growth in use taxes added about $1.8 million in new revenue to the city’s coffers. This year, use taxes are on pace to add about $45,000 in new revenue.
Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for October 4, 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.
‘Mr. Winfield’ Rick Meyer fondly remembered
Rick Meyer, known as “Mr. Winfield” due to his work for the city and assistance with numerous events around town, died Saturday after an illness. Meyer, 71, had worked for the City of Winfield for just shy of 35 years, according to Winfield city manager Taggart Wall. At the time of his death, Meyer was the city’s facilities service coordinator. Wall said Meyer began working for the city after his previous employer, St. John’s College, closed down. “Rick was known for his grin and wit,” Wall said. “He always had a way of pulling people together to get things done.” Mr. Winfield, as Myer was affectionately called, was a public servant for the City of Winfield until the end. Rick was not only a special part of our city family — he was woven into the fabric of many local organizations,” Wall said.
Source: CTnewsonline
See murals painted live during 2023 Boom! Street Art and Mural Festival in downtown Salina
Live art is back in town right now as the second annual Boom! Salina Street Art and Mural Festival is happening in Salina. The creation of eight murals is currently underway as artists from around the world work in various locations throughout downtown Salina. Boom!, which began in 2022 by the Salina Kanvas Project and funded through private and crowd sourced donors, is an annual mural festival which has a goal to “bring in street artists and muralists from around the world to enhance the visual landscape of our city.”
Source: Salina Journal
Here’s what Saline County has done in 2023 to address its top 5 areas of need
Saline County continues to look at creative ways to address top local issues which have contributed to a stagnant workforce and are building upon a plan the board developed early this year to improve various aspects of the county. The plan was developed as part of a visioning process the board of commissioners went through to address top local needs and come up with tangible actions based on those needs. Its five key areas are the county workforce, county services and infrastructure, the county’s public communication and outreach, working relationships with local partners, and physical and economic community health.
Source: Salina Journal
Mulberry restores city basketball court
Mulberry Mayor Pat Walden was beaming with pride in his hometown as he showed off the newly restored basketball court at the Freddy Gobl, Jr. Park made possible by a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK). Like a lot of small towns, Mulberry needs help, so Walden said he just took a chance and applied for a grant through CFSEK, a local organization that hosts individual charitable funds created by donors who have a passion for giving back to the community. Grants from these funds assist people throughout southeast Kansas and beyond. According to Walden, a lifelong resident of Mulberry, the court is just used by local residents. Kids from nearby communities, including Arma and Arcadia on the Kansas side, as well as Liberal, Missouri, come to Mulberry for a game.
Source: Morning Sun
Leawood reverses course on slashing maximum building height
The city of Leawood is closer to a decision on capping the maximum building heights to 60 feet, or about four stories. This comes after several weeks of working toward a compromise on how tall office and mixed-use buildings in the city can be. The Leawood City Council wanted to make sure new buildings don’t get too tall, while the city’s planning commission initially opposed any regulations that could stunt growth. At its September meeting, the Leawood Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s development ordinance bringing the maximum building height down from 90 to 60 feet. The city first brought the proposal before the commission for review in July. City staff said the idea came from concerns from the Leawood City Council about avoiding a “canyon effect” from future developments along the 135th corridor, following discussions about projects like the East Village development.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park expands street maintenance program for 2024
Overland Park plans to spend roughly $17 million more next year maintaining, repairing and rehabilitating roads. It’s all part of an expansion to the city’s infrastructure maintenance program in 2024, supported largely by revenue raised through the city’s new three-eighths cent special sales tax, which voters approved this summer. Overall, the city expects to spend about $38.3 million next year maintaining its streets with different methods, including more mill and overlay projects, when a street’s top surface layer is removed and replaced. “It’s really exciting to see the impact of the vote that our residents took to increase the sales tax and dedicate it to this and show up in the numbers so quickly in 2024,” Mayor Curt Skoog said at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Places to go, sites to see, tales of yore keep Atchison tourism on the Kansas Map
For the curious, history lovers, adventurists, and naturalists near and far, they might tell Atchison is the place they like to go for good time experiences. Kansas Tourism recently announced that the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce was recently awarded a $10,000 Marketing Grant in the 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant Awards Program. The grant awards announced on Aug. 28, are designed to assist local tourism or attractions in new or first-time innovative marketing initiatives. Atchison Chamber is one of the 22 projects that the Kansas Tourism Award will provide funding throughout the state to enhance and expand advertising efforts to attract new visitors to the state and destinations throughout. Director Jill Thorne, Locally Atchison, wrote the grant application. An elemental key focus of the grant award is the recently published “Atchison, Ks FOR The Spirited.” Visitor’s Guide.
Source: News | atchisonglobenow.com
Valley Center to consider water treatment plant
Valley Center is considering building its own water treatment plant. The city voted Tuesday to approve a special meeting on the topic next Thursday. It will hold a public hearing to decide on whether to ask for a maximum $19 million loan from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to build the facility. The city currently sells its untreated water to Wichita and then buys treated water from Wichita at a higher rate than Wichita residents. “What we do know is that once we’re done that that per thousand gallons that we’re charging monthly to our residents would be about half of what we’re paying or charging them from Wichita right now,” said Valley Center City Administrator Brent Clark.
Source: KSN-TV
Lawrence city commissioners approve change to allow 2 affordable homes on more single lots
Lawrence city commissioners approved a tweak that will open up more single residential lots to possibly be developed with two small affordable homes. City commissioners in 2019 approved a text amendment to allow two affordable homes to be built on one lot, if projects meet several conditions. But city code currently does not allow development of two smaller homes on certain types of lots. The new text amendment the commission approved Tuesday will change that, opening up more than 1,000 lots to the possibility of being developed with two affordable single-family homes. City staff members had had recommended opening up the option for developers to seek special use permits to develop two homes on single lots smaller than 7,000 square feet regardless of the type of residential zoning district they’re in.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Reno County alcohol vote could change business operations
On Nov. 7, Reno County voters will decide on whether to get rid of the food rule. Reno County has been a semi-dry county since the 80s, meaning businesses that sell alcohol by the glass over 6% must ensure food makes up 30% of sales. “This is ultimately an outdated regulation that is obscure that very few people actually recognize is still here,” Pippin Williamson, Sandhills Brewing co-owner, said. “I mean the number of times that we’ve heard people say like, I thought we got rid of that 20 years ago. If you’re a non-food establishment, it is almost impossible to do 30% food sales. And that is actually the way that this law was designed was to make it impossible for non-food establishments to operate with alcohol.” The only way to change that rule is for the public to vote on it. To get it on the ballot, commissioners had to vote for it.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for October 3, 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.
Internet access is top priority for upcoming Topeka meeting
City officials say Topeka is teaming up with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to talk broadband access later this week. City of Topeka spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker said in a press release that a joint listening session for stakeholder agencies will be held, courtesy of Topeka and the FCC, to discuss the topic of broadband access on Thursday. This is part of a push by the FCC to gain more information from different communities across the U.S. as to what challenges they are facing when trying to access broadband services. Broadband access is under discussion across the U.S., from the highest levels of our government to the Capital City of Kansas. Debate is focused on whether or not broadband should be seen as essential, such as access to water or electricity.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Junction City ready if government shuts down
One Kansas community shares its plan if leaders in Washington, D.C. can’t come to an agreement on the national budget. Saturday, the United States House of Representatives, Senate and President Joe Biden agreed to a 45-day extension for the congress to come to an agreement on budget. KSNT 27 News spoke with the city manager of Junction City who says anytime there’s uncertainty, it can trickle down to the community. “I think a family has angst when you may not get paid for a month and you have bills due,” City Manager of Junction City Allen Dinkel said, “And of course from our standpoint, you know, habits of sales tax, people shopping and everything else because not knowing if they’ll get paid and secondly will they get that pack pay and whole bit.
Source: KSNT 27 News