Kansas Municipal News
Kansas collects $7 million from $1.85 billion in sports bets in first year of legalized gambling
Kansas’ first year of sports betting brought in $7 million in state revenue from $1.85 billion in wagers. In a Sept. 28 update to committee lawmakers, Kansas Lottery finance director Matt Schwartz said revenue projections were basically on track with expectations. “Sports wagering revenues, we’re now a little more than 12 months in,” Schwartz said. “The state’s share of revenues for the first fiscal year, which was 10 months of operation, was a little more than $5.8 million.” The fiscal year ended June 30. From the September 2022 introduction of sports betting through the end of August this year, the state has collected about $7 million in sports betting taxes, and sports bettors have staked about $1.85 billion. Schwartz said the organization wasn’t expecting a “big change” in revenue for the upcoming year, estimating the state’s share of revenue would likely be around $10 million in fiscal year 2024. August numbers reported $94.4 million in settled wagers for the month, generating $484,366 in state sporting bet taxes.
Source: KCUR News
Choose Saline County incentivizes local shopping
Over $3 million has been generated in economic activity in Saline County because of its new loyalty program, Choose Saline County. It is an app that allows people to earn stars for shopping locally, anywhere from 5%-20% back. Then, they can redeem those stars at other local businesses or donate them to a local nonprofit. “You get cash back,” Melissa McCoy, Saline County spokesperson, said. “And then you have stars that are as good as cash in your pocket that you can use that places like Brown’s Shoe Fit or True Betty Boutique or Sharp Performance. Now, if I need something, I will open that app, and I’ll see, oh, where can I get stars back or where can I redeem my stars instead of spending my money.” Over 114,000 stars have been redeemed, equal to $114,476. The county received ARPA funding and surveyed the community to figure out how to use it. The survey revealed the community wanted local business recovery.
Source: KSN-TV
This new Johnson County library under construction will replace the aging Antioch branch
The opening of a new public library building in Merriam is inching closer. “It’s just going to be a really beautiful building,” said Elissa Andre, media manager for the Johnson County Library, of the library’s new $13.6 million Merriam Plaza Library, now under construction in Merriam. “We’re really thrilled to bring it on to the Merriam Community Center campus.” The new facility, designed by Kansas City-based Dake Wells Architecture, is contemporary in style with an abundance of windows. It is being built just steps from the Merriam Community Center, which opened in 2020 in the 6000 block of Slater St. The library is scheduled to open in mid-2024. “This building is really architecturally interesting,” said Andre. “We have these big light monitors on the roof that will let in all sorts of natural light and let people who are inside look up and see the changing Kansas sky throughout the seasons.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Writers from four separate states assemble in SEK to showcase area
A group of travel writers are touring southeast Kansas. Five content creators from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota are touring with Explore Crawford County to tell a story about their time here. In less than 24 hours, they’ve toured about a dozen different locations, including Route 66, downtown Pittsburg, Pichler’s Chicken Annie’s, and the McCune Farm to Market. Each writer is creating vlogs and articles to publish on different publications. “We are showcasing the amazing things that are here to see, from obviously the history of Route 66. There are just a lot of different things, and we’re experiencing some unique food as well while we’re in the area,” said Sara Broers. The group is also attending a few different events while they’re in the area, including a music festival at Big Brutus, the Pittsburg Art Walk, and Pitt State’s Global Fest.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Senator visits Topeka homeless encampments
Topeka’s homeless crisis is catching the attention of federal leaders. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, recently toured a few homeless camps in the city. Barry Feaker, former director of the Topeka Rescue Mission, said he invited Marshall. The visit occurred the same day the senator met with state agricultural leaders prioritizing mental health resources for Kansas farmers. “We were able to visit two camps during this visit and have conversations with some individuals currently experiencing homelessness. When we returned to TRM (Topeka Rescue Mission) we discussed the homeless issues locally and nationally. The visit and conversation with the Senator were greatly appreciated”. Topeka has struggled to figure out how to get a handle on homeless issues in the city. The population grew 22% this year over 2023. Marshall said his staff in Topeka shared this prominent topic with him, so he wanted to see the camps for himself. “This challenge, this problem had risen to the level that my staff thought it was important that I go see this firsthand, with my own eyes,” Marshall said.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office raising awareness on fentanyl dangers
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is using social media to ramp up efforts to increase fentanyl awareness. Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says the demographic most affected by fentanyl ranges from 18-year-olds to 45-year-olds. He also adds that the drug was recently listed as the leading cause of death among that age group. “The slogan is One pill can kill. And we’ve seen that here in the county. And throughout the region where somebody has taken what is a counterfeit prescription pill, they think it’s a Xanax or a person or OxyContin, and it turns out to be a counterfeit pill that contains a small amount of fentanyl,” said David Groves, Cherokee County Sheriff. And Groves says it’s not just the counterfeit pills they are seeing. “Between 2020 and 2022, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has seen a 900% increase in submissions that have tested positive for that and also even other illicit drugs here in Kansas. That includes marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine. Those types of drugs also are containing amounts of fentanyl,” said Groves.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Four-lane expressway to be expanded between Dodge City and Garden City
The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced that they will be expanding their four-lane expressway to Garden City. KDOT is expanding four segments of U.S. 50 to a four-lane expressway with a divided median from Aerodrome Rd in Finney County to the west city limits of Cimarron in Gray County. These projects will increase capacity, relieve congestion and enhance safety by limiting direct highway access points. The four segments have been bundled into two groups for design and construction—a western and eastern group. The western group extend from Aerodrome Rd (Garden City Airport) in Finney County east to 7 Rd in Gray County. The eastern group extend from 7 Rd in Gray County east to Cimarron. Once the four segments are complete, they will provide a much needed four-lane connection between Garden City and Dodge City.
Source: Western Kansas News
Municipal Bond Trends for September 29, 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.
Before Panasonic plant’s arrival, De Soto had spent decades preparing for growth
De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt says Panasonic is poised to lead his city and the surrounding area into a new era of manufacturing prosperity as electric-vehicle battery production becomes the modern equivalent of the oil booms of 100 years ago. The center of that boom in northeast Kansas will be the $4 billion lithium battery plant that the company is now building on 304 acres of the old Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, now renamed Ad Astra Enterprise Park. And because of steps De Soto has taken the past two decades, the growth will be aimed along a corridor that points straight west along Kansas Highway 10 toward Eudora and Lawrence.
Source: LJWorld
Shawnee County gives tax abatement to couple who lost house in accidental fire
Glenn D. Leonardi and Ulrike Schlingensiepen lost their house, 3421 S.W. Briarwood Lane, in a fire in April 2022. … Later, Leonardi realized they were still paying property taxes on a house that no longer existed. “I just felt like it was ridiculous to be paying taxes on a property that was no longer there,” Leonardi told The Capital-Journal. … Leonardi said he contacted the county appraiser’s office to figure out what could be done. The Shawnee County Commission on Thursday voted unanimously to provide property tax relief for Leonardi and Schlingensiepen under Shawnee County Resolution No. 2023-32. … K.S.A. 79-1613 allows for the abatement of taxes for property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disaster or credit against property taxes payable during any or all of the next three taxable years.
Source: CJonline
Governor Kelly Announces $350M in Highway Projects Added to IKE Construction Pipeline
Governor Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced seven Expansion and Modernization highway projects – a total investment of more than $350 million – have been committed to construction as part of the Kelly administration’s bipartisan 10-year, $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE. “When combined with the first two rounds of IKE Construction projects, these investments are part of a $2 billion commitment to make our roads safer, reduce congestion, create good jobs, and deliver more economic opportunities,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Getting these projects to construction will make getting around Kansas safer and easier and will allow the historic economic growth we’ve seen to benefit the entire state.”
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
WSU forecast calls for Kansas home values to continue to increase
Wichita State University’s Center for Real Estate is forecasting that Kansas home values will continue to appreciate in 2024. The forecast was released Thursday by CRE director, Dr. Stan Longhofer. He said the inventory of homes available for sale is very limited, and as a result the market still favors sellers despite the softening of demand due to higher mortgage rates. Longhofer presented the forecast in Manhattan to the Kansas Association of Realtors Annual Conference. It calls for home sales to fall slightly in Wichita and remain flat statewide next year, and new home construction activity is also expected to be down.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Turbines to take a spin in the spotlight at ribbon-cutting
The formal opening of Orsted’s Sunflower Wind farm will be marked with a ribbon cutting Thursday. The 200 megawatt wind farm is one of 13 Orsted wind farms in the United States. Sunflower will produce enough electricity to power more than 70,000 homes. Local landowners, community members, and stakeholders will be at the event to celebrate the project’s completion and economic benefits it will bring to the community and state.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Will this Johnson County city restrict — even ban — Airbnbs? Neighbors are complaining
The Shawnee City Council is considering whether to tighten restrictions on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals — or outright ban them from residential areas. City officials say they’ve received a growing number of complaints in single-family neighborhoods about noise, parking, alcohol and trash at Airbnb and Vrbo locations. And now the city is considering whether to regulate them more or get rid of them altogether, as a growing number of cities nationwide, including New York City and Dallas, crack down. Shawnee could be one of the first cities in Johnson County to do so. Prairie Village officials also have discussed regulating short-term rentals in residential areas. The Overland Park City Council last year passed an ordinance regulating nuisance parties, which came out of a study of short-term rentals following a fatal shooting at one.
Source: Joco 913 News
Governor Kelly issues state of disaster emergency for wildland fires
Governor Laura Kelly has issued a state of disaster emergency proclamation Thursday morning due to increased fire weather conditions. Warmer conditions, strong winds and low relative humidities will create high to very-high fire weather conditions especially in the central and western regions of the state. Governor Kelly says this declaration allows resources to be “prepositioned to provide state assistance.” “I urge everyone across the state to use extreme caution and avoid burning, if at all possible,” Governor Kelly said. “Please keep yourself and your community safe and use extra precautions anytime you are doing any burning.”
Source: KAKE – News
Flamingo at Kansas lake draws visitors
The Chase County State Fishing Lake is a popular place to be Thursday after a flamingo was spotted seemingly enjoying the warm Kansas weather. The local sheriff’s office says the bird’s name is Flint. “We know this is an unusual sight to see and the lake is a popular place today,” the Chase County Sheriff’s Office said. “So with that said we remind everyone to please watch for pedestrians and park where access is not restricted.” The sheriff’s office said state game wardens have been contacted and that people should not attempt to catch the flamingo.
Source: KAKE – News
Lawsuit against City of Wichita claims court system doesn’t do psych evaluations before trial
A lawsuit against the City of Wichita covers what its court system is not offering certain defendants. That class action lawsuit claims Wichita’s Municipal Court doesn’t provide psychological evaluations to determine if a defendant suspected of having mental health issues should stand trial. The lawsuit says The City has been wrongfully convicting people who aren’t competent for years and it needs to stop. Attorney Mark Schoenhofer says his client was wrongly convicted on charges related to drugs, petty theft, and urinating in public because there was no psych evaluation before she went to trial.
Source: KAKE – News
More affordable tiny homes coming to McPherson
“It’s a $1.2 million project that will build seven homes, permanent homes for families and provide supportive services. Which means they need a doctor, if they need to get a better job, if they need education, if they need to get an attorney, we can actually provide those services for those families so that they stay stably housed,” said Chris Goodson with the McPherson Housing Coalition.
Source: KAKE – News
Johnson County is creating more courts to divert people to treatment, not jail
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health approximately “44% of people in jails and 37% of people in prison have a mental illness.” The number of people in prison with a substance abuse issue is estimated to be 65%. Specialty courts with focuses on veterans, mental health and drug treatment are systems aimed at providing individualized plans for qualifying offenders to treat underlying issues that may have contributed to non-violent crimes. Currently, Johnson County has a veterans treatment court and juvenile drug court, and in October, the 10th Judicial District will begin operating a mental health and adult drug treatment court.
Source: KCUR
Wichita explains why it is selling off affordable housing
Two days after the City of Wichita announced it is selling 13 public housing units, the mayor explained why and what it could mean for people who need public housing. Why? “A lot of these houses, keep in mind, are not occupied,” Mayor Brandon Whipple said. “Frankly, they are the ones I get calls about on, ‘Why are they boarded up?’ ‘The city owns this,’ and ‘It’s a drag on the neighborhood.'” He said there is a blight issue with the houses, so the city wants to find buyers to get the homes fixed and then get people living in the homes.
Source: KSN-TV