(316) 264-3400|info@ransonfinancial.com
FacebookXLinkedIn

Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2026-08-07T10:07:18-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

With 60 open positions, city manager says Lawrence is seeing effects of tight labor market, encourages people to apply

City Manager Craig Owens says the City of Lawrence is feeling the effects of the nation’s tight labor market, and that it has more than double its usual number of job openings. Owens said the city currently has about 800 full-time employees and more than 60 openings, which he said is more than twice the number of openings the city usually has. He said a lot of the openings are with key critical services, such as police, utilities, solid waste, streets, administration and parks and recreation. “All of these departments are being impacted,” Owens said. “We just don’t have full staffing.”
Source: LJWorld.com.

Is Overland Park headed in the ‘right direction?’ Here’s what voters said in a new survey

Overland Park gets high marks from its citizens on quality of life, the tax rate to pay for it and on the speed of growth, but there are still some questions among residents about the justice system and housing options, according to a citywide survey released this week. The survey, a joint effort by the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, showed a city with a generally glowing approval rating.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Great Bend looks at revamping eco devo

Meeting during a work session Monday night, it was the consensus of the Great Bend City Council to amend the Great Bend Economic Development Inc.’s bylaws to expand the GBED Board from five to seven members, and enter into a cooperative economic development effort with Barton County on a one-year trial basis. The GBEC was created when the city split its economic development efforts from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, creating a separate, public/private partnership. The board is made up of council members, chamber representatives and various leaders in the community. GBED Board member Mark Calcara said the larger board would could spread the workload and be more diverse.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Derby schools to save $96k in high gas bill settlement

The Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) reached a settlement with Derby schools’ natural gas provider, Symmetry, over a high winter gas bill –saving the district $96,136.19. KASB had been negotiating on the district’s behalf to reduce an exorbitantly high gas bill accrued during the extreme cold snap that hit Derby and the surrounding area in February. During an average winter month, the district pays about $35,000 to $50,000 for natural gas. In February, the bill was $209,595.09, or more than $17 per British Thermal Unit (MMBtu) – a standard unit of measure for natural gas. The settlement brings that down to $113,459.90.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Emporia looks to update rental maintenance codes

The Emporia City Commission discussed potential updates to its property maintenance codes during its study session Wednesday morning. Chief building inspector Kory Krause reported to the commission that in recent years the Code Services Department had received an increasing number of complaints regarding poor living conditions in rental properties. However, the city’s current property codes are limited and seriously restrict what can be enforced, leaving the city with very few options for how it can assist its citizen renters. “The extent of our current interior maintenance codes allows inspection to only look at five sections or eight items,” he said. “This is the extent of Emporia’s minimum housing code and violations that we can address. These are, at best, very minimal violation concerns and only represent a small portion of issues.”
Source: Emporia Gazette

Playas could aid cities by extending Ogallala life

Playa lakes are a unique phenomenon largely unnoticed by casual observers except during rain events when they can hold water for days or even weeks – creating a nuisance for farmers and a temporary haven for wildlife. Little has been known about these land forms, ranging in size from an acre or two, upwards to a few hundred acres, but that’s changing as a result of more intensive study by hydrologists and state agriculture departments across the Southern High Plains that overlays the Ogallala Aquifer. They are being viewed as part of the solution to the region’s diminishing groundwater supply. The Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) program is actively promoting an effort to restore playa lakes in Wichita and Greeley counties as part of an effort to increase the availability of groundwater for municipal use and domestic wells. It’s hoped that the program can be expanded into Scott and Lane counties, which are also part of Groundwater Management District No. 1.
Source: Scott County Record.

Manhattan Regional Airport secures nearly $6 million from Dept. of Defense for runway reconstruction

Nearly $6 million in federal funding has been approved to fund an upcoming runway improvement project at the Manhattan Regional Airport. U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran announced Thursday that $5.9 million dollars from the Department of Defense has been awarded to the city for the needed expansion which will occur in 2023. Airport Director Jesse Romo says the aid is significant since the Federal Aviation Administration has only agreed to fund 100 feet of the runway reconstruction.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Pageant

This weekend, many Peace Treaty events will take place in Medicine Lodge. Starting Sept. 24 and running through Sept. 26, events include: The Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty pageant, the Intertribal Powwow, the Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo, the Bulls and Broncs Rodeo, a Trappings and Trade Show and the Historical Night Show. The Peace Treaty weekend of events occurs every three years in Medicine Lodge and includes arts and crafts shows, helicopter rides, street dances, live music, food vendors, carnival rides, alumni gatherings and parades. The pageant started in 1917 when citizens of Medicine Lodge made the initial effort to commemorate the historical significance of the Treaty of Medicine Lodge, signed in 1867 by the Peace Commission of the United States Government and the five tribes of Plains Indians, the Kiowa, the Comanche, the Kiowa-Apache, the Arapaho and the Cheyenne.
Source: Hutch News

Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady … for now

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held benchmark interest rates near zero but indicated that rate hikes could be coming sooner than expected, and it significantly cut its economic outlook for this year. Along with those largely expected moves, officials on the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee indicated they will start pulling back on some of the stimulus the central bank has been providing during the financial crisis. There was no specific indication, though, as to when that might happen. … For now, the committee voted unanimously to keep short-term rates anchored near zero. However, more members now see the first rate hike happening in 2022. In June, when members last released their economic projections, a slight majority put that increase into 2023.
Source: CNBC

Ark City firefighters use abandoned house to train

Knowing that practice makes perfect, Arkansas City firefighters spent Tuesday and Wednesday honing their skills by simulating a fire in an abandoned house. Fire/EMS Capt. Chet Ranzau said Wednesday that the First Baptist Church purchased the 127 N. B St. property and plans to demolish the structure next week. He said the church contacted the fire department and asked if it would like to use the structure for training purposes before it is torn down. “Of course, we’re going to take any kind of training,” he said. “This is the best type of training you can do, it’s real-world training.”
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Group’s plans would enhance access to Kansas Riverfront in Lawrence

The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday discussed the possibility of several new ways for pedestrians to experience downtown and the Kansas River. Representatives from RiverFront & CENTER, a group comprising local architects and volunteers, presented commissioners with a design plan for the Kaw River COMMONS project. The transportation project includes improvements to existing infrastructure and several additions, including a a downtown skywalk and a new pedestrian bridge over the river with viewing decks.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Newton schools have at least six languages

Newton schools have at least a half dozen foreign languages represented among their enrollments. The USD-373 Board of Education recently approved a three-year contract with Propio LS for translation services to meet the needs of those who might not be fluent in English. The service provides translation of more than 200 languages and the district will be billed based on monthly usage. When the need arises for a teacher or other staff member to communicate with a parent, Propio LS will translate via telephone.
Source: Harvey County Now

Eilert stresses community relations in new role as Hesston chief

New Hesston Police Chief Chris Eilert was studying business at Butler Community College when he rode along with a friend who had joined the Wichita Police Department. He said he caught the bug of public service. “Just the whole aspect of helping people,” he said. “I like to help people when I can. This job makes it very easy to do that.” Eilert changed his major to administration of justice and graduated from Wichita State University in 1995. He first got on with Hesston in March 1999. He had been working in Hoisington and wanted to be closer to home. The 1990 Remington High School graduate also wanted to work for Curt Ford, who was police chief at the time.
Source: Harvey County Now

Sedgwick historian shares about postmaster scandal, bank robberies and more

A couple dozen people joined local historian Jim Loyd for a walking tour through downtown Sedgwick last Saturday afternoon to hear tales of the city’s early days. Loyd detailed the history of many of the buildings in downtown Sedgwick, sharing some interesting anecdotes along the way. Loyd said OY Hart had a general store on the west side of the 500 block of Commercial in 1872. Hart served as the city’s second postmaster, but a few months into his appointment, he was fired. “The town was outraged,” Loyd said. “They liked OY Hart. What’s going on? Why? No reason was ever given.”
Source: Harvey County Now

As the Fed sticks to its near-zero rate policy for now, here’s what that means for you

Even though the Federal Reserve didn’t raise its benchmark rate Wednesday, your borrowing costs may still start to head higher. Rising prices brought on by the economic recovery are paving the way for the central bank to unwind last year’s bond buying. While the central bank said that interest rates will stay near zero for now, the tapering of bond purchases is seen as the first step on the way to interest rate hikes. And that, alone, may impact the rate you pay on your mortgage, credit card and car loan. “Tapering itself is going to increase yields in the medium- and long-term horizons, which will translate into higher borrowing costs,” said Yiming Ma, an assistant finance professor at Columbia University Business School.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Sedgwick County will move COVID-19 testing to larger space, citing increased demand

Sedgwick County will move its COVID-19 testing site from a park in west Wichita to a larger location on the south side as the need for testing increases and the delta variant of the coronavirus spreads in the community. “Since the week of June 28, COVID-19 testing at the (Sedgwick County Health Department) testing site has increased by 600%,” Pete Meitzner, chairman of the County Commission, said in a statement. “With things continuing to change daily, this new space will allow us to meet the needs of our community as we move to slow the spread of COVID-19.” The new county testing location will be at 4115 E. Harry, near Harry and Oliver. The clinic is in the former Wichita Mall between Big Lots and COMCARE Adult Services. It will relocate on Oct. 4.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

23 railroad crossing tickets issued in Wichita

Twenty-three railroad crossing violations were issued Wednesday as part of “Operation Clear Track” a law enforcement safety initiative. Local law enforcement joined Kansas Operation Lifesaver for the event in south Wichita. Officers were stationed near Seneca and Walker and McLean and Walker looking for crossing violators. Aaron Mays, with Kansas Operation Lifesaver, said they weren’t issuing citations at all the locations. Instead, law enforcement handed out safety cards to motorists and pedestrians, and warnings and tickets were handed to violators. The goal of Operation Clear Track and Rail Safety Week is to raise awareness of the importance of making safe choices near railroad tracks and trains.
Source: KSN-TV

Overland Park lays out process for finding outgoing city manager Bill Ebel’s replacement

Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach set the wheels in motion this week to find a replacement for retiring City Manager Bill Ebel. Gerlach notified the council at Monday’s meeting that he will initiate a process similar to that used in previous city manager searches, with a special screening and selection committee taking the first steps to find a search firm this week. Under Gerlach’s timeline, that selection committee would find and recommend a search firm by November to the full council and then disband. Councilmembers, including the ones newly elected on Nov. 2, would begin their work with the search firm on Dec. 6, culminating in a final decision, which Gerlach projects to occur in March or April.
Source: Prairie Village Post

A Free Tool to Help Cities Take Full Advantage of Federal Aid

City leaders around the U.S. have asked dozens of questions in recent months about how federal pandemic aid flowing to their jurisdictions under the American Rescue Plan Act can be used. For instance: “What are some of my city’s obligations and responsibilities to prevent fraud related to ARP funds?” “Can revenue loss from 2020 be used to pay for any budget shortfalls for 2021?” “May cities use American Rescue Plan funds to finance a previous infrastructure project?” Those questions, and hundreds of others, have been asked by local  officials and answered by experts on a new website that aims to help officials “identify, obtain and retain billions in federal recovery dollars.”
Source: Route Fifty – All Content

‘Many of us are struggling financially’: Olathe Council rejects property tax increase

The Olathe City Council on Tuesday rejected a proposed property tax increase, which would have helped fund the new downtown library. The council voted 6-1 to reject city staff’s proposal and instead keep the property tax rate flat for 2022. Council members said they had been flooded with messages from residents urging them not to raise taxes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Many of us are struggling financially,” Councilwoman Marge Vogt said. “While I’m not an advocate for kicking the can down the road to other councils or taxpayers, creating a burden for the future, I do believe after really looking at the budget and evaluating it, that we can hold the mill levy and fund the library without the proposed increase.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Kansas middle school student dies of COVID-19, education official says

A Kansas middle school student has died of COVID-19 as the state continues to experience statewide clusters of infection in the classroom, a state education official said Wednesday. Education Commissioner Randy Watson shared the news during a video conference with Gov. Laura Kelly’s Safer Classrooms Workgroup. He said he learned of the death shortly before joining the meeting. “On an extremely sad note I was just informed literally before I walked in this other room to join you, that we did have a middle school student pass away of COVID just in the last, maybe, day,” Watson said.
Source: KC Star Local News

Baxter Springs adds a nine hole disc golf course to Kiwanis Park

The city of Baxter Springs is unveiling a new sport in one of its parks. Today the city finished installing a disc golf course inside Kiwanis Park. The nine hole course cost the city five thousand dollars. The Baxter Disc Golf Club approached the city back in April about installing a course to get more people involved in the sport. “I’m hoping to see a lot of people out here enjoying it. There’s people that come down here for practice and walking. But I think you can do more than that. Once people play it they’ll see and get more population out here enjoying the outdoors. And then in the long run, I would like to see a tournament,” said Charles Rector, President Of Baxter Disc Golf Club.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Wichita mandates $250 fine for watching street races, burnouts, donuts and wheelies

In a crackdown on street racing, burnouts, donuts or other exhibitions of speed, Wichita City Hall is going after the people who watch from the sidewalk. A new ordinance passed Tuesday sets a minimum mandatory fine of $250 for the act of watching a drag race or an illegal car or motorcycle stunt — or being there when someone is getting ready to do one. Street racing and speed exhibitions are already illegal and have been for decades. The new ordinance is the first time the act of standing by and watching is prohibited.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Three East High students hurt in lunchtime shooting across from school, Wichita cops say

Wichita police say they have arrested a 17-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys in connection with a shooting just off of the East High School campus during the lunch hour Tuesday. Of the students who were injured, two were 15 and one was 17. Both of the boys who were hospitalized for their wounds have since been treated and released, police said in a news release. The 15-year-old boy who was grazed by a bullet in the common areas in front of the school was treated by the school nurse.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Former Commissioner Rod Franz recognized at Salina meeting

After suffering an injury earlier this year that caused him to step down from his position, former City Commissioner Rod Franz returned to the commission chambers to be recognized by the city, mayor and commissioners. Mayor Melissa Hodges offered words of appreciation for Franz, acknowledging the hard work and efforts he has made since suffering a traumatic brain injury in his fall. Hodges read the proclamation, which acknowledged his 20-year career as finance director for Salina before being elected to the commission in 2019 and sitting on it from January 2020 to his resignation in April 2021.
Source: Salina Journal.

Cracking down on street racing, new Wichita ordinance up for discussion

The Wichita Police Department will propose a new city ordinance that looks to stop street racing.  Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said if police were looking to crack down on street racing, the current ordinance places it under reckless driving.  Whipple said the issue is that terminology is too broad, and it’s not effective in cutting down the street racing cases they’ve seen over the last year. The Wichita Police Department has looked to other cities on how they handle it and decided a specific one that targets street racing would be more effective. This ordinance, if passed, would make it so Wichita police can impound your car or motorcycle. Not only that, but if a person is in a private parking lot and is street racing, officers could step in if it is deemed dangerous. The one that is currently in place only allows officers to ticket the driver.
Source: KSN-TV

Prairie Village extends mask mandate to Oct. 31, moves to hybrid city meetings

The Prairie Village City Council on Monday approved extending a citywide mask mandate through the end of October and also okayed a move to hybrid city meetings. Citing the fact that the CDC still considers Johnson County an area of high transmission of the disease — along with noting the support of the county health department — the council nearly unanimously approved extending Prairie Village’s mask order until Oct. 31. The original mask mandate would have expired on Sept. 30. Prairie Village was the first Johnson County city to enact its own mask mandate amid this summer’s surge of cases spurred by the Delta variant, and still is one of the only ones, along with Roeland Park, to require masks in most indoor public settings.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Wichita City Council votes to rename McAdams Recreation Center after former Mayor Carl Brewer

The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday to rename the McAdams Recreation Center as the Carl G. Brewer Community Center. Last month, the council voted to use American Rescue Plan Funds to renovate the McAdams Recreation Center. Carl Brewer was officially elected the first black mayor in Wichita. He served as mayor from 2007 to 2015. He also spent six years as a member of the city council.
Source: KSN-TV

Here’s A Glimmer Of Hope That The Delta Surge In Kansas Is Slowing

When the delta variant arrived this summer, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Kansas skyrocketed. In just a few short months, hospitals went from serving about 100 coronavirus inpatients a day to treating 800 at a time. But, a month ago, hospitalizations leveled off and finally started sliding slightly downward. The state remains in a bad place, just better off than where it seemed headed. “The fact that we still have so many ICUs full is very concerning,” said Marci Nielsen, chief advisor to Governor Laura Kelly on the state’s pandemic response. “Health care workers are exhausted and burned out.” They spend hours just finding beds for patients. Intensive care units are so taxed with patients in respiratory distress, that it delays medical treatment for others who need it badly, too. The University of Kansas Health System says about one in 10 of its respiratory therapists quit within the past month.
Source: KCUR News

Cowley College trustees approve purchase of 3.5 acres of land to build dorms on Sumner Campus

College dorms are a go at the Cowley College Sumner Campus in Wellington. The Cowley College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of 3.5 acres of land for the building of a 17-unit dormitory south of the current campus. The dormitory project will be financed through the sales tax funds designated for the Sumner campus and operations of the college. There will be no property tax increase in Sumner County for the project. The last hurdle will be negotiations with the City of Wellington concerning utilities, rezoning, and other developmental details.
Source: Sumner NewsCow

New history guide dives deeper into Ark City building lore

After many hours of searching through old newspapers and other publications, members of the Arkansas City Historic Preservation Board have published a new edition of the historical district walking tour guide. Board President Foss Farrar said that the updated version took a new slant from the previous edition by giving the history of the buildings and stories about the people who built them. “We decided we would want to tell the story of the people behind the buildings, the ones who kept the stores,” he said. “I kind of look at them as the heroes of Ark City during all of those years.”
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Wichita City Council votes for private company to manage Century II

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday voted to have a private company manage Century II. The council voted 5-to-2 to allow ASM Global to manage Century II. Mayor Brandon Whipple and council member Jeff Blubaugh voted against the contract. ASM Global already manages INTRUST Bank Arena and the Orpheum Theatre. Under the contract, the city will continue to own the building and ASM Global will maintain accounting records and meet with the city regularly. ASM will continue to operate the building in accordance with the city’s operating standards. Councilman Brandon Johnson voted in favor of the new contract. He says under ASM, that Century II will operate more efficiently and be able to book more acts since they operate both the Orpheum and InTrust bank arena and know the market. “All wanted to see activation out of that space and this contract is going to make that happen.”
Source: KAKE – News

Emporia to discuss rental property concerns

The Emporia City Commission will take a look at its rental property maintenance codes during its study session Wednesday morning. Chief building inspector Kory Krause has reported an increasing number of complaints in regard to poor living conditions in rental properties and has asked the commission to consider adopting the International Property Maintenance Code. The IPMC is intended to provide safe and sanitary conditions for those living in Emporia rental units. Emporia is the only Kansas city that hosts a state university and has not adopted the IPMC. Additionally, it is one of only three of the state’s 20 First Class cities with more than 19,000 people that do not use the IPMC.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Johnson County school district with weak COVID rules is warned it has worst case rate

The Spring Hill school district, which has the most lenient COVID-19 rules of any public district in Johnson County, has seen far higher infection rates among students than neighboring districts, health officials report. Now, health officials are warning the district they are concerned by the trend. Every other district in the county requires everyone to wear masks at all grade levels. But in Spring Hill, in southern Johnson County, masks are only required for younger students, and were made optional for high schoolers. In addition, the school board agreed to allow parents to sign mask exemption forms — which previously required a doctor’s signature — essentially making masks optional for students districtwide.
Source: Joco 913 News

High grad rates, flat test scores: Is an ambitious overhaul of Kansas schools working?

Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe was among the first to undergo an overhaul of Kansas’ public school system, creating seismic shifts in how students are taught and prepared for life after graduation. Now, a few years later, students are job shadowing and taking courses where they solve real-world engineering and environmental problems. They have more access to counselors and lessons on social-emotional skills. On “Exploration Days,” they are immersed in experiences and classes outside of the regular curriculum. And they are required to spend time volunteering or serving the community.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

How Johnson County Hospitals Are Trying To Cope With Staffing Shortages, Nurse Burnout

As COVID-19 transmission in Johnson County continues to remain high, area hospitals and their staffs are still working around the clock to treat and discharge patients, roughly a year-and-a-half into the pandemic. The struggle to endure long shifts and multiple days working can be physically taxing and mentally draining, health officials say. “There are some weeks where I’m here at the hospital more than I’m at home,” Julie Rojas, a respiratory therapist with KU Health, said last week during one of the hospital’s daily COVID-19 briefings. “Your coworkers become like your family, and they understand the things you see and deal with.”
Source: KCUR News

Could Century II be private Tuesday?

Tuesday may be the day the city stops managing Century II after more than 50 years. “What’s in the contract?” asked Celeste Racette, founder of Save Century II. “The City manager office scheduled them (city council) to approve a deal Tuesday?” Racette is talking about details on a deal between the city and ASM Global Management to operate Century II. … “I definitely think privatization is the right way to go,” said [City council member] Cerullo. “I would be in agreement to possibly doing a one-year at a time deal. Five years is a long time.”
Source: KSN-TV

City of Green celebrates 140th Anniversary

Several dozen people gathered outside of the brand-new Green City Hall and Museum at 11 a.m. on Saturday to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the founding of the town. Local historian Bev Caley thanked everyone in attendance and gave particulars for several of the items on display in the new museum. She said the museum had been a labor of love for both herself and the community, with ample opportunity to continue growing in the future.
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com

Isolation And Stigma Push Suicide Rates Higher In Rural Kansas

Kyle Carlin understands first-hand how hard a mental health crisis can hit in rural Kansas. He dealt with depression starting as a teenager. It eventually led him to attempt suicide. But he didn’t think about seeking counseling until he was preparing to leave the Army Reserve in Hays roughly 12 years ago. Even then, asking for help wasn’t easy. “Stigma is such a big issue around mental health,” Carlin said, “especially in western Kansas.” His story illustrates a growing trend stressing rural communities across Kansas and the nation. While suicide rates have increased by nearly 45% statewide over the past two decades, rates have risen most sharply in the most sparsely populated parts of Kansas.
Source: KCUR News

Public restrooms at Wichita splash pad vandalized

The City of Wichita said the Boston Park Splash Pad public restrooms will be closed until further notice. City staff found the restroom facilities vandalized and sinks broken over the weekend. The city said they had seen increasing amounts of vandalism at facilities. However, there is no word on whether park vandalism is tied to the ‘devious licks’ challenge. Recently, kids across the U.S. have been posting TikTok videos of themselves vandalizing school bathrooms and stealing soap dispensers and even turf from football fields. The “devious licks” social media challenge went viral last week and bedeviled principals and school district administrators. Some schools have even had to shut down bathrooms, where much of the damage is occurring.
Source: KSN-TV

Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top