Municipal News & Jobs

A Kansas town has installed a new tornado siren that will warn residents not only by tones, but by talking. Garden City said Monday that it is testing the siren, which includes “voice-activated prompts” south of the Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center. The city said the new system will allow for clearer instructions during severe weather events and other emergencies. The voice prompts will only be used during real emergencies to provide guidance and help residents respond quickly and appropriately, the city said.
Read more: KSN-TV

The fate of Wichita’s 1% sales tax will soon be in voters’ hands, after the city council unanimously voted Tuesday to put it on the ballot. Wichita Forward, the organization that originally brought the sales tax proposal to the council, celebrated the decision. “[Citizens] have an opportunity to support investments in our homelessness challenges, to invest in our first responders, to lower property taxes,” Matt Burchett, a Wichita Forward board member, said after the vote. “With this opportunity city council provided, the citizens get to choose those opportunities for the city.”
Read more: KSN-TV

Three of Seward County’s five commissioners announced their resignations Monday night. Seward County Chair and District 3 Commissioner Scott Carr, District 4 Commissioner Tammy Sutherland-Abbott, and District 2 Commissioner Presephoni D. Fuller made the announcement during the comments portion of the meeting. “I never dreamed that this community would have acted like it did just because they didn’t agree with the three of us votes. We had been ridiculed, mocked. Cartoons drawn about us. It’s pretty pathetic when the three of us in that aspect were givers to this community … This was my second recall in the last few weeks,” Sutherland-Abbott said. “I do apologize again to the employees of this county. You guys deserve better. You are good employees.”
Read more: KSN-TV

As expected, the county commissioners approved a proposed moratorium on nuclear development in the county, citing the need to complete the new comprehensive plan before making any decisions about whether to allow it in or not. This expands the existing moratorium passed last week that includes not only solar and wind development, but also data mining facilities.
Read more: – Morning Sun

A changing of the guard has happened in Kansas City, Kansas. And with that, Mayor Christal Watson said she’s ready to get to work. “It will take all of us to do this work,” Watson told residents who filled Memorial Hall on Monday. “It is going to take more than just one day. We won’t see change happen overnight, but we will see the change you’ve been wanting to see.” Officials swore in Watson — the newly-elected mayor/CEO and the first Black woman to lead the city — during an evening ceremony. Judge Candice Alcaraz, who in 2023 was the first Black woman elected judge in Wyandotte County, guided Watson through her oath of office.
Read more: Kansas City Star

The Kansas Supreme Court endured a crossfire of claims and counterclaims Monday about whether an association of Edwards County irrigators can try to thwart plans by Hays and Russell to make use of water rights acquired decades ago to pipe water drawn from a rural aquifer to the cities. Attorney Daniel Buller, representing the two cities, urged members of the Supreme Court to view the protracted legal battle through the lens of state law. He said transferring a large amount of water from an aquifer by pipeline to the cities rather than using the resource to grow crops was acceptable under the black-and-white text of Kansas statute.
Read more: Kansas Reflector

The Kansas City Royals still haven’t committed to a location for their new stadium, but the Aspiria campus at 119th and Nall in Overland Park is under consideration. Residents living in that neighborhood say they have concerns about local businesses, traffic and affordability.
Read more: KCUR

Crawford County commissioners vote on a resolution to adopt a moratorium on nuclear power. Commissioners approved it today, Dec 16, and it will be uniform across all unincorporated communities in the county. The moratorium stops any nuclear power projects from being constructed within those communities. It is an extension of the moratoriums currently in place for solar and wind projects, following the November 13 decision by commissioners to block the annexation of Mulberry.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Ark City schools superintendent Ron Ballard announced last week he will retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year, concluding a 28-year career with USD 470. Ballard shared the decision in a message to staff, saying the choice was not easy but that the timing felt right for both him and USD 470. He said he is proud of the work accomplished during his tenure and grateful to serve alongside staff committed to students.
Read more: Cowley Post

The post Iola City Administrator Matt Rehder on Iola’s new data center appeared first on The Iola Register.
Read more: The Iola Register

Kansans will no longer pay personal property taxes for such things as off-road vehicles, small trailers and boats. Beginning with the 2026 tax year, Kansans who own off-road vehicles, small trailers, and boats will see their personal property tax bills drop thanks to new exemptions approved under House Bill 2231. While many residents may welcome the savings, the tax relief doesn’t come without some trade-offs. After all, those taxes help public entities provide services.
Read more: The Iola Register

The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will review staff recommendations to create a limited tenant right to counsel pilot program for the 2027 fiscal year, despite a renter-led advocacy group’s calls for a program to support all renters facing eviction. Lawrence Tenants, the renter advocacy group, has gone before the county commission multiple times with a proposed ordinance for tenant right to counsel, which would ensure that all renters in the county have access to legal representation throughout an eviction. Despite being in talks about a program for more than a year, the county has not implemented TRTC, and commissioners asked staff to compile a report on the topic in October. This report will be reviewed at the Wednesday, Dec. 17 county commission meeting.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Manhattan Mayor Karen McCulloh said 2025 saw some major change in the way the city government streamlined its processes for voting on ordinances and resolutions. McCulloh joined Within Reason on News Radio KMAN Thursday to recap some of the highlights of the past year. In June, the commission approved a measure to allow items to be approved on a single reading, rather than two, as had traditionally been done for years. The change was intended to speed up routine or time-sensitive decisions after concerns were raised that city government processes move too slowly. McCulloh said she’s gone back and forth on whether the move was the correct decision.
Read more: themercury.com

A coalition of local leaders and industry experts are looking to sway Airbus to keep its A220 pylon manufacturing in Wichita, though the European planemaker has said it intends to relocate the production line to France.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal

As a billionaire businessman who already owns two popular, profitable casinos in Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin Sr. knows a thing or two about what brings in customers. So even though his new Gilley’s entertainment complex in Park City only has pari-mutuel betting — it’s not a casino — he’s transformed his former greyhound park into an entertainment playground that he believes will attract adults and children from around the region. “It’s gonna blow your mind,” Ruffin said. “Everybody’s going to be surprised at what we did at the track. It’s something that even Vegas hasn’t seen yet. It would compete very effectively on the Strip.”
Read more: Wichita Eagle

The Washington City Council voted in a special meeting last week to proceed with discussions to transition from the current volunteer ambulance service into a 24/7 service that provides countywide ambulance service. The decision came after a 2-2 tie vote with mayor Garett Edgar casting the deciding vote in favor of proceeding.
Read more: Backroads News | Washington County News

Salina City Commissioners Tuesday authorized Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz to execute agreements to pause enforcement of a federal judge’s ruling in November Salina’s sign codes are unconstitutional and authorizing appeal of that ruling to the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals. This centers on an ongoing battle between the Cozy Inn and the city over a mural on the north wall of their building, which the city said is not allowed under city sign codes. The court ruling held Salina’s sign codes were unconstitutional based on murals having to be non-commercial. As part of an agreement entered into between the Cozy Inn and the city, the establishment will be able to complete the mural at the center of this controversy. An agreement entered into by both parties sets out parameters if the city prevails on its appeal, which would include compliance timeliness that could include seeking a variance.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

The Olathe City Council has appointed a new city manager following current current City Manager Michael Wilkes’ retirement announcement in July. The city council selected Susan Sherman after an extensive nationwide search. She is the first ever female and ninth city manager in Olathe’s history. “I am deeply honored to continue serving the Olathe community in this new capacity. Olathe is an extraordinary community with dedicated public servants, innovative partners, and engaged residents,” Sherman said. “I know our hardworking and passionate team’s commitment to excellence is the backbone of our success. Together, we will continue building a stronger and more vibrant community into the future.”
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

The Royals have released a statement on their search for a new stadium just hours after Leawood said it could not support a stadium at Overland Park’s Aspiria campus. “The Royals have a long history of working to make Greater Kansas City a better place,” a spokesperson said early Tuesday evening. “As such, we are deeply committed to building a stadium environment that prioritizes the health, safety, and traffic concerns of our neighbors. Wherever we build our next generational home, the project will be guided by strong community collaboration. We pledge to create an unsurpassed fan and community experience, one that elevates our region and serves as a place of great regional pride for us all.”
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

Monday’s county commission meeting is where three of Seward’s five commissioners announced their resignations. A single resignation is fairly common, but three at once is exceedingly rare. County Administrator April Warden says that things will run “business as usual,” at least if the seats are filled by the next scheduled commission meeting on Jan. 5.
Read more: KSN-TV