Municipal News & Jobs

Southeast Kansas voters have decided on four municipal tax measures that will fund essential services and infrastructure improvements in their communities. The measures represent local decisions about how cities will invest in their futures, from emergency services to street maintenance to economic development.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

A hundred people packed the Sedgwick County Commission Chambers and even more filled an overflow room on Wednesday as county leaders considered approving two major solar projects. After an 11-hour meeting where commissioners heard more than 100 public comments, they denied both solar projects. Solar project discussions like this have been happening across the state, drawing a large community response. Both of these projects were considered despite the Sedgwick County Commission passing a six-month moratorium on new applications for large-scale solar projects in June. Commissioners said the projects would be used as a case study to test regulations and the application process. Due to the heightened interest in these projects, the commission put strict public comment policies in place and had Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputies screen people as they entered the room. More than 60 people signed up to give public comment, with each speaker allotted 3 minutes. There was a fairly even mix of voices in support of and in opposition to the projects. Many of the people opposed to the projects live near the proposed project sites. They brought up concerns about how the solar panels would affect the value of their land and farm operations. The City of Clearwater formally requested the county commission not to accept the Branch Line Project, saying that it would hinder Clearwater’s growth. The only commissioner to vote in favor of both projects was Ryan Baty. He said that farmers should be able to decide what they do with their land. “In the defense of our farmers, who in this county are hurting. Farmers are hurting,” Baty said. “They have economic opportunity on their land, and I’m not telling them no. I’m not looking our farmers in the face and telling them the only thing they can do with that land is farm.” During the meeting, multiple commissioners commented on information that was missing or could not be specified due to current policies. Some said that going through this process showed them what needed to be changed in the future.
Read more: KSN-TV

The Pratt city manager said Wednesday that city projects will continue without the 1% sales tax that voters rejected in the primary election. The final vote for the sales tax was 841 “no” votes to 563 “yes” votes. City manager Regina Goff said that money for city functions and future projects had already been budgeted. The goal of the sales tax was to relieve the burden of property taxes. She said that there had been robust debate between community members, so city leadership was not entirely surprised by the outcome of the vote. “There really were pros and cons to both, and some of it included whether or not the citizens owned property,” Goff said. “Because the people who owned property were the ones who probably had the biggest financial interest in lowering property taxes. So I wasn’t surprised.” “What’s next is we continue to be committed to responsible government spending, and we continue to have conversations and listen to our people,” Goff said. “And like I said before, make sure that we are right-sizing staffing, making sure that our equipment purchases are responsible, making sure that we are being careful to watch spending wherever possible.”
Read more: KSN-TV

Voters in Towanda want the city to establish a 1.5% sales tax. More than three-quarters of those who cast ballots in Tuesday’s election voted for the tax. The city administrator said the sales tax is estimated to bring in $275,000 a year. The revenue from the sales tax will be used to improve roads. The city currently has a 1% sales tax that funds these projects, but it ends in 2027. The money could also be used to start the city’s own police department. Right now, law enforcement services are handled by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. The city administrator said a police department has been high on the city’s list of priorities for a while, but leaders have not been able to find a funding source for it. The results of this election will not be made official for several days. Some precincts and races in Butler County will be randomly audited, then the Board of Canvassers will meet to certify the results.
Read more: KSN-TV

A $15 million school bond in a small Kansas town got a thumbs-down in Tuesday’s election. Voters in Lakin, a city of about 2,200 people west of Garden City, rejected the bond issue by about 63% to 37%, according to the most recent results. The money would have gone toward repairs and improvements at the district’s facilities. Tony Salcido, president of the USD 215 board, said there is a lot that needs fixed at the district’s facilities. The high school needs new windows and doors and roofing upgrades, according to Salcido. He said the grade school has similar needs. Plumbing and heating and cooling repairs are also on the to-do list, and the district is looking to add new buses to its fleet. Before the election, Salcido told KSN that the projects will go forward even if the bond fails. But he said that means they will take longer to complete, which could result in higher costs due to inflation.
Read more: KSN-TV

Allen County commissioners heard a proposal Tuesday to change how burn bans are enacted. The proposal would give county fire chiefs the ability to enact bans as well. Allen County commissioners are taking a closer look at how countywide burn bans are declared. A proposed resolution presented Tuesday would allow fire chiefs in the county to enact burn bans more quickly when conditions warrant. Emergency Management Director Jason Trego said the proposal was developed to address situations when fire danger increases between the commission’s weekly meetings. “Typically in Allen County, it’s the Commission that enacts burn bans,” Trego said. “We have run into several times where we get the forecast on Wednesday that the grassland fire danger is going to be very high, extreme or catastrophic.” Because the Commission meets only once a week, Trego said dangerous fire conditions can arise over a weekend before commissioners have another opportunity to act. “It kind of puts the fire departments in a tough spot to be able to enact a burn ban and tell people they’re not allowed to burn,” he said. UNDER THE proposal, burn bans would apply only to unincorporated areas of Allen County. Cities would continue to make their own decisions regarding burn restrictions. Rather than waiting for commission approval, the county’s six fire chiefs would collectively decide when conditions justify a countywide burn ban. Trego said the proposal would give officials the flexibility to respond as weather conditions change, even if a burn ban is only needed for a single day. The restrictions would cover agricultural burning, tumbleweeds, invasive vegetation, trash barrels, trash containers, bonfires and campfires. Trego also proposed expanding public notification through the county’s Genasys mass emergency notification system. Residents who sign up could receive burn ban notices by phone call, text message or email. Notices would also be distributed through local media, radio, newspapers and social media. “That way, we make sure that people know that we are indeed in a burn ban,” he said.
Read more: The Iola Register

The rapid expansion of data centers across the United States is bringing new economic opportunities to rural communities, but it is also creating a host of legal, financial and property rights issues that many landowners have never faced before. As technology companies search for large tracts of affordable land with access to electricity and water, farmland is increasingly becoming a target for development.
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Federal Judge Kathryn H. Vratil has ordered USD 497 Lawrence to pay over $113,000 in attorneys’ fees for a group of student plaintiffs after the district was found to have violated KORA (the Kansas Open Records Act). According to the Lawrence Times, the ruling is part of “a broader dispute that began with the district’s use of Gaggle, an AI tool that sifts through anything attached to the district’s Google Workspace and flags content it deems a safety risk.” The Times reported that nine current and former students sued over the tool saying it was a privacy violation. In November 2025, the plaintiffs added a list of Kansas Open Records Act complaints after the district failed to follow Kansas law in responding to requests related to Gaggle and its switch to ManagedMethods, which is a tool similar to Gaggle. In April of 2026, Vratil found the district had violated KORA by not acting quickly on the plaintiff’s requests and set a deadline for the district to do so. According to the Times, Vratil ruled that delaying the fulfillment of the request  for months and attempting to charge a “go-away” price of $13,000 for the records was “not in good faith.” On Monday, July 27, 2025, Vratil ruled the district must pay 113,480 — $112,425 in attorney fees for nearly 250 hours of work, and $1,055 in costs — by Aug. 23, 2026. According to the Times, plaintiff attorney Harrison Rosenthal said the ruling is important because the plaintiffs were forced to go to federal court for public records. Moreover, the district appeared to have changed its KORA policy after the lawsuit was filed, having previously provided public records to students at no charge.
Read more: The Sentinel

Integra Technologies shelved its $2 billion Bel Aire semiconductor facility after failing to secure federal CHIPS Act funding, leaving 350 acres available for development.
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An Olathe developer is going to build townhomes that will address the “missing middle” gap in housing. At below market value, they’ll be priced under $500,000. Olathe City Council approved a rezoning request and preliminary site plans Tuesday that will make way for the mixed-use development featuring 44 townhomes and commercial space. The project, which the city council unanimously approved, will be located at an approximately 5-acre site at the southeast corner of 133rd Street and Black Bob Road. The project comes just months after the city council approved Olathe’s new comprehensive plan, “Elevate Olathe,” which outlines priorities for housing, transportation, economic development and infrastructure across the city for the next 15 years. The 183-page document is intended to serve as a guide for city staff, elected officials, business owners and residents. City staff began working on Elevate Olathe in June 2024, gathering input from roughly 4,000 residents, business owners and stakeholders through workshops, open houses and surveys. Results from community outreach found that the “dominant concern” for Olathe residents is a lack of affordable and attainable housing. According to Elevate Olathe, the average home appraised value in Olathe is $437,657 while about 43% of Olathe renters are “cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to the plan. To address that, the plan calls for more varied housing options, including duplexes, townhomes and smaller homes, all of which are often called “missing middle housing.”
Read more: Johnson County Post

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

With the Cozy Inn’s lawsuit against the city still ongoing — and while the painting on the north side of its building is now complete — Salina is using an alternate definition for “sign” after a court ruled its own code’s definition is unenforceable. A severability clause in the city’s code allows it to invalidate one part of the law while keeping the rest intact.
Read more: Salina Journal

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Kansas Tourism, a division within the Kansas Department of Commerce, today announced that applications are open for the Tourism Marketing Grant program. The grants are designed to assist local tourism organizations or attractions in new or first-time innovative marketing initiatives. “Strong tourism marketing is essential for ensuring our communities are reaching new audiences, attracting more visitors and generating economic opportunities for local businesses,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These grants are a way to help showcase what makes Kansas special while strengthening our state’s tourism economy.”
Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

Chase Koch’s Movement Musick nonprofit partners with the Queen family to bring a 30,000 square-foot grocery store to downtown Wichita, addressing a long-standing gap in the market.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal

Local artist and community muralist Brady Scott is working on another mural on a downtown building in Hutchinson, and he was given only two requests by the building’s owner: paint it blue and put in natural elements. Scott started working on a mural at 322 N. Main St.—The Hutchinson Tribune’s office—Thursday and said he’s bringing out rural aspects of Kansas life in a mural on the front of the building. He designed the mural based on reference images and his own creativity and has completed several across Hutchinson.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

The potential for data centers being built in Pottawatomie County gives rural landowners an uneasy future, an agriculture law professor said. Roger McEowen is the Kansas Farm Bureau professor of agricultural law and taxation at Washburn and also teaches undergraduate agricultural law courses at K-State. He said July 15 that the dynamic farmers are primarily concerned with big infrastructure and its burden on neighbors.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

With political campaigning and the posting of campaign signs fully underway ahead of the August primary election, the Kansas Department of Transportation recently put out a reminder on display regulations for political signs. Per KDOT, all political campaign signs or billboards are prohibited from being placed on state highway right-of-way (including Highway K-15 through Derby). By law, all right-of-way on state highways is exclusively for public highway purposes. Only regulatory, guide signs and warning signs placed by KDOT are allowed on the 9,500-mile state highway system. KDOT has jurisdiction over all interstate, Kansas and U.S. routes.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved a policy that aims to standardize how the city chooses affordable housing projects to award incentives. Some projects receive funding through the city’s affordable housing trust fund, which comes from a special city sales tax. Lawrence voters in November 2024 approved doubling the affordable housing sales tax to one penny for every $20 spent in town. The funds have supported numerous projects over the past several years. The city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board, comprised of volunteers who were appointed by city commissioners, make recommendations, and city commissioners ultimately vote on whether to approve them. The new incentive policy provides a definition of “affordable” housing, and it “establishes a clear, consistent framework for evaluating and administering City incentives that support the development of affordable housing,” the memo in city commissioners’ meeting agenda summarizes.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

After months of debate and more than two hours of public comment Wednesday, the Emporia City Commission unanimously approved the key zoning measures needed to move the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus to its next phase, while emphasizing that no data center has been approved and any future project must still return for additional public hearings and commission approval. The commission also unanimously adopted new large-volume water and wastewater service policies intended to govern future high-demand industrial projects before taking up the digital campus agenda items. The policies establish how the city will evaluate, negotiate and recover costs from future large-volume utility customers.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

Zach Johnson is the new superintendent for U.S.D. 234, Fort Scott’s school district, as of July 1. As a leader, Johnson hopes to help facilitate a collective vision that focuses on the success of all students, he said. “I believe in supporting and creating a culture that adds value and support to our staff. I look forward to working alongside our staff to create positive student outcomes every year.”
Read more: Fort Scott Biz

Lawrence city commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a study and 10-year plan to address housing issues in the city. Consultants from Development Strategies have been working on the affordable housing study for the city since October. Justin Carney, principal with Development Strategies, presented the final study to the commission on Tuesday. The study was intended to research and quantify Lawrence’s largest challenges when it comes to housing, and to identify goals, specific strategies and solutions to tangibly improve the situation.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

As school approaches, there is still a need floating around for area districts. There is a shortage of bus drivers across the state, and Harvey County is no stranger to these effects. Currently, Halstead is in the most dire straits, as USD-440 is short three open positions. The state requirements are a driver must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Kansas drivers license, while being able to obtain the proper CDL and pass the appropriate tests, including a DOT medical test. The individual must also meet driving record standards while successfully completing the hiring requirements of the district where they apply. For Sedgwick, the district requires applicants to be over 21 years old.
Read more: Harvey County Now

The first piece of Olathe’s $320 million Halo Ridge development is on track to open in less than six months, while the larger, “ultra-accessible” entertainment district could welcome visitors as early as spring of 2028. Developers are targeting a Jan. 1, 2027, opening for the Halo Care Collective, a one-stop medical campus for people with disabilities and their families. Meanwhile, site clearing is underway for the rest of the 64-acre project, located at 119th Street and Renner Boulevard, which will include an arena, amusement park, hotel and restaurants — all designed with accessibility in mind.
Read more: Johnson County Post

City Manager Amy Lange has accepted a new professional opportunity and has submitted her resignation, the city of Concordia said in a statement. Lange has served as Concordia’s City Manager from January 2018 and will continue her career in local government with the City of Manhattan later this year. The City said Lange worked alongside the City Commission, City staff, residents, and community partners to advance the Commission’s strategic priorities and strengthen Concordia’s future. Under her leadership, the City made investments in infrastructure, financial stability, housing, economic development, the airport, parks, and quality-of-life initiatives, while securing millions of dollars in grant funding for the community.
Read more: KCLY Radio

More than 150 years after its founding, Chanute remains a testament to the vision of one man and the resilience of a community committed to preserving its legacy. The city was established in 1873 when railroad engineer Octave Chanute arrived and negotiated a compromise between four townships—Alliance, Chicago Junction, New Chicago, and Tioga—to create a unified city. That diplomatic effort resulted in the founding of Chanute, a city that would bear his name and become a hub of innovation and progress.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

The paperwork was signed on Wednesday to make Chihuahua, Mexico, Wichita’s newest sister city. Leaders from Wichita and Sedgwick County came together at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom to make the five-year agreement official.
Read more: KSN-TV

The wheat Liberty Bell is a fond memory for those who were involved with its creation. They also hope it’s a point of pride for the community for years to come. Half a century ago, Goessel had the chance to celebrate America’s 200th birthday in a uniquely Kansas way. The small town 35 miles north of Wichita put together a replica of the Liberty Bell made out of wheat. Donna Duerksen was the team lead for the group of volunteers. “We were especially grateful when we had about 200 different volunteers come throughout the community and surrounding areas to help us weave the wheat straw in and out of this frame,” Duerksen said.
Read more: KSN-TV

The city said that it has received two petitions: One proposes an ordinance to prohibit data centers, and the other proposes an ordinance to ban battery energy storage systems.
Read more: KSN-TV

City leaders discussed a rental registry and inspection program during the Topeka City Council meeting Tuesday. Property Maintenance Director for the City of Topeka John Schardine presented the topic to the council, calling it the Rental Registry Pilot Program. Schardine emphasized supporting responsible landlords and property owners while also improving housing conditions and accountability. Schardine said the program would collect data from landlords and rental properties, then maintain it in a city-administered database updated annually. The database would be open to the public and display a 24-month rolling property tier, inspection history and violation history.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The City of Manhattan is excited to announce Amy Lange has accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Lange is expected to begin work in early September.
Read more: Manhattan – News Flash

South Hutchinson has enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage systems. City officials will research zoning regulations and best practices from other municipalities during the moratorium.
Read more: Hutch News

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Data centers are required to pay a 15%-20% premium on electricity, with that extra revenue used to lower rates for other customers. Evergy’s potential data center projects could triple its peak electricity consumption, though the utility cannot meet all of that demand.
Read more: Hutch News

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Soccer fans boosted spending in U.S. World Cup host cities, with Philadelphia and Kansas City among the beneficiaries. The Scots drank every drop of beer in Boston. The Dutch filled Kansas City’s hotels. The French chowed down on Philly cheesesteaks.
Read more: Wall Street Journal

Proponents argue data centers are a “generational opportunity” for economic growth, while opponents raise environmental and transparency concerns. Both supporters and protesters agree on the need for clear regulations to manage the impacts of data center development.
Read more: CJonline