Kansas Municipal News
Parsons PD receives lifesaving K-9 gift
It is being called a heartfelt donation in Parsons. The police department has received two specialized K-9 trauma kits from the national nonprofit Protecting K-9 Heroes. Each kit — one for each of the department’s two K-9 officers and their handlers – is valued at more than $100 – and includes first-aid gear for the dogs. Things like a heat blanket, bandages, eye solution, and Narcan. “It’s extremely important just to have it so we can at least save the dog’s life if we have to. We pray that we never have to use them, but at least now we have that, that backup reserve just to take care of them,” said Cpl. Christian Smith, Parsons Police Department.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Pittsburg reexamining nuisance ordinance & “camping” in city limits
In an effort to “spruce up” the city this year, Pittsburg city leaders are taking a deeper look at a nuisance ordinance that’s been in place for nearly forty years. Since 1988, the city hasn’t allowed camping inside city limits. Last month, the Pittsburg Police Department asked the prosecutor what was considered camping under the ordinance. After looking at the ordinance, the prosecutor determined there was no real definition. So Tuesday night, Pittsburg city commissioners worked to better define that and see if that only includes campers and RVs or should it also include tents, tarps, and blankets.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Cleanup nears end as Iola talks storm recovery
By the end of the week, Iola’s crews may be close to doing their first full sweep through town to haul off piles of brush, limbs and downed trees toppled in the July 14 storm that roared through Iola and Allen County. Workers in Iola’s street and alley department, as well as helpers from other departments, continue to clear up brush piles across town. By Thursday, they had reached the final quadrant of town, the northeast section, Iola Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said. “We’d like to be done Friday, but it may roll over into next week,” Schinstock said. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Source: The Iola Register
Allen County takes swing at containing refuse
The Allen County Landfill will get another tool to try to control wayward trash. Commissioners approved the purchase of a new hydroseeder, a machine that sprays water and chemicals on the refuse pile to keep it from blowing into neighboring properties. The machine also helps landfill crews minimize the amount of dirt they have to use to cover the pile. “It’s very important we wet trash down during the day to keep it from blowing, and every day we spray a fire retardant chemical,” Mitch Garner, Public Works director, told commissioners.
Source: The Iola Register
Property taxes rising in Kansas as home values grow. What will lawmakers do about it?
A soaring real estate market leading to rising property tax bills has angered many Kansas homeowners in recent years. Lawmakers are now under pressure to take dramatic action amid a sense among some residents that the property tax system is fundamentally broken and after previous solutions have fallen victim to larger fights over tax policy between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature. As local governments publish annual budgets this summer, offering residents a window into how much officials plan to tax their property, calls are growing for tax relief, especially for seniors and others on limited incomes.
Source: KC Star Local News
AG sues Johnson County city over ‘illegal annexation’ for industrial park
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing the city of Edgerton, arguing it illegally annexed land for an expansion of its booming industrial park. It’s the latest in a years-long saga in southwestern Johnson County, where neighbors continue to fight industrial growth as they watch farmland get eaten up by warehouses. In 2020, the Edgerton City Council annexed and rezoned nearly 700 acres of unincorporated rural land to make way for an expansion south of Interstate 35 at the sprawling Logistics Park Kansas City intermodal facility. A group of homeowners unsuccessfully sued the city in 2021, arguing the annexations were illegal, and are now appealing.
Source: KC Star Local News
New taskforce, fentanyl enforcement efforts announced
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations announced a new collaborative initiative to combat fentanyl in Kansas called the Joint Fentanyl Impact Team. The objective of JFIT is to identify and disrupt fentanyl trafficking and distribution networks, and remove this deadly drug from Kansas streets. The team is comprised of KBI special agents, KHP troopers and HSI agents experienced in complex narcotics investigations. Team members are embedded alongside federal, state and local law enforcement officers operating all across Kansas. This task force will allow for increased coordination of intelligence, personnel, and resources. One component of JFIT’s strategy is the introduction of the KBI’s new K-9 unit.
Source: The Ottawa Herald
Wichita expects to have extra money the next two years
Wichita city government expects to collect a $26.7 million surplus this year and next, more than enough to offset property tax revenue increases for 2023 and 2024. The city expects a $12.6 million budget surplus for 2023 and a $14.1 million surplus in 2024. At the same time, it’s budgeting for $12.6 million more in property tax revenue for next year. The city could have used this year’s surplus to lower the mill levy and offset next year’s property tax revenue increase. Instead, the City Council approved keeping the mill levy the same, which means property owners whose properties increased in value will pay more in taxes.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Fed approves hike that takes interest rates to highest level in more than 22 years
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved a much-anticipated interest rate hike that takes benchmark borrowing costs to their highest level in more than 22 years. In a move that financial markets had completely priced in, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee raised its funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a target range of 5.25%-5.5%. The midpoint of that target range would be the highest level for the benchmark rate since early 2001. Markets were watching for signs that the hike could be the last before Fed officials take a break to watch how the previous hikes are impacting economic conditions. While policymakers indicated at the June meeting that two rate hikes are coming this year, markets are pricing in a better-than-even chance that there won’t be any more moves this year. The post-meeting statement offered only a vague reference to what will guide the FOMC’s future moves.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Aspiring teachers in Kansas have a new paid path to career through pilot program
Kansas’ State Department of Education kicked off a pilot program Tuesday morning meant to provide aspiring teachers with an alternative path to their career. The Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program allows students to get four years of full-time paid employment as educators while pursuing their degree in education. “If you can learn on the job, you have an opportunity to see the entire breadth of the education world, and you also have an opportunity to figure out if you really love this profession, because if you don’t, then there are other places you can get a job,” said Kara Belew, a U.S. history and government teacher at Andover Central High School and Kansas Teacher of the Year finalist. “This is for people who already know they love education, and they just need an extra help and an extra hand to get going.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Mission weighs new limits on tobacco sales near schools, churches
Mission’s longtime effort to tackle rules on selling tobacco is making headway. The Mission Planning Commission on Monday voted 7-0 to recommend city council approval of an ordinance that requires new tobacco or e-cigarette retailers to comply with distance restrictions in what the city is calling “buffer zones.” … This comes after years of attempts in Mission to limit minors’ access to tobacco and e-cigarettes. Under the ordinance, new tobacco or e-cigarette business licenses would not be permitted within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a park or another tobacco or e-cigarette retailer.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Leawood nixes plan to slash height of tall building projects
At its Tuesday meeting, the Leawood Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny changes to the city’s development ordinance that would have significantly lowered the maximum height for offices and mixed-use projects. The change would have lowered the maximum height for buildings zoned for planned office or mixed use from 90 feet to 55 feet. This would generally have left room for a four-story building, instead of Leawood’s current maximum of six stories. The city would have made an exception for what staff called a “signature building” with a unique design or for sites that already had tall trees.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Generous donors help finance (and name) new Pratt pool
It was hand shakes, rounds of applause and smiles all around when the blue tarp dropped and the names of Gary and Jean Cromer were revealed as the generous donors who helped finance (and name) the new swimming pool on July 22 in Pratt. The Cromer’s donated $6M to ensure summer water fun and enjoyment for the citizens, especially youth, of Pratt for years to come. Their generosity was celebrated Saturday, and while many in attendance were anxious to get into the water, perhaps none were as eager as young Eli Lee, who had been at the pool complex since 9:30 a.m., waiting to make sure he was the first in the gate for the grand opening.
Source: Pratt Tribune
City of Lawrence considering changing how parking tickets are handled
Currently, Lawrence Municipal Court may issue arrest warrants for unpaid parking tickets. That could change as the City of Lawrence is considering moving to a new process to handle parking violations. The city is also considering other options for habitual violators, including demobilization of vehicles. Under the proposed changes, people would no longer be required to show up to court to appeal citations or for notices to appear, according to the city’s website about the project.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for July 26, 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.
Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $7.9M in Community Development Grants
Governor Laura Kelly today announced that 24 communities in rural counties throughout the state will receive a share of nearly $7.9 million in federal grants to assist with community development projects. … The $7,897,922 will be matched with local funding, allowing more than $16.9 million to be available. The CDBG funds are one of the Department of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s smaller, predominantly rural communities. To view the complete list of awardees, click here.
For assistance applying for, or administering, grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.
Seaboard Foods proposes two hog farms in Ford County
Seaboard Foods pitched a plan to the Ford County Commissioners at its July 17 meeting to purchase land northeast of Bucklin to raise as many as 2,500 hogs. Commissioners Ken Snook and Shawn Tasset were present. Both sites would have two buildings hogs. Seaboard representative Jennifer Charno Nelson said the corporation was interested in developing a total of four buildings on two sites in that southeast corner of the county. Snook said he was concerned with the odor and a fact Nelson shared that each hog would need to consume five gallons of water every day. “We have a problem with water here, before my life is over, we will run out of water in Ford County,” Snook said.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
NFMA releases best practices for EPA’s SRF program
The National Federation of Municipal Analysts has released best practices on Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, its first on the subject, which provides a roadmap for state and local governments as these investments become more essential to improving the infrastructure and quality of life around the country. “SRFs were selected because they have truly become a critical financing vehicle for improving the quality of our nation’s water infrastructure and public health,” said Angela Kukoda, disclosure committee chair at NFMA. Both the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, created in 1987 and 1996, respectively, are partnerships between the Environmental Protection Agency and states to help construct municipal wastewater facilities, control pollution, improve drinking water treatment as well as fund other water quality projects, among many other uses.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Wichita providing free bus rides during week’s high temps
Beginning Wednesday, July 26, residents can ride Wichita Transit for free until the end of the day on Saturday, July 29. The already free Q-Line bus runs Monday through Saturday from 6:15 a.m. until 11 p.m. with stops at several air conditioned places downtown including the Advanced Learning Library and City Museums. In addition to free bus rides, the Neighborhood Resource Centers throughout Wichita have water and air conditioning for those who need it. Residents are encouraged to stay inside as much as possible, hydrate regularly and ensure pets also have access to shelter and water.
Source: KAKE – News
Prairie Village City Council will explore building new City Hall, aims to limit cost to $30M
The City Council voted unanimously to advance exploration of building a new home — for itself. A discussion that started in 2020 with a feasibility study to explore improvements to City Hall has entered a new chapter. On July 17, the council unanimously directed city staff to explore building a new City Hall with a cost ceiling of $30 million. A few weeks earlier, the council’s finance committee reviewed three concepts: a basic renovation of the existing building, with an estimated cost of $11.95 million; a heavy renovation, with an estimated cost of $21.77 million; and a two-story, new construction option, with an estimated cost of $30.77 million.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal