Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Lenexa wants to add more ‘missing middle housing’

Lenexa is hoping to add more midrange housing options — including potentially townhomes and affordable starter homes — to areas of the city still open for development. This type of housing, often called “missing middle housing,” tends to be more dense and attainable cost-wise, though it’s lacking in many communities where there might be a market for it, Community Development Director Scott McCullough said. Encouraging these new housing options has so far been a major focus of the city’s comprehensive plan update process. Exactly what the end result of this process will look like for Lenexa is unclear at this stage, though McCullough said it could ultimately require the city to consider changes to city code and a reevaluation of some of the city’s long-range residential development plans.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Water transfer battle continues in Wichita hearings

A hearing is scheduled to begin next week in Wichita District Court, allowing a non-profit Central Kansas water advocacy group to present additional evidence why it opposes a plan by the cities of Hays and Russell to implement a water transfer from a location in Edwards County to Ellis County in the Smoky Hill river basin. The evidentiary hearing, set to begin July 19, results from a remand order by the Kansas Supreme Court in June that places the challenge issued by the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas back within the confines of the district court to consider supplemental additions to the court record. While the hearing continues, the Kansas Supreme Court retains jurisdiction over Water PACK’s appeal challenge. Currently, both communities are seeking to construct a 70-mile long pipeline that would transfer approximately 4,800 acre-feet of water per year for their municipal use. The measure invokes the Kansas Water Transfer Act that stipulates all desiring to transfer more than 2,000 acre feet are limited to a distance of 35 miles, unless granted state approval.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Tap water in Kansas was tested for ‘forever chemicals.’ Here’s where they were found

Forever chemicals, also known as polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, have been detected in recent years in drinking water in the Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and Wichita areas, according to a study published July 5 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The federal agency collected tap water samples from 716 locations across the country, including water from public supplies and private wells. The agency modeled that data and found at least 45% of drinking water could contain at least one PFAS. Some of the PFAS, which have been linked to health problems, found in Kansas water exceeded proposed limits. Those samples were taken from 2016 to 2021. Megan Lovely, a spokeswoman for the City of Wichita, said they began testing for PFAS in 2021 as a proactive measure. Lawrence does not routinely monitor PFAS, but will begin to as new EPA guidelines go into effect, said Trevor Flynn, assistant director of environment, health science and treatment operations for the City of Lawrence. Those results are expected to be part of a consumer confidence report published next May.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Russell community reacts to vandalism at new park

A brand new Historic park, splash pad, and visitors center opened July 8th and by July 14th three different instances of vandalism had already occurred at the facility. “I just don’t even understand why anyone would do that. I mean, it’s just absolutely disheartening,” Russell community member, Jeannine Byers-Long. This is the sentiment echoing throughout Russell, Kansas as they work to get to the bottom of an ongoing vandalism problem. “There has got to be something more fun and more entertaining for people to do than to ruin and vandalize property,” said Byers-Long. “There was some damage in the restroom facilities so we’ve had to close off the restroom facilities until that can be fixed,” said Gloria Homeier, a member of Russell Rotary. People visiting the park Friday were also disheartened by the vandalism.
Source: KAKE – News

After school shutdown, rural Kansas community tries to divorce district

Barton County residents will decide whether to break up with their school district and “start fresh” following heartbreak and anger over the closure of a rural community’s high school. The change could result in hundreds of students displaced and three more schools shut down. The Aug. 1 disorganization vote is a test case for rural communities that increasingly have to make decisions to shut down or consolidate as populations dwindle and schools face financial strain. “This is brand new territory for the Department of Education, for the State Board of Education and basically every district in the state of Kansas,” said KSDE general counsel Scott Gordon during a June 27 meeting in Claflin. Dissolving the district is likely to have widespread consequences for all district schools and likely will increase residents’ taxes, according to opponents of disorganization.
Source: KAKE – News

Wheat Festival wraps up in Wellington

The 123rd Kansas Wheat Festival came to a close over the weekend. Saturday was about teaching kids the process of wheat harvesting as well as more information on elements of the farming community. “We had the southwest dairy farmers down there this morning, and they had wheat threshing demonstrations and just a lot of tractors on display, and it was just really neat and really cool, and it was popular,” said Valerie Earl, executive director of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
Source: KSN-TV

Johnson County feels lingering impacts of storm

For Midwesterners used to sudden summer storms, Friday night still felt unusual. “That … was terrifying,” one Kansas City area resident said on Twitter, echoing the sentiments of many others in the aftermath of a powerful storm system that downed tree limbs, uprooted whole trees and knocked out power to tens of thousands. As of Sunday afternoon, Evergy said nearly 90% of metro customers had power restored. But more than 16,000 Johnson County customers were among those who remained without power and officials with the utility warned it could be into Tuesday before all customers’ power was back on. “It’s going to be a long road,” said Chuck Caisley, Evergy’s chief customer officer, on Saturday. “This is the largest storm [Evergy] has had. This is a big restoration.”
Source: Prairie Village Post

Olpe Downhome Days celebrates community improvements

Since the Olpe Downhome festival was reinstated in 2003, its purpose has been fundraising for improvements at Olpe’s Jones Park. Multiple activities on Saturday provided a day filled with family-oriented fun, from a 6:30 a.m. breakfast provided by the Methodist church to a street dance lasting until midnight. “This is our 21st year,” Joyce Wilson, festival organizer and Olpe City Clerk, said. “There was no event in 2020, due to COVID. We actually had celebrations sporadically through the 1980s and early 1990s–originally, the festival was put on by the fire fighters to raise money.” Wilson and her husband brought the festival back to life. “We just needed a community event,” she said. “It’s had its ups and downs. The park flooded at least one time, and we’ve had torrential rains.” An afternoon parade lined up at the school, featuring tractors, bicycles, ATVs, a horse-drawn buggy, fire trucks, and police vehicles proceeding through downtown Olpe. The firemen’s barbeque drew a hungry crowd and led to even more downtown events like bed races, military service personnel appreciation, and a street dance with DJ Chuck Torres. The Olpe Fire Department Equipment Fundraiser featured a drawing for three separate firearms, with a limited number of tickets available for purchase. A 20-year class reunion was also held in conjunction with the Downhome festival.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Marion’s new city administrator is settling in

Marion gained a new city administrator on May 1. Marion City Administrator Brogan Jones graduated in May with his Masters in Public Administration from Wichita State University. He just turned 28 at the end of June. This is his first time being a city administrator, but he lived in and worked for the city of Lyons in code enforcement building inspections so there is some crossover for him. Jones, who is married with a child on the way—his wife is due in August—is happy to be settling into small town Marion. He and his wife moved there recently and enjoy many things about it. “We like that it’s not too far from home. It’s just an hour away. It’s still a small town like we’re used to. So we get out, and go on walks,” said Jones. “It’s quiet where we bought our house. So it’s just a nice small quiet town, and it’s got a lot of character that we don’t have back home. Everything back home is straight lines and boxes, but it’s not like that here.”
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Kansas has record high teacher vacancies. But are schools finally at a turning point?

The number of teacher vacancies in Kansas schools remains at a record high, but state education officials have reason to believe a tide of increasing educator attrition is starting to turn. Kansas, as of earlier this spring, had 1,634 teaching vacancies, as reported by school districts to the Kansas State Department of Education’s licensure division, said director Shane Carter. That’s compared to 1,628 vacancies in fall 2022. Comparatively, school districts reported 1,381 vacancies in spring 2022, and 1,253 vacancies in fall 2021.
Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for July 14, 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.

Indigo Moo’d offers ice cream and a place for Lindsborg residents to gather

With memories of grabbing a cone as a child, and realizing the city didn’t have an ice cream shop, one woman decided to open one in downtown Lindsborg. Alison Replogle, who owns and operates Indigo Moo’d, said that when she and her husband, Shawn, would take walks in downtown Lindsborg, they would talk about how there weren’t many places open in the evening for families and other people in the community. “It’s (here) to have a place for people to gather and celebrate,” Replogle said.
Source: Hutch News

Engage Dodge Program: Connecting citizens to Dodge City

The City of Dodge City is excited to announce the launch of the 2023 Engage Dodge Program, an interactive educational opportunity designed to introduce citizens to City services, programs, and the dedicated employees who serve the Dodge City community. This program aims to enhance awareness, understanding, and engagement in local government, creating stronger connections between residents and the city they call home. The Engage Dodge Program consists of eight evening sessions, held on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., starting Aug. 8 and concluding on Sept. 19.
Source: Dodge City Globe

Johnson County $4 billion Panasonic plant may get $8 billion in taxpayer incentives: report

Panasonic is expected to invest some $4 billion in a new De Soto battery plant, but it could receive twice that amount in taxpayer incentives. The Japanese electronics giant is poised to get as much as $6.8 billion from provisions in last year’s federal Inflation Reduction Act. That’s according to incentive watchdog group Good Jobs First, which analyzed the potential windfalls five electric vehicle battery plants could receive from a new tax credit program. Good Jobs First says the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit, which aims at increasing production of electric vehicles, could cost American taxpayers $200 billion over the next decade — far higher than previous estimates. State and local taxpayers have already heavily subsidized Panasonic’s battery plant, which crews are currently building on a portion of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.
Source: Kansas City Star

Park City to see changes after license approved for historic horse racing facility

The Wichita Greyhound Park will now be transformed into the Golden Circle Historic Horse Racing Facility. Being the only one in Kansas, many expect the new attraction — home to 1,000 historic horse racing machines — to bring in people from all across the region. “You have a large building on almost 80 acres up in Park City. It’s a three-story building. The bones of the building are in great shape, but obviously, it hasn’t been in use for a decade and a half,” said Jason Watkins with Ruffin Holdings, Inc. … The facility adds another piece of economic development for the Park City area. “We hope as the star bond project progresses, that we’ll have an aquarium, more hotels, we have ball facilities. There’s a lot of things in the pipeline,” said Park City Mayor John Lehnherr.
Source: KSN-TV

After school shutdown, rural Kansas community tries to divorce district

Overland Park tourists spend $850M, helping pandemic rebound

Overland Park’s tourism is bouncing back after a dive in 2020, when visitor spending declined 40.4% from the year before. In 2021, Overland Park saw a 42.1% increase in visitor spending, as well as a 19.5% increase in 2022. The data comes from a recent report from Tourism Economics. “Overland Park’s visitor economy has rebounded beyond pre-pandemic levels,” Warren Wilkinson, president of Visit Overland Park, the city’s marketing organization, said in a release.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

This poisonous weed is growing in Wichita yards this summer. How you can identify it

A poisonous plant that bloomed in great numbers in the Wichita area last year has recently caught the attention of the public on online forums like Nextdoor. Poison hemlock is an invasive plant found throughout North America since its introduction in the 1800s. With a two-year life cycle, the noxious weed is usually not noticed until the second year, when they can reach 4 to 10 feet tall. Because of the number of poison hemlock plants in bloom last year, Matthew McKernan, horticulture agent with the Sedgwick County Extension Office, expects most in the area this year to be in their ground-level phase.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

From HEAL Award to Rural Champion Playbook: Lincoln County is one to Follow!

With the recent announcement of the Spring 2023 HEAL awardees, we thought we would first highlight Post Rock Fitness LLC. This project was part of our first round of HEAL grants in February 2022 and finished in December 2022. This is an amazing example of what the HEAL grant can help with when rehabbing a downtown building. When the property owner purchased the building in 2019, the building had no functional bathroom or plumbing, a nearly 40-year-old marginally operational heating and air conditioning system, and a leaking roof on the back addition. At the time they applied for the HEAL grant, the building had been vacant since 2015. Known as the C.R. Building/Hundertmark’s Variety, the building is a contributing resource in Lincoln’s National Register-designated downtown historic district and individually listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places (RHKP). All historic character on the interior was hidden underneath a drop ceiling installed in 1981, and the basement was full of 100-years’ worth of accumulated junk. The rehab resulted in the restoration of historical details (such as the original ceiling and plaster walls) along with structural enhancements, new bathrooms, new mechanical systems (heating/air conditioning, plumbing, electrical), new flooring, and a new roof on a portion of the building.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

‘We got it done’: Kansas OKs gaming license for Golden Circle casino outside Wichita

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission cleared the way Thursday for Phil Ruffin to open a casino in the Wichita area, granting the billionaire casino mogul and Wichita native a major victory in a nearly two decade battle to put gambling machines inside the Wichita Greyhound Park. The gaming commission on Thursday granted Ruffin’s Golden Circle casino the state’s only license to operate 1,000 historical horse racing machines. The HHR machines look and play like slot machines — which voters rejected in Sedgwick County by a narrow margin a few months before Ruffin decided to close the greyhound park — but outcomes are based on random past horse races instead of randomly generated numbers. “We are ecstatic with the news,” said Phil Ruffin Jr., who lives in Wichita and will be the general manager of Golden Circle when it opens. “We’ve been working to try to renovate and reopen Wichita Greyhound Park.” The greyhound park near 77th Street North and Hydraulic has been closed since 2007. Under Ruffin’s plan, he will spend $128 million to renovate it into a three-floor casino called Golden Circle.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle