Kansas Municipal News
USD 428 Education Foundation supports classroom innovation with mini-grants
The Great Bend USD 428 Education Foundation wrapped up the school year by announcing winners of mini-grants to enhance learning opportunities. In 2023, teachers from across the district received $23,488.75 in mini-grants, funding innovative ideas and exciting enrichment opportunities. Foundation members expressed thanks to the individuals and corporate supporters make the grants possible.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Commissioners give tax exemption to Scorpius in Hesston
Harvey County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning to grant a tax exemption for Scorpius Industries, LLC (Scorpius), a small engineering design and fabrication business in Hesston that specializes in custom-designed parts and assemblies. After outgrowing its current facility, Scorpius plans to build a new facility outside of Hesston at 8501 N. West Road. The county commission previously approved Conditional Use Permit 23-01 for the construction of the facility at this location. In its letter requesting a 10-year abatement, Scorpius owner Shane Denson said that capital investment for the project would be $875,000. They expect to create seven new jobs over the next five years.
Source: Harvey County Now
Attack of the miller moths in Harvey County en route to the Rockies
Like any other moth, miller moths are attracted to light. However, they also seem to be attracted to one other thing: bugging residents of central Kansas. Miller moths are the adult form of the army cutworm larvae that destroyed so many lawns in the summer of 2020. “The full army worms two or three years ago were a big problem […] those can cause huge damage,” Jason French, a manager at Stutzman’s Greenhouse, said. “The miller moth itself in the home gardening industry doesn’t cause much issue, though it’s a pest.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Wichita Riverfest a few days away, tents already setup in Downtown
Wichita Riverfest is three days away. If you’ve noticed, part of the road by Main and Douglas is already blocked off and there are tents set up. “This is the biggest party Wichita throws every year,” said Jen Remsberg, Director of Marketing and Communications for Riverfest. Wichita’s yearly party is just a few days away. People are gearing up and excited to see RiverFest 2023. “I’m always excited to see what’s going on, the food, the people, just good vibes,” said Wichita resident Tiayla Maholmes. “There’s so many different activities. There are something for everyone. We love the concerts, the food, and all of the people-watching that you do,” said Cindy Marion, a Wichita resident.
Source: KAKE – News
Municipal Bond Trends for May 30, 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.
Only 1 Kansas county ranks as being in persistent poverty in nationwide study
A recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) identified 341 counties across the country, including one in Kansas, as places where people are living at higher poverty rates. The USCB study identified places where people are living in persistent poverty. These are counties where poverty rates are maintained at levels of 20% or more for the past 30 years. Among the 341 counties named in the study, Riley County was selected as the only one from Kansas as being a place where persistent poverty exists. According to the USCB study, people living in places of higher poverty experience more severe systemic problems than those living in lower-poverty areas. This can consist of limited access to medical services, healthy and affordable food, quality education and civic engagement opportunities. Julie Gibbs, director of the Riley County Health Department (RCHD), wrote in an email that USCB data points to a 17.6% poverty rate in the county, placing them in second for the highest poverty rate in the state behind Crawford County. Gibbs said this trend is nothing new and can be tied to the large Kansas State University student population living in Manhattan, some of which attend classes while living in crumbling apartments. “The university has a large number of undergrad students (15,046 in 2021) and most complete their classes in person,” Gibbs wrote. “The students account for about 20% of the 72,000 people who reside in Riley County, and many of them do not work full time or have regular, reportable income.”
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County firefighter drone can now drop a lifejacket to water rescue victims
A new drone with Sedgwick County firefighters is being called a game-changer. “I love it. Making a difference in people’s lives is something that you truly cannot explain. You just have to do it,” said Captain Maroon Faissal with the Sedgwick County Fire Department. The new drone has enough battery power and flight time to take a lifejacket and drop it where it’s needed in water rescues. This weekend the county was putting the new drone through its paces. And it was a success. “So this drone is the latest and greatest,” said Faissal. “So one of the options this drone has it will let us drop a life jacket to someone that is drowning. It’s got a camera on it that will direct the diving team to help a drowning victim. Give that victim a chance.” Faissal says the entire drone setup cost right at 30,000. Roughly half of that is the camera system which includes thermal and infrared sensors and the ability to show video to the drone operator.
Source: KSN-TV
New JoCo programs aims to offer more mental health care to people with Down syndrome
There are more than 2,000 people with Down syndrome in Kansas City, but many struggle to access mental health care. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, at least half of people with Down syndrome will encounter a major mental health concern in their lifetime — commonly anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Down Syndrome Innovations, a local group providing support and services to people with the condition, saw a gap between need and available services after a deep dive into their client base.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Mandatory cat licenses in Wichita? The animal control board just recommended it
The Wichita Animal Control Advisory Board recently recommended a plan to overhaul pet licensing, including requiring cat owners to license their animals. All dogs five months and older must be licensed with the city. Wichita pet owners might soon be required to license their cats as well as their dogs with the city every year. Mandatory licensing and microchipping are part of a 14-point plan recommended by the Animal Control Advisory Board earlier this month. “If we can get you to microchip your cat, we can not only get it back to you but we can know that it’s been vaccinated,” board President Mike Marlett said. “It’s just safer for your cat. It’s safer for everyone else.” The issue of cat licensing in Wichita “has been controversial for a long, long time,” as City Manager Robert Layton put it. City leaders rejected cat licensing proposals in 1977 and 1982. In interviews with The Eagle, Wichita cat owners expressed a wide range of opinions on the issue.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lack of officers hampering Wichita police department’s efforts
Wichita’s police force is about 66 officers short of its authorized strength of 468 officers, according to Police Chief Joe Sullivan. The police department faces a “retention crisis,” some analysts have said, which has complicated the department’s relationship with the community and ability to mend an internal culture criticized in a consultant’s report earlier this year. Workforce shortages put officers in the position, Sullivan said, of constantly answering emergency calls, which limits more positive interactions with the public and adversely affects the officers’ own mental health. “When you’re in a department that’s not fully staffed, and you’re responding to more emergencies than you normally would, and it’s constant one after another with no break, and you’re being asked to work overtime to fill in for those vacant positions, you’re experiencing more trauma, and you’re beginning to experience exhaustion and eventually burnout,” he said. “So that’s something that we’re keenly aware of, and we are working as quickly as we can to put together an officer wellness program.”
Source: KLC Journal
Overland Park ‘build-to-rent’ subdivision offers alternative to buying a home
A subsidiary of Mission Peak Capital is finishing the initial homes of the first subdivision in the metro area consisting of all-new single-family rental homes. Renting a home in the Overland Park subdivision offers a more affordable alternative amid a still tight housing market and higher interest rates, the developer says. … The houses will have a mix of three and four bedrooms. Rent averages about $2,400 a month. The development offers an affordable alternative to buying a similar-sized home in today’s market, said P.J. Ventola, managing director of development at Mission Peak, whose subsidiary, Peak Homes, is working on The Homes at Wolf Creek. “We are less expensive than it costs to buy the same home (with) today’s interest rates,” Ventola said. “It is designed to be with like-minded people who are renting by choice.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Andover YMCA reopens water park
People got to slide down the slide, hang out in a pool and float along the lazy river today in Andover, because the YMCA water park is back open, just a year after a tornado ripped through the city. “I’m happy about it because we used to have to drive far to go to other parks. Now we can drive closer,” exclaimed 10-year-old Elijah Jamerson. The water park has some new features, such as a splash pad and climbing areas. “I’m glad it’s open,” said Amber Lowen of Rose Hill. “We love the Andover Y. We come here every summer.” The YMCA says the park’s first two weeks of operation are for members only.
Source: KAKE – News
Halstead considers updating their code enforcement process
The Halstead City Council considered a proposal by City Manager Ethan Reimer at their latest meeting to change the way the city addresses code enforcement issues. The city does not have a code enforcement personnel, so for an issue to be addressed, a citizen must submit a complaint, which administrative staff or the city manager will investigate. … Reimer said that since the police department already proactively patrols the city, has summons power to municipal court, and enforces other codes such as animal control regulations, the city staff would like to see the police department handle other code violation issues, such as tall grass and weeds or other nuisance issues in the city.
Source: Harvey County Now
New additions brighten downtown Sedgwick
Downtown Sedgwick recently got a little color and class with the addition of flowers and flower buckets and the Hometown Hero banners now displayed along Commercial Street. Sedgwick City Administrator Kyle Nordick said the banners will be displayed until Veterans Day, which is in November. “I want to again publicly thank the American Legion here in town for splitting the cost of our Hometown Hero banners,” Nordick said.
Source: Harvey County Now
Rural Kansans wait to see how long prescriptions by telehealth last after the pandemic
The pandemic allowed people to receive prescriptions for mental health and opioid addiction through telemedicine. Now Kansas clinicians want those flexibilities to be permanent. At the Citizens Health hospital in Colby, pandemic-driven rule changes let doctors prescribe chronic pain and mental health medications over virtual appointments. That gave hundreds of patients in northwest Kansas access to life-changing drugs. “Everybody struggles with access to mental health care,” Jenny Niblock, a nurse practitioner at the medical center, said. “Rural Kansas struggles even worse.” Before the pandemic, the only way to get a prescription for a federally regulated drug was through an in-person doctor’s visit.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Lenexa updates it fence code
Planning to install a new fence, wall or retaining wall at home? The City of Lenexa recently updated its code related to these types of projects. Under the new code, fences along the side street on corner lots may be installed 15 feet from the property line as long as they are 4 feet tall and open-style (50% or less opaque). If a fence is taller than 4 feet or is privacy-style, it cannot be installed in front of the required setback. When a fence is located within 3 feet of or directly on top of a retaining wall, the height of the fence plus the height of the retaining wall shall not exceed 10 feet. Retaining wall tiers are limited to 10 feet per tier. Additionally, there must be at least three feet of horizontal space between tiers of a tiered wall.
Source: City of Lenexa
Debt ceiling deal spares state and local pandemic aid
The White House and Republicans reached a deal over the holiday weekend that will avoid the nation’s first breach of its debt limit and leave untouched leftover pandemic aid allocated to cities and states. A House vote on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 is set for Wednesday to move the bill ahead of a U.S. default as soon as June 5. The House Rules Committee is set to take up the legislation Tuesday afternoon. “The agreement prevents the worst possible crisis: a default for the first time in our nation’s history,” President Joe Biden said Sunday night at a White House press conference. It “takes the threat of a catastrophic default off the table.” The 99-page bill would cap discretionary spending for six years — but with a sequester mechanism in place only for the first two years — as well as rescind enforcement funding for the Internal Revenue Service and streamline energy infrastructure project permitting.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Municipal Bond Trends for May 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.
Panasonic project brings focus to Johnson County’s rural roads
The massive project to build a new Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant at the former Sunflower Army Ammunition plant in De Soto has re-ignited interest in the future of western Johnson County’s rural road system as officials consider a new set of planning guidelines for the area. The county planning commission unanimously recommended changes in its comprehensive rural plan Tuesday that remove land annexed by De Soto from its planning jurisdiction. Now that it is in De Soto, the city will set its own guidelines. The remaining unincorporated land will be in a “rural policy area,” meaning it will be planned as agricultural, with a rural character, limited development and a low density of one residence per 10 acres.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Michelin announces $100 million investment in Junction City
Tire manufacturer Michelin announced it will be investing over $100 million into Junction City to increase production of tracks for agricultural equipment. Over the next five years, around 200 new jobs will be added to increase the output of Camso agricultural rubber tracks, according to a press release from Michelin. Camso is a brand under the Michelin Group that specializes in off-road tires, tracks and systems…. In March, Michelin announced it would invest more than $20 million to expand its facilities in Emporia, Kansas as part of its investments in North American production, according to the press release. Michelin currently employs about 175 people at their facility in Junction City. The new investment will add around 200 jobs between 2023 and 2026.
Source: KSNT 27 News