Kansas Municipal News
New Round of Funding Announced for Revitalization of Downtown Buildings
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today $1.5 million will be available for a fourth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. HEAL grants help close financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts more economically vibrant. Since the HEAL grant program was launched in 2021, more than $3.5 million has been awarded to fund 63 projects in 48 counties throughout Kansas.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Groundwater salt levels are high in Andover, Experts say this could be a big problem
Throughout the summer, people in Andover have been raising questions on Facebook wondering why they can’t use their well water. Some of them posted that after testing the level of salt in the water exceeded 400 parts per million. K-State Extension Agent Matthew McKernan said that this can be damaging to plants. “Sodium is going to be very detrimental to our soils, it’s going to break down our soil quality and actually take the place of organic matter and clay particles in the soil,” McKernan said. “And so as that, when high sodium water is applied to the soil, the sodium is actually going to bind to the soil particles and destroy the soil structure.”
Source: KAKE – News
How Johnson County will spend $1.6M in COVID relief funds
Johnson County is spending roughly $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds on several initiatives, including one to help pay rent and utilities as well as providing for the housing needs of people with certain disabilities. Johnson County Commissioners on Aug. 3 convened to consider how the county will spend remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds. The county agreed to pay for accessibility upgrades at the Theatre in the Park, an outdoor theater at Shawnee Mission Park.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Garden City wins award from ‘The Great Race’ organization
The group that organizes the annual “Great Race” has named Garden City the 2023 Best Overnight City. Garden City was the Day 8 stop from the race that also made a stop in Wichita. Participants raced from St. Augustine, Florida, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, over nine days from June 24 to July 2. The race stopped in Garden City on June 30, its first stop there since 2006. Race participants voted the stop as the best overnight stop along the race route.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka could lose Country Stampede
The Country Stampede, a longtime staple of summer celebration in the Capital City, could find a new home in the near future. The Country Stampede announced via social media Thursday that due to rising property taxes, it may have to find a new location. The country music festival attributes this to its landlord and property owner, Shelby Development, which claims that taxes on the stampede’s facility have risen almost $1,500 per day.
Source: KSN-TV
City of Topeka provides update on Hotel Topeka purchase
All parties involved have agreed to a tentative closing date on the city’s purchase of Hotel Topeka. The hotel is in receivership because the purchase needs to be approved by the court, according to a press release from the City of Topeka. After a hearing on July 25, the court is reviewing the sale and order and is expected to approve the sale soon. Once the court’s order is entered, all parties can proceed with closing. A tentative closing date is scheduled for Oct. 31, according to the press release.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Fallen Fairway officer remembered for dedication to job, family
People who knew fallen Fairway Office Jonah Oswald are mourning and remembering the man, husband and father he was. The 29-year-old died Monday after he was injured in a shootout Sunday with two suspects at a Mission QuikTrip. “He was the epitome of what a true law enforcement officer would be – devoted, a devoted father and husband willing to help his community,” said Robert Paul, a friend of Oswald’s. “(He) stepped into church, willing to be there on Sundays just to lend a hand. I think he was bigger than life itself.” This is now the Fairway Police Department’s first line-of-duty death in its more than 70-year history.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Olpe fitness park secures over $115,000 in tax credits
Olpe’s fitness park project has approval for over $100,000 in tax credits. The project, organized by Olpe Community Improvement, was granted $115,400 in tax credits from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Project spokesman Tyler Schmidt tells KVOE News donors to the Community Health and Wellness Campaign have a chance to offset or defer 70 percent of their related tax obligations as part of the credits. Using $1,000 as an example, Schmidt says $700 would either be used as a full credit or a partial credit for the donor, depending on that person’s tax liability. The total value to the fitness park is actually more than $165,000. The window to take advantage of these tax credits began July 1 and continues through 2024.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
In rural Kansas, seniors are stranded by a lack of transit options — and it’s getting worse
A white Dodge Caravan pulls up in front of the Dillons grocery store in Liberal, Kansas, and Floyd Coleman steps out to help his next passenger into the minivan. Coleman, a 63-year-old retired truck driver, shuttles people around town for Liberal’s senior center. He has a few pickups and drop-offs throughout the day and can drive senior center patrons anywhere within the city limits for free. City Bus, the public transit system in Liberal, runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. And although seniors qualify for reduced fares, the stops are sometimes few and far between. … Because of the distance between his home and the closest bus stop, [many seniors with mobility issues] rely on Coleman and the services the center provides. … Liberal is in Seward County and more than 10% of its 20,000 residents are over the age of 65. Although some cities in southwest Kansas like Liberal have senior centers equipped to help clients get around, group transportation isn’t always available in smaller towns.
Source: KCUR News
Finney County approves disaster declarations, employee leave policy changes
Two emergency declarations were declared at the Finney County Commission’s regular meeting Monday. One of the emergency declarations was due to the storm damage and flooding from the two July 20 storms. Paul Resley, Finney County Emergency Management director, said the storms greatly impacted the area around Friend and tracked southeast towards Kansas Highway 156. “It suffered extensive damage; I believe we lost about 104 distribution power poles and three 115 A-Frame poles for Sunflower transmission lines, not counting the number of crops and buildings that got destroyed,” he said. “Then later in the evening we had a massive amount of flooding, which impacted … many basements throughout the area as well as a number of vehicles that got stalled. We were using our big trucks to get people out of the roads.” Commissioner Dave Jones said the emergency declaration allows the power company work extended hours beyond what the Kansas Corporation Commission holds them to. … Also at the meeting, the Commission approved changes to an updated employee leave policy. One change is to transition from sick and vacation to a Paid Time Off model. Kelly Munyan, Finney County Human Resources director, said currently sick and vacation time are used interchangeable, and she believes that moving to a PTO model will allow for ease of administration, creating one pool for employees to use as at their discretion.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Shawnee County is using drones to fight a duckweed problem
Shawnee County has a duckweed problem. The small leafy plant is often confused with algae as it covers the surfaces of ponds, lagoons and other still bodies of water. Some say it isn’t a problem but instead a misunderstanding of a natural resource. For Shawnee County, however, it’s seen as an infestation — and they’re using drones to deal with it. “There’s about six lagoons throughout the area that are infested with duckweed,” said Shawnee County weed department director John Landon last week. “We’re going to spray those with Sonar and try to get that under control.”
Source: CJonline
Commission hears concerns about homeless in Pittsburg
With only three commissioners present, Tuesday evening’s city commission meeting was short, but dominated by citizen comments about the growing homeless problem in Pittsburg. Pittsburg resident John Lair said that in the northeast section of town, trash bins are being rummaged through, bags cut open, and garbage left strewn across the property for the resident to clean up. Lair said he’s heard not to refer to the homeless as criminals, but said it is getting to be a real problem in his neighborhood. He said a neighbor had her car broken into three times. Source: Morning Sun
Municipal Bond Trends for August 9, 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.
More than 20 electric scooters recovered from Arkansas River
More than 20 electric scooters were recovered from the Arkansas River by the Keeper of the Plains Tuesday afternoon. Electric scooters came to Wichita in July 2019. One of the companies currently operating in Wichita is VeoRide. A KSN photojournalist spoke to a person at the scene working to recover the scooters who identified themself as a manager for VeoRide. He said the units may have been there for some time, only becoming visible because of lower water levels. KSN has reached out to the company for a formal statement but has not received a reply.
Source: KSN-TV
Electric scooters keep getting dumped into the Arkansas River
Twenty electric scooters were recovered from the Arkansas River near the Keeper of the Plains this week, but it comes as no surprise to residents and business owners in the area who have seen submerged scooters for years. Electric scooter rentals have been available in Wichita since the summer of 2019. City leaders celebrated their arrival, and the scooters were a hit with residents and visitors. However, the scooters have had a hard time staying above water. Calvin Cupp works at Boats and Bikes, a boat rental service just off the Arkansas River near the Keeper of the Plains. He spends most days coaching rowing teams and helping run the place.
Source: KSN-TV
More hotel rooms coming for future Kansas State Fairs
The 2023 Kansas State Fair is almost here. More hotels are planned for Hutchinson, but not in time for this year’s fair. The fair is planning for more than 300,000 visitors for the 2023 Kansas State Fair, but not all will be staying in Hutch. Currently, there are about 700 hotel rooms after the largest Hutchinson hotel closed in 2019. The Kansas State Fair brings in anywhere from $75-100 million each year. “For 10 days specifically, that period is a huge boost for the entire community,” said Visit Hutch Vice President LeAnn Cox.
Source: KSN-TV
The post-fire plan for Rawlins Co. Jr.-Sr. High School
After a fire heavily damaged the Rawlins County Junior-Senior High School in June, parents and students knew things would change. It has taken some time, but the district has a tentative plan for handling the new school year. Eric Stoddard, USD 105 superintendent, posted an update about the fire and the plans on the district’s Facebook page. “We’ve had a, really a tragedy in our community,” he said. … USD 105 has contracted with a Wichita company to provide modular classrooms for the junior-senior high school, but the classrooms will not be installed until mid-September at the earliest.
Source: KSN-TV
Forbes: Wichita ranks high for young professionals
Companies trying to convince workers to move to Wichita have some new ammunition. Forbes Advisor ranks Wichita as the 12th best place for young professionals to live. The researchers behind the Forbes Advisor report compared the 100 most-populous metropolitan areas, 99 of which had available data. They weighed things like pay, job opportunities, housing prices, cost of living, and lifestyle.
Source: KSN-TV
These are the rural Kansas hospitals at risk of closure
Earlier this week, Governor Laura Kelly announced she would be pushing for Medicaid expansion after a study released in July 2023 by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform (CHQPR) found 58% of rural hospitals were at risk of closure. “Already, too many rural hospitals have shut their doors,” Governor Laura Kelly said in response to the report. “When that happens, the communities have been devastated. These Kansans have to drive hours now to receive their basic care. There is an obvious way to stop the bleeding: Expand Medicaid.”
Source: KSN-TV
Lawrence Municipal Court to kick off night court pilot program
Lawrence Municipal Court next week will roll out a pilot night court program, which will add an early evening docket once a month to create more flexibility for defendants. The move is part of a push to reduce failures to appear in court. If defendants miss court, judges can issue arrest warrants, and getting booked into jail can cause serious repercussions for those who have citations or offenses that would not otherwise have involved jail time. Night court will be staffed with Municipal Court Judge Chris Kopecky, a prosecutor, a courtroom clerk, a customer service clerk, a court security officer and a supervisor, according to a Wednesday news release from the city.
Source: The Lawrence Times