Kansas Municipal News
Zoning changes help Barton County rural businesses
In an effort to both make it easier to start a business in rural areas of Barton County and to protect the county’s interests, the County Commission Wednesday morning approved amendments to the zoning regulations and map. “We’re trying to catch situations where we’re protecting the county, we’re protecting landowners that live near these businesses, and also just making it as easy as we can to set up these businesses in the county,” said Environmental Manager Judy Goreham, who oversees zoning matters.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Incentives offered to Great Bend water customers
As a way to encourage Great Bend city water customers to return the lead and copper pipe questionnaires, the city will offer a $25 credit on the utility bills for those who respond by the Aug. 31 deadline. The surveys are part of a local pipe inventory mandated by federal and state agencies. Those who miss the deadline are not eligible. The survey is on the city’s website and will also be mailed to all 6,700 active account holders, said Public Works Director Jason Cauley. It is also being promoted on the city’s social media sites.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Local tourism makes big impact in Great Bend
One youth softball tournament can bring in over $500,000 into the community. That is just one of the impacts tourism has on the local economy, said Great Bend Community Coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Christina Hayes said, speaking to the City Council Monday night. “Last week was National Tourism week,” she said. “I just want to go over a couple facts, because as a board member for the (Kansas Tourism Office) it is part of our job to share what Kansas tourism does with our councils and boards.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Sedgwick ups the ante in battle over empty buildings
The owners of abandoned buildings could soon face fines up to $500, thanks to an ordinance passed Wednesday evening during Sedgwick’s city council meeting. City Administrator Kyle Nordick suggested an annual registration fee of $25 for residential and $100 for commercial vacant buildings to try to combat the blight that empty spaces create in the community. He said they discourage economic development and decrease appreciation of other property values.
Source: Harvey County Now
Summer kickoff to draw crowd in Halstead
With attendance forecast at anywhere from 400 to 500 people, the Kansas Learning Center for Health’s free Summer Kick-Off is expected to be bigger than ever this year. Held on Wednesday, May 31, from 4 to 7 p.m., the event is described by Elizabeth Hingst, assistant director, as a mix of a block party and a resource fair. “The entire town is invited, and it’s a one-stop shop for all things summer,” Hingst said. “You can sign up for family pool passes and swim lessons, the library will have their signup for the summer reading program […] my kids ended up with goody bags packed full of crafts that I used all summer long, last year.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for May 18, 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.
Shawnee County says Kansas law prevents tax deal with Heartland Park
Kansas law bans Shawnee County from complying with a request by the owner of Heartland Motorsports Park that the two sides cut a deal to resolve a years-long property tax battle, commissioners said Thursday. They quoted a Kansas law that says the county cannot “release, discharge, remit or commute” past tax liability if the valuations involved have not been appealed or challenged by the taxpayer. In a signed statement put out Thursday, Commissioners Kevin Cook, Aaron Mays and Bill Riphahn said they are sympathetic to the situation facing Chris Payne but that he hasn’t availed himself of the options available. Payne hasn’t appealed or protested the valuations for the Heartland Park property for the tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023, meaning the county can’t change those valuations, the statement said.
Source: CJonline
Topeka and Lawrence leaders to further develop ‘good locker room mojo’ with ‘City Swap’
Topeka and Lawrence will look at each other with fresh eyes to understand how the cities can work together. On Friday morning, the Greater Topeka Partnership and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce announced the 2023 Topeka-Lawrence “City Swap” event. The effort is aimed to bring together business leaders, community stakeholders and elected officials to tour each city. The two-day event will be Oct. 12 in Topeka and Oct. 13 in Lawrence and will feature speakers, networking and opportunities to learn about the exciting developments in each community.
Source: CJonline
How a childcare desert drives families away from Saline
In Saline County, like much of the nation, childcare availability is diminishing for families. [Kathi] Barton doesn’t like turning people away, but she’s only licensed for so many children. “With a waiting list a mile long, we get people who call in tears, crying that they can’t find anybody,” Kathi Barton said. “They just don’t know what to do.” As of early 2023, there are an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 fewer available childcare spaces than needed in Saline County, according to data from Childcare Aware, a statewide resource and referral agency. Meanwhile, local childcare centers and at-home providers alike are operating at capacity. While at home providers face their own unique challenges, care facilities are having trouble hiring staff due to poverty level wages, among other issues.
Source: Salina Journal
Saline County’s new jail is five months away from being complete
Progress continues at a steady pace at the new Saline County Jail, and with five months to go before it’s expected to be complete, the county continues its recruiting efforts to staff it. County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes shared a project update this week, with an appeal to the public for ongoing recruiting efforts. Much of recent discussions among county officials about the new jail facility has been about the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to fully staff certain parts of the building. The department has been shorthanded at its current facility on 10th Street, and plans for the new facility included additional programming for inmates.
Source: Salina Journal
Schwan’s celebrates completion of Salina pizza plant expansion
The largest frozen pizza plant in the world is now officially open after the Schwan’s Company celebrated the completion of a major expansion to its Salina facility Friday. Schwan’s Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios said he often lives a fast-paced life, but when he woke up Friday morning he knew, because of the years-long process that brought the company to this moment, that it was a special day to take things slow. “(I wanted) to enjoy every little minute of this accomplishment,” Smyrnios said. In the works since at least 2019, Smyrnios said this accomplishment was a proud moment for everyone who instrumental in making the 400,000-square-foot expansion a reality.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for May 19, 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.
Towanda Installs Historical Timeline
A group of volunteers in Towanda are telling the story of the town by installing a historical timeline inside the town’s Historical Society. While the historical society usually hosts goat yoga, spring tea and other fun events, they’ve been working hard on a big addition to the building. The timeline will outline Towanda’s history from the beginning. Before Towanda was incorporated, it was the last stop before New Mexico, making it quite popular for travelers.
Source: Andover American
Sears store in Johnson County is closing, the last in Kansas City — and the region
The Sears store in Johnson County, the last in the Kansas City area, will soon close. The location, at 6327 W. 119th St., is now covered with signs announcing its final sale. Sears Home & Life opened in 2019 as part of the company’s efforts to focus on appliances and home goods at a fraction of the size of its traditional store models. The Overland Park location is also the only remaining Sears store in the state of Kansas. None are left in Missouri. Sears, at one time a popular department store with hundreds of locations across the country, filed for bankruptcy in October 2018 amid dropping sales and mass closings.
Source: Joco 913 News
Lithium ion batteries catch City of Wichita electric bus on fire
Wichita Fire Battalion Chief Lane Pearman says, “these types of fires involving electric type vehicles they are fairly difficult, because of that chain reaction that causes those batteries to continuously heat up to the point to where they actually ignite and the there’s only two ways that fire’s going to go out. It either consumes everything it’s going to consume, or we provide enough water to reduce the temperature of those batteries below that critical temperature threshold.”
Source: KAKE – News
Rural Kansans wait to see how long prescriptions by telehealth last after the pandemic
At the Citizens Health hospital in Colby, Kansas, 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,” said Jenny Niblock, a nurse practitioner at the medical center. “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. When the federal government declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national public health emergency, it let clinicians prescribe drugs remotely to reduce in-person appointments and avoid further spreading the virus.
Source: KAKE – News
How the Flint Hills Trail became the state’s longest ride
Whether it’s cycling the Scottish Highlands or the legendary wine country of France, Roz Newmark and John Roberson have pedaled famed trails throughout the world, including those in America. “Cycle touring is what we do,” says Newmark, of Salt Lake City. “We’ll travel about anywhere to cycle the best trails.” In October, just off Walnut Street in Council Grove, Newmark and Roberson began a bicycling adventure they think is good enough to bring cyclists from afar.
Source: KLC Journal
Once-in-a-lifetime adventure takes Nebraska man on grand tour of all Kansas towns
Few can claim to have visited every corner of the Sunflower State but this Nebraska man is making it his personal mission. Meet Seth Varner. At 23-years-old, he’s probably visited more of Kansas and learned more of its history than people who have lived in the state their entire lives. He’s challenging himself to visit every single incorporated town in Kansas, both large and small, and bring them into the public view through his social media and publishing company: Wandermore.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Municipal Bond Trends for May 17, 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.
Wichita’s fireworks laws just got an overhaul. Here’s what will be legal, illegal this year
The City Council approved changes to Wichita’s fireworks laws by a 6-0 vote. Council member Jeff Blubaugh was absent from the meeting. The law will take effect in stages. This year, it’s legal to shoot off aerial fireworks from July 1-4 and increased fines for violations are being implemented. For 2023, it’s still illegal to sell aerial fireworks within city limits.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle