Kansas Municipal News
Dollar General coming to Victoria
The community of Victoria has received good news: a Dollar General Store is soon to be a reality. After months of meetings where citizens discussed the needs and wishes for the town, the arrangement is done. Construction is expected to be well underway by the end of the year. The store will be located on East Highway 40 adjacent to Pfeifer’s Inc. Not only will this afford residents access to affordable household essentials saving them a trip elsewhere, it will also create employment opportunities for several individuals. The City of Victoria will also be the beneficiary of the revenue from sales tax.
Source: Hays Daily News
North Newton council discusses getting city flag
The North Newton City Council directed Deputy City Clerk/City Treasurer Cindy Hiebert to use her creative talents to come up with some city flag ideas in the next month. During the council’s regular monthly meeting on Monday night, there was some discussion about having a city flag and possibly conducting a contest open to North Newton residents for the design. “What’s the council think about a city flag?” Mayor Ron Braun asked during the meeting. He also asked what if they adopt the logo on the water tower and if there’s something wrong with that or was he missing something. “I think we did a good design on the water tower,” Councilman Dennis Campbell responded.
Source: Harvey County Now
Federal lawsuit challenges Shawnee’s co-living ban
A resident and a Johnson County property management company are suing the city of Shawnee for its controversial “co-living ban,” which was instituted last year. The company, Prairie Village-based HomeRoom, Inc., and Shawnee resident Val French filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in federal district court in Kansas City, Kan. The suit is seeking to overturn the city’s rules on cohabitation in residential areas. The plaintiffs are represented by the nonprofit Pacific Legal Foundation. “The problem is that when you so restrict the kinds of people who can live together in a single family home, you make housing affordability much more difficult,” David Deerson, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation, told the Post. “You sort of intrude into the private lives of people who should be allowed to structure their own homes in the way that they see fit.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Marion County featured in social media tour; plans to visit all 627 cities
A college student documenting his tour of Kansas made a three-day pass through Marion County last week and documented each town for a tourism book to be published at the end of his journey. Seth Varner, a 22-year-old college student from Nebraska, plans to publish “Wandermore in Kansas,” after visiting the state’s 627 incorporated towns. During his visit Thursday to Marion, Varner posted 101 photos of local businesses, churches, and municipal and educational facilities on a social media page.
[FULL STORY at http://starj.com]
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Governor Kelly Announces $80M Private Investment Creating 50 Manufacturing Jobs in Maize
Governor Laura Kelly today announced Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, the nation’s top manufacturer of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, will build an $80 million manufacturing facility in Maize. This investment is expected to create 50 full-time jobs. “Our laser-sharp focus on supporting businesses and investing in infrastructure continues to drive economic growth in every corner of the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Charlotte Pipe brings a strong, family-oriented culture coupled with good-paying jobs and benefits to central Kansas. My administration looks forward to supporting the company’s success.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Marion-Florence school voters approve sports bonds
Voters decided by a nearly 2-1 margin Tuesday to approve Marion-Florence school district borrowing $3.26 million for improvements to sports facilities. The count came in at 406 in favor and 217 against. That represents a 24.63% turnout for the special election, which had only this question on the ballot. Election workers had the 825 ballots tabulated only an hour and 17 minutes after polls in Marion and Florence closed.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
McKee retires after 26-year career with Holton
“I wanted to leave the community in better shape than I found it.” That’s what Kerwin McKee, who retired effective Monday from the City of Holton after 26 years of service — first as codes enforcement officer and finishing as city manager — listed as his ultimate goal for his years in city government. McKee, who has served as Holton’s city manager since August of 2016, believes he has played a role in doing just that, certainly in terms of the city’s economic growth. “When I started, the corridor on U.S. Highway 75 didn’t have the 7-Eleven, it didn’t have the Super 8, it didn’t have the addition to the Red Roof Inn – there’s been a lot of growth, and it’s been good,” he said. “Plus, we do have some housing started on Banner Road, and that’s good.”
Source: Holton Recorder
Property company sues city of Shawnee over ‘co-living’ ban that restricts roommates
A Johnson County homeowner and a property management company are suing the city of Shawnee over its controversial co-living ban, which limits how many unrelated people can live together. The lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday looks to overturn the city ordinance approved last year, arguing it violates residents’ rights in a “discriminatory and arbitrary manner that bears no relation to any legitimate government interest.” “As Americans, who we choose to live with is none of the government’s business,” David Deerson, attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a news release. “There is a serious housing affordability crisis and Shawnee is making it worse. This unconstitutional ordinance would even outlaw the living arrangement of television’s ‘Golden Girls.’”
Source: Joco 913 News
Sedgwick County expands email, phone alert program
Sedgwick County Emergency Management has expanded its new email and phone alert system to cover the entire county. Civic Ready Alert began in January for Wichita and Mt. Hope, but now it’s available to all other cities in the county, with the exception of Derby. Residents of Derby are encouraged to sign up with that city’s own program, called Notify Me, which has its own web page. People can sign up for Civic Ready Alert on the Sedgwick County web page, through the Emergency Management department. Operations Officer Cody Charvat said people are encouraged to fill in all the information, to make the system able to notify them.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Mulvane council supports new casino
At its last meeting in April, the Mulvane City Council city was approached with a resolution of support for Boyd Gaming’s efforts to operate a new Diamond Joe Historic Horse Racing Casino in Park City. The council approved the resolution unanimously. Representatives from Boyd Gaming said that the proposal would uniquely benefit the region and Mulvane through continued partnership (i.e., cross-marketing at the casinos).
Source: Derby Informer | Area
The ‘Wizard of Oz’ still shapes the world’s view of Kansas for better and worse
The Wizard of Oz’s enduring fame has given Kansas something very few other states have: A global brand. But generations after the film’s release, that brand might not be all bluebirds and lemon drops anymore. “The movie didn’t work too hard to sell us with how black-and-white everything is. And the dust,” Dowell said, “But the message of the movie is still, ‘there’s no place like home.’” So is the state’s connection to Oz a gift? Or is it a curse that boxes Kansas into an outdated, inaccurate image? Perhaps nowhere is that contradiction on display more than right here in the far southwestern corner of Kansas.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Why are several Kansas school districts holding special bond elections?
Yes or no? A question determining the future of several Kansas school districts as districts ask voters to pass multi-million dollar bond projects. On Tuesday, four districts, including Pratt, McPherson, Marion-Florence, and Caldwell, had a vote. According to the Kansas State Department of Education, there are 20 happening this school year. Aside from the pandemic year, it isn’t far off from a typical year. So far, nine of 15 bond votes have passed this 22-23 year. “We’re just happy that they voted for this, and we can start moving forward,” said Alan Jamison, Caldwell USD 360 Superintendent.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita ordinance change will help toy store and other secondhand shops
The owner of a toy shop in Wichita has succeeded in getting the City of Wichita to rewrite its requirements for secondhand stores. Derek Sorrells owns Let’s Go Build, 2684 N. Greenwich, a store that buys, sells and trades Lego bricks. As he was starting the business, he learned that the City ordinances for secondhand shops required him to fingerprint people who brought in used Legos. So, he took his concern to City Hall. Troy Anderson, assistant city manager, has been working with City staff to find a solution. He said the fingerprint requirement started to combat the resale of stolen goods and only applied to some secondhand stores.
Source: KSN-TV
Cowtown Days held in Baxter Springs
A tradition that started over 50 years ago continues on this weekend in Baxter Springs. — Cowtown Days, which began in 1969. This year’s fun kicked off Friday evening and this morning started off with the annual parade. Over 150 vendors and food trucks gathered around the library grounds for families to browse. On top of that, there was live music, bounce houses, a car show — and much more.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Topeka biz expansion could bring $51.5 million economic impact
A Topeka company is preparing to expand, thanks to a new incentive agreement. On Wednesday, Topeka and Shawnee County’s Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) board approved an incentive agreement with Global Grain. Global Grain announced plans to open in Shawnee County in 2018 with help from JEDO incentives. The company helps connect farmers in the region with opportunities to market and export their agricultural products. The Greater Topeka Partnership projects the expansion will bring an economic impact of more than $51 million to the area over the next 10 years. The expansion is expected to result in six new positions.
Source: KSNT 27 News
New sales tax in Shawnee County to fund projects at Gage Park and Topeka Zoo
Residents of Gage Park and visitors to the Topeka Zoo can expect changes following the implementation of a new sales tax. The tax, which went into effect last month, is expected to generate about $8 million per year, with 20 cents of every $100 spent in Shawnee County going to Gage Park. A breakdown of the allocation of funds shows that 58% of the tax revenue will go towards the Topeka Zoo, 15% to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, 22% to the county for commissioners to decide on park improvements, and the last 5% to the Gage Park Improvement Authority.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Mural project brightens Eight Street levee wing walls in Osawatomie
The city of Osawatomie recently celebrated another completed mural project in the city. A ribbon-cutting took place April 27 for the newly finished “Bee the Good” mural at the Eighth Street levee wing walls by Art by Lynnsey. The event gave the city the opportunity to congratulate artist Lynnsey Fletcher and pay tribute to the mural, located near the historic Creamery Bridge. In a post on her Art by Lynnsey Facebook page, Fletcher said butterflies and wildflowers are always a perfect choice.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Growth in western Shawnee could push K-7 corridor to its traffic limit
Improvements along Kansas Highway 7 may be necessary down the line to deal with increased traffic on Shawnee’s growing western side, but a new study of that major transportation corridor shows that its capacity is adequate for now. Specific areas to keep an eye on, according to a special presentation to the Shawnee City Council Monday, are around westbound 55th Street, westbound 67th Street, eastbound Shawnee Mission Parkway and stretches of K-7 itself. Those roads will need to be focused on as that part of the city continues to grow and be built out, Kurt Rotering, from Olsson Associates, said.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Galena artist wrapping up mural — paying homage to local legend
A local artist is hitting the streets of Galena, for her second community project in the last month. “I love Galena,” said Sandra Pemberton, local artist. It’s been a busy month for local artist Sandra Pemberton, as she’s wrapping up her second project in the Galena area, within the past month. Her last job was the train-themed mural inside of the “Galena Mining and History Museum”, which city organizers enjoyed so much, it left them wanting more. “We looked at it, and was like ‘that’s amazing’ and let’s look around here and see if there is somewhere else we can put one. And now, doing this one, there are a few other businesses in town that are going to have her freshen up signs or maybe do some more murals,” said Galena City Councilman Robert Laturner.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Municipal Bond Trends for May 10, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.