Municipal News & Jobs

History will be in the cards for Newton next fall. With funds from a Kansas State Historical Preservation grant, the City of Newton will print a run of 2,500 playing card decks containing artwork of historic local people, places, and events. “It’s history in a different way,” said Jen Lehman, who oversees Newton’s Main Street and Convention and Visitors programs. “It makes it easily accessible to see places they don’t know about. It’s also multi-generational. The City will distribute the cards to residents at events, provide them to prospective businesses, and provide decks to the Harvey County Historical Society and Carriage Factory Warehouse for giveaway.
Read more: Harvey County Now

It’s not back to square one with Hesston’s grocery store project, but it’s definitely back to planning. Andrea Braker, who sits on the Beneficient Heartland Foundation, gave an update on the project, as well as the makeup of the board. “With the resignation of Brad Heppner from the board, we are taking the opportunity to simplify and to re-imagine anything,” she said. ” We’re looking at alternative shapes, locations, amenities, façades. Currently, we do not have a specific plan. Plans are changing so we can get a grocery store done as sustainably as possible.”
Hesston has lacked a grocery store since 2018, following the closure of Weaver’s Grocers. Since then, there’s been a community effort to bring a grocery store to the city of 3,747.
Read more: Harvey County Now

After multiple years of work to pull it together, Overland Park has officially launched its Portfolio Homes pilot program. This pilot offers a collection of pre-selected, nearly pre-approved designs to encourage the development of diverse housing choices and reduce costly pre-development costs. The idea, city staff have said, is to increase the housing supply in the middle of the housing spectrum, which is sometimes referred to as “missing middle” housing — that is, more mid-sized and moderately priced housing options that are largely absent from Johnson County’s increasingly expensive market.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Kansas officials, Evergy and a Washington-based nuclear energy company want to bring another, though smaller and safer, nuclear reactor to the state, and De Soto is in the running as a possible location for it. De Soto city officials on Thursday night expressed interest in the potential facility, though they stopped short of fully endorsing it. For now, that only means the city is looking to learn more, not that it’s approved a nuclear energy project within city limits. The city council voted 4-0 to send a letter of interest to the Kansas Department of Commerce. Councilmember Danny Lane was absent.
Read more: Johnson County Post

When a majority on the Johnson County Commission decided last spring to ask voters to continue the quarter-cent public safety sales tax beyond 2027, their hope was that revenue would reduce the reliance on property taxes for increasing ambulance, law enforcement and mental health costs in tough economic times. Now the question is: Did the commission overstep its authority? Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach thinks so. Commissioners disagree. On Wednesday, they faced off in a Topeka courtroom and handed the decision over to Kansas Third District Judge Jay Befort.
Read more: Johnson County Post

The Marysville school district’s new Farm to Plate program is in its first-year exploration phase, aiming to create a sustainable, educational approach to feeding students and staff. At the Nov. 12 board meeting, Superintendent Darren Schroeder and Food Services Director Danielle Bargman outlined goals, early progress, and kitchen needs. Board members sampled potential menu items, including a new “Bulldog burger,” as Bargman continues taste tests to build meals that students and staff enjoy while meeting nutrition regulations. The district is forming partnerships with 12 local producers and exploring hydroponic and tower-garden systems with Better Produce in Summerfield to supply vegetables. Staff are also relearning cooking techniques, including preparing items free of salt.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Wichita’s three finalists for city manager offered different visions for city government Tuesday night at a press conference followed by a public forum. The City Council will ultimately decide who gets the job. But the public and reporters got to ask the questions on Tuesday night. Donte Martin, a 53-year-old assistant city manager for Wichita, had the home field advantage. He has worked for the city for 25 years in multiple leadership roles, including as the court administrator. He’s familiar with most of the city’s departments and department heads. Mark Freitag, 59, began working in local government after a lengthy military career. From 2022 to 2024, Freitag was the city manager for Westminster, Colorado, a Denver suburb about halfway between the Colorado state capital and Boulder. Prior to that, he was the city manager for 11 years in Janesville, Wisconsin. Dennis Marstall is a 56-year-old county administrator for Lancaster County, S.C., a suburb of Charlotte, N.C. He spent decades working in local government and nonprofit roles in the Charlotte area before returning to his hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, to be assistant city manager there.
Read more: KLC Journal

In March 2010, he took the position of City Clerk with the City of Wellington. In August 2016, he was appointed City Manager, serving until his retirement in August 2022. Shane’s public service included 17 years in law enforcement and 25 years in city/county administration. All in all, a public service career of over 44 years.
Read more: Sumner NewsCow

The Crawford County Commission has voted against the approval of an annexation of land that includes multiple plots designated for a multi-million dollar solar energy project.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

Since 2023, outlines and uncolored shapes have graced the outer wall of Salina’s Cozy Inn restaurant. In 2024, the owner of the historic hamburger joint filed a lawsuit against the city over his unfinished mural. A judge ruled Wednesday that the City of Salina violated the First Amendment rights of The Cozy Inn. City officials had determined that the display would advertise for the restaurant and therefore was not a mural, but a sign. That meant it would be subject to the city’s sign code, which requires businesses to obtain a permit for a sign and imposes size limits. And the city said the display on the wall of The Cozy Inn would likely be too big under those rules.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Here in Kansas, property taxes continue to be a major issue. However, in some nearby states, data shows the problem isn’t nearly as bad. The Kansas Committee on Taxation met at the statehouse once again to discuss property taxes in the Sunflower State on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Kansas lawmakers spent time evaluating policies in other states such as Oklahoma. Currently, rural homeowners in Kansas are paying three times more in annual property taxes than homeowners in Oklahoma.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Marion residents may have to change where they park their recreational vehicles, and trash trucks may have to change how they get to the county transfer station. Those were among items discussed but not acted upon at Monday’s Marion City Council meeting. Having just spent more than $11,000 to repair damage to Vine St. on Marion’s far west side, council members are hoping to divert heavy trash trucks away from the street, which leads to the north side of the county transfer station.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

The new industry lessens the sting of Gates’ downsizing. And it’s to the city’s credit it has its sites on potential enterprises. The news of a data center coming to Iola is garnering backlash, the most specious being that its electric demands will raise utility rates for the rest of us. That’s not the case. Vine Energy LLC neither asked for nor received any incentives in terms of property tax breaks or discounted utility rates to locate here. And for the approximate $80,000 in utility extensions to bring water and electricity to the facility, the Overland Park company is footing the bill. The fact that it’s a small-scale data center means the city can easily accommodate its energy needs at no extra expense to consumers.
Read more: The Iola Register

Although tensions flared at times, a unified sense of collaboration and urgency permeated throughout the special meeting between Hutchinson and South Hutchinson, and Reno County Commissioners on Thursday night at the Sand Hills Center. The meeting came after South Hutchinson took a first step towards annexing the future site of Evergy’s natural gas power plant during a special city council meeting on Nov. 17. The site falls within the limits of South Hutchinson’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Hutchinson City Manager Enrico Villegas kicked off the meeting by emphasizing the need for Hutchinson and South Hutchinson to collaborate on creating more economic development in the area.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

When you flush the toilet in Topeka, your sewage will now feed into a state-run public health monitor of the level of flu, RSV and COVID-19 in the community. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Nov. 19 announced the launch of a new online dashboard for its wastewater monitoring of respiratory viruses.
Read more: CJonline

People who are caught living near bus shelters, or in privately-owned woods, could be required to complete up to 40 hours of community service, pay hundreds in fines or spend up to a month in jail.
Read more: KC Star

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Spring Hill will have a new mayor after an unusual write-in election. Voters in the growing Johnson and Miami Counties exurb went to the polls Nov. 4, but the only candidate for mayor on the ballot announced that she would not take the position if elected.
Read more: KC Star

The $320 million project, proposed by Lamar Hunt Jr.’s company, Loretto Properties LLC, will feature the theme park, a hockey arena and a six-story hotel on the southwest corner of West 119th Street and Renner Boulevard, also known as the Olathe Gateway.
Read more: KC Star

New public opinion polling showcases a sharp divide among Johnson County residents over whether the Royals should continue pursuing a ballpark at Aspiria.
Read more: KC Star

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Downtown Arma was busy last weekend with the return of the third annual Arma Hometown Christmas celebration, featuring more than 20 businesses and organizations for a Christmas tree giveaway and open house. The Arma City Council expressed its pleasure with the event turnout during Monday’s council meeting.
Read more: -Morning Sun

The Crawford County Commissioners rendered their decision, Tuesday, concerning the island annexation of land by the City of Mulberry, six miles from the city, with the sole purpose of developing the land for economic gain through the construction of a solar farm. They did not approve the annexation.
Read more: – Morning Sun

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced more than $7.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has been awarded for 19 projects across Kansas. These investments are aimed at strengthening infrastructure, housing, and economic opportunities in rural and low- to moderate-income communities.
Read more: Press Releases Archives – Kansas Department of Commerce

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

Josh Guymon is now USD 457’s permanent Superintendent, no longer just the Interim Superintendent. Guymon served as the Interim Superintendent since June. The Board of Education announced Guymon as the superintendent on Oct. 31 and approved his contract at the Board’s regular meeting on Monday. Guymon worked in the district for 28 years, beginning in the fall of 1997.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

As part of its continued investment in Kansas, Amazon today announced the opening of new delivery stations in Salina and Garden City, in addition to plans to open an additional last-mile facility in Bel Aire by the end of this year, as part of its delivery network expansion throughout rural America.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

The USD489 has been awarded grants totaling $154,000 for the District’s new tennis courts. Grant applications written and submitted by USD489 Superintendent Ron Wilson have been approved by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for $140,000 from the Tennis Venue Services and $14,000 from the Missouri Valley Tennis Association.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Vickie Taulbert and her husband, Mike, who are both in their 70s, have lived in their current northern Overland Park neighborhood for upwards of 40 years. Originally attracted to the area — around 67th Street and Santa Fe, across the street from the green at Milburn Country Club — by its central location, they stayed for the community connection they forged with several neighbors who have also spent decades in the neighborhood. “I mean really this street, it’s like a family,” Taulbert said, recounting memories of block parties and other gatherings. “On our street, we take care of everybody.” But, recent construction on a new pickleball court in the side yard of the property that backs up to theirs — and concern about what that means for their quality of life — has Taulbert and her husband pondering a previously unthinkable move to a different neighborhood, potentially a different city altogether.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Delivery drones for Amazon will soon be taking to the skies in parts of Shawnee as part of a program launching across the U.S. On Monday, Shawnee city staff alerted the Shawnee City Council to Amazon’s plans to deploy Prime Air drones in the area in next few weeks. The MK30 drones will deliver packages weighing less than 5 pounds out of two Amazon locations nearby. They will cover about two-thirds of Shawnee, according to city documents. The discussion was for informational purposes only, to raise awareness about the program and answer any questions the city council had.
Read more: Johnson County Post

An empty lot sits on the southeast corner of Central and Oliver. There, developers have placed a sign describing their proposed development and site plan for the property. The architectural rendering suggests that there would be a restaurant, two drive-thrus, 13,500 square feet of commercial space and almost 7,000 square feet in retail space. Half of the land is devoted to parking. Nothing about the proposed site plan looks out of place for Wichita.  Except very little about this plan resembles what developers told members of the District 1 Advisory Board, commonly known as a DAB. All six Wichita city council districts have DABs to provide advice and recommendations to their respective council members. They generally meet monthly, in the evenings, to hear reports from city departments and staff. They also advise on zoning cases. At these meetings, the city’s planning staff present a case and offer their recommendations. The public can weigh in on the proposed change. Board members, who represent the concerns and interests of the community, can ask developers clarifying questions. Then, relying on the information presented, they vote on whether or not to give their support to the plan. 
Read more: KLC Journal

Several individuals gathered in northern Lyon County Saturday morning to unveil new signage detailing the significant history that runs through that portion of our area. Residents and organizers gathered in Old Allen Saturday to unveil a new Santa Fe Trail sign, which includes detailed information about the significance of the community and the historic trail that runs through it, a fact that organizer Janice Huston says many people are not aware of. The sign is also meant to help educate residents on Charles H. Withington, the first settler in the area, who founded the community of Allen.
Read more: KVOE

Plans are in the works to construct a 3-megawatt data center in Iola, which will mean greater utility sales for the city. Construction of a new data center in Iola will mean more electricity sales for the city. In August, the city sold 10 acres of property north of Russell Stover Chocolates to Vine Energy LLC of Overland Park.  The company plans to put a data center on the property, with an option to purchase another 10 acres from the city within the next year. Data centers are specialized facilities that manage, process and share large amounts of electronic information. 
Read more: The Iola Register

After some cities in Johnson County experienced trash pickup unreliability in the past couple of years, Overland Park is studying the status of waste hauling across its city. Currently, Overland Park lets organized neighborhoods and individual residents handle their solid waste management — which includes recycling, trash, yard waste, etc. — by contracting out to private haulers. That means many different types of haulers remove trash and recycling in the city. With the study, the city is looking to get a better understanding of “the big picture” when it comes to the status of those services and ways to potentially improve the approach for residents when it comes to things like cost and sustainability, said Lara Isch, the city’s sustainability manager.
Read more: Johnson County Post

A Unified Government committee delayed action Monday on proposed changes to Wyandotte County’s employee residency rules. The Administration and Human Services Standing Committee voted to table the item until Jan. 26, 2026, marking the second postponement in three weeks. Commissioner Mike Kane made the motion, saying incoming UG leadership should have an opportunity to weigh in before any decision is made.
Read more: KMBC

Those traveling for the World Cup now have more transit options in Johnson County, Kansas to help make travel a bit easier. Beginning in 2026, both Lenexa and Overland Park will have transit services running between the two cities to the Kansas City International Airport (KCI). On Monday, Overland Park City Council members approved nine months of transit service between both cities and the airport to help support the influx of visitors during the 2026 World Cup.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

A Great Bend school resource officer was awarded for his actions during a shooting this summer outside Wichita’s Towne East Square. On Aug. 8, officer Paul Millard was leaving the mall with his wife when gunshots were fired in the parking lot. Millard quickly responded and restrained the suspect until the Wichita Police Department arrived. At Monday night’s Great Bend City Council meeting, Millard was awarded a Bronze Wreath of Valor by the WPD. The honor is the third-highest given by the WPD.
Read more: KSN-TV

Harvey County 911 Emergency Communications has a new tool that will help first responders find people in an emergency. What3Words is a tool that helps dispatchers pinpoint your location to within a few feet. The app works by dividing the world into 3-meter squares, each with three assigned words.
Read more: KSN-TV

At the August 27, 2025 Hays Commission / Russel Council Joint Meeting, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty stated that, despite legal objections raised, the state’s Water Hearing Panel is waiting on the Supreme Court ruling before it holds a statutorily required hearing on the R9’s approved water use change and transfer application. Per the Kansas Water Transfer Act (KWTA), the application to transfer more than 2,000 acre-feet of water over 35 miles is a multi-step process. The R9 process resulted in a 2019 50 page Master Order, including 32 separate orders giving contingent approval of the transfer and contingent approval for Hays/Russell to move forward with the R9 project. The upcoming KS Supreme Court ruling in the case by the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas (Water PACK) will determine if the R9 Water Transfer Master Order is upheld. At 9 a.m., December 15th, the Kanas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the R9 water transfer case.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Sedgwick County has a new four-legged partner helping investigate fires. Latitude, also known as Laddy, is an 18-month-old black lab who recently graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) training center in Virginia. He joins the Sedgwick County Fire District 1 Fire Investigation Unit as an “ATF accelerant detection canine,” trained to sniff out signs of arson.
Read more: KSN-TV

Approximately 30 volunteers gathered on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Pittsburg City Hall where they were divided into teams and sent out into the city to do some community clean up.
Read more: – Morning Sun

According to Adam Harrison, the human resources and finance officer for the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, recruitment and retention of correctional officers (COs) is an “uphill battle.” “Working 12-hour shifts with violent offenders,” Harrison told the county commission, “our application pool is practically non-existent.” Harrison added that 70 percent of the applicants the department does receive are disqualified because they fail the urinalysis, polygraph, or background checks. To increase interest, Harrison proposed an increase in starting pay from $16.67 an hour to $18 an hour, a raise of $1.33 per hour. Officers typically work 2080 regular and overtime hours per year, and the proposed raise would increase payroll by $7,800 each month.
Read more: -Morning Sun

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. 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.