Kansas Municipal News
Governor signs bill establishing new State Park in Allen County
Governor Laura Kelly signs House Bill 2039 today, establishing a new state park in Allen County: Lehigh Portland Trails. According to Thrive Allen County, Iola Industries gifted the land valued at around $2 million for the park. It includes nearly 360 acres, a lake, a cave and more than 14 miles of existing trails. Plans for the park include a visitor’s center, RV hookups, floating cabins and primitive campsites. Two full-time positions will be added, and the entire cost could potentially be covered through a SPARK grant.
Source: KOAM News
City and county pushing for a juvenile detox center
Over the next 18 years, the state of Kansas will receive $190 million as part of a nationwide opioid settlement. The City of Wichita is currently using some of the funds it received to support the Safe Streets Coalition. However, some local leaders say they hope to use even more of that money to fund a juvenile medical detox center. Wichita Vice Mayor Mike Hoheisel says the city council is pushing for an RFP (Request For Proposal) with Sedgwick County on the best way to spend their combined opioid settlement money. “We’re looking to consolidate as many of the interested parties as possible and come up with the best bang for our buck because our options are limited,” Hoheisel said.
Source: KSN-TV
Park City sales tax for misc. projects
Park City residents could vote on a citywide 1 percent retail sales tax as early as Aug. 1. The tax could help fund a range of community projects without a property tax increase. The city council on April 11 voted 5-2 in favor of a 1 percent sales tax referendum. The city has a June 1 deadline to submit the paperwork to get on the Aug. 1 ballot. If an election were held on that date, the sales tax would take effect in January 2024. “The sales tax could go for anything that we already pay with mill levy support dollars,” said City Administrator Sean Fox. “… There’s roads, the connectivity plan, the parks master plan, the downtown plan, sidewalks — whatever council would normally utilize with the mill levy.”
Source: Ark Valley News
45 years later, employee wants to keep on driving
In a job that can be stressful and challenging, Valley Center bus driver Gail Johnson made it look easy for 45 years. That’s because she’s enjoyed nearly every minute of it. “I have enjoyed driving,” Johnson said. “I’ve always enjoyed driving… I’ve been doing it a long time, just getting out and going and keeping busy. For the most part, I’ve had a good bunch of kids and I’ve really enjoyed it.” This school year marks her 45th with the Valley Center school district. She started in 1978.
Source: Ark Valley News
Lindsborg museum to celebrate 125th anniversary of Old Mill
With 2023 marking 125 years since the construction of the Smoky Valley Roller Mills in 1898, this year’s annual Millfest on May 6 is looking to be the best it’s ever been. Held the first Saturday every May, Millfest is the one time every year that the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum turns on the antique machinery across the four floors of the mill and opens it up for guided tours. Lenora Lynam, the museum Executive Director, said it’s a rare sight, especially since the Old Mill is the only working mill using 19th century roller mill technology in the Midwest.
Source: Great Bend Post
NIOSH launches National Firefighter Registry for Cancer to understand and reduce cancer in the fire service
hose who work in the fire service face hazards every day while on the job, but one hazard they might not think about is cancer. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), announced the launch of the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer online enrollment system for firefighters across the nation. … While participation is voluntary, all U.S. firefighters, with or without cancer, are encouraged to join the NFR for Cancer; these include: active and retired firefighters; career, paid-on-call, and volunteer firefighters; structural firefighters; wildland firefighters; instructors; fire investigators; and other members of the fire service.
Source: Liberal First
Wichita lands $191 million EPA loan to reduce sewage stench, improve Arkansas River water
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the city of Wichita a $191 million loan to improve the quality of treated sewage the city discharges into the Arkansas River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The federal WIFIA loan covers up to 49% of the cost of the project, putting the estimated total cost at or above $391 million. The low-interest loan is expected to save the city $89 million compared to what it would cost without federal assistance.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Checking in on JoCo’s biggest redevelopment projects: Part 1
Nothing stays the same forever. Nowhere is that more true right now than in Johnson County, where gleaming strip malls, four-lane roads and convenient parking as far as the eye can see were once considered heaven on earth for young families. That was more than 50 years ago. Building on vast open fields was the easy part, it turns out. Now that a lot of that available space has been built out, there’s a new question local city leaders are asking themselves: how can they prevent decay in underused, aging commercial centers that may be at a low point in their life cycles?
Source: Prairie Village Post
Claflin pool picked as next BAM mural
To add a new splash of color and summer vibes to the City of Claflin’s swimming pool, the mural-promoting group Barton Arts Movement has selected the facility’s entrance as its next project. BAM is still seeking the last of the funds needed to make it a reality. “We’re excited about this next project in Claflin this summer,” said Andrea Bauer, who is spearheading effort for BAM. “We’re planning for early summer installation.” But, she said, “the timeline is still a little fluid at this point.” Great Bend artist Anna Popp will handle the creative endeavors, but she is finishing up the school year at the University of Kansas where she is an art major.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Chase County residents recall Wednesday’s storm, assess damage
Chase County residents are assessing the damage left by a storm that rolled through multiple towns Wednesday night. According to a preliminary damage survey, several tornadoes touched down in Chase County. The specific tracks, width, and number of tornadoes are still being assessed at this time, but findings show that at least three locations received EF-2 (111-135 mph winds) damage: One mile east of Elmdale, three miles southwest of Strong City, and 3.5 miles south of Dunlap.
Source: KSN-TV
Chase County Commission approves disaster declaration for Wednesday’s storm
The Chase County Commission has approved a disaster declaration for the storm that hit Cottonwood Falls and Strong City Wednesday night. “Chase County authorities are working alongside the City of Strong City and the City of Cottonwood Falls as well as being in contact with State and Federal authorities as we assess the total extent of damage from the storms on Wednesday April 19, 2023,” Chase County Sheriff Jacob Welsh said.
Source: KSN-TV
Jail proposal election set for Tuesday in Marshall County
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for a special election to determine if Marshall County voters support a funding proposal for a new jail. Voters are asked to decide whether the county should enter a lease-purchase agreement not to exceed $6.5 million in principal to finance a portion of the proposed new jail. Advance voting in person, which is under way now at the Marshall County Courthouse, 1201 Broadway, will close at noon Tuesday.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Municipal Bond Trends for April 20, 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.
Tornado Alley is moving east, new study says. But here’s why Kansans might not notice
A recent study from Northern Illinois University projects that supercells, which are the leading cause of tornadoes, could become less common in the Great Plains and more frequent in eastern regions of the U.S. But Kansans won’t notice much of a difference, according to author and atmospheric scientist Walker Ashley, Ph.D. “I don’t think that the declines are going to be noticeable to the average human walking down the street in Wichita,” he said. “These are things that carry out over decades.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Marion council leery of container homes
Two Marion City Council members said Monday that they wouldn’t want to see a shipping container home go up next to their own houses. That was in response to a plan by Elite Container Homes to build a home out of two shipping containers at 201 N. Freeborn St. Felix Ramirez, who owns three shipping container homes in Hillsboro that he rents on Airbnb, is one half of Elite Container. His partner, Dustin Burke, joined him at the council meeting. … A zoning change would be necessary because current regulations don’t allow people to live in shipping containers in Marion, according to Mayor David Mayfield.
[Marion County RECORD
Marion hires new city administrator
Marion has hired a new city administrator — Brogan Jones, a Lyons building and code inspector … City council members voted unanimously Monday to approve a contract that Jones signed ahead of the meeting. His signature was on a copy of the contract included in agenda packets. Jones, who grew up in Sterling, will start May 1. “I’m just excited to get going,” he said after the council meeting. He expects his first week to be filled with meetings — staff, community leaders, business owners, and others. “It’ll be a busy week,” he said. Council member Zach Collett said he and his colleagues were impressed by Jones’s attitude.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Top Fed Official Signals Support for May Interest-Rate Increase
A top Federal Reserve official said the central bank had more work ahead to bring down inflation, suggesting another interest-rate increase would be warranted at the Fed’s meeting in two weeks. “Inflation is still too high, and we will use our monetary policy tools to restore price stability,” said New York Fed President John Williams in a speech Wednesday night to a group of financial-industry professionals in Manhattan. Investors see a greater than 80% chance that the Fed will raise rates by a quarter point at its May 2-3 meeting, according to CME Group. Mr. Williams, a close ally of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, offered little to push back against those expectations just days before central-bank officials begin their traditional premeeting quiet period when Fed officials don’t communicate publicly before their decision. Fed policy makers raised rates by a quarter-point at each of their two meetings this year, most recently in March, to a range between 4.75% and 5%. The Fed has been trying to slow investment, spending and hiring to combat inflation.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business
Wichita City Council looking at strengthening city code on rental property conditions to fight bad apartment conditions
For almost a week now you’ve seen the conditions inside both vacant and occupied apartments at Emery Gardens in South Wichita. However, Councilman Brandon Johnson says this was just the latest in a string of bad conditions at rental properties across Wichita. “I’ve seen it in multiple apartment complexes, that’s just not acceptable. We need to be able to do more about it.” Johnson says he and other council members like Mike Hoheisel, who toured Emery with him last week, have been working with the MABCD and other city staff on changes to city code to better help inspectors deal with bad apartments. “What are the gaps that we have on enforcement, and then what other additional powers do we need to be able to make sure people have decent living spaces.”
Source: KAKE – News
What counties have the most historic sites in Kansas?
Kansas has a rich history stretching back more than a hundred years, with more than a thousand historic sites standing in testament to those that came before. The Sunflower State is home to numerous historic sites recognized by the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS) and the National Register of Historic Places. These are scattered among Kansas’ 105 counties, but they are concentrated in some areas more than in others.
Source: KSN-TV
Wabaunsee deputies perform intentional collision
Wabaunsee County deputies were helping a driver on I-70 south of Paxico when they saw a sedan racing toward oncoming traffic. Around 4 a.m., deputies heard tires screeching and saw semi-trucks swerving to avoid crashing into the sedan, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies crashed into the car to stop the driver, according to WCSO. The vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the highway. The suspect ignored deputies’ commands, according to WCSO. Deputies apprehended the driver and moved the vehicle into the median.
Source: KSNT 27 News