Kansas Municipal News
Local fire department talks controlled burn safety
April is the height of grass season, and local landowners are burning off last year’s field to make room for Kansas’ famous native grasses. However, such controlled burns can quickly get out of hand. In addition to property damage, injury is always a concern when fire is involved. Sometimes even the most experienced farmers and landowners find themselves in undesirable situations when setting controlled burns. Kansas wind combined with low humidity levels can cause fires to get out of control, even if it’s unintentional.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Emporia leaders cut ribbon on new electric vehicle charging station
The City of Emporia’s newest electric vehicle charging station is open for business. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the new station at 1005 Mechanic Street. The new station was made possible through a partnership between the Emporia Natural Resources Advisory Board and Evergy nearly two years ago. Daphne Mertens of the NRAB says the new station is a great resource both for residents and the thousands of visitors that pass through the city each year.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Johnson County residents should ‘fully expect’ another property tax cut
Another rollback in Johnson County’s property tax rate appears likely, now that county officials have had time to absorb the news of a second consecutive year of double-digit property value increases. County commissioners and administrators are only beginning their consideration for a 2024 budget that is presenting challenges on multiple fronts: inflation, a workforce shortage and persistent fears of a possible recession.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee’s Don Cawby heads to Leawood
Don Cawby, Shawnee’s city finance director, has resigned, taking a job in another Johnson County city. He is the latest in a string of recent high-profile departures from Shawnee City Hall, including former city manager Nolan Sunderman, who is now the chief strategy officer in Olathe. Shawnee recently hired Doug Gerber to be the new permanent city manager. More recently, city communications manager Julie Breithaupt also left and is now working in the private sector. Cawby’s final day with the city of Shawnee will be Tuesday, May 2. He said he will start his new job in the city of Leawood on May 8.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Manhattan discusses programs to lower cost of housing
The Manhattan City Commission heard Tuesday about programs that could help address needs identified in the recent housing market analysis. Stephanie Peterson, director of community development, outlined two state programs, the Moderate Income Housing and Rural Housing Incentive District, for the commission. Peterson said the two programs can work together to reduce the cost of housing in new developments. The Moderate Income Housing grants and loans come from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporations. The funds could apply to single- or multi-family structures between 60 and 150% of the area median income.
Source: themercury.com
Cowley County to continue discussion on solar project
Cowley County Commissioners gave their approval Tuesday to continued discussion between the county administrator, county counselor and representatives from Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources regarding a potential solar panel installation southwest of Winfield. The project would cover between 1,000 and 1,500 acres, acquired through private leases with landowners, according to John Felitto with NexEra, who spoke to commissioners at the meeting. Felitto said the company is in the process of finalizing leases with the landowners.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Dozens of police K-9s are in Butler County this week. Here’s what they’re doing
Dozen’s of K-9 officers from roughly 37 law enforcement agencies across Kansas roamed an open field in rural Butler County. Barks and sniffs could be heard across the field as dogs and their handlers performed training exercises during the 25th annual Kansas Police Dogs Association weeklong re-certification conference. Training exercises include search and rescue, patrolling, detection and trailing tactics for the annual re-certification. Most Kansas law enforcement agencies make it mandatory for their K-9 units to get re-certified, said Andover Police Department Lt. Mickey Farris, treasurer for the association.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Facade program making a difference
Mel Waite of Ellinwood was grateful for the Barton County Commission’s Facade Improvement Grant Program, telling the commissioners Wednesday morning that it has made an impact and sparked countywide effort to make communities look better. “I applaud the commission for taking the initiative to take on this project,” said Waite, who came before the governing body Wednesday with a project of his own. Other improvement in Ellinwood inspired him (or shamed him) to seek the funds for his business.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Municipal Bond Trends for April 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Catalytic converters added to regulation law amid property crimes
Junk dealers will now have to collect information from catalytic converter sellers, if they weren’t already, under an amended Kansas scrap metal law signed Monday by Gov. Laura Kelly. Kelly signed House Bill 2326 into law after it previously passed the House 119-0 and the Senate 39-1. The bill started as an extension of the scrap metal law, which was set to expire July 1, but lawmakers chose to add language clarifying that catalytic converters are covered by the law. The renewed law is now set to expire in 2028.
Source: CJonline
Hutchinson neighborhood has new name
Hutchinson’s oldest neighborhood has a new name − Founders Neighborhood. Hutchinson City Council voted to approve the name the residents came up with during this week’s city council meeting. They also approved allowing a tract of land to be donated to the city so fire trucks can have an easier time maneuvering, helping support a day initiative of New Beginnings and giving designated ARPA funds to businesses who applied for them.
Source: Hutch News
Electric Distribution Systems Recognized By APPA For Reliability Efforts
The American Public Power Association has honored 219 public power utilities with a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability for reliable performance in 2022. In Kansas, Garden City Electric Utilities, Gardner Energy, McPherson Board of Public Utilities and Russell Electric Distribution System were honored. Utilities that are subscribers to APPA’s eReliability Tracker service are eligible to earn these certificates. To earn a certificate, a utility’s 2022 System Average Interruption Duration Index must fall in the top quartile of all utilities’ SAIDI numbers averaged from the past five years based on Energy Information Administration Form 861 survey data. The certificates recognize utilities that have provided exceptionally reliable service and power to their communities.
Source: KRSL
‘City trees’ enemy of native ones: Evergy, Kansas Forest Service trying to eradicate Bradford pears
For decades, the stately looking, white-flowered Bradford pear tree had a good reputation. One Topeka-area service organization celebrated Arbor Day in 2011 by planting a Bradford pear. But things have since changed so much that Evergy, the Kansas Forest Service and Shawnee County Parks and Recreation now all support eradicating this area’s Callery pear trees, of which Bradford pears are a part. Organizers say the invasive, fast-spreading Callery pears wreak havoc upon the environment by killing native trees, plants and grasses that provide food for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Source: CJonline
Fed’s Bostic sees one more quarter-point rate hike, then a hold ‘for quite some time’
Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said Tuesday he envisions the central bank approving one more interest rate increase before pausing to see how policy tightening is impacting the economy. “One more move should be enough for us to then take a step back and see how our policy is flowing through the economy, to understand the extent to which inflation is returning back to our target,” Bostic said during a live interview on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” That 0.25 percentage point increase likely will come at the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee’s May 2-3 meeting. If a majority of the committee has the same view as Bostic, who is a nonvoting member this year, that would take the federal funds rate to a target range of 5%-5.25%, the highest since August 2007.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Gov. Kelly visits Garden City High School
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly visited Garden City High School on April 12 to have a conversation with employees about Garden City USD 457’s Teacher Apprenticeship program. The program was started in 2019 and works as a joint partnership between Kansas WorkforceONE (a local workforce development board in Western Kansas) and the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship under the Department of Commerce. The program’s goal is to recruit and train local community members to be teachers in an area where there are dozens of open teacher positions.
Source: Greater Garden City
Council approves $6.15 million pickleball complex in south Wichita
The Wichita City Council has allocated $6.15 million for a state-of-the-art pickleball complex at South Lakes Park, paving the way for completion by February 2024. The 24-court facility, which will cost more than twice what was initially approved in 2021, was approved 7-0 after Bryan Frye’s motion to delay a vote until June failed. “USA Pickleball is hugely excited about this,” Parks Director Troy Houtman said. “They really want to use this site as a showcase.” … The higher price point is due in part to increased materials and construction costs.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
New motel owners: Iola ‘feels like home’
As newcomers to Iola, Manish Sahdev and wife Karisma have already felt welcomed into the community. Now, the new owners of Iola’s Regency Inn are intent on extending that same hospitality to their customers. The Sahdevs acquired Regency Inn about two months ago, and have immediately made efforts to ensure their motel is the preferred destination for anyone staying in Iola on a short- or long-term basis. … On top of their overnight business, they’ve also instituted long-term room rentals, starting at $650 a month. “It’s about helping people in the community,” Manish said, including senior citizens, workers needing housing for extended periods, or simply folks simply down on their luck and unable to find a rental property.
Source: The Iola Register
Hesston schools garnering more interest after Walton decision
Hesston has been getting a spillover effect since USD 373 announced its plans to close Walton Rural Life Center. Hesston Elementary School Principal Alisa Krehbiel told the USD 460 Board of Education last week that a lot of parents had been asking about enrolling their students in Hesston since the Newton district made its decision March 27. She said she had been encouraging parents to bring their children to the kindergarten roundup, which was held this past Monday. She said she would have to look at balancing classroom sizes to see what the district could do.
Source: Harvey County Now
Chanute, Evergy to build solar plant
Chanute is adding a 6-megawatt solar plant to its energy portfolio. Chanute City Commissioners agreed at their April 10 meeting to proceed with the plan. Evergy energy company will build and operate the solar farm on 47 acres of land, the Chanute Tribune reported. The city will purchase the electricity from the solar farm at a fixed rate, and has an option to buy the facility after six years. Commissioners noted, however, Chanute likely will not be in a position to buy the solar farm then, the Tribune reported, because of anticipated water treatment and sewer projects.
Source: The Iola Register
Mulvane to add use of county alert system
The Mulvane City Council recently approved the use of a new mass notification platform through Sedgwick County that will now be available to all residents, as of the council’s April 3 meeting. In August 2022, the county alerted the city of Mulvane to its system – available to all cities in the county at no cost, with residents able to opt-in. The system is primarily email based, but also offers the ability to send text messages for urgent matters.
Source: Derby Informer | Area