Kansas Municipal News
Taking a closer look at a bitcoin mining operation in Harvey County
Print Crypto, Inc., has more than 900 computers mining bitcoin at the Butler Rural Electric Cooperatvie substation at 8399 S.E. 84th St., at least for now. Sean Reese said his company, of which he is part owner, had taken every one of its units out of the storage trailers and replaced it with those belonging to customers who rent space from Print Crypto. He said his customers paid $2,000-$6,000 per month to rent the space, and Print Crypto covers the cost of electricity, storage and maintenance. He said his company kept adding customers, but it hadn’t added any machines to the site since Print Crypto and Butler Rural Electric became embroiled in a zoning dispute with the county. Print Crypto’s mining operation has been the source of noise complaints by neighbors due to the constant sound of whirring fans that cool the computer equipment. The Board of Harvey County Commissioners denied Butler Rural Electric’s rezoning request on March 28. Commissioners will decide what the county’s next step is at its meeting this Tuesday.
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for April 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.
Wichita to host U.S. Figure Skating event for the third time
Wichita will again be a host city for the Synchronized Sectional Championships for U.S. Figure Skating. The event is scheduled at Intrust Bank Arena from January 24th through the 28th, with practices taking place at the Wichita Ice Center. Wichita previously hosted the Midwest Sectional Championships in 2018 and 2020. Visit Wichita and the Wichita Figure Skating Club will provide local support to host the competition. The competition will attract more than 127 teams, 1,800 athletes and over 350 coaches and team personnel.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Riley County legal team combing through logistics of proposed changes to animal control
Legal questions are swirling as the City of Manhattan continues toward a plan of privatizing its animal shelter and shifting animal control to the Riley County Police Department. Deputy Riley County Counselor Craig Cox clarified Thursday why the City of Manhattan has stopped enforcing animal control services in Riley County, which the county noted earlier in the week it had been paying for under a resolution. Cox says the City of Manhattan intends to maintain control of the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter. But legally it’s unclear how that impacts the RCPD consolidation. By statute, under the 80/20 split, Riley County is in charge of maintaining facilities for RCPD.
Source: 1350 KMAN
City of Horton recognized as ‘Most Improved Wastewater System of the Year’
When Horton City Administrator John Calhoon registered to attend the 54th Annual Conference of the Kansas Rural Water Association held this last week in Wichita, he had no idea he would be on stage and on camera in front of hundreds of people accepting an award. But he was – as the City of Horton received the award for “Most Improved Wastewater System of the Year” in ceremonies last Wednesday evening in the Century II Convention Center. The City of Horton’s original wastewater treatment plant was constructed in 1956 and, although there had been many improvements since, the 65-year-old plant was having trouble meeting the modern, much stricter permit limits. In October of 2021, construction began on a 6.3-million-dollar facility upgrade.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Johnson County revokes COVID-19 resolutions to align with national end to emergency declaration
Two Johnson County COVID-19 resolutions will come to an end soon. The local resolutions will end with the national emergency declaration, which is set to end on May 11, 2023, but may end earlier. The Board of County Commissioners revoked both resolutions during its business session on Thursday, March 30. On March 13, 2020, then Chairman Ed Eilert issued a declaration of state of local disaster emergency for Johnson County, Kansas because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration was extended for 60 days, then extended indefinitely.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Pittsburg sales tax continuance up for April 11 vote
Pittsburg voters will decide whether or not to continue a public safety sales tax tomorrow. The special election is today… The question on the ballot is: “Shall a retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one-half of one percent (0.5%) continue to be levied in the City of Pittsburg, Kansas effective on January 1, 2024, with the proceeds therefrom to be used for the purpose of public safety for a time period not to exceed ten (10) years from the date such additional sales tax is first collected?” … The tax went into effect in March 2014.
Source: KOAM News
Belle Plaine celebrates the silencing of train horns
The people who live and work around Belle Plaine say train horns have been a loud part of their day for years. The City of Belle Plaine says more than 50 train horns sounded each day at 98 decibels. But the town is now an official Quiet Zone. So as of April 5, train horns are silent as trains approach three crossings in and near the Sumner County town. For Belle Plaine, it took nearly 10 years to get the federal Quiet Zone designation.
Source: KSN-TV
De Soto clears path for massive solar farm
The City of De Soto is figuring out how it’ll handle what could be the largest solar farm in the nation, which City leaders expect to eventually pop up near Panasonic’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant that is under construction right now. On Thursday, City leaders approved a permitting process to allow a Utility-Scale Solar Facility (USSF) of up to 3,000 acres that could create between 600-800 megawatts. Industry experts say that much energy could power roughly 500,000 homes at the same time.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita considers raising fees to improve golf courses
As the City of Wichita displayed an improvement to one of the City’s public golf courses Thursday, it said other improvements are needed. The improvement the City pointed to on Thursday involves the MacDonald Golf Course’s driving range not being near the clubhouse like at other golf courses. “It creates a big challenge for not only customers, staff, First Tee with their programming, having to figure out to transport the balls from the clubhouse to here. It’s a big issue,” Jesse Coffman, the City’s golf director, said.
Source: KSN-TV
Paola turns dispatch duties over to county
A staffing shortage has forced the city of Paola to turn its dispatch duties over to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office beginning May 1. Paola City Council members, during their March 14 meeting, agreed to make a reduction in force and transition to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office to provide dispatch services for the city of Paola beginning May 1. Paola City Council member Dave Smail, who is a former Paola police chief, abstained from voting. Miami County commissioners, during their March 29 meeting, voted 5-0 to take over dispatch services for the city of Paola, effective May 1.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Riley County agrees to enter opioid lawsuit settlement
The Riley County Commission on Monday unanimous authorized participating in a nationwide settlement agreement in an opioid lawsuit. Five companies, Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, agreed late last year to provide settlement funds to the cities and counties who opt into the settlement by the April 18 deadline. While the exact payout for each entities hasn’t been determined, the total settlement is estimated to be several billion dollars, Clancy Holeman, Riley County counselor, said during the meeting. By participating in this settlement, Riley County will have to waive its ability to sue these five companies on their own.
Source: themercury.com
Study analyzes land ownership by location
Experts expect nearly 40% of American agricultural land will transition ownership in the next 15 years. As Kansas farmers retire and land is either sold or inherited by farming or non-farming heirs, the makeup and location of the new owners of that land has been changing over time, reports Kansas State University agricultural economist Robin Reid. Reid worked with the Kansas Property Valuation Division of the Department of Revenue to analyze agricultural land ownership by location. The researchers used data from 2015, the last most complete year of data available. The results, reported in January, show that 84.5% of acres in the study are owned by individuals or entities residing in Kansas. Of those, 54.6% live in the same county as their parcel.
Source: Pratt Tribune
Abilene home to World’s Largest Belt Buckle
Whether on a cross-state road trip or just looking for a unique stop in central Kansas, the small town of Abilene has a new roadside activity to make your list. Last December, Abilene unveiled its latest addition to artwork to honor its cowboy history. Its latest piece is now known as the World’s Largest Belt Buckle. “It’s just something that makes people smile,” said Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “It’s been so fun to see people’s reactions.” The World’s Largest Belt Buckle was designed by an Abilene local artist Jason Lahr with Fuller’s Creek Metal Works. Each artistic facet of the belt buckle works to honor local heritage and traditions in the town of Abilene. The buckle features artistic odes to Dwight Eisenhower, Wild Bill Hickok, Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad, the historic Seelye Mansion, C.W. Parker Carousel Horse, C.L. Brown Telephone, a racing greyhound and a Chisholm Trail Longhorn inlaid with blue quartz.
Source: Hutch News
Kansas could have new state park featuring clear lake, miles of trails
Rural southeast Kansas could soon be home to a new state park if lawmakers approve a gift of former industrial land that has been redeveloped into a lake and trail hub. The proposed Lehigh Portland State Park would be on the site of a former cement plant and quarry near Iola, known locally as Elks Lake. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks currently maintains 28 state parks, and the agency supports Lehigh Portland becoming the 29th. The property’s nearly 360 acres contain a 138-acre lake, 300-foot-long cave, woodlands, native prairie and more than 2.5 miles of wide gravel trails and 12 miles of natural surface trails for mountain biking, trail running and nature hikes trails. Thrive Allen County, a rural health advocacy organization, has been constructing the trails, which connect to the Southwind Rail Trail and Prairie Spirit State Park. House Bill 2331 passed the Kansas House 101-21 earlier this month and has had a Senate committee hearing, but has not advanced to the full chamber.
Source: Hutch News
CCMFOA Clerk of the Year is Jami Downing (Stafford)
Jami Downing, City Clerk, City of Stafford, Kansas, was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas. In October, Downing will again be recognized for this award at the League of Kansas Municipalities (LKM) Annual Conference in Wichita, Kansas.
Past resolution would allow farm animals at Newton schools
According to a city memo to be discussed at the April 10 Newton City Commission meeting, the Newton School District would be able to host an agricultural-based program, similar to the one at Walton Rural Life Center, within the City of Newton. The memo follows Board Member Luke Edwards asking the city if it would be able to change its animal ordinances in the future, in case the district would want to start a program with livestock at one of its schools located in the city.
Source: Harvey County Now
Harvey County planning commission leaning toward an outright ban
The Harvey County Planning Commission began the process of documenting reasons why wind turbines were not a good fit for the county at its meeting Tuesday. After planning commissioners and Planning and Zoning Director Karen Rothe disclosed what research they had done since the Board of Harvey County Commissioners adopted a six-month moratorium on renewable energy projects, Vice Chairwoman Lynne Vigil listed four distinct reasons for banning wind turbines: groundwater; airports and weather radar; setback distances; and search and rescue flights by emergency crews.
Source: Harvey County Now
These small Kansas towns are rising again by tapping a new market: Craft beer
One might also assume that Courtland, with just 294 residents, is the smallest town in Kansas that can boast its own brewery. But Sylvan Grove, about 45 minutes west, is smaller and is home to Plainsmen Brewing Co., which operates inside the popular Fly Boy restaurant. And an hour north, in Washington (population: 1,065), Kansas Territory Brewing Co. is home to a taproom and high-tech production facility that will likely soon be the largest in the state. As it turns out, the thirst for craft beer isn’t confined to city drinkers: Seven breweries in Kansas are open, or are soon to open, in communities of less than 2,500 people. As the brewers behind these operations have discovered, a brewery is rarely just a brewery — particularly out on the remote prairie plains.
Source: Kansas City Star
De Soto plans ahead for 3,000-acre solar farm near Panasonic construction
Nearly a third of the 9,035-acre Astra Enterprise Park could become De Soto’s first utility solar farm. De Soto has worked with Savion LLC, a Kansas City-based solar developer, since late 2021 to evaluate and assess a prospective project. Back then, officials said utility solar wouldn’t be in the cards for at least five years because of regulatory approvals. However, they anticipated that a solar project would generate significant electric franchise fees and local property taxes.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal