Kansas Municipal News
Train derailment causes damage to tracks, highway near Dodge City
A highway near Dodge City was reduced to two lanes Monday night following a train derailment. Ford County Sheriff Bill Carr said the derailment caused “major damage” to the tracks and U.S. 400 at the tracks between Ft. Dodge and Cargill. The highway was reduced to two lanes. The westbound lanes were closed. Sheriff Carr said the Cargill plant is open for employees. “Please consider an alternate route if you plan on traveling east on Trail Street towards Ft. Dodge and west on Highway 400 from Ford to Dodge City,” the sheriff said on Facebook.
Source: KAKE – News
‘A really tragic series of events.’ In six hours, three fentanyl overdoses in Lawrence
In a little more than six hours, Lawrence police responded to three overdose calls, with one person dead and another in critical condition. The first call came in at 9:30 Monday night and the third about 3:45 Tuesday morning. In each of the three calls officers found evidence that led them “to believe fentanyl was the cause,” according to Lawrence police. “Overnight we had a really tragic series of events here in Lawrence,” Police Chief Rich Lockhart said as he began a Tuesday afternoon news conference. “… One of the things that we really want to emphasize here is that fentanyl is the deadliest drug that’s out in our country today.”
Source: KC Star Local News
Russell fire chief to leave Wichita hospital
Russell Fire Chief Dylan Riedel returned home Tuesday afternoon after spending four days in a Wichita burn unit. On Friday night, Riedel was injured in a fire and explosion in the 1700 block of N. Main St. and transported to Wichita. The City of Russell said there will be a welcome home at the Sale Barn supporting his recovery. Residents are asked to bring flags, horns and signs in support. The time on return will be posted on the City’s Facebook page. “They are on the road headed home! Hopedully by 5:45-6:00pm – we will update again as they get closer,” said the City of Russell.
Source: KSN-TV
City of Emporia receives more than $600,000 from federal government to assist with at-grade rail crossing improvements
The City of Emporia was recently informed that it has received needed funding to support work at the community’s various at-grade railroad crossings. City Manager Trey Cocking says he was informed the Federal Train Administration had approved a recently submitted application to support planning and development for grade separation projects at the city’s 12 at-grade crossings. At-grade crossings are where the railroad crosses with roadways and Cocking says the impending improvements will better help with flow for both vehicles and trains and will also make crossings much safer for residents. Over the past 18 months, the city has had three fatal accidents occur at local rail crossings. With that in mind, Cocking says the funding comes at a very important time for the community.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
USD 232 shifts 2 middle schools’ boundaries to head off future overcrowding
USD 232 in De Soto will send some students in future west Lenexa neighborhoods to Lexington Trails Middle School as a way to combat projected overcrowding at Mill Creek Middle School. The move pushes the current border between the Mill Creek and Lexington Trails attendance zones to the east, sending more students from the central area of the district west to De Soto for middle school. On Monday, the school board voted 6-0 to adopt the new middle school attendance boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year.
Source: Prairie Village Post
De Soto mapping out housing demand around Panasonic Plant
De Soto City leaders say they’re getting a better idea of where workers and the homes they’ll live in will be when the Panasonic Electric Vehicle Battery Plant opens around 2025. The plant is expected to eventually employ about 4,000 people with advanced manufacturing skills inside the plant, with another 4,000 people taking similar or related jobs outside the facility. De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt says the region has about 107,000 of those workers already, with more than 60,000 within a commutable drive of De Soto.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for June 6, 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, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 5, 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, or Henry Schmidt.
Spring 2023 Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) Grant Recipients Announced
Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced the recipients of the spring 2023 Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants. A total of 17 projects from across the state are receiving nearly $918,000 in matching grant funds. The Patterson Family Foundation and Department of Commerce paired up to provide grant funding to assist rural communities in revitalizing underutilized and dilapidated downtown buildings and turn them into economic drivers in the community. A total of 30 applications were received during the spring HEAL grant round. The spring 2023 HEAL grant awardees include:
- Belleville Chamber/Main Street, Republic County – $75,000
- City of Halstead, Harvey County – $64,300
- City of Hillsboro, Marion County – $74,999
- City of Osawatomie, Miami County – $75,000
- City of Spearville, Ford County – $70,000
- City of Sterling, Rice County – $75,000
- City of Wathena, Doniphan County – $54,520
- Edwards County Economic Development (Kinsley), Edwards County – $45,599
- Edwards County Economic Development (Lewis), Edwards County – $33,008
- Grow Hays, Inc., Ellis County – $75,000
- Grow Clay County (GCC), Clay County – $25,000
- Logan County Community Foundation, Logan County – $25,000
- Miltonvale Economic Revitalization Improvement Team (MERIT), Inc., Cloud County – $9,600
- Ness County Chamber of Commerce, Ness County – $48,250
- Point Forward, Inc., Crawford County – $75,000
- Rush County Economic Development, Rush County – $17,462
- South Central KS Economic Development District, Reno County – $75,000
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Way to remove governing body members passes
As a means to protect the City of Great Bend and assure all residents are equally represented, the City Council Monday night approved an ordinance outlining how it can fill vacancies on the governing body (made up of the council and the mayor), specifically those created by a “non-functioning” member. “The city currently has no clear definition of what creates a vacancy or any procedure to address the situation where a person is elected to a position on the governing body but fails or refuses to accept the office, take the oath and/or attend meetings,” City Attorney Allen Glendenning said. This either leaves a portion of the citizenry not fully represented or leaves the city with only the cumbersome, lengthy and expensive processes of ouster or a recall election.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Superintendent narrowly escapes burning van
A USD 415 Hiawatha School minivan went up in flames Friday afternoon and the Superintendent of Schools narrowly escaped the burning vehicle. Hiawatha Fire Chief Patrick Sheldon reported that the call came in at 2:49 p.m. of a report of a vehicle fire located at the intersection of First and Oregon in Hiawatha. Upon arrival, crews found a Dodge minivan located on the east side of First Street with its engine compartment fully engulfed with flames. Chief Sheldon said crews brought the fire under control within a few minutes and left the scene by 3:20 p.m.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
The high plains drought is so bad that Kansas is importing wheat from Europe
Kansas is “the wheat state,” the officially adopted moniker that embraces its place as the country’s breadbasket. Tall white grain elevators, some decorated with wheat murals, loom over tiny farm towns. For decades, Kansas led the nation in wheat production, and the U.S. led the world in wheat exports. But this year’s meager wheat harvest turns that proud tradition on its head. Kansas flour mills will likely buy wheat grown in Eastern Europe. It’s like Texas importing oil, West Virginia hauling in coal, or the Saudis shipping in sand.
Source: KAKE – News
Olathe receives $18 million in federal aid to eliminate dangerous railroad crossing
As part of President Joe Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law, the Federal Railroad Administration is awarding Olathe nearly $18 million in federal funding to build an overpass over the crossing at Woodland Street and Northgate Road. The project is part of a broader effort to eliminate dangerous railroad crossings and, in Johnson County, expand 119th Street between Kansas 7 Highway and Interstate 35. The four lane bridge will span over the BSNF rail line in the area and Mill Creek and include a direct connection to the existing trail system for bikes and pedestrians.
Source: KC Star Local News
What does an ozone alert mean for Kansas City? What to know about air quality this week
Kansas City’s under an ozone alert, meaning there’s a higher amount of pollution in the air than usual, which can be harmful to people with respiratory issues. The alert includes Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas, as well as Clay, Platte and Jackson counties in Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. What does that actually mean? Here’s what we learned from the Mid-America Regional Council, who issues the alerts.
Source: KC Star Local News
Kansas cities to see railroad crossing improvements
The government is spending millions to reduce the number of train-vehicle crashes in three Kansas cities. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration announced it has awarded more than $27.5 million to the state of Kansas in the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. Wellington will receive $8.8 million to build a corridor allowing trains to travel through the city without ever coming in contact with other traffic. The project will fund the development and construction for the elimination of all six grade crossings along the BNSF Railway. The City of Wellington and BNSF Railway will contribute a 36% non-federal match to the project. The route carries around 96 trains daily.
Source: KSN-TV
USD 253 Emporia offering ‘behind the scenes look’ at district operations through new podcast
USD 253 Emporia is now providing a look behind the scenes of the district with a super new podcast that is currently available. The Supercast features USD 253 Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson Harder on the district’s website. Anderson Harder says the podcast both allows the district to highlight its various departments while also shining a spotlight on many district staffers who are often hidden in the background. USD 253 Director of Community Relations Lyndel Landgren says the podcast also allows the district to expand on many items that can’t be fully covered in a traditional news release.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
In car-centric Johnson County, this Mission man is thinking up a more walkable future
A Mission man is being given the chance to make his corner of car-centric Johnson County more pedestrian-friendly. Josh Thede was recently named one of 18 Kansans receiving a fellowship from the 2023 Kansas State Walking College aimed at making local communities more walkable. (He’s not the only Johnson Countian, either: Chris Gralapp of Olathe was also selected.) The program, a partnership between AARP and America Walks, works to identify local leaders and give them training and resources to better advocate for more “walkability” and pedestrian safety in their cities.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Johnson County explores property tax rebate pilot for seniors, veterans
Five cities in Johnson County as well as the state of Kansas already offer property tax rebate programs based on income. Johnson County is considering adding the county to that list, with a pilot program for people 65 and older, along with disabled veterans. The Board of County Commissioners discussed a countywide program during a budget-writing session last week. The idea, proposed by Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick, would return a portion of property taxes on year-round owner-occupied homes with assessed values of less than $384,600.
Source: Prairie Village Post
County needs EMS workers
A staffing shortage within the Chase County Emergency Medical Service is taking center stage as the county begins shaping its 2024 budget. Scott Harris, Chase County EMS director, told commissioners last week his workers’ request for 2024 was not necessarily for more dollars, but for more employees. “We cannot keep up this pace,” Harris told commissioners, according to the Emporia Gazette. “I know my guys are tired.” Harris said each year before he brings his budget to the commission, he asks his staff what changes they would like to see, the Gazette reported.
Source: The Iola Register
Lawrence City Commission to weigh in on proposed plastic bag ban
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider next steps for a proposed citywide ban on single-use plastic bags, as well as a full-time code compliance official to enforce the ban. The Sustainability Advisory Board has long discussed options aiming to reduce the use of plastics in the city, which in turn could help prevent some pollution from the bags, contamination through microplastics from bags’ degradation, and animal deaths from eating the bags, among other concerns. A previous draft of the ordinance would have required establishments to charge customers 15 cents per single-use disposable bag. The current draft ordinance would instead make the bags prohibited within city limits.
Source: The Lawrence Times