Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for April 4, 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.
KS March Taxes Surpass Estimate
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that total tax collections for March 2023 were $758.3 million. That is $64.9 million, or 9.4%, more than the monthly estimate. That is also $78.7 million, or 11.6%, more than March 2022. “Time and again, we have exceeded our estimated tax collections, providing further proof that we can responsibly axe taxes on groceries, retirement, and property for Kansans,” said Governor Laura Kelly. Individual income tax collections were $314.6 million. That is $438,000 less than the estimate but $16.4 million, or 5.5%, more than March 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $102.6 million, which is $75.6 million, or 279.9%, more than the estimate and $74.9 million, or 271.1%, more than March 2022.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
City of Garden City says perimeter of historic Windsor Hotel is safe
A few days after falling bricks forced the City of Garden City to block off the perimeter of the historic Windsor Hotel, the perimeter is open again. The City says the Garden City Fire Department and the contractor for Finney County Preservation Alliance, Inc. shored up the rear wall and façade of the hotel based on the recommendations of the State Fire Marshal’s Office Structural Engineer. Finney County Preservation Alliance owns the Windsor Hotel and has been restoring the historic building.
Source: KSN-TV
With the Ogallala Aquifer drying up, Kansas ponders limits to irrigation
The Ogallala Aquifer has a visibility problem. It’s easy to see when drought, farm irrigation and city taps drain the great reservoirs of the Southwest. Bathtub rings paint the red rock walls surrounding Lake Powell as it shrinks, sounding alarm bells loud and clear. What about a body of water that’s locked away in a subterranean labyrinth of gravel and rock reaching more than 300 feet underground? The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, but we can’t see it. And, problematically, that means we can’t see it disappear.
Source: KCUR News
Engineering firm looks to expand Lenexa City Center footprint
Kiewit Engineering is hoping to grow its Lenexa City Center campus with a new 177,550-square-foot office building. On Monday, the Lenexa Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the final plan for a brand new office building for Kiewit near 89th Street and Renner Boulevard. Kiewit, based in Omaha, Neb., has long had a presence in Lenexa after purchasing a local engineering firm more than 20 years ago.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for March 31, 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.
Reno County appraiser explains why property valuations have increased
On Tuesday, the Reno County appraiser, Michael Plank, explained to Reno County Commissioners how valuations are calculated and why residents saw increases this year. Appraisers are responsible for discovering, listing and valuing all real and tangible property within their jurisdiction within certain exemptions for oil and gas, public utilities and some personal property. County appraisal offices must comply with Kansas statutes. Plank explained that his office follows all state statutes. “Like any other county employee, the appraiser is a public servant; we’re working for the good of the taxpayer to place fair and equal values on real and personal property,” he said.
Source: Hutch News
What will Downtown Hutchinson look like?
Work is underway on the Downtown Hutch Master Plan, and the public is invited to share their thoughts and learn more about the plan in the coming weeks. The Downtown Hutch Master Plan will create the vision for the future of Downtown Hutchinson as well as provide a long-range planning document that will serve as a road map to help visualize the direction of downtown. This direction includes work around Downtown Hutchinson’s growth and development, as well as its character and functionality of the area.
Source: Hutch News
Washburn in 2023
When Washburn University president JuliAnn Mazachek returned to campus in February, she saw a beautiful campus. But she thinks it can look better. Washburn University late last month unveiled its seven-year plan to transform the campus into a regional student destination and economic driver. The visionary plan has been years in the making, dating back even to Mazachek’s time as vice president of academic affairs. Faculty, administration and other academic leaders had for years reviewed space utilization studies, trying to chart a future for the municipal university campus.
Source: CJonline
Housing a critical component of economic development
Kansas’ record-setting pace in economic development means significant job growth, with the state creating or retaining almost 56,000 jobs since Governor Laura Kelly took office in 2019. That has the Kelly administration aggressively tackling a pressing challenge that comes with rapid job creation — making sure there’s enough affordable housing for a fast-growing workforce. Economic development is highly dependent on available and adequate housing. In 2020, Governor Kelly called for the state’s first comprehensive assessment of residential housing needs in nearly 30 years. Results of the Statewide Housing Study outline current opportunities, goals and potential strategies to increase affordable housing, and particularly in rural Kansas where housing inventory is most strained.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Sedgwick County DA report concludes school board did not violate Open Meeting law
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office recently released an opinion stating it did not believe USD 373 violated the Kansas Open Meeting Act, in an emergency Feb. 22 meeting. The office did not offer opinions on other complaints such as the legality of the meeting, or ethics complaints involving a conflict of interest with Board Members. All this originates following a Feb. 22 gathering of the Board of Education that resulted in a three-hour emergency meeting. The meeting was mostly held in executive sessions – or behind closed doors- under the premise of discussing matters that could positively or adversely affect a student. Kansas Open Meeting Law requires public business and decisions to be made out in the open but does allow for exemptions, such as discussing matters adversely or positively affecting specific.
Source: Harvey County Now
Ellinwood museum preps for spring
Joyce Schulte’s receptionist table at the Ellinwood Museum can resemble a mini-display itself some days — especially during the weeks prior to the Museum’s annual season-opening day in April. There’s a fair bit of tweaking that needs to be done ahead of time, and the table is a good place for keeping the odds and ends needed for readying the Museum’s permanent and new exhibits. The Museum’s opening day this year is Thursday, April 20, at 10 a.m. It’s usually a low-key affair, as visitors come for coffee, see what’s new, and talk about Ellinwood’s older days. A typical season runs from April to November, open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
New survey shows Johnson County residents are pleased once again with quality of life and county services
Results of Johnson County’s annual community survey were revealed, and residents consistently gave high marks for the county’s quality of life, services and programs, and voiced their opinions on the services most important to them. Results from the 2023 community survey were shared Thursday, March 23, with the Board of County Commissioners during a Committee of the Whole meeting. The six-page survey was conducted in January and February by ETC Institute of Olathe. “Ratings for Johnson County as a place to live, work and raise children are among the highest in the nation,” Chris Tatham, president and chief executive officer of ETC, said.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Commission Chair Mike Kelly says the state of Johnson County ‘continues to be strong’
Three months after starting his role as Johnson County Commission Chair, Mike Kelly is set to give his first State of the County address at the Overland Park Convention Center on Tuesday, April 4. Kelly, who is also on the executive board of Climate Action KC, says that the state of Johnson County “continues to be strong” and is “uniquely poised to be stronger.” “We’re at this opportunity right now, with the economic development but also with the opportunities for partnership with the federal government,” said Kelly. “You look at the Infrastructure and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which has $400 billion available for implementing climate solutions.”
Source: KCUR
Talented Wichita firefighter prepares for a boxing match against a police officer
Wichita firefighter Carlye Anderson is stepping out of the fire truck and into the gym to train for the 8th annual Smoke & Guns fight. Anderson is set to box against a Tulsa police officer. It’s all part of a fundraiser for the Tulsa Special Olympics and Tulsa Firefighters Burn Camp. “Getting to go down and compete and fight, but also getting to fight for the charity event that we’re down there for, is really fun,” says Anderson. The firefighter spends a lot of her off-time in the gym now. … Anderson is coached by retired firefighter and WFD 135 Union President Ted Bush. He says her athleticism and learning ability makes her a good athlete.
Source: KSN-TV
Emporia fire department resources ‘tied up’
The Emporia fire department has deployed its entire fleet of trucks to deal with fires on this red flag day. “We are tied up right now,” Emporia Fire Department Lt. Colter Serig said. “All of our county trucks are busy right now.” There is a fire at 1761 Road G just north of Highway 50, a fire at 3100 W South Avenue and a fire at 1709 Road 175, according to Serig. East of Emporia at 1709 Rd. 175, a controlled burn got out of control, according to Serig. The EFD sent two grass rigs. A grass rig from Olpe District 5 also responded.
Source: KSNT 27 News
His rental house wasn’t up to code. After calling the city, he got a notice to leave.
It all started with the windows at Alvin Mitchell’s rental house, which he said were cemented shut. Mitchell said his brother, concerned, called the city of Wichita to inspect the Planeview duplex. “I’m his little brother,” Mitchell said. “He’s going to look out for me.” In late July of last year, a city inspector came out to look at the house. The inspector listed a multitude of code violations the landlord needed to fix by the end of August: the windows, doors, walls, ceilings and floors all needed to be repaired or replaced.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Parsons artist paints mural featuring the LCC 1960 basketball national champions
Aaron “Skip” Smith stood beside his newest work of art, an 8-foot by 4-foot painting inside the new athletic complex on a wall at the entrance to the Labette Community College gymnasium. “They wanted something to accentuate their new sports complex and they wanted it to be something I did, so they commissioned me to do this,” Smith said. The mural, a combination of acrylic and oils took about eight months to complete.
Source: Parsons Sun
Proposed changes could scrap some work of Lawrence’s police review board
More than a year of work by Lawrence Community Police Review Board members to engage with the community and revise the ordinance that outlines the board’s duties may have been for nothing. A resolution up for consideration at Tuesday’s Lawrence City Commission meeting would essentially scrap the draft ordinance that CPRB members and city staff members and attorneys worked to refine. If approved, a work group that has yet to meet will start from scratch, making amendments to the ordinance as it currently exists. The work group was formed to review the CPRB’s draft ordinance and the Lawrence Police Department’s current complaint process to collaborate and determine the best path forward.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Selling some used items to Wichita businesses may not require fingerprinting for long
Wichitans who sell used appliances and trinkets to local businesses are used to having their fingerprint scanned and their personal information collected to share with police. That may not be the case for much longer. It’s standard protocol for discouraging thieves from attempting to sell stolen items, but some Wichita officials say the city’s secondhand dealer regulations are a burden on businesses and not particularly effective at preventing illegal activity.
Source: Wichita Eagle