Kansas Municipal News
Home rule again on chopping block
Kansas is officially a Home Rule state. It has been since 1961, when an amendment to the Kansas state constitution officially declared that Kansas cities are “empowered to determine their local affairs…except when” such actions are “limited or prohibited” by an act of the state legislature. That’s an important acknowledgement of local democracy—or at least potentially so. In my observation over the years, though, our elected representatives in Topeka tend to pay far more attention to the “except when” clause, thus leading the principle of Home Rule to be observed more often in the breach than in fact.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
County to apply for grant on behalf of SCK Health
Cowley County commissioners agreed Tuesday to apply for a grant on behalf of SCK Health that, if awarded, could help the provider transition to the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. The State of Kansas has set aside $10 million for the Rural Hospital Innovation Grant program to help hospitals convert to the new REH designation in the next two years, according to a letter from SCK Health trustees. The grant requires counties to apply on behalf of the hospitals seeking funds, and is open to all rural counties in Kansas. The program is a 2:1 matching grant. SCK Health is requesting $1 million in grant funds from the state, and plans to raise another $2 million through the SCK Health Foundation.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
AC hospital takes steps toward scaled down facility
The SCK Health Board of Trustees in Arkansas City took a step toward becoming a Rural Emergency Hospital on Thursday, and also moved to officially close its obstetrics department. CEO Jeff Bowman said that after discussion about converting to a Rural Emergency Hospital, which provides more funding opportunities to the hospital, but limits hospital stays to 24 hours on average, more than half of the OB department resigned in that one week.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Gimme shelter: In wake of bank fail fallout, municipal bonds in demand
Municipals finished out a nerve-wracking week on a strong note, with yields falling by as much as nine basis points on the short end while U.S. Treasuries strengthened and equities came under pressure. As holders of bank stocks headed for the exits and muni investors looked on nervously from the sidelines as the Federal Open Market Committee met this week, bonds have seen renewed interest as the idea of safety suddenly became uppermost in eyes of buyers one again. The muni market started off the week on a quiet note, with action subdued in both the primary and secondary ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. After the Fed raised rates once again, the market remained calm.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Ruined beauty of Kansas: Ghost towns and buildings splinter under weight of time
We first stopped by the unincorporated community of Miller, in Lyon County. Its post office had closed 65 years ago. On the main drag, a new fire department building sat on one side of the road, while an abandoned and overgrown former fire department building sat on the other side, a block away. My son and I, of course, looked over the abandoned one. On this March day, the gray undergrowth and blue sky lent the brick structure an austere kind of beauty. To the side of the building, you could glimpse this decayed sign, which suggested better times in the past. We poked around town some more, but we didn’t see much else that excited my son (or me, for that matter). Like many of the tiny Kansas settlements listed on “ghost town” websites, Miller isn’t totally abandoned. A few houses still obviously had residents, and gargantuan long-haul trucks parked in driveways suggested their occupations.
Source: Kansas Reflector
How small rural towns can access Inflation Reduction Act funding
Rural towns and utilities could get funding for all kinds of projects through the federal Inflation Reduction Act — but experts say it will take dedicated community members stepping up to help make that happen. The act, passed in August, has money for rural development and energy infrastructure, as well as electric vehicle infrastructure and incentives. There are incentives for homeowners to make energy efficient improvements to their houses. Communities with coal plants or natural gas plants can repurpose those into cleaner energy sources.
Source: KCUR News
Contentious Olathe apartment plan on Lenexa city line wins key approval
The Woodland Forest apartment project near K-10 and Woodland Road near Olathe’s border with Lenexa is one step closer to reality. Earlier this week, a divided Olathe City Council voted 4-3 to approve a preliminary site development plan and attached rezoning request that will bring multifamily housing to the last leg of the Woodland Corridor area in that city. That area of Olathe, annexed in the late 1990s, was identified for conventional single-family neighborhoods and green space development in line with the Woodland Corridor Plan.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wichita Housing Authority Landlord Incentive Program provides bonuses to landlords
The City of Wichita is working to get more people off the streets. That’s why it launched the Landlord Incentive Program at the beginning of 2023. Sally Stang is the director of housing and community services for the City of Wichita. She says the problem isn’t necessarily a lack of housing assistance vouchers but a lack of housing for people to use those vouchers. “Much of that was driven by the market,” Stang said. “Rents have increased significantly, there was increased demand, landlords were choosing to take a market price tenant over an assisted tenant, less paperwork, etc.”
Source: KSN-TV
NLC Expands Support for Solar Energy Transition to 500 New Local Governments
The National League of Cities (NLC) is expanding its support for solar energy transition at the local level through its partnership with SolSmart, a solar energy designation and no-cost technical assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Since the program launched in 2016, SolSmart has helped hundreds of local governments and their residents save time and money by reducing the soft costs of going solar, which are the non-hardware costs that drive up the expense of installations.
Source: NLC
March Madness in Kansas City means a boost in business for local vendors
Thousands of people traveled to Kansas City this weekend to cheer on their teams in the NCAA tournament at the T-Mobile Center. For local businesses, all of those fans meant a boost in business and a busy last few days. The Kansas City Sports Commission estimated a $14.5 million economic impact for the city. The T-Mobile Center hosted three games, two on Friday night and another Sunday to send a team to the Final Four.
Source: KMBC.com
Salina firefighter takes part in national strongman competition
While the Salina Fire Department is known for its swift response to fires, rescues and medical emergencies, it can now be known for a new accomplishment, employer of one of the world’s strongest firefighters. At the beginning of March, SFD firefighter Chris Rios traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the Arnold Sports Festival, where he competed in the World’s Strongest Firefighter Contest, placing 29th overall. “There were over 100 from all over the world that competed,” Rios said. “(Besides the U.S.,) we had people from Canada, Europe (and other places).”
Source: Salina Journal
Great Bend HR Director trying to create good culture in declining workforce
Great Bend Human Resources Director Randy Keasling is working with city staff to make employment with the city as a destination career. Over the past three years, city administration has concentrated on improving workforce culture to make sure the city is a place people want to work. Keasling noted getting people to apply can still be a struggle, especially the last three years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The baby boomers, people born in the 1940s to 1960s, are starting to leave a large dent in the workforce with retirements.
Source: GB Post
Chapman, Herington mural projects highlight history
Public art projects have swept across Dickinson County in the past few years and more are in progress. Herington and Chapman can both expect new murals in the coming months to add to those already adorning otherwise blank, boring walls. “The murals are great because they have so many old buildings in our county that needs some sprucing up,” said Corkie Dunlap, of Herington. Over in Chapman, Tana Churan-Davis, owner of Prairie Horizon Art Studio and Gallery, said she sees the murals as a way to bring people to town. “People will come into a community just to see the murals,” she said. “You can use that as a fantastic advertising point.”
Source: Abilene Reflector Chronicle
Wichita firefighter training for amateur boxing charity event
Firefighting by night…sticking and moving by day is Carlye Anderson’s current daily routine. The Wichita firefighter is training for the Smoke and Guns charity event where firefighters amateur box the police department. Anderson has been with the fire department for two years and said her first year, she knew she wanted to be a part of the charity boxing event. “I’ve always wanted to try boxing for a different workout after I retired from gymnastics but getting into that charity event with them through the department and being able to work out with firemen every day was something that I really liked,” said 23-year-old Anderson.
Source: KAKE – News
Residents of unincorporated Johnson County can now apply for the 2023 Dust Control Cost Share program
Johnson County’s 2023 Dust Control Cost Share Program is now accepting applications. To be eligible for this program, residents must live on a gravel road in the unincorporated area of Johnson County. This program involves spraying a product on the gravel road in front of homes to help reduce the dust. The road will still look like a gravel road, but the dust created by traffic is significantly reduced. This is the fourth year of the program and each year has seen an increase in residents participating. The program covers a 400-foot treatment area, and the county will pay for half the cost to apply the product while the resident pays the other half. Additional footage must be paid by the resident at 100%.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Kansas lawmakers hear from businesses, city officials about growing homelessness issues
… city officials and other speakers … came to discuss Kansas’ growing problem with homelessness during a House Welfare Reform Committee roundtable discussion Thursday. The discussion comes after widespread backlash to House Bill 2430, a bill that would make it illegal to use state or local government property for unauthorized sleeping, camping or long-term shelters. Towns and cities with a higher per-capita rate of homelessness than the state average would lose state funding. After Kansans who had dealt with homelessness showed up en masse to voice disapproval of the bill, the committee pivoted to the roundtable idea, though critics say more substantial action needs to be taken, along with providing more mental health funding and community resources for people experiencing homelessness. With the rising cost of living prices, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and and a lack of mental health resources, homelessness has been again on the rise.
Source: LJWorld
Johnson County Emergency Communications Center earns award for dispatch excellence
Johnson County Emergency Communications Center has been recognized by The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch as an Accredited Center of Excellence for emergency medical dispatching. Johnson County ECC is the 277th Emergency Medical Dispatch ACE in the world. IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide. Accreditation (and subsequent re-accreditation) from the IAED is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying that the center is performing at or above the established standards for the industry. Centers who earn ACE status are the embodiment of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission forms subcommittee to tackle revisions to wind farm regulations
It’s not yet clear what the next draft of Douglas County’s revised regulations for wind energy development will look like, but it is clear that the work to codify the updated rules is far from finished. At a meeting on Monday, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission discussed some of the changes it wanted to see in the second draft of that document. The conversation came about a month and a half after the public comment period for the first draft wrapped up in early February. Now, the planning commission has formed an ad hoc committee that’ll meet outside of regularly scheduled planning commission meetings to conduct further research, discuss and propose changes to the regulations.
Source: LJWorld
Hutch welcomes tens of thousands, brings in more than $1M hosting its 75th NJCAA Championship
The city of Hutchinson is welcoming tens of thousands of people this week for its 75th year of hosting the NJCAA Basketball Championship. The city says this is one of its biggest events of the year, and the benefits reach far beyond just the court. Every year, crowds pack the Hutchinson Sports Arena hoping for exciting basketball, and this year hasn’t disappointed. Hutchinson resident Holly Spellman says it’s a long-time family tradition. “Our boys are all ball boys, so they help warm up the teams, help mop the floors, so we spend our spring break here,” said Spellman. For others, it’s their first time ever in Hutchinson. “We probably conservatively can say that it’s over a million dollars in the six days,” said Cox. “It’s a tremendous impact. And you know, the hotels are full, the restaurants see increased business, and people are filling up their cars with gas. So everybody in the community knows when it’s this time of the year.”
Source: KAKE – News
Riley County considers new dangerous dog ordinance
Riley County leaders are considering imposing new, stricter rules on dangerous dogs. The Riley County Commission is considering a proposal to update the county’s long-standing dangerous dog ordinance. This comes at the a request of a group of concerned citizens. The commission is looking at changing the county’s classification of a dangerous dog. The current policy, which has been in place since 1988, considers a dog as dangerous if it attacks a human or domestic animal without provocation or is a dog kept for fighting. Riley County Deputy Counselor Craig Cox said under the new proposed policy, a dog would considered to be “dangerous” if it attacks a person or animal and they have to get stitches or has broken bones. It would be deemed “potentially dangerous” for causing lesser injuries.
Source: KSNT 27 News