Kansas Municipal News
Emporia Metropolitan Area Planning Commission possibly nearing end of zoning regulation refinement
The Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission continued work to “fine-tune” the city of Emporia’s new zoning regulations during its monthly meeting Tuesday night. According to Chairman Kenton Thomas, the board spent much of the meeting reviewing and refining questions related to terminology and wording. The board has been refining the regulations for the past several years ever since the creation of the City and County joint comprehensive plan. Last fall the Emporia City Commission put a halt to the process to allow time for an outside attorney to conduct a secondary review of the plans to ensure they were in good legal standing. The review process recommenced in October of last year.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Overland Park exploring concrete requirement for new paved roads
Overland Park is considering whether to require developers to pave new residential and collector streets with concrete. The proposed change, which was reviewed at the Overland Park Public Work’s meeting Wednesday, would allow the city to gradually reduce its reliance on the controversial road resurfacing method known as chip seal. Concrete street pavement has been used for several years, both on the city’s thoroughfare projects and most recently in the neighborhood street reconstruction project, said Lorraine Basalo, public works interim director. “Our oldest concrete street is Nall about 131st south towards 143rd,” she said. “And to date, we have not had any maintenance that we’ve had to do on that in the last 15 years.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
Leawood wants to make room for more affordable housing
Leawood wants to make way for smaller and more affordable homes. The Leawood City Council on Monday discussed plans to review and alter the city’s code for single-family lot sizes, with the intent that smaller lot sizes would ultimately lower home prices and diversify the city’s housing stock with more townhomes and twin villas. The city’s discussion follows Johnson County’s release of property valuations earlier this year, which showed the average home price in the county crept above half a million dollars.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence vs. City of Lawrence (Interpretation of an Ordinance)
The Church argues that RSO zoning limits Fountain to building only one duplex on the 9.12-acre lot because of the way a duplex is defined in § 20-1734(5). The relevant language from the definition of duplex is as follows: “A single Structure that contains two (2) primary Dwelling Units on one (1) Lot.” City Code § 20-1734(5). Though all parties contend the meaning of § 20-1734(5) is unambiguous, they do not agree on that “unambiguous” meaning. The Church points out that the section defines a duplex as a “single” structure with two primary dwelling units on one lot; it does not state “two” or “multiple” or “57” structures with two primary dwelling units on one lot. City Code § 20-1734(5). … Our discussion of the Church’s proposed interpretation of the City Code is intended to explain why the definition of “duplex” in § 20-1734(5) is ambiguous and the Church’s interpretation is plausible. We do not suggest that the Church’s interpretation is necessarily correct. The district court’s decision and the underlying arguments by the City and Fountain, along with points raised in the dissent, demonstrate that their proposed interpretation is also plausible. … We reverse the dismissal by the district court and remand the case for further proceedings.
Source: Kansas Court of Appeals
Municipal Bond Trends for March 23, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for March 22, 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.
Public welcome organized for newly hired Kansas City, Kansas administrator Monday
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas is planning to introduce newly hired County Administrator David Johnston with a public meet-and-greet Monday. The public, government staff and elected officials, including Mayor Tyrone Garner, are expected to be on hand as Johnston takes over the UG’s top hired position. … Johnston will take the helm from Cheryl Harrison-Lee, the interim County Administrator for the past year. Johnston is the long-term hire to replace former County Administrator Doug Bach… Prior to being picked to lead Wyandotte County government, Johnston was the city manager for Covington, Kentucky…
Source: KC Star Local News
Doug Gerber officially takes over as Shawnee City Manager next week
Doug Gerber officially takes over as Shawnee City Manager next week, taking the oath of office during the regularly scheduled Shawnee City Council meeting on Monday. Gerber previously served as a deputy and interim city manager in Topeka. Before that, he also held high-level leadership positions in Goodland and Beloit, Kan., and most recently worked with JEO Consulting Group.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Winfield will help cover sidewalk repairs
Winfield property owners can now be reimbursed by the city for sidewalk repairs after commissioners approved a rebate plan at their Monday meeting in a 3-0 vote. In the past, property owners were responsible for the full cost of repairing sidewalks on their property. According to a questionnaire community members filled out several years ago as part of the city’s comprehensive plan update, 50% of respondents said the city and landowners should split the cost of sidewalk repairs, 47% said the city should pay the full cost, and 3% said the landowners should foot the bill. According to a copy of the plan, owners can be reimbursed at $6 per square foot, or 50% of the estimated costs, for sidewalk removal and replacement on their property.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Barton County plans to rejuvenate the City of Pawnee Rock
For a small town, Pawnee Rock holds a lot of history. Sadly, the years have taken a toll on the once -thriving community. But, with the help of a $50,000 infusion approved by the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning, the Pawnee Rock Revitalization Committee hopes to change that. There are plans to rejuvenate the city’s park and make it a nicer home for its growing younger population. “If you let a city go and you don’t care about it, you might have what Pawnee Rock kind of looks like today,” said Denise Penn, longtime Pawnee Rock resident and member of the Revitalization Committee.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
What will Andover look like in 10 years? Here’s what city’s draft comprehensive plan says
Andover officials are looking to finish up the city’s new 10-year comprehensive plan soon, and residents and stakeholders have the opportunity to weigh in. The “Activate Andover” plan is set to begin in 2024 and go through 2034. The plan outlines future land uses and desired growth the city wants to accomplish over the span of the next decade. It is “one of the most important guiding documents the City utilizes,” according to a summary of the current comprehensive plan from an October 2021 city council workshop. Andover’s current 10-year comprehensive plan, which began in 2014, expires this year. That document guided the building of a corridor along U.S. 54, used for housing and business and led to the building of Redler Institute of Culinary Arts, which added more local educational opportunities, among other development achievements, according to previous Eagle reporting.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Fed hikes rates by a quarter percentage point, indicates increases are near an end
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday enacted a quarter percentage point interest rate increase, expressing caution about the recent banking crisis and indicating that hikes are nearing an end. Along with its ninth hike since March 2022, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee noted that future increases are not assured and will depend largely on incoming data. “The Committee will closely monitor incoming information and assess the implications for monetary policy,” the FOMC’s post-meeting statement said. “The Committee anticipates that some additional policy firming may be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2 percent over time.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Barton County joins prairie chicken law suit
While appreciating the plight of the threatened lesser prairie chicken, the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning approved participating in a Kansas Natural Resource Coalition lawsuit seeking to block a U.S. Fish and Wildlife rule protecting the bird. The LPC’s range covers much of southwest Kansas and nearby states, but it has yet to call Barton County home, commissioners noted.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
New sheriff’s dog attends Harvey County commission meeting
Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputy Skyler Hinton introduced the Board of Harvey County Commissioners on Tuesday to the department’s 2-year-old German shepherd, which he said was trained to detect narcotics and track people. Hinton said Max, who was born in Poland, was purchased with just shy of $25,000 in private donations the department raised. He said most of the commands for Max were in Czech, and any new ones for the dog are in English. He said Max so far had been involved with 50 deployments and 10 arrests. He said Max, who lives at home with his family, already had a decent social media presence.
Source: Harvey County Now
Museum to open Harvey County service station exhibit
The Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives is bringing back memories of service stations in the area—of a time when people pulled up to get gas and heard the familiar “ding, ding” noise alerting the attendant who would rush right out, fill up the tank, and check the oil and tire pressures. They’d even wash a window or two. The museum’s upcoming exhibit, “Fill’er Up: Service Stations in Harvey County,” officially will open on May 7. That’s the day Richard Hege will give a program at 2 p.m. at the museum on Newton service stations. The program is free for members and $5 for non-members. Hege has done extensive research on Harvey County gas stations and used to be on the museum board.
Source: Harvey County Now
Sheriff’s Association provides bullet proof vests to county
Recently, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office received bullet proof vests, which were donated by the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association (USDSA.) Sheriff John Merchant said throughout the years, the USDSA has provided many dollars in equipment and training not only to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, but many other law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. “USDSA has also provided many training opportunities such as active shooter and self-defense techniques to name a few,” he said. “USDSA also provides monetary donations to the beneficiary of any law enforcement officer in the US who gives their life in the line of duty.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Jackson County to seek remedy for lost tax revenue
The Jackson County Commissioners have signed a one-year contract with Hartwell Capital Consulting LLC of Lake Ridge, Va. to help the county recoup funds from the federal government when property in the county is successfully reclaimed by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, put into USA trust and taken off county property tax rolls. The one-year contract is for $5,000 a month, or $60,000 annually, and will be paid using American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the county, it was reported. The consulting firm will lobby the federal government on the county’s behalf in an attempt to compensate the county for the loss in property tax revenue when county property is put into trust and the county can no longer collect taxes on it.
Source: Holton Recorder
State offers help, including $2M, to tackle JoCo homelessness
The state of Kansas says it is willing to offer support, including potentially upwards of $2 million in funding, to help Johnson County tackle issues of homelessness, affordable housing and mental health. The Good Faith Network, a local interfaith group of 27 religious congregations, helped secure that commitment from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and also facilitated a recent meeting between the state aging department commissioner and Johnson County Chair Mike Kelly.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Pott County Appraiser notes soaring property values in monthly report
Pottawatomie County Appraiser Robin Knoblauch provided an update to county officials Monday, regarding the office’s work with taxpayers questioning or wanting to appeal their 2023 value notices. As of Monday, her office had 46 scheduled appeals. She says the major class of increase was residential, which according to the county wide index average was up 14.6%. Most small towns in Pottawatomie County also showed an index value much higher, by up to 6% or more.
Source: 1350 KMANEdit Live
Fort Scott Receives Waste Tire Product Grant from KDHE
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced the recipients of waste tire product grants. “These grants will help handle the costs of proper disposal of many materials scrap tires and assist many important local efforts to promote litter and waste reduction. KDHE applauds the creativity and innovation that our communities have in reusing materials that help support the mission of protecting the health and environment of all Kansans” said Janet Stanek, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The grants are funded by revenue collected through the tire excise tax, a $0.25/vehicle tire fee.
Source: Fort Scott Biz