Kansas Municipal News
Lithium ion batteries catch City of Wichita electric bus on fire
Wichita Fire Battalion Chief Lane Pearman says, “these types of fires involving electric type vehicles they are fairly difficult, because of that chain reaction that causes those batteries to continuously heat up to the point to where they actually ignite and the there’s only two ways that fire’s going to go out. It either consumes everything it’s going to consume, or we provide enough water to reduce the temperature of those batteries below that critical temperature threshold.”
Source: KAKE – News
Rural Kansans wait to see how long prescriptions by telehealth last after the pandemic
At the Citizens Health hospital in Colby, Kansas, pandemic-driven rule changes let doctors prescribe chronic pain and mental health medications over virtual appointments. That gave hundreds of patients in northwest Kansas access to life-changing drugs. “Everybody struggles with access to mental health care,” said Jenny Niblock, a nurse practitioner at the medical center. “Rural Kansas struggles even worse.” Before the pandemic, the only way to get a prescription for a federally regulated drug was through an in-person doctor’s visit. When the federal government declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national public health emergency, it let clinicians prescribe drugs remotely to reduce in-person appointments and avoid further spreading the virus.
Source: KAKE – News
How the Flint Hills Trail became the state’s longest ride
Whether it’s cycling the Scottish Highlands or the legendary wine country of France, Roz Newmark and John Roberson have pedaled famed trails throughout the world, including those in America. “Cycle touring is what we do,” says Newmark, of Salt Lake City. “We’ll travel about anywhere to cycle the best trails.” In October, just off Walnut Street in Council Grove, Newmark and Roberson began a bicycling adventure they think is good enough to bring cyclists from afar.
Source: KLC Journal
Once-in-a-lifetime adventure takes Nebraska man on grand tour of all Kansas towns
Few can claim to have visited every corner of the Sunflower State but this Nebraska man is making it his personal mission. Meet Seth Varner. At 23-years-old, he’s probably visited more of Kansas and learned more of its history than people who have lived in the state their entire lives. He’s challenging himself to visit every single incorporated town in Kansas, both large and small, and bring them into the public view through his social media and publishing company: Wandermore.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Municipal Bond Trends for May 17, 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.
Wichita’s fireworks laws just got an overhaul. Here’s what will be legal, illegal this year
The City Council approved changes to Wichita’s fireworks laws by a 6-0 vote. Council member Jeff Blubaugh was absent from the meeting. The law will take effect in stages. This year, it’s legal to shoot off aerial fireworks from July 1-4 and increased fines for violations are being implemented. For 2023, it’s still illegal to sell aerial fireworks within city limits.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lenexa’s future Old Town activity center takes shape
The recreation facilities in Lenexa’s Old Town are on track to get a major overhaul by the end of next year. The plan, presented to the Lenexa City Council this week, calls for a combination of the Lenexa Community Center and Lenexa Senior Center functions, the demolition of the Senior Center and the addition of more outdoor recreation space.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park drops city food inspections, ending ‘redundancy’ with state checks
The Overland Park City Council ended the city’s unique restaurant inspection program Monday, saying it was an unnecessary duplication of state inspections and that the double inspections put a burden on local businesses. The council voted 10-1 to end the program. Overland Park is thought to be the last large city in Kansas that still does a local inspection of food service. Council committee members asked staff to explore ending the program in February and later voted to put the matter before the whole council.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Miners Hall Museum plans special program on history of McCune
Kent Smith will present “The Founding of McCune” at 2 p.m. Sunday at Miners Hall Museum. Smith, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has remained involved with the McCune Osage Township Library and regularly participates in community events. His great-great-grandfather, Sevier Wilson, emigrated in 1892 and opened one of the first general stores in McCune, while another relative operated one of the first clothing stores in the town.
Source: www.joplinglobe.com
Municipal Bond Trends for May 16, 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.
Mural designs for downtown Salina trash corrals approved
Two new pieces of artwork will soon be added to the downtown Salina area after approval by the City Commission. The artwork, which will consist of murals, will be placed on trash corrals as part of a beautification project by Salina Downtown Inc., which will be providing the artists’ fees for the murals. “(Policy) requires us to take this approval to (City) Commission, but, prior to that, our…Community Art and Design (CAD) Committee goes through an approval process,” said Crystal Hammerschmidt, art services coordinator for Salina Arts and Humanities.
Source: Salina Journal
Voters approve school bonds in Nickerson, Pretty Prairie, Eudora; denied in Baldwin City
The bond for Nickerson School District, USD 309, passed with a 13% turnout. Of the 5,121 eligible voters, 682 cast a ballot, with 381 voting yes and 301 voting no. The bond is for $7.6 million over nine years. The short duration of the bond will allow the district to evaluate expenditures in 10 years. The bond to fix the Pretty Prairie Schools, USD 311, passed on Tuesday evening, garnering slightly less than a 50% turnout. Of the 1,087 registered voters, 45% voted, casting 272 for the bond and 222 against it. … Pretty Prairie School District 311 proposed a $7.7 million 20-year bond to fix roofs, windows and the middle school gym. This will also help with the leaking wall in the band and other rooms. Currently, many of the windows are also leaking. According to unofficial results from the Douglas County Elections Office, voters seem to have overwhelmingly approved nearly $40 million in bond issue projects for Eudora’s schools, while a similar proposal in Baldwin City looks to have been rejected by a fair margin. As of 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, results reported by the elections office show that the special question for Eudora had easily won approval with 971 of the 1,312 ballots accounted for — or about 74% — voting in favor of the measure. … Meanwhile, it seemed that the $25 million in bond issue projects Baldwin City’s school district was looking to undertake would remain on hold for now. … In a narrow 51.96% to 48.04% vote, residents of Pratt’s USD 382 voted to approve the use of a $16.6 million bond to pay for improvements to USD 382’s facilities. The special ballot drew 1,382 voters or 28.46% of the registered voters in the school district which, according to Pratt County Clerk Lori Voss was in line for a special election turnout.
Source: Hutch News and Hutch News and LJWorld and Pratt Tribune
Topeka’s city government creates land bank to buy, upgrade, resell distressed properties
Topeka’s city government will create a “land bank” pilot program aimed at helping address this community’s problems with abandoned properties. The program will buy distressed properties and hold them tax-free while they’re upgraded, resold and returned to the tax rolls. Topeka’s mayor and city council voted 9-0 late Tuesday, with Councilman Tony Emerson being absent, to create the program and adopt specific policy guidelines governing it.
Source: CJonline
Getting old homes back on the market in Salina
While developers are working on bringing in new houses and apartments to the Salina community, one nonprofit organization is focusing on fixing homes that are already here and getting them back into the housing market. The Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Corporation of Central Kansas, says its mission is to “(provide) quality housing in an affordable manner for low to moderate income persons.” Founded by Salinan Lance Cochran over 18 years ago, CHDO also has the goal of working to help solve housing challenges in the region.
Source: Salina Journal
Hutchinson School Board votes to close Lincoln Elementary School
After more than an hour of speeches, discussion and pointed questions, the Hutchinson School Board voted 5 to 1 to close Lincoln Elementary School during a special board meeting on Monday, May 15. The staff would move along with the students and the class size would be 20. The district’s superintendent, Dawn Johnson, Ed.D., presented the options to the school board and more than 100 community members. This discussion came about because of the lack of teachers applying for jobs in the district. At present, the district is 14 teachers short. In addition, the district is down $1.1 million.
Source: Hutch News
Natives of a small Kansas town transform rundown burger joint into regional destination
The restaurant scene in Douglass, Kansas, — a town of around 1,500 that sits 30 miles southeast of Wichita — has been a tad depressing over the past decade. Around 2014, the town’s favorite burger joint — Craig’s Drive-Inn, at 833 E. First St. — closed after more than 30 years in business. Then, in November of 2021, the Triangle Restaurant — a cafe that also served Mexican fare — also closed, leaving the town with nearly no dining options at all. A couple of months ago, the town’s Pizza Hut closed, and that was a real blow. In a small town, Pizza Hut is usually the last to go.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Governor Kelly signs bipartisan omnibus budget bill
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed an omnibus budget bill that was approved with bipartisan support. The bill signed on Monday will increase funding for higher education, expand mental health resources for students, and it provides a pay raise for state workers. The governor said the budget is fiscally responsible and will improve the state’s workforce, improve roads and expand high-speed internet. The bill increases pay rates for state employees who are earning below the market rate for similar jobs in the private sector. The bill also includes the Build Kansas Matching Grant Fund which will provide state matching dollars to communities for projects approved under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Great Bend residents support backyard chickens
A large number of Great Bend residents flocked to the City Council meeting Monday night, supporting the idea of raising chickens within the city limits, as well as voicing their frustration with what they called a vague ordinance governing backyard fowl. However, not all on the council were keen to the idea that arose during the public comment section of the City Hall meeting. No action could be taken, but it will be on the agenda June 5.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office buys new $2.5M airplane you’ll probably never want to ride in
As the sheriff of the Air Capital of the World, one of the most important and little-known tools for Jeff Easter’s department is its own private airplane, and it’s time to make a big upgrade. “The Sheriff’s Office here has had an airplane since the late 70s,” said Easter. In 1987, the department flew a Cessna T210, but its needs quickly outgrew what the small plane could do. So, in 1991, it upgraded to a Cessna C340A. Just six years later, the department traded up again for the airplane it still flies today – the Commander 690-A.
Source: KAKE – News
Rural electric co-ops to get $10.7B in USDA funds for clean energy grants, loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin to administer two loan and grant programs worth nearly $11 billion to boost clean energy systems in rural areas, administration officials said Tuesday. Congress approved the federal spending — $9.7 billion for a grant and loan program the department is calling the New Empowering Rural America program, or New ERA, and $1 billion for a Powering Affordable Clean Energy program that will provide partly forgivable loans — in the energy, health and taxes law Democrats passed last summer.
Source: Kansas Reflector