Kansas Municipal 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
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.
Lawrence to discuss increasing cap on number of Airbnbs, other short-term rentals in nonresidential areas
With the goal of preserving the city’s neighborhoods, city leaders will soon discuss increasing or eliminating the cap on the number of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals allowed in nonresidential areas. The Lawrence City Commission will discuss the possible changes as part of its meeting Tuesday. Currently, the city caps the number of short-term rentals that one person or ownership group can operate at three regardless of the location. The limit applies to all properties that are rented by the night, typically on online platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Mayor Lisa Larsen requested that the city revisit the regulations late last year. Larsen said Friday that she continued to be interested in whether it was possible to increase or eliminate the three-rental cap only for nonresidential zoning districts, such as commercial or industrial areas, to allow such rentals to grow more in those areas.
Source: LJWorld
Pittsburg Chamber and PSU present econ report
Chamber of Commerce President and Director of Economic Development Blake Benson and Pittsburg State University Executive Director of Operations, Business Development, and Economic Engagement Darrell Pulliam presented the quarterly Economic Development Report to the Pittsburg City Commission on Tuesday evening. Benson highlighted the area’s unemployment rate of 3.3 percent for the month of February, 2023. While higher than last February’s rate of 2.8 percent, which was an all-time low, Benson said the current rate is generally regarded as full employment. “It seems like it’s becoming a little bit easier for our employers to find the kind of employees they need,” Benson said. Sales tax collections have remained strong in Pittsburg. According to Benson, collections have increased by 25 percent over the last two years, with 2023 “starting off very strong” as collections are up 15 percent so far from last year.
Source: Morning Sun
New city attorney Kelly ready to fully serve Derby community
For new Derby city attorney Jacqueline Kelly, her fascination with the law began at a young age. Kelly admitted watching “The Cosby Show” growing up and seeing Claire Huxtable succeed as an attorney and mom was an inspiration, while her own personal experiences also helped shape her career path. “As a kid, because I was adopted and I went through a legal process, I admired that process,” Kelly said. “I like the structure that law provides to relationships and solving problems. It’s kind of a good north compass.” Beginning March 20, Kelly officially took over the reins in Derby for former city attorney Jacque Butler, maintaining her vested work interests – as Kelly has worked almost exclusively in government since starting to practice law nine years ago.
Source: Derby Informer
Lyon County Commission debates longevity pay increases
The Lyon County Commission discussed longevity pay increases for full-time, hourly county employees at its meeting Thursday morning. Director of Human Resources Janice Huffman presented commissioners with the idea of the increase as part of three first-quarter employee task force policies. Huffman said the longevity pay increase is currently 29 cents every five years and has been set at that figure for many years. Huffman proposed a new rate of 40 cents for five years, 60 cents for 10 years, 80 cents for 15 years and so on. Commissioners said they were in favor of the increase but would like to know the economic impact and scale of the adjustment.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Lenexa unveils new disc golf courses at Black Hoof Park
Lenexa’s new disc golf courses at Black Hoof Park are officially open for play ahead of a full-slate of community activities planned for Saturday. The courses have been nearly 20 years in the making, city parks and recreation director Logan Wagler said. Plans for a course were first called for in the 2004 parks master plan.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Upcoming survey to ask Lawrence residents how their neighborhood can accommodate new homes, businesses
How can Lawrence neighborhoods accommodate more homes and businesses and also maintain the characteristics that make people want to live there? That’s the question that those working to update Lawrence’s land development code — which determines where and how the city grows — will soon be asking neighborhood groups and residents. As part of its meeting Thursday, the Land Development Code Update Steering Committee and city-hired consultants with Clarion Associates went over a draft of a survey that aims to get at that and other questions. The draft survey can be filled out by neighborhood associations, other community groups, or individuals and will inform the update of the land development code. Elizabeth Garvin, of Clarion Associates, said the intent of the survey is to find out what characteristics residents prioritize about their neighborhoods, and how the new code can reflect that in a broad sense.
Source: LJWorld