Kansas Municipal News
More chickens might soon be allowed in Hutch city limits
Soon Hutchinson residents might be able to go from owning three chickens to raising eight. However, the amount of roosters allowed in the backyard garden will not change − it will remain at zero. On Wednesday, the Hutchinson Planning Commission approved sending their recommendations on the amount of chickens a household may own to the Hutchinson City Council. The recommendations will go before the council for approval on May 16. “A maximum of eight chickens, as we discussed in our last discussion, may be kept in the side or rear yard,” said David Inskeep, a commission member. When the property is more than 2,000 square feet, one additional chicken may be kept for each additional 250 square feet up to a maximum of 20 chickens.
Source: Hutch News
When it comes to emergency communications, this Johnson County center wins top honor
Johnson County Emergency Communications Center has been recognized as an Accredited Center of Excellence for emergency medical dispatching by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. The accreditation is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying that the center is performing at or above the established industry standards. Centers that earn this status are examples of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes and a commitment to data-driven improvement. The Johnson County center initially achieved this accreditation in 2020. This is its first re-accreditation. The center serves an area of approximately 1,070 square miles in Johnson and Miami counties. It dispatches calls for all fire agencies within Johnson County, as well as all EMS calls for Med-Act and Miami County EMS.
Source: Joco 913 News
Municipal Bond Trends for March 30, 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.
Newton schools to be back in session
Officials with the Newton school district will have classes back in session Friday, as an investigation continues into a breach of the district’s computer network. Classes were canceled for Wednesday and Thursday and most computers were taken offline as a precaution. The district said there is no evidence that any personal information of students was accessed, but the investigation is continuing. Classes will be back on a full schedule for Friday.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Design team unveils plans for new Hesston school building
Security is a big part of the design of the new high/middle school plans, which were unveiled Wednesday night to a group of about 50 people at the Hesston High School auditorium. Some of the discussion referred to mass shootings like the one earlier this week at a school in Nashville. In response to the first question posed, Superintendent Kevin Logan said the new high/middle school would not have metal detectors. “We will also have a lot more camera coverage through the building than we do now,” he said. “We’re way under covered right now.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Bill looking to ease process for out-of-state teachers to come to Kansas
Kansas may soon be adding a new tool in the fight against the teacher shortage. According to the State’s Department of Education, in the Fall of 2022, there were more than 1,600 vacancies across Kansas. “It’s just going to continue to get worse if we don’t do some things,” said Tyson Eslinger, Deerfield USD 216 Superintendent. “It’s getting to the point where there’s things we want to be able to do for kids, and we want to be able to offer kids, but we don’t have the bodies to do that.” Lawmakers are looking at Senate Bill 66, which would provide more opportunities for out-of-state teachers by joining the “Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.”
Source: KSN-TV
Draft strategic plan sets goals for Douglas County to reach functional zero homelessness
A draft strategic plan sets a goal of 2028 for Lawrence and Douglas County to achieve functional zero homelessness. The plan emphasizes equity, inclusion, and correcting imbalances of power. Douglas County commissioners heard a presentation on the draft Housing and Homelessness 5-Year Strategic Plan Wednesday afternoon during a work session. The commission doesn’t take action during work sessions, but staff aim to bring a final plan back to the commission in June. The roughly 30-page draft breaks the issues into five focus areas: Equity and Inclusion; Affordable Housing; Supportive Housing; Systems; and Emergency Shelter.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for March 29, 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.
Kansas fire departments, agencies prepare for critical fire conditions
Rodney Redinger has worked for the Kansas Forest Service for 20 years. He says amid critical fire danger concerns over the next few days, his office is working with the Office of the State Marshal and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. He says given the severity of the conditions, much of the state is currently a tinderbox. “Anything that’s, that’s gonna cause a spark, right, is going to have devastating effects,” Redinger said. Redinger says in addition to keeping firefighting aircraft on standby, 20 Kansas Forest Service coordinators are currently working with hundreds of fire departments on high alert.
Source: KSN-TV
Douglas County leaders defer decision on whether energy firm can do tests for large-scale solar project
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday deferred their decision on whether an energy firm may conduct testing for a potential large-scale solar project, and they and some members of the public were skeptical about the company’s claims that it didn’t know it needed a permit. The commission’s meeting room at the Douglas County Courthouse was packed full of residents on Wednesday night, many of whom came to speak out against industrial-scale solar energy projects in general. But the county leaders were specifically deciding whether to approve four permits for Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources to conduct utility-scale solar-related testing activity on seven properties across four sections of Palmyra Township along the Johnson County line.
Source: LJWorld
Round two of Barton County facade grants launched
The Barton County Commission Wednesday morning plunged into round two of its poplar Facade Improvement Grant Program that provides assistance for business owners wanting to refresh their store fronts. Six grants were awarded. “This is near and dear to my heart,” said commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 3. “I’m excited to get this going.”… “In 2021, the commission dedicated $630,000 to the facade improvement project,” County Administrator Matt Patzner said. Funds spent on completed projects totaled $369,390.43 with extended projects estimated at $229,009.45, and there is $31,600 from the original funding remaining.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Harvey County trying new technique to solve cracking on Halstead Road
Harvey County Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Meier said the county would be trying a new technique this summer for a vexing problem that has resurfaced again and again—how to keep cracks from returning on Halstead Road. Meier said the six-mile stretch between Southwest 36th Street to the county line had a history of lateral cracking in a relatively short period, especially compared to other roads. He said the cracks that appeared were wider than those that appeared on other road projects. That allows more water to penetrate the surface and new paving material. He said the water seeped into the base of the road, which caused a surface depression along the crack and made for a noticeably bumpy ride for motorists. “In a short amount of time, we can go from new pavement to cracked in a year and a half,” he said. “It’s just not normal.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Newton School District cancelled for second day due to network security breach
The Newton School District announced it would cancel classes on Thursday as the district continues to deal with a network security incident. Classes are expected to resume Friday, according to the release sent out to parents. On Tuesday afternoon, the district reported it was having an Internet outage and in the evening sent out a release stating that it detected a network security incident affecting certain systems within its network. The release stated that it notified law enforcement as well as began working with third-party forensic specialists to investigate the extent, cause and origin of the breach.
Source: Harvey County Now
Prairie Village residents polled about new community center
Most Prairie Village residents still say they would use a new community center that replaces the aging Paul Henson YMCA, though that proportion has decreased from four years ago. At the same time, a majority of respondents to a new survey said they would be willing to pay higher taxes in order to build a new community center.
Source: Prairie Village Post
City envisions homes and retail on undeveloped plot in western Shawnee
An area of western Shawnee considered mostly unable to be developed in its current state could one day be home to new conventional neighborhoods, low-density multifamily housing, sprawling park space and commercial zones. Late last year, the city council authorized the formation of a 1,650-acre improvement district that stretches between Monticello Road and Woodland Drive from Shawnee Mission Parkway to the southern city limit. Recently, the Shawnee city staff presented a basic conceptual plan for the now-dubbed Hickok Zarah conservation tax increment financing, or TIF, district to the planning commission.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Johnson County records big drop in greenhouse gas emissions — but with some caveats
Although Johnson County’s population grew by about 8% since 2013, its residents and county government have apparently become more efficient about using energy. According to a new study by the county department of health and environment, greenhouse gas emissions in Johnson County fell by about 35% per capita in the seven years between 2013 and 2020. The greenhouse gas inventory update — the first of its kind in Johnson County in seven years — also showed a community-wide decrease in emissions of about 30%.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Nicodemus native discusses the ‘Promised Land’
They traveled from Kentucky to the “Promised Land” on the Solomon River of Kansas. Emancipated African Americans found a road to freedom after the Civil War, and established the oldest and only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi at Nicodemus, Kan. Emporia State University Special Collections and Archives hosted “Children of the Promised Land,” a Humanities Kansas presentation by Angela Bates Tuesday evening. Bates is the executive director and past president of the Nicodemus Historical Society. A direct descendant of the town founders, she presents programs across the country about her unique hometown. Bates graduated from Emporia State University in 1975.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Marion County buys former food bank
County commissioners Monday agreed to pay $1 for a building at 1220 E. Main St. in Marion that formerly housed the county food bank. The idea is to build a new health department at the site, provided one can be designed to fit that space. The property is owned by Marion Advancement Campaign. “The next step would be to draw up a plan,” commission chairman David Mueller said. “This in no way guarantees a building will be built.”
[HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Hutchinson Fire Department conducts pilot study for advanced EMT training
The Hutchinson Fire Department (HFD) is looking to boost its efficiency. On Feb. 1, HFD began a six-month pilot study to determine whether advanced EMT training is the answer. All the Hutchinson firefighters are EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) trained, but the advanced training would allow them to be more helpful on the scene and take steps before EMS (Emergency Medical Services) arrives. There are four Hutchinson firefighters who are AMT (American Medical Technologists) trained.
Source: KSN-TV
Norton County Hospital says rumors of closing are just rumors
Norton County Hospital (NCH) says rumors in the community that they are closing are absolutely false. In a news release to KSN, the hospital board president and its CEO said that although the board did receive a January financial report that showed the previous year had been a bad year financially for the hospital, the same has been true for rural hospitals across the country. They say the board is committed to making financially responsible decisions that preserve the hospital.
Source: KSN-TV