Kansas Municipal News
One of 3 sites in Sedgwick County could have electronic gambling machines
Sedgwick County will soon have a new gaming facility with historical horse racing machines at one of three potential sites: Towne West Square in west Wichita, Wichita Greyhound Park in Park City, or at a planned $160-million entertainment complex in Park City. Sports betting legislation signed into law in Kansas last year cleared the way for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission to license an operator of up to 1,000 historical horse-racing machines in Sedgwick County.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Wichita delays action on tobacco ordinance
Wichita City Council members have delayed action for a week to consider language in an ordinance that will establish new penalties for people who sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. The ordinance eliminates the criminal penalty for people under 21 to possess tobacco, but law enforcement officers can still confiscate tobacco items. The ordinance will create a minimum fine of $200 and a maximum of $1,000 with six months in jail for retail employees who sell tobacco to minors. There’s also a $250 penalty for a business that sells tobacco to underage people, and that fine can be increased with multiple offenses, leading up to a license suspension.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Harvey County will consider changing rules at county parks
The Board of Harvey County Commissioners got their first look at revised regulations for the county’s three parks Thursday morning. Commissioners didn’t take action, but the revised regulations will be brought back before them next week. The regulations will more clearly define when park staff and law enforcement can have someone removed from park grounds for behavior that is illegal, dangerous or unreasonably disruptive. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber said the park regulations were last updated in 2019. He said the new regulations would go into effect April 1, which is when the annual park passes go on sale, if commissioners approved them next week.
Source: Harvey County Now
Kelly admin wants extra funding for STAR Bonds. Critics say that’s proof it doesn’t work
For years, a controversial sales tax incentive in Kansas has been billed as a way to build transformational tourist destinations that draw visitors from across the region. Kansas STAR Bonds have helped to build well-known attractions like the Kansas Speedway and Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. But state leaders have often over-promised and under-delivered on STAR Bonds projects, allowing the bonds to fund more mundane uses like adding new turf to soccer fields or creating shopping centers. The program is now at risk because of its reliance on local taxpayers to pay off project debts.
Source: Kansas City Star
Consultants recommend City of Lawrence allocate $1.4M in grant funds to affordable housing
Statistics and survey responses made clear that affordable housing is Lawrence’s most pressing need in order to alleviate and prevent homelessness, consultants told the city commission on Tuesday. The city has been allocated about $1.64 million in federal HOME-ARP funds, but it must provide a plan for how it’s going to spend those dollars by March 31. Consultants received survey responses from 918 Lawrence and Douglas County residents. Of those responses, 38.5% identified construction of new affordable rental housing units as their highest priority for the HOME-ARP funds.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Overland Park to hold special sales tax election for street upgrades
Overland Park is now set to hold a special mail-in election this June asking voters to approve a dedicated sales tax that would go towards improving aspects of the city’s aging infrastructure. Notably, city officials say funds raised by the tax would also allow the city to reduce its reliance on chip seal, the controversial road resurfacing method. The Overland Park City Council Monday night unanimously approved putting the proposed 3/8-cent special sales tax up for a vote. If approved, the new tax would be an increase from the city’s current 1/8-cent sales tax, which is set to expire in March 2024.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for March 6, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.
Wichita’s historic former Firehouse No. 7 in Riverside to be auctioned
An unusual building is up for auction in Riverside this month. The 2,112-square-foot property at 901 N. Porter Ave., which is at the northwest corner of Franklin and Porter, was built as Wichita’s Firehouse No. 7 in 1922. “That’s really got a lot of history to it,” said auctioneer Rick Brock of McCurdy Real Estate & Auction. According to the Kansas Firefighters Museum archives, the $25,000 station initially had four firefighters assigned there.
Source: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |
Century II switching to digital payment system for parking
Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center is partnering with ParkMobile to offer daily and event parking payments through the mobile app. The center says that visitors can now pay for on-demand parking digitally at the Century II parking lots east of the venue and south of the former library. “Being located in Downtown Wichita, our venue is at the heart of a high-traffic area,” said Chris Whitney, General Manager of Century II. “By integrating ParkMobile’s digital parking payment system, our guests can now park at our events in a more seamless and efficient manner. Visitors will use ParkMobile for daily and event parking, creating a contactless parking experience.”
Source: KAKE – News
Gary Janzen, new Wichita Director of Public Works and Utilities
“From water infrastructure, to road maintenance, to snow and ice removal, Public Works touches every facet of our community. Mr. Janzen has helped our Public Works Department make enormous progress on the City’s infrastructure during his tenure. We look forward to Gary’s continuing service to the community,” said City Manager Robert Layton.
Source: KAKE – News
New Sedgwick County Election Commissioner shares plans
Changes are coming to the Sedgwick County Election Office. The Kansas Secretary of State, Scott Schwab, has appointed Laura Rainwater as the county’s new election commissioner. Rainwater is the third Sedgwick County Election Commissioner since 2021. Angela Caudillo resigned in December 2022, and Tabitha Lehman was not re-appointed in 2021. Rainwater is hoping to use her skills from working elections to help her in this new position. “14 to 15 hours days every time there is an election, but it gives me a sense of pride to serve in that way,” said Rainwater.
Source: KSN-TV
Dodge City airport receives $7.3 million for terminal improvements
Dodge City Regional Airport has received $7.3 million from Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminal Fund. The funding will be used for the first phase of the airport’s expansion plan. The funds will be used to update the previous design, remove and expand the south portion, and remodel the rest of the terminal building. The airfield vault in the basement of the terminal will also be moved to an enclosure outside. “We are genuinely excited and honored to be awarded the 7.3 Million Dollars from the FAA to help renovate the Dodge City Regional Airport Terminal,” says City Manager Nick Hernandez.
Source: KSN-TV
City expected to pay $200,000 in settlement for 2019 Wichita police shooting
The Wichita City Council is being asked to approve a $200,000 settlement with a man shot by police on July 14, 2019. On the agenda for the council’s Tuesday’s meeting is a recommendation from the law department to settle because of the “uncertainty and risk of an adverse judgment at trial,” according to the council’s agenda. The agreed-upon settlement covers the city and officer Drake Kreifels, who shot Christian Joel Washington after a domestic disturbance. Kreifels shot three times, hitting then-26-year-old Washington once in the abdomen.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Sedgwick County adds new services for those in jail with mental illness
Sedgwick County has taken several steps to make mental health services more accessible for inmates in the county jail. Last March, the Sedgwick County Commission joined a national effort — the Stepping Up initiative — to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail. Sheriff Jeff Easter has estimated that about one-third of people in the approximately-1,500 person jail have mental illness. Since then, the county jail has put a number of steps in motion. That includes no longer charging people in jail a $5 co-pay for mental health medication.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Overland Park loses 150-year-old tree for U.S. 69 toll lanes
A 150-year-old bur oak tree in Overland Park has been removed despite the local residents’ efforts to save it from being cut down. The Kansas Department of Transportation removed the tree in late February to make room for a basin for stormwater runoff as part of the 69Express toll lane project. The bur oak stood on the hill at the southwest corner of West 119th Street and U.S. 69.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Kansas City seeks incentive from Kansas for international flight
The mayor of Kansas City Missouri is asking Kansas to kick in $5 million to help bring a new direct international route to its newly opened $1.5 billion airport. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas sent a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly in early January asking Kansas to match a $5 million contribution from the state of Missouri. The request, still standing, comes after the Missouri General Assembly last year approved $5 million in federal stimulus money to help Kansas City recruit an international carrier.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Kansas governor announces $5 million for short-line rail projects
Kansas will spend nearly $5 million on nine short-line rail maintenance and rehabilitation projects. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the funding on Tuesday. The comes from the state’s Department of Transportation’s Short Line Rail Improvement Fund (SLRIF) program. “These nine rail improvement projects will strengthen Kansas’ agriculture supply chain, connecting our farmers and ranchers to regional, national, and international markets,” Governor Kelly said in a press release. “My administration will continue to invest in needed and commonsense infrastructure improvements like these to maximize our state’s economic potential.”
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Jacqueline Kelly departs Bel Aire for city attorney job in Derby
Jacqueline Kelly will leave her job as city attorney for Bel Aire to start later this month as city attorney for Derby. Her first day will be March 20. “Bel Aire has been great, and it’s growing so nicely, I’m just happy for the city but also very excited to be part of all the good things going on in Derby,” Kelly said in an interview with the WBJ.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Kansas bills would allow bar-hopping, more bars to be opened on Sunday
Alcohol laws could be changing in Kansas after the Kansas House of Representatives passed two bills. The first bill would allow anyone over the age of 21 to “bar-hop” in a common consumption area, which means someone can have a drink hand and walk to another bar. The power to establish those areas would be left with cities and local governments. A second bill approved by the Kansas House would allow more bars to be opened on Sundays.
Source: KMBC.com
Park City getting second casino?
Boyd Gaming Corp. announced Feb. 28 it submitted an application to the state to build and operate a historical horse-racing (HHR) gaming facility in Park City. The casino would be located directly south of Hartman Arena. Boyd Gaming operates the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane. It plans to partner with Laham Development for the construction of Diamond Jo Park City. “We looked at a number of sites in Sedgwick County when we started working with Boyd Gaming,” said George Laham of Laham Development. “After looking at those sites, we decided that this was certainly the best site in the county. We’re excited about being in Park City because of the vision they have for the future. They’ve done a wonderful job in the last couple of years with their development and attracting great concepts to the market. The way that they’re looking forward is something that we want to be a part of.”
Source: AV News