Kansas Municipal News
Debry hires Bel Aire’s Jacqueline Kelly as city attorney
The city of Derby recently announced it has hired Jacqueline Kelly to serve as its new attorney starting March 20. Kelly will replace former city attorney Jacque Butler. Kelly most recently served as city attorney for the city of Bel Aire and has also served in a legal capacity with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office – as assistant district attorney in the areas of civil probate/juvenile offender/traffic – and in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Energy companies want to block outside bids on projects
Kansas electric utility monopoly Evergy and other energy companies in the state want lawmakers to grant them more monopoly power over construction of new energy transmission infrastructure, a lucrative sector of the business that is expected to grow in need. Experts predict billions of dollars worth of transmission infrastructure will need to be built in the coming years. Existing energy companies want state lawmakers to help shield their share of the work from competition, while outside developers want a chance at a piece of the pie — feeding a legislative process flush with lobbyists.
Source: CJonline
Newton’s Sand Creek Station to host NJCAA Division I men’s golf tourney
The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon men’s golf team won the 2022 national championship at the Odessa Country Club in Odessa, Texas, and the 2021 national title at the Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas. If the HCC men’s golf team, led by 2022 Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee Chris Young in his 23rd season, gets the chance to “three-peat” as NJCAA Division I national champions, they can do it close
to home. The 2023 NJCAA tournament will be played May 16-19 at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton. … “The city of Newton is thrilled to host the 2023 men’s NJCAA national championship at Sand Creek Station golf course,” said Newton city manager Kelly McElroy. “Our community is honored to receive such great players and their families. Newton has much to offer in the way of shopping, dining, and entertainment and we look forward to welcoming you to our community.”
Source: Hutch News
A look at how declining home construction in Lawrence is creating concern on multiple fronts, including at the school district
The fact that Lawrence isn’t building very many single-family houses causes concern not only for [school board president Shannon] Kimball, but also with the school board-hired consultants who were tasked with making enrollment projections for the district over the next several years. Kimball said those consultants have given the district “information that leads me to believe that we may be a declining enrollment district for the next five years.” Given that the state bases a lot of its funding for K-12 education on a formula that pays the district based on the number of students it has, declining enrollments are likely to make for tighter financial times at the district. That would make the wage issue tough to address.
Source: LJWorld
Office of Broadband to Launch ‘Kansas Broadband Roadshow’
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Office of Broadband Development will take its “Kansas Broadband Roadshow” across the state beginning this week. Starting in Emporia on Wednesday, February 15, Broadband staff will travel the state to learn directly from Kansans about internet access and its availability in their communities. The meetings will give the Broadband Office a grassroots understanding of the current connectivity landscape throughout Kansas to develop an effective five-year strategic action plan and support statewide digital equity. … The Office of Broadband officially kicked off its engagement process on January 19 at the inaugural Kansas Broadband Summit. Staff gathered input from invested communities and partners to ensure strategic engagement. The upcoming public meetings will allow Kansans from across the state the chance to discuss their experiences, needs and opportunities as it relates to high-speed access and development. The office will hold events at 25 to 30 locations around the state. Special attention will be paid to groups and communities that historically have been disproportionately impacted by digital inequities. These groups include low-income households, aging populations, people with disabilities or language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, rural inhabitants, incarcerated individuals, and veterans.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
American Warrior, Inc. v. Board of Finney County Comm’rs (Procedure for issuing conditional-use permits)
This case involves an appeal from a decision of the district court of Finney County affirming the validity of a conditional-use permit issued by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of Finney County to Huber Sand, Inc. to operate a sand and gravel quarry. The Appellants argue the procedures for reviewing and issuing a conditional-use permit adopted by Finney County—in which the BZA, rather than the planning commission and board of county commissioners, can issue conditional-use permits—impermissibly varies from the procedures mandated by the Legislature. As a result, they claim the permit issued here is void and unenforceable. Because our Supreme Court has held governing bodies must follow the procedures laid out in K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 12-757 in issuing conditional-use permits, we find that Finney County has impermissibly delegated authority to issue conditional-use permits to its BZA. Accordingly, we reverse the district court and find that the conditional-use permit granted to Huber Sand is void and unenforceable.
Read the Court of Appeals opinion here.
Unified Government nets $12M following failure to build Hollywood Casino hotel
The owners of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway have paid more than $12 million in penalties for failing to build a hotel in conjunction with the casino. Kansas Entertainment LLC, a joint venture between PENN Entertainment and International Speedway Corp., now part of NASCAR, since 2015 has made $12.1 million in annual payments to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas. The yearly sums range between $988,215 and $2,333,850 over that timeframe, according to data obtained through a recent records request. The penalties stem from Kansas Entertainment’s failure to build a hotel as stipulated in its September 2009 casino development agreement with the Unified Government.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
12 Kansas towns, cities to receive $5M in federal funds in road safety grants
A dozen communities in Kansas are slated to receive federal funds to help improve road safety. Gov. Laura Kelly’s office announced that a total of $5 million in federal dollars will be distributed among 12 Kansas communities through the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. This program aims to create local transportation safety plans to identify and address transportation safety concerns. State funding through the new Kansas SS4A match pilot program will contribute to the local match as required of grant recipients. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) sent 22 letters of support for the first round of applications to the program on behalf of Kansas communities applying for SS4A funds, according to the Office of the Governor. The projects awarded within the Sunflower State are for “action plan grants” to help communities that do not currently have a roadway safety plan in place. “Local commitment and regional collaboration were instrumental in bringing Safe Streets and Roads for All funds to Kansas,” Calvin Reed, Acting Secretary of Transportation, said. “KDOT’s help with local matching funds is indicative of the importance the agency places on safety and our long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities.” KDOT agreed to contribute anywhere from 10% to 20% of the total match requirement to encourage participation in the program, according to the Office of the Governor. To receive 20%, an agency had to represent a rural area of the state and apply for a multijurisdictional planning effort to encourage regional collaboration. The cost share/match in SS4A is 80% federal and 20% local match.
The largest amount of funds, $1.36 million was awarded to Garden City as its safety plan application covers six cities and six counties in western Kansas. The other communities that secured funds through SS4A grants include:
| Grant awardee | Award amount | % local match from KDOT |
| City of Lawrence | $160,000 | 15% |
| City of Leavenworth | $280,000 | 10% |
| City of Olathe | $280,000 | 10% |
| City of Salina | $160,000 | 15% |
| City of Valley Falls | $40,000 | 15% |
| Cowley County | $160,000 | 15% |
| Dodge City | $230,434 | 10% |
| Garden City | $1,360,000 | 20% |
| Leavenworth County | $280,000 | 10% |
| Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation | $225,600 | 15% |
| SE Kansas Regional Planning Commission | $800,000 | 15% |
| Unified Gov. of Wyandotte Co./Kansas City | $1,000,000 | None |
SS4A is a five-year, $5 billion competitive grant program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure law and administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program provides support to the U.S. DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, which is described as a comprehensive approach to make roadways safer for all, including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and emergency and construction workers. SS4A plans stress responsible driving, safer roadway designs, appropriate speed-limit setting and improved post-crash care.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for February 9, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 8, 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.
Lights, cameras … Kansas? State may revive tax credit, despite effectiveness concern
On paper, Kevin Willmott and Hallmark movies are about as different as can be. Willmott, a Kansas native and professor of film at the University of Kansas, won an Academy Award for his writing of the movie “BlacKkKlansman.” Hallmark Media, based within shouting distance of Kansas in Kansas City, has become infamous for its escapist, romantic comedy romps, often set in cozy, snowy small towns. But both are united in support for Kansas reinstating a tax credit for TV and film productions, a move that supporters say is necessary to reignite the industry in the state.
Source: CJonline
Finney County approves RFP for future tourism facilities, venues
The Finney County Commission approved a facilities/venues audit and assessment RFP … with the goal to create a “long-term roadmap for future tourism product development and program enhancements that reflect Finney County’s unique needs, make up, values and existing assets that make it an active and enticing destination for both residents and visitors.” … Commissioner Lon Pishny said the proposal was a yearlong project that he initiated with an unofficial ad-hoc task force with the stakeholders of the county such as the city of Garden City, city of Holcomb, Garden City Community College, USD 457, USD 363, Finney County Economic Development Corporation, the Chamber and the CVB. The purpose of the group was to study the coordination of facilities and venues in the county, what currently exists and what it doesn’t have yet that could attract workers and visitors to the county and keep residents here, Pishny said.
Source: GC Telegram
USD 253 Board of Education pauses discussion of four-day school week
The USD 253 Board of Education is not moving forward with the consideration of a four-day school, five-day work week after reviewing the potential calendar change at its meeting Wednesday evening. Board members agreed Wednesday to set aside preliminary discussions of the revised week, after agreeing that the strategy did not seem like a fit for the district. According to Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, the request came from Thought Box input, informal feedback and responses on the 2024-2025 calendar priorities survey. Anderson-Harder said the presentation of the revised week was designed to “present a neutral foundation of the topic,” to gauge interest before conducting more research on the potential benefits and shortcomings of the revised schedule.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Will Kansas crack down on Missouri weed?
Kansas and Missouri have a long and colorful history when it comes to crossing state lines for the enjoyment of vices. Most of it has involved liquor and the states’ differing laws. Last year, with Kansas legalizing sports betting, Missourians had to start flocking west to gamble. Now we enter a new era, with recreational marijuana becoming legal in Missouri while all marijuana, including medicinal, is outlawed in Kansas…. Area law-enforcement officials on the Kansas side have said they will continue enforcing marijuana laws just as they always have. That means it won’t matter if your cannabis was obtained legally in Missouri or anywhere else, you will still be subject to arrest — and overzealous cops would be within their rights to charge you.
Source: KC Star Local News
‘Choose Topeka’ expands to accept returning residents, military
City and county leaders are working together to ensure those who currently live outside Topeka see it as a place they might want to call home. The “Choose Topeka,” program offers financial incentives to people who relocate to Topeka. Since 2019, it’s helped bring almost 100 individuals and families to the Capital City. On Wednesday, the Topeka and Shawnee County Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) approved “Choose Topeka 2.0.” Members of JEDO approved almost $400,000 from the CarryFoward fund to fund the incentive. The program will now open its applicant pool to former Topeka residents want to return and exiting military personnel.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Return of passenger trains to Cowley County lurches forward
Kansans might be riding trains to Texas in the near future. The long overdue return of passenger rail service to south-central Kansas has a much better chance of happening within the next several years than it has had in decades. A big incentive to extend and improve passenger rail service is the availability of billions of dollars in federal funding to be distributed nationwide during the next five years, it was reported at a legislative caucus in Topeka last week. That’s good news to Cowley County passenger rail proponents, who have organized to advocate the return of Amtrak for well over 20 years. Cowley County lost Amtrak service in 1979, when the Chicago-Houston Lone Star line was discontinued.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Communities talk rural health
The inaugural sessions of the Radcliff Lecture Series on Rural Health took place on Thursday at the Physicians Pavilion in Winfield and on Friday at Aunt B’s in Sedan. Hosted by William Newton Healthcare Foundation in conjunction with the Beats Go On community wellness initiative, Dr. Nancy W. Dickey, executive director of the Center for Optimizing Rural Health, spoke to more than 100 attendees on the importance of different entities working together to bolster access to health and wellness resources in rural areas. “If you’re not growing and changing, you’re dying,” emphasized Dickey during Thursday’s presentation.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Fed Governor Christopher Waller warns that interest rates could go higher than expectations
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Wednesday talked tough on inflation, warning that the fight is not over and could result in higher interest rates than markets are anticipating. Speaking to an agribusiness conference in Arkansas, Waller said the January jobs report, showing nonfarm payroll growth of 517,000, indicated that the employment market is “robust” and could fuel consumer spending that would maintain upward pressure on inflation. Consequently, he said the Fed needs to maintain its current plan of action, which has seen eight interest rate hikes since March 2022. “We are seeing that effort begin to pay off, but we have farther to go,” Waller told the Arkansas State University Agribusiness Conference in prepared remarks. “And, it might be a long fight, with interest rates higher for longer than some are currently expecting. But I will not hesitate to do what is needed to get my job done.”
Source: CNBC
Washington’s Old City Hall is ‘for sale’
The old city hall building in Washington could be yours for free, but only if you have a plan for the building. At Monday night’s city council meeting, council members agreed to attempt to give the building away one more time. It was said that multiple previous attempts to give the building away have been unsuccessful. The council is now planning to demolish the building this year if someone doesn’t take the building. The council is preliminarily planning to allocate all of this year’s money for housing demolition to take down the old city hall building. Council member Theresa Herrs said she wanted to attempt to give the building away one more time before scheduling the wrecking ball.
Source: Backroads News
Sedgwick County commissioners approve spending plan for ARPA funds
Sedgwick County commissioners have voted to approve spending plans for 2023 and 2024 for federal funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, but commissioners want to have meetings later to make changes in some items. The largest item on this year’s spending plan is $25.9 million for district court to help with a backlog of cases. In addition, construction is underway to renovate spaces in the courthouse that were left vacant when several county departments left the building. The spaces will be turned into additional courtrooms. There will also be almost $3 million to go toward public health response efforts this year. Other funds will go toward COVID-19 protection efforts, employee recruitment and other areas.
Source: 101.3 KFDI