Kansas Municipal News
Bitcoin mining’s future in Harvey County still uncertain
Sean Reese said the future the bitcoin mining operation run by his company, Print Crypto, Inc., in the southeast part of Harvey County remained in doubt. The Board of Harvey County Commissioners unanimously upheld the Harvey County Planning Commission’s decision to deny a rezoning request for Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., last week. The decision likely means Print Crypto will have to move trailers full of computer equipment used for bitcoin mining.
Source: Harvey County Now
April’s burn ban isn’t a ban on all fires
For over a decade, Kansas has implemented a burn ban for the 16 counties around the Flint Hills. Still, many Kansans have a misconception of what they can and cannot burn. The ban includes all open burning of any waste, including vegetation and wood waster, structures or other material on any premises, according to a recent news release by Sedgwick County. Exceptions include pasture, crop, range, and wildlife or watershed management. Among those 16 counties are Sedgwick and Marion. Brad Crisp, Fire Marshal for Sedgwick County Fire District #1, said they get calls from people asking if they can still smoke their brisket.
Source: Harvey County Now
Does your recycling really get recycled? Inside Kansas City area processing plants
Reduce, reuse, recycle. We’ve all heard it before. Many of us had it drilled into our brains in school growing up, or from family members or friends. Even though we’ve been told that recycling is the right thing to do, based on what The Star has heard from readers, there are still some pretty big questions lurking in the minds of Kansas Citians. Mainly: Is recycling even real, and is it worth it? The Star asked readers about what questions or concerns you have about trash and litter in the metro to help fuel a series of stories we’re starting to publish this week. Residents in at least 12 different ZIP codes around KC asked and shared doubts with us about the effectiveness of recycling.
Source: KC Star Local News
Pit bulls are still banned in towns around Kansas City. These dog lovers are fighting for a repeal
Around Kansas City, some municipalities had pit bull bans on the books for decades. But Independence[, Missouri] only passed its law after a handful of highly-publicized pit bull attacks in 2006. In Kansas City, Missouri, a pit bull killed a 71-year-old woman after it jumped a neighbor’s fence, and an Independence man was nearly mauled to death by three pit bulls the same year. Over the last five years, many local governments have removed breed-specific bans from their city and county charters. Wyandotte County instituted a pit bull ban in 1990 that threatened violators with jail sentences of up to 90 days or a fine of up to $1,000. Leaders repealed it in 2019. Overland Park, Liberty, and Excelsior Springs have also repealed their bans in recent years. A bill introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives this session would prevent cities from regulating dogs by breed.
Source: KCUR News
High costs continue to hurt Winfield hospital
William Newton Hospital saw an increase in patient revenue and decreased operating expenses during the first month of the year, although high contract labor costs contributed to a financial loss of January, WNH trustees learned during their meeting on Thursday. Total patient revenue for January was $8.7 million, an increase of about $169,000 from December. Total net patient revenue was $3.8 million, an increase of about $35,000. That was primarily because of increased outpatient revenue, hospital CFO Kara Goff said.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Cap on short-term rental units to remain for now, Lawrence City Commission decides
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday decided to table a discussion on raising or eliminating the cap on the number of short-term rental units property owners may license in some parts of town. Following an increase in short-term rental units like Airbnbs in past years, commissioners discussed possibly changing the limitation of how many units can be licensed or owned for that purpose — currently three per person. Discussions surrounding the short-term rental industry in Lawrence have been ongoing for years. Tuesday night’s meeting agenda highlighted times when local policy was altered, including in 2020.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for April 4, 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.
KS March Taxes Surpass Estimate
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that total tax collections for March 2023 were $758.3 million. That is $64.9 million, or 9.4%, more than the monthly estimate. That is also $78.7 million, or 11.6%, more than March 2022. “Time and again, we have exceeded our estimated tax collections, providing further proof that we can responsibly axe taxes on groceries, retirement, and property for Kansans,” said Governor Laura Kelly. Individual income tax collections were $314.6 million. That is $438,000 less than the estimate but $16.4 million, or 5.5%, more than March 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $102.6 million, which is $75.6 million, or 279.9%, more than the estimate and $74.9 million, or 271.1%, more than March 2022.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
City of Garden City says perimeter of historic Windsor Hotel is safe
A few days after falling bricks forced the City of Garden City to block off the perimeter of the historic Windsor Hotel, the perimeter is open again. The City says the Garden City Fire Department and the contractor for Finney County Preservation Alliance, Inc. shored up the rear wall and façade of the hotel based on the recommendations of the State Fire Marshal’s Office Structural Engineer. Finney County Preservation Alliance owns the Windsor Hotel and has been restoring the historic building.
Source: KSN-TV
With the Ogallala Aquifer drying up, Kansas ponders limits to irrigation
The Ogallala Aquifer has a visibility problem. It’s easy to see when drought, farm irrigation and city taps drain the great reservoirs of the Southwest. Bathtub rings paint the red rock walls surrounding Lake Powell as it shrinks, sounding alarm bells loud and clear. What about a body of water that’s locked away in a subterranean labyrinth of gravel and rock reaching more than 300 feet underground? The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, but we can’t see it. And, problematically, that means we can’t see it disappear.
Source: KCUR News
Engineering firm looks to expand Lenexa City Center footprint
Kiewit Engineering is hoping to grow its Lenexa City Center campus with a new 177,550-square-foot office building. On Monday, the Lenexa Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the final plan for a brand new office building for Kiewit near 89th Street and Renner Boulevard. Kiewit, based in Omaha, Neb., has long had a presence in Lenexa after purchasing a local engineering firm more than 20 years ago.
Source: Prairie Village Post
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.
Reno County appraiser explains why property valuations have increased
On Tuesday, the Reno County appraiser, Michael Plank, explained to Reno County Commissioners how valuations are calculated and why residents saw increases this year. Appraisers are responsible for discovering, listing and valuing all real and tangible property within their jurisdiction within certain exemptions for oil and gas, public utilities and some personal property. County appraisal offices must comply with Kansas statutes. Plank explained that his office follows all state statutes. “Like any other county employee, the appraiser is a public servant; we’re working for the good of the taxpayer to place fair and equal values on real and personal property,” he said.
Source: Hutch 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