Kansas Municipal News
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
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