Kansas Municipal News
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
Effort to block cities, counties from recouping lost sales tax fails
The Kansas Senate on Tuesday rejected a plan from Republican leadership designed to prevent local governments from increasing property taxes to backfill lost sales tax revenue from a separate GOP bill. The Senate last month passed a plan to exempt food from both state and local sales taxes, which would have cut an estimated $180 million a year from local government revenue. Officials warned that the only option for local governments wishing to maintain the same level of services would be to raise property taxes. In an effort to prevent property tax increases, Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, followed up with another bill to create a fund to use state money to compensate local governments for their lost revenue. The bill provided a one-time allocation of $220 million. That bill, Senate Bill 309, was voted down 17-23 on Tuesday.
Source: Salina Journal
Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment – Local City and County Meeting Invite
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is developing a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment to plan for improved safety for people walking and biking on all public roads in Kansas. This assessment will be conducted in compliance with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance memorandum dated October 21, 2022, which states:
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide background and guidance to clarify the requirements for the Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment as described in 23 U.S.C. 148(l), as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-58, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” (BIL)). All States are required to develop a Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment as part of their Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 148(l).
PURPOSE: KDOT is hosting six (6) half-day, in-person workshops for relevant representatives of counties and cities. These workshops will improve KDOT’s understanding of VRU safety issues and to distribute information related to the VRU Safety Assessment. During these initial workshops, the project team is seeking feedback on VRU safety issues relevant to your local community or area. The primary purpose of these workshops is to discuss recent data analysis findings and to identify additional issues that are challenging to understand without local expertise. These issues may be related to VRU access, typical usage, contributing circumstances in VRU crashes, areas that may have safety issues but are being avoided by VRUs because of safety concerns and thus not apparent in crash data, and other related issues. The second purpose of these workshops is to discuss potential countermeasures, strategies, and policies that are appropriate to the context of your jurisdiction. The final purpose of these workshops is to determine if local agencies have already undertaken bicycle and pedestrian facility project development.
KDOT would like to invite one representative from your city or county that is familiar with VRU safety issues to attend one of the workshops. You may choose to attend any of the following workshops that is convenient for you:
- District 2 Workshop (North Central Kansas): 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Mon., April 17, 2023 in the KDOT District 2 Conference Room, 1006 N. Third Street, Salina, KS 67401
- District 3 Workshop (Northwest Kansas): 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Tues., April 18, 2023 in the KDOT District 3 Conference Room, 312 S. Second, Norton, KS 67654
- District 6 Workshop (Southwest Kansas): 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wed., April 19, 2023 in the Dodge City Public Library, Lois Flanagan Room, 1001 N. 2nd Avenue, Dodge City, KS 67801
- District 5 Workshop (South Central Kansas): 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Thurs., April 20, 2023
In the KDOT District 5 Conference Room, 500 N. Hendricks, Hutchinson, KS 67501
- District 4 Workshop (Southeast Kansas): 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Mon., April 24, 2023 in the KDOT District 4 Conference Room, 411 West Fourteenth, Chanute, KS 66720
- District 1 Workshop (Northeast Kansas): 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fri., April 28, 2023 in the KDOT District 1 Conference Room, 121 SW 21st Street, Topeka, KS 66612
Please RSVP by April 7, 2023, to Ingrid Vandervort (Ingrid.vandervort@ks.gov) indicating which workshop you will attend.
KU Will Offer Redesigned, Remote Training For Volunteer Fire Officers In Kansas
The University of Kansas Achievement & Assessment Institute’s Center for Certification & Competency-Based Education (C3Be) has partnered with KU’s Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute (KFRTI) to develop a new volunteer fire officer training course through the adoption of a competency-based instructional and authentic assessment model. Set to launch in early April, the redesign will make the course more accessible to volunteer firefighters across the state of Kansas, including those in rural communities, and will improve leadership at all ranks. KFRTI provides science-driven training and credentialing for fire and emergency services personnel. Courses are comprehensive, designed for entry-level firefighters through executive chief fire officers.
Source: University of Kansas
Municipal Bond Trends for March 28, 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 School District cancels school as it victim of “network security incident”
The Newton School District will not have school Wednesday, as it is experiencing a district-wide Internet outage. It was out of Internet on Tuesday. “Upon further investigation, we have learned that it is a network security incident,” a district release stated. “We have been working with external information technology experts to conduct a detailed technical investigation into the incident. We have also notified law enforcement. Please remember that our investigation is in its earliest stages and is still ongoing.” The release stated, out of an abundance of caution, the district will remain offline until it’s confident it can safely bring its network back into service. “We will update the community tomorrow regarding whether the school will be opened on Thursday, March 30, 2023,” the release stated.
Source: Harvey County Now
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.
Source: Harvey County Now
Kansas Senate moves ahead with bill limiting train length, parking distance from crossings
Sen. Carolyn McGinn has found herself on the wrong side of the track as idling freight trains miles long blocked crossings in her home community of Sedgwick. It’s more than an inconvenience to local residents, the Republican said, because motionless trains also presented life-safety hazards. Not everyone has patience to wait out the delay, she said. “In one situation,” McGinn said, “it was 20 degrees out and the kids were trying to get home from school. They started crawling underneath the boxcars to get home. Very dangerous situation.”
Source: Kansas Reflector