Kansas Municipal News
Local and regional Kansas airports receive funding for repairs and upkeep
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly today announced that some local and regional airports will receive Kansas Airport Improvement Program funding for repairs and upkeep. Officials with the state say funding is strictly for the planning, constructing, or rehabilitating public-use general aviation airports. “Whether it be airplane manufacturing, a link in the supply chain logistics, or travel, the Kansas aerospace industry is an essential part of our state’s economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These grants ensure the safety and longevity of Kansas airports, all while contributing to economic growth and job creation.”
Source: KOAM News
Dogs could come back to Shawnee brewery if bill passes
Dogs could be allowed back inside Transport Brewery in downtown Shawnee if a bill in Topeka backed by a local lawmaker passes. Last summer, state regulators from the Kansas Department of Agriculture prohibited the brewery and others like it from having dogs inside its taproom, deciding the space fits the formal definition of a “food preparation” area. But a bill currently making the rounds in the Kansas House could change that.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Cities defeat efforts to restrict planning outside boundaries
Cities on Wednesday defeated legislative efforts to curb their ability to plan for development just outside their boundaries, an authority they said was important for ensuring orderly growth patterns. The House local government committee turned back a bill repealing the ability of municipalities to impose land-use requirements in a three-mile area just outside the city limits.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
House panel limits cities ability to regulate vacant property
A House committee on Wednesday morning signed off on a compromise bill that will limit the ability of local governments to regulate vacant and commercial property. The House Local Government Committee agreed to retain the ability of local governments to impose registration requirements on a vacant residential or commercial property in order to keep it from falling into disrepair and blight. However, they could not impose fees or taxes for registering the properties.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Manhattan parks and rec proposes facility fee structure based on peak hours
Manhattan city officials have proposed using peak and non-peak hours in an update of parks and recreation rental fees. City recreation superintendent Chris Curtis told Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday that staffers in his department have been looking at ways to improve the department’s cost recovery model to better utilize department funds. He said there are currently two categories for parks and rec rental fees — commercial and non-commercial. “In practice, we hardly ever charge the commercial rate,” Curtis said, “as it’s hard to identify a customer as commercial or not.”
Source: themercury.com
Change of land use primary focus of crypto data center hearing in Jefferson County
A proposal to develop a commercial data center about a mile north of McLouth along the east side K-92 highway will go before the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission Monday, Feb. 27. … The request is being made by Crypto Colo Center Corp. (CCC) … “In short, the applicant is proposing a small scale data center that utilizes metal storage shipping containers to house the computer components needed for the data center. Those containers are proposed to be powered by generators fueled by natural gas that is produced on site,” Dustin Parks, Jefferson County’s community development director, explained. … In its “executive summary,” CCC states, “We specifically would like to point out that Kansas is an important location for us, as it has large deposits of underused pressurized natural gas, and we plan to scale our business by taking over additional gas production leases around our current 81-acre phase one facility.”
Source: JeffCountyNews
Kansas school administrators question bill adding school board members to district payroll
The hypothetical cost of implementing a Kansas House bill enabling local school districts to pay elected board members $20 per hour for a commitment of less than two hours a week would cost taxpayers $2.8 million annually. Adopting the change would break a 50-year precedent in Kansas law that made local school board members volunteers without a salary, but the idea seemed to make sense to Rep. Kristey Williams, chair of the House K-12 Budget Committee. She said during a Tuesday hearing the legislation could serve as a token of appreciation for board members and affirm the value placed on work to improve education of children in public schools. “We don’t have this restriction on municipalities or counties,” Williams said. “Do you think paying someone could at least give them the sense that they have a greater obligation to be informed?”
Source: Kansas Reflector
Harvey County residents could vote on wind towers
The wind energy regulations adopted by county commissioners in October appear headed to a vote after about two dozen people voiced their disapproval during a marathon Harvey County Commission meeting Tuesday morning that dragged into the afternoon. … The remainder of the meeting was contentious at times until commissioners agreed to consider a six-month moratorium on wind turbines and also put the issue of renewable energy to a public vote. Planning and Zoning Director Karen Rothe led off the official discussion by telling commissioners that the planning commission had been inundated with people asking them to revisit the 1,000-foot setback requirement or to ban wind turbines.
Source: Harvey County Now
Newton BOE splits over closing, shrinking Walton
On a 4-3 vote, the Newton Board of Education voted to reduce Walton Rural Life Center and Northridge Elementary School to one-section schools, meaning one classroom per grade. The decision followed two previous board discussions, beginning on Jan. 26, about shrinking enrollment leading to a decreased need in space and staff, as well as high turnover in existing staff, blamed on low district pay. “We have to react to the loss of students in the district,” Board Member Matt Treaster said at the meeting. “The first option of doing nothing isn’t an option.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Lawrence City Commission approves ordinance changes aimed at helping people find housing
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on source of income, as well as status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. The change also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status. It means that landlords will not be able to discriminatorily deny someone housing just because their rent money will come from a housing voucher, settlement, benefit, subsidy, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher and more. … Many large, out-of-state landlords have stopped accepting vouchers in Lawrence, Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said — but he said in speaking to those landlords, they have said they accept them in cities or states that require them to accept vouchers, and they don’t accept them in places that don’t. He said he thought that was a pretty compelling argument.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for February 14, 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.
Popularity growing, Great Bend Rec getting involved with eSports
The gaming world of eSports has been around for some time, but the explosion in popularity over the last few years has caused many markets to get involved. The Great Bend Recreation Commission is now in the process of bringing eSports, video games turned into a spectator sport, to the community to enjoy. Getting advice from Barton Community College eSports coach Curtis Rose, Great Bend Rec Business Director Joe Henry said the Rec wants to create tournaments and leagues for gamers to compete, but also for those interested in watching.
Source: GC Telegram
Inflation Brings Back the Heat
The Federal Reserve can probably take last month’s bump up in inflation in stride. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t care about it. The Labor Department on Tuesday reported that overall consumer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in January from December and it revised December’s monthly change from down 0.1% to up 0.1%. Core prices, which exclude the often volatile food and energy categories in an attempt to better capture inflation’s trend, rose 0.4% in January, with December’s gains revised to 0.4% from 0.3%.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets
U.S. inflation is likely ‘far stickier’ and could last a decade, Bill Smead says
U.S. inflation is likely to be “far stickier” and could last a decade, according to Bill Smead, chief investment officer at Smead Capital Management. Wall Street is gearing up for key inflation data later Tuesday, when the Labor Department releases its January consumer price index. It is a widely followed inflation gauge that measures the cost for dozens of goods and services spanning the economy. “The enthusiasm … right now is the hope that we’ll get a friendly Fed out of a soft landing, and we do not believe that is going to be the case,” Smead told CNBC’s “Streets Sign Asia.”
Source: Economy
Kansas Tourism Announces $400,000 Available in Attraction Development Grants
Kansas Tourism today announced the Attraction Development Grant program is open for applications. A total of $400,000 is available. Attraction Development Grants provide strategic economic assistance to public or private entities, or not-for-profit groups, that are developing new or enhancing existing tourism attraction in the state. The deadline for applications is March 31. “The projects that we are looking for with these grants are those that will bring new visitors to Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Each person that visits our state also supports our economy, by eating at our restaurants, staying at our hotels and shopping at our stores. These Attraction Development Grants will help entice more people to choose Kansas for their next adventure.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
City sponsoring logo design contest
The City of Hiawatha has announced its first ever Logo Design contest. City officials said the current logo has served the city well, but they are looking to freshen it up with a high quality digital image. The city is looking for talented local artists who can design a logo representative of the City of Hiawatha. Examples include the Davis Memorial, Clock Tower, maple leaf and clock tower. Submissions are due by Friday, March 31 to mgreen@cityofhiawatha.org or drop off at City Hall. The winner will receive $150 in Chamber Bucks.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Mission Hills removes coyote traps from park after dogs injured
Mission Hills officials say they plan to re-evaluate how to handle an increase in coyote activity after two dogs were injured this month after being caught in traps placed for coyotes at a city park. City officials say a city staff member is licensed to trap through a nuisance wildlife control permit, and signage and mailers went out as a warning the week before the “non-lethal” traps were set in an “unmaintained” corner of the park.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Commerce Department seeks to expand mega project incentives
The state Commerce Department is asking lawmakers to expand a lucrative tax incentive to land a new major economic development project on the heels of securing Panasonic and Integra. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul Hughes appeared before the House commerce Tuesday, asking for an extension of the incentive program though Dec. 31, 2024 as well as more incentives for training and employee relocation. Hughes said interest in Kansas from mega projects has slowed since the Legislature approved the first package of incentives that are set to lapse at the end of the 2023.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
State funds will allow apartment expansion
The City of Winfield has been awarded more than $1.8 million in state housing funds to help expand an apartment complex currently under construction, according to Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall. The funds from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation include $650,000 in Moderate Income Housing funds and $1.2 million in Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credits. The money will go toward an additional 48 units in the 71-unit moderate income apartment complex being built at 19th Avenue and Bliss Street in Winfield. This project is being built by Petra Development.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Nearly $20 Million in Grants Aim to Reduce Number of Kids in Foster Care
Governor Kelly announced a new set of Family First Prevention grants totaling nearly $20 million. The grants will create and grow programs aimed to prevent children from entering the foster care system. The Governor said in a statement, “Family First programs have been proven to keep families together, improving outcomes for our children long-term and saving our state money down the road. They have contributed to the nearly 20% drop in the total number of children in foster care since the start of my administration. That’s why we have worked across the aisle to direct both state and federal funding to expanding these successful programs.”
Source: 101.3 KFDI