Kansas Municipal News
Lawrence assistant city manager Diane Stoddard stepping down next month, accepts position as Leawood city administrator
Assistant Lawrence City Manager Diane Stoddard is leaving her position effective Jan. 13, according to a city news release Wednesday afternoon. She has accepted a position as city administrator in Leawood, according to the release. Stoddard’s role with the city manager’s office began in October 2007, according to the release. She also served as the interim city manager from June 2015 to March 2016. “It has been an honor to serve as both Assistant City Manager and, on one occasion, Interim City Manager for Lawrence over the last 15 years,” Stoddard said in the release. “As my hometown, Lawrence will always be very dear to my heart. I’m happy that this new position allows me and my family to remain close.” City Manager Craig Owens in the release called Stoddard “one of the great leaders in our profession.” “Lawrence has been gifted for years with her talent, which she shared generously with her hometown,” Owens said. “We will miss her greatly and couldn’t be more excited for her as she continues her leadership journey and public service in Leawood.” The release stated that “Continued leadership will be provided by the city manager’s office team as longer term transition adjustments are explored.” Stoddard is one of three assistant city managers, alongside Casey Toomay and Brandon McGuire.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Edgerton mulls possible own police department
Law enforcement services with Johnson County were renewed for the next year. However, at the Thursday, Dec. 15 Edgerton city council meeting, Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden said because of Edgerton’s continuing growth the city might want to consider expanding its services and needing their own police department might be in their future. “Edgerton is growing like crazy,” he said. Hayden said they should “explore some stuff” and consider assigning a lieutenant or a consistent group of officers to assist current Sheriff’s Department officer Brad Johnson for consistency with local citizens. He said knowing everyone in town helps officers serve a community better and is better for everyone. “I want to make sure you have good, solid law enforcement,” Hayden said. “It will benefit all.”
Source: Gardner News
Russell PRIDE receives $52K grant
Russell PRIDE Inc. in Russell County has received a $52,000 grant to revitalize a dilapidated downtown building, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Friday. Gov. Kelly announced the recipients of the fall 2022 Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize under-used and dilapidated downtown buildings and turn them into economic drivers in Kansas communities. A total of 15 projects from across the state are receiving almost $773,000 in matching fund grants. HEAL was created in 2021 as a partnership between the Patterson Family Foundation and the Department of Commerce. The first round of HEAL grants resulted in 32 commercial buildings being rehabilitated. “I have long believed that when you make downtowns attractive, safe places to be, more businesses, better jobs, and greater community follow,” Governor Kelly said. “That’s why my administration has worked to bring life back into our town squares by resurrecting the Kansas Main Street program and by pursuing this partnership with the Patterson Family Foundation.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Abilene unveils world’s largest belt buckle
Designed by local artist, Jason Lahr, Fluter’s Creek Metal Works, the buckle features Dwight D. Eisenhower, Wild Bill Hickok, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, Historic Seelye Mansion, C.W. Parker carousel horse, C.L. Brown telephone, a racing Greyhound and Chisholm Trail longhorn inlaid with blue quartz. “Whether you enjoy Cowboy history, art, fun photo opportunities, or the world’s largest things, make sure to add the World’s Largest Belt Buckle to your Kansas I-70 road trip,” said Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Julie Roller Weeks. The project is funded by a Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant and from donations from 100 businesses and individuals.
Source: KAKE – News
Fort Scott interim City Manager named
The Fort Scott City Commission announced their pick for the City Manager position. The commission’s choice of Brad Matkin to take over the role was confirmed Tuesday in a unanimous vote. He will replace current City Manager, Jeff Hancock. Hancock will stay on for three months to help make it a smooth transition. Previously, Matkin worked for the city’s public works department from 1989-1990. He returned to the city as the Human Resources Director in August of 2021 and has served as Assistant City Manager since September. “I’ve been a lifelong resident of Fort Scott and I’m passionate about making our community a better place to live, to work, and to raise our children, just like I’ve raised mine here. We’ve worked to assemble an excellent staff and I know I speak for all of them, as well as myself when I say we’re looking forward to building on what has already been done. We have a great community full of caring citizens. Together, from city staff to residents, we can do some good things to affect positive change in our community,” Matkin said.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Ghost town post office gutted, for sale as residence
The last remaining building in a Chase County town once called Crawfordsville and later Clements is up for sale as a house. Wichita real estate agent Ashley Sears, who listed the home for sale Dec. 11, said the owner, who doesn’t want to be identified, worked on the former Clements post office for three or four months before putting it on the market. The once-ramshackle 1907 building, 60 yards off US-50, still has its original pressed-tin ceilings and wide board floors.
Source: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin
Paola students enjoy shopping with cops
Ten lucky students in Paola recently got the opportunity to go Christmas shopping for their family members with a little help from the Paola Police Department and the Paola Walmart. The Shop With a Cop program has become an annual tradition for the Paola Police Department. Police Chief Eric Jenkins said the program is made possible thanks to a $1,500 grant from Walmart’s community grant program. The police department works with social workers at Cottonwood and Sunflower elementary schools to identify 10 students who would most benefit from the experience, Jenkins said. Paola police officers picked up the students Monday, Dec. 19, from Sunflower Elementary and took them to the Paola Walmart.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Builder advances large ‘attainable housing’ efforts in Wichita area
Liberty Communities’ projects include single-family homes within the $210,000 to $270,000 range.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 23, 2022
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 December 22, 2022
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 December 21, 2022
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 December 21, 2022
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.
Lawrence approves moratorium on downtown liquor sales rule
Lawrence city commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow some downtown establishments to derive up to 90% of their sales from liquor for the next couple of years. The resolution stems from a request from John Brown’s Underground designed to skirt a long-standing city rule that requires many downtown establishments with liquor licenses to derive no more than 45% of their sales from liquor — the rest must come from food. The ordinance was originally passed to prevent downtown from becoming a problematic bar district. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, many smaller downtown businesses “struggled and continue to struggle to comply with the 45% cap,” according to the commission agenda item. … On Tuesday, the commission heard from several people in support of suspending enforcement; many specifically mentioned John Brown’s Underground. But the resolution suspends enforcement of the sales quota for downtown businesses that are 3,000 square feet or smaller and possess valid city and state liquor licenses — it’s not specific to any particular establishment.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Emporia Municipal Band celebrates Christmas with 80th annual concert
The Emporia Granada Theatre was filled with the joyful sounds of Christmas as the Emporia Municipal Band concluded its 80th season with a new director and old musical favorites Sunday afternoon. … Nancy Riecker took up the conductor’s baton for the band at the end of the summer season this past August. She’s played flute with the Emporia Municipal Band since 2002. She was unaware, when she applied for the position, that she would become the band’s first female director in its 80-year history. “This Christmas concert is always our gift back to the city,” Riecker said. “We are so glad to be here in the beautiful Granada Theatre and give a concert for everybody to enjoy and get into the holiday spirit.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Municipal Bond Trends for December 20, 2022
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.
A little bit of old-time Hutchinson is now on display at the Reno County Courthouse
Oftentimes, pictures are more powerful than words, and that’s the case with the new photographic exhibit at the Reno County Courthouse. More than 20 photographs from the Harmon/Conard collection were blown up and framed by Framagraphic on Main Street and placed on the walls of the courthouse. The pictures, which were chosen by a committee, represent a wholistic view of Hutchinson, beginning in the late 1800s. “It enriches a life to know more about the history of the place where we are living,” said District Judge Trish Rose, one of the judges who works at the courthouse. “The remodel of the courthouse is an ideal time.” Once the remodel is complete, Rose hopes more people take advantage of touring the courthouse. “We’re one of three art deco courthouses in Kansas,” Rose said. “I have attorneys tell me ‘It’s the grandest courthouse they practice in.'”
Source: Hutch News
Lack of growth cited as being a key reason Topeka has trouble affording utilities projects
A lack of population growth is a key reason Topeka’s city government struggles to afford to make needed improvements to its underground infrastructure, City Councilman Neil Dobler said Tuesday evening. “The real issue is we’re not bringing new customers to the table,” Dobler said. Mayor Mike Padilla agreed, saying Dobler had interjected into the council’s discussion about a proposed utility rate increase a topic that, to his knowledge, “has not been considered as part of the underlying reason we are here.” When the city works to address those types of problems, Padilla said, “We really need to look at how — in the end — the growth of this city will make us healthier.”
Source: CJonline
Contract approved for drivers license restoration program in Wichita
Wichita City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a contract for the operation of a new driver’s license restoration program. The Wichita Area Restoration Program (WARP) was developed this year to deal with a growing number of suspended licenses. There are more than 200,000 suspended licenses in Kansas, and the number has doubled since 2007. About 25 percent of the state suspensions are in the Wichita area, and 70 percent of the suspensions in Sedgwick County are for failing to meet financial obligations.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
WPD officer shot in 2021 returns to the streets
A Wichita police officer shot several times last year has finally recovered enough to return to the streets. Officer Kyle Mellard was one of three Wichita Police Department employees honored during a ceremony at Wichita City Hall on Monday. The WPD presented him with a plaque naming him the 2022 Officer of the Year. But police say it was only partly because of Mellard being shot in the line of duty on June 19, 2021. It was also because of his courage and resilience after the shooting.
Source: KSN-TV