Kansas Municipal News
With Panasonic aboard, what’s next for the rest of De Soto’s former Sunflower plant?
The buildout of De Soto’s Astra Enterprise Park, formerly Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, won’t begin and end with Panasonic’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery factory. Here’s a look at what the 9,035-acre site, which the partnership has owned since 2005 and in the fall renamed Astra Enterprise Park. No Wizard of Oz theme park is in the cards this time, but the vast swaths of land Sunflower has set aside for projects — and preservation — nevertheless promise significant new vitality for the former World War II powder and propellant plant site’s longtime owners have envisioned.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Hixson retiring as Mulvane city administrator
At its Jan. 16 meeting, during an executive session, Kent Hixson announced to the Mulvane City Council his plans to officially retire from his position as Mulvane City Administrator in 2023. Hixson has served as the city administrator in Mulvane since 1994, holding a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University. He has been an ICMA credentialed manager since 2002. While the city will start the search for his replacement shortly, in his announcement the 67-year-old Hixson noted he plans to stay on in his role through Oct. 6.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
New RCPD director settling in to new position
In the first month since taking over as the sixth director of the Riley County Police Department, Brian Peete has done a lot of visiting with members of the public. A well-attended meet and greet was held Thursday at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. A day later, Peete visited with KMAN, calling the ceremony both heartwarming and emotional. “It’s extraordinarily refreshing and blessed to be part of a community that has high expectations, but also understands that it takes everyone to move public safety and to move just the general vibe of a community forward,” he said. Peete was hired by the Riley County Law Board in late October, but finds himself in a unique position, now that four of the seven members who hired him based on a more progressive approach to law enforcement, have since transitioned off the board, swinging the political pendulum from a liberal entity to a more conservative one. Peete says he’s been reassured by the new board, who have expressed support for him and RCPD.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Deputies Recovering Well After Dodge City Shooting
The Ford County Sheriff’s Office provided updates Friday on the condition of the deputies injured during an officer-involved shooting in Dodge City Monday morning. Deputies Gary Salmans and Brandon Hornback were identified as the Ford County deputies who were injured. Deputy Salmans was hit by shrapnel during the incident. He was treated and released from St. Catherine’s Hospital in Dodge City Monday afternoon. Deputy Hornback was shot and taken to a hospital in Wichita where he underwent surgery. The Clark County Sheriff identified Undersheriff Wallace Long as the third deputy who was injured. He too was taken to a hospital in Wichita. All three men are now recovering from their injuries at home, and are said to be doing well.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
As petition gains steam, Manhattan official says fees are needed to maintain Aggieville parking garage
An online petition calling for free parking for Aggieville employees has more than 5,900 signatures as of Friday. Fees for the new parking garage on North Manhattan Avenue took effect on Jan. 17. But a city official says the city government needs the money for upkeep of the building. Employees at Aggieville’s Bluestem Bistro started the petition — “Free Parking for Aggieville Employees” — three weeks ago on change.org. “Employee parking in Aggieville has been a struggle for years, and with recent construction, it is only getting worse,” said a statement on the online petition.
Source: themercury.com
Winfield prepares for sesquicentennial celebration
The Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Winfield 150 Committee is making plans to celebrate 150 years since the town’s incorporation date in 1873 and residents are invited to participate in the festivities. There are many ways to get involved, starting with becoming a sponsor of the celebration. The chamber is asking for supporting sponsorships of $150 or more to help with the costs of the big community celebration weekend June 2-4.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
John Brown and early town of Lane topic of Franklin County Historical Society meeting
The Pottawatomie Massacre was over in a matter of hours, but its effects rippled throughout the world long after. Grady Atwater, site administrator for the John Brown State Historic Site, will present “John Brown and Lane, Kansas,” as part of the 86th annual meeting of the members of the Franklin County Historical Society… Atwater holds a Master of Arts in History from Emporia State University and wrote his master’s thesis on John Brown, titled “John Brown, Religion and Violence, Motivation in American History.” Atwater also writes “History and Heritage,” a weekly column in the Miami County Republic. During his program, Atwater will present the story of John Brown’s raid against proslavery settlers near present-day Lane and establish the event’s national and international historic importance.
Source: Osage County News
Work progressing on PD, court building in Great Bend
The new City of Great Bend Justice Center at 12th and Baker, is taking shape, with the concrete slab in place and the steel beams rising from the surface. Completion of the 20,000-square-foot nearly $9 million facility, the new site of the Police Station and Municipal Court, is expected by the end of August, said Police Chief Steve Haulmark. “It’s moving right along,” he said. They are excited about moving from their current cramped, outdated location at 1217 Williams.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Hawkins appointed as new Bourbon County clerk
Bourbon County has its second county clerk in about as many years. During a special convention Thursday evening at the Empress Event Center, the Bourbon County Republican Central Committee appointed county employee Jennifer Hawkins as the new county clerk. If the appointment is approved, Hawkins will replace current clerk Ashley Shelton, who issued her resignation Jan. 17. Shelton’s last day is Feb. 3.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
Heroes home, recovering after deadly shootout in Dodge City, Sheriff Carr reports
The pair of Ford County Deputies Gary Salmans and Brandon Hornback, as well as Clark County Deputy Wally Long, are all home, healthy and surrounded by loved ones, Ford County Sheriff Bill Carr told the Dodge City Globe Friday. They each were wounded Jan. 23 in a wild shootout on Wyatt Earp Boulvevard, where they shut down a deadly duo on the run and wanted for murder in Phoenix. Before his demise at the hands of Southwest Kansas law, the late Leroy Malone shot Hornback and Long in the face. Long, a dedicated civil servant very close to retirement, and Hornbeck were both transported to a Wichita hospital for treatment where Hornback underwent surgery.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Dodge City again honored as Top True Western Town
Dodge City stands as an icon of the American west. It has been called home by some of the most legendary lawmen and outlaws. That pedigree resulted in one the most beloved western television programs in history, Gunsmoke, being set in Dodge City. That remarkable history has been kept alive, giving visitors a glimpse of what life was really like in the West. That is one of the reasons Dodge City is honored as #5 among True West Magazine’s 2023 Top Western Towns.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Sedgwick’s new city administrator wants to meet everyone
A month into his tenure, Sedgwick City Administrator Kyle Nordick believes he’s caught up with issues overlooked while the city didn’t have an administrator and is starting to look forward to future projects. That has been his biggest challenge so far—getting the pertinent information on projects that are in the works, on the cusp of being started, and ones that should have started but haven’t. He said that so far he’s had a fantastic experience and is proud of the city staff who show up every day with a heart to make Sedgwick the best place to live.
Source: Harvey County Now
Cheney looks within for new school leader
The new superintendent for Cheney Public Schools is a familiar face – Marc Woofter, the current Cheney Elementary School principal. Woofter’s hiring was announced at the end of last week. He will take over from David Grover, who is retiring at the end of the current school year. Woofter was not among the three finalists announced the previous week. The board interviewed Tim Hayden and Jason Cline. The third candidate was not interviewed and a meet-and-greet was canceled. That candidate was Chuck Lambert. It appears that Hayden pulled out of the running as well. Days after his meet-and-greet, he was announced as a finalist in Renwick’s superintendent search. Hayden was named the new USD 267 superintendent on Monday evening.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers
Municipal Bond Trends for January 27, 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.
Fiber internet company heading to Salina residents
People in Salina will soon see a new name and option when it comes to internet service providers in the area, with fiber internet for residents making its way to the city soon. The Salina City Commission approved a licensing agreement to allow Clearwave Fiber to install fiber optic cable in the public right-of-way within the city. “Clearwave Fiber is a newly formed company that’s focusing on expanding their network in the state of Kansas,” said Dean Andrew zoning administrator for the city. While Clearwave has its headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, it has been making its way into other states over the past year.
Source: Salina Journal
Meet Saline County’s new K-9 therapy dogs
A couple new faces at Ell Saline and Southeast of Saline schools also happen to come with four paws. h Saline County School Resource Officers Tyler Casteel and Braden Long introduced their K-9 partners to their respective districts earlier this month after attending a week-long training in Florida. The deputies traveled to the Brevard County Florida Sheriff’s Office “Paws and Stripes College” to learn the ins and outs of handling a law enforcement investigative therapy dog.
Source: Salina Journal
Kansas has public land scarcity: KDWP hopes for more public land for hunting and fishing
Only two states offer a lower percentage than Kansas does of public land available for hunting and fishing, legislators were told Thursday morning. “Our state is pretty shy on public lands,” the Kansas Senate’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard from Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. KDWP hopes to improve on that, he said.
Source: CJonline
The nation’s first woman mayor — and 7 other things you didn’t know about the Sunflower State
As a joke, several men in 1887 nominated Susanna Madora Salter, a 27-year-old Woman’s Christian Temperance Union officer, on the Prohibition Party ticket to be mayor of Argonia in south-central Kansas. But the joke was on them. “Salter surprised the group and received two-thirds of the votes,” says the website of the Kansas Historical Society. “She was elected in April 4, 1887, just weeks after Kansas women had gained the right to vote in city elections.”
Source: CJonline
Preachers offer views on prayer before meetings
The Board of Harvey County Commissioners could be taking up the question this coming Tuesday as to whether meetings will begin with a prayer. Commissioner Becky Reimer proposed adding an invocation at her first two meetings. Fellow Commissioners Don Schroeder and Randy Hague already voted to add the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of meetings. If they vote to add an invocation, questions may persist as to who would be asked to lead the invocation and what religions would be included. Newton City Commissioner Clint McBroom, who also serves as pastor of the First Church of God, said he didn’t have a personal preference about whether meetings should start with a prayer. “Of course, I’m concerned about opening the door for a wide variety of strange things happening,” he said.
Source: Harvey County Now
Barton County a part of ROZ student program
As an incentive to help reel professionals back into Barton County, the County Commission Wednesday morning approved a resolution authorizing participation in the Rural Opportunity Zone Student Loan Repayment Program for calendar year 2023. The program provides up to a $15,000 benefit per applicant as a workforce recruitment tool for eligible persons establishing a home in Barton County, said Operations Director Matt Patzner. The Kansas Department of Commerce requires counties to pass a resolution obligating them to participate in this ROZ program for at least five years. “So essentially, this resolution would be allowing for this program to take place within Barton County,” he said, adding the county has no financial commitment. The business hiring the applicant covers half the benefit with the state covering the other. “This is a good program to get some professionals back into the county,” he said. “The state can kick in some money for it.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune