Kansas Municipal News
Wichita moves to tighten access, increase oversight on secretive police surveillance program
Where are you going, where have you been — and where are you right now? If the answer is Wichita, and you got there by motor vehicle, it’s likely the Wichita Police Department already knows. Or it can find out with a reasonable degree of certainty using its Flock Safety license plate reader surveillance system, a high-powered database that has helped Wichita police rescue kidnapped children, arrest murder suspects and recover stolen vehicles. But the power of Flock — which has been used by Wichita police since 2020 — comes with privacy concerns.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Rural Sedgwick County residents mistakenly given ballots for city elections, official says
Roughly 200 voters in rural areas outside Colwich and Garden Plain were able to vote in city elections after a mistake by the Sedgwick County Election office didn’t provide them with a separate ballot. Election Commissioner Angela Caudillo said they learned about the mistake midday Friday when the Garden Plain city clerk emailed them that a voter said they lived outside of town but had city council races on their ballot. Caudillo said they looked into Colwich after that because that city also had a precinct that covers the city and rural area. They found the same problem there — that there should have been two separate ballots for the people who live in the rural area versus the city, but there was only one.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Parsons to consider raising court costs
Parsons city commissioners’ agenda for Monday’s meeting includes topics of drainage, a closure request for the upcoming Christmas parade and a potential increase to court costs. Commissioners will look at increasing court costs from $90 to $110. Officials said court costs haven’t been raised since 2019. Of the $110, $45 would be dedicated to a fund for jail medical bills, administrative expenses and training of officers. The reason for the increase is because of rising costs of prisoners’ medical care and the ongoing cost of housing prisoners at the county jail.
Source: Parsons Sun
Johnson County approves $5.5M to expand capacity at Leawood wastewater facility
Johnson County is expanding its wastewater treatment capabilities in Leawood, following a major overhaul of the Tomahawk Wastewater Treatment Facility in that city. At Thursday’s meeting, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approved more than $5.5 million for the addition of three pump stations and one force main in Leawood. Pump stations and force mains serve as collection chambers that store and distribute wastewater.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Manhattan to start planning future of cemeteries
Administrators will approach the Manhattan City Commission to talk about a master planning effort for both Sunset and Sunrise cemeteries. …each cemetery’s facilities, operation, and availability have shifted in the past few decades. The proposed plan would give an outlook for the next 20 to 30 years of services. City manager Ron Fehr said the master plan’s development would not begin until the first or second quarter of next year, and the city is looking to develop the plan in-house. Fehr said the cemeteries’ buildings are old, outdated and small, so some new equipment does not fit.
Source: themercury.com
Kansas independent colleges and universities drive $1.1 billion of economy
According to a recent economy contribution analysis, the 20 colleges and universities that comprise the Kansas Independent College Association contributed over $1.1 billion to the state’s economy in FY 2021. Analysis also concluded the economic activity of the system supported or sustained 8,271 jobs throughout the state. The study was conducted by Parker Philips, a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in economic impact analysis. “The private, nonprofit colleges and universities of Kansas play an essential role in growing Kansas’ economy – through talent development and opening the doors of educational opportunity for the citizens of Kansas,” said Matt Lindsey, president of the Kansas Independent College Association. “It’s also important to note that through their annual operations and the impact of alumni after graduation, our colleges and universities have a significant impact on their local economies and the state as a whole.”
Source: Derby Informer | Area
McPherson College chases $500 million ‘double-match’ pledge from mystery donor
McPherson College confirmed Friday the commitment of up to $500 million from an anonymous benefactor for an extraordinary 2-for-1 matching initiative delivering resources to transform the central Kansas private liberal arts institution. If the 800-student college known for offering an undergraduate degree in automotive restoration were to make the most of the arrangement, it would need to raise $250 million by June. That would secure the full $500 million offered by the private donor. The pledge was described as the largest single commitment to a small liberal arts college in the United States.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Pittsburg holds its annual Badges and Burgers event
The Pittsburg fire department and police department team up with their grilling skills and raise money for a good cause. This event raises money for the Children’s Advocacy Center. The advocacy center is a safe place for children to come and talk about sexual abuse that has occurred to them. All proceeds of the Badges and Burgers event goes the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Parsons voters will decide sales tax question
Parsons voters will decide if the current one-half percent public safety sales tax should go up by 0.5% to 1%. If voters approve it, the tax would generate $900,000 to $1,000,000 for the city per year, said Debbie Lamb, city manager. The sales tax rate is at 9.25% now in Parsons. If approved, this new tax will set the rate at 9.75%. The tax will be used like the original one that has been set for the previous nine years, said Lamb and Jim Zaleski, city economic development director. This tax has generated approximately $7.5 million since it began in January 2014, officials said.
Source: www.chanute.com
Salina making sure its parks are fully accessible
As the City of Salina looks to update and improve its parks, leaders are taking a look at requirements to make sure they are aware of how accessible the parks and recreation system is. Though not a part of the original act passed in 1990, the current Americans with Disabilities Act now mandates equal access to parks and recreation. For Salina, much of this increased access is being addressed as the city moves forward making improvements to parks and recreation. At this time, the city’s community relations division, which includes ADA compliance, hasn’t received many, if any complaints about accessibility within the parks system, but ADA coordinator Michelle Martin said she knows there is still much that can be done to improve access within the city.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for November 4, 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 and Beth Warren.
We can grow greatness
Students at Salina Public Schools met local industry leaders and employers this week in a night dedicated to showcasing the district’s career and technical education programs. The Building Bridges event kicked off Thursday evening with Salina area leaders, school professionals, students and their families enjoying hors d’oeuvres prepared by Salina South High School’s culinary arts students. Afterward, there was networking time before the keynote speaker Tom Christy shared about his journey to Salina and co-founding Geoprobe systems, a tooling and drilling rig manufacturing company. The theme of the evening was entrepreneurship and locally owned businesses, and how Salina has historically been a successful location for starting new businesses.
Source: Salina Journal
HorseThief Reservoir receives state tourism grant
Kansas Tourism, in partnership with the Patterson Family Foundation, is providing nearly $2 million to eight tourism projects across the state to enhance the state’s growing tourism industry. Tourism Attraction Sub-grants for Kansas (TASK) were presented by Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland and Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe at an event on Thursday at Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson. HorseThief Reservoir Benefit District in Hodgeman County, is one of eight recipients to receive TASK awards. The tourism industry is the 9th largest employer in the state, generating $11.8 billion in economic output annually and saving the average Kansan $600 in yearly taxes.
Source: GC Telegram
Municipal Bond Trends for November 3, 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 and Beth Warren.
WPD, Bike Walk Wichita handing out free bike lights
The WPD’s Broadway Corridor Team and Bike Walk Wichita are working to hound out free lights for cyclists. Lights are being handed out on Friday, November 4, at Broadway and Orme, from 7 to 8 pm. More lights will be given out on Friday, November 11, at the Walgreens at Broadway and Murdock, also from 7 to 8 pm. Kansas law requires people riding a bike at night to have at least a front light and a rear reflector. Bike Walk Wichita is using grant money from the Kansas Department of Transportation to distribute lights and reflectors to bicyclists who do not have them.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
CodeRED notifications come to city of Emporia
Emporia residents have a new option to receive city notifications, according to city communications manager Christine Johnson. Johnson told the Emporia City Commission that the CodeRED Mass Notification System will allow the city of Emporia to send notifications by text, email, and automated phone call to any residents who sign up for the service via text message or the city website. She said the system was adopted to “create a way to get messages to residents,” about non-emergency issues like waterline breaks and street closures and just general information. Right now, the program will not be used for weather notifications or Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) notifications designated at the county level.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Emporia to allow residential chickens beginning Jan. 1
The Emporia City Commission approved an ordinance allowing residents to keep up to four chickens on their properties within city limits Wednesday morning. Chickens have not officially been permitted within city limits since 2012. City attorney Christina Montgomery said Ordinance 22-48 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023 and allows a resident to keep up to four chickens in residential districts with a domestic farm animal permit. The permit includes a $50 per year application fee, mandatory annual inspections and requirements for size, location and maintenance standards when it comes to chicken enclosures.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Ellinwood awarded construction funds for new hospital
Ellinwood’s work to secure funding for a replacement hospital through the USDA has proven to be worth the hard work and efforts. The Ellinwood Hospital District Board of Trustees has been notified that the $25 million in requested funding has officially been obligated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Construction of a new hospital and clinic and is expected to begin late this year or early in 2023, CEO Kile Magner stated in a news release. “This has been quite a process to say the least, and we are thrilled that all of the team’s hard work has paid off,” Magner said.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
KDOT shortages could hinder efforts this winter
The Kansas Department of Transportation is committed to keeping the highways cleared when inclement weather impacts the state, but staffing shortages continue to affect the agency with not enough snowplow operators in many areas. These ongoing shortages could affect KDOT’s ability to clear snow and ice from highways in a timely manner, said Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz. “We want motorists to know ahead of time – it’s not a matter of if the highways will be cleared this winter, but when,” Lorenz said. “KDOT crews will be proactive by shifting crews and pretreating surfaces whenever possible but having fewer employees could cause delays in removing snow and ice from all the affected roadways.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Schwan’s to build new distribution center in Salina, bring more jobs
Schwan’s Company announced Thursday it plans to build a 140,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center at its pizza-manufacturing facility in Salina. Company leaders joined government and civic officials in Salina to share details of the new project and thank the Salina and greater Kansas community. The distribution center is a new project in addition to the 400,000-square-foot expansion currently underway, the company said. The project, which is expected to begin in 2023 and be completed in early 2025, will expand the total distribution center space to 245,000 square feet. The new distribution center space will be used to store food produced by employees at the company’s pizza plant.
Source: KAKE – News