Kansas Municipal News
Inflation expectations ease, while spending outlook tumbles, Fed consumer survey shows
Inflation expectations and the outlook for household spending growth fell sharply in September as the Federal Reserve’s rate increases take hold in the U.S. economy. Consumers expect the inflation rate a year from now to be 5.4%, the lowest number in a year and a decline from 5.75% in August, according to the latest New York Fed Survey of Consumer Expectations. That level peaked at 6.8% in June and has been coming down since as the central bank has instituted a series of rate hikes totaling 3 percentage points. Markets largely expect the Fed to continue raising rates until it brings inflation down to its long-run target of 2%.
Source: Economy
Lenexa Mayor Boehm honored with excellence award
Lenexa Mayor Michael Boehm was honored with the E.A. Mosher Excellence in Local Government Award by the League of Kansas Municipalities during a ceremony on Oct. 10, 2022 at the Overland Park Convention Center. The E.A. Mosher Excellence in Local Government Award is presented to elected city officials who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the city they serve, an active commitment to strong local government and service to the League of Kansas Municipalities. Named in honor of E.A. Mosher, League Director from 1960 to 1991, this award is designed to honor excellence and leadership at the highest level.
Source: City of Lenexa
Wichita City Council approves new food and farm council
The Wichita City Council has voted unanimously to create a Wichita-Sedgwick County Food and Farm Council to help direct the implementation of a food system master plan that was adopted earlier this year by the city and the county. The master plan will look at production, distribution and availability of food in the community and work to address issues with “food deserts” where neighborhoods don’t have convenient access to food. The plan was created in a partnership with the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita. The Food and Farm Council will serve as an advisory board to the city and county on food system issues, and it will have 14 members. Wichita Vice Mayor Becky Tuttle said the creation of the council and the food system master plan will be a game changer in addressing food deserts in the community.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
This city in Kansas really conserves its water, but that still might not be enough to survive
While communities across the semi-arid High Plains all face their share of droughts, Hays was — and is — the only city in Kansas with more than 15,000 residents but no sustainable source of water. It’s caught in the middle. Too far west for reliable rainfall and reservoirs. And too far east to tap into the massive — if disappearing — Ogallala aquifer. So when prolonged drought hits, the town’s bucket of backup plans isn’t exactly overflowing. That’s why Hays continues its decades-long quest for a sustainable water source today — it’s now in the middle of jumping through legal and regulatory hoops to build a 70-mile pipeline that would bring in water from three counties away. The 1992 crisis wasn’t the first or last time Hays has had to worry about running low on water. But it marked a turning point.
Source: KCUR News
Fort Scott airs out pungent problem; announces November sludge cleanup
For those that live or drive through Fort Scott, Kansas, you may be aware of a sewer-like odor filling the air. KOAM’s Keri Worthen today spoke with the City to discuss what is being done to fix the pungent problem. Assistant City Manager Brad Matkins says the colder the temperature, the more you can smell the lagoon from the wastewater plant. They say they have been actively treating the smell to mitigate the issue. “We are chemically treating it by putting a chemical in there twice a week, heavy doses plus we are putting a drip of this chemical, that has eliminated some of the smell,” Matkins said.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Small earthquake recorded near Marion
A small earthquake was recorded early Monday morning near Marion. It happened shortly after 12 a.m. and was centered near 77 Highway and 170th St, just east of Marion County Lake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, which recorded the temblor, there are no reports of damage or any reports from the public of having felt the early morning quake. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, there was a slightly stronger earthquake the day before in Dickinson County. It was recorded shortly after 8:30 a.m. Sunday north of 700 Avenue and just east of Rain Road, between Hope and Herrington.
Source: KSN-TV
“Human side of the badge” shown by local police
Several police departments in Southeast Kansas participate in a nationwide event meant to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they protect. The event is called “Faith and Blue.” It began in 2020, following several high profile incidents across the United States, where residents of many cities called for the defunding or dismantling of their current policing system. Out of that unrest, “Faith and Blue” was born, where law enforcement and faith-based leaders come together to unite the community with those who serve and protect.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Topeka firefighters share how to best prevent fires and stay safe
Fire safety prevention week is happening now and the Topeka Fire Department is so excited to educate people, they’re extending it. Fire safety prevention week starts Oct. 9 every year in remembrance of the great Chicago fire of 1871. The TFD cares so much about educating the public, that they devote the month of October to fire safety prevention. The theme this year is “Fire won’t wait plan your escape” and that’s exactly what the firefighters of TFD will be doing this week.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Topeka City Council talks redistricting
Ten years are up and it’s time for community members and council members to come up with a “perfect plan” of redistricting the capital city. The Topeka city council is discussing the redistricting of nine districts on Tuesday night. Committees have been meeting for several months to create a map to best equally split the population of Topeka to fit all of the districts. Redistricting is based on how much the population changes in Topeka, some neighborhoods might have a higher population than others.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Caney Hopes Water Shortage Solved By Removing Log Jam
There’s some good news for folks facing a water shortage in Caney, Kansas. The city just north of the Oklahoma state line has struggled though the drought and had to cut down water usage severely for weeks and part of the problem was decades in the making. For about 40 years, a log jam on the Little Caney River has been building, until this week. Crews have come out and started clearing out massive sections of the jam, opening up waterflow. The Little Caney River is the city’s main source of water, but low levels have brought on major problems for years. City Administrator Kelley Zellner said the solution was just out of reach all along.
Source: news9
Kansas Tourism Announces 15 Tourism Marketing Grant Award Recipients
Kansas Tourism has announced the Tourism Marketing Grant Program recipients for 2022. The Tourism Marketing Grant is an ongoing grant program designed to assist tourism organizations or businesses with new and innovative advertising and marketing projects. Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe, along with Tourism staff, spent this week visiting each awardee’s location and congratulating them with a large, ceremonial check. Kansas Tourism will provide a total of $87,708 in Tourism Marketing Grant funding for 15 tourism marketing projects to attract new visitors to Kansas and local communities.
The 2022 grant recipients include:
- Audubon of Kansas, Inc., Ellis County, $4,500 – Print, digital and radio campaign for the Kansas Prairie Chicken Festival.
- Downtown Overland Park Partnership, Johnson County, $3,350 – Website enhancements.
- Fulton Valley Farms, Butler County, $4,300 – Advertising for Fulton Valley Farms Country Christmas campaign.
- Hodgeman County Economic Development, Hodgeman County, $1,200 – Addition of new and updated promotional materials.
- Humanities Kansas, Shawnee County, $5,000 – Promotion of “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” traveling exhibit to six Kansas communities.
- Lenexa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Johnson County, $5,000 – Development of electronic visitor’s guide.
- Lindsborg Convention & Visitors Bureau, McPherson County, $10,000 – Regional digital billboard campaign for Wichita and Lindsborg.
- Luray Community Foundation, Russell County, $858 – New event advertising startup.
- Music Theatre Wichita, Sedgwick County, $10,000 – Digital marketing campaign for two large-scale musicals.
- Olathe Chamber of Commerce, Johnson County, $10,000 – Search engine optimization website upgrades.
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Sedgwick County, $10,000 – Digital and print campaign for “Best Day Bundle.”
- The Museum of Art & Light, Riley County, $10,000 – Website development and public relations campaign in preparation for the grand opening.
- Strataca, Reno County, $3,000 – Advertising for a new walking trail.
- Visit Topeka, Explore Lawrence, Visit Emporia, Visit Manhattan, $10,000 – Development of the METL Ale Trail with participating breweries in Topeka, Lawrence, Emporia and Manhattan.
- Wahlmeier Farms Vineyard, Decatur County, $400 – Print advertising campaign.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Cities of Hillsboro and Marion partner with Network Kansas to host certified Ice House Entrepreneurship Program
The cities of Hillsboro and Marion have partnered with NetWork Kansas to host the Kansas Ice House Entrepreneurship Program, a five-week class to develop entrepreneurial skills for business and life. This program, Think Like an Entrepreneur, is led by Tabor College professor of business administration, entrepreneur, and author Dr. Melinda Rangel. Classes will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings, Oct. 18-Nov. 15 at the Marion Community Building. The cost of the program, including dinner, is $50 per person. A $25 discount is offered to those who attend four of the five class sessions. The Kansas Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is for entrepreneurs and problem solvers seeking to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Proposed annexation would expand De Soto more than 14 square miles in less than a year
De Soto officials recently approved development guidelines for the portion of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant that isn’t yet within city limits, as they prepare to consider absorption of that land in the near future. Sunflower Redevelopment Group has asked the city to annex 2,800 acres, or about 4.38 square miles, south of 127th Street within the shuttered World War II powder and propellant plant from unincorporated Johnson County. Sunflower has owned the plant, located southeast of a bend in Kansas Highway 10 in western Johnson County, since 2005. Such an annexation would further balloon De Soto’s boundaries from November 2021, when the 7,400-acre city nearly doubled in size with its addition of 6,376 acres — about 9.96 square miles. That absorption included roughly 6,000 acres in the 9,000-acre ex-Sunflower plant.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
See a new side of Overland Park: famous farmers market, international foods & green space
The sprawling suburb of Overland Park is best known for its family-friendly atmosphere, celebrated schools and sweeping residential neighborhoods. But residents told The Star that there’s also plenty for visitors to do in this large municipality. The attractions range from an award-winning farmers market to a lush botanical garden complete with a sparkling lake. A favorite hiking, biking and dining spot of citydwellers and suburbanites alike, OP has something for every member of the family.
Source: KC Star Local News
KU football’s resurgence is bringing more fans to Lawrence — and headaches to some merchants
Walk down Massachusetts Street on any given Saturday you’ll and probably see a decent amount of people. When there’s a home football game, that amount increases significantly, especially this season. On Saturday, lines for restaurants extended out onto Mass Street, business closed for extended lunch hours to view the game, and groups of fans darted around lines of slow moving traffic to reach their seats at Memorial Stadium…. Businesses on Mass Street often see most of the fans drawn to Lawrence for the games, but business owners and their employees are divided on if crowds are worth trouble they can cause.
Source: KCUR News
Wichita police chief finalists talk plans, transparency, controversies
Changing the culture of the Wichita Police Department is a top priority for both candidates for the city’s top law enforcement job. But the two chief finalists have different plans for how to achieve that goal. The city of Wichita had placed a gag order on the two police chief candidates — Mario R. Knapp and Joseph P. Sullivan — but lifted it the day after an Eagle column criticized the city’s lack of transparency. In exclusive interviews with The Eagle, the two candidates fielded questions for more than an hour each about their visions for the police department, troubles within the Wichita Police Department, transparency and their own controversies.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Osage County deputy recognized for saving life at Kansas state park
An Osage County Sheriff’s deputy is being recognized for his quick actions which helped save a person’s life. Deputy Richard Hamm was presented with a Life Saving Award by Sheriff Chris Wells on Monday for his actions on Aug. 20, 2022. … Hamm carries his own personal automated external defibrillator (AED) in his patrol car and quickly arrived on-scene where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was being performed. These efforts alone had failed to revive the patient, so Hamm applied the AED pads and was able to successfully shock the patient who became responsive.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Overland Park kicks off comprehensive plan update
Overland Park is asking residents for input to help decide the direction of growth for the city. FrameworkOP, the City’s process to update its comprehensive plan, is officially underway with a community kickoff event called “Framing Our Future Workshop.” The workshop takes place Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Overland Park Convention Center.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Emporia Main Street excited for future of tech based startups following announcement of EDA grant award to Center of Rural Innovation
Entrepreneurial resources are continuing to expand in Emporia thanks to an announcement by Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods…. Woods stated Rural Innovation Strategies of the Center of Rural Innovation (CORI) recently applied for grant funding, with the assistance of local CORI Digital Jobs and Entrepreneurship Specialist Ana Blandin, through the Economic Development Administration. That application was recently approved and According to Woods will go to support a series of design sprint workshops in Emporia in the coming months focused on helping to create tech-based startup companies. Woods says tech startups are something the area has needed for quite some time.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Have a roaring good time at Argonia Street Race
Good autumn weather is expected for the fifth annual Argonia Car Show and Street Race. This event has become a big deal for Argonia, with a population of just a few hundred people. “It’s very exciting for everybody, from little kids to older folks,” said Wayne Vineyard, one of the organizers. “We started doing it after going to Norwich’s street races a couple of times.” Vineyard said organized street races have been growing in popularity. Caldwell started a new street race this year, for example.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers