Kansas Municipal News
Hutchinson Fire Department raises over $60K in school drive
The Hutchinson Fire Department (HFD) raised $63,233 during its three-day back-to-school supply drive. From Aug. 5-7, HFD gathered student supplies as well as hygiene products, food and drinks, classroom supplies and gift cards at an area Walmart. The items will be distributed to over 28 schools in Reno County on Thursday, Aug. 11 and Friday, Aug. 12. The HFD thanks the citizens of Hutchinson and the surrounding area for coming out and supporting them in their cause for children.
Source: KSN-TV
Grant helping Salina revitalize river, bridges, and trail
On Thursday, Aug. 11, the Biden Administration announced nearly $47 million in funding for two transportation projects. One of the projects is in Salina. The project will revitalize the Smoky Hill River and trails and has been in the works for decades. The $22 million grant from the Raise Program will put the City of Salina one step closer. Senator Jerry Moran, who was helping with the grant, called city leaders on Tuesday morning to share the news. “We have worked for this for so many years, and it means so much to our community. They’ve been behind our projects, and it’s one of these things that is going to change our community for life,” said Martha Tasker, the director of utilities for the City of Salina.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka mural honors Oakland neighborhood legacy
If you’re driving through the Oakland neighborhood, keep an eye out for a newly finished mural. This morning, community members gathered for the blessing and dedication at the Lulac Senior Center. The mural on the front of the building is finally complete; although part of it was done last October, it needed a finishing touch with a portrait of the founders Hazel and Robert Gomez.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Douglas County agrees to take less aggressive approach in trying to correct rural code violations
Douglas County officials are open to trying a more patient, less aggressive approach in dealing with rural properties that are violating some county codes, county commissioners were told Wednesday evening. County commissioners at their weekly meeting unanimously approved a temporary business use permit that will give a rural resident up to five years to remove approximately 100 vehicles — many of them inoperable — from his rural home and farm site.
Source: LJWorld
City leaders express support for asking voters whether Lawrence should move to directly elected mayor, but not districts
With a majority of city commissioners expressing support, it is becoming more likely that Lawrence voters in November will decide whether the city’s mayor ought to be directly elected by the people. But Lawrence city commissioners at their Tuesday evening meeting weren’t sure if they wanted voters to decide whether city commissioners should come from geographic districts in the city, rather than the current system where all five commissioners are elected at large.
Source: LJWorld
Macksville marks library addition groundbreaking
Construction workers began groundwork on Monday for an addition to the Macksville City Library. Library Director Jody Suiter said plans for this addition started in 2011 when the library’s motto was “Dreaming Bigger!” “With help from the South Central Kansas Library System, we consulted an architect and drew up preliminary plans,” Suiter said. “We then approached the City Council and were told, ‘If you can raise the funds, you can build it.’ “Now, 11 years down the road, and hundreds of memorials, many fundraisers, numerous grants, multiple gifts, raffles, and donations later, we are breaking ground for the new addition. In 2022, our dream has come true!”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Sedgwick’s city clerk to retire after twenty-plus years
Sedgwick City Clerk publicly announced her retirement to the city council last week at the regular council meeting. She gave them plenty of advanced notice though. She plans to retire on June 30, 2023. Enterkin has been employed with the city for 20 years, since May 2002. She was first appointed as City Clerk in January 2004. Mayor Bryan Chapman told the council that they currently have two full-time employees in the office and one part-time. Chapman said that Shelia Agee, the full-time municipal court clerk, might be interested in moving into the city clerk’s position. He thought they should consider hiring a third full-time person to replace the part-time stop so training could begin for Enterkin’s departure.
Source: Harvey County Now
Sedgwick County reactivates COVID-19 dashboard as cases rise for months
The Sedgwick County Health Department stopped publishing its COVID-19 dashboard back in March as cases plummeted. But after months of trending back up, it says it’s bringing it back so the community can easily see what’s happening. With a better understanding of the virus and vaccines readily available, the fight against COVID-19 is much different and less deadly than it used to be. But the SCHD is reminding people it’s still very much around, including KAKE’s own Maeve Ashbrook, who is going through it for the first time. “I was gonna be able to say that I never had it, which was really cool. And I’ve been able to say that I’ve never had it,” said Ashbrook. “I went to Target with my mom. And I remember like, I remember like walking around and feeling very out of it and very winded. But again, I really didn’t think anything of it.”
Source: KAKE – News
Spring Hill High School unveils new solar array
Spring Hill High School powered up its new solar array for the first time at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 3. The school partnered with Evergy and EnergyLink to create a 750.4-kilowatt ground-mounted system that covers nearly four acres. The solar array is considered a carbon-emission-free site. The solar array will produce 85,000 kWh of energy per month. That much energy can charge 15 million smartphones, 95 homes or 5.3 million hours of watching television. Spring Hill High School annually will save 30 percent on its electricity cost, according to information provided by Evergy and the school district.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Commerce Department Launches Rural by Choice Champions Program
Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced a unique opportunity for rural communities throughout the state – the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions). This one-year pilot program will create a network of grassroots individuals who will tackle critical community projects and identified needs integral for rural prosperity. Rural Champions, which was made possible through a collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, will help drive success when there is a lack of capital or other resources to complete the project. “We are continually looking at ways to keep and attract individuals that want to live and work in our rural communities throughout the state,” said Lt. Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland. “Through this program and other initiatives, such as our Grassroots Economic Development Program and Rural Opportunity Zones, we are focusing on removing barriers to success in rural Kansas.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
State senator to seek RNR bill changes
The road to property tax transparency is paved with good intentions. That was Kansas Sen. Alicia Straub’s assessment of Senate Bill 13, the so-called Truth in Taxation or Revenue Neutral bill enacted by the Kansas Legislature in 2021. Straub, from Ellinwood, serves the 33rd District and joined the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning to discuss the measure which created much consternation amongst local officials. During the 2021 session, the tax lid was removed and the Legislature enacted Senate Bill 13, county Operations Director Matt Patzner said. This bill established notice and public hearing requirements if a taxing entity’s proposed budget will exceed the property tax levy’s Revenue Neutral Rate (generally, the RNR is the tax rate in mills that would generate the same property tax revenue in dollars as levied the previous tax year using the current tax year’s total assessed valuation).
Source: Great Bend Tribune
County hears pitch for broadband expansion in rural areas
Two IdeaTek representatives made a pitch Tuesday to the Board of Harvey County Commissioners, seeking support for extending broadband service to underserved areas. Nate Oswald, director of customer service and sales, said he and Thomas Garrett, director of business development, had been working with County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber to find needs for the county. He said a new grant opportunity had been made available through the Kansas Office of Broadband Development. The application is due Aug. 19, and he asked for a letter of support, which commissioners agreed to provide. Oswald proposed a map of the work area that he said would extend to areas without broadband. He also suggested expanding broadband around East Park, because he said he would like to meet the needs with the same proposal.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hiawatha places new signs honoring John McLendon
A Hiawatha native, basketball icon and Civil Rights pioneer continues to be honored in his hometown, as the City of Hiawatha has posted fresh signage recognizing the town as the birthplace of Coach John B. McLendon. A groundbreaking basketball coach who spent time as Dr. James Naismith’s protégé, McLendon went on to become the first African American to coach at a white university, and also the first African American to coach a professional team in any sport.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
New Grocery Store Opens in Bronson
Kelly and Thaddeus Perry opened their store, Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store on July 31 in Bronson, Kansas-population 309. The store is located right on Highway 54 that runs through the town. Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store, Bronson. The mom and pop operation has people sign a guest book when they come in. “This is for Kansas Tourism,” Kelly said. “There have been a ton of people coming in.” “We sold over 200 pounds of (her homemade) fudge in the first three days we were open,” she said.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
To keep students safe, Johnson County schools get new emergency buttons and door locks
The Shawnee Mission School District is adding an extra layer of security to its buildings this school year after recent mass shootings that heightened anxieties over school safety. At its meeting Monday, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education unanimously approved spending up to $250,000 to install hard wired, button-controlled door locks at the main entrances of the district’s elementary and middle schools. According to district documents, the change is part of an effort to “better and more uniformly secure district attendance facilities.” It also said the buttons will replace wireless ones which risk being misplaced, need batteries changed frequently, respond slowly or suffer from signal interference.
Source: KCUR News
Hutchinson residents can be part of the city’s 150th birthday photo in downtown this month
As part of the Aug. 18 festivities marking Hutchinson’s Sesquicentennial, the city has arranged for an aerial photograph of residents forming the number 150 in the center of downtown. Organizers estimate it will take about 300 people to fill the spaces, which will create the three numbers, 1-5-0, in the road at Sherman Avenue and Main Street. Participants for the photo will be entered into a drawing for a gift basket featuring more than $500 worth of items.
Source: Hutch News
County questions mosquito population forecast
Is Topeka abuzz with mosquitoes? The answer is — depends on who you ask. One the side of “yes” is a new forecasting tool created through a partnership between from Google and Off!, the insect repellant. That tool says city’s predicted population of that blood-sucking insect Monday was at its highest possible level of “severe” and should remain so through Thursday. … On the “no” side is testing by the Shawnee County Health Department, which says the mosquito population is lower than average this year. “We did see a small increase last week in mosquitoes, but overall for the year, our mosquito population has been lower than the average,” said Craig Barnes, division manager of community health outreach and planning for that department.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for August 9, 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.
Will Wichita firefighters get a 30% pay hike?
Wichita firefighter negotiators are asking for a big pay increase. “Yes,” said Ted Bush with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) local 135. “We’re looking at a 30% raise across the board. That would get us to industry standards.” … “I think we have to do something big,” said Wichita City Council Member Jeff Blubaugh. “I think we need to be close to that.” Blubaugh says he and at least two others on council want to make a move on pay.
Source: KSN-TV
Risk level remains high in Sedgwick County for COVID-19
Sedgwick County health officials said Tuesday that the county remains at a high risk level for COVID-19 transmission for the third week in a row. That is based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At a high community level, the CDC recommends that people wear masks indoors in public settings, stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations and test if they have symptoms or if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19. The Sedgwick County Health Department has resumed its COVID-19 dashboard on the county’s web page.
Source: 101.3 KFDI