Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2018-08-05T16:28:50-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

FEMA OKs aid for Grinnell and Plevna

The declaration gives state and local governments, as well as certain nonprofits, the ability to apply for public assistance funds to repair and replace damaged infrastructure. The counties that can apply are Bourbon, Cheyenne, Edwards, Gove, Kiowa, Logan, Pratt, Reno, Scott, Sheridan and Stafford.
Read more: Hutch News

JoCo delays sales tax vote as chair decries AG’s opinion

Originally, the county intended to ask voters to renew the 10-year, quarter-cent public safety sales tax in November, planning to use it on capital and operating costs for the county’s Med-Act ambulance service, sheriff’s office, district attorney, mental health crisis intervention and disaster response. Now, the question is expected to come to voters in March 2026 instead, and the wording of the question could be modified.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Municipal Bond Trends for July 24, 2025

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

AG Opinion 2025-14: Sunday liquor sales ordinances must be published twice

K.S.A. 41-2911(b)(1) requires city ordinances authorizing Sunday sales of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages to be published twice. If an adopted ordinance is defeated by protest petition but subsequently included in a new compilation of the city code that is only published once, the city has not validly authorized Sunday sales.
Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

For assistance, updating or creating a new city code for your city, contact Larry Kleeman.

And if you are already a city code client, remember to email us each new ordinance so we keep your code up-to-date.

Municipal Bond Trends for July 23, 2025

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Macksville library impacted by $15K grant

In November of 2024, the Macksville City Library announced thankfulness for receiving a $15,000 grant from the South Central Community Foundation. SCCF is a regional foundation that manages charitable funds for seven counties in south central Kansas. Our “Libraries Unite” project allowed the libraries in Macksville, St. John and Stafford to divide the grant equally, each utilizing $5,000 to improve programming, accessibility and outreach to patrons across Stafford county (and beyond). At Macksville, we have finally spent all of our grant funds in some very impactful ways!
Read more: Homepage

City Commission discusses three types of city signs

At a pre-meeting on July 15, the Garden City Commission heard a presentation on welcoming signs, city limit signs and wayfinding signs. Tyler Patterson, Public Works Operations Manager, said one of the City Commission Goals for 2025-26 is welcoming signs. There are three Welcome to Garden City signs, not including one at the Garden City Regional Airport and Flight Desk Restaurant, in Garden City, Patterson said.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

Newton hopes to lure hotel

Newton City Commissioners gave an initial go-ahead for staff to begin formalizing an incentive package aimed at drawing in another hotel. In recent years, the City of Newton has seen a decrease in bed tax revenue, as well as guest space at some local hotels. Bed tax revenue funds city programs such as the convention and visitors bureau. During large events like last year’s adaptive golf open, many attendees found themselves staying in Wichita or other locations.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Scannell Properties, Edwardsville see mixed rulings in truck ban lawsuit

A federal judge drastically limited a developer’s lawsuit over an Edwardsville ordinance that would ban heavy truck traffic on a street abutting a $100 million logistics center. Scannell Properties spent millions preparing and planning to build more than 2.1 million square feet of light industrial as part of its Compass 70 Logistics facility. It remains under construction and sits in Bonner Springs, along the border with Edwardsville, just south of Interstate 70.
Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

Decade-plus building slump squeezes Wichita housing choices

Natalie and Alex Beauchamp have moved five times in the past four years.  They’ve fit their lives into apartments across Missouri and the Kansas City area. It’s only recently, when Alex Beauchamp’s promotion required a move to Wichita, that the 20-somethings thought to try their luck at buying a home. City leaders talk a lot about attracting people like the Beauchamps to Wichita: young professionals ready to establish roots. But planting here is harder now than 20 years ago. Especially for first-time buyers.  The Beauchamps did just about everything right, according to their real estate agent, Jayna Reece. They arranged their financing, tempered their expectations and became eager students of her guidance about the home-buying process and the Wichita market. Even so, they had a six-week whirlwind of house searching. 
Read more: KLC Journal

Andover celebrates new park and grand reopening of The Lodge

It was a night of celebration in Andover as the city officially opened its newest park and welcomed back a beloved community space. Fire Station 2 Park, located just south of Kellogg and Andover Road, sits next to the newly opened Fire Station 2, which inspired the park’s name. The park was funded by the Family Future Forward sales tax, approved by voters in November 2021.
Read more: KSN-TV

Wilson Czech Opera House has new life after 2009 fire

In the shadow of the world’s largest hand-painted Czech egg stands the Wilson Czech opera house, a more than 120-year-old building that has been a member of the Wilson community since the town’s beginning. It was built by hand by some of the original residents of this small Kansas community back in 1902. Ford and Kenny Beneba, the Opera House Corporation’s president, says it was built by 26 men and eight mules. However, in 2009, a fire engulfed the century-old structure, leaving its future looking bleak. But like a phoenix from the ashes, the opera house has new life after the community came together to renovate the space into an open-air theater for the entire town to enjoy.
Read more: KSN-TV

1% sales tax in Maize to be voted on

Early voting is underway for the primary election in Sedgwick County. Along with candidates, voters in Maize have a special question. The city is asking its residents to approve a 1% sales tax. Maize City Manager Nick Gregory says this sales tax will help reduce future property tax increases while still investing in much-needed infrastructure improvements.
Read more: KSN-TV

Topeka City Council makes changes to animal ordinances, what to know

Police are notifying Topeka pet owners of some changes the Topeka City Council made recently for cruelty to animals and dangerous dog ordinances.  The Topeka City Council voted on July 8 to amend Section 6.05.100 of the Topeka Municipal Code and repeal the original section. The council’s decision means local pet owners are required to provide animals with water at all times and changes violations of animal cruelty ordinances to a Class A nonperson misdemeanor. The Topeka Police Department said pet owners who have regained ownership of a dangerous dog can also petition the court for an extension of time to comply with the dangerous dog conditions. The court has to find there is a good reason for the extension.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Kansas lawmakers outline vision for finding solutions to water crisis

The leaders of the state’s new Water Program Task Force say they are committed to finding elusive solutions to the state’s long-simmering water crisis. Sen. Kenny Titus, a Republican attorney from Wamego, and Rep. Jim Minnix, a Republican farmer from Scott City who chairs the House Water Committee, appeared alongside Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly at a ceremony in Hays to outline their vision for the task force. The two lawmakers will co-chair a bipartisan group that includes business leaders and conservationists. Their mission: Evaluate risks to water quality and quantity, build a management system that addresses those risks, and secure a dedicated revenue source to ensure the plan, like so many before, doesn’t just sit on a shelf.
Read more: The Eudora Times

Lawrence police program asks residents, businesses to register security cameras for police use

The Lawrence Police Department has rolled out a new program asking residents and businesses to register their security cameras on a list or integrate them for realtime access by police. Some community members worry the system could infringe on privacy.  Voluntary participants in the program can register their security cameras and contact information with the police department, allowing police to see where cameras are located and request footage if a crime occurs nearby.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Park City sets public hearing for $500 million Champtown project

A meeting date has been set for Park City to vote on the project agreement for the $500 million Champtown mixed-use entertainment destination, making way for the development to receive key incentives from the state. During its meeting on Tuesday, Park City City Council set a public hearing for Aug. 26 to present and vote on the agreement. It has to receive two-thirds of the vote to pass.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal – Local Wichita News

Kansas Appeals Court upholds Riley County decision on local development

The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled this month that Riley County District Court judge’s decision to affirm the approval of an amended planned unit development application for Liquid Art winery by county commissioners was valid. While the court saw the merit of Prairiewood Holding’s appeal, their final opinion upholds Judge Grant Bannister’s decision.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

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