Kansas Municipal News
Comprehensive plan virtual open house available through June 2
County residents who did not attend the Miami County Comprehensive Plan open house May 17 in Paola have an opportunity to review the plan online. A virtual public open house is available from Thursday, May 19, to Thursday, June 2, on the project’s website: www.miamicountyksplan.com. The public can access the plan anytime during that two-week period. The virtual open house provides an opportunity to view the draft plan concepts and ideas and provide input on the county’s future, according to a news release from the county’s Planning and Zoning Department.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Drive carefully, buckle up: Kansas law enforcement agencies focus on traffic enforcement
Kansas drivers should expect increased police presence starting Sunday, as state and local law enforcement agencies focus on enforcing seat belt and child restraint laws. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Wichita Police Department will join the Kansas Highway Patrol and around 160 other law enforcement agencies in the annual Click It or Ticket campaign. The effort will run through June 2 for police, June 3 for KHP and June 4 for sheriff’s deputies. Wichita has had 19 traffic fatalities so far this year and most could have been prevented if people would have worn seat belts, said Trevor Macy, a public information officer with the Wichita Police Department.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Abilene receives grant to make world’s largest belt buckle
Have you ever seen the world’s largest belt buckle? If the answer is no, then just wait; Abilene will have it on display soon. On May 19, Governor Laura Kelly announced the 11 recipients of the Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grants, one of which was the town of Abilene which received $22,000 to create the world’s largest belt buckle. “Tourism is the welcoming committee for new residents and businesses in our state,” Kelly said. “By continuing to develop vibrant travel destinations across Kansas, we are opening the door to more revenue and new economic growth in communities of all sizes.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Here are the arguments both sides made in JoCo ‘dark store’ theory case at KS Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court justices began the process of disentangling legal arguments Thursday on the “dark store” theory of appraisals – a complex issue that could have big ramifications for county, city and school board budgets down the road. The case is an appeal by Johnson County of a lower court decision validating the state tax appeal board’s ruling that the county had overvalued 11 Walmart and Sam’s Club properties in 2016 and 2017, resulting in too high a tax bill.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Manhattan and Riley County commissions to consider food master plan
Local governments will consider a plan to reduce hunger, invest in locally grown food and reduce food waste. The food and farm council presented an overview of a food master plan to city and county commissioners Thursday at a joint meeting of the Manhattan and Riley County commissions. Riley County will consider adopting the item on June 9, and the city commission on June 21. The Food and Farm Council began working with New Venture Advisors almost a year ago, starting with research and goal setting. They then conducted community engagement and surveys to identify key findings, draft action steps and create the plan.
Source: themercury.com
Riley County approves evaluation for adult drug court
Riley County commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement between Riley County Community Corrections and K-State’s sociology, anthropology and social work department to evaluate the adult drug court program. The U.S. Department of Justice gave the county a four-year grant on Dec. 9 to establish the adult drug court. Part of the grant requirement is to have an evaluation plan that includes strategies to collect, review and use data to better program performance. According to meeting documents, $60,000 of the $550,000 grant will go to K-State to help with the evaluation.
Source: themercury.com
Seven artists are painting murals live in Salina
As people come to downtown Salina this week they may notice work in progress on large pieces of art in the parking lot at 140 S. Fifth St. The city has invited artists from Kansas and surrounding states to take part in the Artwork Alley Mural Expo ’22. The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC), a part of the Kansas Department of Commerce, along with some funding by the National Endowment of the Arts awarded a grant to the Salina Arts and Humanities for murals. “It was funded to support the Make A Mark Mural initiative,” said Anna Pauscher Morawitz, the operations and development manager for Salina Arts and Humanities.
Source: Salina Journal
Abbyville Frontier Days PRCA Rodeo celebrates 60 years in the community
Six decades ago, the Abbyville Frontier Days PRCA Rodeo began as a small event during the last weekend before school ended. Over the decades, it grew to include the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, or PRCA, and thousands of attendees. Abbyville Rodeo production manager and arena director Bronc Rumford said more than 200 contestants would compete at the rodeo this year. “We’ll have some kids from all over the country, but we usually have a couple of international competitors from Canada or Australia. They come from everywhere,” Rumford said.
Source: Hutch News
Municipal Bond Trends for May 19, 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.
Russell – Where generations care for each other
Russell is more than just the hometown of Senator Bob Dole and a Main Street City. It is a community of 4,400 people who take care of each other. Part of the city’s vision is to be “a community that is truly dedicated to family, friends and neighbors where generations care for each other.” Russell is doing just that with its recent parks project completed in April 2022 with the assistance of a Community Development Block Grant. Katrina Woelk serves as the Finance Director and Treasurer for the City of Russell and has also been the local champion for the CDBG parks project. In addition to her daily city duties, Katrina has been putting together an asset management plan for Russell. This plan outlines the assets of the community and determines how those assets can be leveraged to address the greatest needs of the community.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
For assistance with grants and federal funding, please contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.
County starts planning how to pay for new jail
County commissioners started crunching numbers Monday as they began to look at a funding package for a new jail. Commissioners reviewed fund balances and looked at a list of commitments they have made for the federal American Recovery Plan Act funds that must be committed by 2024. They also discussed what type of cash balance they wanted to maintain for the county general fund moving forward.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Governor signs bill paying off more than $1 billion of KPERS debts
Governor Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 421, that transfers more than $1 billion from the State General Fund to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). Senate Bill 421 will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the state by eliminating debt from the state’s balance sheets and reducing future employer contributions. “Balancing the budget, paying off debt and providing financial relief for Kansans has always been my top priority – and today we delivered on that promise,” Governor Kelly said. “We’re fixing the damage done to KPERS because our public service employees and retirees deserve their retirement fund to be replenished after the previous administration skipped payments to cover reckless tax policy.” SB 421 will provide immediate and long-term benefits to the state by reducing the debt owed to the fund and further enhancing the state’s historic financial strength.
Source: The Sabetha Herald
New law strengthens Kansas election security
Secretary of State Scott Schwab commended the signing of election security legislation that he proposed earlier this year. The bill is one of the most significant election reform measures since Kansas adopted Voter ID in 2011. It will further strengthen state election law and provide voters with additional assurances regarding the security and integrity of Kansas elections. The bill makes the following improvements to the states already rigorous election laws: Election Equipment Security: Prohibits counties from using voting equipment that has the capability of being connected to the internet, requires the Secretary of State to certify electronic pollbooks, and establishes a deadline for counties to perform post-election tabulator tests. …
Source: The Sabetha Herald
Kelly administration working to ‘expedite relief’ from infant formula shortage
Kansas’ state agencies are working with the federal government to “expedite relief” from the ongoing infant formula shortage, Gov. Laura Kelly’s office said Thursday. Kelly said in a statement that she has directed state agencies to “do everything in their power” to help Kansas families impacted by the shortage. “From increasing flexibility to helping eliminate barriers at check-out, my Administration is doing what is within our power to ease the impact of the national infant formula shortage on Kansas Families,” the governor said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will be the point of contact for the White House and federal agencies “to help coordinate efforts and eliminate red tape,” Kelly’s office said. The state agency has also approved “a series of waivers” to allow for more infant formula production in the state.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Johnson County considers $1M loan to support affordable housing project in Shawnee
Johnson County could soon be investing in a new affordable housing complex in Shawnee. Next week the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will consider issuing a $1 million loan to support the construction of the Hedge Lane Apartments. The apartment complex is a joint venture between Sunflower Development Group and Consolidated Housing Solutions. The developers intend to create a 144-unit apartment complex near 75th Street and K-7 Highway in Shawnee. Because of rising inflation and additional costs for labor and materials, developers are seeking out a loan to cover a gap in project funding. If approved, the loan from the county would cover roughly 3% of the $30.5 million project.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Kansas prepares to distribute $69 million in federal small business economic aid
Kansas is in line to receive as much as $69 million in additional federal support for small business development and entrepreneurship through a U.S. Treasury Department program used to support companies through the pandemic. The American Rescue Plan expanded the State Small Business Credit Initiative, or SSBCI, established in 2010 to assist businesses following the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. The goal is to improve access to capital in rural and other traditionally underserved communities. States participating in SSBCI operate under the expectation each would generate business lending at least 10 times the amount of federal aid.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Lawrence city leaders say they are ready for city to expand into area west of Kansas Highway 10
Lawrence city leaders say they are ready for the city to expand beyond its longtime border along Kansas Highway 10, and some are even interested in expediting that process by requiring areas to join the city instead of waiting for property owners to opt in. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation on a study of the infrastructure and service needs — anticipated to cost more than $100 million — to add an area generally west of K-10 to the city’s boundaries. A few commissioners explicitly said they were interested in moving forward with those plans and prioritizing westward growth, rather than in another area, and Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said the city should consider requiring certain areas to join the city, a process called annexation.
Source: LJWorld
Douglas County leaders OK local matching funds for SLT expansion; Lawrence and county are slated to contribute nearly $14M
Douglas County leaders on Wednesday granted their approval to commit millions of dollars in local funding, in partnership with the City of Lawrence, toward the future expansion of the South Lawrence Trafficway. The Douglas County Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the Kansas Department of Transportation indicating the county’s willingness to match a portion of the $124,000,000 cost for what KDOT refers to as the “-03 project.” The project would widen the highway from two lanes to four lanes between Iowa Street and the Kansas Turnpike interchange. The Lawrence City Commission made its portion of the pledge on Tuesday. With the commitment from both the city and the county, KDOT will be able to move the project into its construction pipeline for a potential 2024 start.
Source: LJWorld
Evergy to rethink plans to install towering power poles in two Wichita neighborhoods
Evergy is taking a step back from plans to erect new towering power poles that would run through Wichita’s Midtown and Riverside neighborhoods after community backlash to the proposal. The existing transmission line, built in the 1950s, runs south from 17th Street and Emporia to 11th Street and Jefferson. A second phase of the rebuild would continue south down Nims to Central, near the Keeper of the Plains. Vocal residents have banded together to express their displeasure for the proposed power poles, which they characterize as eyesores that could inflict permanent aesthetic harm on their neighborhoods.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Wichita is home to four of the country’s top-ranked pro pickleball players
Wichita is home to four professional pickleball players — all of whom are ranked in the top 10 nationally and are a big deal in the sport. That’s unusual for a town of Wichita’s size, and their residency adds to the city’s pickleball cache. Meet Wichita’s four resident pros, all of whom played tennis in college…
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle