Kansas Municipal News
Pottawatomie County continuing draft plan for solar farm regulations
Pottawatomie County planning officials are slowly working toward developing a publicly available draft for solar farm regulations. A joint meeting was held last Thursday between the three Pottawatomie County commissioners and the 10-member Planning Commission. County Planner Stephan Metzger tells KMAN that coming to consensus on a plan has not been easy. “The one thing that they all agree on is that they don’t really have a consensus on just about anything yet on this, not because of individual disagreements, just because it’s a complicated issue and we’re all trying to learn basically from the ground up,” he said. Because Pottawatomie County doesn’t have anything on the books governing solar farms, a number of questions have been raised over property rights as well as the visual, environmental and land use impacts. Commissioner Greg Riat applauds the planning commission for its work on drafting the guidelines thus far, and says it has led to “spirited discussion” from both sides.
Source: 1350 KMAN
El Dorado names Mike Holton as the city’s next police chief : ‘I’m deeply honored to serve El Dorado’
After a five-step process that has gone on since Oct. 22, 2021, El Dorado and its police department have announced that Mike Holton will be their next police chief. Holton will be replacing Police Chief Curt Zieman, who’s set to retire on March 23. “I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the city of El Dorado as your next police chief,” said Mike Holton. “I’m equally as honored to have the opportunity to step into the shoes of a man who served this community for over 40 years.” Holton served Butler County and El Dorado for 33 years, including 20 years under Police Chief Zieman. The Circle High School graduate is currently serving as the Lieutenant of the El Dorado Police Department. “I truly look forward to serving this community by building relationships with community groups, community organizations, and the citizens of El Dorado,” said Holton. “I look forward to serving El Dorado along with outside agencies in an effort to keep El Dorado a safe place to live, work, and play.”
Source: Andover American
Sedgwick County, Wichita leaders pledge review, changes in juvenile justice system
Sedgwick County commissioners and Wichita City Council members appeared at a news conference Tuesday to show unity and determination in working for changes in the juvenile justice system after the in-custody death of a teenager last fall. 17-year-old Cedric Lofton died last September after he was restrained in a struggle with staff members at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. County Commission chairman David Dennis called the death of Lofton heartbreaking and tragic, and he said the city and county will work together “to do what it takes to support, drive, and dedicate the resources needed to make sure that something that is as tragic as Cedric’s death does not happen to any youth again. County Commissioner Sarah Lopez said more than 15 agencies have agreed to work on a community task force that will look at policies and practices at JIAC, as well as system standards and practices from the Kansas Department of Corrections, and the physical layout of local facilities. Lopez said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is setting up a review of Cedric Lofton’s case with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the county will work with state officials on that review. Lopez said “we must do better to address the growing mental health needs within our juvenile corrections system, and we will.”
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Mulvane sales tax issue for city enhancements passes
Residents of Mulvane voted in a special election Jan. 18 on whether to implement a new sales tax to help fund multiple improvement projects. Based on the official results recently announced by Sedgwick County, the new sales tax passed by a slim margin (183-162) and will go into effect on July 1. The tax is scheduled to automatically sunset after five years. City Manager Kent Hixson noted many of the projects to be funded through the sales tax – including improvements to Rock Road, stormwater drainage and city parks – have been in Mulvane’s capital improvement plan for years.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Mayor’s new focus addresses homelessness, reform in KCK
Unified Government Mayor Tyrone Garner announced the formation of seven new committees to focus on everything from homelessness to arts and culture. Garner said each committee will be made up of Unified Government Commissioners and other community leaders. “In light of the number of persistent challenges facing our Community, I want to reassure our residents that we are unwavering in our commitment to make Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Garner said. One of those committees will address making sure people actually have places to call home. The Neighbors in Need/Unhoused Residents committee will address homelessness and housing costs. It will also look at the need for warming stations, shelters and food insecurity.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Spring Hill City Council remains deadlocked over councilman’s absence
The Spring Hill City Council remains in a political stalemate following the seventh consecutive meeting without a quorum. While the council attempted to meet Tuesday afternoon, the governing body could not conduct formal business due to the absence of Councilmember Steve Owen. On Jan. 10, newly elected council members Brian Peel and Joe Berkey were sworn into office. Shortly after the council voted for Berkey to take over the role of mayor following the resignation of former city council member and Mayor-elect Tyler Graves. Immediately after Berkey was seated, Owen left the meeting and has not returned. That night Owen left behind a letter voicing his concerns over what he felt was a lack of public transparency in the election of the new mayor.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
White Lakes Mall gets demolition timeline from Topeka leaders
Topeka’s newly elected mayor, Mike Padilla, and interim City Manager Bill Cochran held their first press conference of 2022 at city hall Tuesday morning. Cochran said the city is moving forward with the demolition of White Lakes Mall. Padilla said the process of knocking down the mall completely will take about three months, with asbestos removal being the top priority. “We want to do it right,” Padilla said. Padilla touted the latest report that showed Topeka crime statistics are dropping. Topeka saw a 25% decrease in overall crime in 2021, a 27% decrease in property crime, and a 13.5% decrease in violent crime, according to the Topeka Police Department. Those numbers come from the Topeka Police Department’s 2021 year-end report.
Source: KSNT News
Osage County voters to decide sales tax question for law center and jail
At a special election Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, local voters could determine whether future duties of the Osage County Sheriff’s Office will include operating a 120-bed detention center proposed to be built in Lyndon. On the ballot is a special question, which if approved would establish a 1/2 cent countywide sales tax to pay costs to “design, construct, equip and furnish a new law enforcement and public safety center …” The tax would pay for the startup costs of a proposed $20 million county jail and law enforcement center, and initial payments on bonds issued to finance the project.
Source: Osage County News
Overland Park approves pilot program making it easier for residents to keep backyard chickens
Backyard chickens finally can become a reality for Overland Park homeowners, as long as their properties are at least a quarter acre. In the culmination of months of fine-tuning, councilmembers gave the final okay Monday to a two-year pilot program that will do away with a time-consuming process residents have for years undergone in order to keep chickens on their property. “I have heard from numerous residents in my ward and in other parts of the city that they’re very interested in urban agriculture and setting up backyard hens. I think this is a good compromise to get us started,” said Councilmember Logan Heley.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Senate committee advances economic incentives for $4 billion project
A Senate committee early Tuesday night signed off on a new development incentive to help sway a $4 billion economic development prospect that’s eyeing the state for a 3-million-square foot manufacturing plant. The committee sent the package of incentives to the full chamber even as some of its more conservative members tried to slow the down process and provide more oversight of the potentially lucrative incentive.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Longtime Lawrence school board member explains how district’s budget crisis has unfolded
Lawrence school board Vice President Shannon Kimball took the board commentary portion of Monday’s meeting as an opportunity to provide some insight into the history of USD 497’s funding woes. The board heard from about 30 community members asking them not to close any neighborhood schools, and board members said they’d also received “hundreds” of emails. “In many of the emails that I’ve received and conversations I’ve had since the beginning of the year, the community has asked, ‘How did we get here and why are we having these conversations now?’ I’m going to talk about that a little bit because, of all the board members here, I’ve been on the board throughout all these conversations, and I have some things to share.” In her speech Monday, Kimball – who was first elected in 2011 — addressed the complex factors that have created this budget crisis over the last decade, including repercussions of Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, a lack of reserve funds, enrollment declines, and paying teachers competitive wages.
Source: The Lawrence Times
The Fed is likely to signal a March interest rate hike and that further policy tightening is coming
The Federal Reserve is expected to say this week it is moving forward with interest rate hikes and considering other policy tightening, reversing the easy policies it put in place to fight the pandemic. The Fed begins its two-day meeting Tuesday and on Wednesday afternoon, the central bank is expected to issue a new statement that shows it is resolved to fight inflation. Against the backdrop of a violent stock market correction, Fed officials are expected to say they are ready to push up the fed funds rate from zero as soon as March. “We don’t expect them to sound dovish,” said Mark Cabana, head of U.S. short rate strategy at Bank of America. “The [bond] market seems to be reacting to the drop in equities plus the geopolitical tensions so maybe the Fed sounds not as hawkish as they otherwise would have. But we don’t think the Fed is going to come out and tell the market it’s wrong for pricing in four rate hikes this year.”
Source: CNBC
‘Axe the Food Tax’ bill gets hearing as Kansas session speeds up
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to eliminate the state’s hefty food sales tax will be getting a hearing in the House Taxation committee this week. The governor’s plan, announced in November of last year, could save Kansans hundreds of dollars on groceries every year. It’s expected to save about $500 each year for a family of four…. It’s a sentiment that some Democrats and Republicans share. The bill, which would nix the state’s 6.5% food sales tax, is set for a hearing Tuesday afternoon …
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Overland Park neighborhood opposed to home part of substance abuse rehab program
People in one Johnson County, Kansas neighborhood are opposed to the men moving in down the street. They’re part of a substance abuse rehab program, one that intends to use a home in Overland Park’s Shannon Valley subdivision to bring addicts back to society. Neighbors complain their presence threatens to make their streets dangerous…. Overland Park’s Planning office approved the plan on Thursday, citing the Fair Housing Act. That statute, which sits under the Americans with Disabilities Act, protects people in recovery from alcoholism and addiction as being disabled.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
SEC taking a closer look at continuing disclosure for municipal bonds
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s acting director for its Office of Municipal Securities singled out disclosures related to its Rule 15c2-12 as an area the office is watching closely, following an academic study that found serious deficiencies in continuing disclosure. Ernesto Lanza raised that subject in his remarks before the Government Finance Officers Association’s Committee on Governmental Debt Management during GFOA’s 2022 Winter Meeting. … The concern is over two 2019 amendments to SEC Rule 15c2-12, which require bond issuers to disclose the incurrence of a financial obligation of the issuer or obligated person, if material, in addition to any agreements to covenants, events of defaults, remedies, priority rights or other similar terms of a financial obligation of the issuer or obligated person, if material. Source: Bond Buyer.
Ranson Financial assists Kansas local governments with continuing bond disclosure. For more information, contact Beth Warren at ewarren@ransonfinancial.com.
Derby finance director announces retirement
The city of Derby’s long-time Finance Director Jean Epperson has announced her planned retirement on June 13, 2022. Epperson has been with the city of Derby since 2000, serving 21 years as finance director. “Jean is one-of-a kind and will be greatly missed,” said City Manager Kiel Mangus. “We have valued not only her knowledge and expertise, but also her friendly, patient demeanor. She has been a tremendous asset to the Derby community and I’m happy for her and wish nothing but the best as she begins the next chapter of her life.”
Source: Derby Informer | News
Riley County eyeing House resolution aimed at requiring counties to have elected sheriffs
Riley County commissioners are keeping a close eye on a house concurrent resolution in the Kansas Legislature. HRC 5022 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring that a sheriff be elected in each county. The resolution was proposed in response to a few counties in Kansas switching to all appointed personnel. County Counselor Clancy Holeman says Riley County could be the only county to fall under an exemption. “If this bill passed we’d have a very good argument at least because it doesn’t say Riley County is exempt. It says that any county that abolished the office of sheriff prior to Jan. 1, 2021, as long as it did that would be excluded here, which looks like it’s only us,” he said. Holeman says while the resolution in its current form could exclude Riley County, it has the potential to evolve and eventually remove that exemption, once it were to leave committee. Commissioner Kathryn Focke didn’t like the idea of taking away the choice of the local government.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Municipal Bond Trends for January 24, 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.
Derby launches Commercial Facade Improvement program
Under discussion for the past year, the city of Derby officially launched its Commercial Facade Improvement program in mid-January. The goal is to support local businesses through funding for exterior building repairs or improvements and replacement/removal of non-conforming signs. This is a matching grant program and the city will contribute up to 50 percent of the cost for eligible improvements. Businesses can receive up to $5,000 for facade improvements and an additional $7,500 for sign updates for a maximum of $12,500 per property. Three quotes must be submitted for requests over $5,000 and the minimum grant amount is $1,000.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Doorbell cam captures apparent black bear cub in Winfield
A Kansas wildlife official says an animal that was captured on video outside a Winfield home earlier this month appears to be a black bear cub. Video of the cub was posted to the Ring Neighbors app over the weekend, but the video’s timestamp shows it was recorded the afternoon of January 8. Matt Peek, a research biologist with the state Department of Wildlife and Parks, said the department isn’t aware of any resident black bears in Kansas and that it’s unclear where the animal came from. “It would be unexpected for a wild bear cub to show up in that area,” Peek told Sumner NewsCow in an email.
Source: KAKE – News