Municipal News & Jobs

Sedgwick County will soon send out an online survey to get feedback from residents about public services and priorities, officials said Thursday. More than 100,000 randomly chosen residents will receive a link to the survey via mail, text, or email. It’s hosted by Qualtrics and will also be available on the county’s website and social media later in November. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and is intended for adult residents 18 years of age or older. Responses are confidential. Sedgwick County leaders are seeking input on service delivery and community priorities.
Read more: KSN-TV

Across the state, Kansans voted on special ballot measures like school bonds and tax issues. Stanton County voters rejected a mill levy increase that would have helped fund its hospital. Stanton County Hospital is a medical hub for more than half a dozen other counties, including across the state line into Colorado. CEO Camille Davidson called the outcome “disappointing.” She added that they aren’t sure how to compete with rising costs and inflation without increased revenue.
Read more: KSN-TV

The McPherson Police Department welcomed its newest mini officer to the force on Wednesday. Rhys recently finished treatment after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2023. The department swore her in as an honorary officer for her optimism and strength.
Read more: KSN-TV

School districts across the state are planning their next steps after Tuesday’s bond issue votes. Some districts, like Goodland, Ark City, Mulvane, and Oakley, are moving forward with improvement plans after their bonds passed, while Wellington, Rock Hills, Hutchinson, Russell, Oberlin, and St. John-Hudson are trying to figure out how to address their ongoing issues after their ballot measures were defeated.
Read more: KSN-TV

Coldwater Mayor Jose “Joe” Ceballos, who was reelected on Tuesday, was charged by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach the next day. In a news conference Wednesday, Kobach said Ceballos was facing criminal charges for three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury. Both are non-person felonies.
Read more: KSN-TV

Do you live in or near Arkansas City and have leftover pumpkins? You could help feed some hungry goats. The City of Arkansas City said instead of throwing pumpkins out, they can make a tasty treat for some local goats.
Read more: KSN-TV

Two northwestern Kansas counties reshaped their alcohol laws on Tuesday, with one ending the state’s tradition of dry counties. Wallace County was the last remaining dry county in the state. On Tuesday, voters made history by eliminating that rule and allowing restaurants to sell liquor by the drink. Thomas County residents voted to remove the requirement that allowed restaurants to serve alcohol only if at least 30% of their sales came from food. This change allows establishments in the county to operate like traditional bars.
Read more: KSN-TV

The City of Leon is helping teen drivers learn a valuable lesson while avoiding costly fines for speeding. In the first moments of being pulled over on Oct. 1 for going 44 in a 30 mph speed zone, worries immediately rushed to high school junior Kendra Mast’s mind. “I thought I was going to have to get a job,” said Kendra. “Not doing school sports.” “I told her she was going to have to go get a job and pay her own ticket,” added Kendra’s mom, Sheena Mast. Leon offered a unique alternative. She could write an essay on the importance of traffic laws instead.
Read more: KSN-TV

Hundreds of students in Sedgwick County came to Wichita on Tuesday to learn more about careers in public safety and service. Representatives from the Red Cross, law enforcement, prosecutors and other professionals gave presentations to the students. Organizers said the event gives students a realistic look at jobs that will allow them to give back to their communities.
Read more: KSN-TV

The CiCo Ballfields in Manhattan will be renamed following a 10-year naming rights agreement approved by city commissioners. On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Parks Director of Parks and Recreation Aaron Stewart talked to city commissioners about a naming rights resolution that was passed last December. According to Stewart, the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation has formed a 10-year $500,000 partnership for the naming rights of the CiCo Ballfields.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

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.

Peabody City Council members completed their mandated hour of training Monday on Kansas Open Meeting Laws. Council members listened intently as Nicole Proux Aiken with the Kansas League of Municipalities presented requirements through video conferencing. Peabody was ordered to undergo one hour of the training for violating the act.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Hotels and motels within Wichita city limits will have to be licensed through the city starting next year in order to operate. The ordinance also prohibits them from charging by the hour. The Wichita City Council passed the ordinance establishing the license Thursday in an effort to crack down on what it deems are nuisance properties, especially along South Broadway.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

The miles of rail-to-trail paths east of Wichita are on track to grow with the unveiling of a new bridge along the Redbud Trail on Friday. It marks a decade of work turning abandoned railroad tracks into spaces for walking, biking and hiking and connects two Butler County cities. The Andover section of the Redbud Trail runs six miles from 159th Street East — about a mile west of Andover — and used to dead-end at U.S. 54/400, about four miles east of the city. The trail originates inside Wichita at the I-135 canal route. Combined, the paths stretch nearly 16 miles.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

The mayor of a small south-central Kansas town has been charged with committing fraud by voting in elections since 2022 even though he is not a United States citizen, the state’s attorney general and secretary of state said Wednesday. Attorney General Kris Kobach said Joe Ceballos, who garnered nearly 83% of the vote Tuesday for a second term as Coldwater mayor, was charged with three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury. Both are felony offenses.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

Researchers at KU recently created the Kansas Energy Transition Atlas, a GIS-powered site that features regulatory information for every county in the state. The interactive site allows elected officials, developers, landowners and anyone interested in wind energy to easily find information on wind policy, information about the number of turbines in place, transmission lines and much more.
Read more: Univ of Kansas

On the eve of Prairie Village city elections largely defined by whether candidates support or oppose the city’s $30 million municipal complex project, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that had previously stalled the city’s plans to move forward with the plan. Now, city officials say they’re figuring out how to get the project “back on track” even as the city awaits the results of Tuesday’s much-watched city council elections.
Read more: Johnson County Post

In addition to its agenda items, the Arma City Council shared exciting news at the tail end of Monday night’s meeting. Plans to build a Casey’s General Store have been approved within city limits.
Read more: -Morning Sun

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.

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.