Municipal News & Jobs

Nex-Tech has made a $75,000 loan to support Bricks Co-Working Hub, a new business and community space in Russell. Bricks will operate open workspaces, office rental, conference room rental, virtual office services, and provide a space for collaboration and creativity in the downtown business district of Russell. The loan was disbursed from the Nex-Tech Revolving Loan Fund, which provides funds to eligible local businesses to create jobs and sustain local socioeconomic activities. This investment will serve the rural communities of northwest Kansas.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

Overland Park wants to make it easier to use its “missing middle” pilot program on lots that may not have been developable before. Several months after Overland Park launched its housing pilot program, the city is now considering whether to temporarily amend its development codes to encourage the use of the program, particularly on infill and atypical-shaped lots. The idea is to allow homes with a pre-approved design in the Portfolio Homes pilot program to be built on properties that might not typically pass legal muster for residential development due to their shape, size, setbacks or their inability to have public street frontage. It would also further streamline the process by reducing the number of steps required to get such a project approved, potentially lowering the price tag and moving developments ahead more quickly.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Overland Park wants to make it easier to use its “missing middle” pilot program on lots that may not have been developable before. Several months after Overland Park launched its housing pilot program, the city is now considering whether to temporarily amend its development codes to encourage the use of the program, particularly on infill and atypical-shaped lots. The idea is to allow homes with a pre-approved design in the Portfolio Homes pilot program to be built on properties that might not typically pass legal muster for residential development due to their shape, size, setbacks or their inability to have public street frontage. It would also further streamline the process by reducing the number of steps required to get such a project approved, potentially lowering the price tag and moving developments ahead more quickly.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Kansas wants to create a sports authority to own the new Kansas City Chiefs stadium. Public rather than private ownership of the stadium will shield more than $1 billion from being collected as income taxes. Kansas has agreed to finance 60% of $4 billion in stadium projects. Those projects include a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and other developments near the Legends and in Olathe. Kansas will fund the stadium using sales tax and revenue bonds, or STAR bonds. Those bonds take out debt that will be repaid with future sales tax dollars from inside a stadium district. A sports authority means the stadium will be publicly owned, which means the money collected to repay the bonds won’t be subject to income taxes. If the stadium was privately owned, the revenue being collected to repay the bonds would be subject to income taxes. Supporters say creating the sports authority prevents the Chiefs from being taxed over $1 billion.
Read more: Johnson County Post

A state program that funds projects that use waste tire products has announced nearly half a million dollars in grants to Kansas schools and communities. On Monday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced that $493,709.55 was awarded to 32 projects across the state. The projects will use recycled tire products for things like playground surfaces and picnic tables.
Read more: KSN-TV

The Wellington City Council will be discussing at Tuesday’s meeting whether or not to enter into an energy sales agreement between the City of Wellington and CORMER for the development of a Tier IV Data Center, north of the community. The proposed project location is a parcel owned by the Wellington Humane Society, situated just north of the City Limits but within the City’s utility service territory. Data centers are the physical infrastructure behind AI — the buildings that house the specialized computers needed to run AI systems. “As demand for AI has surged globally, the race to build this infrastructure has created a major economic opportunity for cities and communities that will act,” according to a communication information overview issued through representatives of Cormer.
Read more: Sumner NewsCow

Peabody Market wasn’t very busy on Friday afternoon, and that reflects a concern of owner Catherine Weems. Business hasn’t been great, and Weems can’t pinpoint it to any one cause. “We’re just trying to stick around,” Weems said. “I bought this grocery store with the intent of being of service to the community. I don’t make a dime off of it. Everything I make has been reinvested into the store.” She said it’s not a self-serving venture; it’s entirely for the community. “I really want it to continue,” she said. The grocery store has been in business for more than 50 years, Weems said, adding she and others before her have been owners. Recently, Weems put out a call on Facebook asking people to shop there.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Ron Harrison, an avid Manhattan fisherman, remembers a time when Tuttle Creek Lake stretched several miles north of the Randolph Bridge and the fishing, especially catfishing, was good. “Now, there’s only a few times a year, when there’s been a lot of rain and the water is really rolling in, that there’s any water at all north of the Randolph Bridge,” he said. “The whole north end is just a mess — a big, muddy mess.” That “mess” is the most visible sign of sedimentation that threatens the life of the reservoir — as well as the lives of many other lakes — built decades ago mainly to stop devastating flooding. Tuttle Creek also provides water supplies for downstream users, recreation and barge traffic on the Missouri River. Originally called Tuttle Creek Reservoir, it had a surface area of about 16,000 acres and 100 miles of shoreline. It supplies drinking water to more than 40% of Kansas residents, including residents of Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City. But it’s shrinking.
Read more: KLC Journal

Nitrate continues to be above safe levels in one Kansas community. Tests collected on March 6 found nitrates at 13 milligrams per liter in Reno County Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area. That exceeds state and federal regulations for the maximum contaminant level, which is 10 milligrams. High nitrate levels in the district’s water supply have been a problem dating back to at least 2020. Nitrates pose the greatest risk to infants under 6 months old, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions. The county offers bottled water upon request to homes with those at risk. Elevated levels are often caused by inorganic fertilizers and animal manure seeping into groundwater.
Read more: KSN-TV

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 Kansas Department of Commerce celebrated the success of the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) last week by bringing together representatives from 50 Kansas communities, statewide grant administrators, legislators and members of the Kansas congressional delegation. The event highlighted the impact of more than $22 million in CDBG funding awarded in 2025 to projects across Kansas, leveraging $28,846,991 in local and partner match funding to invest in rural development and local infrastructure. Combined, the projects represent a total investment of $50,920,498 in communities throughout the state.
See the awardees: Commerce

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 Community Development Block Grant program provides funding for projects in rural, lower-income areas. Projects include infrastructure improvements, park renovations, and commercial building rehabilitation. In 2025, the state awarded $22 million to 50 communities, combined with $29 million in local matches.
Read more: CJonline

For assistance with grant applications and administration contact Ranson Financial.

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1 million in Attraction Development Grant funding was awarded to support the development and enhancement of tourism projects across Kansas. The Kansas Tourism grant program supports projects that strengthen visitors’ experiences while driving local economic growth through job creation, private investment and increased visitation. “Investments in tourism and our state attractions have been a powerful driver in economic growth for our communities of all sizes and for all of Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By pairing state support with local commitment, we’re expanding tourism opportunities that create positive economic returns by bringing more out-of-state visitors and out-of-state dollars to Kansas.”
Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

As both energy prices and inflation fears pop, expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts are sliding. Traders in recent days have abandoned hopes of an early summer easing from the central bank, a change in thinking that coincided with the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran and a burst in oil prices to around $100 a barrel. Prior to the conflict, the market anticipation had been for a quarter percentage point rate reduction in June, likely another one in September, and on outside chance of even three depending on how the economics played out, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch calculations. Much of the thinking behind that approach was that a softening labor market, moderating inflation and a new dovish chair coming on board in May would push the Fed into an easing posture. But at least as long as the Iran drama plays out the expectations now is that fighting inflation will remain paramount.
Read more: CNBC Bonds

America is in the midst of a property tax revolt. In 2024 and 2025, more than a dozen states passed laws meant to slash property taxes for homeowners. And in several states, including Florida, Georgia and Texas, policymakers want to go even further and eliminate homeowner property taxes altogether. These solutions may be politically appealing, but draconian measures are not the answer. They hobble local governments’ ability to raise necessary revenues to provide essential services for their residents and undermine progressivity in our tax system. In many cases, they amount to a solution in search of a problem. There are more efficient and targeted ways to address concerns about the property tax. Headline-grabbing legislative actions have been driven largely by concern that the surge in housing prices will lead to a similar spike in property tax bills. But overall, growth in property taxes has been far less dramatic. Since 2020, housing prices have grown more than 50 percent nationally. Over the same period, however, property tax revenues grew at about half that rate — roughly keeping pace with inflation and below the growth in personal income.
Read more: Governing: State and local government news and analysis

After 41 years in the fire service, including nine years as Fire Chief for the Hutchinson Fire Department, Chief Steve Beer will be retiring at the end of this month. During his leadership, the department achieved several major milestones, including earning ISO Class 1 status and becoming an Internationally Accredited Fire Department—both rare recognitions that reflect the department’s high standards and commitment to service. Chief Beer also led efforts to modernize the department’s apparatus fleet, spearheaded the development of the new Fire Station 1, and expanded the department’s training facility into a site that now attracts agencies from across the region. His leadership also helped guide the department’s strategic planning and foster collaboration across Kansas fire departments through the creation of the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs Roundtable meetings.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1 million in Attraction Development Grant funding was awarded to support the development and enhancement of tourism projects across Kansas. The Kansas Tourism grant program supports projects that strengthen visitors’ experiences while driving local economic growth through job creation, private investment and increased visitation. “Investments in tourism and our state attractions have been a powerful driver in economic growth for our communities of all sizes and for all of Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By pairing state support with local commitment, we’re expanding tourism opportunities that create positive economic returns by bringing more out-of-state visitors and out-of-state dollars to Kansas.” This round of Attraction Development Grant funding will support 22 projects, including new attractions and enhancements to existing tourism assets. Collectively, recipients will invest more than $12 million in matching funds to bring the projects to life.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

The North Newton City Council decided to explore the idea of possible bicycle and e-bike regulations during its regular Monday night meeting. This matter arose at the February meeting, when Councilman Dennis Campbell brought up an e-bike accident that occurred in town. The person rode on the sidewalk on 24th Street, Campbell said. At that meeting, Campbell distributed a journal containing information about e-bike safety and cities with e-bike ordinances. This is a council-driven matter, City Administrator Brad Harris said. Mayor Ron Ratzlaff talked about information he brought, one of which was a summary of Newton’s related ordinances. Harris said staff wants to know what angle the council wants to take so they can research that particular aspect. He said he wanted to acknowledge certain classifications, with the lowest being that they require people to pedal and can’t go faster than 20 mph, regarding e-bikes.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Property owners who live outside of any city in Johnson County looking to use their property for short-term rentals will have new regulations designed to allow access to potential economic benefit while protecting quality of life for surrounding properties. The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approved the new regulations on Thursday. The regulations apply to property owners who are hosting short-term stays of fewer than 30 nights. Before Thursday’s vote, Johnson County zoning regulations did not address short-term rentals. These new regulations can help ensure that potential hosts have a flexible and clear set of requirements to follow, while neighbors have an enforcement mechanism available if issues with a short-term rental arise. These new regulations will go into effect on April 1, in time for this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Read more: Johnson County Kansas