Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Pittsburg official discusses inflation’s toll on City Hall & budget

Inflation isn’t just impacting local residents, it’s also affecting City Hall. Pittsburg Deputy City Manager Jay Byers says the city’s budget has “most definitely” been impacted by inflation. Byers notes that a few years ago, during the pandemic, there were some extreme spikes in some products due to problems with the supply chain, but for the most part, that has leveled out. He said overall, the city is paying 5-percent more for items than a year ago, but they are also seeing more money come into the city. “Yes, it’s absolutely impacting us now. Fortunately, we’re having, you know, our our natural growth of our sales and our property tax are taking care of most of that. So it’s not alarming for us. It’s not creating budgetary difficulties, but it is something we’re going to have to keep our eyes on,” said Byers. Byers adds that they expect the 5-percent increase to happen again next year as well.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Here’s how a possible $450 million bond issue could reshape Wichita school district

The Wichita school board heard a plan Monday for a $450 million bond issue proposal that would support the complete rebuilding of eight schools over the next five to six years. The district would reduce its overall footprint by 11 buildings, consolidating programs into new and existing facilities and closing four elementary schools, five special schools and two administrative buildings. The draft proposal, presented by Ohio-based consultant Woolpert, comes three months after the school board voted to permanently close six schools as a cost-saving measure. The board took no binding action Monday night, but intends to revisit the facilities master plan proposal on June 27 after community feedback on the recommendations has been collected. The board will also hold a workshop on the master plan before voting on it. Officials say the new bond proposal would not raise property taxes. Instead, it would maintain the existing elevated tax rate associated with the 2008 bond issue for however long it takes to pay off $450 million in new debt.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Chetopa avoids potential water crisis

Chetopa averted a potential crisis this week by creating a work-around after a waterline broke that transports water from the Neosho River to the city’s water treatment plant. The temporary fix, which was in place Tuesday, used a large pump to pull water from the river, deposit it in a portable pool used by firefighters to store water for fire suppression and then pump that out of the pool and into the intake pipe upstream from the break. The broken pipe was repaired by early Thursday afternoon. Scott Feagan, who is the city’s police chief and superintendent, said that the city had enough water stored in its tower to keep the system pressurized to avoid a state boil order. But the city staff still asked residents to conserve water while city crews tried to resolve the situation. Feagan said the 6-inch waterline that comes out of the well house broke. One of the city’s water treatment plant operators noticed on Monday that no water was coming into the plant and contacted Feagan. He drove to the river to look at the intake system and saw water boiling out at the river. Water is pumped uphill from the well house that sits on the river bank. The buried line comes uphill from the river at an angle and then levels out on top of the river bank at Veterans Park. The water plant is about two blocks to the west.
Source: Parsons Sun

Municipal Bond Trends for June 11, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.

Municipal Bond Trends for June 10, 2024

Boeing’s woes mean rising anxiety in Wichita, Kansas, the ‘Air Capital of the World’

Not everyone in the self-proclaimed “Air Capital of the World” works in the aviation industry, though it seems like everybody here knows someone who does. That’s why the entire city has a stake in what happens to Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier that builds the fuselage for the 737 at a sprawling factory on the southern edge of town.
Source: NPR

Municipal Bond Trends for June 7, 2024

USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Fund Community and Economic Development Projects in Rural Communities

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development … today invited applications for grants to help organizations improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas. USDA is making up to $5 million in grants available under the Rural Community Development Initiative program. The program provides funding to organizations that provide financial and technical assistance for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects. Eligible applicants include public (including Tribal) organizations, nonprofit organizations and qualified private organizations.
For assistance with application for, or administration of, grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

Attorney shortage in rural Kansas

In December 2022, Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued an order establishing a Rural Justice Initiative Committee … The committee is to study the issue, gather data, and make recommendations by fall 2024. Statewide surveys and listening sessions have been conducted along with interviews of law school students. “(The shortage of attorneys) is becoming a constitutional crisis…”
Source: Hays Daily News

Immigrants help rural Kansas flourish, but they often face challenges once they’re here

With the diversification of the population there are starting to be cultural shifts. Both Garden City and Liberal now have two people of color on their respective city commissions. Kathleen Alonso is a civic engagement coordinator for the nonprofit New Frontiers. She was encouraged to run for local office after seeing the community embrace the majority minority, electing two Hispanic people to the city commission. Her campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, but she said the trend continues. “I’ve seen a lot more people that look and speak like me in more positions of power,” she said. Alonso knows all too well the struggles of an immigrant in rural Kansas. She grew up in a place lacking resources for children that looked like her, despite most of the children looking like her by 2010. “I had to translate for my parents, documents with my teachers and all that stuff,” Alonso said. “My mom was deported when I was 16, so immigration issues are really dear to my heart.” Immigrants not only support the economy through meatpacking, but now they provide essential services, like health care, education and grocery stores. And major organizations like schools and churches are starting to adapt. Jonathan Zamora is a pastor for Crosspoint, an English-speaking Christian church in Liberal. His parents came to southwest Kansas from Nicaragua to seek work and education opportunities in the late 1980s. Zamora has used his parents’ experiences to guide how he leads his church, reaching out to the Latino community and offering them leadership positions within the church. “As our community changes, organizations have to change, too, and our church needed to change,” Zamora said.
Source: KAKE – News

New $14 million emergency room facility planned for this south-central Kansas city

A new Wesley emergency room will soon be under construction in Andover. The $14 million facility is planned for 126 West Cloud Avenue just west of Andover Road on U.S. 54. It will have 12 beds. Lee Mangus, Andover’s director of community development, said the site’s location will make it easier for people coming from outside the city to access an emergency room. “It’s always good to have redundancy in facilities,” Mangus said. “I know Kansas Medical Center sometimes gets overwhelmed in their emergency room, and this location is closer to the southern end of our city.” According to a Wesley press release, the site will provide “full CT scanning and diagnostic x-ray services,” with a 26-person staff. The emergency room location was first proposed in June 2023. The site’s groundbreaking occurred on Wednesday, and the project is scheduled for completion in January 2025. The emergency room will sit across from Flint Hills Medical Clinic and to the west of an Auto Zone, Spangles and Flint Hills Wine & Spirits.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Commerce Awards Nearly $300,000 for Downtown Improvements in Kearny County

The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced that Kearny County has been awarded $296,250 through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for a new coffee and bakery shop. This Commercial Rehabilitation grant, along with $98,750 in local matching funds, will help restore an older building and revitalize downtown Deerfield in Kearny County. “With the opportunities that CDBG grants offer, communities such as Kearny County are able to fund projects that breathe new life into their town, downtown businesses and surrounding communities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Investing in rural Kansas and downtown businesses brings many opportunities for economic growth, enhancement of community vitality, and quality-of-life improvements for those who choose to call Kansas home.” This project marks the first Commercial Rehabilitation grant awarded to Kearny County, highlighting a significant milestone in this southwest Kansas county’s efforts to enhance a downtown area and support local businesses. The renovation is expected not only to boost the local economy but serve as a catalyst for future improvements and investments.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Book power: Johnson County program helps children in courthouse ‘feel not alone’

Going to a courtroom can be scary, especially for children at the center of custody cases. Getting a small gift can help to take some of the fear out of the experience. That’s where Courtroom Assisted Reading Encouragement (CARE) comes in to help. Those in charge of the program maintain a small book collection in the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe, and any child who comes through Judge Kathleen Sloan’s courtroom gets the opportunity to pick a volume to take home and keep. “They get to end their day that probably started in the courtroom with entering this room and experiencing this very positive, empowering event,” said Melody Kinnamon, a librarian for the Johnson County Library system. “They get to pick what they want, and they get to keep it,” says Kinnamon, who oversees the program. “We’re coming alongside these kids during what we’re assuming is a difficult situation, and we’re trying to make it better.” Sloan, who handles child-in-need-of-care cases, said she has invited other judges and court-appointed special advocates to bring children to the CARE collection. “These are children who have either been removed from their parents or they stay with their parents with court involvement,” Sloan said. “Humanity or normalcy” is important, she said. Currently, about 150 to 200 new books each year are given out.
Source: Joco 913 News

Rules for backyard chickens in Johnson County keep evolving. Which cities allow them?

When the weather heats up and people in Johnson County start looking for new projects, questions about backyard chickens start popping up. In Johnson County, the rules for owning backyard chickens varies from city to city, which can cause confusion for both residents and city officials. For example, the City of Leawood strictly prohibits the ownership of backyard chickens, while officials with the City of Shawnee look at it as something that encourages empathy and responsibility. “We’ve had awesome luck with it,” said Scott Hunter, community service officer for the Shawnee Police Department. In Lenexa, livestock and poultry are permitted in three zoning districts — Agricultural (AG), Residential Estate (RE) and Planned Residential Estate (RPE). This means most subdivisions in the city, which are zoned for single-family residential, are prohibited. A recent Facebook post by the City of Lenexa stating backyard chicken restrictions caused uproar with some residents. It’s not unusual for this kind of confusion to happen, and the city is happy to talk with residents about it, said Lenexa Planning Manager Stephanie Kisler. “It’s pretty clearly on our website, and then, the city code: The policy is that not every property can have chickens,” she said. “It’s probably just some education that’s needed. That’s why we tried to make a really great new webpage with some code information kind of summarized on that page and linking to the actual code itself.” The acceptance of backyard chickens in Johnson County continues to evolve.
Source: Johnson County Post

New education center in Southeast Kansas aims to transform lives

A new Southeast Kansas education center is looking to provide more resources for students and young adults struggling with behavioral issues. “I just can’t imagine the feeling of no one being there, no one supporting you, no one loving you, knowing no one believing in you. And I really felt like my heart led me to the Second Chance Education Center,” said Mandy Monroy, Second Chance Education Center owner. The Second Chance Education Center in Parsons aims to help kids who have been suspended, who are bouncing around from district to district for behavioral reasons, or young adults who previously dropped out. “In establishing Second Chance, we’ve realized there are a number of other ways that we can support the community. That’s adult education. We had an adult student come in that was just credits away from a high school diploma and we were able to connect him with the right people to get his high school diploma,” said Monroy. The owners add – they’re here to support anyone who needs a second chance.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Lenexa is launching a pilot property tax rebate program

Lenexa is planning to launch a pilot program that will provide $100,000 in property tax relief for older homeowners in the area. On Tuesday, the Lenexa City Council unanimously approved a Governing Body Finance Policy for a Property Tax Rebate Program intended to provide property tax relief for eligible homeowners. The program is intended to provide property tax relief for eligible older homeowners and lessen the tax burden resulting from rising home values. The program has been in talks for about a year. “This is great,” said Councilmember Courtney Eiterich. “I know we’ve hashed through a lot of different scenarios on this, and I’m happy to see this come to fruition. I hope that we get lots of applicants.” The measure is similar to a pilot program recently discussed by the Overland Park City Council in May.
Source: Johnson County Post

Wichita Police Department Mounted Unit welcomes new Clydesdale

The Wichita Police Department Mounted United has welcomed Bobbi, a 3-year-old Clydesdale mare. Bobbi was able to be acquired thanks to a collaboration between the WPD, Wichita Police & Fire Foundation, Cowskin Creek Clydesdales, and a local donor. “Their support has made it possible for Bobbi to join our ranks and contribute to our mission of ensuring the safety and security of our community,” said the WPD. Bobbi will start her journey with the WPD by going through comprehensive training. “… she will learn the essential skills required to serve alongside her fellow officers,” said the WPD. Bobbi will play a crucial role in enhancing the department’s effectiveness in serving the Wichita community. The WPD posted a video of Bobbi on Facebook.
Source: KSN-TV

Survey work begins for next phase of East Kellogg expansion

The Kansas Department of Transportation says a geological field survey has started for the next phase of the East Kellogg expansion project in Wichita. The survey is focused on the section of Kellogg from the K-96 interchange to 159th Street East (Andover Road), and it should be completed by August. Survey activities will include coring the roadway and base material for analysis. Traffic control measures will be taken while crews are drilling for the assessment. Drivers should expect temporary single lane and shoulder lane closures, and they’re advised to stay alert and watch for survey workers and expect delays.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $4M Awarded through Broadband ADOPT Program

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that seven organizations will receive a combined $3.9 million in grants through the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. ADOPT supports the Kelly administration’s work to connect more Kansans to high-speed internet by making public Wi-Fi accessible and distributing devices in underserved areas. “Kansans rely on technology for work, school, health care, and connecting to each other,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The ADOPT grants support community organizations in our shared mission to connect more people to the internet and critical digital skills.” The program helps organizations serving Kansans move forward by ensuring that communities can access public Wi-Fi and the devices needed to participate in today’s technology-driven world. “As internet access continues to play a more prevalent part in our day-to-day lives, high-speed internet can no longer be considered a luxury,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Providing access to devices and accessible Wi-Fi means that we are investing in the future of Kansans and in the future of our great state as a whole.” To continue connecting Kansans to devices and internet access across the state, an additional round of funding will open later this year with $10.4 million available.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Sedgwick County expects report soon on solar regulations

Sedgwick County Commissioners heard an update Wednesday on the process of adopting regulations governing large-scale solar energy projects, and they voted to delay action until early August. The county has hired a consulting team with expertise on solar power issues to work with staff and gather insights and perspectives on proposed changes to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Zoning Code. Justin Constantino with the Metropolitan Area Planning Department said a draft document is expected from the Berkley Group later this month or in July. Commissioners approved a moratorium on utility or commercial solar projects until September 13th. Constantino said it’s expected that staff will have recommendations for the county commission before that time. The commissioners voted to defer action until their August 7th meeting. County officials have been looking at definitions, standards and land use requirements for stand-alone commercial solar systems. This does not affect home solar projects or accessory projects that are part of a larger development, such as a solar project for a school or public facility. Commissioner Jim Howell said the process is almost complete, and it’s the smart thing to do to allow the consultants to complete their work and present their recommendations.
Source: 101.3 KFDI