Kansas Municipal News
Senate Tax Committee approves capping annual valuation increases to 3%
The Kansas Senate Tax Committee cleared the first hurdle for major property tax reform in the state by approving a proposed constitutional amendment limiting yearly increases in property valuations to 3%. If approved in both the Senate and House by 2/3 majorities, Kansas voters would go to the polls in November to decide the fate of SCR 1603.
Source: The Sentinel
Law restricts township fire station efforts
Soldier Township’s fire station is about 50 years old, but the laws governing how it could issue bonds for a new station are even older, and are preventing the community from even considering putting a question to its voters to fund a new station. …current laws on townships cap how much they can bond for.
Source: CJonline
Douglas County commissioners vote to require zinc monitoring for future solar projects
…solar energy projects use piers coated with zinc to support their solar panels. The new rule states that wells will have to be dug upstream and downstream of future solar projects and samples will have to be taken to see if zinc has gotten into the groundwater from those piers.
Source: LJWorld
Solar farm in Valley Center?
Under the ordinance, solar farms could only be located on properties that are zoned industrial. And a six-foot fence would be required around the entire development, among other requirements.
Source: Ark Valley News
Manufacturer to move U.S. operations to Winfield
A Swiss-based manufacturer of railroad track technology will move its U.S. operations to Winfield, it was announced Tuesday. … The company expects to initially hire 15 employees for its Winfield location…, with an additional 10 employees added per year over the next five years.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Prosecutor seeks to recruit lawyers
With only one law office left in the county, and that being a half-day satellite office of a McPherson County office, Marion County’s 11,690 residents are seriously underserved…. Newly installed county attorney Michelle Brown has ideas to recruit lawyers to the county.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Nurses wanted for rural communities
Kansas, especially in rural areas, faces a shortage of nurses that is expected to become worse, a recent Kansas Nursing Workforce Center report shows. … [Marion hospital] chief executive Alex Haines … explained that the hospital’s efforts to recruit and retain nurses is to involve them in decision making, ensure their pay is fair market value, and waive staff members’ patient responsibility for care they get at the hospital.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Marion revives historic district
An effort to get Marion’s downtown designated as a historic district — opening the door to tax credits to pay for building improvements — will continue after a five-year hiatus touched off by 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Renovations ‘seem to create more energy,’ Marysville developer says
Marysville’s iconic Koester Block rust-brick buildings, which date to the town’s early days of the 19th century, stand to see new life once housing is added to their upper stories.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Sand Creek path a huge project, both difficult and ‘cool’
The City recently received an offer for an estimated $3 million from the State of Kansas to help extend the Sand Creek trail by 1.2 miles and connect its two pieces.
The City has had plans and estimates for the project, but until now, no funding existed, and solving the exact details was not something to spend staff time on.
Source: Harvey County Now
Lt. Governor Toland Announces Rural Economic Development Grant Recipients
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the award recipients for the Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. In this round of funding, more than $250,000 was distributed among 12 recipients across the state. “Through the SEED grant program, we’re helping our small and rural communities grow stronger and become more resilient,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These investments will drive economic development, enhance local services and create a more prosperous future across the state.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Building community
The chief has a vested interest in taking care of his town. For the past three years, Adelman and his two part-time officers have done a lot to gain the trust of Mulberry’s 400-plus residents using what Adelman calls proactive police work. Since Adelman became chief, Mulberry’s crime rate has dropped significantly. He and his officers have taken the time to learn everyone’s name, instilling a sense of community that was lost for a time.
Source: Morning Sun
���Happiness is a warm puppy���
A local city is distributing free straw to help citizens insulate outside dog houses and pet shelters during some of the coldest days of the winter, so far. A yearly occurrence, the city of Arma is giving free straw to area pet owners as a way to keep their pets from freezing during the winter season. According to assistant city clerk Vanessa Kent, the straw is acquired by the city from Blue Ribbon Farm & Home, an animal feed store in Pittsburg.
Source: Morning Sun
USD 383 to outsource groundskeeping to local contractors
The USD 383 school board on Wednesday unanimously voted to outsource mowing and upkeep services to two outside companies, making up for staff shortages and saving the district some cash.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Andover Mayor Price says connection to El Dorado lake can help solve water problem
With Wichita increasing their water rates, which passes onto Andover residents, Mayor Ronnie Price says the issue could be solved by connecting Andover to the El Dorado Lake. The Wichita City Council approved a 6.75% rate increase for water on Tuesday, December 3, effective with bills issued on or after January 1, 2025. Low-volume water users will see their bills rise by $3.21, mid-volume users will experience a $4.79 increase, and high-volume users will face an increase of $9.59. The rate increase comes due to inflation, operational adjustments, and other challenges.
Source: Andover American
Local governments should provide better access to information
The City of Arkansas City is a model in providing public access to its City Commission meetings and information about those meetings in advance so that residents know what their local representatives are up to and how their tax dollars could and are being spent.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
City Hall might finally get into historic district
Arkansas City’s downtown historic district be reshaped with the removal of some properties and the addition of others — City Hall, the police department and Ben Givens Park. Arkansas City commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the city to apply for a $25,000 Historic Preservation Fund Grant from the National Park Service to change the boundaries.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Winfield to study future usage of city hall, police station
A study to determine the future use of Winfield City Hall and the current police station was approved 3-0 Tuesday by Winfield city commissioners at their regular meeting. The study was approved with Agora Architecture of Winfield, for a total of $44,950. The study will be funded with capital improvement sales tax dollars. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Swiss rail company coming to Winfield
Schwihag, a global leader in railroad equipment and track design, has selected Winfield as the location for its new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility. The site is located at 1108 Industrial Blvd. in Winfield, in the former Fluid Kinetics building.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Sales tax for HCH moving forward
A special retailers’ sales tax to solely benefit Holton Community Hospital operations is moving forward after talks between HCH administrators and the Jackson County Commissioners. During a recent commission meeting, the commissioners agreed to formally ask Kansas House of Representative Francis Awerkamp of St. Marys to introduce a county-wide quarter percent sales tax during the current legislative session on behalf of the hospital. If passed during the legislative session, the quarter percent retailers’ sales tax would be placed on a ballot during the November general election for county voters to approve or reject.
Source: Holton Recorder