Municipal News & Jobs

Iola police and residents discussed with the Iola City Council how best to boost education, enforcement and safety measures. June has been a dangerous month for Iola area cyclists, with three serious accidents involving bikes and motorists. Iola Police Chief Jared Warner addressed City Council Monday evening, saying it was imperative the police department “bring to the public’s attention the safety and responsibility that come with riding bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters within our community.”
Read more: The Iola Register

Iola City Council members voiced support Monday for hosting bare-knuckle fighting events. Bare-knuckle fighting was green-lighted Monday at Iola’s City Council meeting. Camille Lavon, Thrive Allen County’s vice president of economic development, had requested the council discuss the topic to gauge interest in hosting fights in Iola. Council members seemed eager to support the idea. “I’m fine with it,” Council member Jon Wells said. “For a while there was a big boxing community here, and a lot of sparring. If we’re going to let some 18-year-old strap himself to a bull for entertainment, I don’t see this as any more dangerous, as long as they have insurance.” Bare-knuckle fighting is a full-contact combat sport that features participants sparring without any form of padding on the hands.
Read more: The Iola Register

A tradition dating back more than a hundred years is returning this weekend to Jefferson County. The Oskaloosa Old Settlers’ Reunion is celebrating its 124th year. The story goes that a group of people passing through Jefferson County stopped at the courthouse lawn. They reflected on the hardships of settling Kansas during its territorial period and the struggles they overcame to make it a free state. That one gathering evolved into what is now the Old Settlers Reunion.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

People in Emporia voiced concerns Tuesday night over rezoning proposals that could open the door for data centers to move into the city. Many of those who opposed the proposal raised concerns about water and electricity demands. However, Mike Law, interim CEO of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, says a data center would bring much needed investment into the community. “Emporia needs the momentum right now, and quite honestly, there’s not a lot of opportunities, not a ton of people knocking on the doors to bring business to Emporia,” Law said. “It’s just been a rough time for the past couple of decades. This opportunity that has presented itself is a great opportunity right now.” When asked about concerns over water consumption, Law said city officials believe Emporia’s water infrastructure can handle the additional demand.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Geary County leaders have approved a one-year moratorium on data centers, giving the county more time to develop regulations before any projects move forward. At its meeting on June 22, Geary County GIS/Planning and Zoning Director Troy Livingston presented the commission with the proposal to implement a one-year moratorium on data centers. The planning commission earlier this month voted to recommend the temporary moratorium on any kind of data center development. Livingston said they believe a year will give them time to study impacts like infrastructure, water and power needs, and allow them to make an informed decision.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The first informational meeting of the Douglas County Data Center Watchdogs drew more than 100 attendees to the Lawrence Public Library Tuesday evening. Nancy Thellman said the new group had been meeting for about two months to put together the presentation for the community. She said they want to educate residents about local land-use rights, water demand and tax incentives that could make the area a target for large-scale data center development.  The group said it plans to meet at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month in the library’s meeting rooms, where organizers intend to hold deeper discussions with experts and residents about the issue. 
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Goddard is attracting major commercial projects including retail centers, apartments and a city park as the Wichita suburb positions itself for rapid growth.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal

As healthcare systems in rural Kansas face mounting pressure, Newton Medical Center is teaming up with six other hospitals across the state to combat rising healthcare costs and enhance rural clinical care. The seven rural hospitals have formed a clinically integrated network to push for lower costs for medical equipment and to collectively negotiate rates from health insurance companies to drive lower out-of-pocket costs for patients, the organizations say.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal

A brief but powerful tornado killed a 64-year-old man in northern Sedgwick County early Sunday morning, blowing his home off its foundation. The storm touched down for just two minutes and struck without tornado warnings or sirens activating beforehand.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

A lone horse rider carrying letters arrived the City of Horton on Monday evening. The horse hooves clopped on the city street, indicating to a large crowd of people that he was nearby. The scene sounded like it would almost be set in 1860-1861, when the iconic Pony Express would be in operation.
Read more: Hays Daily News

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker says revenue from a planned $3 billion data center campus is an opportunity to grow the city. But one resident is concerned that leaders are moving too fast and not weighing the negative impacts on the community and environment.
Read more: KCUR

On Tuesday, commissioners approved a charter resolution to change the way the treasurer’s department collects back property taxes. A 2019 charter resolution requires Harvey County Treasurer Amy Perkins and her department to apply payments to the most current delinquent property tax bill, which means that in order to pay off the most delinquent tax, owners must pay off all of their taxes. If they can’t pay the whole thing, they often decide there’s no benefit in paying any of it off. The new resolution, which will take effect 60 days from the time it is published two weeks in a row, requires taxpayers to pay the current property tax first and then the most delinquent. This means that if someone has four years of back taxes owed, the new resolution acts like a four-year payment plan. Commissioner Becky Reimer thanked Perkins for thinking creatively.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Strong communities are built on more than businesses alone—they are built on places where people gather, connect, and build relationships. That vision is at the heart of The Zarah Coffee Shop, Great Bend’s newest locally owned coffee destination.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

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.

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 NWS preliminary damage survey says the tornado started at 1:14 a.m. in Sedgwick County and lasted for two minutes.
Read more: KSN-TV

A third accident involving a motorist and a bicyclist in Allen County has prompted Iola Police Chief Jared Warner to speak about traffic safety regarding two-wheeled vehicles.
Read more: The Iola Register

The meeting comes after community members urged city commissioners earlier this month to adopt a moratorium on data center development over concerns of large amounts of energy and water consumption, noise pollution, higher utility bills and more. 
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Bucyrus — population: 168 — is only about 35 miles south of Kansas City, but enough farmland and red barns sit between the last suburban subdivision and the town’s quiet main street that it still feels like country.
Read more: Washington Post