Municipal News & Jobs

Salina’s school buildings are iconic. Structures built decades ago illustrate unique architecture not seen in the community anymore. But over the years, when a school closes, that building sits empty. Now, some school buildings have found a new purpose. One of these buildings is Lowell School, located at 1009 Highland Ave. It was first built in 1915 with an addition constructed in the 1960s. After USD 305 closed the school, it was purchased by Salina Christian Academy to become a school once again.
Source: Salina Journal.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. City revenue projects may be divided into two categories: projects that serve a “governmental” or “legislative” function, and projects that serve a “proprietary” or
“administrative” function.
2. Whether an ordinance is administrative or legislative depends on the unique facts of each case.
3. No single act of a governing body is likely to be solely legislative or solely administrative in nature.
4. The development, introduction, or improvement of services are, by and large, considered governmental.
5. The power to levee a tax generally belongs to the class of governmental power.
6. One city council may not bind a subsequent one to its political decisions involving the exercise of government functions.
7. Parties contracting with municipal corporations are bound at their peril to know the authority of the municipal body with which he or she deals.
8. Parties contracting with municipal corporations are deemed to understand the law of this State, and they knowingly assume the risk associated with such contracts.
Read the opinion.

Garden City has a new Chief of Police. Courtney Prewitt was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Garden City Police Department on March 29.
Prior to becoming Chief Prewitt was a Captain and has been with the GCPD since 1999. A native of Garden City, Prewitt graduated from Garden City High School in 1993.
Source: GC Telegram.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Community growth continues to hinge on two very familiar factors – jobs and housing. And while Scott City has made good progress on the latter over the past decade, it’s also acknowledged that much more needs to be done. According to Katie Eisenhour, director of the Scott County Development Committee, about 90 housing units have been built during the past 10 years. “When we did a housing study in about 2010, it was projected that we would add an average of six units annually,” notes Eisenhour. “So, we’re doing something right, but we also know that we have to do better,” she says. Quantity, however, is only one side of the housing situation. The problem that has been even more elusive is defining what is “affordable” housing.
Source: Scott County Record.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

The votes are in and with 212 votes, the citizens of Dodge City voted on the new black-starred, gold backdrop with black and white stripe, to represent Dodge City as its new flag. According to city officials, there were five options to choose through for the new Dodge City Flag with the vote concluding on March 31. City officials said the flag will serve as a symbol for Dodge City and a source of civic pride.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Hometown pride isn’t penned up in rural communities, but the bulls on main street sure are. Nearly 100 people packed into the Smoky Valley Distillery in Marquette on Tuesday night to participate in one of the most unusual bull sales many had seen in their lives. Ryan Barta, owner of Barta Farms LLC in Little River, asked the Marquette City Council in late March if he could hold his “Angus Comes to Town” sale downtown, to which they responded positively. “I think there’s been a lot of excitement,” Barta said. “This is something that’s not normally done; it’s normally in a building or on a farm site. Cattle on ‘Main Street’ is not a norm, especially in today’s world.” The bulls themselves waited in a portable corral in the middle of Washington Street — Marquette’s downtown center — while the community gathered for a dinner and socializing before the auction kicked off.
Source: Hutch News.