Kansas Municipal News
Johnson County plans to break ground early next year on new $113M health building in Olathe
Johnson County is expanding its health services with a new building on the Sunset campus in Olathe. The Olathe Planning Commission last Monday unanimously approved the preliminary site development plan and final plat for Johnson County’s new health services building near 119th Street and Ridgeview Road. The 130,000-square-foot building will be located on the county’s existing Sunset campus and will house services by the county’s Mental Health Department, Department of Health and Environment, and the Department of Aging and Human Services Nutrition Program.
Source: Johnson County Post
Gardner absorbs land once eyed for Olathe industrial park
The Gardner City Council on Monday approved a resolution to annex four parcels totaling 186 acres along Interstate 35 at the northeast corner of 175th Street and Clare Road. Johnson County property records show the land’s owner is CF Gardner LLC, an entity that shares an address with New York investment management firm Fortress Investment Group. According to city documents, the annexation agreement is a precursor to a bond request and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement the property owner intends to bring forward early next year, though no project details were included in the annexation request.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Wichita City Council approves expanded enforcement on homeless encampments
The Wichita City Council voted Tuesday evening for stronger enforcement of an ordinance against illegal camping. The move, which supporters argued would simplify the ordinance, came after two hours of public comment. Of the 24 people who spoke, 21 opposed updating ordinance, many of whom worried that the change would criminalize homelessness. The council voted 4-3 in favor. Enforcement will begin in January.
Source: KLC Journal
City leaders take action to trash pile up in Topeka
Topeka city leaders are taking action against the trash pile ups around apartment complexes in the capital city. Initially, last week, the city became aware of about 10 properties that had extreme trash pileups. Once the city became aware, the property maintenance unit then issued notices and began working with apartment complex management staff to address the contract that had elapsed for the trash pickup. Over the weekend, the city was notified again about more more properties that were going through the same problem. Since then, Topeka City Manager, Robert Perez said the city has issued around 25 notices that come with a December 26, 2024 deadline for the property owner to clean up the trash.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Emporia City Manager asking workers to make moving last decision as they ponder the future following Tyson and Holiday Resort closure announcements
With several difficult decisions ahead for workers of both Tyson and Holiday Resort, Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking noted on the most recent Q&A With Trey Monday morning it is his hope their first choice will not be to leave the community. Saying the city wants its residents to stay and continue to be a part of the community, Cocking noted that there are ample opportunities available with a lengthy list of employers looking for qualified workers to fill vacancies within their operations. Additionally, Cocking says the recent closure announcements for both facilities have changed the equation in bringing new employers to Emporia.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Starting in 2025, parking in downtown Wichita will no longer be free after 15 minutes
Visitors to downtown Wichita will have to start paying a dollar an hour for parking starting in the summer of 2025. The new parking plan, approved by the Wichita City Council, allows for free parking for up to 15 minutes. After that, visitors would pay a dollar an hour or a daily rate of $5 in a parking lot or $10 in a garage. Monthly rates would be offered at $35 a month in parking lots and $70 in garages. The city’s private contractor, The Car Park, would enforce parking regulations Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sundays would be free.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lawrence city commissioners accept KU’s application for tax breaks for Gateway District
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday took the first step toward considering tax breaks to help the University of Kansas construct its planned Gateway District near the football stadium. Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei noted that similar requests for the city to simply accept an application for tax breaks — including one the commission approved last week connected to the Reuter building — generally go on the commission’s consent agenda. (That’s a list of items that are generally considered routine and approved all at once with one motion.) The commission accepting the application doesn’t mean they’ll approve a final agreement. Finkeldei said this is a very early step in the project, and there will probably be at least five more opportunities for the commission and the public to weigh in before the commission actually approves any economic incentives for KU.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Injunction will prohibit land alterations for proposed solar farm until lawsuit is resolved
An injunction issued late Tuesday will prevent any construction or land modification associated with a proposed solar farm north of Lawrence until a lawsuit seeking to stop the project can be resolved. Chief Douglas County District Judge James McCabria issued the order after hearing arguments from attorneys representing Grant Township, the North Lawrence Improvement Association and more than a dozen other plaintiffs. The group was seeking an emergency order to prevent the Douglas County Commission from voting on updated plans for the Kansas Sky Energy Center, a 159-megawatt solar energy project planned for 1,105 acres in Grant Township. The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in May seeking to halt progress of the project.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Feds scrap plan for electric corridor in Kansas
The U.S. Department of Energy has scrapped plans for an electric transmission corridor in Kansas, after hearing opposition from landowners and the state’s congressional delegation. The Department had been mapping boundaries for its National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) with one route proposed through Kansas. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Congressman Tracey Mann reported hearing concerns from state residents about the seizure of private property for the corridor.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Municipal Bond Trends for December 16, 2024
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.
KBI Director: System has failed sheriffs
The leader of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is asking lawmakers for money to improve the state’s “awful” offender registration compliance software used by sheriffs. “I have heard from sheriffs over and over again, and their criticism is very valid,” said KBI director Tony Mattivi. “We have failed them. We are giving them an offender registration platform that is inadequate for what they need.”
Source: CJonline
Kansas lawmakers demand background checks after department hired financial felon
The Kansas Department of Commerce has inadequate background check processes, according to the Division of Legislative Post Audit. … The Department of Commerce said it felt a 2018 executive order prohibiting state agencies from ascertaining the criminal record of applicants barred them from conducting criminal background checks.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for December 13, 2024
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.
New El Dorado aquatic center planning underway
At Wednesday evening’s work session on December 11, the El Dorado Aquatic Center Committee met with the El Dorado City Commission to discuss intentions and plans for the future aquatic center. It was mentioned during the September 16 City Commission meeting by Jeremy Sundgren and Patrick Todd during public comment that El Dorado needed a new public pool. During the Commission comment period, it was motioned to appoint Kelly Tetrick to form a committee with private citizens and work towards plans for what the pool and facility would look like.
Source: Andover American
Rose Hill Police Stuff the Squad Car
The Rose Hill Police Department hosted a donation drive on December 7 to stuff a squad car as their 19th annual holiday event. The crew collected donations at the local Dollar General from 10am-2pm that included food, toys and cash or check. The cash received, which totaled $991, was used to purchase extra food and toys before dropping off all donations. Detective Melissa Tharp said the food and toys were halved between the local food pantry at Hope Connections located at the Rose Hill United Methodist Church and Sunlight Children’s Home in Andover. The agency is still collecting donations until December 19 for those unable to make it to Stuff the Squad Car. Food and toys can be dropped off at the Rose Hill Police Department located at 125 W Rosewood during business hours.
Source: Andover American
City of Emporia provides updates on response to Tyson Plant and Holiday Resort closures
The City of Emporia has provided several updates concerning efforts to assist displaced workers in finding new employment and receiving financial assistance following the announcements of the Tyson Plant and Holiday Resort closure last week. The two closures – one expected in February and the other expected within 30 days – will result in potentially over 900 job losses in the Emporia community.
Source: Emporia Gazette
This JoCo city is moving to a single trash hauler. What happens next?
The city of Merriam is seeking a single citywide waste hauler. On Monday, the Merriam City Council unanimously approved an organized collection plan that outlines a request for proposals — a formal call for bids — for a contracted single waste hauler to serve the entire city. This comes after months of discussions, including three separate single waste hauler committee meetings, exploring what options are available for a citywide waste hauler. “We don’t know how much it’s going to cost, we don’t know who the hauler is going to be, and we won’t know that until we get those bids back,” Assistant City Administrator Caitlin Gard told the city council on Monday.
Source: Johnson County Post
Westwood voters will weigh in on controversial park sale, settling months-long dispute
Residents of Westwood will vote this spring on the sale of a city park as part of a controversial commercial development project, a win for citizens who had pushed for the effort to get voter approval through a petition and a months-long legal battle. Westwood City Council members voted Thursday to put the question of whether the city would sell Joe D. Dennis Park before the public on the April 1 ballot. The election will take place by mail, city officials said.
Source: KC Star Local News
Western Kansas farmers are wrestling with how to save their water source — and their future
State lawmakers want farmers in western Kansas to take action by 2026 to halt declines in the Ogallala aquifer. But the region’s whole agriculture system is built to produce irrigated grain at a high volume. The state is asking them to slow the decline of the source of this hidden water – the Ogallala aquifer, which supports most of the economy and towns in western Kansas. The region relies on irrigation for agriculture, but after 70 years of pumping, that water source is starting to come up dry, causing concern. It’s been an ongoing debate over how this area will approach the depletion of the Ogallala aquifer. And now, the state of Kansas wants action from the groundwater management districts that cover western Kansas.
Source: KLC Journal
Wichita finds about 6,000 water lines that will need to replaced under new federal lead pipe rules
The city of Wichita has alerted about 6,000 water customers that their pipes could be at higher risk for lead contamination and will need to be replaced under the federal government’s new lead pipe rules. The new rules, laid out by the Biden-Harris administration in October, require drinking water systems to identify and replace lead and some galvanized steel service lines between 2027 and 2037. Exposure to lead can harm children’s growth and development. Wichita completed an inventory of its water service lines in October, finding 16 lead pipes and 5,958 galvanized pipes that require replacement. Galvanized pipes are iron or steel pipes that have been dipped in a coating that can contain lead; lead particles can also attach to the surface of galvanized pipes.
Source: KLC Journal