Kansas Municipal News
Kansas does not have a dental school. How that could soon change
In Kansas, over 70 counties are considered by the federal government to be a dental desert. It’s been a serious issue for decades. Dr. Gregory Hand, Wichita State University’s president and the dean of health professions, says the problem goes beyond dentistry. “We do have dentists that are here that are getting extra training, but in terms of having a dental school where students from colleges come in and train and get licensed as dentists, Kansas does not have that,” said Dr. Hand. That’s why WSU asked the Kansas Board of Regents for permission to ask the state for $5 million.
Source: KSN-TV
‘It’s very emotional’: Shawnee County neighbors confront local leaders over plan to build new duplexes
A group of neighbors and farmers in Shawnee County took a stand against the local government in a failed bid to keep an area of farmland from turning into new housing. Developers are looking to transform plots of land near Soldier Township into duplexes and new housing for locals in the Seaman School District. The move is not sitting well with some area residents who aired their frustrations at the Thursday, Dec. 12 Shawnee County Commission meeting.
Source: KSNT 27 News
The Fed’s Game Plan on Interest-Rate Cuts Keeps Shifting
Investors widely expect a third-in-a-row rate cut this week. Officials are ready to slow—or even stop—lowering rates after that.
Source: Wall Street Journal
How much will city charge to park in Old Town and downtown? Council to revisit plan
The city of Wichita plans to start charging visitors a dollar an hour to park in downtown Wichita and the Old Town entertainment district starting in summer 2025. Parking in those areas is free now, with a few exceptions. The Wichita City Council is expected to vote on whether to approve that plan for paid parking downtown at its meeting Tuesday. City Hall launched a public relations campaign in the summer after significant pushback to its announcement of the changes, but the new plan is essentially the same as the old plan.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Ark City mulling pet registration program
Arkansas City officials are considering animal registration requirements in response to concerns about loose pets and limited space at the Humane Society shelter. Loose and aggressive dogs roaming through neighborhoods has become a major problem. Some residents report that their own animals have been attacked and even killed. Others have been threatened by the animals. While the registration system won’t keep the animals from getting loose, it will help determine ownership and allow warnings or fines to be issued to the animals owners.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Rose Hill seeks Purple Star designation
At its school board meeting on Dec. 9, Rose Hill USD 394 officially started the process of becoming a Purple Star district. The school board approved a resolution in support of military-connected students and families to move forward with the district’s application (due Feb. 1, 2025). Through the Kansas State Department of Education, the Purple Star Designation is assigned to schools and districts that support military students. As part of its efforts, district staff is looking to enhance current measures in support of military families, with 136 military students (8.6%) currently enrolled in Rose Hill schools.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
More than $2.5M spent on Salina utilities maintenance
In an interview with the Journal, Martha Tasker, director of utilities for Salina, said that much like a car or house, parts of the municipal water system must be maintained on a regular basis. The department budgets just more than $2.5 million each year to keep up this regularity, Tasker said.
Source: Salina Journal
Local leaders don’t want other communities to make Lawrence’s homeless problem worse, and they’re asking the state to act
When a small community in Kansas has a homelessness problem, what’s stopping it from just dropping people off on the streets of a bigger city like Lawrence? … The law the city is asking for would prohibit any organization that receives state funding — including local governments — from dropping homeless people from one county off in a different county…
Source: LJWorld
On new e-bikes, Lawrence police officers approach their work from a different perspective
Because the bikes aren’t what people typically associate with police presence, Officer Steven Alvord said they often go unnoticed by motorists, which makes for a very different dynamic when officers are on patrol…. the bikes, he said, are “stealthy.” And that means motorists might commit traffic infractions, like running a stop sign, right in front of a bicycle officer without even thinking about it.
Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for December 12, 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.
Kansas broadband internet disparities persist despite huge investments
KHI developed an interactive digital divide dashboard to provide an overview of computer ownership and broadband availability in each of the state’s 105 counties. … The challenge of responding to the state’s technological divide has been more difficult in rural communities due to insufficient infrastructure that elevated the cost of adding high-speed internet service.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Topeka, Shawnee County leaders vote for downtown innovation center
Some Topeka and Shawnee County leaders are in favor of an innovation center coming to the downtown area. The Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) between Topeka and Shawnee County met Wednesday and approved Innovation Center 2.0. It’s a catalytic project to help meet the needs of the area’s growing innovation ecosystem. The center is a “bold step forward in developing downtown Topeka’s ASTRA Innovation District”, according to a news release from GO Topeka. The innovation center is being planned to be located at 220 SE 6th Street.
Source: KSNT 27 News
New police chief gets situated with Topeka
Before we know it, the capital city will officially have its new Police Chief in Chris Vallejo. Vallejo doesn’t officially start until Jan. 20 2025, but he’s currently in the capital city looking to get situated before starting his role. After being named one of the final four candidates to be the next chief, Vallejo, who is coming from Austin, TX, ultimately beat out TPD major Russ Klump for the job. While Vallejo said he understands policing, he said he wants to better understand policing in Topeka. So, for the first couple months he plans on “observing, listening and learning”.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Private wells in Kansas: Safe location and maintenance guidelines
Water supply to rural residences and agricultural operations without rural or public water systems is usually obtained from a private well or surface water supply. In Kansas, more than 73,000 individuals rely on private wells for a water supply. When public and rural water systems that use well water are added to the private well numbers, 34.6% of the Kansas population relies on groundwater for their water supply. Municipal and rural water systems must maintain water quality standards specified by local, state, or federal requirements; however, owners of private wells are responsible for the water quality of their wells. Permanent contamination of groundwater can decrease property values, affect human and animal health, and involve legal liability.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Heartland Flyer extension costs estimated at $311 million
On Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Transportation provided an update based on a recent feasibility study evaluating a passenger rail extension from Oklahoma City to Newton. “Right now, since we’re trying to facilitate the first connection to the Southwest Chief,” Mark Alvarez, rail project coordinator for KDOT, said. “Perhaps in the future, it’s something that can be explored.” The current timeline would mean an early morning hour layover for passengers in Newton if they transfer between Heartland Flyer and Southwest Chief trains. Local proponents of the project had hoped for evening service, which would have boosted Newton’s downtown. According to the discussion, the extension conference project is still on track, with an estimated completion date set in 2029.
Source: Harvey County Now
County commission discusses sales tax for hospital
The Jackson County Commissioners said Monday that they would support Holton Community Hospital administrators and the board of directors if they wanted to pursue a special sales tax for the hospital. During Monday’s commission meeting, Carrie Lutz, HCH CEO, and Marilyn Watkins, a member of the HCH board of directors, learned that the commissioners were not planning to pursue an additional sales tax for the county to help offset property taxes. A special public meeting was held earlier this fall to discuss the possibility of increasing the county’s current sales tax rate to help offset a mill rate increase.
Source: Holton Recorder
Prairie Village poised to renew home grant programs with tweaks to who is eligible
A few more Prairie Village homeowners could become eligible for the city’s property tax rebate and home improvement grant programs under changes the council is considering enacting for 2025. The set of three resident rebate programs in Prairie Village are up for renewal for next year. The Prairie Village City Council last week during a council committee of the whole session forwarded the renewal motions with some proposed changes to the full city council for final approval. The three programs include a property tax rebate program aimed at lower-income households, as well as two separate programs aimed at incentivizing homeowners to make exterior improvements and sustainability upgrades to their properties.
Source: Johnson County Post
2 fire districts in southern Johnson County want to join forces — Here’s why
The two fire districts serving the southern half of Johnson County may be consolidated in 2026 — a move county commissioners and fire district representatives say will make financial planning more efficient in the county’s fastest-growing area. In a joint meeting Tuesday, the commission, which oversees Fire District 2, met with the governing board of Fire District 1 and approved a resolution to combine their functions. It comes with a 60-day protest period and final action by the county commission in the second quarter of 2025.
Source: Johnson County Post
As HaysMed loses doctors, concern about future grows
Doctors are leaving HaysMed, the only level three trauma hospital in Kansas west of Hutchinson. The departures have been entwined with controversy. Two of the doctors leaving, Dr. Jerod Grove and Dr. Robert Rodriguez, filed suit over non-compete clauses in their contracts. Representatives with HaysMed said these departures are normal, and their staffing has been steady in the past year. I spoke with several patients of the doctors who filed suit, who say their departures are robbing them of quality care.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County approves use of remaining COVID money
On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners approved plans to finish spending federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) before the end of the year. ARPA was passed in March of 2021 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The act provided emergency grants, lending, and investment to help change the course of the pandemic and deliver relief to businesses and communities. The approximately $16 million Sedgwick County has left to spend will be used to reimburse costs within the sheriff’s office, wages, and overtime pay.
Source: KSN-TV