Kansas Municipal News
Following contest, City of Lawrence selects name for snowplow: Taylor Drift
From more than 650 submissions received in the span of just a week, the City of Lawrence has chosen the winner of the 2024 snowplow naming contest: Taylor Drift. “This creative, punny name captured the hearts of our judging panel and will soon grace one of the hardworking snow plows that keep our streets clear and safe during winter weather,” the city announced in a news release …
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas faces ‘constitutional crisis’ with rural attorney shortage, Supreme Court justice says
Kansas Supreme Court Justice K.J. Wall said … the state is “approaching a constitutional crisis” with a shortage of attorneys in rural areas, and that “equity and justice” are at stake. Wall spoke at a news conference in Concordia as a committee tasked with studying the crisis over the past two years unveiled a report that offers recommendations for attracting more attorneys to practice in rural areas. The report also presents stark data: Outside of the state’s five most-populous counties, just 21% of active attorneys serve 45% of the state’s population. One-third of the attorneys in those 100 rural counties are over the age of 60.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Sedgwick prepares to launch EMS service in 2025
Thanks to incredible effort from Sedgwick EMS Director Jaime Anderson and her people, the service will go live and be ready to serve the public on Jan. 1, 2025. The EMS cleared the most major hurdle on Dec. 23 as it passed the state inspection with flying colors after long hours of preparation.
Source: Harvey County Now
Esau keeps Walton informed on town happenings
Walton folks call Claudette Esau the town Google because she knows what’s going on in the town of 218 people. Esau has lived in Walton for most of her life and is great at knowing who is related to who in the area and telling various stories about the history of the town. Even one day, a man went into the local restaurant where Esau and her husband were decorating for Christmas and asked her about something going on in Walton.
Source: Harvey County Now
Sheriff optimistic about Flock cameras
After considering the technology for a few years, the Harvey County Sheriff’s Department decided this was the year to move forward with Flock cameras. Flock is a system that reads license plates on vehicles as they drive by the camera and stores the information that police can then look into. Gay said they can enter certain license plate numbers to be notified when they pass a Flock camera.
Source: Harvey County Now
Drafted solar regulations shared
A draft of proposed zoning regulations for commercial solar projects in Jackson County has been sent to members of the county planning commission for review. According to the current draft regulations, any commercial solar project here is limited to no more than 2,000 acres “in order to maintain the county’s rural character and preserve agricultural land.” The county commissioners can approve a modification for the acre limit “based on specific characteristics, which are determined to aid in the preservation of rural character or natural features or to promote the shared agricultural use of the property.” The current draft regulations state that no part of any solar project may be placed within one mile of the city limits of any city.
Source: Holton Recorder
Longtime Roeland Park police chief John Morris retires after 45-year career
The city of Roeland Park is starting 2025 with a new police chief. After 25 years with the department — 11 of which he served as chief of police — and 45 years in law enforcement, John Morris retired from his position as Roeland Park police chief on Jan. 1. Morris told the Post on Monday that he decided to retire while he can still enjoy his family, traveling and taking some off-duty gigs here and there. Morris’ successor, Deputy Chief Cory Honas, was scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 6, but the city is waiting to host that ceremony at an in-person meeting (Jan. 6’s meeting took place virtually due to the blizzard).
Source: Johnson County Post
Leawood to do away with pet licensing program — What that means for pet owners
The Leawood City Council may soon end the city’s standard pet licensing program, in part because the money it brings in does not cover the costs to administer it. Councilmembers, in a meeting held virtually Monday night due to Sunday’s blizzard, voted to move forward on staff’s recommendation to do away with issuing annual tags for cats and dogs. That would mirror a step that other Johnson County cities Mission and Shawnee have already taken, City Administrator Stephen Powell said. Ending the program would free the city of its administrative costs. However, pet owners would still have to identify their pets with a vanity tag or microchip and would have to keep up to date on vaccinations.
Source: Johnson County Post
These Johnson County cities require you to shovel snowy sidewalks
As of Friday morning, forecasters were warning that parts of the Kansas City region, including areas of northern Johnson County, could see upwards of a foot of snow by Sunday night — an unusually high but not unprecedented amount for a single storm here. With that comes the responsibility for local homeowners to get their driveways and sidewalks adjacent to their properties cleared in a timely manner. Some Johnson County municipalities have rules about how soon you should get that done after a winter storm.
Source: Johnson County Post
Developer suing Shawnee over rejected apartment plan takes plea to Kansas Supreme Court
On Dec. 10, the Kansas Supreme Court heard oral arguments from attorneys representing Austin Properties, a development company wanting to build the 29-acre Woodsonia West multi-family development off Kansas Highway 7, and the city of Shawnee, on whether it should overturn rulings from two lower courts. The arguments stem from a lawsuit filed by Austin Properties in 2020, alleging the city acted unreasonably and unlawfully by denying the project’s application. The suit contends that at least one councilmember, who is not named, “pre-judged” their decision by assisting neighbors with the protest petition and sharing statements on the project before the city council meeting took place.
Source: Johnson County Post
Wichita to begin stronger enforcement of illegal camping law despite concerns from some
Some Wichita City Council members made a last-ditch effort Tuesday to prevent a revised ordinance for stronger enforcement against illegal camping from going into effect. The ordinance passed on its second reading along the same lines of its first vote. Council members Mike Hoheisel, Maggie Ballard and Johnson voted no. The new limits, which go into effect this month, allow for rapid removal of reported encampments by law enforcement, city workers and contractors by eliminating the need to post notices to vacate. A particular focal point will be locations that “pose health and safety concerns” such as doorways, sidewalks, areas near bridges, bus shelters, playground and the multi-agency center campus.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for January 7, 2025
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 Attorney General Opinion 2024-8: Reclassifying cities based on a decrease in population
Synopsis: K.S.A. 15-101, K.S.A. 14-101, and K.S.A. 13-101 do not provide for reclassifying a city based on a decrease in population. But K.S.A. 14-901 does allow for a city of the second class to be reclassified as a city of the third class if the population falls to 1,000 or less and a majority of voters approve of the reclassification. There is no similar mechanism for reclassifying a city of the first class to a city of the second class.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-8
Municipal Bond Trends for January 6, 2025
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.
City of Wichita wants to add 80 miles of bike lanes. Here’s where
More than 80 miles of bikeways could be added to streets and shared-use paths in Wichita over the next 10 years, according to a draft of the city’s bike plan. Many of the paths will connect to existing bike lanes in the city. The bike paths may mean fewer car lanes on major roadways, most commonly known as a “road diet.” The draft plan also calls for connecting to bike networks outside the city, including Andover and Derby.
Source: Wichita Eagle
How did Wichita, Sedgwick County use federal ARPA funds? Here are some of the projects.
In 2021, the city of Wichita received $72.4 million and Sedgwick County received $100.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. At the time, it was a lifeline for the local governments, allowing them to continue services and to pay staff who would have otherwise been laid off for an extended period. As part of accepting the funds, local governments agreed to two deadlines: Dec. 31, 2024, to obligate all of the funds and decide where they will go, and Dec. 31, 2026, to spend the money that was allocated. The funds have to be returned if not obligated or spent by their respective deadlines. While the city and the county have met the fund-obligation deadline, Sedgwick County decided to wrap up its ARPA dollar expenditures by the end of the year based on advice it received from the Government Finance Officers Association. Despite ARPA being a Trump Administration program, the advising group told the county the incoming administration might change federal guidelines on how the money should be spent, which could lead Sedgwick County into having to cover the costs through its general funds.
Source: Wichita Eagle
They traded California for small-town Kansas then opened a restaurant people travel to try
Nearly six years ago, the Biggs family decided it was time to leave California – a move they’d been planning for awhile. All they knew when they left is that they wanted to end up in a small town. They found it in Garden Plain, a small community of just under 1,000 people that sits about 20 miles due west of Wichita. And now, just two short years after opening a restaurant on the town’s main drag, the Biggs are some of the best known people in town. Halagains opened a year ago at 501 N. Main in Garden Plain and has quickly become a local favorite.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Tenant rights educator included in $1.2M the City of Lawrence will spend on housing initiatives in 2025
The City of Lawrence is doling out $1.2 million from its sales tax coffers for affordable housing and housing-adjacent projects. New this year will be a community educator to help renters learn their rights. The city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board heard presentations from organizations and developers in October. They deliberated and decided on their recommendations for projects and initiatives that they believed the city should fund in 2025, and the Lawrence City Commission approved the recommendations earlier this month.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas attorney general blocks school bond funds in state’s smallest county
The Kansas Attorney General’s Office blocked millions in school bond funds to a district in the state’s smallest county based on a rigid interpretation of a 2023 elections law. Voters in the Greeley County school district, headquartered in Tribune near the state’s westernmost edge, approved in May a $4.6 million school bond for renovations and new construction, but the Attorney General’s Office refused to approve the funds.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Kansas governor declares day of mourning, sets flags at half-staff to honor President Jimmy Carter
Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order declaring a day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter and she directed flags throughout the state be flown at half-staff. The governor said state of Kansas offices would be closed Jan. 9 in observance of funeral services for Carter in Washington, D.C., and in conjunction with the National Day of Mourning authorized by a proclamation signed by President Joe Biden. Kelly said state government offices in Kansas would resume normal operations Jan. 10. The governor said flags in Kansas would be at half-staff until sunset Jan. 28.
Source: Kansas Reflector
New mural for new beginnings
At the beginning of December, Kelci Rae Cooper faced her fears and climbed scaffolding 30 feet in the air to create a one-of-a-kind mural at 818 N. Broadway, the future home 818 A Healing Space, which is a collaboration between Possibility Junction and other wellness practitioners. The colorful graffiti-style piece features encouraging words with a peace sign and the message “Your magic is inside of you.” “It’s a message I live by,” Cooper said. “No one else holds the magic that you do. All of the answers, power, whatever you call it, is within.”
Source: Morning Sun
Mulvane to launch comprehensive plan website
Mulvane will soon launch a website for its next 20-year comprehensive plan to seek out community input. The city and RDG Planning and Design are working together to develop a vision for the future of Mulvane and want the community to have an interactive experience in helping shape the vision.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
City of Goddard sets up land bank
During its final meeting in the month of December, according to The Times Sentinel, the Goddard City Council voted to establish a city land bank – a public entity that can purchase, manage and reuse properties (which are often abandoned, foreclosed or distressed). Using a land bank, property taxes and special assessments can be placed on hold.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
New reports show economic development transparency gaps
State auditors reported the Kansas Department of Commerce wasn’t fully complying with a five-year-old law mandating maintenance of a public database tracking more than 100 economic development incentive programs. The transparency database was conceived by the Kansas Legislature to offer a means of reviewing how hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives were handed out by state officials to city, county and businesses recipients. The statute authorizing the accessible, searchable and printable database limited the required disclosures to incentive awards valued at more than $50,000 per year. The Legislature’s auditing agency concluded the commerce department’s database didn’t include all economic development programs. In addition, auditors said, there were shortcomings in the database due to missing information on incentive programs and unreported details on recipients of incentives.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Municipal Bond Trends for January 3, 2025
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.
A proposed rule would require future solar projects in Douglas County to test groundwater for zinc, but some say there’s no need for it
Solar panels have to be supported by piers, and these piers are coated in zinc to resist corrosion and extend their lifespan. … the proposed change to Douglas County’s zoning and land use regulations would require wells to be dug upstream and downstream of future solar projects, and samples would be taken to see if zinc contamination existed downstream.
Source: LJWorld
City of Lawrence introduces ‘Mini Grants’ to help artists
The City of Lawrence is now taking applications for the 2025 Community Arts Grant Program, and the city will add another option of “mini grants” for artists as well. … The program is overseen by the Cultural Arts Commission, and the grants are funded through the city’s transient guest tax, which is paid by hotel guests. Last year, the program funded just under $72,000 in grants to 11 applicants.
Source: LJWorld
In the sign of duty
It doesn’t happen often, but a rare skill that Valley Center police Sgt. Glen Davidson grew up learning sometimes comes in handy. Davidson’s ability to speak sign language has become another tool in his tool belt to help residents in Valley Center.
Source: Ark Valley News
Lawrence’s parks and recreation department rebrands itself as ‘Parks, Recreation and Culture’
The change is now official after the Lawrence City Commission approved it during its final meeting of 2024. Porter Arneill, an assistant director with the department, told the Journal-World that the department’s work today encompasses many cultural programs, and that the name change was intended to reflect that.
Source: LJWorld
Breit promoted to Hays City Clerk
City Manager Toby Dougherty announced the promotion of Jami Breit as the new Hays City Clerk. … Mrs. Breit was previously the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Hays and has worked in the City Clerk office since 2012. She fills the position left vacant by the recent retirement of Brenda Kitchen, who served 44.5 years for the city.
Source: Hays Daily News
Based on Hays’ successful ordinance, Ellis Police Chief supports golf cart legalization
“Hays has gone to that … and they haven’t had any reported issues,” Police Chief Smith said. He stated that as long as the Council handled the matter responsibly and required the same safety features as are currently required with utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and that sober drivers followed the rules of the road, he did not anticipate any problems with legalizing golf carts on the streets.
Source: Hays Daily News
Municipal Bond Trends for December 26, 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.
Statewide food sales tax falls to 0% on Jan. 1
Grocery bills will get a bit cheaper Jan. 1, once the state sales tax on groceries tics down from 2% to 0%. The tax cut is the third installment of a gradual elimination of the state’s sales tax on groceries that was 6.5% before the Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly approved the tax cut in 2022.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for December 24, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 21, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 20, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 19, 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.
Sumner County Grant Program Provides Toolboxes for Cowley College Students
Four Cowley College Main Campus students from Sumner County are one step closer to achieving their career goals thanks to a generous initiative supported by Sumner County… The initiative was made possible through the Sumner County Grant Program, which secured funding to provide tools for students.
Source: Cowley College
For assistance with grant applications and administration, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 18, 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.
Grain Belt route removed from federal transmission program — but project will go forward
Members of Kansas’ congressional delegation celebrated the federal government’s decision Monday to remove a proposed electric transmission line route from a program offering assistance for power infrastructure projects. But the project will still move forward.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Tourism’s impact on the Abilene community
Tourism is a vital economic driver for Abilene. According to the most recent data from Tourism Economics, Dickinson County saw more than $22.2 million in tourism spending in 2023, spanning lodging, food and beverage, retail, recreation and transportation. Transient Guest Tax (TGT) revenue—a key indicator of visitor activity—totaled $206,149 in 2024, a 24.31% increase from 2023.
Source: abilene-rc.com
Municipal Bond Trends for December 17, 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.
Holcomb names Ralston as Police Chief
The City of Holcomb has announced the appointment of Randy Ralston as the Chief of Police in December. Ralston, who has been serving as Interim Chief since Oct. 15, 2024, officially steps into his new role following unanimous approval from city officials. Ralston brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to public safety to the position. With a career spanning 30 years in law enforcement, including leadership roles and community engagement initiatives, he has earned a reputation as a dedicated, innovative, and approachable leader.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Halstead residents speak out at battery storage hearing
Halstead residents shared a variety of concerns about both a potential battery storage facility and Concurrent, LLC, the company looking to build in Halstead at a recent public hearing. After over a year of deliberation and back and forth between residents, the city and Concurrent, the Halstead Planning Commission introduced the latest proposed regulations for a battery energy storage system, or BESS as it is commonly referred to, facility. The proposed regulations are available on the city’s website.
Source: Harvey County Now
County denies Newton’s request, says farewell to administrator
After considering the City of Newton’s request from last week for assistance covering the costs of a road pavement, the Board of Harvey County Commissioners decided against it. At the previous county commission meeting, Newton Mayor Rich Stinnett, City Manager Daniela Rivas and City Engineer Suzanne Loomis requested that the commissioners assist with the costs to pave South Hillside Street from East First to Southeast 12th Street. With GAF Materials moving into the Kansas Logistics Park, the city is looking to pave that mile of road. Because of the heavy traffic and types of vehicles that will be using the road, Loomis said the pavement project was using a specific heavy duty type of asphalt.
Source: Harvey County Now