Municipal News & Jobs

A new 14-bed center in Shawnee has opened to help people dealing with mental health issues get the care they need. On Friday, local officials cut the ribbon on Johnson County Mental Health’s Adult Crisis Stabilization Center at The Recovery Place in Shawnee. Located near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Nieman Road, the facility is a 24-hour crisis observation and stabilization program that provides care and treatment for adults in Johnson County experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Previously, the county has sent adults going through mental health crises to the RSI Crisis Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Just one day prior to last week’s election, the Girard City Council considered a charter ordinance regarding elections, potentially changing its selection process from wards to an at-large vote. The council features four wards, each represented by a council member, including a mayor position as well. Prior to the election, however, numerous candidates dropped out as the council deliberated over whether to keep the election by ward or at-large by the most votes.
Read more: – Morning Sun

The Kansas Legislature’s auditors reported that Johnson, Labette and Gove counties spent $28.8 million to provide three state-mandated government services last year, but received one-third of that total in state, federal or user-fee funding to cover those administrative costs. The three counties were selected for the audit because they represented a range of populations, geographic locations and spending per capita among Kansas’ 105 counties. Under state law, auditors said, Kansas counties provided 18 distinct core services. The limited audit examined costs during the 2024 fiscal year for the three counties in terms of services for criminal prosecution, motor vehicle registration and the collection of ad valorem taxes.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Kansas turned in a 60-page application last week in hopes of receiving a share of  $50 billion in federal money designed to transform rural health. Nearly one-third of Kansans live in rural communities, and the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan aims to improve health in those areas. Federal government officials originally touted the $50 billion as support for rural hospitals that are set to lose billions of dollars after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut Medicaid and other federal health spending. But the program evolved into a more general focus on rural health.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor. In two of the four agreements, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office also crafted a statement admitting regret.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wasn’t kidding a couple weeks ago when he said a December rate cut wasn’t in the bag. Recent remarks from Powell’s colleagues point to plenty of apprehension over whether the central bank should deliver its third consecutive easing of policy when it meets Dec. 9-10. As a result, markets have recalibrated their expectations. Whereas traders as recently as a few days ago were pricing in at least a 2-to-1 probability of a quarter percentage point cut, that’s now flipped to a coin toss, according to futures markets readings tabulated by the CME Group in its FedWatch tool.
Read more: CNBC

With standing-room-only, the Frontenac City Council voted unanimously to oppose the annexation of land north of the city by the City of Mulberry for use as a solar farm. Several concerned citizens, residents of Frontenac, Mulberry, and Crawford County at-large, urged the council to vote against supporting the annexation. Long-term opponents Judy Prince and Becky Willard repeated arguments against allowing the solar farm to be built, citing the fire hazard created by the storage batteries and Mulberry’s inability to respond and contain those fires in a timely manner, a fact even a pair of Mulberry residents agreed with. Moreover, residents argued that there is already development happening in that area as lots are sectioned off for sale and new construction. One resident said he chose to live in the area because of the natural scenery and didn’t want to look at solar arrays all around.
Read more: -Morning Sun

A national penny shortage has forced Barton County officials to examine how they will handle cash transactions, with County Treasurer Jim Jordan outlining two potential rounding methods during a County Commission study session Tuesday afternoon. “This isn’t a really big deal, but you will get calls,” Jordan said. Jordan presented the commission with information on “conventional rounding” and “bankers rounding” as the county anticipates a complete halt to penny circulation following a U.S. Mint directive in August to stop production. Conventional rounding, the more common method, would always round a number ending in $.05 up to the nearest dollar amount. And this is the direction Jordan said he plans to go since the Kansas Department of Revenue hasn’t offered any guidance.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

The Jackson County Commissioners want to let TerraPower, LLC and Evergy leaders know that, as they seek a location for a new nuclear power plant in the state, Jackson County is open for business. At Monday’s Jackson County Commission meeting, the commissioners signed a resolution supporting the development of a Natrium reactor in the county and outlined the advantages of building a facility here. “We need to get it out there as soon as possible that Jackson County is open for business and we want to be considered for it,” Commissioner Mark Pruett said. In September, officials from TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company started by Bill Gates and others, Evergy and the Kansas Department of Commerce, announced they were working together to explore building a Natrium reactor and energy storage system in Kansas.
Read more: Holton Recorder

It was ripping hot out, and there wasn’t much shade offering respite from the sun that was blazing down. But still, volunteers were out braving the summery conditions, tools in hand, helping to build one of the 14 single-family homes Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is building in southern Olathe as part of its Pathway at Heritage Park affordable neighborhood in partnership with Pathway Community Christian Church. This project, located around 159th Street and Black Bob Road, is one of Habitat KC’s biggest efforts to date in Johnson County. Aside from some infill projects “here and there,” said Lindsay Hicks, CEO for Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, it was the first major construction project Habitat had embarked on in Johnson County. Now, construction is well underway. All of that comes as the nonprofit has started to put more focus on supporting homeownership and housing access in Johnson County, but there’s still more to be done.
Read more: Johnson County Post

On Tuesday, the City of Dodge City received a grant to help residents take steps toward achieving their “American Dream.” The city’s Cultural Relations Advisory Board received a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas to provide financial assistance to Ford County residents working toward U.S. citizenship. Those who receive funds participate in a program called Engage Dodge, which teaches them about their local government. The city says the Naturalization Scholarships will help enhance the lives of those seeking citizenship and create unity within the community.
Read more: KSN-TV

The Wichita City Council on Monday announced three finalists for the city manager position. Eighty-nine people applied for the position, according to the city, and the council worked with a search committee and a search firm to narrow the field.
Read more: KSN-TV

Reno County Commissioners tabled discussion of increasing commissioner pay for a month Wednesday to gather more information and constituent input. Among Kansas counties with county administrators or managers, Reno County has the lowest commissioner pay at $11,340 per year, Human Resources Director Helen Foster said. She added that commissioner pay is low enough that it prompts questions from employees of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System about whether Reno County is reporting its full salary. Tabling it until December allows commissioners to track how many hours per week they spend on county business. Commissioner Ron Hirst said he has tracked the time he spends on county business since late September, and it has ranged from two to 20 hours in a week.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Over the past 15 years, the City of Hutchinson issued only about a dozen building permits per year for new single-family homes—and twice as many demolition permits. To meet current housing demand, however, and spur new economic and population growth, there needs to be 10 times that number—annually—for the next decade, according to findings of the Reno County Housing Needs Assessment completed in 2024. It’s no secret that the availability of affordable housing is a serious issue in Hutchinson and Reno County, which contributes to many other challenges, including a growing homeless population and difficulty in attracting new employers.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Iola’s newest sports program is already getting attention from dozens of students, who may soon begin practicing to become the first members of the Iola High School fishing team. With at least 15 students expressing interest in the sport, Iola High School is starting up a fishing club this month.
Read more: The Iola Register

Proponents argue a registry is needed to hold landlords accountable for unsafe living conditions, citing issues like infestations and mold. Opponents, primarily landlords, feel the measure unfairly punishes good property owners for the actions of a few.
Read more: CJonline

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 decision came after a petition ordinance to overturn the current ban of pit bull breeds in the city was certified by Saline County as having received enough signatures to move forward.
Read more: Salina Journal

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.