Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

How Kansas laws could change on zoning, city building codes and tax incentives

A special committee of members from the Kansas House and Senate are working to increase affordable housing options across the state. The committee on Tuesday and Wednesday discussed a myriad of ways to bring in more affordable housing. A laundry list of recommendations were accepted, including reviewing tax incentives and the way they can be stacked, local government authority on rezoning and the way city building codes are changed.
Source: Hutch News

What’s beneath the paint? Silver Lake is special to the community

A new mural in Silver Lake embraces the community in a way that’s highly visible to those traveling through. Earlier this month, residents of all ages joined in adding the final bits of paint via handprints on the large-scale artwork painted on the east wall of DG Market, 10020 US-24 highway.
Source: CJonline

Lawrence needs new housing, and code changes and accessory dwellings could help fill the gaps

With those housing needs in the background, the City Commission passed a new Land Development Code earlier this month, and one change in particular could help add more housing density and diversity throughout the city: allowing accessory dwelling units in all residential districts.
Source: LJWorld

Municipal Bond Trends for November 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 November 20, 2024

Augusta Public Library receives Artemis moon tree

On October 25 the Augusta Public Library announced they had been chosen as a recipient to receive a NASA Moon Tree. The trees are unique in that the seeds were flown in the rocket used for the Artemis I mission around the moon in 2022. The seeds traveled 270,000 miles from Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft. Several species were flown on the mission including sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, loblolly pines, and giant sequoias. Since their return to Earth, the seeds were germinated and raised into seedlings by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service as a NASA project until their new homes were determined. “What an incredible journey these future Moon Trees have already been on, and we’re excited for them to begin the final journey to permanent homes on campuses and institutions across the country,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore in a NASA press release. “We hope these trees will stand for centuries to come for the public’s enjoyment, inspiring future generations of scientists and land stewards.”
Source: Andover American

New focus on Burrton contamination plume

After years of monitoring the Burrton plume, the state’s renewed focus on water quality might lead to progress on contamination. This is the hope of Tim Boese, the manager of Groundwater Management District 2. “I’m hoping the steam we’ve got going doesn’t diminish,” Boese said. Boese said there’s been a statewide focus on water quality that he hopes will lead to some changes. Most recently, the Kansas Water Office hired a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to determine what the options are to deal with the plume. Boese said the state had a study done in 2020, but it was broader. He said the current study is more focused and will provide actual options and costs involved. “It’s very preliminary,” Boese said. “But it’s a step that’s never been taken before.” The Burrton plume formed after concentrated levels of chloride seeped into the Equus Beds Aquifer from the early 1930s to mid-1940s. During that time, it was common practice for the Burrton Oil Field to use evaporation pits to dispose of brine. The brine then spread into the groundwater of the aquifer.
Source: Harvey County Now

Applications being taken for Sedgwick Citizens’ Police Academy

Sedgwick’s police department is accepting applications for a Citizens’ Police Academy, starting on Jan. 23, 2025 through March 13, 2025. The cost is free for interested people, and the academy takes place every Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sedgwick Police Department office at 505 N. Commercial. “Lots of agencies do Citizen’s Police Academies, and I had the pleasure of hosting it for several years when I was in Newton,” Police Chief Bryan Hall said. “It’s a program that community members can learn why police do the things they do. Most complaints come from unrealistically high expectation and low information, so if you can raise their information, lots of times their expectations come down to a balance point, to a reasonable level.”
Source: Harvey County Now

County sued for seizing, holding hemp products

The Harvey County Board of Commissioners is facing a suit for damages and the return of property from a Kansas hemp product distributor. According to district court documents, Sugarleaf Distributing LLC, based in Hutchinson, alleges that the Harvey County Sheriff’s Department seized $44,915.15 worth of hemp products legal under Kansas law in a March 2022 traffic stop and has since not released the items. Jonathan Nicol, an attorney for the company, said that the products have since spoiled. “The difficulty is it’s a big chunk of product,” he said. “Much of it is spoiled at this point.” Nicol said the driver of the vehicle that had the items seized was a contractor for SugarLeaf Distributing, LLC. The company sources hemp-derived products from other states and supplies them to area hemp, smoke, and CBD shops in Kansas. Nicol said that the products seized are legal under the law and contain no more than .3 percent Delta 9 THC on a dry weight basis. He said they have filed affidavits attesting to the legality of the items. The suit states that the products are legal under federal law and that law enforcement improperly applied the state of Kansas’ definition of industrial hemp in a more restrictive manner than is allowed under federal law. The suit asks for a judgment against the county for the property’s value, as well as damages for wrongful detention. It also asks the court to declare the property legal under both Kansa and federal law, declare portions of the Kansas Hemp Act to be preempted by federal law, and award the plaintiff its cost in attorney fees.
Source: Harvey County Now

Hesston moving forward with new strategic plan

With expiration of the former strategic plan, the City of Hesston needed a new plan put into place. When the council adopted the new strategic plan, it was the culmination of a lot of work and discussion to map out a path for getting to the established goals. “The planning process has been ongoing for the last eight months,” City Administrator Gary Emry said. “A few work sessions were facilitated by a consulting firm. We felt it was important to use the same consulting firm used in creating the expiring plan, because of his familiarity of Hesston and the organization. The premise of our planning is based on the four sides of ‘The Public Square,’ which is made up of four sectors: business, government, health and human services, and education.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Beneficient gives update on Hesston grocery store

Beneficient Heartland Foundation Director Brad Heppner hopes to see a ground breaking for a new credit union building in May, opening up space for a long-discussed grocery store in Hesston. Heppner provided an update this week to Harvey County Now on plans for a project that will alter Hesston’s core business district. “We’re working really hard,” Heppner said about the grocery store project. “In the last two years, we’ve undertaken 17 different agreements to make this a reality.”
Source: Harvey County Now

House numbers required in Goessel

At the City Council meeting on Oct. 21, the city council passed Ordinance #312 requiring houses to display numbers identifying the address. The city will begin enforcement after Jan. 1, 2025. Failure to comply with the ordinance could result in a $25 fine per day out of compliance with each day constituting a new violation. The city has a limited number of house numbers to give out that will be given on a first-come first-serve basis.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Siding with resident, Kansas Court of Appeals sends Westwood park case back to lower court

A Johnson County judge’s decision in a case regarding the sale of Joe D. Dennis Park in Westwood has been reversed. On Friday, the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled that a Westwood resident suing her city over the sale of the city’s main park should have a chance to argue her case. Back in February, resident Beckie Brown filed a motion to intervene in the proceedings after she and others voiced opposition to a Karbank Real Estate Services plan that calls for an office-retail development to be built on top of Joe D. Dennis Park. Later that month, Johnson County District Court Judge David Hauber dismissed Brown’s motion to intervene in legal proceedings regarding a protest petition against the sale of the park. The appellate court’s decision last week to reverse and remand Hauber’s dismissal effectively sends the issue back to district court for a retry. Still, the decision only addresses Brown’s motion to intervene rather than the validity of the protest petition itself.
Source: Johnson County Post

Overland Park City Hall was built in 1960s. Will city move to newer, bigger space?

Overland Park is mulling options for a new, larger city hall that would be more centrally located and potentially put more city departments under the same roof. During an Overland Park City Council Committee of the Whole meeting Monday evening, councilmembers and city staff shared broad consensus that something new is required. However, no specific action has been taken, and exactly what it might look like remains unclear. Based on a 48-page planning study completed by PGAV Architects, the prevailing recommendation from city staff that the city council supports at this stage is to acquire an existing building somewhere in the city and renovate it to match Overland Park’s city staff needs.
Source: Johnson County Post

De Soto considers incentive request to add more housing north of Panasonic plant

More developers are hoping to tap into tax incentives to build housing in De Soto near the Panasonic EV-battery plant. Rick Oddo, CEO of Lenexa-based Oddo Development Co., and Dan Taylor, president of Taylor Sterling Construction Co., have submitted an application to create a reinvestment housing incentive district (RHID) covering about 67 acres north of 89th Street and south of 83rd Street between Kill Creek Road and Waverly Road. The proposed development would abut the existing Arbor Ridge subdivision. An RHID allows a city to redirect property tax gains generated by a development to pay for eligible construction and infrastructure expenses. The developers request a 60% RHID for 25 years to support creating their mixed housing development, also called Arbor Ridge.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

What Johnson County is doing about housing after homeless shelter defeat

Johnson County has until the end of the year to spend $6 million of federal COVID relief funds that were originally bookmarked for a Lenexa homeless shelter. Johnson County Commission chair Mike Kelly wants that money to still go towards housing solutions. When the Lenexa City Council voted against approving a permit for a new low-barrier homeless shelter in September, Johnson County Commission chair Mike Kelly feared it meant a major need would go unmet. “That’s where we have our biggest gap,” Kelly told KCUR’s Up To Date. “An opportunity to help unhoused adults not only receive safety and shelter, but an opportunity for wraparound services.” Now, Johnson County has $6 million worth of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act left over. The money must be obligated by Dec. 31, or else be forfeited back to the federal government.
Source: KCUR

Decision on paid parking in downtown Wichita delayed again. Here’s why, what’s next

Attempts to charge for public parking in downtown Wichita have stalled again. After four hours of discussion Tuesday night, the Wichita City Council deferred voting on a parking option until Dec. 10. Council members were in support of two different options: one that would implement paid parking uniformly across downtown, Old Town, and Delano, with up to 15 minutes of free parking. The other option would have implement paid parking downtown and likely created a new tax in the Old Town area to pay for parking. Delano was exempt from that plan until construction is completed on the multimodal center, which includes a parking garage with 400 spaces.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Wife of Sedgwick County commissioner-elect charged with electioneering

Meghan Blubaugh, wife of Sedgwick County commissioner-elect Jeff Blubaugh, has been charged with electioneering, a misdemeanor crime in Kansas. The charge stems from an Oct. 29 incident in which Meghan Blubaugh wore a T-shirt supporting her husband’s campaign while she was at an early voting location in west Wichita. Kansas statute prohibits voters at polling sites from wearing any article of clothing that clearly identifies a candidate.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

USD 259 starts talk Monday about cell phone ban for students in schools

No decision has been made on banning cell phone use in Wichita Public Schools, but school board leaders workshopped the idea on Monday. “We compared our current policy, which restricts cell phones during instructional time, versus the possibility of whether or not we need to do more,” said USD 259 Board President Stan Reeser. “There was a state task force on cell phones which dove into a little more than what our policy deals with.” Reeser is talking about a Blue Ribbon Task Force from the Kansas Department of Education. That task force made some basic recommendations in a report on screen time and students. “But what we need to do is circle back with our staff and our principals and our parents to find out whether they are satisfied with the current policy,” said Reeser. “Or whether or not there would be any marginal changes and efforts that could perhaps even make the situation with attention spans even better.” The current policy in Wichita Public Schools prohibits phone use in elementary and middle schools. However, high school students are able to use their cell phones during passing periods and lunch.
Source: KSN-TV

Scholarship program boosts enrollment and community spirit in Southeast Kansas

It’s a promise, made from one generation of Neodesha High School graduates to another. For five years, the “Neodesha Promise Scholarship Program” has helped remove barriers for kids looking to go to college. But it turns out the impact goes beyond just dollars and cents.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Topeka city leaders consider bringing common consumption area to new side of downtown

City leaders met Monday afternoon to discuss some changes to the downtown Topeka alcohol drinking zone. The City of Topeka Policy & Finance Committee, consisting of City Council members Spencer Duncan, Marcus Miller and Michelle Hoferer, gathered on Nov. 18 to discuss some updates to one of the local common consumption areas (CCA) or “social drinking zones.” City of Topeka Attorney Amanda Stanley was on hand to explain what these changes would look like. Duncan said the original layout for the CCA in downtown Topeka did not initially include the area in front of the Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC) located at 214 Southeast Eighth Street. He said TPAC’s board has put forward a request to be included in this area for multiple reasons.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Plastic bag bans can sometimes backfire: Study

Policies aimed at curbing the use of single-use plastic bags have sometimes accomplished the opposite of their intentions, a new study has found. When two Texas cities prohibited stores from giving away plastic grocery bags for free, the sale of such bags surged in response, according to the study, published in the Journal of Marketing Research. The longer a policy was in place, the longer the behaviors spurred by those regulatory prohibitions persisted, the researchers found.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Rural Kansas highway closure to bring more than 50-mile detour for local drivers

State transportation officials say part of K-4 Highway in Dickinson County will close later this month, bringing with it a large detour for locals to follow. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced in a press release on Monday, Nov. 18 that a road work project is slated to run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 on part of K-4 Highway just south of the town of Hope. Workers will be replacing a railroad crossing that requires the highway to be closed to all traffic while the project is ongoing. Drivers will be unable to use K-4 just south of Hope and will instead be directed to take a signed detour route that uses K-43, I-70 and K-15, taking drivers through Abilene and Enterprise. The complete detour runs for 53 miles and will take about an hour to complete, according to Google Maps.
Source: KSNT 27 News

State banks seek better climate competing for local, state government deposits

The state’s banks are urging lawmakers to take steps to allow them to better compete for local and state government deposits that they say are now flowing to out-of-state financial institutions at a cost to the Kansas economy. The banks say state law is structured in a way that local and state governments are less inclined to invest their funds locally than they are with institutions from out of state, which they say reduces the amount of capital for Kansas businesses that want to expand. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Pott County considering economic incentives for new auto dealership

The Eck Auto Group out of Wichita is pursuing economic incentives for a new auto dealership at the southeast corner of Excel Rd and Hwy 24. The estimated cost of the project is just shy of $11 million. Tyler Ellsworth, attorney with Kutak Rock Law Firm, on Monday presented county commissioners with a brief overview of the proposed project. “We are not asking the commission to take any final action today,” said Ellsworth. “My goal is to provide a brief update on what this project entails and the two types of economic development incentives that the dealership group has requested.”
Source: themercury.com

Municipal Bond Trends for November 19, 2024

Salina rich in 100-plus years of aviation history

November is recognized as National Aviation History Month and in Salina, there is plenty of history to recognize. With names including the likes of Glenn L. Martin and Steve Fossett, and organizations including the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and even NASA using the city for operations, Salina is steeped in aviation history.
Source: Salina Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for November 18, 2024

Valley Center’s new water plant to bring savings to residents’ pockets

Valley Center currently sells raw water to the City of Wichita. Wichita treats this water, and then Valley Center buys the treated water back. However, the town is building its own water treatment plant to eliminate Wichita from the process. … City Administrator Brent Clark expects the new water treatment plant to cut water bills by half.
Source: KWCH

Wichita Fire Department rolls out new alert tool

The Wichita Fire Department is using a new tool to alert drivers when emergency vehicles are nearby. They’re called HAAS Alerts and pop up on your car’s dashboard or through apps like Waze. Other departments in the area like Mulvane and Sedgwick County Fire have been using the alerts for years.
Source: KWCH

After 52 years in the ground, Seward County time capsule reveals memories

When the lost time capsule from 1972 was discovered two weeks ago on the Seward County Fairgrounds, there was excitement about what was inside. The capsule was supposed to be unearthed two years ago, but it was forgotten, and since no marker was placed to remind the public of its location and its date, two years passed before curiosity led to a search, and that search led to the discovery of the capsule, a Wilbert Vault intended to house a casket.
Source: Liberal First

Douglas County group hopes ‘data walks,’ exploration of guaranteed income project will lead to lasting solutions to poverty

As they take a deep look at health and poverty in the community, Douglas County officials and community organizations are hoping to get residents engaged in the hard data behind some decidedly hard facts — for example, this fact: In Lawrence, nearly 80% of families living in poverty are headed by single mothers. The hope is that literally walking people through the evidence, aka “data walks,” will lead to more effective solutions — possibly even a guaranteed income solution — for a host of issues related to poverty.
Source: LJWorld

More fresh fruit, vegetables will soon be headed to Wichita ‘food deserts.’ Here’s how

The shelves and run-down refrigerators at Mr. MC’s Market in north Wichita are running low, mainly because many local produce items aren’t in season. But that’s soon to change. The market, on 21st Street near I-135, is in a food desert. Mr. MC’s is also the first store to take part in the city of Wichita’s new Healthy Corner Store Initiative. The program will help several corner stores in town get new refrigerators and maintain them so that they can sell fresh produce. TOP VIDEOS “It’s going to make everything better,” the market’s CEO, Alicia Broomfield, said. “We’re going to get proper refrigeration so that we can have more available fruits and vegetables and healthy food options.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Paid parking to come up for another vote Tuesday. Here are Wichita’s latest options

After receiving swift backlash from community members and downtown business owners earlier this year, the Wichita City Council will finally vote Tuesday on how it will implement paid parking. The paid parking system will affect most of downtown Wichita, Old Town, and the Delano neighborhood. The city has pursued paid parking downtown, saying it needs more money to maintain existing parking options. The city council has five options to vote on. One option is not keeping things the way they are now.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

FACT SHEET: Celebrating Three Years of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at USDA

Three years ago, on November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, making a historic investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness. Since being signed into law, it has been instrumental in transforming the lives and livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, small businesses and communities nationwide. Through this landmark legislation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is bringing economic opportunity, telemedicine and distance learning to rural America, with investments in high-speed internet; protecting and making communities more resilient to wildfires by restoring forests and investing in the wildland fire workforce; and supporting innovative solutions to the many environmental, economic and social challenges faced in communities across the nation.
Source: USDA – Latest News Releases

Governor Kelly Announces More than $320,000 for Seven Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative Projects

Governor Laura Kelly announced on Friday that more than $320,000 will go toward seven new partnership initiatives for the second year of funding through the Kansas Water Office’s Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative (KWPPI). KWPPI invests State Water Plan Fund resources into projects centered around conserving and protecting the High Plains Aquifer, improving state water quality, reducing vulnerability to extreme events, and increasing awareness of Kansas water resources. “These projects continue the work we are doing to secure our state’s water future,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The investments we make today will affect generations to come. The Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative ensures progress on meeting the water needs of communities in our state.” In addition to the guiding principles, Regional Advisory Committees across the state have established water-related goals specific to their region, which applicants could cite when submitting their proposal.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas

National League of Cities Releases Research Brief Series Chronicling History of Municipal Government

Local governments have evolved over the last century to serve their communities and respond to the needs of their residents. As part of its centennial celebration, the National League of Cities (NLC) researched and collated the history of municipal government in the United States with a focus on governance, workforce finance and the power of local authority. The four-part series explores population shifts, the types of government that dominate local governing bodies, expansion of the municipal workforce as well as municipal finance and infrastructure and the history of home rule.
Source: www.nlc.org/contents/rss-feed

Hillsboro discusses plans for fire station

The Hillsboro City Council met on Tuesday, Nov. 5 where they heard from Hillsboro Fire Chief and Building Inspector Ben Steketee. Steketee presented the annual department head report with a PowerPoint report on the building department and fire department activities. He highlighted the contributions of Caren Funk who assists with contractor licensing, permit process and fire department secretary duties. Steketee also gave statistics including 59 building permits issued, 94 contractors licensed and $1730,764.38 in project value. Steketee also updated the council on training activities, including wildland fire training and rescue tool comparison events. He reported that training events include physical exertion tests and EMS assist calls, with firefighters undergoing rigorous training to ensure readiness. Steketee informed the council that the fire department has responded to 13 wildland fires, 11 vehicle accidents and nine rescues this year. Steketee emphasized the importance of a new fire station to accommodate the growing number of firefighters and equipment to serve the city and the greater area.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Wichita officials say Cheney Reservoir still needs water

Wichita officials say recent rainfall has helped with the ongoing drought situation, but the drought continues and Cheney Reservoir still needs more water. While the city has received above average rainfall for November, the reservoir is still almost 8 feet below the needed level. About 26 billion gallons of water will be needed in the reservoir to get out of the drought. The current level is 56.24 percent full, and the 12-month average of the conservation pool was at 65.1 percent. The city remains at Stage Two of its drought response plan, which has placed a restriction of one day a week for residents and businesses to water their lawns. The city is still encouraging residents to take steps to reduce their water usage.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Sedgwick County Corrections changes restraint policies

The Department of Corrections for Sedgwick County has changed its policies on the use of force and restraints on people who are in custody. The policy will eliminate the use of a “Safe Clinch” maneuver that is no longer practiced. The changes will affect county corrections facilities and the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. The changes are a response to the September, 2021 in-custody death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton after a struggle with staff at the JIAC. A community task force made a number of recommendations for the juvenile justice system after Lofton’s death. The Team Justice juvenile advisory board gave approval to the policy changes in October, and Sedgwick County Commissioners gave their approval during their November 13th meeting.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Westwood gets first look at new park design, but lawsuit has snagged plans indefinitely

The city of Westwood’s new park envisions walking paths, natural play and restrooms — but planning is on hold indefinitely due to an active lawsuit. On Thursday, the Westwood City Council during a work session got a first look at three different ideas for a new park planned for the former Westwood View Elementary site. This proposed 3.8-acre park is part of Karbank Real Estate Services’ controversial Rainbow Boulevard project, a six-building office-retail development that the city approved last year. In exchange for building on Joe D. Dennis Park — which is Westwood’s main park — Karbank agreed to give the city money to purchase the original Westwood View Elementary property for a replacement park. The city is stopping all park planning where it currently is — with the meeting on Thursday — due to a lawsuit that is trying to block the sale of Joe D. Dennis Park to Karbank.
Source: Johnson County Post

Fallen marshal to be honored on national memorial

A lawman killed in Cherokee County nearly 125 years ago will soon be honored nationally. Empire City Marshal Marion Thomas will soon be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. In 1900 – present day Galena was known as “Empire City.” On February 4 of that year, Marshal Thomas entered a saloon near Main and Columbus Streets around 3 that afternoon for a report of shots fired inside the establishment. When he entered, he was shot multiple times, he died instantly, leaving behind a wife and three kids. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office learned earlier this year that Marshal Thomas’ ultimate sacrifice was not included on the memorial in DC – so they used historical documents to petition for his inclusion. A formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for May 13, 2025. There will be a candlelight vigil as part of National Police Week.
Source: KSNF/KODE

City manager finalists selected in Junction City

Locals in Junction City can meet with the finalists for the city manager position later this month at a local opera house. The City of Junction City announced in a press release on Friday, Nov. 15 that four finalists for the city manager spot will be available to meet with from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at the 2nd-floor rehearsal hall at the C.L. Hoover Opera House located at 135 West Seventh Street. Each of the finalists will be on hand to speak with locals in an informal setting. Source: KSNT 27 News

Homeless crimes divide officials

Police officers in some communities struggling with homelessness are not likely to dole out tickets or arrests for the low-level crimes. That’s led to some Kansas lawmakers questioning if communities struggling with homelessness are too lax on law enforcement and not doing enough to try to help address homelessness.
Source: Salina Journal