Kansas Municipal News
Marshall County sales tax vote passes, narrowly
Eight votes were the difference Thursday as a county sales tax for the local hospital passed by a narrow margin — 2,374 to 2,366 — at the Marshall County Board of Commissioners’ official count of this fall’s general election. The question of whether to renew Community Memorial Healthcare’s countywide half-cent sales tax for another five years was the only special question on the the 2024 general election ballot.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
About 1,500 Kansas students change school districts under new open enrollment policy
Kansas school districts showed caution in allowing transfers through a new open enrollment option that lets students attend school outside their home district, data presented Wednesday to the Kansas State Board of Education showed. About 1,500 students transferred out of their home district under the new law for the 2024-2025 school year, making up just 6% of all district transfers, according to data from the Kansas State Department of Education. Transferring between districts has been permitted for years under different methods, and even with the new law, the total number of students who transferred to a district outside their own declined overall this school year. The new “school choice” open enrollment option was wrapped into an education funding bill in 2022, and it mandated schools accept students who don’t live in the district if they can accommodate them. Students have a right to stay at their chosen school until graduation if they remain in good standing, and districts must set limits ahead of enrollment deadlines on how many students it can accept. Skeptics have said the option works against public schools by making it easier for families who have the means to access better-performing schools and widening an already large gap in public education.
Source: The Lawrence Times
City broadens energy portfolio
Iola City Council members agree it’s a good idea to diversify the city’s energy profile. How? By adding 3-megawatts of power to the city’s energy portfolio through a solar agreement. Recently, the Kansas Municipal Energy Association (KMEA) and NextEra Energy entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Through the agreement, KMEA anticipates purchasing up to 90-megawatts of electric energy from a 200-megawatt solar facility called Ninnescah Flats Solar in Pratt County. As a member of KMEA, the City of Iola is eligible to purchase a portion of the energy.
Source: The Iola Register
Kansas Republicans say changes to ‘the most hated tax’ are top priority for next year
For months Kansas Republicans campaigned on promises to take action on property taxes as soaring home values in recent years enraged voters. Now comes the time to deliver. After Republicans bolstered their supermajority in the Legislature in last week’s elections, lawmakers have begun weighing plans for the 2025 session that begins in January. They are emphatic that property taxes sit at the top of the to-do list. “We’ve sort of got a mandate from voters,” said Sen. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican who sits on the Senate Tax Committee. “The property tax relief issue, I think, is urgent. That is the most-hated tax in the state of Kansas.”
Source: Homepage
10-year Treasury yield jumps on week as Powell says Fed not in a hurry to keep cutting rates
U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Friday, ending a week where the 10-year Treasury yield jumped amid new inflation data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that suggested the central bank may not be as aggressive next year with its rate-cutting campaign. The 10-year Treasury yield was last higher by about three basis point to 4.451%. The 10-year rate ended last week around 4.31%. The yield on the 2-year Treasury rose by nearly five basis points to 4.341%. The 2-year yield ended last week around 4.25%. One basis point equals 0.01% and yields and prices move in opposite directions. Investors monitored Powell’s speech on Thursday for hints about future monetary policy decisions. Powell said that strong U.S. economic growth means the central bank won’t need to quickly cut interest rates. “The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates,” Powell said in his speech. “The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Powell says the Fed doesn’t need to be ‘in a hurry’ to reduce interest rates
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that strong U.S. economic growth will allow policymakers to take their time in deciding how far and how fast to lower interest rates. “The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates,” Powell said in remarks for a speech to business leaders in Dallas. “The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully.” In an upbeat assessment of current conditions, the central bank leader called domestic growth “by far the best of any major economy in the world.” Specifically, he said the labor market is holding up well despite disappointing job growth in October that he largely attributed to storm damage in the Southeast and labor strikes. Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 12,000 for the period. Powell noted that the unemployment rate has been rising but has flattened out in recent months and remains low by historical standards. On the question of inflation, he cited progress that has been “broad based,” noting that Fed officials expect it to continue to drift back toward the central bank’s 2% goal. Inflation data this week, however, showed a slight uptick in both consumer and producer prices, with 12-month rates pulling further away from the Fed mandate.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $6M in KDOT Cost Share Program Projects
Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday that $5.9 million will be awarded to seven transportation construction projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program for fall 2024. This cost-share investment will leverage $9.8 million in community matching dollars for a total investment of more than $15 million. “Infrastructure projects funded through the Cost Share Program aren’t just about roads and bridges; they are about increasing job growth and retention and strengthening the economic climate across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By leveraging this partnership with KDOT, communities are able to address necessary, long-term solutions to their local transportation issues.” The Cost Share Program is designed to help rural and urban areas advance transportation projects that improve safety, support job retention and growth, alleviate congestion, and improve access and mobility. The program is part of the Kelly administration’s 10-year, bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Wichita asking for input on bicycle plan
The City of Wichita is asking for public input on an update of the city’s Bicycle Plan. A process was started in 2023 for a ten-year update of the plan and it will go to an advisory board and then the City Council. The goal of the plan is to create a comprehensive biking network that identifies priority projects to make biking safer, more comfortable and convenient, and it is aimed at representing the community’s vision and goals for biking across the city.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
‘Makes me proud to be from De Soto’ — New mural pays homage to JoCo city’s rural roots
A giant goat now looks over a sunflower field facing east from downtown DeSoto. The DeSoto Arts Council, helped by a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, commissioned Kansas City-based artist Alex Eickhoff to paint the city’s second downtown mural. Council President Leanna Donald said the group had been looking for an opportunity to bring more art to the community, after the first mural of sunflowers by artist Emily Euler was completed in 2018. “We wanted the mural to represents the community’s past and future, have a small town vibe to it, be colorful and fun and of course give a playful nod to the occupants of the buildings,” she said. “It is a colorful and playful mood.” Donald said the Caprine Supply store’s location at the corner of Shawnee and 83rd streets was the perfect canvas for public art. (The store, open since 1978, specializes in feed and products for goats. Hence, the visual references to goats in the new mural.)
Source: Johnson County Post
Mission gets closer to adopting tree preservation policy
Another northeast Johnson County city is getting closer to adopting a tree preservation ordinance. The Mission City Council during the Nov. 6 community development committee moved a draft tree preservation ordinance forward to a city council meeting for formal consideration. This comes a few months after the city of Mission began discussing a tree preservation ordinance, with a focus on protecting mature trees on commercial or a big residential project. In nearby Roeland Park, the city council recently adopted a tree preservation ordinance after years of discussion on the issue. Other cities like Fairway and Prairie Village have had such ordinances on the books but have revisited these policies in recent years.
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park takes aim at getting rid of racist property records
Overland Park has started the legal process of removing historically racist deed restrictions on residential property records in older parts of the city. A century ago, racist covenants barred Black and Jewish people from owning homes in some communities but haven’t been enforceable for decades. Still, the offensive language has remained on property records like plats, deeds and neighborhood declarations. Last week, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee unanimously voted to recommend the city take the first step in releasing such restrictive covenants. City staff described the action as mostly symbolic since the original documents won’t be changed, but according to city documents, it does allow Overland Park to “express that [the covenants] are inconsistent with the city’s values.”
Source: Johnson County Post
Hutchinson police honor memory of first female officer
The Hutchinson Police Department has paid tribute to its first female officer. Ellen M. Penner, Hutchinson’s first female police officer in this undated photo from the 1950s courtesy the Hutchinson Police Dept. Ellen M. Penner, 90, died Nov. 8 at Pleasant View Home in Inman. The Hutchinson Police Department posted a tribute to Penner Thursday. Penner served in the department from 1954 to 1958. The department highlighted a feature article in the Hutchinson News from the time period that noted that she and the department’s other female officer, who was assigned foot patrol, walked 12 miles daily. The department notes that it currently has four female officers, including one with the rank of sergeant, as well as several other women on career paths toward law enforcement careers and working in the department’s police service aide program.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for November 14, 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.
Topeka seeks engaged citizens to apply for government review committee
The capital city is on the hunt for “community-minded” residents to serve on a government review committee. Dan Garrett, Topeka’s director of communications, announced in a news release Thursday, Nov. 14 the city is asking residents to apply for the “newly re-established Citizen Government Review Committee”. This committee will examine and evaluate Topeka’s form of government. Topeka’s governing body is looking for five Topekans who reflect the city’s diverse population. The goal: making thoughtful recommendations for potential amendments and modifications to improve the effectiveness and alignment with the needs of the community, according to the news release.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Downtown Wichita paid parking goes back to City Council on Tuesday. What to know
It’s decision time for the Wichita City Council on whether to implement a downtown paid parking plan and how to do it. Next week — two months after its last meeting on an issue that has spurred passionate debate within the business community — the Council will consider five parking plan options. Four include various forms of paid parking implementation and management, while one continues the status quo of keeping much of downtown parking free.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Kansas school district that drew legislative ire for funding plan will disband
Kansas’s smallest school district is set to dissolve, and the Kansas State Board of Education will make recommendations on how the district proceeds. Healy Unified School District 468 got special attention from the Legislature last year after Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, learned the district was seeking to use past enrollment to get state funding despite it not teaching any students.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for November 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for November 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.
County adds rules for drone usage by employees
Cowley County commissioners approved new rules to the county personnel policy on Tuesday regarding the use of unmanned aircraft for official business, including to protect people’s privacy. The rules set operational requirements for using unmanned aircraft (also referred to as UA, UAS or drones), including requiring employees to maintain the proper certifications and demonstrate that they understand all laws related to operation. UA’s must also be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The rules also cover data collection, data storage and documentation requirements for employee to follow. All privacy laws at the federal, state and local levels must be followed, and any data collection or monitoring must be done solely for county business purposes. Any employee who needs to conduct operations over private property must have permission from the property owner before doing so. Employees who knowing violate the rules will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Alcohol rule repeal has businesses making plans
Voters chose to repeal the county’s requirement that businesses selling alcohol must also have 30 percent of their sales come from food. Last Tuesday, 67 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of making the change, which took effect immediately. Newton Community Development Coordinator Zach McHatton said the change has made his job easier. McHatton works to bring in businesses to Newton, and that’s included trying to get a brewery located in the city.
Source: Harvey County Now
Halstead to purchase new playground equipment
After finding a grant that would match the costs of new playground equipment, the Halstead-Bentley School District is starting the process of buying new equipment. The grant will help reduce bond costs by nearly $100,000. Bentley Elementary’s principal, Adam Conard, found the grant and decided to go for it. Current equipment at the school is old and doesn’t all meet current safety regulations. Conard said some of the equipment had been grandfathered in. He said the only thing that could stay and be relocated was the rope structure, which was newer.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hesston Rec to host first ever community Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving can be a time of traditions, and for Hesston, there might just be a foundation being built for a new H-town tradition. On Saturday, Nov. 23, Hesston Recreation is partnering with Hesston Community Foundation and various other sponsors to host Hesston’s first ever Community Thanksgiving. The free meal will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hesston Middle School.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hesston City Council adopts strategic plan
After a midweek retreat and work session, the Hesston City Council had a short but effective meeting on Nov. 11. The work session put together a new strategic plan, which covers 2025 to 2029. In the new living document, there are four goals. The first goal is economic development, the second goal is the parks improvement plan to prioritize each park and establish timelines for playground replacement, thirdly, the goal is to address two public facilities for improvements, and the fourth goal is to establish a civic leadership team. The motion to approve the strategic plan, with the addition of a small business owner on the civic leadership team, passed 4-0, with Council Member Clare Moore abstaining.
Source: Harvey County Now
Harvey County administrator resigns
Harvey County commissioners accepted Administrator Anthony Swarztendruber’s resignation at the end of the county commission meeting Tuesday. After returning from executive session, Commissioner Becky Reimer announced that Swartzendruber was retiring. “We wish him well, and I’ll entertain a motion for someone to accept this letter of resignation,” Reimer said. Swartzendruber will continue working with the county until Dec. 27, 2024.
Source: Harvey County Now
Voters reject JCN and JW bond issues
While they got a little help from out-of-county voters, it was registered voters in Jefferson County who last week largely did in the bond issues put forth by Jefferson County North USD 339 and Jefferson West USD 340. For the second time in six months the JCN Board of Education was seeking the authority to issue $5.5 million in bonds to pay for upgraded heating and air conditioning systems, better lighting, a new roof, renovated restrooms, more classrooms, improved security at district facilities, improvements to parking lots, and better access to facilities in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Meanwhile, the JW school board wanted permission to issue $21 million in bonds to cover the cost of adding classrooms at the middle school and the elementary school, remodeling and upgrading all of the district’s buildings, and constructing a multipurpose facility to include a performing arts center between the high school and the middle school.
Source: JeffCountyNews
Shawnee Mission schools staff will soon have press-button badges to call for help
Staff in Shawnee Mission schools will be getting bluetooth-enabled badges next spring that will allow them to press a button and immediately call for help in emergencies. The school board unanimously approved a five-year contract with Atlanta-based Centegix to supply the alert badges and train staff to use them. The alert system, “has been attributed to saving lives not only in the most tragic of scenarios but also in some of what can be described as daily issues,” said Superintendent Michael Schumacher in recommending the purchase on Monday. The district will pay $2.6 million to cover the installation, training and connectivity for the first five years. If the contract is renewed, there would be a $500,000 annual subscription fee after that.
Source: Johnson County Post
Leawood mulls 5 ideas for what to do with former city hall grounds
Community gathering space was the operative phrase earlier this week as Leawood City Council members reviewed five potential ideas for what to do with the city’s original city hall and fire station. Councilmembers heard the presentations during a special work session that included: park green space, an event space, gallery space for local artists, a splash pad and a demonstration garden and museum space. All of the ideas had some aspect of community gathering elements at their hearts because, the presenters said, that type of space is virtually nonexistent in Leawood.
Source: Johnson County Post
PV weighs ‘significant’ increase for next police body cam contract. Here’s what city would get.
Prairie Village police officers may soon get new body cameras, in-car cameras, tasers and more. The Prairie Village City Council during its council committee of the whole session on Monday voted 10-0 to refer a $3.6 million, 10-year contract with Axon for police equipment to the full city council for consideration. Councilmembers Dave Robinson and Ian Graves were absent from Monday’s meeting.
Source: Johnson County Post
Federal dollars could help pay for new trails around former JoCo industrial site
A local partnership that has involvement on both sides of the state line is requesting $20 million from the federal government to fund a trail connection that would include the site of now-demolished industrial site in southern Johnson County. The city of Overland Park, the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, Jackson County Parks and Recreation on the Missouri side and the nonprofit Heartland Conservation Alliance have teamed up to request a Federal Community Change Grant for the project. If awarded the full amount, the trail connection would complete a 14-mile linkage that would cross into Missouri and also increase “access to nature” while having “multiple environmental benefits” as well, according to Overland Park city documents.
Source: Johnson County Post
Hutchinson voters will get to decide on $109.5M bond
Voters who live in the Hutchinson school district, USD 308, will have an important choice to make next spring. The USD 308 Board of Education wants them to approve a $109.5 million bond. On Monday night, the BOE unanimously approved putting it to a vote. The anticipated bond vote is set for April 1, 2025. If voters approve it, most of the bond would pay for a new middle school at 23rd and Severance. The school would have a sixth-grade wing, a grass football practice field, and a production kitchen.
Source: KSN-TV
WaKeeney’s Iwo Jima Memorial installed at new location
This Veteran’s Day has been extra special for the people of WaKeeney. In addition to the usual celebrations for veterans, the community rededicated its Iwo Jima Memorial, which had been in storage for a couple of years. Many years ago, several WaKeeney citizens came up with the idea for the memorial—a silhouette of the famous World War II image of Marines raising the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi after a hard-fought battle on the island of Iwo Jima.
Source: KSN-TV
Saline County residents are asked to take opioid survey
The Saline County Health Department is asking residents for help to tackle the opioid crisis. According to the department, the county’s Opioid Task Force decided the best way to address the issues is with a comprehensive needs assessment, which starts with a survey. All responses are anonymous. The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and is open to all residents of Saline County. The questionnaire is designed to help the task force better understand how the community views opioids and substance use disorders. The task force also wants to identify service gaps and develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka leaders approve $74 million lead pipe replacement plan
The Topeka City Council voted to allocate nearly $75,000,000 to fund a lead pipe replacement plan. At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Topeka leaders passed a resolution to amend the 2025-2034 Capital Improvement Plan and 2025-2027 Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) to include the Lead Service Line Replacement Project. This vote approved the total budget of the project for the amount of $74,280,000. The council also voted to consider applying for a $74,280,000 loan from the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund by Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The loan will have an estimated $37,585,680 in loan forgiveness with payments to occur over a 20-year period.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Lake Shawnee will soon see 7,000 pounds of trout
Lake Shawnee will be stocked with more trout later this month. Shawnee County Parks + Rec (SCP+R) announced on social media Tuesday that annual fall trout stocking is scheduled for later in November. Members of the community are invited to watch 7,000 pounds of rainbow trout get released into Lake Shawnee. To give the fish time to acclimate to the Lake Shawnee’s water temperature, fishing will be closed from Nov. 22-29. The Lake will reopen for fishing Saturday, Nov. 30 and trout season will start on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Riley County police increase enforcement to combat increasing traffic accidents
The Riley County Police Department (RCPD) is stepping up enforcement efforts as a way to stop the increase of traffic collisions. The RCPD said its officers responded to a “concerning increase in traffic collisions” last month. The department posted on social media that October of 2024 registered the highest amount of traffic accidents of any month over the last five years.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City staff take action after bad smells reported in the Oakland area
Staff at the Topeka wastewater treatment plant took action after locals complained of bad smells in the Oakland neighborhood this past weekend. Amanda Knowland with the City of Topeka told 27 News that city staff made some adjustments to the plant on the weekend of Nov. 9-10 following complaints from locals of strong odors in the Oakland area, possibly coming from the nearby wastewater treatment plant at 1115 Northeast Poplar Street. She said the source of the odors may be tied to multiple different factors. “First, there was a larger number of high-strength waste deliveries due to the holiday,” Knowland said. “When these trucks dispose of their waste at the plant, it can cause a periodic uptick in odors, but that is generally short-lived.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Capital City works to empower small business owners
The City of Topeka is calling on small business owners to attend a workshop to grow their skills later this month. GO Topeka is working with city officials to host a Supplier Diversity Workshop, according to a news release from City of Topeka. This workshop will prepare small business owners with tools they might need to succeed, such as insight to work successfully with the government.
Source: KSNT 27 News
With eye on future projects, Merriam hashes out new incentives policy
The city of Merriam is looking to possible expand the types of public incentive it can offer developers. On Monday, the Merriam City Council discussed a new policy that would allow the city to consider applications for community improvement districts, or CIDs. This comes roughly a year after Kansas City-based real estate company R.H. Johnson Company requested a CID to refurbish Merriam Town Center, a shopping center near Antioch Road and Johnson Drive currently anchored by a Cinemark theaters and a Home Depot. Still, City Administrator Chris Engel told the city council on Monday that the policy is not being considered as a direct response to that request. A community improvement district is a type of public incentive (employed frequently by other Johnson County cities) that imposes an additional sales tax within a designated project area. The revenue raised by that sale tax goes towards helping finance the project, according to state statute.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Report: Broadband can transform a rural community
One of the biggest rural gaming events in the country, the GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, is supporting young people to explore technology and all it offers in Bemidji, Minnesota.
“We had started to see nationally some very large events that were selling out quickly, all about eSports,” Gary Johnson, CEO of Paul Bunyan Communications, told the Daily Yonder in a Zoom interview. “And we thought, what a better way to deliver a new, exciting opportunity for our region and leverage the network that we have built and our members have invested in.” The eSports event was highlighted in a report from the Center on Rural Innovation about the benefits fiber broadband brings to rural communities. “For those communities that had high broadband utilization, they saw a tremendous difference, specifically with entrepreneurship,” Amanda Weinstein, director of Research at the Center on Rural Innovation, told the Daily Yonder in a Zoom interview. “We saw not just our businesses not closing, but new businesses opening. The difference was so stark that it was a 213% difference in the business growth rate.” Johnson said the Covid-19 pandemic changed things for many communities.
Source: Route Fifty – All Content
Lawrence City Commission approves land development code update, despite public outcry
Lawrence city commissioners heard from more than 50 community members Tuesday, most asking them to hit pause on the updated land development code. Ultimately, they voted to approve the update. The land development code regulates development in the city, including zoning regulations, residential occupancy limits and more. The document has wide-ranging implications for the growth and direction of the city. In the summer of 2022, the city started reviewing the code to make it simpler and aligned with goals like sustainability and housing. The commission created the Land Development Code Update Steering Committee to work on the process.
Source: The Lawrence Times
City to continue work on policies for housing incentive districts
Manhattan city commissioners at Tuesday’s work session will revisit policies on Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts, or RHIDs. These districts are part of a state program meant to help developers build housing by assisting in the financing of infrastructure improvements. Specifically on Tuesday, commissioners will discuss RHID policies it recently adopted related to infill, which is housing projects that use existing infrastructure, and greenfield, which is housing on land that hasn’t yet been developed.
Source: themercury.com
How Topeka is dealing with affordable housing with need outpacing supply
A lack of affordable housing options in the capital city has been blamed for a growing number of unhoused Topekans. The Topeka Housing Authority is providing solutions by monopolizing on something the city has plenty of — vacant properties.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for November 8, 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.
Overland Park setting up pilot to address late trash pickup
Overland Park is pursuing a pilot program to ensure that residents whose trash pickup is delinquent have another option as a backup. The pilot proposal follows county-wide trash pickup delays that have left some residents in recent years going weeks without trash removal in their neighborhoods.
Source: Johnson County Post
Is the grass greener? Many from county make long commute to Moundridge factory
Although the 350,000-square-foot manufacturing campus for Grasshopper Mowers lies in McPherson County, outside Moundridge, 10% of its 280 employees hail from Marion County, with many workers making the 40-minute commute each day. Michael Simmon, who works in marketing communications at Grasshopper (and who commutes 40 minutes himself from Sedgwick County), said Marion residents appreciated the pay, the work environment, and job stability.
Source: Marion County RECORD