Kansas Municipal News
Topeka city council approves changes to camping ordinance
Topeka is expanding its restrictions on where homeless people can stay. At the City Council, on Tuesday, Feb. 4., the governing body approved new changes to a citywide camping ordinance. Two big changes are a 10-day limit for how long someone can camp on private property and no camping within 100 feet of public infrastructure. The city is also clarifying that language to include roads, utilities, government buildings schools and healthcare facilities. That was reduced from 500 feet under the previous ordinance.
Source: KSNT 27 News
What is the future for Emporia’s Tyson Food Plant?
A major food production plant in northeast Kansas is due to shut down this month in the Emporia area, ending hundreds of jobs for the local community. 27 News reached out to the City of Emporia this week to get an update on the imminent closure of the local Tyson Food Plant. City Manager Trey Cocking said the plant’s final day of operation will be on Friday, Feb. 14. Tyson Food, Inc. announced the closure of its Emporia plant in December 2024. More than 800 workers were included in the layoff notice for the plant, spelling the end of a major employer for the local community.Source: KSNT 27 News
Municipal Bond Trends for February 4, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 31, 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.
Federal funding freeze on hold for now, but what could it mean for JoCo?
Though a federal judge has temporarily blocked the order and the White House’s original memo has been rescinded, the Trump administration’s proposed freeze on federal grants, loans and other funding streams has left many local governments, organizations and community groups in Johnson County waiting for clarity. The potential freeze calls into question the fate of millions of dollars expected to flow into Johnson County for various projects, regional partnerships, community initiatives and other programs over the next few years. The Trump administration’s stated justification for the pause, articulated in a memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget issued Monday, is to give federal agencies time to review funding programs that may “advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies” that do not align with the new administration’s priorities.
Source: Johnson County Post
Merriam weighs how to pay for $9M of work on busy stretch near old Antioch Library
The city of Merriam is clearing the way financially for two public projects at one of the city’s busiest intersections: buying the old Antioch library branch and burying utilities along Shawnee Mission Parkway nearby. In the past month, the Merriam City Council has separately approved the right to issue debt to purchase the now-vacant Antioch Library building for nearly $4 million and finance another $5 million for burying utility lines in front of the Merriam Grand Station development across the street. The city council voted 7-0 on Jan. 13 to approve a resolution reserving the right to issue debt for the Antioch Library building purchase. Councilmember Reuben Cozmyer was absent.
Source: Johnson County Post
Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $11M for Community Improvements
Governor Laura Kelly announced Friday that 24 rural Kansas communities will receive a share of nearly $10.9 million through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to assist with community development projects. CDBG, a program facilitated by the Kansas Department of Commerce and its Quality Places Division, is a federal grant program that provides funding for projects that might otherwise not be constructed. The total funding of $10,849,582 will be matched with local funding, allowing more than $26.9 million to be available for the identified local projects.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Mission Gateway debacle may go to trial, holding up any future plans for former mall site
The partially built structures at Mission Gateway could sit untouched for another year or more as the site’s future remains ensnared in court. But instead of reaching a decision that would allow the site to be sold and future development plans to be considered, the judge suggested a trial may be necessary. Two years ago, the Mission City Council approved a $268 million mixed-use project that would’ve included a 90,000-square-foot Cinergy Entertainment complex, 50,000 square feet of commercial or restaurant space, 370 apartment units and a parking garage. The second face would have included a 200-room hotel and 100,000 square feet of office space or a medical facility. But the plans never materialized because of more than $449,000 in unpaid taxes and a foreclosure lawsuit. The city of Mission ultimately pulled the plug on its tax incentives and tossed its fifth iteration of a redevelopment agreement with the developer last February.
Source: Joco 913 News
Grain Belt Express begins emminent domain process
With a reported 95% of required landowner easement contracts now in hand, Grain Belt Express (GBE or GBX) has begun statutory eminent domain procedures to acquire the remaining land needed to begin construction of its approved electric transmission line across the state into Missouri.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
North Newton to implement strategic plan this year
One of the goals of the City of North Newton’s strategic plan is to identify land that is eligible for development opportunities. The North Newton City Council approved the strategic plan during its November meeting. The city is looking into development, because residents showed interest in having more community spaces and housing options, as well as more diversity in the tax base to keep the town in a strong position in the future.
Source: Harvey County Now
A Balancing Act, website to give City of Lawrence feedback on budget, is about to go live
The online program the City of Lawrence uses to gather community feedback to help shape its budget is going online Saturday. In budget talks beginning much earlier than usual this year, city commissioners were hesitant to rule out the possibility of a property tax increase, and they indicated they were interested in possibly charging user fees for Lawrence Parks and Recreation facilities. A Balancing Act allows folks to tell the city in which areas of the budget they’d recommend increasing or decreasing funding. City staff members then use that feedback to help shape the budget they ultimately present to the commission for consideration. The program will be online at this link from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for January 30, 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.
Peabody mayor wants city administrator
Peabody mayor Catherine Weems spoke longingly at a city council meeting Monday night about hiring a city administrator. “All our other municipalities have city managers, and they make a huge difference,” she said. “I really think we need someone who, on a consistent basis, is pulling the city together. I’ve done my best in the interim to help, but we really need someone on a daily basis to be calling the shots.”
Source: Marion County RECORD
Allowing more chickens in Marysville draws support from some residents
With the rising price of eggs rocking consumers, discussion of allowing chickens in Marysville city limits drew several comments at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Currently, property owners with at least two adjacent acres can have chickens in Marysville. Some residents are asking for council to change city code to allow coops in backyards that are smaller than the current limit.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
McCune City Council votes to boot one of their own
At its last regular meeting on Jan. 14, the McCune City Council voted to file a complaint against one of its own. The board voted 4-0, with one abstention, to file a complaint against Councilmember Jason Han, alleging a pattern of misconduct that included harassment and bullying. The complaint has been sent to the Crawford County Attorney’s Office along with supporting documents for investigation. According to the complaint document, at least three city employees resigned because of alleged harassment from Han.
Source: Morning Sun
Wichita Reels From Plane Crash. ‘I Talked to People on That Plane.’
Thursday morning, O’Reilly woke up to a text on his phone asking: “Did you see the news?” He hadn’t yet heard about the collision of a military helicopter with American Airlines Flight 5342, a Wichita to Washington, D.C., flight that was carrying many of the young skaters, their parents and coaches home. Officials said there were no survivors among the 67 people involved in the crash. Now, O’Reilly is among those in the place known as the “air capital of the world,” who are reeling from the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in more than two decades. The nonstop flight to Washington, a route begun last year, was also a point of pride for many locals. Source: WSJ.com : U.S. News
Fed holds rates steady, takes less confident view on inflation
The Federal Reserve held its key interest rate in check Wednesday, reversing a recent trend of easing policy as it examines what is likely to be a bumpy political and economic landscape ahead. In a widely anticipated move, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee left unchanged its overnight borrowing rate in a range between 4.25%-4.5%. The decision followed three straight cuts since September 2024 worth a full percentage point and marked the first Fed meeting since frequent Fed critic Donald Trump assumed the presidency last week and almost immediately made known his intentions that he wants the central bank to cut rates.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Interpretative panel at Prairie Village park to detail city’s ‘ugly history’ of redlining
An interpretive panel detailing Prairie Village’s early history of racist deed restrictions is on track for installation at Porter Park. But not after city leaders and members of the public last week tussled over some of the proposed panel’s details, including whether Porter Park was the best location for it and whether some components of a final panel should be modified. Ultimately, the Prairie Village City Council on Monday, Jan. 21, voted 7-2 to approve a $2,250 purchase for the interpretive panel.
Source: Johnson County Post
Johnson County saw a 25% drop in suicides. Mental health experts are cautiously optimistic
More people are calling Johnson County’s mental health crisis hotline when they are struggling, according to new data from the county. While that doesn’t always correlate directly with a decrease in suicides, county health experts said it can often be an indicator. The most recent data available, released last week, shows early signs of improvement. In 2023, 93 people died by suicide, down from 122 the year before. The number of people who died by suicide in the county had been climbing since 2020, said county epidemiologist Gabe Hawkins.
Source: Johnson County Post