Municipal News & Jobs

The so-called “dark store” controversy over big-box property values may have seemed settled with a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in Johnson County’s favor three years ago. But in Johnson County, haggling over big box property valuations has returned in a big way over the site of one of Olathe’s most highly visible stores — the Bass Pro shop at 12051 South Renner Blvd. Phoenix-based Arciterra BP LLP, the owner of three parcels of land where the outdoor retailer is located just off Interstate 35, is delinquent on property taxes for every tax year since 2018, according to county records.
Source: Johnson County Post

Supporters of Prairie Village’s new city hall project came out in force at Monday’s city council meeting, this time urging the city to pay for “green” sustainable features that critics say is driving the cost up. Those same critics also mobilized at the meeting to outright oppose the entire $30 million project altogether, arguing that it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and that Prairie Village voters should get a say in whether the plan should move forward.
Source: Johnson County Post

Kansas health officials reported seven new measles cases in the past week, bringing the total to 71 statewide. Most of the cases, 69, are linked to an ongoing outbreak in southwest Kansas. Three people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have occurred. The outbreak now includes Pawnee County, making it the ninth affected county.
Source: KCLY Radio

Abilene is continuing to monitor low aquifer levels as water supplies remain stagnant despite recent rainfall. Although eastern Kansas isn’t facing the same aquifer depletion seen in the west, Abilene’s underground sources—the Sand Springs Aquifer and Smoky Hill River Alluvium—are not at healthy levels.
Source: KCLY Radio

The State of Kansas ended May 2025 with total tax collections of $657.7 million, exceeding estimates by $158.3 million, or 31.7%. However, this total marks a slight 0.2% decrease compared to May 2024. Individual income tax collections totaled $314.7 million—85.1% above the estimate and 3.1% higher than last year. Corporate income tax collections reached $29.2 million, falling 2.8% below expectations and down 26.8% from May 2024. Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts came in at $282.1 million, 4.1% above the estimate and unchanged from the previous year. Source: KCLY Radio

The annual birthday celebration of the city happens every year the first weekend of June. It’s an annual fundraiser for the Galena Volunteer Fire Dept.
Source: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

The history of settlement in Pawnee County predates the county’s official organization in 1873, as the eighth of 65 counties organized in that year. As an official township, Ash Valley was organized in 1881, with a community of the same name first opening a post office in 1877.
Source: Homepage

The Great Bend City Band had its first concert of 2025 Thursday evening, performing in the Clayton L. Moses Memorial band shell on the courthouse square. It was the final concert for conductor Grant Mathews, who is leaving for other opportunities. The concert was dedicated to the late Joe Boley, who passed way Sept. 4, 2024.
Source: Homepage

Iola Public Library’s new assistant director has a deep passion for service, a love of books, and a knack for community building. Laura Force stepped into her new role on April 14, bringing with her a unique blend of nonprofit leadership, outdoor education, and artistic creativity. “I really love living here,” said Force, 41, who moved to Iola in 2021 with her husband and their eight children after years working in summer camp operations. “We found a great place to live here and we wanted to stay in Kansas.”
Source: The Iola Register

A new three-level parking garage to be built on the surface lot behind Olathe City Hall is being considered by county and city officials as a way to ease a parking shortage and improve handicap accessibility for the courthouse. Johnson County commissioners on Thursday voted to enter into a 50/50 agreement with Olathe to build the garage, which would provide parking for the public and city and county employees and is intended to address the ongoing lack of parking space on the north side of Olathe’s downtown.
Source: Johnson County Post

Park City is the latest Kansas community to give the green light to golf carts on city streets. The Park City Council approved the change on May 27, and the new ordinance officially took effect June 5, according to the Ark Valley News. Under the new rules, golf carts are permitted on streets with speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less and can cross over higher-speed roads. Worksite utility vehicles and utility terrain vehicles have even broader access—they’re allowed on any street within city limits.
Source: KSN-TV

You could smell it before you saw it — the charred remains of the city park restrooms, torched and melted from the inside out. Udall Police Chief Erik King is calling it arson and says it’s unlike anything he’s dealt with in town before. The damage is estimated at around $10,000. Police say it happened Thursday around 4:30 in the afternoon. Then, just hours later, it happened again. He says the timing couldn’t be worse, with the Fourth of July just around the corner.
Source: KSN-TV

A new data center coming to southeast Kansas will generate sales tax and franchise fees in exchange for the big energy it will take to operate. Wildcat Data Infrastructure, a Texas company, is building the first data storage facility in the Industrial park near the Pittsburg Airport The idea was proposed to the City Commission back in late January. Now, the company and the city are working with Evergy to expand the electrical infrastructure at the site on 10 acres of land.
Source: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Emporia residents will notice a slight increase in their monthly water bills starting next year following action by Emporia City Commissioners during their regular action meeting Wednesday. The specific action taken by commissioners was a 4-1 approval of a new Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) structure, a fee that will be added to residents’ water bills to create a dedicated revenue stream for stormwater improvements across the community. During an interview with KVOE News on Thursday, Deputy City Manager Mark Detter noted that previously, there has not been such a revenue stream with the city traditionally using sales and property tax dollars to cover those costs. He noted that while nobody likes additional fees, the ERU will mean less impact on property taxes.
Source: d2430

Members of the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Monday will hear a presentation on the city’s proposal to implement membership fees to use rec centers. The city has not yet shared specific numbers for how much memberships would cost, and no details about the proposal were included in the meeting agenda as of Sunday afternoon. The Parks, Recreation and Culture department is proposing charging fees as a way to offset its $1.8 million portion of the city’s projected budget shortfall of more than $6 million.
Source: The Lawrence Times

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.

From digital literacy training in a Topeka neighborhood to enhancing the use of artificial intelligence and other technology by farmers, a Kansas government program is investing in digital skills training and workforce readiness across the state.
Source: 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.

Floodwaters across Chase County have left roads submerged, residents displaced, and emergency crews working around the clock. Among the rescues was an elderly Strong City man saved after his life alert triggered a welfare check, prompting a specialized task force to bring him to safety. Chase County Emergency Manager Scott Wiltse said road closures have been widespread, though a full count isn’t yet available.
Source: KSN-TV

Mini bikes may be small, but the concern around them is growing. The Liberal Police Department says they’ve seen a growing number of young people riding mini bikes and pocket bikes on city streets, sidewalks, and trails — and it’s becoming a problem.  The pint-sized vehicles may look like toys, but under Kansas law, they’re considered motor vehicles. That means they need all the bells and whistles of a real motorcycle — lights, mirrors, brakes, turn signals, insurance, registration, and a licensed operator — none of which mini bikes typically have. Police say they’ve had several close calls lately involving children darting into traffic or ignoring stop signs. While no injuries have been reported, officers say it’s only a matter of time if the trend continues.
Source: KSN-TV