Kansas Municipal News
While enrollment drops, Newton District projects more funding
Enrollment dropped for the Newton School District but funding levels are projected to increase for the next year. The Board of Education reviewed a presentation at its Monday night meeting. The district saw a decrease of 99 full-time equivalent students for this school year. Overall enrollment dropped from 3,130 to 3,030 or 3.2 percent. Budget-wise, the general fund is expected to increase from $21.3 to $22.5 million according to information in district documents presented at the Oct. 28 meeting.
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for October 29, 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.
5 key points from Olathe Mayor John Bacon’s State of the City
There are big things happening in Olathe this year, and Mayor John Bacon sees more big things to come. That was the central theme of his annual State of the City address, delivered last Friday during a luncheon hosted by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce at the Olathe Conference Center.
Source: Johnson County Post
Survey: Kansans favor housing choices to deal with rising costs
Close to half of Kansans support building wider varieties of housing to help address a statewide affordability crisis according to the annual Kansas Speaks survey released Monday. Yet few residents thought their communities are doing enough to adequately address housing issues. Plans to build apartments near single-family neighborhoods run up against not-in-my-backyard opposition in urban locales such as Wichita and Johnson County. But statewide, most respondents, 62%, said they were comfortable living in a neighborhood with rental properties. Changes that would encourage such arrangements also found support. About 48% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that local governments should ease up on neighborhood zoning restrictions to allow more small, multifamily dwellings.
Source: KLC Journal
Wichita’s new push to educate on homelessness: a Tallgrass premiere
‘Hope in the Heartland,’ a city-produced documentary examining the challenges and triumphs of navigating homelessness in Wichita, premiered Thursday night to a crowd of at least 250 people during the Tallgrass Film Festival. Audience members were clapping, gasping and sniffling throughout the 110-minute film, which interviewed elected officials, service providers, people who were formerly homeless and people currently experiencing homelessness. The film also featured two city housing case managers working to secure housing for 22-year-old Caitlin, who had been homeless for four years at the start of filming.
Source: KLC Journal
Rose Hill voters to decide on $20M for school upgrades
A nearly $20 million bond issue is up for a vote in Rose Hill. USD 394 Superintendent Chuck Lambert says the district desperately needs upgrades. Voters rejected a bond issue two years ago, and Lambert says that put Rose Hill students at a disadvantage. He said a yes vote this time would give the district’s youth better opportunities to succeed. Lambert thinks adding storm shelters and secure entryways to this new bond issue will help it pass this time. He said the current entryways need to be safer. If the bond passes, it would also mean new culinary arts and science classrooms and sports fields, something high school students are excited about.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita air quality unsafe for some
If you are outside in Wichita, it is pretty easy to see all the dirt in the air. On Tuesday, the City of Wichita advised people that the current Air Quality Index is 154, which is considered unsafe for people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens. Those groups of people should take these steps to reduce their exposure: Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Keep outdoor activities short. Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
Source: KSN-TV
EPA gives update on Cherokee County Superfund Site
Folks in Cherokee County get an update on the cleanup and remediation efforts taking place in the historic Tri-State Mining District. Representatives from the EPA continue to inform the public on the status of area superfund sites. “One of our biggest points we want to get across is trying to protect families from the historic contamination from lead within the site and give information on how they can help prevent ingestion or any kind of exposure to the contamination that was caused previously during previous mining activities within the site,” said EPA Remedial Project Manager, Thomas Kaley. This open house in Baxter Springs allowed EPA officials to present residents with cleanup updates regarding the Cherokee County Superfund Site. They also discussed the latest information on soil lead guidance.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Virtual meeting option available for residents concerned about Kansas water issues
If you have concerns about water issues in Kansas, you have a special option to provide feedback. The state has developed a virtual on-demand meeting that connects with content developed from a series of in-person meetings held across Kansas last month. This will also build on local consult meetings held earlier this summer along with meetings involving the state’s Regional Advisory Councils. During the virtual meeting, residents can learn about updates to state investments in the water system. They can also learn about the criteria involved as the state works on aquifers, reservoirs and the overall water supply. There will also be information on revenue sources and action steps under consideration by the state.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Wichita unveils more options for paid parking downtown. Here are the details
Visitors to downtown Wichita could soon pay 75 cents an hour for parking during certain hours, with some free parking time up front. Or they might continue to pay nothing for most public parking spaces, depending on how the City Council votes on several new options. The city unveiled four options for the future of parking in the downtown area, Old Town and Delano this week. Three options implement paid parking with different variations, while the fourth leaves parking as it is now.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
How Kansas is committing to electric vehicles
States across the country are paving the way for electric vehicles. This green topic is also harshly divided along red and blue lines—which is to say, it’s heavily politicized. In North Carolina and Virginia, for instance, Republican leaders have rolled back or stunted EV initiatives adopted by Democrats. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election, has criticized EVs and federal EV policies under President Joe Biden. Trump later backtracked and said he’s “for electric cars” for a segment of the population after receiving an endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But if elected, Trump still intends to undo Biden-era EV incentives.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
KDHE announces guidance on cardiac emergency response plans
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued statewide guidance for cardiac emergency response plans as required by Kansas Senate Bill 19, which was signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in April. A CERP is a structured, written plan that outlines essential steps to reduce fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest. These new CERP standards aim to help schools, workplaces and community organizations develop clear, actionable plans to address sudden cardiac arrest emergencies. While these guidelines are not regulations, they provide crucial recommendations for saving lives in cardiac emergencies.
Source: Osage County News
Melvern invites all to ‘get down on the farm’ at tractor and antique engine show
The Melvern community will be getting “down on the farm,” as this year’s fall celebration will feature a tractor and antique gas engine show. Everyone is invited to the celebration 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Melvern City Park. Registration for the show opens at 8 a.m. There are no registration fees and all tractor and antique gas engine enthusiasts asked to come and share their hobbies with the Melvern community. Also during the day will be activities for everyone, with Melvern PRIDE breakfast beginning at 7 a.m., followed by a fall market, restoration demonstration, axe throwing, and a pedal tractor pull contest for kids and adults.
Source: Osage County News
Council gives advantage to local food truck vendors
Local food truck vendors will likely get a break on their annual license fees while those from other areas will pay the full fee, Iola council members said at their meeting Monday night. A special committee was formed in early April to discuss recommended changes to the city’s ordinance regarding food trucks. The committee discovered other communities have a much lower transient business permit fee than Iola’s. Currently, a six-month permit fee of $250 is the only option available. After April’s meeting, the committee recommended a tier-structured fee scale: $25 for a three-day permit; $50 for 30 days; $250 for six months; and $400 for a calendar year. A $10 application fee would be added to each of those costs and all applications must include a signed release from the property owner.
Source: The Iola Register
Pott Co. emergency management director wins state award for actions during tornado
With the Westmoreland tornado and Burkland fire, Pottawatomie County had more than its share of emergencies this year. The outstanding coordination efforts of the Emergency Management Department did not go unnoticed. Emergency Management Director Jennifer Merrow was named Emergency Management Professional of the Year by the Kansas Emergency Management Association (KEMA). KEMA President Jillian Rodrique presented Merrow with the award at this week’s county commission meeting. The award is presented to an emergency management professional who has been an outstanding leader for a number of years, who exemplifies the ideals of professional public service, has high principles of community preparedness, meets the KCEM certification, and has a personal dedication to the safety of their own community. “That is absolutely true about Jennifer,” said Rodrique. “Working in Northeast Kansas I have gotten to work alongside her and I’ve definitely seen this. I know how hard she works to build that Emergency Management program.”
Source: themercury.com
Dulin tells local leaders she’s ‘excited’ to work with them
Manhattan’s new city manager says she’s looking forward to working with local leaders to improve the community. Danielle Dulin on Monday introduced herself to officials from several regional agencies at the monthly intergovernmental meeting at K-State and said she’s excited about getting started. “The vibrancy of this community immediately draws you in and the energy that is here,” Dulin said. “That’s what draws you in.” Dulin began her new position Oct. 14. She earned her bachelor’s degree from K-State in 2007 after growing up in southwest Kansas. After working two years for the Federal Reserve in Kansas City, she earned a master’s degree in public education from the University of Kansas in 2011 and went to work in the city government of Mission Hills. She then moved on to Prairie Village and eventually Lenexa. Before Manhattan city commissioners hired her, she was the city manager of Warrensburg, Missouri, a city of about 20,000 people.
Source: themercury.com
Municipal Bond Trends for October 28, 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 October 25, 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.
Food truck ordinance to return to Marion council
The draft removes a stipulation that vendors could not sell within 150 feet of an existing restaurant without written permission of the restaurant owner. That is replaced by a requirement that a vendor may not obstruct an entrance or parking of an existing restaurant without permission.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Pittsburg housing needs discussed at open house
People from all walks of life come together to address a common concern in Pittsburg — the lack of housing. “We can add jobs, we can revitalize our downtown, we can bring in retail but if we don’t have places for people to live, they won’t move here,” said Sarah Runyon, Community Development Specialist for the City of Pittsburg. “Housing is one of the major barriers we have here in Pittsburg for future growth.” The meeting in downtown Pittsburg Wednesday (10/22) was a mix of housing experts, city leaders, and residents.
Source: KSNF/KODE