Kansas Municipal News
Grant program could bring internet access to rural communities
Surfing the web, checking in on social media, or watching online videos – these are all things Kansas lawmakers want to make more readily accessible for the entire state of Kansas.
A bill has been proposed that would establish a grant program to help get broadband internet access to Kansas communities. Under the bill, cities and counties can apply for grant funding through the Department of Commerce. Communities would be selected based on need, population, cost and time the project would take.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Great Plains Industrial Park receives first loaded train cars in over 40 years.
State leaders were in Southeast Kansas today to celebrate the arrival of the first loaded train cars at the Great Plains Industrial Park in more than 40 years.
Brad Reams, Park Director, said “Great Plains has a great story and we’re adding another chapter.”
Parsons was the place to be Thursday as state leaders visited Great Plains Industrial Park for a ribbon cutting and throwing of the switch.
“This chapter is bringing the rail up to the condition to where it can handle weighted loads and specifically starting with wind components and that will cascade into other economic development opportunities.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Two dozen of Kansas’ regional airports share $14M in federal grants
Two-dozen airports in Kansas won the federal grant lottery and will be investing $14 million in repair, update and expansion projects.
The biggest recipients in western Kansas included Garden City Regional Airport, which is in line for $1.7 million to install pavement markings to upgrade airfield safety. The Hays Regional Airport was awarded $1.4 million for acquisition of runway guidance systems.
“Kansas airports are vital to the regional economies throughout Kansas, connecting communities large and small and providing necessary supplies and emergency medical services for rural areas across the state,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
(Read more: The Leavenworth Times)
Cowley County employees concerned over concealed carry want changes
Some Cowley County employees have asked commissioners to reconsider the county’s concealed carry policy.
The commissioners, at their January work session, asked county administrator Lucas Goff to investigate the state’s current gun-carrying policies and report to them. They gave no indication that they would consider changing the county’s current policy, but asked only for information which will probably be discussed at another work session, Goff said.
At the work session, some county employees said they had received the concealed carry training and thought that covered them in the courthouse.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Feral feline favorable functions
Every town has its population of feral cats. Let me be clear right up front, when I say feral cats, I’m referencing cats that live on the streets or in the fields, that are unsocialized and quite possibly have never had an “owner,” not Fluffy that rolls around in a paper sack on the living room floor and cuddles with you at night.
Over the years many towns and states have adopted programs to trap and neuter feral cats to keep them from reproducing. That’s good, but then most are turned loose once again to live back on the streets and in the fields. Cats are ferocious and efficient hunters, and if they live near grain elevators, feedlots etc., where there are lots of rodents, they can be extremely helpful.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
The modern earthquake era looks to be ending … mostly
On Aug. 16, the second day of the school year, students in the Burrton district felt the shake of a 4.2 magnitude earthquake. They knew exactly what to do: hide under their desks until it stopped.
It was a fairly new procedure, as the district, which is halfway between Hutchinson and Wichita, hadn’t conducted its first drill until the end of the 2018-19 school year.
“They just adapted beautifully,” the district’s superintendent Joan Simoneau said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better crisis situation, especially on the second day of school.”
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
KS lawmakers discuss bill preventing cities from banning single-use plastic bags
Lawmakers at the Statehouse Thursday discussed a bill that in part, would ban cities in Kansas from banning single-use plastic bags.
In Kansas, Wichita, Salina and Lawrence are among the cities looking to evaluate a ban on plastic bags like the ones commonly used at the grocery store.
Many advocating for the plastic-bag ban cite environmental concerns.
(Read more: KWCH News)
State officials celebrate Parsons industrial park partnership
State Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz and Secretary of Commerce David Toland visited southeast Kansas Thursday for a ribbon cutting and ceremonial throwing of a switch to mark the arrival of the first loaded train cars at the Great Plains Industrial Park in more than 40 years. "As a southeast Kansan it really is a terrific day to come home and to celebrate this first domino that’s falling at Great Plains Industrial Park," Toland said.
(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)
Horton Commission lays plans for potential healthcare return
The Horton City Commission met for the first time in February, and heard a report from a meeting between Mayor Bryan Stirton, Commissioner Wade Edwards and City Administrator John Calhoon, and Atchison Hospital CEO Jeff Perry.
Calhoon reported that he is confident that the purchase of Horton’s hospital is complete, and Perry said he will attend a future meeting of the Commission to discuss plans to re-open the Horton clinic. Calhoon stated that Perry would like to hold an open house prior to opening, and the Commission planned to call a Special Meeting the day of the open house and adjourn from City Hall to attend the open house.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)
Marion County planning commission to tackle wind farm regulations
County planning and zoning officials will direct their thoughts to Article 27 of wind energy conversion systems overlay district regulations during coming meetings in the hope of resolving controversy that arose in recent months over the regulations.
Much of the controversy has been spurred by regulations regarding the distance wind turbines must be set back from public roads, property lines of neighboring property, and residential structures not included in the permit area.
Concern from nonparticipating landowners spurred them to ask the board to look at Article 27, said planning and zoning commission chairman Derek Belton.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Hillsboro stands to lose if Census misses people
Hillsboro could lose as much as $46,220.40 in federal funding for each household not counted in the 2020 Census, a spokeswoman from the Kansas League of Municipalities told city council members Tuesday.
Census numbers are used both for redistricting the U.S. House of Representatives and allocation of federal funds.
“Millions and billions of dollars are involved,” Wendy Stark said. “The information will impact the population for 10 years.”
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Engaged citizens, investment in Old Town, and honors all around at Lenexa Mayor’s 2020 State of the City address
A happy and engaged citizenry, paired with continued investment from commercial developers are the outcomes of a long-term “pro-growth” attitude in Lenexa, Mayor Michael Boehm said Wednesday in his 18th State of the City address.
Citizen satisfaction survey results consistently rank Lenexa higher than the average city in the metro area over such services as public safety, parks and recreation and snow removal, as well as its long-term vision of planning growth throughout the city, Boehm said.
“When you see outstanding results time after time, it might be tempting to think that great outcomes are easily achieved; this is simply not the case,” Boehm said. “Our tremendous results are the work product of dedicated individuals who work to make our community exceptional.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Osawatomie’s city manager position attracts 50 applicants
The city of Osawatomie’s search for a new city manager has attracted dozens of applicants.
“We had a total of 50 applicants for the city manager (position),” Mayor Mark Govea said Friday, Feb. 14.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Proposed law would increase the penalty for assaulting sports referees in Kansas
A new proposed bill would put sports officials under similar protections that police officers and judges have against assault and battery in Kansas.
Teon Wilson has been reffing for years, and Wednesday was the Holy War between Kapaun and Bishop Carroll. He said sometimes the games can be a lose-lose.
“No matter what we do, we always get attacked,” said Wilson. “People in the stands feel like it’s just okay to attack refs and say whatever they want, when it shouldn’t be like that.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Olathe tops in keeping waste out of landfalls
Olathe says its residents raised their recycling rate last year, diverting 42.41% of waste from landfills. That figure was up from 40.03% in 2018.
By comparison, the city said, the waste diversion rate was 38% for Johnson County as a whole, 27% in Kansas City and 34% nationally. The diversion rate is based on residential recycled material and yard waste kept out of the landfill.
“The focus of our recycling this year has been to cut down on contamination,” Public Works Director Mary Jaeger said in a news release. “Our residents have responded by ensuring the correct waste items are in the correct collection carts.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Lawrence City Commission rejects new rules for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, asks for more limitations
The debate at City Hall about how to regulate short-term rentals where the property owner lives elsewhere will continue.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to reject a set of new rules for whole-home short-term rentals. The commission then asked staff to craft a different proposal with stricter limitations.
The ordinance the commission rejected would have been more permissive than the current regulations, which require a special-use permit for whole-home rentals. It would have instead permitted such rentals as a use by right citywide, but with certain restrictions.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 19, 2020
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Advisors.
Manhattan takes step toward housing study, approves bike/ped plan
Manhattan Tuesday took the first step toward conducting a housing market analysis, approved funds for increased costs related to the planned middle school recreation centers and residents showed up in numbers to support the updated bicycle and pedestrian systems plan.
Community members filled the Manhattan City Commission chamber not only to support an updated bicycle and pedestrian systems plan, but to urge commissioners to follow through with it.
The plan updates a circa-1998 predecessor, laying out potential future projects to improve biking and walking around Manhattan. The plan prioritizes projects to be initiated over a 20 year period including installing wayfinding signage on trails and expanding bicycle parking possibilities, finishing the final 6 miles of the Linear Trail loop and creating divided bicycle lanes and two-way cycle tracks.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Mercy donates hospital building, $1 million to Bourbon County
Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener announced Tuesday the county will take the lead in creating a health care mall at what once was the Mercy Hospital Fort Scott building.
Hoener said on Monday, the county received a donation agreement from Mercy, which includes the building and $1 million.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Are Opportunity Zones providing the opportunities Wichita needs?
“We’re only as strong as our weakest link,” said Brandon Johnson, Wichita City Councilman.
He’s talking about Wichita’s weakest neighborhoods and the plan to get them growing again. But, the help isn’t coming as fast as hoped.
Rundown neighborhoods, food deserts, a lack of jobs are all problems that define some parts of Wichita. Fixing those problems is no easy task. The city has a plan in the works, but is it working?
The goal is to help the entire city do better by growing businesses in the poorest parts of town by using something called Opportunity Zones.
(Read more: KAKE – News)