Kansas Municipal News
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
Pratt is the latest Kansas town facing nitrate pollution. One-quarter of its water supply is off
Nitrate pollution has forced a central Kansas town to shut off two wells that make up nearly one-quarter of its total permissible water supply. The state of Kansas will help Pratt afford the cost of drilling a new well in a different location with cleaner groundwater. But ultimately this town of 6,500 people, like so many others in the middle of the country, will need to find a way to cover the steep price tag of removing an increasingly widespread contaminant from its drinking water. “The reality is that we have to supply quality, healthy drinking water to our citizens,” city manager Regina Goff said, “and adhere to all the regulatory limits.” Nitrate reaches waterways and groundwater from sources like feedlots, farm fertilizers and leaky septic tanks.
Source: KCUR News
Wichita looking at options for current water treatment plant
Wichita officials are considering options for the city’s current water treatment plant, when the new plant goes online next year. Options for the current plant were presented to City Council members in a workshop meeting Tuesday. Laura Quick with the city’s Public Works Department said most of the options deal with having the plant on standby for emergency use, but there are some maintenance issues that need to be addressed. Some other factors to consider are the treatment capacity, the time it would take to start up the plant, and whether it would be using water from Cheney Lake or the Equus Beds aquifer. One option would be to demolish the plant, which could cost $50 to 75 million. Options for emergency use would range from $8 million to $33 million.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Municipal Bond Trends for October 24, 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.
Commission split on protection from income discrimination for renters
City commissioners discussed expanding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance to bar landlords, property owners and real estate brokers from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who want to pay with legal income other than job wages. If passed, the ordinance would allow tenants to be able to pay for housing using vouchers, disability payments, rent relief programs and other sources of income.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Methane flares from JoCo landfill remain a problem in Shawnee. What can city do?
Continued concerns over methane flaring at the Johnson County Landfill prompted the Shawnee Planning Commission this week to take the rare step of issuing a revised special use permit with a shorter timeframe than such permits normally get.
Source: Johnson County Post
Leawood hires Leavenworth official to lead planning, development efforts
One of Johnson County’s wealthiest cities has tapped a longtime development executive to oversee its strategic planning efforts. Leawood appointed Julie Hurley as its next planning director. She will begin her new role on Dec. 2. Hurley has spent the past decade working for Leavenworth, where she most recently was the director of planning and community development. She comes to the new role with more than 20 years of experience in municipal government, including time spent as a city planner in Shawnee, Overland Park and Olathe.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal