Kansas Municipal News
As Kansas farms grow bigger, more people leave and rural life gets lonelier
Kansas farms have expanded their operations and are now bigger than ever, which has led to an economic boom. But that also means fewer farmers, and that has contributed to depopulation in rural parts of the state that were socially isolated to begin with. Kansas farms are more specialized, sticking to large-scale farming of one or two commodity crops. There are government incentives for these crops, and bigger farms get more federal dollars. That economic efficiency might actually be hurting smaller towns, exacerbating some of the health challenges rural Kansans already face. Larger farms push out smaller farms and lead to less people staying in a community. With less people there’s less resources for them like hospitals and schools. The changes have happened over years, a period that also saw death by suicide rates rise in rural areas Mental health access is already hard to come by in western Kansas, but suicide rates are even higher if you work in agriculture.
Source: KCUR News
Kansas housing shortage leaves all ‘in the same boat’
“Kansas has been a magnet for economic development lately,” says Jeri Hammerschmidt, a senior housing specialist for First Step Builders in Independence. “Everybody wants to come here. We’ve got the highways and the railways and all of that. But you can’t really recruit these things unless you have your housing and you have your day care, right?” The annual report of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) shows the agency funded 61 housing developments across the state in 2023, creating 3,234 new homes in 38 counties. Twenty-five developments fell under the “affordable housing” definition and the rest were moderate income, meaning the residents earn too much to qualify for federal housing assistance, yet struggle to afford market rate homes. But that is a pittance compared with what is needed. A comprehensive housing-needs study released in 2022 by the KHRC showed nearly 43,000 housing units are needed across the state by 2028 – a number that does not include the needs in Kansas City or Wichita, or in Shawnee, Sedgwick and Douglas counties.
Source: KLC Journal
Hutchinson City Council votes to push STAR bonds to the next step
Some of Hutchinson’s most recognizable landmarks are one step closer to getting a facelift. Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds were the center of discussion at a public hearing held in Hutchinson. The city council heard from the public and then voted to push STAR bond(s) to the next step. The Cosmosphere, Memorial Hall, and the old Landmark building are all set to be improved, remodeled or renovated.
Source: KSN-TV
Hutchinson firefighters going to Colorado to fight wildfire
Firefighters from Hutchinson are on the move, heading to Colorado to help fight a wildfire. Three firefighters left with a brush truck heading west to help with the Pearl Fire northwest of Fort Collins, close to the Colorado-Wyoming state line. So far, the fire is 128 acres in size and is 5% contained, according to InciWeb. The fire started around 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office determined that the fire originated on private property and was human-caused.
Source: KSN-TV
Goats to chew away at Wichita’s Oak Park
The goats from Restoration Grazing LLC will be at Oak Park in Wichita on Monday to clear overgrowth and brush. The City of Wichita announced it in a social media post. Last year, the City hired goats to clear brush, poison ivy and other plants from Sim Park. They worked so quickly that it was done in half the predicted time. The City touted that the goats were eco-friendly and could reach places that machines could not. It was reported that the cost of cleaning that park was $5,000. The public is invited to watch the goats in action at Oak Park through the next few weeks. Source: KSN-TV
Coffeyville gets new fire chief
Mike O’Connor has been with the fire department since 2007, where he started as a driver. The Coffeyville native is also an assistant football coach at the high school, something he has done for the past 13 years.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Lenexa City Council denies county homeless shelter permit. What happens now?
After almost a year of discussions at both the county and city level, the Lenexa City Council voted on Tuesday to deny a special use permit for a proposed Johnson County homeless shelter off Interstate 35. A more than six-hour council meeting that stretched past midnight ended with a majority of the governing body agreeing that plans for the shelter, also known as the Homeless Services Center, were too flawed to approve a permit needed for it to operate. “I think it creates more of a downside than upside,” Councilmember Chris Herron said. The 5-2 vote followed the recommendation of city staff to deny the permit, as well as the planning commission’s recommendation for denial last month. Councilmembers Melanie Arroyo and Courtney Eiterich cast the two votes in favor of approving the permit. Councilmember Joe Karlin was absent.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Ordinances in development on homeless encampments in Wichita
Wichita City Manager Robert Layton says two ordinances are being developed in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gives cities more authority to remove homeless encampments. The Supreme Court ruled in June that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. Layton said the ordinances being drafted will address notification issues and time frames, along with definitions of items that would be defined as valuables. He said staff has been working on the second or third draft of the ordinances and it’s not known when they will be ready for consideration by the City Council. The City Council heard concerns Tuesday from a citizen about homeless encampments and trash along the Arkansas River, urging the city to take action. Vice mayor Maggie Ballard said the city has not used enforcement measures because shelter space is not available, and that’s why the Multi-Agency Center that is being developed will be important. The city is planning to convert the former Park Elementary School at 1025 North Main into an emergency shelter this winter, and next year it will become a Multi-Agency Center with programs and services. City Council member Mike Hoheisel said a new police recruiting class will allow the city to beef up its Homeless Outreach Teams in the next couple of months, and the city has been working with Sedgwick County’s COMCARE agency to provide services. He also called attention to the regional mental health hospital that Sedgwick County is developing at MacArthur and Meridian in a partnership with the State of Kansas. Hoheisel said when the Multi Agency Center is open the city will focus more on enforcement.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
City of Leon plans for $1.1 million splash park
On Monday evening the City of Leon passed two resolutions approving the City to apply for grants to secure funds for a splash park with the price tag of $1,134,410. The potential splash park has been in the works since this summer after BG Consultants, (Manhattan, KS), and Ranson Financial, (Wichita, KS), presented renderings and finances to the City Council in August. The $1.1 million price tag includes the splash park, with dimensions of 70ft x 65ft, or 4,550 sq ft total, an outdoor covered pavilion, with dimensions of 16ft 8in x 21ft 6in with benches and shade, and a building that will include two public restrooms and a pump/filtration room for the water with dimension of 22ft 8in x 16ft 8in. The park will be in the City of Leon’s Park located at 202 South St. The city plans to take out the sand volleyball pits and excavate the splash park in its place due to low usage of the pits. The park will include 18 water features for all ages of children ranging from interactive water sprayers, in ground bubblers, tube sprayers, and more while being ADA accessible. The plans include distinguished sections for young toddlers and older children alike.
Source: Andover American
Municipal Bond Trends for September 17, 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.
Prairie Village goes back on track to ban short-term rentals
The city of Prairie Village has reversed course and is now back to its original idea to ban short-term rentals. The Prairie Village City Council on Monday during its committee meeting unanimously directed city staff to draft an ordinance that limits rentals to operate on a 30-day stay minimum, effectively banning short-term rentals like AirBnbs or Vrbos that are typically booked for weekend or week-long stays.
Source: Johnson County Post
Shawnee celebrates 25 years of firefighter swaps with German city
After 25 years, an annual firefighter exchange program between Shawnee and its sister city in Germany continues to strengthen its connection. For 10 days, firefighters from Erfurt, Germany, and Shawnee exchange places, living with local families, taking in a different culture and trading ideas on how to respond to emergencies. It’s a program that’s been going on since 1998, when the two cities established it as a way to improve connections.
Source: Johnson County Post
Leawood considers how to improve its city-wide tree canopy
If the tree near the street in front of your house gets sick, should it be the city’s responsibility to remove and replace it? If you want to remove a tree from your yard, should you have to get a permit or be required to replace it with another tree? Those were among the questions discussed Monday as the Leawood City Council became the latest Johnson County community to take a fresh look at its tree ordinances during a work session. Councilmembers compared their existing regulations with their counterparts in Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Mission and Fairway — four cities with differing ways of handling tree issues. In particular, councilmembers and staff have been studying whether they should expand their existing ordinance to be similar to Prairie Village’s.
Source: Johnson County Post
Concept aims to make downtown Overland Park a ‘destination.’
A new potential future for downtown Overland Park drawn out by the Urban Land Institute of Kansas City suggests turning the area into “a destination” surrounding its popular farmers’ market. The conceptual vision for downtown — the area primarily between Santa Fe Drive and Metcalf Avenue, and 79th and 80th streets — includes a boutique hotel, new parking garages, infrastructure improvements prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle access, and a plethora of mixed-use redevelopment.
Source: Johnson County Post
Arcadia’s history is preserved in music
Nestled in the far northeast corner of the county, along the Missouri state line and Bourbon County line, Arcadia is a small community of only 250 people that celebrated its founding on Saturday with a parade, face painting, barbeque, and everything else one would expect of such a grand occasion. As the parade of fire trucks, police cars, and ubiquitous political candidates faded and the kids scoured the streets for gum and candy, parade-goers began filing into the Arcadia Community Center to hear about their past in a most inspiring way. In song.
Source: Morning Sun
Municipal Bond Trends for September 16, 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.
Curbside recycling pickup may be coming soon
Within a year, SEK Recycling and the city intend to roll out curbside recycling pickup. At the organization’s banquet Thursday night, SEK Recycling Board President Jeremy Johnson announced what many Pittsburg citizens have been waiting to hear for decades. “We’ll be operating at a scale that we’ve not dreamed of,” Johnson told The Morning Sun. “We’ll bring in as much material in a month as previously we’ve done in an entire year.” The City of Pittsburg plans to partner with SEK Recycling to implement the recycling pickup service in conjunction with the trash service the city started earlier this month. Johnson said that Deputy City Manager Jay Byers wants to begin pickup in six months, but the more realistic goal is within a year. “It is ambitious. It scares me a little bit, but I also know that we are in a better position to prepare for that now than we ever have been in our organization’s history,” he said. Johnson said to prepare for this service, the organization has been working to streamline its operations by bringing people to evaluate its finances and procedures. He said several people have stepped up to volunteer their time and talents to help out. “It’s the help of people like this who are willing do these things that are hard that are going to allow us to do the big stuff,” Johnson said.
In addition to planning for curbside service, Johnson updated the event attendees on other milestones and projects the organization has been working on. Earlier this year, SEK Recycling, a nonprofit organization, received the single largest donation in its history. An anonymous donor gave $250,000 to the organization, which allowed them to purchase a new baler and start mapping out SEK Recycling’s role in the community for the next several years. Johnson said since the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers for the organization have dwindled, but his goal is to build the volunteer base back up by reaching out to the community more and working with the Students for Sustainability group at Pittsburg State University. “We need to be working harder, to reach out, to engage with folks who believe in the same things that we do and that want the same things that we do,” he said. “But if we don’t reach out to them, those things aren’t going to happen.”
Johnson recognized retiring board members Gene Vogler, Jan Hula and Jim Tripplett and thanked them for their dedication to the cause. Vogler had been on the board for 18 years and Tripplett was the founder of the organization. “Jim has my eternal gratitude,” Johnson said. “I will forever associate him with our center. Without him, we would not be where we are.” So far this year, SEK Recycling has kept 593 tons of materials out of landfills and is on track to end the year with taking in more than 800 tons.
Source: Morning Sun
Why the Wichita school district picked February for special election on $450M bond issue
The Wichita School Board’s decision to call a special election in February — instead of posing its bond issue question during a general or primary election — will cost the school district an additional $113,000. And it could result in lower voter turnout. But Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said the district can’t afford to wait. The school board didn’t finish its facilities master plan in time to get the $450 million bond issue on the ballot for this November. “We would really like to get construction started next summer,” Bielefeld said. “And so to wait until later in the spring, April or May, makes that not possible. Then to wait, you know, until November of ‘25, the soonest we would then have dirtwork moving would be summer of ‘26. We would lose an entire year. . . . We need this, and we need it soon.” Bielefeld said he would have preferred to pose the question to voters this November, during the presidential election, “but the timing of the master plan, the amount of community feedback we needed — that timeline was just too short.” The Kansas Board of Education has to approve the measure because the price tag exceeds the cap on bonded indebtedness school districts are allowed to have in Kansas. The cap is 14% of assessed value within a school district. The cap for Wichita schools is $589.2 million. The school district already has $157 million in unpaid bonded debt, and the additional $450 million would exceed the debt limit by more than $18 million. The state board is expected to take up the Wichita question at a future meeting.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Proposed solar project strains the bonds that unite a rural Kansas community
In rural places in our divided land we can’t just pick sides and trash each other. But if we do, somebody — a friend, a loved one, or even a sometime enemy — might tug on our sleeves and remind us about the better angels of our nature. At a public meeting last year, Joe Schlessiger’s farmland neighbors were arguing once again. Joe stood himself up, all 6 feet, 6 inches of Kansas farmer. The topic once again: Spanish energy company Acciona’s proposal to build a solar energy array near Barton County’s Cheyenne Bottoms. The Bottoms are enthralling to those who love nature — 41,000 acres of the largest inland wetland in the United States. It’s a migration stopover for roughly two million birds every year — everything from white-faced ibis dancing on long stick legs to endangered whooping cranes that make pit stops there in spring and fall. The birds prance, squawk and swell the cloud storage of wildlife photographers.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Cafe in Burden back in business
Residents in Burden welcomed a nice surprise this week with the return of Ma’s Cafe. Earlier this year, the previous owners of the cafe retired and closed the only sit-down restaurant in town. Bobby Smith and Hui Son had run the cafe since Jan. 11, 2021. However, Sandra and John Picconatto began renting the building and have reopened the cafe Monday through Saturday. Sandra spoke about Ma’s Cafe on Wednesday afternoon. She is from Wilmot, but has lived in Burden for the past 18 years. “A couple of years ago, we did a food truck,” Sandra said. “It did really well, and we enjoyed it. We decided to expand this year by opening the cafe back up. The previous owners allowed us to keep the name.” The process started when they rented the building on Aug 1. It took 40 days to open it from start to finish. “It involved a lot of cleaning. Anytime you open up a new restaurant, you have to get the licenses and permits, etc.” Sandra said they are leasing the building for one year to see how it goes. “We may purchase the building, if things go well,” she added. The restaurant looks pretty much the same inside. The menu is a little different. The previous owner had Korean options no longer available. They are offering daily specials. “There may be some trial and error in some parts. We’d like to have Thursday evening buffets,” she explained. “Rotate with fried chicken, pulled pork, tator tot casserole, and meatloaf. Each week would be something different. We also want to do Taco Tuesday. “My daughter and her husband are helping with the management portion. There will be four employees as of right now.”
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Winfield to get new signs for landmarks
Winfield city commissioners have approved the purchase and installation of new signage that would help visitors find local landmarks, something that was outlined in the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan. The project will consist of 18 signs, providing visitors with directions to places including Southwestern College, the Cowley County Historical Society Museum, sporting facilities and other points of interest. The signs have been in the works for several years. “It’s been talked about, but we just haven’t been able to get to it,” Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said in a request for commission action. The signs will cost $125,694. A total of $25,000 will be covered by Winfield Convention and Tourism Funds gathered from a transient guest tax. The remaining funds will come from the city’s Capital Improvement Plan budget. The chosen vendor is Seventy Five Creative, LLC, of Dothan, Ala., one of four companies providing full or partial bids for the project. A start time for the project was not provided. Documents state that the estimated lead time is 6-10 weeks once artwork is approved and a deposit made.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
New Round of SEED Grants Available for Rural Quality-of-Life Initiatives
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today that $250,000 will be available through a third round of Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grants. The SEED program supports economic development and revitalization efforts in smaller counties across Kansas through investments in quality-of-life initiatives. “SEED grants are a vital part of our commitment to ensuring every community in Kansas has the opportunity to succeed,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These grants are creating real impact in rural communities, helping them build stronger local economies, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. By investing in these communities, we continue laying the foundation for long-term growth and prosperity.” The grants are administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce to communities in 78 designated counties with a population of 5,000 or less. Grants up to $25,000 will be available in the following categories: Childcare and senior programming – Projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment. Community vibrancy – Projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals and signage. Food retail – Projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion. Libraries – Projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture and building improvements. Local governments, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and other organizations in towns not previously awarded a SEED grant are eligible to apply. Applicants must provide a minimum 10-percent match and complete the project within 12 months of receiving grant funds. Funds will be distributed half at the beginning of the grant cycle and the balance will be given upon successful completion of the project. Funding for the SEED program is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions (TEFFI) Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state. SEED grant applications will open Monday, September 16, and close at 11:59 p.m. Monday, November 8. Grant awardees will be announced mid-December. A recorded informational webinar about the SEED grant is available here. A list of previously awarded towns, guidelines for the grant application, and a list of eligible counties can be found here. The Office of Rural Prosperity will host virtual Office Hours from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 20, for anyone who might have questions regarding the grant and the application process. To register, click here.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Wichita opens bidding process for emergency homeless shelter
The City of Wichita has opened the bidding process for the operation of an emergency winter shelter for the homeless. The shelter will be set up at the former Park Elementary School at 1025 North Main, which was recently purchased by the city from the Wichita school district. Bids will be accepted until 10 a.m. on Friday, October 4th. Prospective bidders will be able to attend a pre-proposal meeting at 1 p.m. on September 23rd through Microsoft Teams. The City has allocated $600,000 for the operation of the 2024-2025 winter shelter. A successful proposal will have to be made by a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3), (c)(4) corporation or governmental entity. The shelter must be able to be operated on a 24/7 basis during the contract period and allow entry day or night, serving both men and women, those with disabilities and other various guest needs. The City expects the winter shelter to be open from November 28, 2024 through March 31, 2025. The project is expected to go to the City Council sometime in late October or early November for consideration.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
USD 457 Board discusses grade reconfiguration proposal
The USD 457 Board of Education held discussion on a District Reconfiguration Proposal during its regular meeting on Monday. No action was taken on the proposal; it will be taken up as an action item at the Board’s Sept. 26 meeting where the Board will vote on what direction it wants to take with it. The proposal would transition the district to a K-5, 6-8, 9-14 grade configuration, removing the intermediate school levels, by fall 2028. Board member Andy Fahrmeier said there would be a three-year transition period plan that would start at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. It would begin with changing the district to a K-6, 7-8 model while construction is conducted at Kenneth Henderson Middle School to add 16-20 classrooms to accommodate 50% of the district’s sixth to eighth grade students. In the fall of 2028 they would transition to the K-5, 6-8 model.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Johnson County is looking for public input to improve its public transit system
The community’s input is needed to make improvements to public transportation in Johnson County. Public engagement is part of Johnson County Transit’s strategic planning process that will serve as a roadmap for the future. The public will have the opportunity to interact with the project team at a pop-up event during the Overland Park Farmer’s Market on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. The public is encouraged to stop by and share their thoughts on public transit. Johnson County’s Transit Strategic Plan is focused on clearly articulating JCT’s vision, strategic direction, and the methods necessary to achieve these goals. The process will include extensive public outreach including input from Johnson County’s Board of County Commissioners, users of the system, the Johnson County Transportation Council and the broader Johnson County community. Engagement will focus on effectively giving the community a voice through collaborative and inclusive discussions. The goals of the strategic plan are to: Determine the level and types of service that will serve the most residents and workers most effectively within the budgetary resources available at present; Position JCT for stable operations, partnerships, and growth in the long term’ Make JCT a recognizable asset for the county’s economic growth and diversification and quality of life; Ensure mobility support for vulnerable populations and the workforce; and Recommend enhancements in organizational structure, internal expertise, and standard operating procedures to ensure JCT’s integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness at meeting ongoing operational challenges, exceeding customer expectations, and carrying out the Board’s direction.
For more information please visit the Strategic Plan webpage.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Rebuilt Shawnee Fire HQ focused on firefighters’ health — Here’s how
After almost 40 years since its last major renovation, Shawnee’s Fire Station 71 is ready to show off its new look. The John B. Glaser Fire Station 71, 6501 Quivira Rd., which also serves as the Shawnee Fire Department’s headquarters, will have its grand reopening to the public this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The celebration will showcase the approximately $13.7 million renovation project, which was centered on creating better workflow arrangements at the station to shorten emergency response times and also features improvements to firefighters’ quality of life while maintaining room on site for future expansion.
Source: Johnson County Post
City of Wichita awards $1.3 million to developers to buy, renovate public housing units
The Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to award $1.3 million in COVID recovery funds to nonprofit and for-profit housing developers to buy and renovate 33 single-family public housing units. Wichita Habitat for Humanity, a local nonprofit, received $640,000 for the rehabilitation and sale of 16 houses on North Piatt. Large Enterprise, a California-based business, received $440,000 for the renovation and rental of 11 properties in northeast and southwest Wichita. Residential Housing Solutions, a local business, received $240,000 for the renovation and sale of six houses on North Minnesota. The homes the developers will buy are public housing units the city is in the midst of selling. Wichita has 352 in total, many of which have already been sold to homeowners or investors without restrictions on future sale price or rent. The city reports that many of the houses require “much needed rehabilitation.” But Wichita set aside roughly 60 homes that it hopes to keep affordable long-term. In May, the city opened a call for proposals from developers to buy, renovate and then sell or rent the properties. Using its COVID recovery funds, Wichita offered $40,000 per unit to help buy and rehabilitate the homes. But developers are required to keep the units affordable long-term by participating in federal rental assistance or homeownership programs, which limit the maximum income of participating tenants or homebuyers.
Source: KLC Journal
Once home to Kansas’ most infamous criminals, historic Lansing prison opening for tours
Most people did their best to avoid this place for nearly 160 years. That’s about to change. When the Kansas Department of Corrections opened a newly constructed Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, Kansas, in 2020 it meant the old, stone-walled prison building that housed inmates since the 1860s would be left empty and without purpose. Instead of demolishing it, the Department of Corrections has transferred control of the building to the Lansing Historical Society and Museum, paving the way for the historic prison to be opened for tours. Visitors will have plenty to see in the buildings that have mostly been left in the condition they were in when the prison shut down. Hundreds of tiny cells on multiple floors sit with their barred doors open inviting tour goers to step inside. Paint peels from the walls, some covered in graffiti and the grunge accumulated from the men serving their time there. The access provides a strong visual reminder of the conditions put on people serving time in prison. The prison’s walls also hold the stories of the people who were locked inside and those who walked out after working their shifts. People taking the tours will hear about the day to day routine of prison life lived by the majority of the inmates who served their time and were released from Lansing. They’ll also hear the stories of some of the facility’s more infamous residents. Several whose time there ended at the end of a gallows noose. Members of the community, the Lansing Historical Society and Museum and dignitaries gathered outside the Lansing Correctional Facility, which closed in 2020, for the transfer of keys on Sept. 9 to the Lansing Historical Society and Museum. Tours of the prison to the public began Sept. 13. Tammy Ljungblad Tljungblad@kcstar.com The prison tour is modeled off of a similar tour in Missouri. About a year ago, Kansas Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, approached the Lansing Historical Society and Museum with the idea of preserving the prison by converting it into a tourist attraction, similar to the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. TOP VIDEOS After months of discussions, on Aug. 1, 2024, the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Lansing Historical Society and Museum formalized their partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding, allowing the society to offer guided public tours of the historic Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
How mail delays in Kansas and Missouri could create problems in the 2024 election
As the Nov. 5 election draws closer, tens of thousands of Kansas and Missouri voters are preparing to cast their absentee ballots through the mail. Whether you’re planning to be out of town on Election Day or have a disability that makes it hard to get to the polls, absentee voting is a convenient way to make sure your voice is heard. But recent U.S. Postal Service delays in both states may throw a wrench in those plans for some voters. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the state’s highest-ranking election official, sounded off in a letter to U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy about the issue Monday, Sept. 9. “I am extremely concerned there is a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots,” Schwab wrote. “Many are either missing postmarks or failing to reach the county election office on time, even when voters have mailed them timely.” He added that nearly one-fifth of Kansas voters cast their ballots by mail, but around 1,000 mail-in ballots were not counted in the Aug. 6 primary election due to missing postmarks or late arrival times. Schwab did not specify where in the state ballots had gone uncounted. TOP VIDEOS The video player is currently playing an ad. “That means that 2 percent of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas were not counted due to USPS administrative failures,” he wrote. Mail delays in the Kansas City area have been going on for months — and barring some major improvements in the next seven weeks, the issues are likely to persist up to and through Election Day. Here’s what voters can do to ensure their ballot is received and counted.
Source: Kansas City Breaking News & Sports | The Kansas City Star
Municipal Bond Trends for September 13, 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 September 12, 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.
40 Local Bridge Projects Receive More than $40M
40 local and off-system bridge projects across the state will receive a combined total of $40.25 million as part of two local bridge improvement programs capitalizing on new revenue from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). … Combined with matching funds from the awarded cities and counties, the total project value is over $45.2 million. By reshaping the local bridge programs to take advantage of BIL, the Kansas Department of Transportation more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). … For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 170 applications requesting $162.3 million.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
‘A stars-aligned moment’ — JoCo urges Lenexa to approve shelter permit ahead of key vote
With praise for Lenexa’s partnership and a pledge to back the city up if problems arise, Johnson County commissioners have forwarded a letter urging Lenexa officials to approve a proposed homeless services center and shelter. Commissioners voted 4-2 Thursday to send the one-and-a-half page letter to Lenexa Mayor Julie Sayers and city councilmembers. The city’s governing body next week will consider whether to accept the recommendation of their city’s planning commission to deny a permit for the proposed shelter at a repurposed hotel near Interstate 35 and 95th Street. “We respectfully disagree with staff’s rationale for denial and with how staff and the Planning Commission applied the Golden factor criteria in its recommendation,” the letter says, while acknowledging there may be “understandable” concerns. The project should not negatively impact property values and will have a positive effect on public health and safety, the commission’s letter says. (The “Golden criteria” stem from a 1978 court ruling in an Overland Park case that set forth factors that jurisdictions can consider when ruling on local land uses.)
Source: Johnson County Post
Halstead to hold public hearing on energy storage facility
The City of Halstead will host a public meeting on zoning regulations related to a proposed energy storage facility. In October 2023, Boston-based Concurrent LLC submitted an interconnection application to the Southwest Power Pool, which oversees power transmission in Kansas and several neighboring states. Concurrent wants to build a system that would collect and store renewable energy during times of low demand so that it can be delivered during times of high demand. The proposed Tallgrass Prairie Energy Center has a planned capacity of 200 megawatts and up to 800 megawatt-hours. The company plans to install the facility in Halstead Industrial Park. Once operational, it would store enough power for 200,000 to 800,000 homes. The public meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Halstead City Hall. A draft of the proposed zoning regulations is below.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County selected for emergency preparedness exercise
Sedgwick County Emergency Management (SCEM) was chosen to participate in a national exercise program conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program aids government entities in conducting emergency preparedness exercises to gauge the disaster readiness of the organization. The SCEM applied for the program and was chosen for the program over other governmental agencies in Region 7, which includes Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. Going through the program will help Sedgwick County design and conduct a full-scale active shooter simulation to be held March 11, 2025. “These exercises are so important for us to assess our preparedness planning, resources and capabilities to work with community partners in times of crisis,” said SCEM Director Julie Stimson. “Having FEMA support us through this process will fine-tune the training even more, at no cost to our community.” Sedgwick County’s exercise is one of 43 selected across the country that FEMA will support for 38 government entities. A well-designed simulation provides a low-risk environment to familiarize personnel with emergency roles and responsibilities. After the exercise, SCEM can reevaluate its preparedness plans and identify strengths and areas for improvement. “I already know that our Emergency Management team is top-notch because they’ve proven it in the field countless times, but there is always room for improvement in our plans,” Chairman of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Ryan Baty said. “A large, complex exercise like this is an objective way to test our policies and procedures and enhance our response, before Sedgwick County has to deal with a real-life disaster.”
Source: Derby Informer | Area
City and firefighters union are at impasse in negotiations; Lawrence City Commission may have to resolve the conflict
City of Lawrence administrators and the local firefighters union are at an impasse in their negotiations for the coming year, and if they don’t resolve it, the City Commission might have to resolve the conflict next month. The city and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1596 union, which represents firefighters and other emergency personnel employed by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, are working to come up with a new memorandum of understanding. The current one is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.
Source: LJWorld
Arcadia: A small town with a big history
Arcadia will celebrate 162 years on Saturday with Old Settlers’ Days. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. as parade participants gather at the ballpark. … While only a small town of 250 today, Arcadia has a very interesting history and a lot to celebrate. According to Legends of Kansas, the first to settle in the area was a blacksmith named Howell in 1844. Married to a Cherokee woman, he was given permission to live in, at that time, the Neutral Lands.
Source: Morning Sun
Municipal Bond Trends for September 11, 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.
Hiawatha Maple Leaf Festival set for Sept 28
The Hiawatha Maple Leaf Festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 28 and organizers with the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau are excited about this year’s lineup of activities. This annual festival can be found in downtown Hiawatha around the courthouse square, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each September. Maple Leaf 2024 will be bringing in some fantastic music — as the Chamber is featuring True North as the headlining band, scheduled for a noon performance on the north side of the courthouse steps. Chamber Administrator Sarah Kleopfer said there will be a couple of new performers this year: Lisa Scholz, from the Highland area, who will be performing at 10 am, and South Wind, a band out of Manhattan, featuring Hiawatha’s own Christian Shaffer at 11 am. The Hiawatha Headliners (1:30 pm) and Tori Wist (2 pm) will round out the musical entertainment for the afternoon. Find all of them on the north steps of the Brown County Courthouse. Children’s entertainment and carnival attractions, along with local magician Barron Stringfellow — who will be performing on the south side of the courthouse at 11 a.m. this year — craft and food vendors will set the stage for an awesome fall festival. Back this year will be a petting zoo, which can be also be found on the southwest side of the square. Kleopfer said the Chamber board was excited to bring in several new children’s entertainers this year. This includes the Bluffwoods Boffers, Entertainment & Games. Dive into the world of Live Action Role Play and learn how to battle! Also new this year will be Karen Smith, balloon artist. Songwriter and author Karla Bauer of Kansas City will be entertaining at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. on the south side of the courthouse lawn near the petting zoo. Kleopfer confirmed that nearly 60 craft, home decor and business vendors will be set up around the square, along with several food vendors that will be spread out on Oregon Street, where picnic tables will be set out for festival-goers. In conjunction with the Maple Leaf Festival, Heartland Realty and the Brown County Humane Society are sponsoring an inflatable costume race, which begins at Heartland Realty at 9 a.m. This race is to raise awareness of the Humane Society’s spay and neuter program. Everyone is welcome! Back this year will be the car show, found on the west side of the courthouse on Seventh Street. Stop by to check out the vintage rides that will be featured. Anyone interested in entering the car show can contact Tom Martin at (785) 288-0402 or Philip Grabhorn at (785) 288-8912.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
If Lenexa rejects homeless shelter, Johnson County could be back at square one. Then what?
If the Lenexa City Council on Tuesday denies a special use permit to operate a homeless shelter, Johnson County could be sent back to the drawing board — possibly needing to find a new location and deciding whether to commit alternate funding in the face of a fast-approaching federal deadline. The decision would be a major setback after the county has spent months evaluating the Lenexa site, following years of planning for a much-needed shelter. Late last month, the Lenexa Planning Commission voted 9-0 to deny a special use permit request to operate a year-round shelter at the La Quinta Inn and Suites off of Interstate 35 and 95th Street. The permit is required for the county to close on the real estate purchase, and needed for reStart, the Kansas City-based homeless services agency, to run the shelter. In its recommendation to reject the permit, Lenexa city staff said the use is inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood, would “create a concentration of negative external impacts” in the community, detrimentally affect nearby properties and strain law enforcement resources. But the Lenexa City Council has the final say to approve or deny the permit, or send it back to the planning commission with reasoning for it to be reconsidered. The council will consider the permit request at its meeting next Tuesday evening.
Source: Joco 913 News
Massive Johnson County sports complex to open soon in growing development. Here’s when
After months of construction, an Overland Park sports facility with an ice rink, eight basketball courts and more will open to the public next month. The first phase of the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, Oct. 26, according to a media release from the company. “The wait is over!” Becky Cornell, retail marketing manager for JLL real estate, wrote in an announcement to the media. The $125 million park at 16201 Shawnee Drive (on the southwest corner of U.S. Highway 69 and 159th Street) will include a family entertainment center called Hawk’s Outpost. It will include arcade games, bowling, laser tag and sports simulators. A cafe, bar and grill, training area and locker rooms will also be part of the sports park. Visitors are invited to visit the new complex from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take a look at the first 260,000-square-foot phase of the sports park.
Source: Joco 913 News
What did Kansas look like 150 years ago? A KU professor’s photo book shows the drastic change
Robert Benecke captured 19th-century western Kansas landscapes before massive European migrations to the area transformed them. In the intervening years, the dust bowl, mass extinction of bison, and expansion of mechanized agriculture have all led to a profusion of trees, ponds and lakes across the Sunflower State. When railroad companies hired Robert Benecke to help advertise Kansas land for sale in the 1870s, the German-born photographer captured a unique window into life on the Great Plains at a very early time in the state’s history. A century and a half later, University of Kansas professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Town Peterson sees Benecke’s images as a chance to investigate the impact of human settlement. Peterson first became aware of a trove of Benecke’s images preserved in the digital collections of Southern Methodist University during the pandemic, and he set out to re-photograph the scenes and see what changed over the course of time. It’s all part of the curiosity process in science, Peterson says. Peterson’s years-long effort has led to his new book, “One Hundred and Fifty Years of Change on the Great Plains,” available for free as a PDF or in hard-copy format on demand. It pairs Benecke’s historic landscapes with Peterson’s new photographs of the same views.
Source: KCUR News
How Wyandotte County deals with unsheltered homelessness
In a 24-hour period in January this year, surveyors for the annual point-in-time count found 226 people who reported being homeless. Of that number, 152 of them – or nearly 70% of the overall count – said they were unsheltered, meaning they were living outside, or in cars, vacant buildings and other places not designed for human habitation. The point-in-time count is imprecise, and advocates say that number is almost certainly an undercount. But of that overall total, 55 individuals fit HUD’s definition of being chronically unsheltered, meaning they had experienced homelessness in increments that add up to at least a year, and they struggle with a disabling condition such as a mental illness or a physical disability. That number is significant. For the past two years, HUD has cited the reporting region that includes Wyandotte County as having the nation’s highest percentage of people within the overall homeless population who experience chronic unsheltered homelessness. That unwelcome distinction speaks to a lack of resources for a vulnerable group of people. Wyandotte County and its largest city, Kansas City, have no year-round overnight emergency shelter. Housing for people with limited incomes is in short supply. Motels quickly become expensive, and crashing with friends or family gets old. And so people live where they think they won’t be bothered – in the woods, under bridges and overpasses, and in vacant buildings. Some cluster in small groups; many stay by themselves. “As our population has grown, we’re seeing a lot of camps,” says Kansas City, Kansas Police Sgt. Angela Joyce. “You’ve got people with addictions. You’ve got mental illness. You’ve got a lot of people who’ve just fallen on hard times. It’s such a big problem, and you don’t realize it until you actually deal with it.” Joyce serves in the community policing unit, which is the department’s first point of reference for complaints regarding homeless camps. She has seen hundreds. “Some of these camps get really messy,” she says. “So I can understand people being upset. But we don’t have a shelter in this city. We have minimal resources compared to other cities.”
Source: KLC Journal
Pittsburg considers new ordinances to address shopping cart and trash concerns
Shopping carts and trash are on the table for the city commission in Pittsburg with the hopes of keeping the city clean and cutting the costs residents and businesses are currently taking on. “It’s more that when we don’t have these ordinances and this activity is allowed to happen, you end up with the town just looking trashy,” said Roger Lomshek, Pittsburg resident. Roger Lomshek is just one of the residents and business owners who’ve brought the issue of digging through trash and abandoned shopping carts to the city of Pittsburg. Issues he’s seen frequently. “We have people pushing shopping carts full of junk all over that. They’re just leaving wherever they feel like it. When they’re digging through a dumpster, they’re leaving. It laid out,” said Lomshek. He’s concerned it’s costing local businesses more out of their pockets and costing consumers more money too. “They’re running 250 to $450 per cart, which means they’re losing tens of thousands of dollars a year in these missing carts,” said Lomshek. “That’s a pretty big loss when they’re walking off their lots every day. So we’re really trying to help support our businesses and reduce that,” said Kim Froman, City of Pittsburg Dir. of Community Development and Housing. Kim Froman is the director of community development and housing for the city of Pittsburg. After hearing concerns and seeing it herself – the city brought two ordinances to Tuesday’s city commission meeting. A new ordinance aims to prohibit individuals from being able to take shopping carts off private properties. “Whether they were from the housed or unhoused. We don’t always know. But either way, it’s an expense to the retailer and then the city is having to clean that up. And typically those shopping carts are removed,” said Froman. It can also make it that if anyone takes a shopping cart off retail property– the person would then be cited with theft, a class C misdemeanor. The second ordinance’s goal is to make sure people can’t go and dig through other people’s trash enclosures. Unless they have written permission.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Kansas power plant investing $63 million in power generating tech
Liberty Utilities is investing in new power generating equipment for its Riverton Power Plant. The oldest remaining generators at the plant will soon be removed to make way for new, industrial gas turbines — complete with the latest in power generating technology. They will replace two aging generators built in the 1960’s. Because of their age, spare parts for repairs are no longer made by the manufacturer. According to the company, the new generators feature better performance — especially in cold weather — and are nearly 40% more efficient. They are also Liberty Utilities first units designed to use hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The two generators come at a cost of $62 million. Officials say they are necessary to keep the century-old power plant operating well into the future. “We’ve definitely gotten our money’s worth out of them, they’ve earned their rest and we’re looking forward to putting something new in there that has some additional capabilities and will serve our customers just as well,” said Liberty Utilities Strategic Projects Director, Shaen Rooney. Construction on underground utilities and housing for the new generators will take place early next year, leading up to their arrival and installation in late spring of 2025.
Source: KSNF/KODE