Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Companies look to bring more than 300 jobs to Topeka

Local businesses are working to expand in Shawnee County, possibly bringing hundreds of jobs. At Wednesday’s Topeka and Shawnee County Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) meeting, members approved two incentive funding proposals with the goal of expanding and bringing more jobs to the capital city, one is called “Project Finish Line” and the other is “Project Brick“.
According to the JEDO meeting agenda, Project Finish Line is a local manufacturing company working with GO Topeka to assist in an expansion in their corporation to Topeka. The project comes with a capital investment of $57 million, $37 million in real property and $20 million in machinery and equipment. Project Finish Line is expected to bring 300 new jobs in five years, with an annual wage of $51,000. JEDO unanimously agreed to a total requested incentive of $2,136,000. Project Brick is a Topeka-based aviation company looking to expand and hire for 13 new positions, with the help of JEDO. The salaries will range from $60,000 to $110,000, according to the meeting agenda. Over 10 years, the total economic impact of this expansion is $18.9 million. JEDO unanimously approved the $112,000 total request incentive. After these incentive approvals, GO Topeka will draft agreements to contract with each company. The next JEDO meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.
Source: KSNT 27 News

County seeks renewal of quarter-cent sales tax for road and bridge projects

Miami County commissioners are hoping voters in November will renew a quarter-cent sales tax to continue funding road and bridge improvements throughout the county. Commissioners, during their Aug. 28 meeting, unanimously agreed to put the question on the general election ballot Nov. 5. The five-year tax would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, upon the expiration of the current quarter-cent sales tax. Before approving the ballot wording, commissioners asked for a slight modification so the words “continue to levy” could be added. The ballot wording would mirror what was proposed five years ago, and it would emphasize that this would be a renewal of an existing tax, not a new one.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Local farmers learn water treatment options

“There’s no way by looking at a pond to tell if it is safe or not,” Bhullar said. “You must test it.” Thanks to a mobile water treatment trailer, Bhullar was able to do just that during the “Non Trad Ag Coffee Talk” event Aug. 15 in partnership with the Miami County Conservation District. The informal farmer-to-farmer coffee talk series covers conservation and agricultural topics that are relevant to small/medium-scaled, non-traditional producers and people involved in supporting the local and regional food system. Previous discussion topics have included social media marketing strategies, Community Supported Ag (CSA) models, organic certification, breaking into the wholesale market, supplying local food markets, farm business navigation, preparing value-added products, sharing farm reflections and intentions, and tools for soil health. Mike Hursey of Casa Somerset Bed and Breakfast and Organic Farm has partnered with the conservation district to host the talks every third Thursday of the month beginning at 8:30 a.m. Hursey has worked with Sharon Autry, urban ag specialist for the Miami County Conservation District, to organize the events. Hursey said the program continues to grow each month, and he was thrilled to see more than 30 people in attendance at the Aug. 15 event.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Voters will decide: Wichita school board sets date for $450 million bond issue election

The Wichita school board has approved a special election for a $450 million bond issue that would pay for a plan to significantly reshape the state’s largest school district — a plan filled with school closings, consolidations and new “right-sized” buildings as the district braces for shrinking future enrollment. The election will be held Feb. 25, 2025. If it passes, the bond issue would extend a 7.5 mill levy for 20 years, a similar rate to what property taxpayers pay now based on a bond issue that passed narrowly in 2008 and was set to expire in 2029. If it fails, homeowners would see an approximately 7.5 mill reduction to their property taxes by 2029. On a $200,000 house, 7.5 mills is $172.50 in annual property taxes. Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld has said the “newer and fewer” plan is necessary because the district has $1.2 billion in future deferred maintenance needs that it can’t afford. School board member Kathy Bond was the lone dissenting vote. She voted for the $450 million master plan at a previous meeting but has said she would rather find a funding source other than property taxes. Voters will decide in February whether to fund a plan that would close at least 10 schools; tear down and rebuild seven others; and convert two elementary schools to K-8 buildings. It also would build a new early childhood center, a new Future Ready Center for construction trades and outdoor athletic fields at Northeast Magnet.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Lawrence City Commission to vote next month on purchase of building to move city hall

Lawrence city commissioners will vote next month on an agreement to purchase a building near Sixth and Iowa streets to serve as the new city hall. The proposed building, at 2000 Bluffs Drive, would provide about 50,000 square feet of space and would require an estimated $11.7 million in remodeling on top of a $4.2 million purchase agreement. That’s $15.9 million total. The current City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., was dedicated in 1980. At 35,544 square feet, it’s no longer big enough to hold the city workforce, according to presenters during the meeting. Commissioners have included $12 million in their capital improvement plan for city hall updates, whether that be the current site or a different building. The city has contracted with local design studio Multistudio for $130,000 for preliminary work to evaluate sites and spaces and complete predesign work. Gwen Gigous and Katie Pohlman with Multistudio told commissioners the building on Bluffs Drive would give space for current and future needs, as well as provide safe and secure space for city staff. The city is leasing space at Riverfront Mall for Lawrence Municipal Court and Planning and Development Services for $300,000 annually. That lease ends in 2028, and there is an option to purchase in the contract. The Bluffs Drive building would give space for the city to move those two functions under the same roof as most of the rest of city staff.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Wonderful Wamego: A Trip to the Wamego Historical Society

On Friday, August 23, 2024, Dr. Mary Kohn, director of the Chapman Center for Rural Studies, Kim Wescott, and Hannah Palsa traveled to the Wamego Historical Society and Museum. The purpose of the visit was to introduce ourselves and the Chapman Center more broadly to newly hired curator, Michele Johnson. We explained that the Chapman Center helps small museums and institutions throughout the state of Kansas by assisting on digitization projects, preserving lost town history, and creating digital history projects to showcase on the Chapman Center’s website. While there, we received a tour lovely from Michele Johnson and one of the volunteer docents named Jessie. The Wamego Historical Society and Museum is situated in the middle of Wamego City Park which offers a beautiful view and breathtaking grounds. In 1973, the museum opened in the old Union Pacific Railroad stone building which was constructed in 1866. In the mid-1990s, the Historical Society created a replica of the first city hall of Wamego which currently houses the Wamego Historical Society and Museum.
Source: The Rural Telegraph

City commission favors 5% contingency to cover unexpected construction costs

Manhattan city commissioners are looking at setting aside funds to cover unexpected costs for construction projects. The commission on Tuesday discussed adding a 5% contingency to all construction contracts to allow more efficiency in project management. The issue centers around change orders, which are amendments to the base contract between the city and an outside construction company. Currently, the city doesn’t have a set policy for how to address change orders, but the city commission typically has approved them if the total project cost exceeds $50,000. However, city engineer Brian Johnson said that process typically takes 4-6 weeks and can cause construction delays. The contingency commissioners discussed would reserve funds to direct toward changes to the construction contract and allow city administrators the flexibility to address changes as they arise in the field. Commissioners generally favored a 5% contingency but won’t vote officially on a policy change until incoming city manager Danielle Dulin can provide input. “I would like to charge Danielle to see if she couldn’t expedite the 4-6-week process because I hear a lot of people say that the city takes enough time as it is, “ said commissioner Karen McCulloh. Commissioner John Matta supported the change as long as the commission continues to receive reports on construction projects. “I’m probably fine with the 5% contingency as long as we have a way to review what’s happening,” said Matta. “As long as the numbers come in, fine. I don’t think there’s a problem.” City staffers will use the commission’s input as they craft a full policy manual resolution, which could take six months or longer to return to commissioners. The engineering department will continue working on drafting a formal change order and present it to commissioners later. Johnson added that the city is facing a significant shortage of engineers, inspectors and project managers, which is impacting project delivery. To address this, the city has hired more consultants, but that is more expensive than having dedicated staff. Evaluating and updating procedures related to change orders is one part of the city administration’s overall project management improvement efforts. The last policy manual resolution passed in 2020.
Source: themercury.com

Peete asks public to ‘let us do our jobs’ following recent incidents

Manhattan is a “safe community,” Riley County Police director Brian Peete said in a town hall addressing concerns about some recent events. Peete on Saturday spoke with members of the community to answer questions about a pair of incidents, including one that occurred Sept. 3 in which a woman said she was attacked near Aggieville as well as reports of a man walking around with firearms strapped to himself. “We want to make sure everyone takes care of each other,” Peete said. “This is a safe community, and I would walk anywhere in this county at any time of day. “With that being said, we fully understand that crime is a very personal issue with folks.” Peete then addressed online rumors, particularly about the Sept. 3 incident near Aggieville in which a K-State student, Kenna Hibbs, sustained severe head injuries. The police have not made arrests in that case and have not confirmed it was an attack. “All we’re asking the community at this time is to let us do our jobs and our conclusions,” he said. Peete also addressed concerns about the two incidents being connected. “These two incidents do not correlate with one another,” he said. Peete said the police can’t do anything about someone carrying weapons in public because that is legal. “We need to respect the right he has to defend himself,” he said. “But also, at the same time, we need to be providing protection for ourselves but not doing things that may lead to him causing an issue in the community that could get people hurt.” He also further emphasized that there is no crime wave currently ongoing in the community. The town hall lasted about an hour, with Peete taking questions for citizens in attendance.
Source: themercury.com

Riley County jail population sees no sign of decreasing soon

The Riley County jail has had high population numbers in recent months, and officials who previously anticipated a decrease in incarcerations now say that hasn’t happened. Jail captain Mark French on Monday told Riley County commissioners there are 124 inmates in the jail. There are 29 female inmates in Riley County custody, but some have gone elsewhere because the jail facility is set up for a maximum of 18 female inmates. “We are not seeing the downturn that we were anticipating,” French said. French said the Washington County jail has taken on some of the incarcerated women in Riley County custody. “The female population, I thought would drop, I honestly did,” French said. “There is no reason for this high of a spike. Nationwide, it’s 10%, and we’re over almost 100% from a couple years ago.” French told commissioners that county jails are not designed to hold inmates for long-term stays, and that on average, inmates are in jail for about four months before release. However, because many of the women in Riley County custody are there for more severe crimes, French said they’re having a longer incarceration rate because of longer court proceedings and fewer plea deals. “The reality is long-term, we’re going to evaluate cost-effectiveness,” French said. “We’re housing so many inmates outside our facility now because the facility is not set up to deal with them.”
Source: themercury.com

Kansas election official says nearly 1,000 primary ballots tossed due to mail processing issues

The Kansas secretary of state said in a letter to the U.S. postmaster general that approximately 1,000 August primary voters in Kansas were disenfranchised because ballots mailed before Election Day in August arrived in county offices more than three days after the deadline or without an essential postmark. Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy there was cause to be “extremely concerned” about “a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots.” He send the same letter to the six members of the Kansas congressional delegation. During the August primary, Schwab said, 18% of Kansans exercised the constitutional right to vote by sending ballots through the mail. Nearly 1,000 of those individuals, or 2% of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas, weren’t counted “due to USPS administrative failures,” he said.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Police officer reads to students, answers questions

Police officers are associated with donuts, but not for the reason audience members might think, School Resource Officer Charles Jefferis told second-graders and their teachers on Friday morning at South Breeze Elementary School The reason is that in the 1930s, donut shops were the only places open all night, so police officers spent more time at night watching donut shops because they were more likely to be robbed. He said the robbers liked to do their work at night, so they picked donut shops. Police officers aren’t associated with donuts because they might like to eat them or gather at the shops. He told the audience this information during a question-and-answer time where the children were allowed to raise their hands and give their inquiries when called upon but were instructed not to tell stories—just to ask questions. This was right after Jefferis read the book “Officer Buckle and Gloria” to them. Questions ranged in depth from “How long does a Taser go?” to “How did you become a police?” to “Do you have any stickers?” The answer to the Taser question was 40 feet, and the answer to the stickers question was, “I might.” (He did.) To become a police officer, Jefferis said he had to apply for the job, which he did when he was in Germany. Another student inquired if he liked being a police officer. “Yes, I do,” Jefferis responded, adding he gets to be a bicycle police officer in the summer.
Source: Harvey County Now

Mission may add first-ever bike-ped study to its comprehensive plan

The city of Mission is envisioning a more connected future. Next week, the Mission City Council will consider amending its comprehensive plan to include Mission Connections, the city’s first-ever citywide bike-pedestrian study that calls for adding or enhancing 15 different routes including the existing Rock Creek Trail. The city developed Mission Connections over the past year with the help of a Mid-America Regional Council Planning Sustainable Places grant. Here’s a look at the Mission Connections plan and the ways the city hopes to connect residents throughout the city and the region.
Source: Johnson County Post

Lenexa joins the hype for the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City

A new group comprised of businesses and organizations in Lenexa hopes to capitalize on the FIFA World Cup coming to Kansas City in 2026. Pitch Lenexa intends to show off Lenexa to tourists during the World Cup with a series of inclusive community events and activities at venues around the city, including Lenexa City Center. Its ultimate plans go beyond that event, said Mark McFarland, organizer of the group. “The goal of the group is to have a big celebration for the World Cup. But that’s just an interim goal,” he said. “Ultimately, the idea is for the group to stay together and help get Lenexa involved intimately with lots of these types of events that come to the Kansas City metropolitan area.” Businesses and organizations involved with the group include Hinkle Law Firm LLC, AdventHealth Lenexa City Center and Quest Diagnostics, among others.
Source: Johnson County Post

Shawnee adding more license plate readers at ‘strategic locations’

Shawnee is adding 11 more license plate readers around the city, courtesy of a federal grant. On Monday, the Shawnee City Council voted 5-1 to approve a nearly $70,000 purchase of License Plate Recognition equipment from the Merriam-based Electronic Technologies Inc. Councilmember Tony Gillette was in dissent. Councilmembers Kurt Knappen and Sierra Whitted were absent. The purchase is the result of an $83,000 federal grant under the COPS Technology and Equipment Program Invitational Solicitation for Fiscal Year 2023, which allows police departments to purchase equipment to assist in responding to and preventing crime, according to city documents. About $11,000 of the grant was previously used to purchase mobile license plate readers, said Capt. Nick Pike of the Shawnee Police Department during the meeting. The automated license plate readers use cameras to rapidly photograph license plates on vehicles going through an intersection. The plate numbers are run through a database and flagged if they are registered as stolen or the vehicle is connected to an alleged crime or public safety concern, like an Amber or Silver Alert. The Shawnee Police Department stores the data on its servers for a limited time. Once the retention period ends, the images are deleted.
Source: Johnson County Post

Municipal Bond Trends for September 10, 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.

Wichita officials looking at options for downtown parking

Wichita City Council members received an update Tuesday on a plan for downtown parking that has generated opposition from citizens and business owners. Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said the plan was developed because the city has struggled with balancing the costs of operations and maintenance with effective parking management. He said a 6,800-space system would need over $1.3 million in annual maintenance expenses, but the current parking fund balance would not be enough to provide ongoing repair and maintenance. Enhancements such as safety, security, cleanliness and beautification would add to the deficit. The City Council delayed implementation of the parking plan to allow for more community input. Anderson said there have been several themes that came out of recent public meetings on the parking plan: Paid parking could discourage downtown retail activity; The existing system is working; Businesses cannot afford to pay for parking; Employees would be penalized by paid parking; and, Maintenance and security for the system needs to be enhanced but not solely through increased rates. Anderson said the city is looking at options for addressing the goals of the parking plan and the needs of the public: Continuation of existing parking agreements, with rate adjustments to meet operating and
maintenance needs; Installation of meters with one hour of free parking and $.75/hour for remaining time; Discounted daily rates for downtown employees; Sponsorships of on street parking spaces; Availability of discounted parking passes (i.e. daily, monthly); and, Funding of ongoing maintenance and operating costs by users and capital improvement projects by the property tax. Anderson said there are two more opportunities for the public to provide input on the parking plan. They are scheduled for September 14th and October 12th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Farm & Art Market. City staff will continue to gather feedback over the next couple of weeks and they will be back to the City Council in the next 30 to 60 days with a review and recommendations for any proposed changes to the parking plan. Council members Brandon Johnson and Becky Tuttle said it will be important for the city to move ahead with a management plan for a modernized parking system, with the growth and investment going on in the downtown area.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

After a cryptocurrency mine failed in McLouth, Douglas County considers how to regulate high-tech developments like it

These types of operations — and similar large-scale projects, such as data centers and battery systems used by wind and solar farms — are becoming more and more common in rural parts of the U.S. And unincorporated Douglas County has been seeing some interest from them. The county has already received inquiries from companies interested in possibly locating energy storage facilities here, and county leaders want to figure out how these projects fit into the county’s zoning rules.
Source: LJWorld

Lawrence City Commissioner will no longer attend general public comment in person, citing ‘dangerous’ and ‘disruptive’ behaviors

Lawrence City Commissioner Amber Sellers, for at least the last two commission meetings, has not been physically present for general public comment. … Sellers said that she would listen to public comment from an alternative location.
Source: LJWorld

‘Incredible … son, brother and friend’: Fundraiser for Kansas lineman killed in workplace accident

A fundraiser has been set up to help the family of a 20-year-old Wellington lineman who died Wednesday in a workplace accident. Wilson Price started with the city’s electric distribution department as an apprentice linemen in January 2024. He quickly became a valued team member, according to a news release sent out by the city on Friday. “His coworkers admired his incredible attitude and the joy he brought to every job site, a testament to his positive impact on the department,” the release says. City manager Jeff Porter said that Price “came to work every day with enthusiasm, curiosity, and pride; the immeasurable grief of his loss is shared by his family, friends, and colleagues.” Price died instantly after coming in contact with an energized piece of equipment at the city’s power plant substation, the GoFundMe says. He was part of a crew doing maintenance on wildlife guarding equipment when the accident happened around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday. “Wilson was loved and cherished by many, and he was called home what feels like far too soon,” the GoFundMe says. “He was an incredible, son, brother and friend to everyone. There will forever be a hole in all our hearts, as it was a privilege to know, love, and be loved by Wilson.” The fundraiser can be found at shorturl.at/RaIG7.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

How could Wichita change unpopular paid parking plan? City staff report offers hints

Wichita city staff is looking at options after a plan to charge for public parking at all 6,800 spots downtown sparked outrage from residents and business owners. The City Council isn’t expected to take any binding action when it meets Tuesday. And formal staff recommendations will be presented in 30 to 60 days. But a staff report for Tuesday’s meeting teases several potential changes aimed at making the plan more palatable to downtown commuters. Installation of meters with one hour of free parking and $.75/hour for remaining time (the original plan states that all meter rates should be between $.75 and $2 per hour), Discounted daily rates for downtown employees, Sponsorships of on street parking spaces (likely by businesses), Availability of discounted parking passes (daily, monthly), Continuation of existing parking agreements, with rate adjustments to meet operating and maintenance needs (this could preserve free parking in Old Town, where businesses pay an annual maintenance fee for upkeep on their storefront parking stalls) Funding of ongoing maintenance and operating costs by users (pay to park) and capital improvement projects through property tax revenue.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

New Council member hopes to change views of community involvement

Benedikt Middleton wants to change how people view community involvement. “I think there is this idea that to be a member of the city council, you have to be of a certain position in the community,” said Middleton. “I know, growing up, that was the way I felt.” As the newly appointed Iola City Council member to Ward 4, Middleton hopes to see a change in this outlook. Being semi-retired, Middleton worked for 32 years with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) as an engineering technician specialist. He now does remote consulting work for an engineering firm based in Arkansas. Middleton was appointed to the vacant Ward 4 seat at the July 8 council meeting. The seat had previously been held by Mark Peters who resigned in late April.
In his new role, Middleton hopes to serve as the “ears and voice” of the ward. “I think I should have ‘ears’ to listen to those in my ward, and then ‘voice’ what I hear,” he said.
Source: The Iola Register

Garden Plain gets federal grant for new aquatics facility

The City of Garden Plain will be getting a federal grant to help build a new municipal pool and aquatics facility. The grant is for over $1.6 million from the National Parks Service, administered through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The city plans to build an aquatics center that includes a zero-entry pool with a shallow play area, lap swim lanes, a bathhouse and concession building, and features such as a diving board, basketball goal, a slide, shade structures, inflatables and a splash pad area. The total estimated cost of the facility will be $3.27 million, so the grant funds will cover about half the cost of construction. Garden Plain Mayor Kevin Hammond said in a press release that the city will move as quickly as possible through the design and construction process. The project will go out for bids and it’s expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete. The aquatics facility will be located at the north end of City Park, east of the pickleball courts. The playground equipment currently located in the project area will be moved to another area of the park. The city also plans to pave the current parking areas and possibly expand them to allow for more visitors.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Wichita holding steady in water usage with drought restrictions

Wichita mayor Lily Wu reported a slight increase in water usage over the past week, but she said usage has been mostly steady and there has been an overall drop in water usage as the city goes into its second month of outdoor watering restrictions. The city went into Stage Two of its drought response plan on August 5th, and outdoor watering is limited to one day a week. The city is divided into four quadrants and watering is only for a specific day for each quadrant, with no watering on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Mayor said the city has sent 242 warning letters so far to homes and businesses that have not followed the restrictions. She emphasized that the goal is education and the importance of working together to save water. The Cheney Reservoir is at 67.2 percent of its conservation pool for the 12-month moving average, and it is now 59.7 percent full. Mayor Wu said recent rainfall did not provide much relief. The city continues to offer a rebate program on water-saving appliances, such as rain barrels. As of August 30th, more than $50,000 was still available in the program. The city has approved rebates for 343 devices, totaling more than $24,000. More information on the rebates and on water-saving practices is available at the city’s web site savewichitawater.com.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

City to consider altering process of approving change orders

Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday will discuss how much oversight they want to have of change orders to construction contracts. The city currently doesn’t have standardized procedures regarding who approves change orders and how, though city officials typically have asked the commission to do it if the total project costs exceeds $50,000 or if the commission originally approved the contract. However, officials said in meeting documents that the process of getting a change order in front of the commission is time-consuming, particularly with the high volume of change orders the city receives.
Source: 1350 KMAN

County hoping to solidify nuisance regulations

Karen Rothe, the director of the Harvey County Planning, Zoning and Environment department, currently deals with nuisance properties in the rural county areas. Rothe said right now, the rules around nuisance violations aren’t clear and she would like more weight behind the notices she does send. “I’d like something that would give me a little more leverage and would be more definitive on what a nuisance is,” Rothe said. “It’s not as clear as I would like it to be.” Right now Rothe said the main things the county considers a nuisance are broken down vehicles, things in a floodplain that aren’t secure, or things that could be a fire hazard. “What we’re looking at is safety,” Rothe said. Other examples she gave were leaking gas cans or old tires that could gather water and attract mosquitoes.
Source: Harvey County Now

KCK mayor says BPU costs residents too much. Are bills more than elsewhere in the metro?

Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner has pointed to concern over monthly bills as a reason to take a critical look at the Board of Public Utilities, saying some in the community perceive that the publicly owned asset is more of a “burden” than a “benefit.” Unlike most in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Kansas City, Kansans, get both electricity and water services through a century-old publicly owned utility founded in 1909. The BPU, a nonprofit governed by a six-member elected board, has shrunk its workforce, by far its largest operating cost, over the past several years. Elected BPU board members have the authority to set electric and water rates to align with the needs to run the service. The most recent rate increases, scheduled to take effect through 2025, came last year despite some resident concerns raised over the cost of utility bills and criticisms of its service.
Source: KC Star Local News

Why does Lenexa have a spinach festival? You can thank Popeye and a stroke of luck

The Johnson County city goes all-out for its annual Spinach Festival at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park each year. The festival’s spinach-themed food offerings, rock-skipping contest, baby crawling contest, live music, crafts and more have attracted thousands of visitors during the event’s 40-year history. But many Lenexa residents are unaware that the celebration’s roots stretch back 90 years, to Johnson County’s great spinach boom of the 1930s. For a few years, Lenexa was known as the Spinach Capital of the World. It’s hard to imagine today, with most of its land dedicated to urban developments.
Source: KC Star Local News

As Rosedale Arch turns 100, its admirers celebrate Kansas City, Kansas, history with a party

The arch was built to honor Rosedale soldiers who fought in World War I. After the monument fell into disrepair, the community has spent decades restoring it. Now, neighbors are throwing the arch a birthday party to celebrate. The Rosedale Memorial Arch in Kansas City, Kansas, turns 100 years old on Saturday. The arch, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was completed in 1924 to honor the U.S. Army’s 42nd Infantry Division in World War I. “The original dedication ceremony was Sept. 7, 1924, and it was a very large event for Rosedale, which had just newly become part of Kansas City, Kansas,” says Sarah Oltvedt, events director with the Rosedale Development Association. The arch has since become an important community landmark that reminds residents of Rosedale’s history, she says. The unit it honors became known as the “Rainbow Division” because its members came from 26 different states. Of those service members, 375 men came from the Kansas City, Kansas, area. In June 1917, Lt. Col. Frank L. Travis assembled the soldiers on top of Mount Marty in Rosedale, where the arch now stands near the University Of Kansas Medical Center. Source: KCUR News

Dog attack prompts change in animal law

Parsons city commissioners on Tuesday approved changes to the city’s ordinance related to animals, including dogs. The change was sparked in part by a Parsons resident who complained early in August about a stray dog attacking and killing his smaller dog just feet from his front door. The ordinance requires a dog that’s bitten a person to be impounded and get a microchip implanted in it at the owner’s expense. The same treatment goes for any animal that attacks or wounds another domestic animal, but this is at the discretion of the animal control officer or police officer handling the call. The microchip requirement applies to any animal running at large at the time of a bite or attack. There is also an observation period until an owner can provide proof of vaccination. The ordinance requires animal owners to pay vet fees. “Failure to pay all vet fees and recover the animal by its owner within the three business days shall allow the animal to become the property of the city and it may be adopted, transferred to a duly incorporated humane society, or humanly euthanized. All impoundment costs shall be the responsibility of the dog owner and may be assessed as restitution in any criminal case involving said dog or collected by a civil lawsuit,” the ordinance reads. The ordinance makes it unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit it to run at large in the city at any time. An animal is at large when it is not inside a home, secure fence or pen, on a leash held by a person capable of controlling the animal or tethered to prevent it from getting into public rights of way or another’s property. If an at-large animal bites a person, the owner will have to pay a minimum fine of $500 in addition to other penalties allowed in the ordinance. If an at-large animal attacks or wounds another domestic animal, the owner will pay a minimum fine of $400 in addition to other applicable penalties.
Source: Parsons Sun

Commission asks planners to consider variance for RV living

A suggested zoning change that would allow citizens to live in qualifying RVs by seeking a variance will return to the Parsons Planning Commission as early as October. Planners in August were to consider a zoning change that would allow people to live in RVs stored on private property. However, planners voted to keep the zoning regulation that allows proper storage of RVs on private property but restricts citizens from living in these RVs. Their decision returned to the Parsons City Commission Tuesday to accept or deny the recommendation, send it back for study or suggest something different. Parsons city commissioners on Tuesday, after a lengthy discussion, voted to return the RV issue to the planners with a recommendation to consider implementing a variance option with restrictions on what RVs would qualify and how utility hookups and other matters would be handled.
Source: Parsons Sun

Gov. Kelly announces second round of water local consult meetings

Governor Laura Kelly announced the dates for the second round of local consult meetings to gather input on strategies for implementing the 2022 Kansas Water Plan. The September meetings will build on the first round of local consult and Regional Advisory Committee meetings held earlier this summer. Kansans can RSVP for the second round of meetings here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WaterLC2 “Preserving the quality and quantity of our water is an existential issue for our state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These meetings will help build a program that provides the collective, coordinated action on water conservation and quality that communities across Kansas need, in both the short and long term.”
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Clay County aims to improve agricultural mental health

A new program in Clay County aims to lower the suicide rates among farmers. The Clay Counts Coalition is focused on preventing and treating substance abuse and mental illness in an area lacking resources. The effort starts with connecting farmers to their communities. “We know that our entire community, but particularly our farmers, are two times more likely to end their lives in suicide and struggle with mental health issues,” said Lori Martin, Clay Counts Coalition community mobilizer. Agriculture workers are sometimes overlooked in conversations about mental health. “Data shows that a lot of times, the ag community deals with it, but they deal with it without talking about it just because it’s kind of a taboo topic,” said Matt Weller, Clay Counts Coalition communications coordinator. The Clay Counts Coalition is working to educate and ease the stigma with the farmer-to-farmer project by educating people on signs of mental health issues. “We took 15 people who are on the front lines in dealing with our farmers in our community. We spent an entire day working together on learning and strategizing how we can take this national research and personalize it so it fits with Clay County,” Martin said. Also, they work to host community events, like hatchet therapy, where they talk about frustrations. “It allows them to have that sense of community and sense of sharing,” Martin said. The Clay Counts Coalition is still in the beginning stages of its farmer-to-farmer project. The coalition hopes to use grant funding to continue building resources and education in Clay County.
Source: KSN-TV

Municipal Bond Trends for September 6, 2024

Johnson County dedicates time capsule in county square

When crews were demolishing the old 1952 courthouse three years ago, they discovered a time capsule forgotten in time. This week, Johnson County officials past and present gathered to dedicate a new time capsule in downtown Olathe, one that gives a glimpse of life in the community today. Eventually, the box and its contents will be enclosed in the History Plaza in Johnson County Square near the fountain. Johnson County officials expect to open the time capsule in 50 years.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Great Bend redefines qualifications of administrator positions

On Tuesday, the Great Bend City Council approved an ordinance amending the qualifications and duties of the two administrator positions. City Attorney Allen Glendenning said the changes include clearing up the need for appointed officials to live within city limits. “The charter ordinance about appointing officers says that elected officers have to be within the city limits,” said Glendenning.
Source: Great Bend Post

Valley Center matches Park City’s offer

If Park City can offer the school district free land for its new elementary school, so can Valley Center. The Valley Center City Council on Sept. 3 approved a proposal to give the Valley Center school district 18 acres of land and infrastructure, a potentially $2 million offer, for the district’s new school.
Source: AV News

Municipal Bond Trends for September 5, 2024

What you can do for your city

In a call-back to JFK, Neighbor Advisory Committee (NAC) member Bob Gilmore pointed out the negativity he sees in certain residents. He said all they do is complain, but never step up and do anything; that they want the city to solve all their problems. “We need to stop asking what the city can do for us,” Gilmore said, “but what we can do to help our city.” Homelessness and petty theft top the list of grievances. Gilmore suggested each neighborhood begin standing up their own neighborhood watch to report unusual activity to the police. A neighborhood watch can patrol the parks and public spaces and generally keep an eye on things. “The cops can’t patrol every block every minute,” Gilmore said. Another suggestion was to reconstitute the reserve police force. In years past, the department could call upon reserve officers to bolster the ranks of the full-time officers, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Gilmore wasn’t sure why the program had gone silent, whether it was from lack of interest, liability issues, or both. The idea of neighborhood residents watching out for and helping each other is a primary reason the NAC was created. It is why the NAC has been so focused on creating the neighborhood map, so people knew which neighborhood they lived in and could begin to build a sense of community and pride with those neighbors. The other members agreed. There is only so much the city can do. The citizens must step up and pick up the slack. City officials advising the NAC have agreed to set up meetings with law enforcement to discuss the viability of these suggestions and how to possibly implement them.
Source: Morning Sun

The Kansas State Fair opens Friday and will be a more digital experience this year

The Kansas State Fair will open today in Hutchinson with several new high-tech features that will try to pull the down-home event into the digital age. Though the fair, which runs through Sept. 15, has had an app in the past, the newest iteration has lots of bells and whistles that will help people find exactly what they want while on the grounds, Schulz said. The app includes lots of “wayfinding” information as well as details on where to get certain foods. If, for example, fairgoers are craving funnel cakes, they just type the words “funnel cake” into the app and it will provide a list — with maps — of every vendor selling funnel cakes. The app also includes a searchable daily schedule, the concert lineup at the Grandstand, a guide to free entertainment, and a “shopping finder.” Visitors also can buy tickets on the app, share fair photos and get answers to frequently asked questions, such as “What are the top foods at the fair?” (Pronto Pups, deep-fried Oreos, Pizza Box Nachos, chicken salad cucumbers) and “When does the Midway open?” (At different times nearly every day.)
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Lineman working for Wellington died after ‘contact with an energized piece of equipment’

A city of Wellington employee was killed after “coming into contact with an energized piece of equipment,” according to a city news release. It happened around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday at the city’s power plant. The electric distribution “lineman was part of a crew performing maintenance on wildlife guarding equipment,” the news release says. “Fire & EMS personnel transported the lineman to the local emergency room. Two other linemen at the work site were uninjured.” City manager Jeff Porter said they are not releasing “additional information about the employee or circumstances at this time.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Olathe advances massive development with warehouses, apartments, duplexes on 247 acres

The Olathe City Council has approved tax incentives for a massive industrial and residential development off of US 169 Highway. The council recently voted 7-0 to rezone 247 acres of rural land, northeast of 167th Street and 169 Highway. The developer, Blue Springs Safety Storage South, is looking to build 13 warehouses, apartments, townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes. This week, the council voted 6-0 approving $252 million in industrial revenue bonds for the construction of the warehouses as part of a new business park, on 139 acres of the larger project, on the east side of 169 Highway between 159th and 167th streets. The industrial revenue bonds will allow the warehouse portion of the development to secure a 50% property tax abatement phased in for 10 years. The developer has not yet named any companies that plan to occupy the warehouses. But officials estimate the project would create more than 200 jobs in the first year, and more than 1,000 jobs within 10 years. Worker salaries are estimated to average $44,000 in the first year, and $57,400 after a decade.
Source: Joco 913 News

‘She walked where only men had’: Johnson County mourns longtime leader Annabeth Surbaugh

A citizen activist, Surbaugh started pushing leaders to do something, regularly showing up to meetings of the then-rural water board. Deciding she would need to sit on the board to enact the changes she wanted to see, Surbaugh joined in 1988, becoming its first female member. It was the start of a long career of firsts. She led the merger of the rural district with the county’s much larger public water utility. She later became the first woman to serve as chair of the WaterOne board. In 1992, she won a seat on the Johnson County Commission, and years later became the first countywide elected chair. Surbaugh, credited with helping shape Johnson County as it is today, died last week at the age of 79. “She was best known for being the first woman in places where women had not been before,” Johnson County Commissioner Becky Fast said. “She had gone before me and created a place for me, so I could be here today. She walked where only men had previously been allowed. And she left footprints for me to follow and for other women to follow. To me, that was the greatest gift.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Wyandotte County approves $1 million plan to treat tuberculosis outbreak, prevent spread

As diagnosed tuberculosis cases in Wyandotte County this year have eclipsed those seen across all of Kansas in 2023, local public health officials are putting forward a roughly $1 million plan to deal with the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease. Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, commissioners on Wednesday evening greenlit a months-long health department program that will use leftover federal COVID-19 pandemic relief money to stem the rising number of cases. Under the plan, public health officials plan to work with schools and employers to advise precautionary measures. Another component would involve routine, one-on-one interactions between public health officials and tuberculosis patients to ensure medication is taken as needed.
Source: KC Star Local News

‘Burden’ or ‘benefit’? KCK Mayor Garner floats selling the BPU to address cost concerns

Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner is calling on city leaders to join him in taking a critical look at Wyandotte County’s publicly owned utility — suggesting the local government should consider selling its nonprofit electric and water provider. Citing concerns over the cost of utility bills, the mayor says he’s heard from some Wyandotte County residents who think owning the Board of Public Utilities is “a burden” and “should be more of a benefit” than it is. “I think it’s time that we take a hard look at that,” the mayor told The Star by phone Friday, “to see what the options are that are out there.” Reasons for such an evaluation, the mayor said, align with his broader goal of finding ways to cut costs for Wyandotte County residents. The mayor plans to host a more detailed public presentation on the matter in City Hall next week, and is advocating for staff to study what selling the utility could look like.
Source: Kansas City Breaking News & Sports | The Kansas City Star

Pig verdict rendered, appeal could be in the works

Ginger the pig must be out of Newton within 30 days, pending an appeal. Judge Kelly Schodorf rendered the verdict after a trial of an hour and 20 minutes. “Ms. Grigoreava shall become compliant with the city code within 30 days of the order,” Schodorf said. “If the defendant remains uncompliant to the city code, the animal shall be confiscated and ownership transferred to the City of Newton.” The trial involved the city attempting to convince the court that Jessica D. Grigoreava harbored a pig. City ordinances do not allow residents to have pigs.For evidence, the city presented four body camera videos, as well as eyewitness testimony from Animal Control Officer Lyndsey Robinette and neighbor Brenda Upsinger. Towle played multiple recorded calls between Grigoreava and Robinette. In the calls, Grigoreava acknowledged having a pig. The calls included a discussion between Robinette and Grigoreava about finding a place to keep the pig. Girgoreava in one call said she had asked if pigs were allowed in the city years prior and was told by an officer that they were. She said she found out after they had Ginger that it wasn’t allowed.
Source: Harvey County Now