Kansas Municipal News
USD 383 releases a new guideline for students for using AI
The Manhattan-Ogden school board discussed AI policies at its meeting Wednesday. The three-page document directs students to keep use of generated content appropriate for school, to check for information accuracy, and to consider privacy concerns and content copyright. The guide also advises students not to depend on AI generated content for assignments but to use it as a resource when it is appropriate.
Source: 1350 KMAN
USD 323 puts recreation district on November ballot
The Rock Creek Board of Education Monday night discussed a question that will be placed on the November ballot regarding the creation of a recreation department that would serve the Rock Creek area.
Source: 1350 KMAN
City split on giving tax breaks for downtown retail, residential project
Manhattan city commissioners are split on allowing a developer to use more than $2 million in tax breaks and assistance to turn the downtown Commerce Bank building into retail and residential space. Officials from Hutton Development on Tuesday requested a 10-year property tax abatement, a sales tax exemption on construction materials and for the city to pay for half the cost of improvements to Poyntz Avenue as they seek to buy the building at 727 Poyntz Ave., tear it down and construct a new one with retail space on the ground floor and residential space above. Commissioners John Matta and Jayme Minton favored fulfilling the request, while commissioners Peter Oppelt and Karen McCulloh had concerns about it.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Kansas TIF district audit reveals delayed returns, higher crime rates
Some of Kansas’ largest cities are struggling to gain full returns on tax increment financing districts meant to help bolster development activity and property values, a recent state audit found. TIF districts, as they are called, are intended to fund real estate projects that otherwise wouldn’t exist. The idea is that the development will increase property values in the designated district, resulting in higher property tax collections that are used to pay off the bonds that financed the project. State auditors surveyed six TIF districts from Kansas’ largest cities and found that half did not recover their costs in a timely manner. Most experienced construction delays and recorded increased crime rates after development finished. At least one city calculated its TIF collection incorrectly. Auditors presented their findings to legislators at an Oct. 7 committee hearing. Most of the districts surveyed saw benefits, but whether those benefits were worth the investment is subjective, the audit found.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Tensions flare as commissioners consider unified approach to economic development
In a marathon session Wednesday, the Emporia City Commission grappled with the complex task of reimagining the city’s economic development strategy. The meeting centered on implementing recommendations from a recent VisionFirst Advisors report, particularly the creation of an umbrella organization to oversee various economic development entities. The plan, presented by VisionFirst President and CEO Gray Swoope in September, recommends consolidating several key organizations under a single umbrella structure. This would include the Regional Development Association, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, and Visit Emporia.
Source: Emporia Gazette
City commission approves agreements with Freeman for ER, hospital
Freeman Health Systems plans to bring health care services to Fort Scott and Bourbon County moved a step forward after action Tuesday night by the Fort Scott City Commission.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
Ortiz delivers State of City address
Manny Ortiz, Garden City Mayor, and Matt Allen, City Manager of Garden City, answered that question during the annual State of the City address at the Oct. 16 Chamber Breakfast hosted by the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce at the Clarion Inn. Ortiz said the focus on key priorities have shaped Garden City’s growth in 2024. The priorities include developing strong relationships with community and beyond, updating and maintaining public infrastructure and facilities, encouraging private development and creating new public spaces to improve the quality of life. “These goals have driven every position, every project and every initiative we’ve taken on in the past few years,” he said. Infrastructure projects were a big part of 2024, Ortiz said. Road projects are a critical aspect of the city’s infrastructure, he said. This year the city completed mill and overlay projects on Fulton Street and Mary Street. “These improvements are part of a broader street inventory and evaluation project that has provided us with an eight-year maintenance plan to guide future efforts,” he said.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Grant funding parking, music, and beautification for Sedgwick
Sedgwick’s downtown will be getting an upgrade, thanks to a major state grant it recently received. The Kansas Department of Transportation announced this week that it awarded Sedgwick a $215,384.80 Transportation Alternative Grant. The award was part of $31.5 million in grants given out statewide, aimed at helping to make Kansas communities safer, more walkable, and bike-friendly. The program requires a 20 percent local match for the project cost. Sedgwick’s grant, for starters, would improve the block on Commercial Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets.
Source: Harvey County Now
Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick counties declared a drought emergency
Harvey County was declared as a drought emergency with Sedgwick and Reno counties under a recent proclamation made by Governor Laura Kelly. “Drought conditions have persisted across the state through the summer season, and Kansans are continuing to see the effects,” Kelly said. “With conditions expected to remain dry throughout the fall, Kansans should consider their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.” Parts of Harvey County, have been susceptible to wildfires in the past, especially the Sand Hills area near Burrton. In November of 2020, 5,000 acres burned near Burrton. In March 2022, 820 acres burned as part of a larger fire in Reno County that claimed 12,000 acres. Another fire in 2016 burned 1,200 acres northwest of Burrton. One in 2006 burned 8,800 acres. The release stated the declaration was recommended by Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. “Although recent rainfall provided widespread drought relief, this relief was short-term, with many areas experiencing below-average rainfall for several months,” the release stated. “Forecasts indicate that drought will persist and expand across most of the state through October and into the winter.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Stump design chosen as North Newton flag winner
Blayne Stump of North Newton is the winner of the North Newton city flag contest with his sunflower design. The five finalists and winner were announced during the regular Monday night meeting of the North Newton City Council. Representatives from Conrade Insurance were there to hand Stump a $500 check. “Pretty crazy,” Stump said about winning. “I didn’t expect to win. I was excited to make a submission. I spent a lot of time making different designs.” The other four finalists were Byron Ediger, Elise McGinnis, Glen Ediger and Oscar Gonzalez. “I had a lot of fun designing this,” Stump said. “I spent a lot of time drawing out different designs on sticky notes and scratch paper. Finally, I enlisted the help of Oscar Gonzalez to digitalize my ideas and try out different color palletes. I am grateful for his help and to contribute an idea for the community. I only hope that all residents of North Newton can enjoy this flag and be proud as I am to live in such a beautiful community.” In making his design, Stump was inspired by the State of Kansas and the historical development of the prairie.
Source: Harvey County Now
Opposition to sales tax hike noted at public hearing
Local business owners expressed their opposition to increasing the county’s current sales tax rate during a special Jackson County Commission meeting last week. At the revenue neutral rate hearing for the county budget in August, some taxpayers asked about the possibility of increasing the sales tax in the county to offset a mill rate increase. About 50 people attended a special evening meeting on Sept. 30 to share their input on increasing the current sales tax in the county. The meeting lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Jackson County currently has a 1.4 percent sales tax rate, which includes a special .4 percent sales tax for road and bridge improvements and for each of the county’s cities. The state of Kansas has a 6.5 percent sales tax rate. In addition to county and state sales tax, the city of Holton has a .75 percent sales tax and the city of Mayetta has a 1.5 percent sales tax rate.
Source: Holton Recorder
Olathe OKs $350M in incentives for latest phase of Coca-Cola bottling plant
Olathe has signed off on $350 million in incentives for the next phase of the Heartland Coca-Cola bottling plant campus on the city’s southern edge. Earlier this week, the Olathe City Council unanimously voted to issue the industrial revenue bonds, which are also tied to a 10-year, 55% property tax abatement, to the development near 167th Street and Hedge Lane.
Source: Johnson County Post
Olathe paves way for bigger animal shelter to replace ‘woefully outdated’ one
Olathe has picked a home for its replacement animal shelter and animal control facility. On Tuesday, the Olathe City Council took two votes to start the process of acquiring property near Santa Fe Street and Ridgeview Road. Both actions passed 8-1, with Councilmember Kevin Gilmore in dissent. He did not publicly explain his “no” votes.
Source: Johnson County Post
Hays, Russell sue Edwards County over efforts to block water transfer project
Two western Kansas towns are accusing a neighboring county of interfering with their efforts to pipe in water for their residents to battle frequent drought and contamination. The cities of Hays and Russell last week filed a lawsuit against Edwards County over zoning regulations they argue target their plan to draw groundwater from the R9 Ranch in Edwards County to supplement their municipal water supplies. Hays and Russell’s lawsuit says their current supplies are “highly susceptible to drought and contamination” and calls their plan to pipe water from the ranch one of “existential importance.” According to the lawsuit, Edwards County has opposed the R9 Ranch project from the outset.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Edwardsville needs new city buildings. Why officials say added tax won’t burden residents
About 10 years ago, the city of Edwardsville bought its police station for $1. Meant as a temporary solution, the station has seen investments over the years well beyond that face value. Now, the building — more accurately a series of trailers bolted together, standing on cinder blocks about 200 feet from City Hall — is one of three major pieces of public infrastructure that Edwardsville officials hope to rebuild. And they’re asking residents to establish a 1% local sales tax to pay for it. “It’s not an initiative of want. The bottom line here is that the conditions within these facilities are deplorable. They’re intolerable to our employees, and at some point we have to do something,” Edwardsville City Manager Mark Mathies said.
Source: KC Star Local News
Emerald Ash borer continues to spread in Kansas
The emerald ash borer continues to spread in Kansas. The pest, which has already killed hundreds of millions of Ash trees across the U.S. and Canada, has now spread to 15 Kansas counties. The latest sighting was confirmed this week in Nemaha County by the Kansas Forest Service, working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension Office. The emerald ash borer had been suspected to be in the county for some time. However, according to Kansas State, this is the first time a live insect was found to definitely confirm it. This is the second county with a confirmed sighting this year. The insect was discovered earlier this year in Lyon County.
Source: KSN-TV
McPherson’s Pfizer plant lays off 80 people
The Pfizer plant in McPherson laid off 80 people, KSN News confirmed on Thursday. Those impacted included professional/salaried employees, and production was not impacted. Tucky Allen, Kansas WorkforceONE, says there will be a meeting next week for those impacted. The statement explains the layoffs are based on projected product demands. They are being carried out as Pfizer makes operations more efficient at the McPherson plant. The McPherson plant manufactures sterile injectable medicines used in hospitals worldwide. The company employs around 1,800 people.
Source: KSN-TV
How these Kansas towns got their unique names
In terms of size, Kansas is 81,823 sq miles, larger than 37 other states, including most of its neighbors, with the exception of Colorado. Data from the Census Bureau shows there are 671 incorporated and unincorporated communities in Kansas where people live. Many of these communities have names associated with their founders or historical figures, such as Ulysses or Lincoln. Others have names of Native American or even French origin, like Kiowa or La Cygne. Still others are named after other towns and cities where their pioneer founders were originally from. Below is a list of some Kansas communities with some interesting or unexpected name origins. Please note that this list does not include any of the numerous ghost towns that exist across Kansas, although many of them, like the Butler County town of Bois d’Arc, also have unique names and interesting stories behind them.
Source: KSN-TV
Cities in Kansas competing for Tank of the Year
Eleven cities in Kansas are competing for the 2024 Tank of the Year. Tnemec Co. Inc., a commercial and industrial paint company, is hosting the competition with participating cities in the USA and Canada. A two-week voting window for the People’s Choice of water tank is currently open. The public vote will close on Oct. 18, and the Tank of the Year announcement is planned for Oct. 25. Last year’s winner was featured in Tnemec’s 2024 water tank calendar. A Tnemec committee of water tank enthusiasts will select the other 11 finalists.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka receives $4 million grant to improve lead safety of local homes
The City of Topeka is celebrating after being awarded a $4 million grant to improve child safety and housing health. City of Topeka spokesman Dan Garrett announced in a press release that a $4 million Lead Hazard Reduction Grant will be distributed to the city’s Housing Services Division over the course of four years. The start date for the distribution will be Nov. 15, 2024 with the end date being Nov. 15, 2024. Garrett said the cash will be used to grow the city’s rehabilitation programs to address and mitigate lead hazards. The end goal is to make an estimated 180 homes lead-safe for families.
Source: KSNT 27 News