Kansas Municipal News
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
City leaders take action to address Topeka’s housing shortage
The council unanimously approved a deal with local developer, Gen III construction, on a new housing subdivision in north Topeka. They established a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) as part of a state-sanctioned program. Gen III will cover the costs to develop 15 houses up front. The city will reimburse them up to $385,000 on the back end using the increase in property taxes generated from the project. Prices for the houses in the subdivision will range from $260,000 to $325,000. RHIDs require city and state approval. In short, they help local governments address housing needs. Capital city leaders approved another RHID for low-income apartments back in August.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City to consider protecting renters from income source discrimination
Manhattan residents may soon be protected from discrimination based on their source of income. City commissioners on Tuesday will discuss expanding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance to bar landlords, property owners and real estate brokers from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who want to pay with legal income other than job wages. That means tenants would be able to pay for housing using vouchers, disability payments, rent relief programs and other sources of income. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, source-of-income discrimination disproportionately affects people of color, people with disabilities, elderly people and women. Lawrence and Kansas City, Missouri, recently have added source-of-income protections to their city codes.
Source: themercury.com
Municipal Bond Trends for October 18, 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.
Three Kansas hospitals try rural emergency status
Kansas has more rural hospitals at immediate risk of closure than any other state in the nation, with 31 of Kansas’s 98 rural inpatient hospitals at risk. Since 2010, eight Kansas hospitals have closed, leaving patients with less access to health care in their communities. The added barriers can add more difficulty on a population that already experiences health disparities compared to urban and suburban populations.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for October 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.