Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for October 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.
Garden City approves plan for opioid litigation settlement funds
The Garden City Commission approved a strategic plan for the expenditure of the city’s Opioid Settlement funds. Courtney Prewitt, Garden City Police Chief, said the city is set to receive a total of about $290,000 over the next 14 years as part of their participating in the state’s litigation settlements with “major pharmaceutical companies, distributors and related entities as part of the state’s efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the opioid crisis.”
Source: GC Telegram/
Applications are open for Second Round of Funding to Improve Digital Skills for Kansans (Due: November 18)
A total of $1.95 million in funds will be available to enhance the digital skills of Kansans…. The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) encourages local governments, community organizations, educational institutions, and other organizations to continue collaborating on enriching Kansas communities through digital advancements. … To learn more about the entities eligible to apply, click here.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Municipal Bond Trends for October 15, 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.
Harvey County considers changes to road impact fees
Harvey County Commissioners looked at making changes to the road impact fees that only some residents are required to pay. Initially set up in 2000, road impact fees are designed to help the townships with road improvement costs. When a resident or business moves to an area where the roads need improvements, they are charged a road improvement fee.
Source: Harvey County Now
Bentley officers undergo drone training
Bentley Police Chief J.T. Bryan, Deputy Chief Scott Harris and Officer Jeff Lappin all attended Drone Assessment and Response Tactics training from Sept. 24 to 26. The trio was also joined by an officer from Mount Hope and one from Colwich … “We have already had drone complaints in Bentley,” Bryan said. “It’s obvious the ownership and use of drones continues to rapidly increase.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Merriam wants to move to single citywide trash hauler
The city of Merriam is moving its single trash hauler process forward. On Monday, the Merriam City Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution of intent to organize a single waste hauler for residential services. The vote was in line with new state statutes governing the process, which Merriam may be the first city to use specifically for waste haulers.
Source: Johnson County Post
Despite leaner times, Wichita stays the course on libraries
Wichita is cutting back to ready for a budget shortfall in the coming years. … But the Wichita Public Library stands apart. It’s a sign that, after a period in which libraries were labeled as obsolete, there’s growing agreement that they play a vital role in the community.
Source: KLC Journal
Rural hospital leaders ask for sales tax support on upcoming ballots
The CEOs of both Logan and Gove County hospitals said the cost of doing business has exploded, while patient hospital bills, owed to the hospitals, still go unpaid, leading to debt. They said education is what they hope will get them a yes vote on this year’s sales tax questions. Gove County Medical Center is asking for a renewal of a one-cent sales tax, which has existed since 2015. … Logan County Health Services CEO Aimee Zimmerman said the company wants to add a half-cent sales tax to the existing half-cent …
Source: KSN-TV
Mildred folks share concerns
The small but mighty community of Mildred remains positive about its prospects, Marcia Davis told Allen County Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday morning. “They like that it is quiet, that everybody helps each other, and they love their store,” was the upshot of an Oct. 1 Community Conversation, said Davis, who serves as Thrive Allen County’s Director of Community Engagement. The downside of being a population of 12, is that they lack funding for community goals, they admitted. And with the exodus of residents comes a lack of adequate housing.
Source: The Iola Register
Cato celebrates its history
The oldest town in Crawford County is gearing up for two events next week. The first is Cato Kids’ Day … to see presentations on life in the 1800s, and Cato history. The presentations will include the one-room school house, covered wagons, blacksmithing, 1800’s weaponry, cowboys, native Americans, drovers, and the Gettysburg Address.
Source: Morning Sun
‘Trade Pull’ shows Pittsburg’s growing strength
One of the ways commonly used to determine the strength of a local economy is to calculate a statistic called the “trade pull factor.” … As the largest city in Southeast Kansas, Pittsburg could expect to have a PF greater than 1; however, prior to the construction of the Town Center development, Pittsburg had a trade pull factor of less than 1, probably due to the proximity of shopping alternatives in Joplin.
Source: Morning Sun
Wichita police buying gunshot detection sensors, adding more license plate cameras
Wichita police officers will soon start getting alerts from gunshot sensors after the City Council approved buying and expanding sensors the department has been testing since February 2022. Police also received approval to expand their license plate reader program that started in November 2020.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Wichita couldn’t hire enough workers for its new water plant, so it’s outsourcing jobs
The city of Wichita won’t have enough employees to run two water plants when a new one is completed, so it’s paying a private company to provide staffing for at least one more year. The city will outsource some operations of the new plant to Operational Technical Services, a Los Angeles-based company hired in July to help start up and commission the plant.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Governor Kelly Announces More than $17M Investment for Energy Grid Resiliency
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 11 Kansas communities have secured more than $17 million for energy grid resilience. This investment combines nearly $12 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s 40101(d) Grid Resilience Grant Program and more than $5.8 million in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Is Zoning Government’s ‘Most Significant Regulatory Power’?
Eight in 10 Americans live in a city, and zoning determines their daily experience of life in ways that few realize. Sara Bronin, an architect, lawyer, academic and historical preservation expert, has written a book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, to raise awareness of the essential role of zoning in making cities healthy, sustainable and enjoyable places to live. “By and large, people think of zoning as an often-bewildering set of rules enshrined in inscrutable maps and regulations,” Bronin writes. She grew up in Houston, the only large city in the country without zoning, but became a national expert, including contributing to legal reference books on the subject. “The paradox of zoning — the tragedy of zoning — is that it often starts out in a hopeful attempt to improve our cities and the lives we live in them,” Bronin says in her book. “Then, all too often it fails; it even does the opposite.” In a conversation with Governing, she offers examples of “zoning for good,” and the need for more people to understand how zoning reform can improve communities.
Source: Governing
Sedgwick, Reno, Harvey counties placed in emergency drought status
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has released an updated drought declaration that places three counties, Sedgwick, Reno and Harvey, into an emergency status. Kingman, Harper, Sumner and Cowley counties are in a warning status, while Butler, Rice, McPherson, Marion and Chase counties are in a drought watch. In a statement issued Friday, Governor Kelly said, “Drought conditions have persisted across the state through the summer season, and Kansans are continuing to see the effects. With conditions expected to remain dry throughout the fall, Kansans should consider their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.” The drought declaration placed three counties into emergency status, 55 into warning status, and 47 into watch status. The action 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. Forecasts indicate that drought will persist and expand across most of the state through October and into the winter.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Bel Aire files lawsuit over Woodlawn project
The City of Bel Aire has filed a lawsuit against an engineering firm, a planning firm and a construction company over the failure of pavement in a project to improve a section of Woodlawn. The suit claims professional negligence and a breach of contract resulted in pavement failures on a project to improve Woodlawn between 37th and 45th Streets North. The city is looking to recover damages to redesign and reconstruct the road, and the Kansas Department of Transportation has estimated that the cost could be between $3 million and $8 million. The lawsuit names Mid-Kansas Engineering Consultants (MKEC), Pearson Construction and Garver, LLC. City leaders said they spent more than a year in discussions with all interested parties but could not reach a satisfactory option. The city has canceled its contract with MKEC and has hired Professional Engineering Consultants to begin work on the reconstruction of Woodlawn. KDOT will help the city with short-term financing for the project. Bel Air Mayor Jim Benage said in a press release, “The failure of this project has been a huge burden on the citizens of Bel Aire. Our City staff and Council are frustrated by this adversity, but we are more determined than ever to get this job done right, and get it done as quickly as possible.”
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Riley County Fire Department working to protect against wildfires
Local officials are seeking a grant that provides resources to help communities protect against wildfires. Together with the Kansas Forest Service, the Riley County Emergency Management and Fire Department applied for a Community Fire Defense Grant. “That protection plan is a guide for public entities and citizens on practices, techniques, things to keep in mind on how to prepare for or protect your property for a wildfire,” said Russel Stukey, Riley County emergency management director.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Ark City set to install new welcome signs
Ark City commissioners will consider a resolution to replace three city entrance welcome signs. If approved, new signs will be installed at the north, east and south entrances with a cost not to exceed $42,474.95. Several contractors would be involved in the project. Silverdale Stone would install the three signs; Sign Solutions would install the lettering on the bridge sign at the west entrance; and Alcon Lighting would install outdoor LED commercial lighting. There will be additional costs for in-house crews setting foundations and troughs along with the electrical work on the west bridge.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler