City commission approves $60M Wastewater Treatment Plant, $90M Cargill expansions

12 Monday, February 12

City commission approves $60M Wastewater Treatment Plant, $90M Cargill expansions

info2024-02-12T10:49:01-06:00February 12th, 2024|

The full Dodge City Commission conducted a regular meeting on Feb. 5. Commissioners approved Ordinance # 3808 authorizing the execution of the loan agreement between the city and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for financing of the wastewater treatment expansion at the South Wastewater treatment facility. Due to the construction of the Hilmar Cheese Plant and city growth, additional wastewater will be received at the south facility and more capacity is needed. The estimated cost of expansion is $59,545,000 which is the amount of the loan being requested. The loan interest rate is 2.26% with a thirty year term. The [...]

12 Monday, February 12

A tribute to black history

info2024-02-12T10:22:49-06:00February 12th, 2024|

The Gordon Parks Museum in Ft. Scott has something on display to further honor many historic African Americans. A tribute panel exhibit consists of more than 100 photos, posters, and information on the some of the most notable and important black innovators and leaders throughout history. It also features inspirational quotes. Each day, the museum will highlight a different "quote of the day" to promote educational activities throughout the month of February. The objective is to keep black history and diversity at the forefront of conversations throughout the year. "I do think it's really important because I feel a lot of schools and educators decide [...]

12 Monday, February 12

Municipal Bond Trends for February 9, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-02-12T08:57:57-06:00February 12th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

9 Friday, February 9

They hoped solar panels would secure the future of their farm. Then their neighbors found out

info2024-02-09T13:30:34-06:00February 9th, 2024|

Some implored the commissioners to vote to allow the so-called West Gardner plan, a utility-size array of solar panels, saying the county needed to commit to clean energy for their children’s future. But others were just as passionately opposed. ... To them, the solar plant would “threaten health and well-being” and did not fit “the character of the land.” It would create “a landscape of black glass and towering windmills,” that would put lives at risk and cause “a mass exodus out of the area.” ... A USA TODAY analysis of local rules and policies nationwide found that, as of December, [...]

9 Friday, February 9

The Biggest Finance and Management Issues to Watch in 2024

info2024-02-09T12:05:47-06:00February 9th, 2024|

Artificial intelligence has been around since the 1950s, but its sudden emergence as a consumer product and its potential to disrupt nearly every activity and industry has state lawmakers scrambling to address it. A dozen states have already enacted laws demanding agency research of AI and its use and consequences, while half the states have introduced bills to address its application both in government and the broader economy. AI has incredible potential for handling data, automating repetitive tasks and generally making many functions easier for humans to handle. But lawmakers at this point are rushing to get ahead of possible downside risks. [...]

9 Friday, February 9

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $28M to Create 458 Child Care Slots, Construct New Community Multi-Purpose Facilities

info2024-02-09T11:55:00-06:00February 9th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund today announced the creation of 458 new child care slots with the investment of nearly $28 million in Capital Projects Fund Accelerator (CPF Accelerator) awards to seven Kansas communities. These funds will build or renovate multi-purpose community facilities that create new licensed child care slots; provide access to high-speed internet; and house programs that facilitate work, education, and health care monitoring. “There’s no question that more Kansas families need access to child care to support their child’s development, enter the workforce, and contribute to our economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By [...]

9 Friday, February 9

Sedgwick County to create citizens advisory board for 911

info2024-02-09T11:41:41-06:00February 9th, 2024|

Sedgwick County Commissioners have approved the creation of a citizens advisory board for Emergency Communications. 911 director Elora Forshee said the idea began with discussions in 2021 on how to engage the community on the services provided by emergency communications. There is a 911 advisory board that represents first responders, and a board that represents 911 employees, but there has not been a group that provides connections with the community. A citizens board was recommended by a community task force that was looking at standards for the youth corrections system in the aftermath of the September, 2021 death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton [...]

9 Friday, February 9

KDOT says groundwater affected Bel Aire street project

info2024-02-09T11:40:57-06:00February 9th, 2024|

The Kansas Department of Transportation said groundwater levels caused pavement failure with a street project by the City of Bel Aire. KDOT released the results of an investigation into structural problems with an improvement project on Woodlawn, between 37th and 45th Streets North. The report pointed to different types of clay soils and a higher water table on the north end of the project. Clays on the north side of the project had “significant swell potential” and core samples at the north end of the project were still holding water after the samples were taken. The KDOT report has four options for Bel [...]

9 Friday, February 9

Boot Hill Solar Project to break ground in Ford County in 2025

info2024-02-09T11:39:01-06:00February 9th, 2024|

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announced this week the state’s largest commercial solar facility will come to Ford County next year, and with it, extra funds for the Dodge City USD 443 School District. The 150-megawatt Boot Hill Solar Project will consist of 300,000 solar modules mounted on a single-axis solar tracking system on 1,000 acres near Sunflower’s Fort Dodge Station, one mile southeast of Dodge City. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025 and will take about one year to complete. In lieu of taxes for 10 years, the project will demonstrate good citizenship by providing funding to Dodge City Unified School District [...]

9 Friday, February 9

Voters choose yes on USD 409 Bond election

info2024-02-09T11:37:38-06:00February 9th, 2024|

The official voting results from last Friday’s special USD 409 Bond election have yielded results showing approval from the voters. The election was done by way of all mailed-out ballots with the deadline for those ballots to be returned to the Atchison County Courthouse the Thursday before the election was held at noon. Although late ballots were taken on Friday that were postmarked on or before election day. A canvass was conducted as part of the County Commission’s regular Tuesday meeting that made the results official. A total of 1,917 votes were counted showing 1,211 cast in support of the $27.3 [...]