Marion County appoints County Clerk Tina Spencer as the first County Administrator

3 Wednesday, January 3

Marion County appoints County Clerk Tina Spencer as the first County Administrator

info2024-01-03T14:22:32-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

The Marion County Commission voted today to appoint County Clerk Tina Spencer as the first County Administrator. ... Spencer is a Master-Certified County Clerk and holds a Mini MPA Certificate for Executive Development in Public Administration awarded by Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. She has extensive county government experience, having served as Marion County Clerk since January 2013 after serving as Deputy County Clerk since 2005. Spencer also has private-sector management experience. During her time as County Clerk, she has held leadership roles in the statewide Kansas County Clerks & Election Officials Association. ... Spencer’s appointment will create [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

Former Manhattan Mayor, who led city through 1993 flood, passes away

info2024-01-03T13:48:48-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

Former Manhattan City Commissioner Roger Maughmer died Friday at Ascension Via Christi Hospital, following complications from pneumonia. He was 78. Maughmer served six years on the city commission from 1989 to 1995, serving as mayor during the 1993 flood and was a longtime member of the Manhattan Optimist Club. A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Maughmer moved to Kansas in 1965 and eventually settled in Manhattan, where he worked for Southwestern Bell for 25 years. He often returned to Wyoming to his family cabin and was involved in racing cars with his son. He is survived by his wife Barbara and sons Glen and [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

Fort Scott Has A New Human Resource Director and City Manager Reflects on 2023, Looks To 2024

info2024-01-03T13:35:42-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin was asked what the city’s accomplishments were this year and also what is on the horizon for 2024 and he sent his reply. He also announced a new administrative position has been filled by Payton Coyan. Payton Coyan started as the Fort Scott Human Resource Director on December 27. She has four years of experience in driving strategic human resource operational initiatives, with a focus on talent acquisition, employee retention, succession planning, organizational development, legal compliance, and grievance management. She also has skills in recruitment, interviewing, resume screening, negotiating, conflict resolution, streamlining operations, and heightening employee productivity by [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

Edgerton Lake, dam exploration project moves forward

info2024-01-03T13:33:36-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

Two years ago, the City of Edgerton approved a $75,000 project to explore repairing the Edgerton Lake Dam as part of the city’s 2022-2026 capital improvement project. During the Edgerton City Council meeting last month, city council members agreed to pay Affinis $115,000 for a draft scope and contingency covering various project expenses related to city engineer time and printing materials. The draft scope fee is $105,425, and the contingency portion of the project is $9,575.City officials said the additional $40,000 will come from a special park and recreation fund, with the original $75,000 from the park impact fee. CIP project [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

Governor Kelly Announces Grocery Shoppers Can Expect an Additional $150M in Tax Relief in 2024

info2024-01-03T13:30:25-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that in 2024, consumers in the Sunflower State are projected to see an additional $150 million in savings because of the “Axe the Food Tax” legislation >she signed in 2022. According to projections from the Kansas Department of Revenue, the reduction of the state sales tax on groceries from 4% to 2% will save shoppers $12.5 million per month in 2024. “By taking a middle-of-the-road approach, we have been able to continue putting money back in the pockets of every Kansan,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This reduction is a step toward eliminating the state sales tax [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

For Public Finance, a Year for Stability and Cautious Optimism

info2024-01-03T13:28:43-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

For state and local government financiers, the good news for 2024 is that most financial functions will be more predictable. Budget projections will be easier and more reliable, at least for the calendar year, as the economy continues settling fairly smoothly to a slower pace with inflation easing and interest rates drifting down with it. Of course, a slowing economy can be expected to be accompanied by softening tax revenues, and that has been reported in some states already. Nonetheless — and absent the usual unforeseeables like new wars, oil shocks and pandemics — public finance is returning to something resembling [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

County approves wage increases, splits on Rural Opportunity Zone program

info2024-01-03T13:27:45-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

The County Commission approved a budgeted raise for employees, as well as elected officials and itself. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve providing a 3 percent cost of living increase to county employees for 2024. “We discussed this in budget season too so it’s all been approved in the 2024 budget,” he said. The plan also allocates $147,000 to alleviate an issue County Administrator Anthony Swartendruber described as wage compression. As hiring wages have risen they’ve begun to outpace wages for existing employees. Swartzendruber said the money would help provide some gap between employees with longer tenures and new hires. 54 [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

Wichita bans corporate political donations on last-minute party-line council vote

info2024-01-03T13:26:39-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

Corporations and limited liability companies will no longer be allowed to contribute to Wichita City Council and mayoral campaigns after a contentious debate and 4-3 vote Tuesday. The four Democrats on the council approved the measure over the objection of their Republican colleagues during the final meeting before incoming Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian, and two new Republican council members take office. In a break from standard procedure, outgoing Mayor Brandon Whipple made an emergency declaration, allowing the council to finalize the reform Tuesday and forgo the standard second reading that would have otherwise been required next week. Whipple said the emergency declaration was [...]

3 Wednesday, January 3

Fire causes damage to Paris Park pavilion in Arkansas City

info2024-01-03T13:25:36-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

A fire damaged the Paris Park pavilion in Arkansas City on New Year's Day. Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department responded to the fire around 4 a.m. Firefighters found heavy flames engulfing the south end of the pavilion. Crews were able to contain the fire in the area, preventing further spread and minimizing potential damage. Damage is estimated at $10,000. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Arkansas City Police Department Lieutenant Detective Jason Legleiter at 620-441-4435 or Chet Ranzau, Arkansas City Fire Marshall, at 620-441-4430. Source: KSN-TV

3 Wednesday, January 3

Kansas court systems slowly reaching finish line for complete restoration after cyberattack

info2024-01-03T13:24:44-06:00January 3rd, 2024|

The nightmare plaguing the state of Kansas' court systems is almost over. On Tuesday, Kansas Courts spokeswoman Lisa Taylor said in a press release that a new portal allowing people to search through Kansas district court cases online is fully operational, with some drawbacks. For example, this portal is temporarily out of date while courts work to feed in case information filed on paper. The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal was one of several systems impacted by a cyberattack in October last year. Online systems associated with the Kansas Courts have been struggling to recover in the aftermath. “In the short time [...]