Johnson County releases 2023 market study analysis, sees residential and commercial growth

20 Monday, February 20

Johnson County releases 2023 market study analysis, sees residential and commercial growth

info2023-02-21T07:28:11-06:00February 20th, 2023|

Johnson County has released its Market Study Analysis for the Assessment Year 2023, examining the real estate market in the county – including both the residential and commercial markets. ... The study found that nearly 90% of residential properties increased in value for 2023. The median single-family residential sale price rose 13.8% from 2021 to 2022, leading to an average increase in residential values of 12%. Commercial real estate also remained steady, specifically within the office and retail sectors. Overall, commercial values also increased at a rate of 12%. Source: Johnson County Kansas |

20 Monday, February 20

After 43 years on the streets, Wichita police department’s ‘Dirty Harry’ retires

info2023-02-20T10:08:25-06:00February 20th, 2023|

Chuck Loftis and another Wichita officer snuck on top of a pool hall at Ninth and Grove. It was the ‘90s and violent crime was skyrocketing as gangs fought over who could sell drugs where. A spotlight on the building kept the dealers below from being able to see them. They peered down, saw an exchange for crack and called in the description of the dealer to officer Robert “Bob” Bachman, who was down the road in a marked police car. Bachman pulled up. The dealer threw his crack and ran, but he didn’t get far, Loftis said. A man came [...]

20 Monday, February 20

Should the Lawrence City Commission expand to 6 members plus a mayor? Voters will decide next year

info2023-02-20T10:06:45-06:00February 20th, 2023|

Lawrence city commissioners approved one change to city government Tuesday night and set the stage for another potential big change, though that one will be up to voters to decide. Beginning with the 2023 general election, all Lawrence city commissioners will serve four-year terms. But how many commissioners the city will have, and whether we’ll have a directly elected mayor, will be up to voters to decide in November 2024. Commissioners also decided to ask city voters to weigh in on the city’s form of government in the 2024 general election. They passed a resolution that will put several decisions on [...]

20 Monday, February 20

Municipal Bond Trends for February 17, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-02-20T08:22:32-06:00February 20th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

17 Friday, February 17

Municipal Bond Trends for February 16, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-02-17T10:13:14-06:00February 17th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

16 Thursday, February 16

Future uncertain for Walnut Valley Festival

info2023-02-16T23:58:23-06:00February 16th, 2023|

The executive director of the Walnut Valley Festival confirmed comments he made recently on an area TV program that the beloved annual music event is struggling financially and its future is somewhat in doubt. Bart Redford, interviewed for an episode of “Positively Kansas” that aired Feb. 6, said the 51st festival will definitely be held in September, but there are no guarantees beyond that. “Where we go after that is an open question,” Redford told the KPTS. “We’re at a point where we’ve got to make it to continue on. No festival out there, no venture that you can think of, [...]

16 Thursday, February 16

Colorful murals to brighten downtown Dodge City

info2023-02-21T06:57:43-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Dodge City was selected to receive a Community Challenge Grant from AARP Livable Communities and AARP Kansas to create murals in our historic downtown. The Dodge City Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) is proud to announce that the project is nearing completion. The PAAC has been working with talented artist, Efe Tekdemir from the design firm Gardner Design in Wichita, Kansas. Input gathered from community table days informed the direction of these three dynamic works of art that will infuse the area with color and excitement while honoring our city’s rich heritage and cultural diversity. The murals have been sent to [...]

16 Thursday, February 16

Manhattan discusses Parks and Rec cost recovery model

info2023-02-21T07:29:26-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Manhattan’s Parks and Recreation Department updated the city commission with their proposed cost recovery model at their meeting Tuesday. The current model sorts all programs into one of five tiers. Tier 1 would consist of the programs with the most community benefit, and as the tier number increases, the programs become more individualized. The tiers are situated on a cost recovery pyramid indicating that programs with the most community benefit will require the smallest cost recovery percentage. Source: 1350 KMAN

16 Thursday, February 16

Kansas school administrators question bill adding school board members to district payroll

info2023-02-21T07:31:51-06:00February 16th, 2023|

The hypothetical cost of implementing a Kansas House bill enabling local school districts to pay elected board members $20 per hour for a commitment of less than two hours a week would cost taxpayers $2.8 million annually. Adopting the change would break a 50-year precedent in Kansas law that made local school board members volunteers without a salary... Jim Karleskint, a former state legislator and Holton school superintendent ... did raise with the committee a series of concerns. “In many school districts,” he said, “the superintendent is selected as the chief negotiator for the board. In years of limited fiscal resources, [...]

16 Thursday, February 16

City commission discusses state incentives for additional housing in Salina

info2023-02-16T14:26:44-06:00February 16th, 2023|

With the need for housing in the community not going away anytime soon, Salina continues to look for opportunities to make it easier for developers to build in the area. During its meeting Monday, the Salina City Commission discussed and ultimately decided to lend support for incentives for three housing developments in the community. Lauren Driscoll, the city's director of community and development services, presented the commission with multiple resolutions to consider on the topic. "As you're aware, we've been very much engaged in dealing how to provide more housing in Salina related to future employees (coming from) corporate expansion of [...]