Cowley County hires new emergency manager

14 Monday, November 14

Cowley County hires new emergency manager

info2022-11-14T07:04:29-06:00November 14th, 2022|

Oct. 24 was the first day on the job for new Cowley County Emergency Management Director Candi Baross, and she said she’s been on the go since then getting to know the people and the area she will serve. Baross, 41, is originally from Jackson, Miss. She grew up knowing whatever she did in her life, she always wanted to serve the public. A 21-year career on active duty in the U.S. Army focused on preparedness training for different units. Preparedness training “is really important to me,” Baross said. Training groups to collaborate with other entities makes for successful missions, she [...]

14 Monday, November 14

Public Input Being Sought on Wildfire Prevention and Response

info2022-11-14T00:26:42-06:00November 14th, 2022|

Governor Kelly is calling on residents to share their thoughts on how to better prevent, respond to, and recover from wildfires. The Governor’s Wildfire Task Force (established in July) is seeking public input as it takes a comprehensive look at mitigating wildfire threats, reviews how local and state officials respond to these emergencies and considers how to better support communities impacted by wildfires. Source: 101.3 KFDI

14 Monday, November 14

Ford County fire fighters complete leadership apprenticeship program

info2022-11-14T00:25:13-06:00November 14th, 2022|

Ten Ford County firefighters completed a two-semester leadership class though the Kansas Apprenticeship Training Program of Hutchinson Community College (HCC). The program is designed for company officers, or the emergency response personnel who stands on the engine en route to a fire. Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

14 Monday, November 14

Longtime leader in JoCo’s economic development scene announces plan to retire

info2022-11-14T07:05:41-06:00November 14th, 2022|

Blake Schreck, a longtime fixture in Johnson County’s economic development scene, says he will retire in February 2023. Schreck has been CEO and director of economic development at the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce since 1999, but previously led the Olathe chamber for three years and worked a decade at the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. “I was fortunate to bring Blake into the chamber and economic development world in the mid-’80s,” Mary Birch, former Overland Park chamber president, said in a news release. “He became one of the best economic development leaders in the country and leaves a legacy of major [...]

14 Monday, November 14

Wichita launching community feedback survey

info2022-11-14T07:06:19-06:00November 14th, 2022|

The city of Wichita say they are looking to source community feedback through a survey. The survey is asking residents their opinions about local government services as well as resident priorities. The city says they plan to begin distributing community surveys on a more frequent basis, changing from biannual to annual. Another change to this survey is asking residents to rank their top priorities in addition to rating service delivery. Source: KAKE - News

14 Monday, November 14

Parsons voters deny sales tax hike

info2022-11-14T00:16:31-06:00November 14th, 2022|

In Tuesday’s election, Parsons voters weighed against a half-cent sales tax increase that would have helped fund the Parsons police and fire departments. The vote was 881 in favor and 1,333 against. The increase would have raised the sales tax from 9.25% to 9.75% and generated an estimated $900,000 a year. Department heads said the funds would be used for a new public safety center as well as routine public services and capital improvements. In 2013, voters approved a similar tax which sunsets in 10 years. The new tax would have taken effect in 2024. Source: The Iola Register

11 Friday, November 11

Lawrence says homeless camp with 80 tents isn’t a campground; if it said otherwise, it could be violating its own zoning code

info2022-11-13T08:33:47-06:00November 11th, 2022|

As a city-operated campground for the homeless has grown on the edge of downtown, business owners in recent weeks have begun protesting that the central business district is no place for such a campground.... they may have a powerful document on their side: the city’s own zoning code... the city’s director of planning acknowledged that a campground is not a permitted use in what’s known as the “CD downtown commercial district.” The zoning code — which has the force of law — allows for campgrounds in several types of commercial business districts, but the busy central business district is not one [...]

11 Friday, November 11

Municipal Bond Trends for November 10, 2022

Henry Schmidt2022-11-14T10:01:35-06:00November 11th, 2022|

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 and Beth Warren.

10 Thursday, November 10

Kansas board urges schools to eliminate Native American mascots

info2022-11-11T07:47:38-06:00November 10th, 2022|

Saying it hurts students, the Kansas State Board of Education is calling on the state’s public schools to eliminate Native American-themed mascots within five years. The board endorsed a recommendation from an advisory group on Thursday that included representatives from all four federally recognized tribes in Kansas. ... “We’re just asking them to start the conversation, do the research,” said board member Ann Mah. “When we say we don’t want bullying, we want equity, we want the best education for every child, then this absolutely fits with our mandates.” More than 20 Kansas schools still use mascots with names like Indians, [...]

10 Thursday, November 10

With 108 Airbnbs and other short-term rentals now licensed, Lawrence code enforcement thinks process to ID unlicensed rentals is working

info2022-11-11T07:46:16-06:00November 10th, 2022|

With more than 100 short-term rentals now licensed in Lawrence, city code enforcement believes its tactics are working for identifying people renting properties by the night without the required license. After falling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of short-term rental listings in Lawrence is on the rise again, with a little more than 150 properties listed on the popular site Airbnb. Code Enforcement Manager Brian Jimenez said there are currently 108 licensed properties in Lawrence, and because his office has found several properties listed more than once, he believes the city does not have many unlicensed rentals. He said he [...]