City to city: Takeaways from 5 Wichita leaders on Minneapolis trip

18 Tuesday, October 18

City to city: Takeaways from 5 Wichita leaders on Minneapolis trip

info2022-10-18T08:30:10-05:00October 18th, 2022|

About 70 Wichita leaders, business professionals and rising young adults are back from last week's three-day, city-to-city trip to Minneapolis. Organized annually by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, the group visits a different U.S. city each year to introduce business and community leaders to innovative projects and ideas that can be adapted and implemented back in Wichita. In Minneapolis Oct. 12 through 14, participants learned how the city approaches community dashboarding, collaborative partnerships, economic development, tourism and performing arts. Source: Wichita Business Journal

18 Tuesday, October 18

After Wichita’s wild housing ride over past two years, forecast predicts what’s next

info2022-10-18T08:29:44-05:00October 18th, 2022|

With the “extraordinary home price appreciation” of the last two years and “a lot of things that are unfolding before our eyes,” as Stan Longhofer put it, you can’t blame him and other economic forecasters for getting a prediction or two wrong these days. “Economic forecasters were put on this earth to make the weatherman look good,” said Longhofer, director of the Center for Real Estate at Wichita State University. Still, he and Lawrence Yun of the National Association of Realtors are going to make their forecasts for next year’s housing market at the 2023 Wichita Housing Forecast Conference on Wednesday. [...]

18 Tuesday, October 18

Municipal Bond Trends for October 17, 2022

info2022-10-18T08:29:09-05:00October 18th, 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.

17 Monday, October 17

USD 232 Superintendent Frank Harwood to retire next summer

info2022-10-18T08:31:27-05:00October 17th, 2022|

Unified School District 232 Superintendent Frank Harwood says he will retire after the current school year on June 30, 2023. Harwood, who has led USD 232 for the past seven years, says the district is about to enter a critical new phase over the next five to 10 years with a promised Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto and other developments expected to spur major growth. Source: Prairie Village Post

17 Monday, October 17

Historic Oak Grove Schoolhouse is open for future generations

info2022-10-18T08:28:03-05:00October 17th, 2022|

Oak Grove Schoolhouse is open now! The 1877 one-room stone schoolhouse is in SE Neosho County, located in a rural area about 7-1/2 miles NE of Parsons. The efforts to restore Oak Grove stretch back more than 50 years. Much of the progress has been made in the last 5-10 years but the majority of the work has been done in the past 3 years. Thanks to the grants from the Kansas Historical Society’s Heritage Trust Fund the school is ready for students. The plan is for the school to open as an active classroom for fourth graders to learn as [...]

17 Monday, October 17

Prairie Village City Council votes down strategy for affordable housing

info2022-10-18T08:32:52-05:00October 17th, 2022|

After a public outcry, the Prairie Village City Council has gone on record against putting duplexes, apartments and other multi-family developments in single-family residential areas as part of an affordable housing strategy. Signs had gone up around the city protesting recommendations from an ad hoc committee tasked with finding ways to diversify Prairie Village’s housing stock so more people can afford to live there. Council member Piper Reimer said residents are concerned that regulations might be changed “in a way that would allow the developer or builder to come in and potentially take down the house next door to you and [...]

17 Monday, October 17

Harvey County commission approves updates  to renewable energy regulations

info2022-10-18T08:35:23-05:00October 17th, 2022|

The Harvey County Commission approved updates to the County’s Unified Development Code Section 16.14, in regard to commercial renewable energy projects, at its Oct. 13 meeting. ... Among the updates to the regulations previously in place: The setback distance from non-participating property lines was established at 1,000 feet. The setback distance from a home remains 2,000 feet. Renewable energy equipment and operations will not be allowed in an area defined as the Sand Hills Overlay District, due to grassland fire dangers. Restrictions addressing wind turbine flicker, ice throw and noise. Financial protections for project decommissioning and environmental cleanup. Source: Harvey County [...]

17 Monday, October 17

Property tax “freeze” for Pittsburg metal fabrication company

info2022-10-17T10:59:21-05:00October 17th, 2022|

Atkinson Industries was founded in Pittsburg more than 100 years ago, and has facilities across the country. This city-approved tax freeze involves the company's $2,000,000 manufacturing expansion project in Pittsburg. "By being able to essentially freeze their property taxes at their current rate, it allows them to recoup the cost that they put into the expansion, so it obviously benefits the company, but it also benefits the community because this enlarges the company's foot print in our community and obviously they're adding jobs, adding to our local economy," said Blake Benson, President, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. ... "Among the benefits [...]

17 Monday, October 17

Proposed Wichita Ordinance Aims to Crackdown on Catalytic Converter Thefts

info2022-10-17T07:20:38-05:00October 17th, 2022|

An ordinance from the City of Wichita was proposed that aims to crack down on catalytic converter thefts. These cases can be difficult solve since catalytic converters can’t be traced. The proposed ordinance would allow Wichita Police to investigate and charge suspicious accumulation of catalytic converters, as well as officers to seize catalytic converters from people who cannot explain how they came into possession of them. The city did say that the ordinance will allow protection for people who came into possession of the part legitimately, including people who own the vehicle, can provide proof of purchase or permission from police [...]

17 Monday, October 17

New communications director not new to Ark City

info2022-10-17T07:20:22-05:00October 17th, 2022|

A native of Arkansas City has circled back home to become the communications director for the City of Arkansas City. Shana Adkisson stepped into that role two weeks ago, replacing Andrew Lawson, who left in March after more than seven years to take a similar position with the City of Manhattan. City Manager Randy Frazer said a committee of department managers conducted 15 interviews. ... Adkisson’s past work experience combined with her education and personality made her a great fit, Frazer said. She has a good understanding of the community having grown up in Ark City and attending Cowley College. Source: [...]