Municipal News & Jobs

While the Salina Fire Department is known for its swift response to fires, rescues and medical emergencies, it can now be known for a new accomplishment, employer of one of the world’s strongest firefighters. At the beginning of March, SFD firefighter Chris Rios traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the Arnold Sports Festival, where he competed in the World’s Strongest Firefighter Contest, placing 29th overall. “There were over 100 from all over the world that competed,” Rios said. “(Besides the U.S.,) we had people from Canada, Europe (and other places).”
Source: Salina Journal

Great Bend Human Resources Director Randy Keasling is working with city staff to make employment with the city as a destination career. Over the past three years, city administration has concentrated on improving workforce culture to make sure the city is a place people want to work. Keasling noted getting people to apply can still be a struggle, especially the last three years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The baby boomers, people born in the 1940s to 1960s, are starting to leave a large dent in the workforce with retirements.
Source: GB Post

Public art projects have swept across Dickinson County in the past few years and more are in progress. Herington and Chapman can both expect new murals in the coming months to add to those already adorning otherwise blank, boring walls. “The murals are great because they have so many old buildings in our county that needs some sprucing up,” said Corkie Dunlap, of Herington. Over in Chapman, Tana Churan-Davis, owner of Prairie Horizon Art Studio and Gallery, said she sees the murals as a way to bring people to town. “People will come into a community just to see the murals,” she said. “You can use that as a fantastic advertising point.”
Source: Abilene Reflector Chronicle

… city officials and other speakers … came to discuss Kansas’ growing problem with homelessness during a House Welfare Reform Committee roundtable discussion Thursday. The discussion comes after widespread backlash to House Bill 2430, a bill that would make it illegal to use state or local government property for unauthorized sleeping, camping or long-term shelters. Towns and cities with a higher per-capita rate of homelessness than the state average would lose state funding. After Kansans who had dealt with homelessness showed up en masse to voice disapproval of the bill, the committee pivoted to the roundtable idea, though critics say more substantial action needs to be taken, along with providing more mental health funding and community resources for people experiencing homelessness. With the rising cost of living prices, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and and a lack of mental health resources, homelessness has been again on the rise.
Source: LJWorld

It’s not yet clear what the next draft of Douglas County’s revised regulations for wind energy development will look like, but it is clear that the work to codify the updated rules is far from finished. At a meeting on Monday, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission discussed some of the changes it wanted to see in the second draft of that document. The conversation came about a month and a half after the public comment period for the first draft wrapped up in early February. Now, the planning commission has formed an ad hoc committee that’ll meet outside of regularly scheduled planning commission meetings to conduct further research, discuss and propose changes to the regulations.
Source: LJWorld

The Church argues that RSO zoning limits Fountain to building only one duplex on the 9.12-acre lot because of the way a duplex is defined in § 20-1734(5). The relevant language from the definition of duplex is as follows: “A single Structure that contains two (2) primary Dwelling Units on one (1) Lot.” City Code § 20-1734(5). Though all parties contend the meaning of § 20-1734(5) is unambiguous, they do not agree on that “unambiguous” meaning. The Church points out that the section defines a duplex as a “single” structure with two primary dwelling units on one lot; it does not state “two” or “multiple” or “57” structures with two primary dwelling units on one lot. City Code § 20-1734(5). … Our discussion of the Church’s proposed interpretation of the City Code is intended to explain why the definition of “duplex” in § 20-1734(5) is ambiguous and the Church’s interpretation is plausible. We do not suggest that the Church’s interpretation is necessarily correct. The district court’s decision and the underlying arguments by the City and Fountain, along with points raised in the dissent, demonstrate that their proposed interpretation is also plausible. … We reverse the dismissal by the district court and remand the case for further proceedings.
Source: Kansas Court of Appeals

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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.

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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.