Kansas Municipal News
Trains, mass transit for most-populated counties should be looked into, Kansas lawmakers say
Lawmakers say it may be time to get on board with trains and other mass transit options as ways of attracting young professionals to the state. During a Friday legislative budget committee meeting, the last before the start of the legislative session next week, Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, recommended that the Kansas Department of Transportation conduct a study looking into mass transit systems for Johnson and Sedgwick Counties. Waymaster also recommended the department look into potential federal funding. With more jobs coming into the state through the Panasonic deal, Waymaster said, new forms of mass transit would be a significant draw for young professionals.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Lenexa releases final design for $1M skatepark revamp
After months of collecting community feedback, the City of Lenexa has unveiled the final design for an upgraded skatepark within Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. The city’s current skatepark is over 20 years old and the pavement is starting to deteriorate. Lenexa will spend $1 million to upgrade the skatepark and nearby parking lot. New Line Skateparks will design and build the skatepark. Professional skateboarder and New Line’s lead designer Kanten Russell said the design of the new park is all about making an inclusive space for all types of skaters and cyclists.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Newton’s flag recognized as one of country’s best
You can fly your Newton flag with pride. It’s one of the best-designed flags in the country. That’s according to the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA). Vexillology–your $10 word of the day–is the study of flags. NAVA, a group of more than 1,000 flag enthusiasts and scholars, released the results of a national survey evaluating the 312 city flags it had knowledge of adopted after 2015.
Source: Harvey County Now
Retiring JoCo Chair Ed Eilert lauded for ‘calm demeanor’ in face of conflict
County Commission Chairman Ed Eilert has never been the type of elected official to be bombastic. There were plenty of opportunities during his tenure on the commission to get into a conflict, whether it was during discussions over the county’s controversial purchase of the King Louie bowling alley or more recently during heated public comments over mask mandates and election procedures, where constituents often were shouting at each other and the board.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Thirty one Kansas cities bumped from ‘urban’ in Census report
The rural population in Kansas grew by more than 10% during the last decade after about 30 small cities lost their “urban” classification according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau last week released a new list of cities considered “urban” based on new criteria that effectively increased the “rural” population in Kansas. The new definitions meant that 31 small Kansas towns lost their “urban” status, meaning they will face new challenges for getting federal government funding.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Kansas Supreme Court: Open Record Act’s application to electronic Excel spreadsheets
The plain language of K.S.A. 45-219(a) requires a public agency, upon request, to provide a copy of a public record in the format in which it maintains that record. … Here, if we focus on just an Excel spreadsheet, it can have embedded components that include at least some formulas. Such formulas provide information to show more than just numbers in a cell, but also how those numbers are generated. Hardcopies simply will not work to reproduce accurately such an integrated animal. Plainly, hard copies do not “embed” anything. The only accurate reproduction of an electronic file is a copy of the electronic file, which can easily be provided by, for example, email or thumb drive.
Read the opinion: Roe vs. Phillips County Hospital
Municipal Bond Trends for January 5, 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.
Proposal for less stringent historic preservation rules in Lawrence gets mixed reactions
Proposed changes that would loosen Lawrence’s historic preservation rules are getting a mixed reaction, with some residents and local leaders expressing concern about less-stringent restrictions and others saying the changes wouldn’t go far enough. The city is in the process of revising Chapter 22 of the city code, which lays out rules related to the conservation of properties on the local historic register. The proposed changes loosen some requirements for the area around listed properties and make various other changes regarding how development is allowed to occur on or near those properties. Chapter 22 was originally adopted in 1988, and Lynne Braddock Zollner, the city’s historic resources administrator, said the city wanted to hear from residents about whether the proposed changes were doing too little or too much, as well as any other thoughts on the effort to modernize the code. “This is a process we’ve been undertaking for about the last 10 years, trying to bring the code up to more modern, current conditions,” she said.
Source: LJWorld
Fed’s Esther George sees rates staying high at least into 2024
As her 40-year central banking career comes to a close, Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George is advising her colleagues to stay tough in their efforts to stamp out runaway inflation. George said Thursday that she thinks the Fed should raise its benchmark borrowing rate above 5% and keep it there until there are substantial signs that prices are stabilizing.
Source: CNBC
Winfield commission gets police station update
Winfield city commissioners reviewed construction plans for the new police station and heard about upgrades to the Baden Square Community Center kitchen during their work session Tuesday evening. The police station, which will be built adjacent to the recently completed Winfield fire station near Ninth Avenue and Fuller Street, will contain about 16,800 feet of space. The current design contains office space for the chief, captain and lieutenants, but will otherwise have a more open plan in order to free up more room for operations, Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong said. There will also be an evidence handling area, and a public window in the lobby.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Wichita Launches New Landlord Incentive Program
The City of Wichita launched the Wichita Housing Authority Landlord Assistance program at the beginning of January. The program will give between $250 and $1,000 to rental property owners who accept tenants who receive government housing assistance. The Landlord Incentive Program provides a $1,000 bonus for a new landlord, $500 for a returning landlord or $250 for each tenant that a landlord leases up above baseline count. Incentives will also cover some damages and lost rent.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Emporia chicken ordinance goes live
For the first time in a decade, chickens are now officially allowed in Emporia’s residential areas as of Jan. 1, but the city says residents aren’t clamoring to make applications just yet. “No applications have come in so far,” said city attorney Christina Montgomery. The Emporia City Commission approved Ordinance 22-48 in November, which allows residents to keep up to four chickens in residential districts with a domestic farm animal permit. The permit comes with a $50 application fee, which is paid yearly, and requires annual inspections. The city also has requirements for the size and location of the chicken enclosures, as well as maintenance standards for their upkeep.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Ed Eilert, a long-time leader in Johnson County, retires
Long-time leader Ed Eilert ended his 44-year career in public service Thursday by chairing a final Johnson County Commission meeting. A reception is planned Friday to honor Eilert. It will be held at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, a landmark Eilert strongly supported. The building now houses the Johnson County Museum and Johnson County Parks and Recreation Programs. Both a part of Eilert’s county legacy. Eilert served 16 years as a county commissioner. Before that, he spent 24 years as Overland Park’s mayor. Eilert also served on the Overland Park City Council.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Overland Park Convention Center named best small convention center in North America
The Overland Park Convention Center has been named the 2023 Best Small Convention Center in North America by Exhibitor Magazine. The selection process is based on surveys of past clients and event managers. Those surveys focus on five primary criteria including: facility and functionality; location and accommodations; service and execution; expansions and upgrades and awards and industry participation.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
De Soto looks for public input as it gets ready to grow with new plant
Massive construction vehicles are working in De Soto, Kansas to build Panasonic’s new electric vehicle battery plant, city leaders are preparing to reach out to the public to get their input on how the community should grow while maintaining the charm that made people move there in the first place. “We need a reset, not just up here at City Hall, but the whole community needs a reset discussion on how do we want to manage this incredible opportunity that’s in front of us,” said De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
North Newton, learning center, Halstead library receive grant funds
Parents, grandparents and other guardians will have shaded areas and tables at which to sit while children play at a couple of North Newton parks that have fairly new playground equipment. That’s thanks to a Kansas Department of Commerce Strategic Economic Expansion and Development Grant for community vibrancy and library projects. The matching-fund grant will be divided between the Kansas Learning Center for Health for outdoor fitness equipment, Halstead Public Library for new carpeting and North Newton for park shade structures. Halstead, along with the other entities, applied for the grant for $50,000 in matching funds across three projects and will receive $49,125.
Source: Harvey County Now
Moundridge police officers renovate old library into new police station
After six months of renovations, the Moundridge Police Department has a new home right across the street from its old office. The chief of police, Michael Sparks, said it was a necessity, but all the work done was by its officers and volunteers. The building the officers renovated has been in the community for about 60 years. It once served as City Hall and the library and is now the Moundridge Police Department. “We didn’t have any room,” said Chief Sparks.
Source: KSN-TV
City of Topeka welcomes new Chief Financial Officer
A new face will be appearing among the City of Topeka’s leadership later this month. City of Topeka spokesperson Gretchen Spiker said Freddy Mawyin will take the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) after being hired by the city. Mawyin currently serves as the Senior Economic Advisor at the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP).
Source: KSNT 27 News
New program to benefit rural homeowners in Kansas
Potential and current homeowners in rural Kansas can be financially assisted through the new Home Loan Guarantee (HGL) for Rural Kansas. The program, which was created by Kansas Housing Resources Cooperation (KHRC), helps to close the gap between lenders and their financial institutions. The program serves counties with less than 10,000 residents and can be used for costs related to land, buildings, renovations and new construction. The program will guarantee 80% to 125% of the appraised value of the home, which caps at $100,000 per loan.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Eligible area businesses encouraged to apply for COVID-related property tax relief grants
The deadline is still several months away, but area business owners are strongly encouraged to learn more about cash grants to offset COVID-related impacts and apply soon if those grants apply to them. The COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Act is designed to help businesses affected during the 2020 and 2021 tax years by sending business owners a portion of property taxes accrued on retail storefront property.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio