Kansas Municipal News
Johnny’s Tavern closes in North Lawrence, cites nearby homeless camp
A local north Lawrence bar and restaurant is closing its doors until the city responds to concerns about a nearby homeless support center. According to the Lawrence Journal World, the owner of Johnny’s Tavern will close on Tuesday, indefinitely, until changes are made. Owner Rick Renfro told the Journal World that he wants the city to install a fence around the camp, provide professional staff between 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. and to control the amount of people staying at the camp to avoid overflow.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
City of Girard discusses potential merge of local fire departments
Girard could merge paid and volunteer fire departments. The city of Girard currently has two fire departments within its city limits: The Girard City Fire Department and the District 4 Fire Department. Girard Fire has paid workers and District 4 is run by the county and is volunteer based. In the open forum held today at city hall, one of the main concerns brought up was the quality of the department if they were to merge. “They do a fantastic job. But I want a higher level, more funding, more support for the protection of my kids,” said Cordell Harley, a Girard resident.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Wichita votes to increase water and sewer rates
The Wichita City Council unanimously voted to increase water and sewer rates on Tuesday. The proposed rates for 2023 are 6.25% for water and 3% for sewer, for a combined rate adjustment of 4.95%. The vote comes after the City Council voted back in October to put off the vote to learn more details on the increase and what the impact of the increase would be for customers who are on a fixed income.
Source: KSN-TV
New animal ownership limits placed in Junction City for cats, dogs and ferrets
A new city ordinance has been approved in Junction City which limits the number of animals in each residence within city limits. City Attorney of Junction City Britain D. Stites announced on Nov. 8 that the City Commission voted on and approved the new limits for animals per residence. Households may own, harbor or possess no more than six dogs, cats, ferrets or any combination of the three animals. The previous limit was set at 19, according to Stites.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Here’s how and when the Wichita school board plans to search for next superintendent
The Wichita school board plans to name outgoing Superintendent Alicia Thompson’s replacement by spring break 2023. Thompson, who has held the job since 2017, plans to retire at the end of the school year. … Chief Human Resources Officer Sean Hudspeth said the district will first conduct an internal search process, as it does for all openings. The board can then choose to initiate a national search …
Source: Wichita Eagle
Markets watch U.S midterm elections and fed speakers
Markets will be paying close attention to the outcome of midterm elections as they will decide whether Republicans or Democrats will control Congress, which would affect future spending and monetary policy. Throughout the week, traders are also watching a series of Federal Reserve speaker remarks, looking at them for hints about the central bank’s future policy path. During an event held by the Richmond Federal Reserve bank on Monday evening, its president Tom Barkin said the central bank would continue its efforts to rein in persistently high inflation.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Municipal Bond Trends for November 7, 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.
Legal fight on voting records resolved
A Kansas county sued over voting documents has said the matter was resolved Friday, after a national left-leaning group filed a request with Butler County for records of voters who submitted advanced ballots but encountered issues preventing them from being counted. … Terry Huelskamp, an attorney representing Butler County, said Friday afternoon the matter had been resolved.
Source: CJonline
After tenant complaint, city condemns converted attic apartment; parent wonders how many rentals are ever inspected to begin with
When Kari Taylor’s daughter, Seagan, decided to move into what the family viewed as a “quirky” top-floor apartment of a home at 1126 Ohio St., it was with the caveat that a handful of maintenance issues discussed with the leasing agent would be addressed in short order. But scattered maintenance issues like leaks and electrical work quickly snowballed into the realization that the unit should never have been a living space in the first place; the apartment was condemned as uninhabitable by the City of Lawrence following an inspection in mid-October. According to the city’s notice, the unit appears to have been converted from an attic into an apartment at some point without the proper city building permits.
Source: LJWorld
Lawrence city leaders to consider process to reduce number of advisory boards, improve their functionality
Lawrence city leaders will soon consider setting up a committee to study potential changes to the city’s many advisory boards and commissions, including a recommendation to significantly reduce their overall number. The city has 45 boards, commissions, steering committees, governing boards or other related bodies, according to the city’s website. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider adopting a resolution to establish a committee to study and make recommendations regarding the structure for all boards and commissions and a reduction in their overall number.
Source: LJWorld
Lawrence business leaders push for city ordinance that would prohibit camping in downtown as homeless concerns grow
An ordinance to prohibit the homeless from camping in downtown Lawrence continues to be pushed for after a two-hour meeting between business and city leaders on Monday left unresolved downtown safety concerns. About 60 people attended a Downtown Lawrence Inc. meeting on Monday morning, with several business owners saying their employees are frightened as they come to and from work, and they are hearing from customers who say they no longer feel comfortable bringing their children downtown. “This is a major crisis, and I think it has been about four or five months that we have been trying to get it in the forefront of the public’s mind as an issue we need to address,” said Rick Renfro, an owner of Johnny’s Tavern, which is next door to a temporary homeless camp the city has erected in North Lawrence.
Source: LJWorld
Kansas Main Street Program Seeking New Communities, Hosting Application Workshop
The Kansas Main Street program announced today it is seeking new communities to join the program in 2023. On Monday, November 14, at 10 a.m., the program will host a virtual application workshop for communities interested in the program. “My administration rebuilt economic development tools like the Kansas Main Street Program, and it has since been a crucial part of preserving and growing Kansas downtowns,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I encourage more Kansas communities to join this program and strengthen their economy.” Kansas Main Street provides technical assistance and support for communities working to revitalize their downtown area by focusing on four points — economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Butler County voters to decide on ‘liquor by the drink’ in general election
While both businesses are owned by the same group, the two businesses operate under different rules when it comes to getting a liquor license. “This law was enacted in 1986 and each county had to opt in to one of three rules. They could either have a dry county, they could have a wet county or they did this hybrid where there are 30% of sales required to be food.”
Source: KAKE – News
Topeka Metro offers free rides on Election Day
Topeka residents will be able to use city transportation for free on Nov. 8 for the Kansas General Election. The Topeka Metro announced earlier this month that it would be making an additional effort to help residents exercise their civic duty to vote in the upcoming election. All of the Metro’s fixed bus routes will be free and paratransit passengers will receive two free rides on Nov. 8.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Wichita school board approves special transfer of Southeast High students at semester
The Wichita school board voted unanimously Monday to authorize the special transfer of up to 260 Southeast High School students to Heights High for the start of the spring semester in an effort to alleviate disruptive overcrowding. Current Southeast students will not be required to switch schools if they don’t want to, but the district boundary change approved by the BOE means future students from within the Adams, College Hill, Jackson and Price-Harris Elementary boundaries will now attend Heights instead of Southeast.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Working for Lenexa: Taking on new responsibilities at home and in the workplace
Getting engaged. Planning a wedding. Then suddenly having five kids. It’s been nearly two years since Lenexa Police Department Public Service Officer II Sarah Bell got married to her husband, Jeremy, and became a stepmom to their five children, ages 4 to 12. … Connecting a citizen with the appropriate county services. Handling record requests. Processing paperwork for a report. Sarah is typically the first person you see when you enter the police department lobby. “You need to have the ability to talk to all kinds of people and keep a calm attitude,” she said. “I could have three people waiting in the lobby. One needs fingerprints. One needs a report. One has a question.” Two internships — one with a local organization to counter sexual assault and another with the Lenexa Police Department — helped Sarah get more comfortable dealing with the public and handling situations.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wichita State earns national designation for economic development efforts
Wichita State University has been designated as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University, which recognizes public research universities and their work with public and private sector partners to support economic development. Wichita State is one of 80 higher education institutions to earn the national designation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Johnson County school board bans trans students from preferred bathrooms, sports teams
After months of tense debate, the Gardner Edgerton school board on Monday approved a policy prohibiting transgender children from using their preferred restrooms or participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity. The school board voted 5-2 to approve the policy, which has sparked ongoing controversy and student protests. It states that students must use the facilities, and participate on the athletic teams, that conform with their sex at birth. School board members Katie Williams, the lone liberal on the board, and Greg Chapman voted against it. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas argued that the policy violates federal law, plus isolates and harms transgender students.
Source: Joco 913 News
Jackson County Commission gathers input ahead of vote on 18-month solar farm moratorium
Terry Kaufman wears opposition on his shirt and his cap to development of a 2,000-acre solar energy facility on rolling hills in Jackson County. Kaufman, who handed out yellow “no solar” pins ahead of a public meeting Monday on the issue, said he supported imposition by the Jackson County Commission of an 18-month moratorium on consideration of applications for utility-grade solar. Commissioners listened to a couple dozen people eager to share clashing perspectives but didn’t vote on a pause that would give them time to study zoning regulations applicable to solar projects.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Cities approve agreement on future water rights
In a mega meeting, four different Harvey County cities came to an agreement about their shared water future. The governing bodies for Newton, North Newton, Halstead and Sedgwick all approved an agreement governing how the cities would share a possible 536 million gallons in annual water rights that the State of Kansas will soon consider granting. “I think we’ve accomplished what we needed to,” Newton City Engineer Suzanne Loomis said after all bodies approved the agreement. “This is just the beginning of a continued good relationship for neighbors.” Since 1997, the cities have been working together to perfect (secure) the water rights on six wells located in the Equus Beds. To do this, the cities formed the Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 17.
Source: Harvey County Now