Kansas Municipal News
Local government news, municipal finance updates and job openings, collected for city and county officials.
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With pickleball ‘alive and well’ in JoCo, Leawood wants to add more courts
The 12 pickleball courts at the Leawood’s City Park have been popular enough that additional courts may be in the offing. Leawood Park and Recreation Director Chris Claxton presented some data to city councilmembers last week along with the possibility of building eight more pickleball…
In Johnson County, cost and land availability can be roadblocks to housing projects
Local officials, prospective homebuyers and industry experts largely agree that Johnson County doesn’t have enough housing, which often squeezes prospective homebuyers or puts renters in unsustainable living situations. Johnson County’s 2021 housing study painted a concerning picture of the situation, and in the intervening years…
‘Undeniable need’ — JoCo unveils new stabilization center for people in grips of mental health crises
A new 14-bed center in Shawnee has opened to help people dealing with mental health issues get the care they need. On Friday, local officials cut the ribbon on Johnson County Mental Health’s Adult Crisis Stabilization Center at The Recovery Place in Shawnee. Located near…
Girard Council considers election changes
Just one day prior to last week’s election, the Girard City Council considered a charter ordinance regarding elections, potentially changing its selection process from wards to an at-large vote. The council features four wards, each represented by a council member, including a mayor position as…
Kansas audit: Counties not fully compensated for delivering state-mandated services
The Kansas Legislature’s auditors reported that Johnson, Labette and Gove counties spent $28.8 million to provide three state-mandated government services last year, but received one-third of that total in state, federal or user-fee funding to cover those administrative costs. The three counties were selected for…
Kansas seeks share of federal government’s $50 billion rural health transformation program
Kansas turned in a 60-page application last week in hopes of receiving a share of $50 billion in federal money designed to transform rural health. Nearly one-third of Kansans live in rural communities, and the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan aims to improve health in…
Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, expresses regret
A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor. In two of the four agreements, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office also crafted a statement admitting…
Markets no longer view the December rate cut as a sure bet, with Fed officials casting doubts
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wasn’t kidding a couple weeks ago when he said a December rate cut wasn’t in the bag. Recent remarks from Powell’s colleagues point to plenty of apprehension over whether the central bank should deliver its third consecutive easing of policy…
Frontenac says “No” to Mulberry
With standing-room-only, the Frontenac City Council voted unanimously to oppose the annexation of land north of the city by the City of Mulberry for use as a solar farm. Several concerned citizens, residents of Frontenac, Mulberry, and Crawford County at-large, urged the council to vote…
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Contact Larry Kleeman or Henry Schmidt, call (316) 264-3400 or email info@ransonfinancial.com.