UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH
5-6


MARCH
11-13
 


Manhattan, Kan. 






APRIL
9


Leaning In: Full-day Conference
WSU Campus



MAY
3-9


Public Service Recognition Week 
Events at various locations




Kansas Association
of City/County Management Winter Conference held Feb. 6

On Feb. 6, the PPMC welcomed city/county managers, administrators and professional staff to the Kansas Association of City/County Management (KACM) Winter Conference held on the WSU Campus. 

The one-day conference began with a keynote presentation titled "Celebrate the power of Better Together" by Steve Dickie, executive director of The CharacterWorks Group and Character Coach for the WSU Men's Basketball team. Throughout the day, breakout session topics included workplace wellness, using data to make decisions, understanding mental health and attracting and retaining talent. In addition, KACM senior advisors Ray Hummert, Jay Wieland and Jim Witt led a session on what they wish they would have known or done early in their career. 

A new session called "ManagerTalks" was introduced this year, featuring seven managers/administrators presenting for five minutes each on what they are passionate about and how that has impacted their public service career. This was a great opportunity to network and learn more about managers/administrators and their communities from across the state. 

Back by popular demand was the "What are you reading?" session and book swap table. This session engaged participants on what they are reading and what they have learned. Concluding the day was Bill Coleman, head of faculty at Wichita's Northfield School of the Liberal Arts, who led the group through fun activities and talked about how improv can foster problem solving, build relationships and generate innovation. It was a great day to learn and network and we look forward to seeing everyone again at the KACM Winter Conference in 2021!
First Women in Public Service Luncheon of 2020 features Andover's McCausland   

The first Women in Public Service (WPS) luncheon of 2020 was Feb. 21 at Larkspur, and featured Andover City Administrator Jennifer McCausland. During her presentation, McCausland talked about her career journey - including her decision to say yes, lean in and accept a promotion from Assistant Administrator to Administrator in 2019. She also shared some good advice, including preparing yourself to say yes, talking to people you trust and always doing the best you can right where you're at.

This year, the WPS group is reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and has adopted the theme of Lean In, Lead On. To join WPS for 2020, click here. For more information about the group, click here.
Article by WSU MPA grads included in 'Small Town Economic Development: Reports on Growth Strategies in Practice'  

Economic Development is important, no matter the size or location of a community. Government leaders in the small town of Bel Aire, Kan., know this as well as anyone. 

Back in 2008, Bel Aire had a new housing development that was struggling. To assist this development, city leaders used a Community Improvement District (CID) to help with special assessments and property tax incentives to give the development a much-needed boost. The strategy worked, as a new builder came in and completed the development.

" As a longtime ICMA member, I thought it might be good to share this story and how we used a well-known retail/commercial tool to revive a residential development," says Bel Aire City Manager Ty Lasher. "The goal was to show other managers who have the use of a CID to look for any benefit possible as a tool."  

So, Lasher, Michelle Meyer and Alison McKenney Brown - all graduates of the WSU Hugo Wall School's MPA program - wrote an article titled "Community Improvement District to the Rescue." This article was published by  ICMA and GFOA and was also included in the book Small Town Economic Development: Reports on Growth in Practice .

"The authors," notes Lasher, "felt it was a great article to use for their book as an example of an economic tool typically used for certain purposes being used for something that was very different but created a win for the community."
Wichita State University Public Policy & Management Center  |   wichita.edu/ppmc
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