As you drive over one of the nearly 600 bridges in Sedgwick County, you’ll notice that most of them are concrete bridges. Through a project at the University of Kansas, that might change one day. William Collins, an associate professor in the department of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering at the University of Kansas recently won an award from the American Institute of Steel Construction to study innovative steel bridge designs. Such designs could lead to bridges that cost less across their lifespan than bridges in use today. “Steel is more expensive than concrete but if we can come up with a solution that doesn’t need to be replaced… this option could be more cost effective and save money in the long term, even if it’s more money up front,” Collins said.
Source: Wichita Eagle.

With private sector investment in the Kansas economy on another record pace, and the unemployment level among the nation’s lowest, Gov. Laura Kelly brought her “Back in Business Tour” to Western Kansas this week. With stops in Scott City and rural Lane County, this wasn’t just an opportunity to recognize the state’s recovery from the pandemic, but learn what can be done to continue this economic momentum.
Source: Scott County Record.

After months of sometimes testy negotiation over the future of an aging law enforcement firearms range, the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and Hutchinson Police Department have decided to each go their own way. The split, in the end, should benefit both agencies, city and county leaders learned during a joint meeting of the Hutchinson City Council and Reno County Commission earlier this week. That’s because each agency can build a range that better meets their particular needs, with redesigns that will address training desires beyond just annual qualifying at the shooting range. Under the new arrangement, the city will now control and develop the existing range on several acres at the end of Bonebrake Street, while the county will build a new range on county-owned land next to the landfill.
Source: Hutch News.

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.