In addition to its large solar project, NextEra is considering a wind farm for southwest Douglas County, parts of Franklin County

2021-10-22T07:31:34-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

The same energy firm proposing to build a 3,000-acre solar farm in southeast Douglas County also is exploring the feasibility of building a large wind turbine farm in southwest Douglas County, I’ve confirmed. Florida-based NextEra Energy has begun reaching out to large landowners in southwest Douglas County and northwest Franklin County about a project dubbed the Larksong Wind Energy Center. Source: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence seeking public feedback on two options for bus route redesign; both include Uber-like ‘microtransit’ options

2021-10-22T07:30:57-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

The City of Lawrence is seeking feedback from residents on two options for a long-awaited redesign of the city’s bus routes, both of which include Uber-like “microtransit” options, though with different ideas for how that service would function. Both scenarios call for a traditional network of bus routes that is complemented by microtransit service, according to information in a city survey about the routes. The survey says microtransit is an app-based service that operates like Uber and Lyft but utilizes transit-specific vehicles and offers affordable and predictable fares. To be most productive, microtransit trips must be kept relatively short, and the [...]

After numbers show about 30% of Lawrence police remain unvaccinated, local police union says it respects right to choose

2021-10-22T07:26:49-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

In the face of lower vaccination rates among Lawrence police officers when compared to other local first responders, the city’s police union says it respects officers’ right not to get vaccinated. As the Journal-World recently reported, though the City of Lawrence has seen a significant increase in the vaccination rates among employees since announcing a new testing and leave policy a month ago, numbers show there are notable differences among the vaccination rates of the community’s first responders. Source: LJWorld.com.

Salina’s ‘Mural at the Mill’ celebrates completion with ribbon-cutting

2021-10-22T07:21:03-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

Standing high about the skyline of downtown, “Mural at the Mill,” the latest piece in the Salina Kanvas Project is now complete. The mural, which was placed on the 100-foot tall H.D. Lee Flour Mill on North Santa Fe Avenue, was completed by Guido Van Helten of Australia, who has done similar, large-scale projects around the world. The Kanvas Project was the vision of Travis Young, CEO of Vortex Global. He said the hope is that the work done will be something to bring more murals and street art to the downtown area and to Salina as a whole. “We want [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for October 21, 2021

2021-10-22T07:07:19-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

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.

Derby enters new franchise agreement with AT&T – switching from “per line” to “gross receipts”

2021-10-22T06:56:34-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

Franchise fees are typically charged to companies to compensate cities for the use, regulation and maintenance of right-of-way. They can be charged based on number of access lines or gross receipts. Given the decreasing number of landlines, the city switched to a gross receipts fee structure with the new agreement – which is projected to bring in approximately $1,500 per month compared to the $1,100 per month collected currently. Source: Derby Informer | News

Lenexa council supports Retreat on the Prairie project off K-10 as a ‘housing for all’ solution

2021-10-22T06:58:44-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

The Retreat on the Prairie, a mixed-use residential and commercial development proposed near K-10 and Ridgeview, got the go-ahead from Lenexa city leaders this week... Some councilmembers also said the project would help the city provide a diverse housing stock. “It’s all of the things that we as Lenexa have done,” said outgoing Councilmember Mandy Stuke. “I just kind of want to bring it to the forefront that I think this is really a good use of the space. “I’m pleased to see that we have different types of housing for all, young to old, and I think this is going [...]

New Wichita website intends to clear way for small businesses to bid on government contracts

2021-10-22T06:59:00-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

A new website from the city of Wichita aims to be a one-stop shop for doing business in and with the city. The website, workwith.wichita.gov, is a platform from software startup Qwally, which works with local governments to build a more inclusive digital landscape for government contracting, procurement and resource access. "We've never had a site like this before," said Chris Haislett, contract compliance officer in the city's purchasing department. "So a lot of this information is probably on wichita.gov right now, but a lot of is not centralized." Source: Wichita Business Journal

‘Painful history’: Overland Park could terminate tax incentives for apartment complex

2021-10-22T06:59:21-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

The city of Overland Park could terminate its tax incentive agreement with the developers of the long-troubled Market Lofts project downtown. The city’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday unanimously agreed to end the tax increment financing deal after the developer sold the project without the City Council’s approval — putting it in default of the agreement. The council will make the final decision once the required documents are prepared, spokesman Sean Reilly said. The Market Lofts multifamily development, at the northwest corner of 80th and Marty streets, was among the first mixed-use apartment complexes to be planned in [...]

Man pleads guilty to shutting down rural Kansas water system

2021-10-22T08:02:46-05:00October 22nd, 2021|

A man has admitted that he shut down a rural central Kansas water system but said he was too intoxicated to remember what happened, prosecutors said. Wyatt Travnichek, 22, of Ellsworth County, pleaded guilty Wednesday to tampering with a public water system and reckless damage to a public computer during unauthorized access. Prosecutors said Travnichek used a shared pass code to shut down the Post Rock Rural Water District in Ellsworth, which supplies water to about 1,500 customers in central Kansas. Source: Wichita Eagle

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