Derby City Manager Kathy Sexton announces pending retirement

2021-07-15T08:23:10-05:00July 15th, 2021|

Derby City Manager Kathy Sexton recently announced her plan to conclude service at the city on Dec. 10, 2021. Sexton has been city manager since 2006... “Kathy has devoted nearly 16 years to Derby, and she has made a real difference here,” said Mayor Randy White. “I am proud of all that our city staff and our community have accomplished during her tenure.” Source: Derby Informer | News

Powell’s Testimony Has Little Impact on Municipal Bonds

2021-07-15T08:11:14-05:00July 15th, 2021|

Municipals were mostly steady Wednesday... after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said scaling back asset purchases was not on the table yet. Triple-A benchmarks did see some strength on the short end, moving yields lower by a basis point, while out longer there was slight pressure on levels. ... Reaching “substantial further progress” toward its maximum-employment and price-stability goals, which will allow the Federal Reserve to cut back on asset purchases “is still a ways off,” Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell repeated Wednesday. Testifying before the House Financial Services Committee, where many members expressed concern about inflation, Powell said price pressures [...]

City, merchants discuss downtown Newton development

2021-07-15T08:13:11-05:00July 14th, 2021|

Existing city plans call for more restaurants and entertainment downtown. The possibility of increased passenger rail and visitors downtown makes those plans even more important. However, there’s not piles of turnkey restaurant space available. “It’s not that I have anything against insurance companies or realtors, but that’s not always what you want in downtown spaces,” Community Development Coordinator Zach McHatton said. Newton’s downtown remains fairly full. But in recent years, the number of properties to be used as eating or drinking establishments has shrunk.  Source: Harvey County Now

This is the Fastest Shrinking Place in Kansas

2021-07-15T08:26:12-05:00July 14th, 2021|

The U.S. population grew by just 0.35% between July 2019 and July 2020, the smallest annual growth rate in well over a century. Driven in part by restrictions on immigration and a declining birth rate, stagnant population growth may have profound and far reaching consequences -- including reduced economic growth, stagnanting home values, and fewer workers to support an aging population. This trend is by no means unique to last year. Over the past decade, cities and towns across the country have reported rapid population decline. The city of Oswego has the fastest shrinking population in Kansas, according to the U.S. [...]

Dodge City Business Park named shovel ready for development

2021-07-15T08:21:43-05:00July 14th, 2021|

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced Dodge City Business Park has become the latest developed site to be certified through Kansas’ Certified Sites program. This is a result of a new agreement between the Kansas Department of Commerce and Sunflower Electric Power Corporation. When a site has been certified through the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Certified Sites Program, Commerce will certify the site as well, such as was done for the Dodge City Business Park. “Our new partnership with Sunflower has already resulted in a major new addition to our Certified Sites program,” Lt. Governor/ Secretary Toland said. [...]

Edgerton’s mayor drops in on “hams”

2021-07-15T08:27:10-05:00July 14th, 2021|

Don Roberts, Edgerton mayor, was reintroduced to the world of amateur radio June 27 and came away from the experience all the more appreciative of the key role amateur radio operators, or “hams,” can play in providing communications over great distances during an emergency. The occasion was Field Day, the annual nationwide emergency preparedness exercise organized by the American Radio Relay League, and the place was former Gardner businessman Del Sawyer’s operating station in Edgerton. Source: Gardner News

Ark City kicks off 150th Celebration today

2021-07-14T08:08:15-05:00July 14th, 2021|

The City of Arkansas City will celebrate its 150th anniversary (sesquicentennial) starting tonight with a kickoff event in downtown Ark City. The 100 block of South Summit Street will be blocked off to through traffic from 2 to 10 p.m. today between Central and Fifth avenues. (The avenues will remain open to east-west traffic.) A variety of entertainment will be available in the street, including a cornhole tournament and picnic tables. Music will be provided by Aztec Event Services and there will be food available for attendees. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Tiny cottages being built in McPherson to provide transitional housing for those experiencing homelessness

2021-07-14T08:07:36-05:00July 14th, 2021|

The McPherson Housing Coalition is building ten tiny cottages near the corner of Oak and Skancke in Mcpherson. Chris Goodson, the Executive Director for the coalition, says the fully finished, 440 sq. ft. homes will serve as shelter for people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness. "It's going to be a life-changer for many, many families," said Goodson. The Program Director for the Housing Coalition, Karolyn Moore, says the project costs around half a million dollars, with each cottage costing roughly $50,000. The cottages will consist of two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a laundry area. Source: KSN-TV

Municipal Bond Trends for July 13, 2021

2021-07-14T07:58:19-05:00July 14th, 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.

Humboldt locals fight early Sunday sales

2021-07-14T07:59:26-05:00July 13th, 2021|

Possibly realizing they were up against powerful forces, Humboldt Council members changed their tune Monday evening and decided not to pursue Sunday morning sales of alcohol. About 15 local citizens attended the meeting specifically to oppose the city changing its ordinance to allow sales to begin at 9 a.m., rather than at noon. At their June 14 meeting, council members seemed inclined to approve the request after hearing appeals from Dan Onnen of Freedom Liquor Store and Suzanne Whitcomb of Pete’s Convenience. ... During the intervening month, however, it seems the idea has festered with some. At Monday’s meeting several letters [...]

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