Kansas Municipal News
City in Kansas says it violated its own ordinance, will remove goats
Newton says it violated its own ordinance by using goats as weed control on city-owned industrial land. “We tried this with the best intentions on a property in a non-residential setting,” City Manager Daniela Rivas said in a news release Friday. “We wanted to get the job done in a better way and save some taxpayer dollars. We’re so sorry we put the cart before the goat.” The goats have been on the property since April 4 and were supposed to be there through the end of the month. They will be removed as soon as possible, the release says, adding the city may look in the future to allow animals grazing for property or vegetation management. “Newton City Code prohibits the harboring of livestock such as goats,” the release says. “City maintenance staff thought of the goats as a short-term contracted service rather than long-term residents, but City legal staff have advised that is not an exception to code.” The 190 yearling goats were supposed to “clear brush and saplings from the undeveloped property” on about 24 acres in the Kansas Logistics Park, which is on the east side of town. “City staff have burned the area every couple of years but hoped the goats would be more effective in keeping down saplings and be a more eco-friendly and cost-effective option,” the release says.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Andover YMCA announces opening day
The wait is over. After two years of recovery and renovations from the aftermath the 2022 F-3 tornado, the Andover YMCA has announced their opening day. The organization opened the water park feature of the fitness center in summer 2023, welcoming a line of guests ready to enjoy the park. On May 20 YMCA members and guests can finally step back into the new and improved Andover YMCA. Of those improvements made is the new 44-foot Luckey Climber that replaced the rock wall feature. The lucky climber is geared towards children, which allows them to safely climb with friends from the main floor of the facility to the second floor while looking out the large windows. While many aspects were replaced due to water damage and destruction from the tornado, staff says that guests can expect a familiar look. For those wanting to catch an early glimpse of the facility, a public open house will be held from 10am-7pm on Friday, May 17. Guests will be able to walk through the facility and speak with staff members. Equipment will not be available for use during this time. The organization has teased that the gymnastics area as well as a new space just for families named Farha Family Park. “We are very proud of what has been accomplished and can’t wait for the Andover Y to be full once again with youth and adults who inspire each other to be their best,” said Y President and CEO Ronn McMahon.
Source: Andover American
The City of Wichita could lift electric scooter riding curfew as early as next week
The City of Wichita is considering lifting the curfew for Veo Ride scooters. Currently, they shut off at 9 p.m. or dusk. “I normally start using them around six,” said Zidane Forbes, who uses the scooters. Forbes typically rides around on the scooters at night in Wichita. So when he heard they could soon be used after 9, he’s on board. “Most of the time, that’s when people actually want to use them. Like during the that’s a good idea. But later at night, you want to use them, ride around just have a little bit of fun,” said Forbes. The City of Wichita is considering lifting that 9 p.m. curfew that’s been in place since the scooters first came to the Air Capital in 2019. Veo Ride asked for the curfew to be lifted because more people seem to ride after 9. “A lot of your ridership is in the evening. We see people get on the scooters and have to get off at roughly at dusk or 9 pm, asked us to look into any revisions that we could make,” said Penny Feist, Interim Director of Wichita Transit. If the curfew for Veo Ride is lifted, every scooter is required to have headlights and reflectors.
Source: KAKE – News
Evergy scraps plan to run new power poles through central Wichita park, neighborhoods
Evergy has called off plans to run new, taller power poles through Riverside Park and nearby north-central Wichita neighborhoods after two years of vocal opposition from residents. The transmission replacement between the 17th and Emporia substation and the 11th and Jefferson substation will move forward, but the rebuild route will stop there instead of continuing across the river and through the park. “After further evaluation of the transmission line between the substation at 11th Street and Jefferson to the substation at 777 West Central Avenue, we determined the rebuild is not needed at this time,” Evergy Communications Manager Kaley Bohlen said in an email statement. “Infrastructure upgrades we have made throughout the city, as well as a planned substation upgrade (at Third and Mead), have allowed us to remove the project from the current schedule.” She said the existing transmission line connecting the two substations, which was built in the 1950s, will remain in place and continue to serve the area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Wichita launches $5 million program to boost affordable housing supply
As housing supply remains stubbornly low throughout Wichita, low-to-moderate income households remain particularly impacted. The city announced Thursday an initiative aimed at increasing affordable housing options in the city’s core, through a $5 million investment in the creation of the Affordable Housing Fund program. AHF provides an avenue for developers and contractors to buy and rehabilitate homes that can then become viable and accessible to low-to-moderate income individuals and families — either as rentals or houses available for purchase. “The program will develop safe, healthy and affordable housing options for income-qualified residents,” a news release said. In early May, the city plans to issue a Request for Proposal that will allow qualified applicants to submit offers to buy available units within the program pilot areas, propose a per-unit scope of work for needed renovations of existing affordable housing units, request up to $40,000 per housing unit for renovation or purchase, and ask for project-based voucher assistance. Sarah Gooding, city real property section manager, said during a Thursday media briefing that the pilot locations are between North 25th and 26th Streets, largely along Minnesota, Ash and Piatt; and near Meridian and Pawnee, primarily along Haskell and St. Clair.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for April 12, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
66,000-square-foot Immaculata Church is a draw to City of St. Mary’s
The impact of the building stretches beyond the town of St. Marys, population 2,749. On an average weekend, about 4,000 people attend the four Masses celebrated at Immaculata. “Not only has it already drawn many people here from other SSPX chapels, but it has also drawn more Catholic souls here who are learning about tradition,” said Father Patrick Rutledge, who has served as rector of the parish for eight years. “It has also drawn even many non-Catholics to come and see what the Catholic faith and the worship of almighty God is all about.”
Source: Salina Journal
Here’s how officials are working to make Topeka ‘the ideal site’ for new aviation jobs
Wichita has long been known as the Air Capital of the World. Efforts are taking off to likewise turn Topeka into a key center of operations in the aviation industry. The Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority and economic development officials here are teaming up to work to create an environment aimed at bringing hundreds of aviation jobs to Topeka, The Capital-Journal was told recently by Curtis Sneden, director of economic development for the MTAA.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for April 11, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 10, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Hot inflation data pushes market’s rate cut expectations to September
As recently as January, investors had high hopes that the Federal Reserve was about to embark on a rate-cutting campaign that would reverse some of the most aggressive policy tightening in decades. Three months of inflation data have brought those expectations back down to earth. March’s consumer price index report Wednesday helped verify worries that inflation is proving stickier than thought, giving credence to caution from Fed policymakers and finally dashing the market’s hopes that the central bank would be approving as many as seven rate cuts this year.
Source: CNBC
Public works director made interim city administrator of Hiawatha
Public Works Director Brad Scott was made Interim City Administrator based on approval by all city commissioners at the end of Monday’s City Commission meeting. In the meanwhile as Scott serves in the interim position, he will also advertise the city administrator position. Mayor Becky Shamburg congratulated Scott for accepting the position.
Source: City Government | hiawathaworldonline.com
North Newton changes marijuana possession from misdemeanor to infraction
People caught with a small amount of marijuana in their vehicles in North Newton will be issued a traffic infraction ticket if this is their first offense. North Newton City Council members unanimously passed 4-0 an ordinance amending the uniform public offense code for possession of marijuana on Monday night. Councilman Dennis Campbell was not at the meeting.
Source: Harvey County Now
Merriam latest JoCo city poised to tighten rules on AirBnbs
The Merriam City Council on Monday mostly expressed interest in stricter regulations for short-term rentals — such as AirBnbs or Vrbos — within the city. This comes about a month after the city of Fairway approved stricter regulations for short-term rentals. Currently, Merriam treats short-term rentals the same as regular rental units, subjecting short-term rentals to landlord licensing and rental inspection requirements.
Source: Johnson County Post
Shawnee agrees to loan money to 2 new downtown businesses
Shawnee City Council approved two forgivable loans for new businesses coming to the area…. Both loans come from the Shawnee Entrepreneurial and Economic Development grant program (SEED, which is a city-run program that provides one-time payments in the form of forgivable loans to businesses as part of the city’s efforts to encourage expansion of existing businesses and attraction of new employers, according to city documents.
Source: Johnson County Post
Bonner Springs creates STAR bond district for 180-acre Mattel theme park
The Bonner Springs City Council laid the groundwork for tax incentives to support the development of a $490 million Mattel-themed entertainment hub near the Kansas Speedway. On Monday, the City Council unanimously approved the creation of a new sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district to support the potential creation of a Mattel-themed amusement park, three new hotels, a Christmas village and various other entertainment spaces.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Kearny County students learn about fentanyl prevention
Students in Kearny County learned about fentanyl prevention April 3 in two presentations, one at Lakin High School and the other at Deerfield High School. The 45-minute assemblies featured a new DARE fentanyl curriculum designed to teach students good decision-making skills that will help them lead healthy lives and cope with high-risk circumstances including drugs like fentanyl. The Kearny County assemblies were two of the first presented in the state of Kansas using the new fentanyl prevention curriculum. Presenters included Randy Combs, Kansas Attorney General’s office Statewide DARE Program coordinator; DARE officers, Deputy Kyle Carlisle and Detective Garnett Hartman; and Kearny County Emergency Management Director Jared Webb.
Source: Garden City Telegram
10-year Treasury yield jumps back above 4.5% after March inflation tops estimates
U.S. Treasury yields were little changed Wednesday, as investors looked out for the release of U.S. consumer inflation data later in the day, which could signal the outlook for interest rates. At 7:05 a.m. ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was almost flat at 4.358%. The yield on the 2-year Treasury was last at 4.739% after dipping by less than one basis point. Yields and prices move in opposite directions, and one basis point is equivalent to 0.01%. Investors awaited fresh inflation figures, as uncertainty about the path ahead for Federal Reserve monetary policy, specifically for interest rates, has grown in recent weeks. The consumer price index for March is due out on Wednesday, ahead of the producer price index that will be released on Thursday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones are expecting the CPI to have risen by 0.3% from the previous month and by 3.4% from the previous year. This would be a 0.2 percentage point increase, compared to the February reading of 3.2%. Core CPI, which strips out more volatile food and energy costs, is expected to have hiked by 0.3% on a monthly basis and by 3.7% on the year. Investors are closely watching the data for hints about if and when the Fed will cut interest rates this year, after recent economic reports and comments from policymakers cast doubt over expectations that multiple rate trims will take place in 2024.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Mulvane relaunching farmers market in April
The Mulvane community will once again have a farmers market, with the Market on Main set to start for the season on April 14. It will be set up on Prather Street in downtown Mulvane, adjacent to Nessly Auto Park. Farmers, crafters, makers, home-based merchants and more will be taking part. Market dates are set for the second Sunday of each month, from 1-4 p.m., through October. Vendors are still sought, and those looking to sign up or for more information can visit mulvanechamber.com.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
City of Wichita settles lawsuit for police department targeting people of color on gang list
Tuesday morning, the Wichita City Council approved a settlement in a lawsuit its facing for the police department targeting people of color on its gang list. The federal lawsuit was filed in 2021 by Progeny, a local juvenile justice group. According to the lawsuit, WPD’s gang list includes 5,200 people, 1,700 active members, 3,000 inactive, and 221 gang associates. The suit claims police target people on the list with frequent stops and searches over minor traffic violations. It also says there’s a minimum bail of $50,000 if charged with a violent crime. It states black people make up 60% of Wichita’s gang list, Latinx make up 25%, and white people make up 6%. “This was something that I cared about before I was on council and it’s an opportunity to reform it,” said Wichita city council member Brandon Johnson when talking about why he was glad the city reached this settlement Tuesday. He says the current state statute makes it too easy for someone to be listed as a gang member, and he thinks this is a step in the right direction. “We had some business leaders who were on there and were concerned about their records and being labeled gang members there. They haven’t had that type of gang activity for decades,” said Johnson when talking about how someone could be on the list even if they were no longer active, simply because they had a past or they knew people involved. Under the settlement, the city will pay $550,000, as well as make some changes to its system.
Source: KAKE – News