Kansas Municipal News
Manhattan overturns Historic Resources Board on proposed Art and Light Museum
The City of Manhattan looks to April 19 to finalize amended redevelopment plans for the city’s Downtown STAR bond district to account for a private Art and Light Museum proposed to be built at the corner of Pierre and 3rd Street. Manhattan City Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved the amended redevelopment plan on first reading as well as overturning the Historic Resources Board’s (HRB) vote to deny the project authorization to move forward. “We have expected a development on this piece of property, this area, for a long time – for over 20 years,” says Mayor Linda Morse. “It’s finally come and […] I don’t see a feasible or prudent alternative for another 20 years.” Numerous representatives of the Manhattan/Riley County Preservation Alliance (MRCPA) and an adjacent property owner, though, urged a pause in order for the museum’s developers to reconsider chosen building materials and the planned height of the facility to more align with the Downtown Historic District in which it is planned to be constructed.
Source: 1350 KMAN
City to discuss employee pay study that calls for additional $2.1M in salaries
City administrators recommend giving raises to 77% of city government employees, a move that would cost $2.1 million in additional annual spending. The Manhattan City Commission will discuss that proposal, which comes from a pay study, during a work session at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. In September, the city government hired Allen Gibbs Houlik, L.C. (AGH) of Wichita to conduct a “Total Rewards Study” to examine where compensation for Manhattan government employees rank in comparison to others in the industry.
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article
Hutchinson-area labor market remains tight
A job fair at Hutchinson Community College Thursday smashed previous participation records by employers looking for help as the local and regional labor markets remain extremely tight. “We have at least 155 employers signed up,” said Dave Mullins, Director of the Business and Industry Institute at Hutchinson Community College. “We usually have around 100.” The participants are from businesses and industries across the board, he said. “Everyone is looking for employees,” Mullins said. “This is as tight a labor market as we’ve ever seen. There’s definitely upward pressure on wages.”
Source: Hutch News
Groups working to resolve Topeka’s affordable housing dilemma
Affordable housing is defined as housing that takes up no more than 30% of one’s income. In Topeka, the median household income was $49,647 per year between 2016 and 2020. But the per capita income over the same time period was $28,420 per year according to statistics from the Census Bureau. That’s before taxes are taken and translates to $2,368 per month. … Such advocacy groups as Topeka JUMP, Habitat for Humanity and Cornerstone of Topeka try to find and/or provide affordable housing. Members of those organizations say they need more action from the Topeka City Council, however. Some first steps have been taken: In July 2019, the city council unanimously approved a motion that would establish a housing trust fund. This would offer housing developers like Habitat for Humanity and Cornerstone another source of funding.
Source: CJonline
Be Prepared to Submit the ARPA Project and Expenditure Report by April 30, 2022
As a reminder, all Non-Entitlement Units of government (NEUs) that accepted funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are required to submit the first Project and Expenditure Report to the US Treasury by the deadline of April 30, 2022.
NEUs are required to have an active SAM.gov registration to complete reporting for ARPA funds. Please check your SAM.gov account before the April 30, 2022, reporting deadline to ensure that the registration has not expired. The US Treasury Department is also implementing a transition from DUNS numbers to UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) numbers. An UEI number is automatically assigned to your city when you register with SAM.gov. You can also find this information on your SAM.gov profile.
If you have any ARPA reporting questions such as the identity of the Authorized Representative or Point of Contact (POC), need signed awards documents (to include budget documentation) or have project and expenditure report questions, reach out to the Office of Recovery using the CONTACT US link on the Office of Recovery website.
For issues relating to reporting portal access, changing the Authorized Representative to access the portal or general reporting portal troubleshooting, e-mail the US Treasury directly at SLFRP@Treasury.gov. Reporting resources and technical assistance webinars released by Treasury can be found here.
If you update the Authorized Representative with Treasury, please also notify the Office of Recovery using the CONTACT US link to continue receiving resources and information from the Office of Recovery.
Source: Kansas Office of Recovery
Municipal Bond Trends for April 8, 2022
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.
Hutchinson library director stays on the roof until 800 books are checked out
Prepared with a windbreaker, a thermos full of coffee, snacks and two library books, director Gregg Wamsley placed his warm knit hat on his head and sat down on his most comfortable outdoor chair at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning on the roof of the Hutchinson Public Library on Main Street. In celebration of National Library Week, Wamsley sat on the roof of the library until 800 books were checked out. By 3:30 p.m., 400 books had been checked out, making it to the halfway point, according to updates on the library’s Facebook page.
Source: Hutch News
Hutchinson labor market remains tight, labor fair entrants broke records
A job fair at Hutchinson Community College Thursday smashed previous participation records by employers looking for help as the local and regional labor markets remain extremely tight. “We have at least 155 employers signed up,” said Dave Mullins, Director of the Business and Industry Institute at Hutchinson Community College. “We usually have around 100.” The participants are from businesses and industries across the board, he said. “Everyone is looking for employees,” Mullins said. “This is as tight a labor market as we’ve ever seen. There’s definitely upward pressure on wages.” State labor data shows that workers are returning to the labor market, but a large number who left remain out, and young people, Mullins said, have been slow to jump in.
Source: Hutch News
Topeka Police Chief Bryan Wheeles shares challenges and seeks sense of direction from community
Topeka Police Chief Bryan Wheeles is no stranger to the community. He has lived and worked in the capital city for 28 years, hired to the Topeka Police Department straight out of college in 1994. Since then, he has worked in various divisions throughout the agency. And since November, he has been the city’s police chief after spending a year as the department’s interim leader. His path to becoming a law enforcement officer wasn’t following in his parents’ footsteps. He came from a family of educators and was the first member to join a police department.
Source: CJonline
Lawrence takes initial step toward reconsidering policy that requires most homeowners to pay for sidewalk repairs
After being in place three years, a controversial policy that generally requires property owners to pay for repairs to sidewalks bordering their homes and businesses could potentially see some changes. Though clear differences of opinion existed among the Lawrence City Commission members, commissioners directed city staff as part of their meeting Tuesday to develop a plan to gather public input regarding how the city funds sidewalk repairs. Mayor Courtney Shipley, who has pushed for years to have the city’s policy reconsidered, said how the city currently handles sidewalks is inequitable and that just because the city has not historically funded sidewalk repairs doesn’t mean that’s the right approach.
Source: LJWorld.com
Governor announces $13.2M for public transit
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly came to OCCK in Salina Thursday to announce more than $13.2 million of funding for 48 public transit projects across the state. Transit agencies in Kansas, including OCCK, will receive funding as part of the Access, Innovation and Collaboration (AIC) Public Transit Program. OCCK, provides transportation services to the general public, seniors and persons with disabilities through a variety of programs. It was chosen as the place for the announcement because of its successful expansion of the bus facility at the organization’s transportation complex, which was partially funded by Kansas Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and was completed in November 2021. “What you see happening here in Salina is a prime example of a community and a region working together to make public transportation a viable option for many Kansans,” Kelly said.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for April 7, 2022
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.
At this year’s Overland Park Farmers’ Market, shoppers have plenty of room to move
If you’re looking for the Overland Park Farmers Market this year, it’s moving back to its usual spot. The market’s 85 vendors will set up shop for the Saturday market April 16 at 7950 Marty St. to start the market’s 40th season. It still won’t be the shoulder-to-shoulder crowded experience many remember from years past. Although the market will operate under its pavilion, it won’t be limited to that space. To encourage better social distancing, the market is “expanding its footprint,” said Kristina Stanley, recreation supervisor for the city’s parks and recreation department. The old pavilion set-up used about 22,000 square feet. This year’s will be roughly 70,000 square feet, which will include parking lots north and south of the pavilion, as well as parts of Marty Street that will be closed to traffic during market hours.
Source: Joco 913 News
Say goodbye to one “road diet”: In this JoCo city, an experiment got mixed reviews
Late last fall, Shawnee put the downtown stretch of Johnson Drive on a “road diet,” halving the number of through traffic lanes, creating a dedicated turn lane in the middle and adding 19 parking spots. It was an experiment that officials hoped would reduce traffic speeds, improve safety for pedestrians and others, increase street parking and promote downtown as a destination. But Johnson Drive, which is to be repaved starting in late May, will be going off its diet and returning to two through lanes in each direction.
Source: Joco 913 News
Fed’s James Bullard says interest rate policy is ‘behind the curve’ but ‘all is not lost’
The Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates substantially to control inflation but may not be as “behind the curve” as it appears, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said Thursday. One of the Federal Open Market Committee’s most “hawkish” members in favor of tighter policy, Bullard said a rules-based approach suggests the central bank needs to hike its benchmark short-term borrowing rate to about 3.5%. However, he said bond market adjustments to the Fed’s more aggressive policy, in which yields have surged higher, suggest rates are not that far askew. “If you take account of [forward guidance] we don’t look so bad. Not all hope is lost. That is the basic gist of this story,” Bullard said in a speech at the University of Missouri.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Schools close in Marion County because of gun threat
Several school districts in Marion County canceled classes on Thursday after a report of a telephone threat. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said a Wednesday night call made to law enforcement in the Kansas City area reported that kids were planning to bring guns to school in Marion County. The information was given to Marion County agencies and school officials, who decided to cancel classes. The KBI has been working with the Kansas State Department of Education and its Safe and Secure Schools Unit to monitor the situation.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Wichita Approves $100K for Water Conservation Rebate Program
The Wichita City Council approved $100,000 for the continuation of the Water Conservation Rebate Program. The program encourages residents to purchase water-saving household devices by offering rebates in the form of a credit to their water account. This is the 10th consecutive year of the program. Rebates are available to customers who have active utility accounts with Public Works & Utilities for the delivery of potable water. The application, list of qualifying items, program requirements and submittal instructions are available here. Online and paper applications will be accepted through December 31st, 2022 or until funds are exhausted. Devices purchased after January 1st, 2022 will be considered for rebate. There are 7 devices and appliances that are eligible for rebates. There is a limit of five rebated items per water account. Rebates will not exceed the purchase price.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Emporia greenlights next phase of zoo improvements
The Emporia City Commission gave the green light for the next phase of improvements at the David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Wednesday afternoon. Zoo director Lisa Keith asked the commission to allow for a request for quotation on the expansion and renovation of the zoo education center. She expected work to begin this fall. “This would be an expansion/remodeling project that would bring the square footage from 3,600 square feet to 8,600 square feet with an additional outdoor space that would add an additional 1,500 square feet outdoors,” Keith said. The project encompasses a number of improvements including the additional of two classrooms, indoor space for “ambassador” animals, a library, and general building improvements.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Youth to learn about Newton’s history through local program
Downtown Newton has a rich history of buildings and the people who owned them and worked there. There’s the Ragsdale Opera House, which burned at the beginning of the 20th century and no longer is standing, to the Anderson’s Book Store location, which has stood the test of time for decades. There are the old and “new” courthouses with one replacing the other and the old First Presbyterian Church, torn down to make way for the current Harvey County Courthouse. Several local entities have combined efforts to help youth in grades four through eight learn about the rich history of Newton as part of the town’s sesquicentennial, this year.
Source: Harvey County Now
KDOT seeks public input on future of electric vehicle charging
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) invites citizens across the state to join a live Telephone Town Hall event to discuss the future of electric vehicle charging. The meeting will be conducted entirely by phone and start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 (CDT). Citizens planning to attend the meeting are encouraged to sign up in advance. By signing up, each participant’s phone number will be automatically called at 6:30 p.m. that night and connect them to the meeting.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Could Olathe East have handled school shooting better? District officials investigate
As officials continue to investigate last month’s shooting at Olathe East High School that left three injured, they say they are reviewing whether the incident might have been better handled. They are looking at what led up to the shooting, how it was handled and how procedures were followed, Brent Kiger, the district’s director of safety services, told the Olathe school board Thursday night. He said administrators are meeting with law enforcement to review protocols, as well as interviewing all personnel who responded to the shooting. “But we also understand that there might have been a few things we could do different,” Kiger said. “And that’s what we’re doing now, sitting down with these groups of folks to figure out what can we learn in the unfortunate event of something happening similar, how can we do it better.”
Source: KC Star Local News
Johnson County emergency responders deploy to protect Kansas from wildfires
Emergency responders from the Kansas side of the metro have deployed to help protect the rest of the state. Members of the Johnson County Wildland Task Force deployed to Salina Tuesday afternoon. It includes employees from Northwest Consolidated Fire District, City of Olathe Fire Department, and City of Shawnee, KS Government Fire Department. The group shared a video showing employees packing up to leave and arriving at their posts. A utility vehicle, three brush trucks and one tender have also been deployed as part of the task force. The Kansas Forest Service and Kansas Division of Emergency Management made the decision to activate the Task Force after Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency due to the high threat of wildfires across the state this week.
Source: KSN-TV
SE Kansas schools band together for Parsons Fire Dept.
Two southeast Kansas schools are uniting to help their local fire department. Students from Labette Community College and Parsons High School have constructed a fire training box — made from an old shipping container. They did so after the Parsons Fire Department approached the Workforce Education Department at LCC about the project. The Department has used similar containers at different training events. “I believe this is very beneficial, it helps our students out with live-training exercises in the welding world and it helps them prepare for the manufacturing we do in this area,” said Travis Brumback, PHS Welding Instructor.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Columbus Schools awarded Waste Tire Grant
A southeast Kansas school district is making things more accessible for its students. The Columbus School District has been named one of the recipients for the 2022 Waste Tire Grant. It’s an annual award from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. $9,000 will go towards resurfacing the playground at Park Elementary with recycled tires. It will help make the playground ADA accessible — which has been a goal for Superintendent Brian Smith. “I wanted to make all of our playgrounds and so by doing this at Park and then with the bond issue at Central will be moving the students from here up there, that will allow us to build new playgrounds there and actually make all our playgrounds accessible,” said Brian Smith, USD 493 Superintendent.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Topeka finishes cleaning up “Tent City”
The City of Topeka has finished its clean-up efforts at a large homeless camp as of Wednesday. The city began to clear out “Tent City” on Tuesday for public health and safety reasons. City of Topeka Director of Communications, Gretchen Spiker, said that the homeless who were located on the property would be temporarily relocated and would be able to return to the site once clean-up ended on April 6 at 5:00 p.m. Tents still remain but are located on railroad property which the City of Topeka has no jurisdiction over. As of 7 p.m. on Wednesday, no one had moved back into the site to set up tents in the cleared area.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Riley County seeks input from residents on healthcare
Riley County is hosting several public meetings during April and May for residents to share their perspectives on healthcare, financial resources and neighborhood environments. Officials said the discussion will help guide the top priorities for health in Riley County for the next three to five years. “The 2020 community needs assessment gave us a good idea of the needs in Riley County,” Riley County Health Educator Shanika Rose said in a statement. “Now we’re asking residents to help decide on top priorities, so we can address what’s most important to them.”
Source: themercury.com
Municipal Bond Trends for April 6, 2022
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.
Fed’s Patrick Harker is ‘acutely concerned’ about inflation, sees ‘deliberate’ rate hikes
Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker joined the chorus of central bankers warning about inflation and the interest rate hikes needed to control rising prices. In remarks Wednesday, the policymaker said he is worried about an inflation rate running at its highest level in 40 years. He anticipates the Fed will respond by raising rates and reducing the level of bonds it is holding on its balance sheet. “Inflation is running far too high, and I am acutely concerned about this,” Harker told the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. “The bottom line is that generous fiscal policies, supply chain disruptions, and accommodative monetary policy have pushed inflation far higher than I — and my colleagues on the [Federal Open Market Committee] — are comfortable with,” he said. “I’m also worried that inflation expectations could become unmoored.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Johnson County will reconsider solar farm rules that are among the strictest in the country
After a four-hour public hearing of speakers solidly in support of solar energy development, the Johnson County Commission voted to send proposed solar farm regulations back to the county planning commission with suggestions that would make them less restrictive. The 6-1 decision, with Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara the lone vote against, takes aim at three proposed rules that govern: how big a solar farm could be, how long it could be in operation and how close it could be to a city limit. Those three items were made more restrictive during a politically charged planning commission meeting late last year and have since been criticized as being so unfriendly that they would discourage all solar development in the county.
Source: KCUR News
Emergency rental assistance still available; guidelines changed to help more Kansans at risk for eviction
The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program is accepting applications for rent, utility and internet assistance from tenants and landlords who have experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as KERA, recent updates have allowed the state to serve more Kansans, according to a news release from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. Here are the changes: Eligible households may receive up to 18 months of assistance — an increase from the previous 15-month maximum; Recipients may receive a lump sum of $900 in past-due or future internet assistance — an increase from the previous $750 limit; and Households that have endured financial hardship at any point during the pandemic may now qualify for assistance.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Manhattan overturns Historic Resource Board’s denial of Museum of Art and Light
Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday approved moving forward with the Museum of Art and Light project despite questions emerging about its impact on historic aspects of downtown. The commission unanimously overturned the Historic Resources Board’s denial of the planned museum. In addition to disagreeing with the board’s view that the nonprofit museum would have a harmful effect on the Downtown Historic District, commissioners also cited that the $44 million museum would generate too much economic benefit to stop it now. During its March 28 meeting, the board voted to deny the project 3-2, finding that the project, set to be built on Third Street between Houston and Pierre streets, would damage or destroy historic resources. Board members said they were concerned about the museum’s height relative to other buildings in the immediate area. Plans call for the museum to be 65 feet tall.
Source: themercury.com
Marysville poverty simulation for educators described as ‘eye-opening’
About 12 percent of Marshall County’s children live at or below the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that means an income of $27,750. About 2 percent of children here live in extreme poverty, far below the federal level. Marysville school district’s teachers and other staff spent a morning learning a little about what that’s like recently during a poverty simulation conducted at a workshop in the Marysville Junior High gym. The educators, who took on the roles of young mothers, elder grandparents, teen-aged fathers, and other caregivers, spent a few hours trying to figure it all out and finding a way to get by. Those interviewed afterward found the experience helpful.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
EDGE grants spur $29,000 in beautification projects
ElevateEdgerton!’s new EDGE Grant program has exceeded expectations. Within just three weeks of launching the new Residential and Commercial Beautification program, ElevateEdgerton! has awarded all $5,000 set aside for 2022. Property owners applied for a wide variety of property façade improvements, totalling $29,000 in total project costs. “ElevateEdgerton! is extremely honored to be able to invest back into the community and help residents fund these type of improvement projects. Sometimes just a little extra bit of help can be the deciding factor and we are humbled with the interest we had in this program,” said James Oltman, ElevateEdgerton! president.
Source: Gardner News
Municipal bonds yields climb double-digits
Municipals sold off Wednesday, with triple-A benchmarks being cut up to 12 basis points across the curve, while U.S. Treasuries strengthened on the front end but the long-bond hit year highs and equities ended in the red. The Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes show “the doves have left the building,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, after the FOMC announced it expects a $95 billion per month balance sheet reduction, with analysts forecasting announcement and reduction beginning in May. “The Fed is worried about inflation spreading and that suggests they will remain aggressive a while longer even when growth concerns start to emerge later in the year.”
Source: The Bond Buyer
Wind energy discussions continue in Brown County
Discussions on wind energy are heating up at the county level. The Brown County Commissioners have spent some time in discussions about the possibility of wind energy farms that could come into the county. While Commissioner Bill Pollock has made it clear he is against any wind energy farms coming into the county, Commissioners Lamar Shoemaker and Richard Lehmkuhl are interesting in hearing from county residents. Several years ago there was a town hall meeting about proposed wind energy in the large courtroom at the courthouse, and the commissioners have discussed holding something similar again as the topic continues to arise.
Source: County Government | hiawathaworldonline.com
Kingsley is Harvey County’s new finance director
New Harvey County Finance Director Shannon Kingsley returned to her old stomping grounds. The Newton resident said she left her job as an internal financial auditor for Sedgwick County because she loved the community where she lives. She last worked for Harvey County in 2005 as the planning and zoning director. “I had some good experiences in the past and I am excited about the opportunity to come back here,” she said. Kingsley said she left in 2005 because the planning and zoning director position was part-time and she wanted to pursue a job that was more in alignment with her education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Wichita State University. She said her job for Sedgwick County was more finance-centric, based on Sedgwick’s sheer size.
Source: Harvey County Now
Evacuations in Butler County after wildfire erupts near El Dorado airport
An active wildfire forced evacuations near the El Dorado airport Wednesday afternoon, a Butler County dispatch supervisor says. The fire started in the area between SW 30th and Highway 77, about one mile west of the airport. It is mostly contained, but still has some spots burning, according to the supervisor. Evacuations started around 2:30 p.m. near SE 30th and Turkey Creek. No injuries or damage to structures have been reported, dispatch says.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Wellington City Manager Shane Shields announces his retirement in August
The Wellington City Council met on Tuesday to implement the new RHID program and approve board and commission appointments. But the meeting’s biggest development was an important announcement from a longtime civil servant. Wellington City Manager Shane Shields announced his retirement after 42 years of civil service, 20 of which with Wellington. Shields has been the city manager since 2016. Shields started with the police department for eight years before moving on to City administration as a City Clerk and Finance Director in 2010. He ascended to his current position in 2016, where he’s effectively served the community since. Previously, he was the Sumner County Clerk. His retirement will go into effect on August 1, after which he plans to spend some time with his family.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Christian Braun’s rise to championship with Jayhawks rooted in small-town Kansas
Long before he ever won a national championship, before the growth spurt to become a 6-foot-7 NBA prospect, before the obscenity-laced celebrations, Christian Braun was just a scrawny hooper from Burlington, Kansas. If you’re wondering about the source of the fiery passion that Braun used to spark Kansas and help the Jayhawks overcome the largest deficit in NCAA men’s title game history for a 72-69 win over North Carolina at the Superdome on Monday, look no further than his hometown. The decision by Braun to continue listing Burlington as his hometown instead of Overland Park, where the family moved for his freshman year of high school, has been a curious one to those close to him.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for April 5, 2022
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.
Fed’s Mary Daly says high inflation ‘is as harmful as not having a job,’ pledges rate hikes ahead
San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly is worried about inflation, telling an audience Tuesday that the high cost of living is causing a heavy burden on society. “I understand that inflation is as harmful as not having a job,” she said during a session presented by the Native American Finance Officers Association. “That if you have a job and you can’t pay your bills, or I feel like I can’t save for what I need to do, then that’s keeping you up at night,” Daly said. “And our goal is to make sure that people don’t stay up worrying about whether their dollar today will be the same and worth a dollar tomorrow.” Daly spoke with the Fed embarking on a policy tightening phase that will include higher interest rates and a reduction in the amount of bonds the central bank is holding. Fed officials hope that reversing the ultra-easy policies they put into place during the pandemic will help get inflation closer to their 2% longer-run goal.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Facades of Louisburg Improvement Program
FLIP, or Facades of Louisburg Improvement Program, provides matching funds from the city to assist in facade improvements of homes and businesses. New for 2022 is a change in the award amount for residential applications up to $1,000. FLIP Residential provides city residents a one-time reimbursement grant of 50% of the project costs to make exterior improvements to the front of their home. However, the city’s reimbursable amount shall not exceed $1,000. For example, if your project costs $500 then the reimbursable amount will be $250; a $1,500 project will award $750 and a project $2,000 or more will get a reimbursement of $1,000, the full $500 allowed.
Source: Louisburg, KS
Peterson hired as Manhattan’s Director of Community Development
Manhattan has found its next Director of Community Development. Stephanie Peterson, who currently serves as Executive Director of the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization, has been hired to fill the position and will start on May 9. She will succeed Eric Cattell, who retired in March. Peterson will oversee the city department which administers different aspects of development, land subdivision, long-range and current planning and housing and zoning issues within Manhattan. Peterson joined the Flint Hills MPO as Transportation Planner in 2013, shortly after its designation by the State of Kansas. It provides a regional forum to coordinate transportation planning and programming across portions of Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Pet Ordinance is passed by Atchison
Joe Warren, Assistant City Manager, presented Adopt Ordinance 6680 to the commission at the Monday evening meeting. The ordinance is repealing the old amendment and including new residential requirements to the keeping of animals on property inside the city limits. The ordinance grew out of complaints about a property near 8th and Unity streets that has dog houses with dogs and no living quarters on the lot. The owners of the animals live across the alley from the lot with the dogs. Discussions ensued at the city level about the uses of vacant lots in general about whether there should be restrictions in place to protect the animals, neighborhoods and property values.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Kansans doctors praise federal COVID-19 funding for underserved communities
Doctors at a Kansas hospital say a half-billion-dollar federal grant is helping combat COVID-19 in communities across the state most disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Using funds from the National Institute of Health Rapid Acceleration and Diagnostics in Underserved Populations program grant, the University of Kansas Health System leaders say they have been able to engage with communities in need. The hospital engaged with 10 focus counties: Crawford, Douglas, Finney, Johnson, Lyon, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward and Wyandotte. Ed Ellerbeck, chairman of population health at KU Medical Center, said the hospital held more than 500 testing events and delivered almost 50,000 tests in underserved communities. He said the core of the effort was to reassure Kansans about their ability to work with the health care system and combat misinformation.
Source: Kansas Reflector