Municipal News & Jobs

More than a decade ago, a study by a Kansas Forest Service fire prevention specialist identified several areas in Reno County as “high hazard” areas for wildfires because of the number of cedar trees and other accumulated deadwood. … There have been fire mitigation efforts in recent years, including controlled burns along road rights-of-way and efforts to educate the public about how to protect their homes. But the results have been limited, due to the continuing spread of invasive red cedars and widespread public apathy, officials said. “Reno County is losing a battle against woody plant encroachment, causing high fire danger,” Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar advised the Reno County Commission during a study session Tuesday on wildfire mitigation. “While there are many ways to mitigate the risk of wildfire, the most successful would be the prioritization of fuel reduction.”
Source: Hutch News

The Pittsburg Fire Department participated in an old tradition dating back to the days of horsedrawn fire engines on Friday. Known as a “push in ceremony,” it recreates the task of returning fire wagons to the station. According to Fire Chief Dennis Reilly, “horses cannot walk backwards under a load, so firefighters had to manually push the apparatus back into the station.” … the truck was backed into its bay under its own power as city firefighters ceremoniously “pushed” it into the fire station. Once in place, Chief Reilly made the traditional radio call to dispatch, “Rescue Seven is now in service.”
Source: Morning Sun

Obviously, police methods and investigative tools of a half century ago pale in comparison to today’s vast array of computers, forensic techniques, and even 911; fingerprints had to be manually examined and classified. PPD, like most PDs in the U.S, (the majority of which had fewer than 10 officers), did not have police- package patrol vehicles; some of you will remember the unmarked (red lights only) pastel-colored Plymouth Fury vehicles we drove (bought from/serviced by Dick Butler motors) that were operated virtually 24/7; we got a new fleet each year, but due to their wear and tear they were frequently taken out of service for repairs, and had to be taken out to the bypass often to “blow out the cobs (carbs).” Information concerning wanted people, stolen vehicles, and anything else that was identifiable was requested and received via our teletype machine (which was also out of service often for maintenance)…
Source: Morning Sun

The Kansas Public Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees voted Friday to halt future investments in Russian assets amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine, following in the footsteps of pension systems across the country. While some members initially pushed for a full divestment, others said they would rather focus on the future, with the fund’s current holdings in the country largely liquidated anyway. KPERS staff termed the move as historic, as it was the first time the board unilaterally acted for external reasons, with past instructions to remove investments from Sudan and other politically objectionable regimes coming from the legislature.
Source: CJonline

Several local government and community leaders will form a refugee task force to determine how Topeka can best situate itself to help Ukrainians fleeing violence in their country, the Greater Topeka Partnership announced Friday morning. Yana Ross, a Farm Bureau financial services agent who moved to Topeka from Ukraine 16 years ago, will lead the task force. Topeka City Council member Karen Hiller and Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce president Curtis Sneden will also join other business leaders and representatives, with more members potentially added as the task force begins its work. Yana Ross, a local insurance agent originally from Ukraine, shows her countries pride during a press conference at Evergy Plaza in February. In the partnership’s statement, Ross said she was grateful for the support the community has already shown Ukraine, and that others would also come to know Topeka as “a loving and welcoming city.”
Source: CJonline

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.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office put its new muscle car on parade recently as Lawrence celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. The new car, which made its debut — with an assortment of bells and whistles — in the March 17 parade, is a 2021 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Edition, “Super Bee,” and it was purchased to serve as a recruiting tool for the office, said Sheriff Jay Armbrister. The car cost $48,000 and was bought using drug forfeiture funds, approved by the county administrator, he said. “We decided to purchase it not only for recruitment and special events, but also as a backup patrol vehicle,” Armbrister said. The sheriff can make purchases up to $25,000 out of the drug forfeiture fund and up to $50,000 with the approval of the county administrator, he said.
Source: LJWorld.com

Like many organizations, agencies and individuals across the globe, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is contributing to Ukraine’s effort to defend itself against Russia’s deadly invasion. The office has donated bulletproof body armor — specifically 20 ballistic vests — to help Ukraine in its fight against President Vladimir Putin’s military, which invaded the country on Feb. 24. “In law enforcement we seek to help however we can and when we can,” Sheriff Jay Armbrister told the Journal-World Friday. “Like the rest of this community, we have felt very helpless and have wanted a way to help the people of Ukraine.” That opportunity arrived when the National Guard asked Kansas law enforcement agencies if they could contribute to the effort.
Source: LJWorld.com

Valley Center Municipal Court has found a home. At least for now. While court was held in the Public Safety Building on East Fifth for years, it was shut down for a while during COVID. Officials tried to have it at City Hall, but that didn’t work. Now it’s in the community building in Lions Park. Officials said it works much better in the larger space, but some in the community don’t like it. The problem is, the public library shares the same building. The arrangement brings prisoners and library patrons together in one space, though library and court hours have been adjusted to alleviate much of the conflict. Some complain that the public’s open access to the community center could set the stage for a nefarious plot. But police and court officials said court is safe, and the city has no plans to move it anytime soon.
Source: Ark Valley News

Douglas County is in the early stages of imagining an Open Space Plan for preserving natural landscapes located throughout the county. Such a plan seeks to help guide the protection and management of natural lands. That can include areas like trails, native prairies, wetlands, wildlife habitats, agricultural lands and heritage sites. The specific areas in Douglas County that might end up a part of that realized vision aren’t clear quite yet, county Zoning Director Tonya Voigt and interim Sustainability Director Kim Criner Ritchie told the Journal-World in a Zoom interview last week. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some broader ideas already on the table.
Source: LJWorld.com

Another group of workers employed by the City of Lawrence has voted to unionize. The city’s maintenance and Parks and Recreation workers voted this week to join Teamsters Local 696 in Topeka. The 70-worker unit is “seeking improved working conditions and wages, respect on the job, and fair and consistent work rules,” a news release from the Teamsters on Wednesday said. In January, Teamsters organizer Dale Crane told the Journal-World that key issues for the employee group were pay and policies. Crane said that employees have gotten small and infrequent raises in the past, and that pay for some employees did not reflect the hazardous conditions they sometimes have to work in. He said employees would also like to see clearer and more consistent policies.
Source: LJWorld.com

Progress with a new tennis facility in Kenwood Park is underway. The facility will be located where the old municipal swimming pool and rodeo arena stood ground. The new facility will have 12 tennis courts with lights along with repurposing the pool house as a clubhouse with restrooms, showers and other amenities. The Salina City Commission unanimously passed a resolution on March 1, 2021, to partner with Unified School District 305 and Salina Tennis Alliance Inc. for the project that will cost $2.6 million. Naming rights for the complex are still available.
Source: Salina Journal

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.

Crawford County Emergency Medical Service (CCEMS) personnel are driven by a desire to serve their community. Like police and firefighters, these men and women are there
to care for and comfort those in need. According to Randy Sandberg, director of Crawford County EMS, the county has eight ambulances at its disposal. Three of these are typically in service at any given time. The remainder are used as back-up vehicles in case of technical issues or if they are needed to cover a call when all other crews are out. He
says they are also rotated in and out of service to keep mileage down on individual ambulance.
Source: Morning Sun

Streaming services have grown tremendously since the start of the pandemic in 2020, and while that’s good news for viewers who appreciate their options, it’s not such good news for local government. Cable companies have seen a significant drop in revenue during the past couple of years and that’s had a corresponding impact on franchise fees collected by cities. After peaking at $21,725 in 2017, the annual franchise fee collected by the City of Scott City has began to decline over the next two years before plunging to just $5,359 in 2020. This past year, it slipped to $3,985. Municipalities across the state are experiencing a similar loss of revenue, which has prompted them to look at some means by which they can tap into the revenue shift toward streaming services. The loss of about $13,000 in franchise fees paid to Scott City means that revenue has to be generated elsewhere (e.g., about one-half mill in property taxes) or the budget will have to be cut by a similar amount. “We have no idea how much revenue the streaming services are generating and what the potential could be for a franchise fee if that were to be allowed (by the state),” says City Administrator Brad Pendergast.
Source: Scott County Record