Municipal News & Jobs

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly is the latest official to join central bankers ready to support a 50-basis-point interest-rate increase if necessary to cool inflation. “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that we get price stability,” Daly says. Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, who supports raising the benchmark rate to 2.5% by year-end, says, “I don’t want to presuppose every meeting from here to July, but I do think we need to be more aggressive earlier rather than later.” St. Louis Fed President James Bullard predicts a benchmark rate of more than 3% by year-end and says, “We have to think bigger maybe than we have in the past.”
Source: Bloomberg

An uncertain situation in a grocery store parking lot has an Andover woman thankful for a way to text for help. Her story is making the rounds on Facebook as she tries to bring more attention to the state’s Text-to-911 system, which many don’t know about. Earlier this week, Karisa Spooner reached out to 911 after someone drove alongside her car and blocked her in. … Not wanting to signal to the pair that she was reaching out for emergency assistance, Spooner texted “Help” to 911. “It was perfect to act like I was looking for change and then text, and it was so fast,” she said. Dispatchers in Andover were able to ping her location and an Andover police officer nearby responded within two minutes.
Source: KWCH

With the goal of teaching economics to fourth grade students, Lakeside Elementary brought its yearly Just Imagine Kansas project to life this past Tuesday in the school’s gym. Just Imagine Kansas uses the state’s social study standards to look at economics and how that relates to Kansas by allowing the students to create a city simulation. For months leading up to the event, the fourth graders researched businesses in the local community. … For the city simulation, the students also elected a mayor. Each of the three fourth grade classes voted for a student to “run for the election,” and those three students each had to give a speech of why he or she should be elected the mayor. When the votes were cast, Adriana Lopez Gomez was appointed mayor. “I said I would help citizens with their problems,” Lopez Gomez said about
her speech.
Source: Morning Sun.

Hutchinson and Reno County leaders agreed in separate meetings on Tuesday to evenly split the cost of replacing $880,000 in firefighting equipment requested last week by Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer. The County Commission vote carried a stipulation that city and county staff work to resolve other outstanding shared operating agreements between the city and county that have expired. Beer requested the extra funding last week, in the wake of the destructive Cottonwood Complex Fire, suggesting both municipalities tap American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
Source: Hutch News

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.

Alicia Hidalgo, City Clerk, City of Liberal, Kansas, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas. The award was announced at the 72nd annual City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas (CCMFOA) Conference in Manhattan, Kansas on Thursday, March 17th. Alicia has worked for the City of Liberal for over 15 years, beginning her service as City Clerk in 2015. Prior to being hired as City Clerk, Alicia held various positions for the City of Liberal. Alicia was instrumental in navigating the City of Liberal through the COVID pandemic, apprising their City of the ever-changing laws and mandates. She is a trusted resource for planning and decision making and is always willing to go the extra mile for the City’s success. Alicia serves on the Local Emergency Planning Board and is a member of numerous local clubs and committees. She helped implement a community clean-up program to help local organizations earn money for their programs; oftentimes volunteering her time on the weekends to help. Alicia is a member of CCMFOA and has served on the CCMFOA Education/Certification Committee, the Education/Program Planning Committee and the Board of Directors. She has served as an International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) conference committee member and was inducted in 2020 as an Athenian Fellow. Alicia’s City Manager stated that she “embraces challenges, finds solutions, and maintains relationships” to help make their City a better place. Outside of work, she would probably say that her greatest joy comes from her two sons. This award is presented each year to a City Clerk or Finance Officer who has made significant contributions to the State association, the profession and their city. The award was named in honor of Mildred Vance, former auditor and City Clerk/ Municipal Finance Officer of Parsons, Kansas, who served her community from 1948 to 1988. Mildred was instrumental in developing and promoting professional education programs for city clerks and finance officers at the state and national levels and was one of the first 100 clerks to receive the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in 1972. Mildred was later accepted into the Academy for Advanced Education (AAE) and served as a director of IIMC. She strongly believed that city clerks and finance officers should contribute to their communities and she unselfishly gave of her time and talents in church, community and civic activities.
Source: CCMFOA

The Kansas Municipal Insurance Trust (KMIT), which has been operating as a self-insured work comp group for Kansas cities and other municipalities/public agencies since 1994, has announced the formation of a new employee health plan for its members. The KMIT Association Health Plan (KAHP) was launched with ten members (all Kansas cities) on January 1, 2022. As with its KMIT ‘parent’, KAHP membership is open to virtually all Kansas ‘municipalities’ (statutorily defined)—which includes cities, counties, townships, water and other special districts, community colleges, school districts, and many other public agencies. Health insurance coverage for Association members is through Kansas Blue Cross/Shield. Rates and specific optional plans are determined by KAHP, in coordination with BC/BS. KMIT’s business partner in the KAHP is IMA/CORnerstone, Wichita, which provides professional technical support and overall guidance. The purpose of KAHP is to be able to deliver quality health insurance options for public entities and their employees/families, with affordable and stable employee premiums calculated on an association (large group) rating basis. KMIT Pool Administrator Don Osenbaugh serves as the primary contact point for the KAHP. Osenbaugh can be reached at 316-259-3847 or dosenbaugh@cox.net.

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 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.

Millions of Americans are facing a growing problem of so-called food deserts. With America’s rural population shrinking, grocery stores in many of those areas are closing. At least 40 million Americans live in food deserts nationwide. In rural areas, that means residents live at least 10 miles from a grocery store and 20% are low-income. Unlike many grocery stores in rural America, St. Paul, Kansas has one that will never shut its doors. James and Kelly Voorhies run the only local market, but the city owns it — a unique arrangement to keep food available.
Source: CBS News

About a decade ago, downtown Hutchinson had more empty buildings than full, with at least every other storefront without a restaurant, office space or retailer. Today, only a few buildings remain vacant or underdeveloped, with more than 50 new businesses moving in since 2017. The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and multiple small businesses worked to continue the success of downtown, bringing out of town traffic and locals into their shops. “It’s been a great experiment in leveraging local support from the city. Our Chamber resources and partnerships who want to be part of making a vibrant place that people want to visit,” said Debra Teufel, president and CEO of The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Hutch News

As a school psychologist in Olathe, Lina Kitson is part of the team of teachers, administrators and support staff that diagnose and intervene when a student might start showing mental or behavioral health issues. “People often miss mental health as being a part of our role,” she said. “But it’s a big part, and we provide mental health supports either directly or indirectly.” It’s a busy job, especially since she splits her time between two elementary schools, or about 800 students total. Even then, she knows she has it relatively easy, at least compared to some of her colleagues across the state. Other school psychologists in more rural Kansas are often assigned to cooperatives of several school districts that themselves transcend county lines. Those psychologists might be responsible to thousands of students.
Source: CJonline

Concerts, conventions, drag races and demolition derbies regularly draw large numbers of visitors to Topeka, said Mike Bell. A list of some of the most popular of those gatherings was shared with The Capital-Journal by Bell, who is vice president of sports sales and marketing for Visit Topeka Inc., the city’s official destination marketing organization. Bell added that Topeka will break new ground in terms of encouraging tourism next month by doing something it’s never done before — hosting a travel conference.
Source: CJonline