Kansas Municipal News
Yes, ARPA can pay for that
Allen County commissioners learned the final guidelines from federal officials on coronavirus relief funds will allow them more flexibility to use the money however they want. They’ll now prioritize county projects when spending the $2.4 million. “Can ARPA pay for that?” has become a common refrain as county leaders debate how to best use $2.4 million federal COVID-19 relief funds. On Tuesday, Allen County Commissioners got the answer: in most cases, yes. They can use ARPA for just about anything. But with requests for the money more than double what the county has, commissioners now want to prioritize county projects over others.
Source: The Iola Register
State legislation seeks to alleviate strain on health care system
Gov. Laura Kelly has signed House Bill 2477 which allows staffing flexibility at health care and long-term care facilities throughout the state to address staffing shortages that continue to strain the health care system, according to the governor’s office. The bipartisan bill signed by the governor Friday, Jan. 21, extends provisions in Executive Orders 22-01 and 22-02 until Jan. 20, 2023. “This legislation will mitigate the shortage of health care providers while we deal with the Omicron surge,” Kelly said. “I want to thank the Legislature for their bipartisan support and swift action to get this bill to my desk. Our front-line health care workers have been overwhelmed by the highly contagious Omicron variant, and they need our support now.”
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Kansas bills eliminating food sales tax offer different approaches to addressing food insecurity
A pair of bills aimed at eliminating the food sales tax on food and groceries in Kansas will help reduce rising food insecurity and aid families in getting food on the table, supporters say. House Bill 2484 would exempt food and food ingredients, including products sold at restaurants, from state retail sales and compensation use tax beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The bill would not include alcoholic beverages or tobacco. The second measure under consideration Tuesday, House Bill 2487, would exempt Kansans beginning July 1. The measure excludes prepared food from the exemption, unlike the first bill, and provides an exemption for sales of farm products sold at farmers’ markets.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Federal Reserve points to interest rate hike coming in March
Facing both turbulent financial markets and raging inflation, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday indicated it could soon raise interest rates for the first time in more than three years. In a move that came as little surprise, the Fed’s policymaking group said a quarter-percentage point increase to its benchmark short-term borrowing rate is likely coming soon. It would be the first increase since December 2018. The statement comes in response to inflation running at its hottest level in nearly 40 years. Though the move toward less accommodative policy has been well-telegraphed over the past several weeks, markets in recent days have been remarkably choppy as investors worried that the Fed might tighten policy even more than expected.
Source: CNBC
Wichita names interim police chief
Deputy Police Chief Lemuel Moore has been announced as the Interim Police Chief for the City of Wichita, starting in March. Chief Gordon Ramsay announced in December that he would be stepping down as of March 1st to focus on family. He had served as chief since 2016. The city is starting an extensive search process to find the next chief. Moore is a 30-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department and he has served in a number of capacities, starting as a beat officer in Patrol East and moving into the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. He became a Deputy Chief this month for the Administrative/Support Services Division.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Newton sees flurry of industrial sales
The Newton City Commission voted to sell 117 acres to one developer, 15 to an existing company, as well as an airplane hangar, for good measure. Oh, and the ABI building is back on the market. The flurry of activity began with the 5-0 approval of a sale of Kansas Logistics Park property to developer Louis Robelli. Robelli originally requested 180 acres from the city and offered to pay $7,250 per acre. The city office and he negotiated and landed on a sale of 117 acres for $8,000 per acre. According to the city memo tied to the deal, Robelli plans on building at least one 50,000-square-foot warehouse as well as a possible $3 million laydown area next to a rail line to be built. The property he bought at the KLP can be connected to an existing rail spur.
Source: Harvey County Now
New project in Parsons park would serve those with physical and sensory needs
An effort is underway in Parsons to create a park that everyone can enjoy. The Parsons State Hospital and Training Center has partnered with the City of Parsons to upgrade Railroad Park. The new project would turn the existing area into an inclusive sensory park for those with physical, sensory, or other needs. Right now the project is focused on generating at least $150,000 in funds through grants and community support. “We’ll have to do fundraisers, of course, and private donations will always be accepted. We have volunteer help with the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, I’ve had churches that are very interested in helping,” said Marlys Sohmber-Jones, Parsons State Hospital Program Consultant.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Dog owner appeals ‘pick up, pay up’ order
A Peabody woman who three times has been accused of letting her dogs run free is appealing a ruling that she pick her dogs up from boarding and not return them to Peabody or else they will be adopted out. Terri Tucker was ordered Jan. 12 to pay $265 for having two dogs at large. She pleaded no contest in exchange for dismissal of two charges of no proof of vaccination and two charges of having dogs with no city tags.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Manhattan city government struggles with staffing shortages
The Manhattan city government is struggling with a lack of staff, according to various department leaders. Department heads on Tuesday updated the Manhattan City Commission about the things they accomplished in 2021, challenges to their departments and goals for 2022. They provided updates as a lead-in to the commission’s retreat on Friday. All departments mentioned being short-staffed, and the city is working on updating its compensation package in hopes to retaining and hiring employees. According to exit interviews, human resources director Tammy Galvan said the top five reasons people left were lack of advancement, under compensation, performance evaluation, training and leadership.
Source: themercury.com
Wichita Set To Host Best Professional Bull Riders In Major Tour
The best bull riders in the world have April 23rd marked on their calendars as a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour returns to Wichita, Kansas. It’s the PBR Nexgrill Invitational of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, according to Kacie Albert at the Wrangler Network. “For one night only, top bull riders will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown,” Albert promised.
Source: WIBW News Now
Bleeding Kansas Series Planned Six Sundays At Historic Lecompton
History of troubled times in Kansas before statehood and during the Civil War are being relived. It’s the Bleeding Kansas Program Series featured the next six Sundays at the Constitutional Hall State Historic Site in Lecompton. ‘We’ll have six different programs starting January 30th through March 6th,” announced Paul Bahnmaier of the Lecompton Historical Society. “On Sundays at 2 o’clock, there’ll be dramatic presentations about Kansas’ violent times from 1854 through 1865,” Bahnmaier said. Kicking off January 30th is the Kansas Day program with faces of the Free State House. It’ll feature the first general assembly of the territory of Kansas legally elected by the people.
Source: WIBW News Now
Municipal Bond Trends for January 25, 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.
Ortiz has City Manager aspirations
Becoming a city manager has been the dream of Olivia Ortiz since she was seven years old. It may seem young to have aspirations, but when your father is a city manager that all changes. “My father used to take me to functions and I got to know some of the other city managers. The programs were very interesting,” Ortiz said. Her father served as the city manager for Eudora, Kansas but has since retired. … At this time Ortiz is working for the City of Atchison, but she told the story of how she started. “I talked to Justin Pergont, interim city manager, and told him I would love to work for the city,” Ortiz said. “He told me that unfortunately there wasn’t money set aside for an intern. I responded that I didn’t care I wanted the opportunity to serve.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now
City and County Combine Tourism
In a continuing effort by Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott leadership to combine services, the city’s tourism department will come under the Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. Jackson Tough, the City of Fort Scott’s Tourism Director moved his office into the Bourbon County REDI office at Landmark Bank today. The city’s tourism department is funded through a Transient Guest Tax, Harrington said. “Any money left from the transient guest tax, after the administrative stuff, payroll, FICA, and any incumbrances…will come to REDI for marketing.”
Source: Fort Scott Biz
CNBC Fed Survey forecasts more aggressive Fed tightening
The CNBC Fed Survey shows market expectations have turned aggressive for Federal Reserve policy tightening this year and next, with respondents looking for multiple rate hikes and significant balance sheet reduction. The first hike is now firmly seen coming in March, compared with a June expectation in the December survey. Respondents expect 3.5 rate hikes this year, showing that three are agreed but there is debate over whether there’s a fourth. Half of the 36 respondents see two or three hikes this year, and half see four or five. An additional three hikes are expected next year. That makes the forecast for a funds rate of just over 1% this year, compared to around zero now, 1.8% in 2023 and a terminal rate, or the end-point of the hiking cycle, at 2.4% reached in March 2024.
Source: CNBC
Muni 5-year hits 1%, 10-year at a high not seen since April 2020
Municipals faced more cuts to triple-A benchmark yields with the five-year hitting 1%, a level not seen on Refinitiv MMD’s curve since May 2020 and the 10-year at 1.34%, a rate high not seen since April 2020 when the market was in recovery from the initial COVID-induced selloff. U.S. Treasuries were slightly weaker while equities ended in the red after paring back much larger losses earlier in the day ahead of Wednesday’s much-anticipated FOMC meeting.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Pottawatomie County continuing draft plan for solar farm regulations
Pottawatomie County planning officials are slowly working toward developing a publicly available draft for solar farm regulations. A joint meeting was held last Thursday between the three Pottawatomie County commissioners and the 10-member Planning Commission. County Planner Stephan Metzger tells KMAN that coming to consensus on a plan has not been easy. “The one thing that they all agree on is that they don’t really have a consensus on just about anything yet on this, not because of individual disagreements, just because it’s a complicated issue and we’re all trying to learn basically from the ground up,” he said. Because Pottawatomie County doesn’t have anything on the books governing solar farms, a number of questions have been raised over property rights as well as the visual, environmental and land use impacts. Commissioner Greg Riat applauds the planning commission for its work on drafting the guidelines thus far, and says it has led to “spirited discussion” from both sides.
Source: 1350 KMAN
El Dorado names Mike Holton as the city’s next police chief : ‘I’m deeply honored to serve El Dorado’
After a five-step process that has gone on since Oct. 22, 2021, El Dorado and its police department have announced that Mike Holton will be their next police chief. Holton will be replacing Police Chief Curt Zieman, who’s set to retire on March 23. “I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the city of El Dorado as your next police chief,” said Mike Holton. “I’m equally as honored to have the opportunity to step into the shoes of a man who served this community for over 40 years.” Holton served Butler County and El Dorado for 33 years, including 20 years under Police Chief Zieman. The Circle High School graduate is currently serving as the Lieutenant of the El Dorado Police Department. “I truly look forward to serving this community by building relationships with community groups, community organizations, and the citizens of El Dorado,” said Holton. “I look forward to serving El Dorado along with outside agencies in an effort to keep El Dorado a safe place to live, work, and play.”
Source: Andover American
Sedgwick County, Wichita leaders pledge review, changes in juvenile justice system
Sedgwick County commissioners and Wichita City Council members appeared at a news conference Tuesday to show unity and determination in working for changes in the juvenile justice system after the in-custody death of a teenager last fall. 17-year-old Cedric Lofton died last September after he was restrained in a struggle with staff members at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. County Commission chairman David Dennis called the death of Lofton heartbreaking and tragic, and he said the city and county will work together “to do what it takes to support, drive, and dedicate the resources needed to make sure that something that is as tragic as Cedric’s death does not happen to any youth again. County Commissioner Sarah Lopez said more than 15 agencies have agreed to work on a community task force that will look at policies and practices at JIAC, as well as system standards and practices from the Kansas Department of Corrections, and the physical layout of local facilities. Lopez said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is setting up a review of Cedric Lofton’s case with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the county will work with state officials on that review. Lopez said “we must do better to address the growing mental health needs within our juvenile corrections system, and we will.”
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Mulvane sales tax issue for city enhancements passes
Residents of Mulvane voted in a special election Jan. 18 on whether to implement a new sales tax to help fund multiple improvement projects. Based on the official results recently announced by Sedgwick County, the new sales tax passed by a slim margin (183-162) and will go into effect on July 1. The tax is scheduled to automatically sunset after five years. City Manager Kent Hixson noted many of the projects to be funded through the sales tax – including improvements to Rock Road, stormwater drainage and city parks – have been in Mulvane’s capital improvement plan for years.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Mayor’s new focus addresses homelessness, reform in KCK
Unified Government Mayor Tyrone Garner announced the formation of seven new committees to focus on everything from homelessness to arts and culture. Garner said each committee will be made up of Unified Government Commissioners and other community leaders. “In light of the number of persistent challenges facing our Community, I want to reassure our residents that we are unwavering in our commitment to make Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Garner said. One of those committees will address making sure people actually have places to call home. The Neighbors in Need/Unhoused Residents committee will address homelessness and housing costs. It will also look at the need for warming stations, shelters and food insecurity.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Spring Hill City Council remains deadlocked over councilman’s absence
The Spring Hill City Council remains in a political stalemate following the seventh consecutive meeting without a quorum. While the council attempted to meet Tuesday afternoon, the governing body could not conduct formal business due to the absence of Councilmember Steve Owen. On Jan. 10, newly elected council members Brian Peel and Joe Berkey were sworn into office. Shortly after the council voted for Berkey to take over the role of mayor following the resignation of former city council member and Mayor-elect Tyler Graves. Immediately after Berkey was seated, Owen left the meeting and has not returned. That night Owen left behind a letter voicing his concerns over what he felt was a lack of public transparency in the election of the new mayor.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
White Lakes Mall gets demolition timeline from Topeka leaders
Topeka’s newly elected mayor, Mike Padilla, and interim City Manager Bill Cochran held their first press conference of 2022 at city hall Tuesday morning. Cochran said the city is moving forward with the demolition of White Lakes Mall. Padilla said the process of knocking down the mall completely will take about three months, with asbestos removal being the top priority. “We want to do it right,” Padilla said. Padilla touted the latest report that showed Topeka crime statistics are dropping. Topeka saw a 25% decrease in overall crime in 2021, a 27% decrease in property crime, and a 13.5% decrease in violent crime, according to the Topeka Police Department. Those numbers come from the Topeka Police Department’s 2021 year-end report.
Source: KSNT News
Osage County voters to decide sales tax question for law center and jail
At a special election Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, local voters could determine whether future duties of the Osage County Sheriff’s Office will include operating a 120-bed detention center proposed to be built in Lyndon. On the ballot is a special question, which if approved would establish a 1/2 cent countywide sales tax to pay costs to “design, construct, equip and furnish a new law enforcement and public safety center …” The tax would pay for the startup costs of a proposed $20 million county jail and law enforcement center, and initial payments on bonds issued to finance the project.
Source: Osage County News
Overland Park approves pilot program making it easier for residents to keep backyard chickens
Backyard chickens finally can become a reality for Overland Park homeowners, as long as their properties are at least a quarter acre. In the culmination of months of fine-tuning, councilmembers gave the final okay Monday to a two-year pilot program that will do away with a time-consuming process residents have for years undergone in order to keep chickens on their property. “I have heard from numerous residents in my ward and in other parts of the city that they’re very interested in urban agriculture and setting up backyard hens. I think this is a good compromise to get us started,” said Councilmember Logan Heley.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Senate committee advances economic incentives for $4 billion project
A Senate committee early Tuesday night signed off on a new development incentive to help sway a $4 billion economic development prospect that’s eyeing the state for a 3-million-square foot manufacturing plant. The committee sent the package of incentives to the full chamber even as some of its more conservative members tried to slow the down process and provide more oversight of the potentially lucrative incentive.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Longtime Lawrence school board member explains how district’s budget crisis has unfolded
Lawrence school board Vice President Shannon Kimball took the board commentary portion of Monday’s meeting as an opportunity to provide some insight into the history of USD 497’s funding woes. The board heard from about 30 community members asking them not to close any neighborhood schools, and board members said they’d also received “hundreds” of emails. “In many of the emails that I’ve received and conversations I’ve had since the beginning of the year, the community has asked, ‘How did we get here and why are we having these conversations now?’ I’m going to talk about that a little bit because, of all the board members here, I’ve been on the board throughout all these conversations, and I have some things to share.” In her speech Monday, Kimball – who was first elected in 2011 — addressed the complex factors that have created this budget crisis over the last decade, including repercussions of Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, a lack of reserve funds, enrollment declines, and paying teachers competitive wages.
Source: The Lawrence Times
The Fed is likely to signal a March interest rate hike and that further policy tightening is coming
The Federal Reserve is expected to say this week it is moving forward with interest rate hikes and considering other policy tightening, reversing the easy policies it put in place to fight the pandemic. The Fed begins its two-day meeting Tuesday and on Wednesday afternoon, the central bank is expected to issue a new statement that shows it is resolved to fight inflation. Against the backdrop of a violent stock market correction, Fed officials are expected to say they are ready to push up the fed funds rate from zero as soon as March. “We don’t expect them to sound dovish,” said Mark Cabana, head of U.S. short rate strategy at Bank of America. “The [bond] market seems to be reacting to the drop in equities plus the geopolitical tensions so maybe the Fed sounds not as hawkish as they otherwise would have. But we don’t think the Fed is going to come out and tell the market it’s wrong for pricing in four rate hikes this year.”
Source: CNBC
‘Axe the Food Tax’ bill gets hearing as Kansas session speeds up
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to eliminate the state’s hefty food sales tax will be getting a hearing in the House Taxation committee this week. The governor’s plan, announced in November of last year, could save Kansans hundreds of dollars on groceries every year. It’s expected to save about $500 each year for a family of four…. It’s a sentiment that some Democrats and Republicans share. The bill, which would nix the state’s 6.5% food sales tax, is set for a hearing Tuesday afternoon …
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Overland Park neighborhood opposed to home part of substance abuse rehab program
People in one Johnson County, Kansas neighborhood are opposed to the men moving in down the street. They’re part of a substance abuse rehab program, one that intends to use a home in Overland Park’s Shannon Valley subdivision to bring addicts back to society. Neighbors complain their presence threatens to make their streets dangerous…. Overland Park’s Planning office approved the plan on Thursday, citing the Fair Housing Act. That statute, which sits under the Americans with Disabilities Act, protects people in recovery from alcoholism and addiction as being disabled.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
SEC taking a closer look at continuing disclosure for municipal bonds
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s acting director for its Office of Municipal Securities singled out disclosures related to its Rule 15c2-12 as an area the office is watching closely, following an academic study that found serious deficiencies in continuing disclosure. Ernesto Lanza raised that subject in his remarks before the Government Finance Officers Association’s Committee on Governmental Debt Management during GFOA’s 2022 Winter Meeting. … The concern is over two 2019 amendments to SEC Rule 15c2-12, which require bond issuers to disclose the incurrence of a financial obligation of the issuer or obligated person, if material, in addition to any agreements to covenants, events of defaults, remedies, priority rights or other similar terms of a financial obligation of the issuer or obligated person, if material. Source: Bond Buyer.
Ranson Financial assists Kansas local governments with continuing bond disclosure. For more information, contact Beth Warren at ewarren@ransonfinancial.com.
Derby finance director announces retirement
The city of Derby’s long-time Finance Director Jean Epperson has announced her planned retirement on June 13, 2022. Epperson has been with the city of Derby since 2000, serving 21 years as finance director. “Jean is one-of-a kind and will be greatly missed,” said City Manager Kiel Mangus. “We have valued not only her knowledge and expertise, but also her friendly, patient demeanor. She has been a tremendous asset to the Derby community and I’m happy for her and wish nothing but the best as she begins the next chapter of her life.”
Source: Derby Informer | News
Riley County eyeing House resolution aimed at requiring counties to have elected sheriffs
Riley County commissioners are keeping a close eye on a house concurrent resolution in the Kansas Legislature. HRC 5022 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring that a sheriff be elected in each county. The resolution was proposed in response to a few counties in Kansas switching to all appointed personnel. County Counselor Clancy Holeman says Riley County could be the only county to fall under an exemption. “If this bill passed we’d have a very good argument at least because it doesn’t say Riley County is exempt. It says that any county that abolished the office of sheriff prior to Jan. 1, 2021, as long as it did that would be excluded here, which looks like it’s only us,” he said. Holeman says while the resolution in its current form could exclude Riley County, it has the potential to evolve and eventually remove that exemption, once it were to leave committee. Commissioner Kathryn Focke didn’t like the idea of taking away the choice of the local government.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Municipal Bond Trends for January 24, 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.
Derby launches Commercial Facade Improvement program
Under discussion for the past year, the city of Derby officially launched its Commercial Facade Improvement program in mid-January. The goal is to support local businesses through funding for exterior building repairs or improvements and replacement/removal of non-conforming signs. This is a matching grant program and the city will contribute up to 50 percent of the cost for eligible improvements. Businesses can receive up to $5,000 for facade improvements and an additional $7,500 for sign updates for a maximum of $12,500 per property. Three quotes must be submitted for requests over $5,000 and the minimum grant amount is $1,000.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Doorbell cam captures apparent black bear cub in Winfield
A Kansas wildlife official says an animal that was captured on video outside a Winfield home earlier this month appears to be a black bear cub. Video of the cub was posted to the Ring Neighbors app over the weekend, but the video’s timestamp shows it was recorded the afternoon of January 8. Matt Peek, a research biologist with the state Department of Wildlife and Parks, said the department isn’t aware of any resident black bears in Kansas and that it’s unclear where the animal came from. “It would be unexpected for a wild bear cub to show up in that area,” Peek told Sumner NewsCow in an email.
Source: KAKE – News
Law enforcement officers, legislators resist House bill banning no-knock warrants
Advocates of Kansas House legislation imposing a prohibition on no-knock search warrants by law enforcement officers Monday triggered indignation and rebukes from legislators with professional experience as investigators, attorneys and judges in Kansas. Rep. Brett Fairchild, a St. John Republican, joined with Republican and Democratic peers in the House to seek support for the bill endorsed by representatives of the Libertarian Party and the ACLU of Kansas. It would require officers to be in uniform and to announce their presence before breaking down doors of a residence in a quest for suspects or evidence. A collection of law enforcement organizations testified against House Bill 2133. … McPherson Police Chief Mikel Golden, representing the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, told the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee the legislation was unnecessary. No-knock warrants for high-risk suspects were rare and didn’t give officers a license to be reckless, he said. This type of warrant did enable officers to get inside a residence swiftly and improve odds of avoiding the threat of violence at home entrances, he said. “Officers will be announcing “police department, search warrant” as they go through the residence,” Golden said. “They just do not have to sit in the fatal funnel at the door for 10 seconds or more announcing “police department, search warrant,” when the reasonable response would be to get in the residence as quickly as possible to protect lives and property.”
Source: Kansas Reflector
Parsons Splash Pad enters Phase Two and is about to begin construction
Major progress has been made for a community project in Southeast Kansas. The Parsons Area Splash Pad has officially passed its phase one fundraising goal of $75,000. The committee behind the Forest Park project has ordered the equipment which is scheduled to arrive in February, with construction beginning in March and a potential grand opening during KT days in May. “We’re pretty much going to be getting all of this concrete out and starting to bring in fill and everything,” says Breanna Nush, Parsons Area Splash Pad Chair, “Our next bit is officially called Phase 2 and we are working for benches, awnings and fencing.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Surprise removal of iconic Riverside tree stirs anger aimed at Wichita City Hall
What could be the biggest and oldest hackberry tree in Wichita was getting chopped down without warning on Monday, sparking anger and frustration directed at City Hall, including by a new member of the City Council. While acknowledging that the tree — in the median on Museum Drive near the entrance to the Old Cowtown Museum — is “iconic,” city officials said it has significant weaknesses and has to come down to accommodate water pipe installations connecting the existing city water-treatment plant with the new plant under construction. Maggie Ballard, sworn in as a City Council member two weeks ago, said City Hall botched it by tearing down the tree without any input from or explanation to the neighborhood.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
White House forms coalition with local governments to pursue building performance policies
President Joe Biden on Friday announced the launch of a Building Performance Standards Coalition, a partnership between more than 30 city and county governments along with the states of Colorado and Washington. The announcement came during the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual winter meeting. The administration describes the effort as a “first-of-its-kind partnership” committed to “cleaner, healthier, and more affordable buildings,” and said participating governments cover nearly 20% of the country’s building footprint. The ultimate goal is to advance legislation or regulation in each of those jurisdictions by April 22, 2024.
Source: Smart Cities Dive – Latest News
Rising Interest Rates Hit Municipal-Bonds Market
Municipal bonds are off to their worst start since 2011. The early-year bond rout has dragged returns on the S&P Municipal Bond Index to minus 1.1% through Jan. 20, counting price changes and interest payments. The loss is an early sign that rising interest rates could make 2022 rockier than last year, when federal stimulus and elevated demand from homebound savers led to record low volatility and historically high prices. Now investors are eyeing those prices more warily. Muni bond mutual and exchange-traded funds took in a net $830 million through Jan. 19, compared with $6.1 billion last year …
Source: WSJ.com
Smart meters allow for intermittent utility disruption on delinquent accounts
Although municipal utilities – such as Gardner – are not subject to the Kansas Cold Weather rule, the city tries to work with those customers who are behind on their bills during the winter months. “We are working closely with customers to get them into contact with the agencies that offer assistance to help them with the hardships brought on by the COVID 19 Pandemic,” said Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo, public information officer.
Although the Kansas governor suspended late fees and penalties during the pandemic, that order was lifted in Oct. 2021. At the end of the pandemic order, 1518 customers were delinquent, which Marshall-Oquendo said was 306 percent higher than the usual 300 scheduled disconnects. Due to the installation of “smart” meters last year, customer utilities can now be disconnected from the city office. Customers delinquent on more than $100 will receive a notice, and disconnects will only take place on Wednesdays.
Source: Gardner News
KCC Announces Program to Help Low Income Households With Internet Costs
The Emergency Broadband Benefit, a federal program that helped almost 9 million low income Americans afford internet service in 2021, ended on December 31st. The Kansas Corporation Commission wants Kansans to know that a new $14.2 billion federal program, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), is available to fill the gap. With higher income maximums, the ACP could help even more families afford internet access for work, school, and health care. Current Emergency Broadband Benefit participants have until March 1 to contact their internet provider and switch over to the new plan with no interruption of service.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Wichita Launches PROPEL Loan Program for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
The City of Wichita announced the second round of the PROPEL (Providing Resources & Opportunities for Proprietors, Entrepreneurs & Lenders) Small Business Loan Fund today. The low-interest, short-term revolving loan program was developed to make access to capital more readily available to minority-owned and women-owned firms and businesses located in Wichita City Council District 1. Funding of $220,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money has been allocated to the revolving loan fund, along with a generous contribution from INTRUST Bank, to enable the PROPEL fund to extend participation to business owners throughout Wichita on an ongoing basis. The next round of PROPEL funding will accept applications now through Friday, March 18, 2022.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Chase County employees to see wage increases this year
Some Chase County employees will see an increase in pay this year after commissioners approved a 5% increase for elected and appointed personnel, as well as increases in some department budgets. The increase was approved during a lengthy special meeting held Tuesday morning at the courthouse. Jail administrator Larry Sigler came to discuss detention center salaries and wages. He told commissioners that new hires in security will come in at a rate of $18.50 per hour. Tenured employees will move to $19 per hour. Sigler also asked commissioners for “additional compensation” for salaried employees that are on guard duty.
Source: Emporia Gazette