Kansas Municipal News
Inflation cited as commission bumps county raise to 5%
The Board of County Commissioners voted on Monday to give all fulltime county employees a 5% raise for 2022. The commissioners had budgeted for only a 4% raise. Commissioner Raleigh Ordoyne proposed a 5% raise for next year but said he didn’t think it was enough considering how much prices have increased this year. Commissioner David Willbrant said he was okay with a 5% raise but agreed that it may not be enough considering inflation. The group agreed that because only 4% was budgeted for next year, they couldn’t stray from that number much and ultimately decided to give a 5% raise.
Source: www.backroadsnews.com/rss.xml
Mission makes it easier to sell and drink alcohol at downtown events
The city of Mission hopes to start allowing the public sale and consumption of alcohol during certain events in the city’s downtown area along Johnson Drive as soon as next year. The Mission City Council earlier this month unanimously approved plans to establish a common consumption area in which the rules for the sale and consumption of alcohol will be loosened during events like the city’s summer farmers’ market. The new common consumption area is generally bounded by Lamar Avenue on the west, Roeland Drive on the east, one block north of Johnson Drive on the north, and Martway Street on the south.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Outgoing mayor and city manager discuss their time leading Topeka
Mayor Michelle De La Isla nearly lost her life this year after being hospitalized with COVID-19, she recalled Tuesday. Yet she continued to take part in Topeka City Council meetings on Zoom, at times from her hospital bed, she said. “Because I love the city,” De La Isla said. “Because I love all of you.” De La Isla, who leaves office next month, and city manager Brent Trout, who leaves effective Dec. 31, appeared together Tuesday in the last of a series of joint news conferences they’ve held monthly since 2018, the year De La Isla became mayor. Trout, 55, is expected to become manager next month for a county in North Carolina, the identity of which hasn’t been made public.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for December 21, 2021
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.
U.S. Treasury yields mostly flat amid worsening omicron news, lower growth forecasts
U.S. Treasury yields edged marginally upward on Tuesday, despite deepening concern around omicron lockdowns and a blow to President Joe Biden administration’s spending bill that dented some U.S. economic growth forecasts. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note inched higher by less than a basis point to 1.420% at around 4 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond moved slightly higher to 1.849%. Yields move inversely to prices and 1 basis point is equal to 0.01%. It comes as some economists lowered their growth forecasts for the United States after Democratic lawmaker Sen. Joe Manchin’s refusal to approve Biden’s $1.75 trillion spending plan, essentially killing it.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Risk-on swings pendulum back to equities; munis stand pat
Municipals were little changed in quiet trading with few prints to direct benchmark yields in any direction while the pendulum swung to risk-on with equities seeing large gains and U.S. Treasuries slumping back to losses. Triple-A benchmarks were left unchanged, and ratios fell. The five-year was at 48%, 69% in 10 and 78% in 30, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. read. ICE Data Services had the five at 46%, the 10 at 71% and the 30 at 79%. Tax-exempt municipal benchmarks have remained steady, owing to persistent uncertainty in what investors understand the term “inflation” implies, according to Municipal Market Analytics.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Hillsboro creates new community engagement coordinator position
Like many towns in Marion County, Hillsboro recently hosted a day of Christmas-themed activities, and many around town kept hearing about all of the fun things going on at the museums in town. Thanks to the hard work of Cara Duell and her new position as Hillsboro’s Community Engagement Coordinator, kids and adults alike got to have a different experience than usual at Hillsboro’s Annual Down Home Christmas earlier this month and it’s just the start of some of the events and ideas that Duell has planned. Duell was recently hired by the city to revamp the museum program and come up with new ideas. Hillsboro City Administrator Matt Stiles said that the city knew there was going to be a change at the museum with the previous director leaving and knew there was going to be an opportunity there.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Gardner plans to almost double in size with more and diversified housing
Gardner aims to turn itself into the gem of Southwest Johnson County for future residents and businesses. The city’s former and current mayor are working together to double Gardner’s size to the east and south on 5,000 recently annexed acres now open for development. Former Mayor Steve Shute didn’t run for a second term, and Todd Winters succeeded him. “There was a perception for a long time that Gardner is anti-development,” Shute told the Kansas City Business Journal. “Gardner is not going to stand in the way. If you want to get into Gardner, now is the time to do it. Five years from now, it’s going to be too expensive.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Western Kansan reflects on losses after strong winds, wildfires
In the wake of last week’s deadly wind storm and wildfires, recovery efforts are ramping up in western Kansas. The wind spread wildfires across 400,000 acres in four different counties. Two men died due to fire-related injuries. KSN Reporter Jessica Watson traveled to Paradise, Kansas, to talk to people in the area. They tell her they have a better estimate of how much livestock was lost in the area affected by the wind and fires. About 1,500 cattle were lost, which impacts the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers.
Source: KSN-TV
Labette Co. Deputy credited with saving woman’s life after she was hit by train
It is cliché, but a southeast Kansas woman certainly is grateful that a Labette county deputy was “in the right place at the right time” on Sunday night. Gabe Vitt was on another call Parsons around 9:30 — when he overheard dispatch tell EMS that it had a caller saying a woman had been hit by a train. The call was disconnected before dispatch could obtain a location. It just so happened Deputy Vitt was only a couple blocks away from where it actually happened. He got there, found the woman and applied a makeshift tourniquet to her partially severed leg and kept her calm until EMS arrived.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita City Council approves moving ahead with new development around Riverfront Stadium
The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for two acres of new development around Riverfront Stadium. The stadium was finished back in March 2020 and is located near Maple and McLean. The MOU allows EPC Real Estate LLC to go forward with planning and working to finance the development around the ballpark. The development would include a hotel of at least 150 rooms and six floors, an office building, a 200-space parking structure and riverfront improvements. The developer will seek up to $4 million in Kansas SPARK funding (American Rescue Plan Act) for certain public riverfront improvements.
Source: KSN-TV
City of Topeka not intending to tap former Police Chief Bill Cochran for permanent City Manager role
Former Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran is not eligible for the permanent City Manager position, according to a city spokesperson. Cochran is set to take over as Interim City Manager on December 31, 2021. Director of Communications Gretchen Spiker told KSNT News that the Topeka City Council “does not intend for the Interim City Manager to be eligible for the position permanently.” Spiker said the council will discuss how to conduct the search for City Manager Brent Trout’s replacement early next year. She said the process has not yet been determined.
Source: KSNT News
Incoming Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla to receive help from Harvard students next year
A group of students from Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government will be visiting Topeka early next year as part of a program that pair students HKS students with newly elected government officials. Expected to arrive in January of 2022, three Harvard students will take part in the Transition Term program which embeds HKS students in the offices of newly elected mayors, county executives and governors to provide students with a unique learning opportunity while also helping officials shift from campaigning to governing.
Source: KSNT News
Topeka city manager heads to North Carolina to be county manager
Topeka City Manager Brent Trout announced he is leaving Topeka to be closer to his grandchildren. Trout sat down with KSNT’s David George Monday morning saying he will be assuming the role of a county manager in North Carolina. Trout was hired on October 30, 2017. Trout told KSNT he is, “most proud of the relationships he and the city have built.” “We’ve been able to work on projects and see good things happen along the way,” Trout said.
Source: KSNT News
Supreme Court urged to sidestep ‘dark store’ debate
The Kansas Supreme Court is being asked not to take to take up the “dark store” debate and review whether Johnson County overvalued 11 big-box retail stores. Retailers Walmart and Sam’s Clubs say the county hasn’t advanced any credible argument for why the court should review a Court of Appeals decision that found the county incorrectly appraised the properties. “Appellants petition for review is the final effort in a years-long attempt to cause the judiciary to overturn longstanding Kansas law,” the retailers argue in their brief to the Kansas Supreme Court. The Kansas Court of Appeals recently upheld a decision by the state’s tax appeals board, which found the county overvalued a group of Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs by about $60 million in 2017 and $63 million in 2016.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Junction City residents without water for days because of water plant mishap
Residents across Junction City didn’t have water for days after the storm Wednesday because an employee at the city’s water plant forgot to turn off the values, flooding the basement with 600,000 gallons of water, Junction City’s city manager said. Allen Dinkel, city manager, said the city government contracts with Veolia Water, a corporate firm that has worked with the city for 30 or more years. The city government owns the plant, and Veolia Water operates the plant. Dinkel said the water plant on North Jackson Street lost power Wednesday night, and the generator at the plant was operating well. Around midnight or 1 a.m., he said an employee of Veolia Water forgot to close the values after the power came back on, which caused the basement to flood.
Source: themercury.com
Cities get in line for opioid funds
Kansas is one of at least 40 states that will be eligible to receive money from a settlement targeting the producers and distributors of prescription drugs as early as 2022. The idea behind the settlement is that government entities have been forced to spend money dealing with the opioid crisis. Many of those costs have been incurred by local EMS police and fire departments responding to overdoses or opioid-related situations. This settlement will provide some reimbursement for such costs. Bel Aire, Park City and Kechi have signed up to receive a portion of the settlement.
Source: Ark Valley News
Parsons pit bull ban to expire Jan. 20
Parsons will do away with its pit bull ban on Jan. 20. City commissioners Monday voted 3-1 to approve nixing the ordinance that bans pit bulls in the city limits of Parsons. … In November, the commission unanimously approved removing the section of the city’s animal ordinance that states pit bull dogs are prohibited. Under the current ordinance, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers or a combination of these breeds are considered pit bulls. The city banned pit bulls in 1997.
Source: Parsons Sun
Cities eye downtown housing
A tax incentive meant to encourage downtown housing is before Arkansas City commissioners today and is also on the minds of city officials in Winfield. Principal Planner Josh White said the city is looking into Rural Housing Incentive District, which would assist developers with the cost of making building renovations to creating upper floor housing. A RHID is a special taxing district that allows tax revenue generated inside that district to be earmarked for improvements. Building owners could apply for those funds to help bankroll renovations toward housing.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Wichitans react to USPS telling them to install mailboxes
Some Wichitans have recently received white flags in their yard and letters from the U.S. Postal Service. The letters say they need to install a mailbox or sign up for a P.O. Box in order to keep receiving their mail. USPS says the reason is that loose dogs put USPS employees in danger.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for December 20, 2021
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 receives safety award from KDOL
The city of Derby recently received the SHAPE (Safety and Health Award for Public Employees) award from the Kansas Department of Labor, which recognizes public entities with outstanding safety records and cultures. “We are proud of our organization for its dedication to the safety and health of our employees,” said Mayor Randy White. “Not many entities have received this award, and we are happy to see Derby’s name on the list.”
Source: Derby Informer | News
SPARK executive board earmarks $154 million for Kansas economic development, education
The SPARK executive board of state officials and business advisers agreed to move ahead Monday with allocation of federal funding for $100 million in commercial building infrastructure projects and $50 million in direct aid to children enduring educational setbacks in the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea proposed by Lt. Gov. David Toland to the seven-member executive board featured development of grants to businesses and communities for expansion of building infrastructure capable of attracting or retaining jobs in Kansas. In addition, Toland said the goal would be to provide a $1,000 voucher to low-income, high-need students particularly affected by loss of educational opportunities due to interruption of school. In addition, the panel agreed to direct $4 million in state matching funds to assist school districts with installation of high-speed internet services.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Iola Public Library’s new program inspires learning
Then Iola Public Library’s new initiative aims to help toddlers grow into well-rounded individuals and prevent child abuse and neglect. Playing with a child is an involved process — you just don’t realize it. But peel back the layers and you see the building blocks for emotional stability being laid and verbal and motor skills being expanded. Add reading into the mix and the learning opportunities grow. Put this all together into a safe place like a public library, and the potential for it becoming a movement starts to happen. All this is behind Iola Public Library’s new initiative, “Early Literacy Can’t Wait,” which launched last month.
Source: The Iola Register
The difficult case of obtaining quiet zones whether it be Belle Plaine or Wellington
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train tracks cut a swath through Sumner County bringing with it economic prosperity. But for folks living near the tracks, it also brings nuisance. The train whistles blare at the most inopportune times and in the dead of night. Thus came the invention of “quiet zones” – an engineered federally-approved designed intersection that makes it nearly impossible for drivers or pedestrians to collide with ongoing trains. In turn, the train engineers won’t blow their horns through town — offering something adjacent neighborhood dwellers have always wanted: tranquility. There are approximately 600 quiet zone intersections around the country, and this past week, Belle Plaine added two more. The trouble is, train whistles still sound in Belle Plaine because there are three other intersections in and outside the community that is still not “quiet.”
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Kelley Zellner Hired as New Fort Scott City Manager
Kelley Zellner, currently the Fredonia City Manager, signed a contract on Dec. 3, 2021, to become the Fort Scott City Manager starting Jan. 4, 2022. He replaces interim City Manager Mark McCoy. … Zellner received a mini-masters of public administration, a Certified Public Administrator, from Wichita State University in Feb. 2020. … Zellner has been the Fredonia City Administrator since 2018, the Valley Center Public Works Director from 2017-2018, and was the Conway Falls Chief of Police from 2013 to 2017.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
Miami County launches new online burn permit system
The county has started a new online burn permit system that will save applicants a little leg work. Mark Whelan, emergency management coordinator for the county, said the new system should help streamline permits because it will no longer be necessary for someone to get a paper permit. “Folks won’t have to go to their local fire or police station to obtain a permit,” he said.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Parsons looks to remove pit bull ban
Parsons city commissioners on Monday look to formally adopt the ordinance that removes the city’s current ban on pit bulls. … In November, the commission unanimously approved removing the section of the city’s animal ordinance that states pit bull dogs are prohibited. Under the current ordinance, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers or a combination of these breeds are considered pit bulls. The city banned pit bulls in 1997.
Source: Parsons Sun
Wichita police Chief Gordon Ramsay to resign March 1
Wichita police Chief Gordon Ramsay plans to resign from his position on March 1, after nearly six years as the head of the largest police department in Kansas. Ramsay announced the decision in a memo sent to the entire department on Friday morning, saying it comes with “mixed emotions.” “I am leaving WPD for the betterment of my family as they are the most important thing in my life and we are at a time when it is most important I am there for them,” he wrote. “Serving as a police chief is a demanding lifestyle and all too often, family has come second.
Source: Wichita KS Breaking News, Sports & Crime |
UG offers small business resiliency grants
A new KCK Small Business Resiliency Grant Program has been announced. The grant is funded through the Unified Government’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, according to a spokesman. The grant was created to help reduce the financial strain on local businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spokesman stated in a news release. Businesses may use the funds to prepare for changes in the ways consumers are doing business, including funds for upgrading websites for e-commerce, buildings and physical plant remediation to comply with safety guidelines, software upgrades and professional service support, according to the spokesman.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
Municipal Bond Trends for December 17, 2021
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.
Pittsburg FD teams up with kids in Shop with a Firefighter
A southeast Kansas fire department held a special shopping spree Thursday. The Pittsburg Fire Department held its annual holiday shopping event. Ten students from George Nettels Elementary School joined members of the department at the Walmart Supercenter on Broadway. The kids spent the day going down the aisles of the store and filling up their carts with holiday gifts. The event was made possible through the fire department’s charity fund, which originally started back in 1997.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Pittsburg PD receives new body cameras
The Pittsburg Police Department will soon receive an upgrade in the fight against crime. On Tuesday night the Pittsburg City Commission approved the purchase of 32 body cameras. It was made possible through funds from the Pittsburg Public Safety Sales Tax. The cameras will be worn by officers in the department’s patrol and investigations divisions.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Russell County continues to recover after devastating fires
Days after the windstorm and fires hit Russell County, many people are still recovering from the devastation. Members of the community say the past few days have been a whirlwind. Many are still processing losing their home and belongings. One community member says that many farmers that she knows have lost everything.
Source: KSN-TV
Citizens of Topeka have the opportunity to change the transportation system
A pop-up event will be hosted next week focused on receiving public input regarding updates to the Metropolitan Topeka Planning Organization’s Futures’ 2045 plan. The event is being hosted by the City of Topeka and JEO Consulting Group and will take place Tuesday, Dec. 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the rotunda of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library located at 1515 SW 10th Ave. All Topeka residents are invited to attend. Attendees are encouraged to learn about updates to the plan, provide feedback on the current transportation system in the Topeka region and complete a public survey.
Source: KSNT News
Lawrence City Commission to return to virtual meetings because of increasing COVID cases; mask requirement reinstated in city buildings
As local COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the Lawrence City Commission will return to virtual meetings beginning next week and has reinstated its mask requirement for city buildings. The commission returned to meeting in person earlier this month, maintaining an online option for city staff and the public, but announced Friday that it would return to virtual meetings for the commission’s upcoming meeting on Tuesday.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Upcoming revision of Lawrence’s land development code to shape look and function of the city
The City of Lawrence is preparing to update the rules that determine what type of buildings can go where in Lawrence, giving city leaders an opportunity to make code changes that will shape the look and function of the city for years to come. The city’s land development code guides allowed land uses, building density, parking requirements and various other aspects of development, and has not been updated since 2006. A lot has occurred in the intervening 15 years, including the adoption of a new comprehensive plan for the City of Lawrence and Douglas County in 2019 and the adoption of the city’s new strategic plan this year. The update to the land development code will create regulations to implement the vision laid out in those plans, which includes more density and infill development, more affordable housing options and more walkable neighborhoods with a mix of uses, among various other goals.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Wednesday’s wind storm traumatic for some in Reno County
The power had gone out at Advance Pest Control and employees were standing near the front of the building, in the light provided by the windows, when they heard the sound of crumpling aluminum siding. “We saw a piece (of debris) come flying by, and then the whole thing just started tumbling toward us,” said Jolene Wells. “It was very frightening.”
Source: Hutch News
Salina cleans up after windstorm sweeps through city
The community of Salina and the surrounding area spent much of Thursday morning cleaning up after a strong windstorm Wednesday afternoon. Crews from the Evergy, the City of Salina, Saline County were seen throughout the city and county, working on downed power lines, damaged traffic signals and downed trees in the right-of-way of some areas of traffic. As of Thursday afternoon, no fatalities due to the storm had been reported in the county.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 16, 2021
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.
Under pressure, Johnson County to decide whether to drop its school mask mandate
Johnson County officials will decide Jan. 6 whether to end their school mask mandate as COVID-19 cases continue to rise ahead of the busy holiday travel season and as Kansas confirmed its first case of the contagious omicron variant. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Thursday set the date for the much-anticipated vote almost a week after 26 local elected officials signed a letter demanding the board drop its health order in favor of letting school districts determine their masking rules. The current county order, in place since August, requires masks in schools that serve students as old as sixth grade, an effort to stem the virus’s spread while vaccination rates among children remain low. The order is in effect through May 31, unless the commission amends or revokes it.
Source: Joco 913 News
Elsmore wants county’s help with ditch work
Don’t forget about Elsmore. That was Brenda Boyle’s request to county commissioners, as she asked for help with stormwater projects. Elsmore received $10,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and decided to use the money to replace, repair and clean outdated whistles and ditches. It’s an important project for the city, Boyle said, and they want to maximize this opportunity. Historically, Elsmore hasn’t asked a lot of the county, Boyle said.
Source: The Iola Register
City Council Approves Strategic Plan for the City of Andover
At the December 14th, 2021, Council meeting, the City Council officially accepted the Strategic Plan that they worked with Wichita State University’s Public Policy & Management Center to develop for the City of Andover. The Strategic Plan includes a Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Values. It also identifies Goals and Objectives along with strategies to help implement them.
Source: Andover – News Flash
Wichita to take ‘tremendous step forward’ with first major developments near ballpark
Wichita is about to take “a tremendous step forward” with two substantial new developments adjacent to Riverfront Stadium at Maple and McLean, said Assistant City Manager Scot Rigby. The $65 million project includes an eight-story hotel, a six-story office building with an adjoining 200-spot parking structure and riverfront improvements. It’s the Wind Surge baseball team’s first step toward developing four acres around the ballpark — the same four acres the city was heavily criticized for selling for a $1 each to the team.
Source: Wichita Eagle
KDOT says thousands of road signs were damaged as a result of Wednesday’s storms. Crews are repairing and replacing as soon as possible
What is KDOT seeing in terms of widespread damage – Sign damage along many highways in central and western Kansas due to the high winds. Is there a timetable for repairs? – Started working on the emergency repair effort Wednesday. Not an exact timetable; as soon as temporary or new signs are available. Working with other KDOT offices and producers to accomplish this. What’s the danger when this happens – We are wanting to alert the public of this situation, so they use extra caution when driving. Are crews working now? Crews are working extra hours on this.
Source: KAKE – News