Kansas Municipal News
Kansas booze deliveries might be next, following to-go cocktails
The to-go cocktails and longer liquor store hours adopted in Kansas during the pandemic could live on after the virus threat has passed. But some lawmakers worry that additional changes sought by grocery chains and liquor companies could hurt small businesses and overwhelm state regulators. Changes approved during the 2021 legislative session included expanding the hours liquor stores could operate on Sundays and holidays and allowing the sale of to-go cocktails and drive-through drinks.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita conducting further testing on pipe that failed leading to pressure loss and boil advisory
The city of Wichita said that they are conducting further testing on a 42-inch pipe that led to a failure and loss of pressure last week. The city was put under a boil advisory from Thursday afternoon to early Saturday morning before it was lifted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. During a press conference, Alan King, Wichita’s director of Public Works & Utilities, said the pipe had been replaced and the hole backfilled. However, the line hasn’t been put back into service. “The repaired section of pipe will be pressure tested, and we will put it at a very high pressure to see if it is able to hold,” said King.
Source: KSN-TV
Shawnee County commissioners approve plan to make your drive better
The Shawnee County Commission approved a motion Thursday that will help drivers in Topeka. This new construction plan will focus on Southwest Topeka Boulevard just south of University Boulevard, and right across the road from Forbes Field. Construction workers will be changing the road from being two lanes on either side to only one. Because the road will now be one lane on either side, there will be points made where passing will be allowed. They also plan to re-pave the area where the railroad tracks cross over the street, making it a less bumpy ride on your commute. “It will no longer be a rough ride,” said Shawnee County Public Works Director, Curt Niehaus. “I think it will improve the appearance of the down south significantly.”
Source: KSNT News
Overland Park will retake bids for new animal shelter contract after residents raise ‘no kill’ concerns
A plan to change Overland Park’s animal shelter contract from Great Plains SPCA to the Wycliff Animal Clinic got so much angry pushback from residents and feedback from some councilmembers that the city will rebid the contract and make sure to reach out to multiple animal shelters this time around. Much of the opposition to the change revolved around residents’ concerns and questions about what could happen to stray animals the new shelter takes in on the city’s behalf. Great Plains claims itself as the “largest no-kill animal shelter in the Kansas City metro,” while the prospective contract for Wycliff left open the possibility animals could be euthanized after going unclaimed.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Merriam Mayor Ken Sissom set to retire this month after 40-year career — ‘I’ve been blessed to do this’
After 40 years of serving the city of Merriam, Mayor Ken Sissom is retiring at the end of this month. Sissom was first elected as mayor of Merriam in April 2009 and has served three full terms. During his time as mayor, he oversaw the city’s business base grow with the city expanding the number of car dealerships along I-35. The introduction of IKEA off I-35, the Kansas City metro’s first, along with the newly built Merriam Community Center, were also among the city’s milestones during Sissom’s tenure. Before becoming mayor, Sissom worked more than 25 years for the Merriam Police Department, including as chief of police from 1992 to 2005.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for October 13, 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.
Reno County OK’s SO firing range, change to permitting on accessory buildings
The Reno County Commission approved a change to the county’s zoning regulations on Tuesday that eliminates the need for someone with more than two acres of property to get permission before constructing accessory buildings that exceed 2,000 square feet on the property. The board also approved a conditional use permit allowing the Sheriff’s Department to construct a new firearms range on county property at the south end of the Reno County landfill. The Reno County Planning Commission recommended, and the county commission unanimously approved, that an accessory building “special exception” only be required if all outbuildings on an acreage of between two- and 40 acres will exceed a cumulative 5,000 square feet.
Source: Hutch News
Weather service confirms tornadoes in western Kansas
Meteorologists in Goodland confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down near Sharon Springs in northwest Kansas during the storms Tuesday evening and early Wednesday. The twister traveled about 3.3 miles, with peak gusts of 85 mph, the weather service said. … Meteorologists with the weather service in Dodge City were surveying damage on Wednesday from at least four tornadoes in lightly-populated areas near Dodge City. Those twisters were reported near Howell, Spearville, Trousdale and between Sublette and Copeland.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Liquor industry and grocers pushing Kansas lawmakers to lift restrictions on home delivery and online sales
The to-go cocktails and longer liquor store hours adopted in Kansas during the pandemic could live on after the virus threat has passed. But some lawmakers worry that additional changes sought by grocery chains and liquor companies could hurt small businesses and overwhelm state regulators. Changes approved during the 2021 legislative session included expanding the hours liquor stores could operate on Sundays and holidays and allowing the sale of to-go cocktails and drive-through drinks. A special legislative committee is being lobbied to make it even easier for consumers to purchase beer, wine and hard liquor — changes that would need approval from the Legislature in the spring.
Source: Dodge Globe
Residents asked for their own city to avoid Johnson County development. Board says no
The Miami County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday rejected a petition asking to incorporate a new city in Kansas, an effort led by rural residents fighting to stop ever-encroaching industrial development from taking over their land. “It was very disappointing to hear the vote,” resident Charlie Koch said. “This kind of comes as a left hook.” Roughly 300 Miami County residents — who live in the unincorporated outskirts of Edgerton’s sprawling industrial park in southwestern Johnson County — filed the petition to form their own town: the city of Golden. They argued that their own city borders would have protected their agriculture and residential land, which has become increasingly surrounded by warehouses and semi trucks.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita stormwater team working around the clock to keep roads clear during fall rain
When streets in Wichita flood during rain and storms, sometimes the problem is clogged drains, especially this time of year when there’s extra debris like leaves and sticks. But Wichita has a team on standby around the clock to keep them clear. “We’ll run it in, and we’ll get that debris, and we’ll pull it back to whatever structure that we’re sitting at. And then we can suck it up from there,” said Wichita stormwater worker Derek Kostner. Kostner is in his eighth year working for Wichita’s stormwater team, driving a big truck around town unclogging drains during storms. With about 60,000 drains and 1,000 miles of stormwater pipe in Wichita alone, it’s no easy task.
Source: KAKE – News
KDOT, Topeka put exclamation point on $234 million plan to replace I-70 viaduct near Capitol
State and local officials punctuated plans Wednesday for overhaul of the heavily traveled snake-shaped portion of Interstate 70 in Topeka by affirming a partnership agreement to improve safety for motorists, create jobs and gain traction with the new statewide transportation system upgrade. Moving ahead with a project estimated to cost $234 million includes replacement of the Polk-Quincy Viaduct and expansion of I-70 to six lanes from MacVicar Avenue to Topeka Boulevard. The project scheduled to begin in 2024 would be primarily financed through the Kansas Department of Transportation. The work would remove a sharp curve on the viaduct and provide better options for vehicles entering or leaving the downtown area. It would require relocation of about 30 businesses.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Kansans will pay more for natural gas this winter
Your natural gas bill is going to go up this winter. Natural gas prices run nearly double what they did a year ago and experts predict the increased prices to last at least through the winter. Utility companies pass the cost of natural gas directly on to their customers. As the price of wholesale natural gas increases, so will the fee your utility charges every month. For Kansas Gas Service customers, that fee this month is $5.67 per thousand cubic feet of gas used. Last October it was only $3.76. Other large gas utilities have made similar increases.
Source: KCUR News
More than $1 billion in federal relief money went to Kansas schools; new numbers show how it’s being spent
Kansas schools received about $1.4 billion in federal relief money. On Tuesday, Kansas school board members voted to allocate roughly $15 million to school districts to training teachers in literacy and math, two areas that faced setbacks during the pandemic. Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson delivered an annual report showing the latest numbers on the pandemic’s impact in Kansas schools. Education officials have pointed to learning loss as a problem in schools, especially as students and teachers struggled to adjust to remote learning last year. Watson told Kansas Capitol Bureau the state is trying to find a way to address the issue. “We’re talking about having a good process, executing that process, using the money from the federal government gives us for the pandemic to really try to reach out and form better partnerships, and help those kids learn,” Dr. Watson said.
Source: KSN-TV
Abused dog finds award-winning new life working in Kansas law enforcement
An abused four-year-old German shepherd rescued in 2018 from the animal shelter in Junction City is now being recognized as the 2021 Detector Dog Case of the Year after she sniffed out 95 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop. The German shepherd was brought to the Junction City-Geary County Animal shelter in October 2018. The shelter’s staff named her Nova. They said she had a deep wound around her muzzler, which made them think she had been bound with a rope or wire. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office had discussed getting a second drug-detecting dog from a shelter. That’s when deputies found Nova. In March of 2019, Nova became certified in narcotics detection and tracking through the heart of the America Police Dog Association with her handler, Lt. Justin Stopper.
Source: KSN-TV
Here’s how Wichita public officials handled the water shutdown
Confusion reigned last Thursday evening as a major water main break that left roughly half a million Kansans without reliable drinking water for 36 hours spurred uncertainty. As city crews worked nonstop to address the burst pipe, the failure to communicate vital information between organizations and to the general public compounded the confusion of the moment. Officials knew early on that Wichita water couldn’t be deemed safe before Saturday morning, but that timeline wasn’t made clear for hours, keeping families and businesses guessing late into the night about what Friday may bring.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
USDA’s rural energy program a boost to family farms and small businesses
As legislators calculate the right balance on how much to spend on infrastructure and clean energy, they should take stock of both the environmental and the economic gains that everyday Americans earn through the transformation to an efficient, clean energy economy. And make no mistake: The transition is underway, built up from many small projects and successes. Congress can maintain momentum by funding smart policy choices, such as USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program. In its nearly 20-year history, this program has supported more than 20,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for rural businesses and farms. These projects are mostly small in scale and cost, but they add up to a big impact.
Source: The Iola Register
Family receives $350K settlement from Wamego government after son’s death at city pool
The Wamego city government has reached a settlement with the family of a swimmer who drowned last year at the Wamego Aquatics Center indoor pool. In a joint news release Tuesday, the family and the Wamego city government announced that John and Seana Balman of Manhattan received $350,000 for the wrongful death of their son, Thomas “Wyatt” Balman, 20 in a pre-litigation settlement. On Oct. 13, 2020, Balman, a 2018 Manhattan High graduate, fainted while swimming laps and drowned.
Source: themercury.com
Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board to revisit single-use bag fee
The Sustainability Advisory Board on Wednesday will revisit, and might vote on, a proposed ordinance that would require establishments to charge customers 15 cents per single-use disposable bag for any purchase. Talks about such an ordinance began in May 2018, when concerned students of the former Kennedy Elementary School made a presentation to the Lawrence City Commission about the damaging environmental effects of plastics. The SAB’s Single Use Plastics Subcommittee presented a report to the City Commission in August 2019 and then collected further public feedback. The topic was moved to the back burner while the Kansas Legislature considered a measure that would prevent such an ordinance at the city level, but that bill died in May 2020, according to the advisory board’s agenda materials. The pandemic, too, had implications — particularly early on, as uncertainty about whether COVID-19 could spread via surfaces spurred some stores to temporarily ban customers from bringing their own reusable bags.
Source: The Lawrence Times
USD 232 now tracks online how it will spend $7M in federal COVID-19 relief
USD 232 in De Soto has published an online platform to share how it will spend federal COVID-19 relief dollars. The district is participating in the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, which Congress enacted in March 2020 to help out schools with financial support during the pandemic. In a brief presentation to the school board Oct. 4, Superintendent Frank Harwood shared about the platform and timeline for spending, and also offered some clarification on how the district can tap into the funding.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Festa Italiana returns to Frontenac for 22nd year
The city of Frontenac celebrates twenty-two years of bridging cultures, and celebrating their heritage. And they’re doing this at their annual, Festa Italiana. “There’s German food, Italian food, there’s more Italian food than anything, just because that’s the heritage of Frontenac,” said President of the Frontenac Education Foundation, Ann Brown. Plenty of people were gathered to taste good food and enjoy each other’s company, but the event had a larger impact, especially on children in the town.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Miami County Commissioners could render decision on proposed City of Golden at today’s meeting
Miami County commissioners could decide the fate of a proposed city named Golden in northwest Miami County as early as their regular 1 p.m. meeting Wednesday, Oct. 13. … The last item currently listed on the County Commission’s agenda for its regular 1 p.m. meeting Wednesday is to “consider authorizing to approve or deny the incorporation of a new third-class city named Golden in Northwest Miami County.” Commissioners would have to vote unanimously in favor of incorporation for the proposal city to be approved.
Source: republic-online.com
Municipal Bond Trends for October 12, 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.
Kansas natural gas utility nears deal to pass on $100M in cold snap costs to wholesale customers
Kansas’ largest natural gas utility is close to reaching a deal to recoup more than $100 million from large-scale customers that failed to provide enough natural gas during a February cold snap that forced power outages across the Midwest. During the worst of the cold snap, which saw average temperatures in Kansas City fall below 15 degrees for 10 days, natural gas prices shot up to record levels and utilities scrambled to keep customers’ heat on. In some cases, natural gas marketers, companies that use Kansas Gas Service’s distribution system to provide natural gas to wholesale or transportation customers, failed to get enough gas for their customers into the system, meaning KGS had to supply gas or risk running out for its residential customers.
Source: Kansas Reflector
50 new jobs will be available in Montgomery County from a new soybean processing facility
New jobs are coming to a southeast Kansas community. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says an agribusiness company called Bartlett is investing about 325 million dollars to build a new soybean crushing facility in Montgomery County that will employ 50 workers when complete. She says the new operation will be able to process about 38.5 million bushels a year, creating refined soybean oil for renewable fuels, food products and animal feed.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Wichita passes nondiscrimination ordinance, rejects religious carve out
After four months of delays, the Wichita City Council passed a nondiscrimination ordinance Tuesday aimed at banning discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. The council voted 6-1 to approve the ordinance, with Jeff Blubaugh voting against. The council also rejected a carve out that would have allowed religious groups to fire or refuse to hire LGBTQ+ individuals at will, an amendment proposed by City Council member Jared Cerullo, the first openly gay man to serve on the council.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Overland Park considers plan to remake busy College Boulevard corridor into pedestrian-friendly ‘destination’
A linear park, pond side water features, intergenerational playground and signature pedestrian bridge are some of the ideas being considered in Overland Park’s efforts to reimagine the traffic-heavy College Boulevard area near the convention center. The city council’s Community Development Committee got a first look this month at some of a consultant’s concepts meant to make the College corridor more walkable and inviting, particularly to convention guests. The goal, among others, is to make the busy commercial stretch into a pedestrian-friendly “destination district,” used by convention-goers, local workers and residents alike. A survey of corridor users showed the biggest obstacle to walkability was Metcalf Avenue to the west of the convention center, said Marty Shukert, principal at Kansas City-based RDG Planning and Design.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Brown County Commission discusses security guard
The Brown County Commission held further discussions Monday morning about the need for a security guard at the main entrance. These discussions came after county resident Brian Hoskins spoke to the commission about his concerns on having a security guard in place. He felt that by having a security guard that prevented people from carrying arms inside of the courthouse violated his 2nd Amendment rights. He said he isn’t a violent person, but does carry several pocket knives and felt the government is continuing to overstep by implementing these securities. Hoskins also said that the Brown County Courthouse was the only one in this region with restrictions. He also noted he didn’t feel the temperature check was necessary and he thanked Commissioner William Pollock for upholding the Constitution.
Source: Parsons Sun
Sedgwick County considers eliminating three elected offices
In the not-too-distant future, you may have three less offices to vote on in Sedgwick County elections. … The specific issue before the commission at Tuesday’s staff meeting was whether to hire a consultant for an efficiency audit to focus on whether there’s waste and duplication of services between departments under commission control. The underlying issue is whether county voters should continue to elect their county clerk, treasurer, and register of deeds.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Mullinville, Kan., grassroots artist M.T. Liggett’s life work featured in new art center
Mullinville, Kan., celebrated (well, probably most of the town) the grand opening of the M.T. Liggett Art Environment & Visitors Center on Oct. 2. The sometimes controversial, more times than not comical, and most certainly quirky art collection left behind by M.T. Liggett was acquired by the Kohler Foundation after Liggett’s death in 2017. The Kohler Foundation has overseen the preservation, restoration and construction project, and it has gifted the 70-acre property to the 5.4.7. Art Center of Greensburg, Kan., for maintenance and long-term management of the property.
Source: Kansas Farmer
Marie Pyko says library can ‘be that next beacon’ for Topeka
Touring the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, it’s clear how proud new CEO Marie Pyko is of the building, especially the youth library. “When families turn the corner, they are just so in awe,” Pyko said. “It’s the place in the building where you hear laughter and just pure joy, where you really are exploring that sense of imagination.” Designed by TSCPL staff, the children’s library was renovated from 2008 to 2013. “Every single piece in that children’s library was through the vision of our youth staff,” Pyko said. “Every single piece of paint on that wall was done by a library staff member, who hand-painted those murals. There’s a lot of heart in that space. When I turn the corner, it just makes me smile.”
Source: CJonline
Lawrence City Commission to review draft policy for use of drones by police
City leaders will soon review the Lawrence Police Department’s draft policy for its use of drones and other camera systems, which is intended to prohibit uses such as invasions of privacy, targeted harassment and monitoring protests. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a presentation from the police department on the draft “public safety camera” policy. Interim Chief Adam Heffley told the commission last month that the police department plans to pursue a drone program, and that the department had already developed a draft policy and would be seeking input on the policy from interested organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Keeping it clean for here and downstream
Its eye-catching bright colors inspire people to take a closer look at an educational mural painted along the south wall by the splash pad at Avenue A Park. Artist Vickie Hoskins, who was born and raised in Hutchinson, was commissioned to create the mural to teach people about how waste and trash in the city’s stormwater system can flow into Cow Creek and can directly impact wildlife and communities downstream from Hutchinson. Painted on top of the wall are the words ‘Creek, River, Lake, Ocean.’ In addition to the words, Hoskins painted a rainbow, animals, flowers, and a butterfly. It took Hoskins four days, from Tuesday to Friday last week, to paint the mural. Sean Thomas, Assistant Director of Parks and Facilities for the City of Hutchinson, said that a mural project had been in the works for a couple of years.
Source: Hutch News
Pandemic-inspired investment in broadband infrastructure signals new era of internet access
Daniel Friesen doesn’t want geography to be the determining factor of whether Kansas communities have access to high-quality broadband service. He started a company in Buhler dedicated to providing fiber-to-the-home internet and was prepared to leap when the COVID-19 pandemic exposed consequences of service gaps in education, commerce, health care and at home in Kansas. That’s when the federal government began pouring CARES Act relief money into the states, and Kansas officials earmarked $50 million of that largess for broadband expansion. Friesen, founder and chief innovative officer of IdeaTek, took on 66 broadband projects in rural, underserved areas of 17 Kansas counties. Contracts valued at $18 million unleashed dozens of plows and bore machines. It led to installation of hundreds of miles of cable and construction of 70 telecommunications towers.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Beautiful Benches provide restful spots for public stops
Additional sights to behold around the communities are also offering more seating for the weary. The initiative is all part of the Atchison Art Association’s Beautiful Benches Public Art Program. “Pride” the second beautiful bench in Atchison is the most recent installment of the artful benches that was put in place Friday, Oct. 1 along the corner of Eighth and Commercial Streets. Angie Cairo, project manager, said the Pride concept arose after consultation with Gay Straight Alliance members of Atchison High School. The mosaic work of the bench depicts a Pride Flag waving amid blue sky and clouds. The Beautiful Benches project is a focus on the functional public art in the communities throughout the county to represent the life and organizations in the community. The benches not only enhance the landscape, but they offer a place to relax and rest a bit along the sidewalks.
Source: News | atchisonglobenow.com
Prairie Village may commit to plan that puts city on path to zero carbon emissions by 2040
The city of Prairie Village will soon consider committing to a UN-backed campaign aimed at getting cities, local governments and other institutions to take “rigorous and immediate action” against climate change. Specifically, Prairie Village is considering a commitment to the UN’s ‘Cities Race to Zero,’ an initiative that urges cities to strive towards reducing their carbon emissions by 50% by the year 2030, according to city documents. Councilmember Ian Graves introduced the item this week to the city council committee of the whole — prior to discussing it with the council’s environmental committee — because, he noted, the city must enter into the commitment by the end of the month.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park considers extending e-bike pilot program and could also add rental scooters
Overland Park experiment with electric bikes received mixed reviews from residents, as the city’s 18-month pilot program nears an end this November. The pilot project allowed certain types of motorized bikes on trails throughout Overland Park. With the project’s end date approaching, the city council’s Community Development committee on Wednesday heard a report about the pilot’s impact, including citizen feedback. The report concluded that there are some concerns with how the e-bike program currently runs, but overall, seem to appreciate having the bikes in the area.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Oktoberfest leaves Germany and comes to Kansas
Junction City hosted its first-ever Oktoberfest, and they plan to make it an annual gig. People from all over the Sunflower State came to enjoy the German beer, food and live music at the event. Some people even took it the extra mile and dressed up in traditional German attire. One stand in particular, the Schnitzel Sisters, attracted all sorts of attention with authentic schnitzels. Ilona “Charlie” Swartz came to the Little Apple from Germany and has shared her love of German cuisine with Kansas ever since.
Source: KSN-TV
This Kansas town now has the 3rd largest school in the nation
The Junction City community is grateful and excited for a much-needed upgrade for their students in the form of a state-of-the-art building: Junction City High School. The school is now the largest one in Kansas and is said to be the third largest in the nation, finishing off at a quarter-mile in length. After two years of construction, the ribbon-cutting was on Saturday, October 9. The community, teachers at the school, special guests, students and alumni from the older Junction City High School came out to celebrate the new building for future students of Junction City. The band, the dance team and cheerleaders welcomed people as they came to the outdoor event.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita city staff improving communication with non-English speakers after boil-water advisory
After this week’s boil-water advisory, city leaders now hope to come up with a more strategic plan to inform the public when an issue similar to this one occurs. Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said although he is very proud of how quickly essential workers stopped the water line break from becoming a bigger issue there is one thing the city has to solve. That issue is informing non-English speakers of critical issues like this one. He said even though the city was able to get a press release out in Spanish about the advisory around 15 minutes after the incident that is not quick enough. “We now need to be taking those steps further to systemize these alerts by using our current assets,” Whipple said.
Source: KSN-TV
Wellington council contemplates economic development incentives to getting college grads to return home
The Wellington City Council heard a proposal from the economic development commission that would provide incentives for college graduates to return to the community. The council tabled the matter to a later meeting to gather more input. At Tuesday’s council meeting, Sumner County Economic Development Director Stacy Davis said the city of Wellington is considered a “rural opportunity zone.” Wellington’s already been under that classification since 2014, and offers tax credits for five years to anyone who moves back to Wellington.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Appeals court finds Johnson County overvalued Walmarts
Johnson County overvalued 11 big-box retail stores by about $60 million, a state appeals court has ruled, potentially firing up the ongoing debate over whether property should be appraised as if it’s vacant, or “dark.” The Kansas Court of Appeals on Friday upheld a decision by the state’s tax appeals board that found the county incorrectly valued a group of Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs by about $60 million in 2017 and $63 million in 2016. The new ruling comes several months after a separate panel of appeals court judges SSJ.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Haven Fall Festival
A burst of color filled the Haven skyline on Saturday morning. Bags of pigment thrown into the air rained on Haven residents as they began the first Haven Fall Festival Color Run. This year, the Haven Fall Festival included more than 20 parade floats, 25 vendors and almost the entire Haven population, with more than 1,000 attendants who visited Kansas Avenue to participate in a variety of activities as pancakes sizzled on grills outside of the Haven Senior Center for the Booster Club Breakfast.
Source: Hutch News
Municipal Bond Trends for October 8, 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.
What’s the buzz? Beekeeping, with limits, will be allowed in this Johnson County city
The Leawood City Council has agreed to allow beekeeping within city limits, but only on larger lots. Under an ordinance adopted in September, a residential property is allowed up to two beehives, which must be kept in the rear yard. The hives must be at least 50 feet from the boundaries of adjacent developed property, 75 feet from any building on an adjacent lot and 100 feet from the traveled portion of a street, pedestrian path or sidewalk. The hives can be no more than 5 feet tall, and a barrier must be installed to limit the area the bees can travel when they leave the hive to collect pollen and nectar. Such barriers, consisting of dense landscaping or a structure, are designed to limit the contact that adjacent property owners would have with the bees, Leawood Planning Director Mark Klein told the planning commission last summer.
Source: Joco 913 News