Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick County hospitals reach “critical” status with new COVID-19 cases
Sedgwick County hospitals now report they are in a “critical” status with new cases of COVID-19. According to data from the county’s COVID-19 web page, there are 147 people hospitalized with the virus, and 56 of them are in the intensive care unit. Sedgwick County reported 142 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with two new deaths. The county has had a total of 53,212 cases for the pandemic, with 669 deaths. The state of Kansas reported 3,006 new cases on Wednesday, compared to Monday’s numbers. There are 62 new deaths, to bring the state’s total to 5,456. The state also reported 98 new hospitalizations.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Council decides not to seek attorney general opinion
At Marysville City Council’s July 26 meeting, council member Terry Hughes said he wanted to request a Kansas attorney general’s opinion on the council’s action to pass Ordinance 1900, which amends Ordinance 1891 and gives the city administrator direct control of non-elected personnel. The ordinance was passed at the June 28 meeting. Hughes said he’s worried about the city being sued for delegating the council’s responsibility to the city administrator. Ordinance 1900 provides a reasoning for previous repeals of city ordinances. The repeals allow for the city administrator to have direct control over city employees. City clerk Cindy Holle said this ordinance is to clarify that the city administrator already had this power. St. John said the city attorney, John McNish, recommends Ordinance 1900 and his stance has not changed after reading it. St. John also said McNish said asking for an attorney general’s opinion takes time. It has taken the state office up to two years to respond to a city in the past.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Local developers request Bel Aire incentives to buy Wichita Hoops facility, build new spec warehouses
A group of recognizable Wichita developers is turning its attention to a growing industrial park in Bel Aire. Webb Industrial LLC, the entity that includes Steve Barrett, Ivan Crossland Jr. and Dave Murfin, have asked the Bel Aire City Council for industrial revenue bonds to fund two projects within Sunflower Commerce Park at 53rd Street and Webb Road. One involves the purchase of the bank-owned Wichita Hoops facility, and another for the construction of two new speculative warehouse buildings nearby.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Kansas’ pension system had one of its best years ever in 2021
The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System saw its investment portfolio turn in one of the strongest years ever in the 2021 fiscal year — although lawmakers are still parsing out how to handle a significant unfunded liability going forward. Pension funds nationally have announced sky-high investment returns, powered by a stock market that has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, helping states beat out their expected gains several times over. Kansas was no exception, KPERS Spokesperson Kristen Basso said in an email, reporting a 26.3% rate of return for the 2021 fiscal year, which ended in June. For context, that is the third highest return in the past 45 years and well above the state’s assumed rate of return of 7.75%.
Source: CJonline
Are loft apartments the answer for Kansas Main Street renewal?
Building owners, storekeepers, Main Street organizers and city officials from across Kansas attended the Main Street Upstairs Downtown Workshop in Hutchinson on Monday and Tuesday. Along with presentations by architects, community development and economic development specialists, more than 100 participants from Leavenworth, Pittsburg and Iola went on a tour of the upper levels of downtown Hutchinson, examining both apartments and businesses, including the newly renovated AgTrax location, which revitalized an upstairs unit.
Source: Hutch News
Census shows growth in five towns across Washington County
Haddam breaks 70-year streak of Census declines, three towns (Barnes, Hanover, Palmer) have two decades of growth. Washington County lost significantly less population than official estimates had predicted, according to the most recent U.S. Census figures. Data from the 2020 Census was released for counties and cities recently, along with redistricting figures. Washington County’s population dropped by 4.6%, from 5,799 to 5,530. This was the 13th Census in a row with a population decline for the county…
Source: www.backroadsnews.com
Municipal Bond Trends for August 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.
Cowley County smaller but more diverse
Numbers from the 2020 Census released recently show the population of Cowley County and its two main cities is falling, while the share of residents identifying as a racial minority has gone up. Cowley County’s population is 34,549 according to the 2020 Census, down from 36,311 in 2010. Winfield’s population was 11,777 in 2020, down from 12,301. Arkansas City’s population was 11,974 in 2020, down from 12,415 . The diversity index in Cowley County is 40.6 percent according to the 2020 Census, a substantial increase from 2010 when it was 31.5 percent. The diversity index measures the probability that two people chosen at random will be from different race and ethnicity groups.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
More federal relief aide flows into Cowley County
Cowley County has received the first part its of American Rescue Plan funding, county administrator Lucas Goff said Monday afternoon. Goff said $3,390,235 was deposited in a county account on Aug. 9. The county is scheduled to receive a total of $6.67 million directly from the federal government, he said. The funding is part of the American Rescue Plan signed by President Biden in March to provide health and economic recovery funds amid the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Aug. 19, two representatives from Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd accounting firm will meet with Goff at the county courthouse to begin planning for distribution of the funds. The same company guided the county through CARES Act funding in 2020 when the county was responsible for dispersing or spending $7.5 million in earlier federal coronavirus relief funds.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Ark City animal control job finally filled
The City of Arkansas City had been without an animal control officer since October of 2019 until Katie Suttles recently stepped into the job. And the position, which is part time, has been moved from within the police department to neighborhood services. City spokesperson Andrew Lawson said the animal control job had been difficult to fill. The last person to do it, Lisa Delgado, resigned to become a police officer. Former Police Chief Dan Ward was working toward retirement, Lawson said, replacing Delgado was not actively pursued and police officers themselves handled animal-related complaints.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Regional law enforcement training center coming to Parsons
Parsons is picked to be the home of a new regional law enforcement training center. It will be run by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC), and serve agencies in 16 counties. Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks says having a training center in Parsons will give the agencies the ability to send officers, dispatchers, and others to classes when they otherwise might not be able to. “I’m ecstatic that we will have that in our community and so close so that we can continue to increase the competency of our staff. And we can reduce the amount of outside city travel or missed training,” says Spinks. “It will originally only have a half-time coordinator who will then bring in speakers from across the state for different topics. But, over time, we hope to see that grow to three full-time staff and eventually be able to produce up to three thousand man-days of training every single year.”
Source: KOAMKOAM
Hillsboro Fire Chief celebrates 20 years
While Ben Steketee just celebrated 20 years as Hillsboro Fire Chief on Sunday, he didn’t ever think he would get to fight fires, let alone be chief. “I grew up in California where only the most fit and the best of the best were chosen for positions in fire departments. And I got into some trouble when I was growing up so I never thought I would be in a top position,” said Steketee. But then Steketee moved to Kansas. “I moved to Hillsboro and my friend Dale Winter asked me if I would want to volunteer for the fire department. I thought it sounded like fun,” said Steketee. Steketee volunteered for almost three years when the mayor of Hillsboro, Delores Dalke, approached him about becoming the Fire Chief. He accepted, shadowed then chief Wayne Lowery for a day to see what he did and suddenly he was in charge.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Education gets a reboot
A company can’t wait 100 years to upgrade its business model. Education should be no different. “But we have only two models. One-room schoolrooms of 100 years ago, and today’s outdated model,” which is in the process of being revamped, said Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education. Rather than using state assessment scores to gauge a student’s success in high school, educators are looking to redesign the material and school experience so that they are better tailored to students’ skills and abilities, helping them develop into critical thinkers who address real-life problems. “We all know a student’s ACT scores will never be looked at again once he’s out the door,” Watson said of the standard exam used for college applications.
Source: The Iola Register
Pregont named Interim City Manager of Atchison
City Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont to serve as City Manager on an interim basis effective immediately. The contract was approved following a 15-minute executive session during Monday’s regular commission meeting and comes on the heels of Becky Berger’s resignation from the top role a week ago. Pregont, who was attending a professional development conference and was not at the meeting, is an Atchison native and has served as Assistant City Manager since 2018. Prior to that he oversaw Public Works and Utilities and has been with the City since 2013. Pregont is a Benedictine College graduate with a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Kansas.
Source: atchisonglobenow.com
Carbondale plans grand opening ceremony for new library
The Carbondale City Library will hold a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the new building’s construction. The ceremony will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at 302 Main St., Carbondale. The new 6,000-square-feet building features seating for more than 100 people, study areas, group meeting rooms, and a multi-purpose room, including a kitchen for future classes.
Source: Osage County Online
Local elections in Kansas were moved from the spring to the fall with the promise of increasing voter turnout, but did it work?
Only 9.7% of eligible voters cast a ballot in Topeka’s 2021 primary election. However, the disappointing turnout isn’t a sign that changes to spur higher turnout have failed, at least not yet. Election Day changed in 2017, but voter turnout hasn’t shown many signs of increasing since then. The Capital-Journal reviewed voter turnout from 2010-2020 in Shawnee, Sedgwick and Douglas county elections. The 2015 change moved local elections from the spring to the fall of odd-numbered years, with the stated goal of increasing voter turnout. But voter turnout among all three counties peaked at 16.59% during Douglas County’s 2015 general election. Voter turnout was generally between 10%-16% during the 15 odd-year elections from 2011-2015. Three elections attracted fewer than 10% of people with the lowest turnout, 4.4%, coming in Shawnee County’s 2013 primary election.
Source: Dodge Globe.
Municipal Bond Trends for August 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.
Treasury yields start the week lower with Fed meeting minutes in focus
U.S. Treasury yields fell on Monday morning, with investor focus on minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting, due to be published on Wednesday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 3 basis points to 1.263% at 3:55 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond gave up nearly 3 basis points, falling to 1.921%. … Treasury yields fell sharply on Friday, after data showed U.S. consumer confidence fell in August to its lowest point since 2011. Investors’ focus this week will likely be on the Fed’s latest meeting minutes, as they search for any clues as to when the central bank might start paring back its asset purchases.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Kansas plays catch up on pension funding with $500 million bond sale
Kansas is taking advantage of continued low interest rates with a $502.6 million taxable deal to pump money into its underfunded state retirement system. The pension obligation bonds on Tuesday’s calendar are coming through the Kansas Development Finance Authority with Citigroup as book runner. The bonds are rated Aa3 by Moody’s Investors Service and A-plus by S&P Global Ratings. Outlooks are stable. “The stable outlook reflects an expectation that Kansas has the capacity to generate the resources necessary to sustain structural balance in a period of economic stability or to withstand a moderate shock to revenue in a period of economic weakness,” said Moody’s analyst Matthew Butler. Because debt service is subject to appropriations by the Kansas Legislature, the POBs are rated a notch lower than the state’s issuer ratings.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Spring Hill water treatment plant officially opens
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 5 for the Hillsdale Water Treatment Plant at 22705 Moonlight Rd., Spring Hill, Kan. The ceremony marked the completion of an expansion and provides the treatment of water from four million gallons of water per day to seven million. The expansion was necessary due to the city’s growth and population increase.
Source: Gardner News
Great Bend OKs three sales tax questions
There will be three separate City of Great Bend sales tax questions on the Nov. 2 general election ballot following action by the City Council Monday night. These would help fund quality of life improvements, pay off the city’s debt incurred for a new police station and cover the cost of changes to the benefit package for the Police and Fire departments. The council at its Aug. 2 work session reached a consensus on the questions, said City Administrator Kendal Francis said.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Rural Business Development funds announced
U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Jerry Moran announced a $96,575 USDA Rural Business Development grant that will be used to increase training and education programs availability in 27 counties. The counties benefitting from this USDA Rural Business Development grant include: Finney, Edwards, Pawnee, Wichita, Stevens, Barber, Clark, Pratt, Hamilton, Ford, Comanche, Greeley, Barton, Ness, Grant, Seward, Stanton, Scott, Haskell, Kearny, Hodgeman, Meade, Lane, Morton, Kiowa, Rush and Stafford. “This USDA grant will help many small business owners succeed in rural Kansas through further investment in education and training,” said Marshall. “Small businesses are the backbone of this nation, and providing entrepreneurs with the training and resources they need empowers rural Kansas to thrive for years to come.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Strong wind, large hail cause severe damage in central Kansas
Strong winds and large hail caused severe damage in Rice and Ellsworth counties Sunday evening. The storm started around 5:30 p.m., south of Ellsworth and continued for about 30 miles. The National Weather Service of Wichita estimates that winds levels peaked at 110 mph. Several train cars were blown off the tracks west of Geneseo. Also noted were two areas of snapped power lines in Rice County. The storm also damaged buildings, cars and fields with hail reportedly the size of baseballs.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas firefighter electrocuted while searching for crash victims
A southwest Kansas firefighter has died after he was shocked by a power line while searching for the victims of a crash. Morton county deputies and emergency crews responded just before 6 p.m. Sunday to a rollover accident south of Rolla. A deputy and a firefighter arrived on scene minutes later. “In the process of searching for victims of the rollover, the first responding firefighter received an electrical shock from damaged power lines,” emergency management said on Facebook. Other responders began CPR, and the firefighter was taken to the county hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released. Emergency management has not provided any additional information about the crash.
Source: KAKE – News
Amazon Fulfillment Center is up and running in Park City
The 1-million-square-foot Amazon center was buzzing with workers Sunday. Park City residents say they may go apply for a job. “It’s a big building. It’s kind of overwhelming when you look at it,” said Park City resident, Robert. “It’s definitely something I’ll look into.” Local businesses in the area welcome the new Amazon center, and the people it will bring to the area. “People stop in here before they go home,” said Gabriel Biesiada with Park City Discount Liquor, about a mile from the Amazon complex. “We will pick up business from that because you know that’s a main street right there at Broadway that we’ll get a lot of traffic from.” Residents in the area watched the progress on the large complex off Broadway.
Source: KSN-TV
The state of Kansas is working to make its communities a whole lot cleaner
The state of Kansas is working to make its communities a whole lot cleaner. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has announced the recipients of it’s solid waste reduction grants. $450,000 will be distributed to 24 entities across the state and help incorporate recycling, waste minimization, public education and create environmentally friendly habits. The city of Columbus hopes to use roughly $5,000 of the grant to help keep their city parks clean. Jake Letner, Columbus Community Development Coordinator, says, “We don’t really have many opportunities in our parks to recycle so we hope that by implementing these new recycling and waste bins it will improve the look of our parks and promote recycling and sustainability in our community.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
City commission to discuss half-cent sales tax question
Parsons city commissioners Monday will look at adding a question to the November ballot on continuing the city’s half-cent sales tax. Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Municipal Building in the city commission meeting room. City officials will broadcast the meeting online at livestream.com/ParsonsKansas. People also can watch on Sparklight channel 58. The sales tax, if approved by voters, would go into effect Jan. 1, 2023, and last for five years.
Source: Parsons Sun
Census: Pottawatomie County has biggest percentage growth in Kansas
Pottawatomie County is No. 1. Pottawatomie County experienced the largest population growth by percentage in Kansas from 2010 to 2020, according to Census data. The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday released data on its 2020 population count. Pottawatomie County’s population grew 17.3% from 21,604 to 25,348. It was one of two Kansas counties that recorded a double-digit percentage growth; Johnson County grew by 12.1% from 544,179 in 2010 to 609,863 people in 2020.
Source: themercury.com
COVID-19 brought a ‘tectonic shift’ to higher education in Kansas
The college business model — one that depends on students living on campus and attending classes in person — was broken even before the pandemic. COVID-19 just made things more obvious. Classes moved online. Campus buildings and dormitories sat empty. Students flocked home. And many haven’t returned. Enrollment at Kansas colleges and universities fell by 8.1% last fall — more than the national average. With continued uncertainty over COVID-19 and the highly contagious delta variant, universities could face the biggest money crisis in their history. “The pandemic … converged with longer-term challenges facing enrollment,” said Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Source: Hutch News.
Municipal Bond Trends for August 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.
U.S. 10-year Treasury yield falls below 1.3% as consumer confidence drops to 2011 levels
The 10-year Treasury yield dropped further Friday morning, briefly dipping below 1.3%, after U.S. consumer sentiment data plummeted to its lowest level since December 2011, according to data out Friday from the University of Michigan. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 6 basis points to 1.304% at 1:30 p.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond gave up 7.5 basis points, falling to 1.952%. Yields move inversely to prices and one basis point is 0.01%. U.S. consumer confidence fell in August to its lowest level since 2011, as fears about the delta variant and the reopening of the economy continue to spread. The consumer sentiment index fell 13% from the July reading to 70.2, the University of Michigan reported Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected a reading of 81.3 for August.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Forward delivery bond issuance smashes though previous record
Forward delivery bonds have already surpassed their annual record for issuance as issuers use the tool, along with taxable refundings, to replace the loss of tax-exempt advance refundings. Forward delivery bonds are attractive to both issuers looking for savings and investors seeking any incremental yield in an uber low-rate environment, Barclays PLC said in a Friday report. The underwriting process is similar to a typical refunding transaction, but with an extended settlement date. So far this year, $6.224 billion of forward delivery bonds have been issued, according to Bloomberg and Barclays data. That is up from about $2.724 billion in 2020 and $4.484 billion in 2019, the previous record. Prior to 2018, issuance was below $1 billion except for 2015 where it was just above that figure at $1.560 billion.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Population drops in 80 Kansas counties
Most Kansas counties lost residents over the past 10 years as the state’s population concentrated in more populous places, including the Kansas City area, new census figures released Thursday showed. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s once-a-decade count of the nation’s population showed that 80 of the state’s 105 counties declined in population since 2010, 16 of them by more than 10%. Most of those counties were rural. Five of the top 10 fastest-growing counties were in or close to the Kansas City metropolitan area. The state’s most populous county, Johnson County, has affluent Kansas City suburbs that have been growing for decades, and its population grew another 12.1% in the past 10 years. Census figures show that Kansas saw a 3% increase in population over 10 years, to almost 2.94 million. Population shifts within the state mean a shift in political clout away from rural areas and toward Kansas City and a few other areas when the Legislature redraws political boundaries next year.
Source: The Iola Register
Wichita teachers’ union votes yes on new contract with USD 259 as school year begins
Wichita school district teachers voted overwhelmingly to approve a new union contract with USD 259 as the new academic year began this week, citing pay increases and bonuses that recognize teachers’ work in the pandemic. Nearly 66% of certified staff voted on the contract, said Brent Lewis, president of United Teachers of Wichita, the union that represents USD 259 teachers as well as nurses, counselors and other staff. Of those voting, 93.5% voted yes on the agreement, while 6.5% voted no. The contract covers more than 4,000 teachers and staff across the district, and will last for one year.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Massive Amazon fulfillment center started local work Sunday in Park City
The brand-new, 1-million-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center in Park City will become operational Sunday. Two hundred employees will begin filling orders for the online retail giant, which says it plans to employ between 700 and 1,000 workers throughout the year, depending on customer demand. “It’s truly amazing what’s been accomplished in the last 10 and a half months,” said Sean Fox, Park City’s city manager. “A year ago, nobody even knew that Amazon was coming here.”
Source: Wichita Eagle
Downtown loft program open
The Great Bend downtown loft program is now open, said Sara Hayden, president of Great Bend Development Inc., the entity spearheading the project. With applications now being sought, Hayden said she will hold a question-and-answer session at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at the Great Bend Events Center Santa Fe Trail conference room. “Great Bend Economic Development, with support from the city, is thrilled to be able to offer this grant program to help enhance our downtown corridor and bring more opportunities for business and housing to the community,” Hayden said. “This program allows us the chance to get a lot of work done in a short period of time, making Great Bend stand out as a community that is ready for change and growth, and as a community that takes pride in our future.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
New installation added to Garden of Isis in Lucas
Vintage computer motherboards, action figures with weapons, car parts, clock gears, and a visionary worldview – these are Mri-Pilar’s materials. Her installation, The Garden of Isis, fills the main floor of the Florence Deeble House in Lucas, and is an ongoing project 20 years in the making. This summer, Pilar installed 50 new pieces on a wall she titled “Continuum.” The works were made in the spring at an artist’s residency at the Red Barn Studio in Lindsborg. “The wall is a mosaic,” Pilar said. “It is very dense and close together with few breathing spaces, but as it moves out, it starts to open up and the silver reflection starts to happen.” Years ago, when the Grassroots Art Center approved Pilar’s plan for the Garden of Isis, she lined the walls with reflective silver. Light from windows and electric fixtures plays among the thousand-plus individual pieces throughout the house once occupied by local teacher Florence Deeble. Deeble watched S.P. Dinsmoor work on his concrete Garden of Eden when she was a child. At the age of 50, Deeble began her own backyard environment with concrete and rocks she collected on her travels.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Randy Grisell, City Attorney Announces Retirement
After a 41-year career practicing law and 33 years as the City Attorney, Randy Grisell has announced his retirement at the end of 2021. “With respect to the City of Garden City, what stands out the most to me is the dedication and professionalism of the public employees that make up the city workforce,” remarked Grisell. “I have had the pleasure of working with two excellent city managers, Bob Halloran and Matt Allen. The city is fortunate to have Matt’s leadership, hopefully for many more years to come. City employees sometimes have thankless jobs, working long hours under adverse conditions so as to provide the municipal services expected and relied upon by the citizens of Garden City. I want to thank all the city employees I have been lucky enough to work with and who made my job so enjoyable,” said Grisell. … “Randy is held in high regard among city attorneys in Kansas. He treats people with respect and conducts his business with the highest integrity. Our Commissioners and staff have benefited greatly from his counsel over the last 33 years,” remarked City Manager Matt Allen.
Source: Greater Garden City
As economic impact of winter storm nears $1B, some large Kansas customers want to investigate
The total cost from a more than week-long cold snap that brought the Midwest power supply to the brink of collapse is nearly $1 billion — and growing. The greatest breakdown during the storm, which forced controlled electrical blackouts in Kansas and Missouri, industry groups have said, was natural gas, which was in short supply and rose to 200 times its normal price during the worst stretch of the storm. So far, two of Kansas’ largest natural gas companies have filed to collect a combined $539.5 million from ratepayers over as long as 10 years. Some Evergy customers in Kansas will pay for $152.3 million in power costs from Winter Storm Uri over two years. But as regulators review those companies’ plans and prepare to pass on the costs to Kansas ratepayers, some groups representing large-scale customers say that — even six months later — the state has more work to do investigating the cause of huge natural gas price spikes during the storm.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Unvaccinated Johnson County employees must get tested weekly
The most populous county in Kansas is requiring its employees to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing if they aren’t vaccinated. Johnson County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson said that only 46% of county employees had reported being fully vaccinated as of Wednesday. Countywide, nearly 58% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated. Beginning Aug. 23, government employees who are not fully vaccinated must get tested once a week. The Kansas City Star reports that employees who work in departments providing direct care to residents are subject to tests up to twice weekly.
Source: KSN-TV
The Baxter Springs Fire Department is memorializing the firefighters who were lost on 9/11
For a second straight year, the Baxter Springs Fire Department will memorialize the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11. The department’s 343 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on Saturday, September 11th. The event is open to all first responders. Participants will climb the equivalent of 110 floors of stairs, which wearing 70lbs. of gear. There’s no cost. The first 50 to sign up will receive commemorative t-shirts and challenge coins.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Amanda Stanley hired as city attorney for the City of Topeka
Amanda Stanley has been hired as the City Attorney for the City of Topeka. Before coming to Topeka she was general counsel for the League of Kansas Municipalities. Stanley will start as the City Attorney on August 23rd. “I am excited to announce that Amanda Stanley has accepted the position of City Attorney. She has a tremendous amount of experience working with municipalities and will be a great asset to the city,” said City Manager Brent Trout. Stanley graduated from Newman University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2008 and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2014.
Source: KSNT News
How safe is the water in splash parks?
Wichita’s splash pads are inspected routinely by the city’s Environmental Health department and facility operators are expected to adhere to the water quality standards specified in the municipal code. But that level of oversight is uncommon throughout the rest of Sedgwick County and much of the state, where facilities operate in something of a water feature Wild West. … in Kansas, there are no statewide regulations for the construction, operation, filtration, disinfection or inspection of recreational water features, including pools, water parks and splash pads. And public information about the safety of any individual splash pad in the Wichita area is murky at best. “Outside of Wichita, there aren’t inspections,” Sedgwick County Health Department Director Adrienne Byrne said. “We don’t have Environmental Health with the county health department, and so cannot provide inspections unless there’s an issue like there was with Tanganyika.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
The ‘Kubota Way’: Great Plains Manufacturing set for next step in south Salina project
A first of many new milestones graced Great Plains Manufacturing Aug. 2 when the Great Plains/Kubota logo went up on a mammoth building in south Salina. It cemented what company leaders have been mapping for months. Since purchasing Salina-based Great Plains in July 2016, Kubota included Salina among four strategic growth areas in the United States, along with Edgerton in eastern Kansas, and locations in Georgia and Texas. The rapidly growing company is transforming the 750,000 square-foot structure at 3861 S. Ninth St., into Kubota’s North American Skid Steer Loader (SSL) and Compact Tracked Loader (CTL) Construction Equipment design and manufacturing center.
Source: Salina Journal
Market in Johnson City setting a trend on Main Street by raising happy livestock and selling lots of local products
Two years ago, Matt and Michelle Canny had a realization. They needed to change what they were doing or they would sink. Like other ranchers across the country, including in Kansas, the Cannys, who own Bear Creek Farms, realized if they could sell directly to the customer they could make a larger profit. The issue was marketing – and demand. “There’s more money in this than in selling through the sale barn,” Michelle Canny said.
Source: Hutch News