Municipal News & Jobs

The Humanities Kansas SHARP Recovery Grants are intended to reach a diverse network of urban and rural cultural nonprofits located in Kansas whose primary work involves the humanities. Funds are intended to help cultural nonprofit organizations recover from financial hardship resulting from the pandemic. Funds may be used to cover day-to-day expenses such as staff salaries, utilities, rent, and equipment and staffing needs related to transitioning post-pandemic. There are no cash match or cost share requirements.
Award amounts are divided into three categories based on an organization’s annual budget:
• Organizations with an annual budget of $100,000 or less may request up to $5,000.
• Organizations with an annual budget between $100,000 and $400,000 may request up to 5% of their budget ($5,000-$20,000).
• Organizations with an annual budget over $400,000 may request up to $20,000.
Learn more here.

Municipal benchmark yields rose by as much as five basis points Friday, following a stronger-than-expected jobs report, but the asset class outperformed the moves in Treasury bonds. An increase in supply next week may test current low levels. Continued strength in the economy was seen as nonfarm payrolls rose 943,000 and the jobless rate fell to 5.4% last month, the
Labor Department reported. “The dollar is surging following a better-than-expected nonfarm payroll report, which may have paved the way for the Fed to announce tapering if the economy delivers one more robust report in September,” said Ed Moya, senior market analyst for the Americas at OANDA.
Source: Bond Buyer.

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.

On its surface, the notion that Fort Scott, Kansas, could stand up to Netflix and Hulu seems like a David and Goliath battle of the highest order. On one hand, you have an 8,000-person town in the state’s southeast corner, most famous for its U.S. Army garrison in the 19th century and its role in the Civil War during that timeframe. Facing them are a pair of giants in the media world, with the companies combining for almost $30 billion in profits in 2020. But the battle royale between the unlikely foes is set to play out, with Fort Scott filing suit against the streaming giants in Bourbon County District Court last month, the latest chess move amid the larger decline in the number of Americans subscribing to cable. This has left local governments in an awkward spot, as they receive a cut of profits from cable companies — but not firms like Netflix or Hulu. Nationally, this has led to a spate of lawsuits against the companies, as well as their counterparts like Disney+.
Source: Hutch News.

Among the many factors working against the City of Lawrence’s efforts to have denser, more environmentally sustainable and ultimately more affordable housing is a development trend happening on land just beyond the city’s boundaries. Recent decades have seen a boom of rural neighborhoods with multi-acre lots near the city’s boundaries, precluding denser city expansion in those areas and creating other problems for both the city and the county. Newly proposed regulations would put a halt to such developments and encourage what planners say is a smarter way for the community to grow.
Source: LJWorld.com

Downtown Hays is thriving. Less than a handful of storefronts on Main Street are vacant. This is similar to Salina, where only three storefronts are available to rent. In September, Hays’ downtown will offer something new that is similar to Salina’s downtown – a small-town, locally- owned food market. Starting at the beginning of September, Kuhn’s Market will open its doors on Main Street in Hays. The market is attached to Philip Kuhn’s Blue Smoke Barbecue and will feature Kansas-grown produce and meats, as well as specialty cuisine, which includes Asian, Hispanic, vegetarian, gluten free and of course, barbecue items.
Source: Hutch News.

The City of Winfield wants to hear from the public about whether to increase the number of chickens residents are allowed to keep. The planning commission will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall to collect opinions on the keeping of chickens within the city limits. A local citizen has asked to change the current regulations that allows just one chicken to be kept for exhibit in 4-H or the county free fair, according to a press release issued by the city.
Source: CourierTraveler

The referendum addressing the continuation of the Finney County 1⁄4 percent sales tax passed in the Aug. 3 election. Unofficial results show 802 votes yes and 315 voted no. … Matt Allen, City Manager of Garden City, said although voter turnout was low, the result is “consistent with how this community choses to finance core general services like public safety, roads, parks and (in the case of the City of Garden City) a unique public facility like Lee Richardson Zoo. Since the 1990s, Finney County voters have approved ballot measures that shift the cost of the services and facilities more toward sales tax and away from property tax, which also capitalizes on our status as a regional center by sharing the cost with all who visit and shop from our multi-state trade area,” he said.
Source: GC Telegram

As a nationwide ammunition shortage frustrates gun owners and retailers, Kansas law enforcement agencies say they have sufficient supply to train officers as prices go up. “It’s just supply and demand at this point — everyone wants it, and we want it, too,” said Lt. Benjamin Blick, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. “So the price has increased.” Deputy Abigail Christian, a spokesperson for the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, said the agency has observed the price increases in the past year.
Source: CJonline

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.

Finney County Economic Development Corporation was given permission to move forward in conducting a westside wastewater study at the Finney County Commission’s regular meeting Monday. Lona Duvall, President/CEO of the FCEDC, said the area is quickly running our of commercial and industrial properties as well as residential and one area that they haven’t been able to develop is the area between Garden City and Holcomb, largely to to wastewater, as roads electricity and water is already available there.
Source: GC Telegram.

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.