Kansas Municipal News
City, county review Manhattan Development Code
Officials anticipate moving into the final stages of finishing the Manhattan Development Code in mid-July. Chad Bunger, assistant director of community development for the city government, updated Riley County commissioners Thursday on the progress of the Manhattan Development Code during a joint meeting with Manhattan city commissioners. The main goal is to put all the zoning and design information into one document and make it easier for the public to understand. Officials have been working with Manhattan city commissioners on this document for the past few months. Manhattan Mayor Wynn Butler encouraged the county commissioners to review the code more in-depth before the city officially adopts it later this year.
Source: themercury.com
Developer proposing new $43.6M Museum of Art and Light next to Discovery Center in Manhattan
A nonprofit corporation wants to build a new 50,000-square-foot Museum of Art and Light next to the Flint Hills Discovery Center, seeking state sales tax revenue to build another downtown attraction. According to documents The Mercury obtained on Friday, the Museum of Art and Light Inc. has submitted an 86-page plan to the city government, positioning the project as Phase II to the Discovery Center’s Phase I. The corporation’s resident agent is Tracey DeBruyn of Manhattan. The plan describes the facility as a “state-of-the-art museum featuring immersive exhibits and interactive displays, creating a one-of-a-kind, hands-on, art and cultural attraction unmatched in the United States.” Reddi said it will likely include local, state, national and international art.
Source: themercury.com
It may taste and smell bad because of recent rains, but the city of Topeka says its water is still safe to drink
Some of the water coming out of Topeka faucets currently tastes and smells bad, Topeka’s city government acknowledged Tuesday. Still, the tap water the city provides remains safe to drink and meets all drinking water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said Molly Hadfield, the city’s media relations coordinator. A flood of citizen complaints — about 40 over two days, according to Hadfield — prompted the city to put out a news release late Tuesday morning saying the city’s drinking water was experiencing “an issue with taste and odor.”
Source: CJonline.
Chlorine shortage hits southeast Kansas
With summer right around the corner, many are undoubtedly looking forward to going swimming, perhaps for the first time in over a year, since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down public pools. A chlorine shortage is threatening to throw cold water on such plans nationwide, however, and southeast Kansas is not immune. Brian Cussimanio, public works director for the City of Frontenac, said at Monday’s city council meeting that he ordered enough chlorine tablets to last through the summer three or four weeks ago, when he first heard they were becoming scarce.
Source: Pittsburg Morning Sun.
Municipal finance tools are getting extensive consideration by Congress
The extensive consideration that municipal finance tools are getting as Congress considers infrastructure legislation is producing growing optimism among public finance and local government groups. Lawmakers have voiced bipartisan and bicameral support for a revival of direct-pay Build America Bonds, reinstating tax-exempt advance refundings and raising the limit on tax-exempt bank-qualified debt to $30 million for nonprofit borrowers. The Biden administration is scheduled to weigh in on May 28 with its detailed tax proposals as part of its 2022 budget.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Hiring woes hit Cowley County
Help wanted signs have become more common as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and businesses reopen further, but many employers are now experiencing a shortage of workers as positions remain unfilled. … Some have blamed the lack of job-seekers on expanded unemployment benefits approved by the federal government in response to the pandemic, which allowed people an extra $300 per week. In response, some states have moved to end the additional aid before it expires in September. Kerri Falletti, executive director of Cowley First, said around 160 jobs are listed right now on the Cowley Works job posting website that is administered by Cowley First, with 30 to 40 businesses represented. Falletti said the county’s total unemployment rate is currently around 4 percent. A county with a rate of 4 percent or less is considered to have full employment. Some counties in Kansas currently have unemployment rates in the 2 percent range, said Falletti.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Municipal Bond Trends for May 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.
KAKE News Special Report: Repopulating Nicodemus through tiny houses
The historic town of Nicodemus has struggled to increase its population for decades, and descendants of original settlers are concerned that without new residents, the town could perish. Just a few dozen people are now living in Nicodemus, but town leaders think they have found a tiny solution to a big problem. “The tiny homes project,” says Dr. JohnElla Holmes, who helped pioneer the program. “Why don’t we do tiny homes which would be more affordable, would definitely help them scale back, and would also help our community grow?” Holmes wrote a grant with the Dane Hanson Foundation to fuel the project. So far, two tiny homes have been constructed, and another is in the works.
Source: KAKE – News
USD 383, MATC exploring creation of college and career academy
The Manhattan-Ogden school board has approved a partnership with Manhattan Area Technical College and area businesses to explore the possibility of creating a college and career academy. Superintendent Marvin Wade says the goal is to help students become informed consumers and use real world applications. “We want to continue the discussions and that’s going to include and what are the programs of study what are the areas that are out there that we can expand. Right now we’re limited in space and what we’re able to do so we need to look at space, we need to look at the programs, we need to look at partnerships who brings what to the table.”
Source: 1350 KMAN
Wichita launches district one loan program
The City of Wichita announced its new PROPEL loan fund program Thursday for Wichita City Council District 1 business owners. The program is designated to help minority and women-owned businesses with access to a low-interest and short-term loan. Business owners in District 1 will have to meet eligibility requirements determined by the city and and must apply for the program. Owners can receive up to $15,000 in loan funds at an interest rate of about 3%. The loan must also be repaid within 36 months. “PROPEL stand for providing resources and opportunities for proprietors, entrepreneurs and lenders…”
Source: KAKE – News
Internet discount program already accrues 1 million users; how Kansans can get $50 off too
A program that helps families save $50 on their monthly internet bill has already enrolled one million people. Over 900 broadband providers have agreed to take part in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating providers. Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online by clicking here, or sign up via mail. To learn more or learn where to access a mail-in application, call 833-511-0311.
Source: KSNT News
Treasury Says It Has Already Distributed $105B in State, Local Aid
The Treasury Department said Thursday it had distributed $105.3 billion of a $350 billion pool of American Rescue Plan funding that is available for state, local, tribal and territorial governments. Treasury released guidelines about 11 days ago for how the federal aid can be used, officially kicking off the program. “Almost a third of the funding has gone out the door, and I’m hopeful communities will be able to rehire teachers and help businesses re-open much sooner than otherwise,” said Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen in a statement. Over 1,500 recipients have received the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Treasury said. The funds are intended to help address hardships brought on by the Covid-19 public health crisis.
Source: Route Fifty
California couple recreates small Kansas town (Oakley) in their backyard miniature railroad
About two years ago … the Spencers weeded out some elements of their [backyard miniature] railroad, repainted the pint-sized buildings, and created 41 dioramas that replicated small town life in their former home of Oakley, Kan. Jim grew up in Oakley, where the population hovered at about 2,500 residents. Hints of the town’s character in the 1950s are scattered throughout their Oakley Western Railroad. Just like many of Oakley’s businesses that were owned and/or operated by the men who returned home after World War II, many of the couple’s buildings bear the names of the proprietors. There’s the Kauffman Hotel, which was the first railroad hotel in Oakley, and Jim’s father’s law offices on the top floor of the original Farmers State Bank. There’s also a Stetz’s Five and Dime store and Eddie’s Bakery.
Source: Ramona Sentinel.
Traders are now worried that the Fed isn’t being proactive enough
The Federal Reserve may be trying to project a coherent vision on what it expects its policy on future rate hikes will be, but the market cannot seem to agree on what version of the Fed it wants to believe. Does it want the Fed to be hawkish or dovish? Does it want the Fed to taper and begin raising rates sooner than expected, or put it off because inflation is “transitory” as the Fed seems to imply? There is evidence the market is becoming more comfortable with the Fed getting a bit more hawkish. A couple months ago, traders were concerned the economy was going to be so strong that the Fed would be forced to taper later this year and raise rates in early 2022, sooner than anticipated. That concern was stoked today by a statement in the minutes of the last Federal Reserve meeting, which noted that “a number of participants suggested that if the economy continued to make rapid progress toward the Committee’s goals, it might be appropriate at some point in upcoming meetings to begin discussing a plan for adjusting the pace of asset purchases.” While bond yields moved up modestly on that statement, the stock market barely moved, a sign, some say, that the market is getting comfortable with the Fed “thinking about thinking about” doing something down the road.
Source: CNBC
Wichita approves land bank to help distressed and abandoned properties
This week the Wichita City Council approved the creation of land bank in Wichita. Land banks are used so the city can acquire distressed and abandoned properties and get them into the hands of nonprofits to fix them up and get housing to lower income residents. The Wichita Habitat for Humanity says this could make a huge impact in communities. “A lot of this really becomes a hazard to the neighbors,” said Ann Fox the executive director of Habitat for Humanity. Overgrown, boarded up and abandoned homes in Wichita might get a makeover sooner rather than later thanks to the Wichita City Council approving a land bank on Tuesday.
Source: KAKE – News
Builder seeks fee waiver as costs soar
Local contractor Brandon Jellings wants more incentives from the City of Arkansas City to build a housing project that has struggled to get off the ground. He met with city commissioners during a Friday work session and asked that the city waive several required permits and reduce utility connection fees. Jellings Construction is building 54 duplex-style housing units in the Compass Point Addition in northwest Ark City. The original developer planned single-family homes.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
First Impressions feedback: Inman is practically perfect in every way
On May 10, prior to the Inman City Council meeting at the community building, Jan Steen, with the K-State Community Vitality program, presented the observations of a team from Harper, who visited Inman in July and August 2020. Their goal was to identify, “How does a first-time visitor view my town?” The Community Vitality initiative is part of the Kansas Pride Program, sponsored by K-State Research and Extension. The observers visited as a team and then came back as individuals or with their families. … As it turns out for Inman, the Harper team found that there is much to commend in Inman with only minor improvements needed. Source: McPherson Weekly News
Kansas Main Street director helps local effort
Scott Sewell, director of the Kansas Main Street program, spent last Thursday in Marysville, visiting with Marysville Chamber & Main Street’s board and exploring the city’s downtown. Kansas Main Street was re-established last fall in the Kansas Department of Commerce as a program to promote revitalization and preservation of downtown districts. A small office of three, Sewell’s team offers training and technical assistance to Kansas downtowns based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality. While in Marysville, Sewell was impressed with the enthusiasm of those he met with the Marysville Chamber & Main Street organization.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Manhattan wants landlords to provide flood hazard notice
Landlords likely will be required to notify tenants if they’re living in a flood prone area. Manhattan city commissioners discussed requiring a flood hazard notice Tuesday. The change is a part of the Manhattan Development Code. City officials have updated this code, formerly known as the Unified Development Ordinance, with new zoning regulations into one document. The main goal is to put all the zoning and design information into one document and make it easier for the public to understand. “I think this is one of the big improvements we wanted,” Mayor Wynn Butler said of the flood notification requirement. “We were waiting on this one for awhile, so glad to see it in there. I think it’s going to help so we don’t get folks surprised, which happened in the past.”
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article
Roaming! Mountain lion sighting in Andover
For the second time in about a week — a mountain lion is spotted in and around the Wichita area. The latest sighting took place Wednesday morning in Andover. An Andover resident’s Ring camera captured a mountain lion walking past his home. Last week, a surveillance video showed what officials say is in fact a mountain lion moving through the Riverside area.
Source: KSN-TV
Overland Park police officers swap police gear for lawnmowers to help homeowner
Someone living in Overland Park caught officers off guard. The person snapped pictures as officers worked this week, but they weren’t on patrol. They traded in police gear for lawnmowers and helped an older homeowner with yard work. The department said all of the work was completed between service calls the officers received. Police said man recently lost his spouse and had fallen a little behind on some outdoor chores. Thanks to the officers, his yard is back up to code.
Source: KSN-TV
Overland Park wants to expand mental health staff and training for police
An ambitious set of recommendations to bulk up Overland Park’s mental health resources was unanimously accepted by the city council Monday night. The list includes several new staff positions for crisis intervention and co-responders, as well as mental health counselors. The vote now means city staff will begin to work some of the recommendations, which came from the city’s Mental Health Task Force, into the upcoming budget that will be proposed in about three weeks. No price tag or timeline was included with the recommendations, but it could involve a substantial commitment of resources, said City Manager Bill Ebel.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wichita OK’s 41 days of food trucks and street drinking downtown; here’s where, when
In a sign of the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Wichita has approved a long list of outdoor activities at the Brickyard and the WaterWalk for this year and next, including a four-day party during the women’s March Madness basketball tournament next year. In each case, streets will be closed to accommodate crowds, food trucks and the outdoor sale and imbibing of alcoholic beverages. All 41 events were approved by a single vote of the City Council this week. “We want to come together again,” said Mayor Brandon Whipple. “We deserve it after what we went through last year,” when most public events had to be canceled to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Derby passes ordinance regulating micromobility companies
Following a proposal for a pilot program brought forward by Bird Scooters earlier this year, the Derby City Council took action at its most recent meeting on May 11 to address micromobility companies operating within the city limits. Given the concerns of city council members, the governing body looked to have something in place as soon as possible regulating such operations, adopting an ordinance to do just that on May 11. “It’s basically going to stop the ability for them to just say we’re going to come operate in your city without you knowing. If they do come in here and operate, we do have a fine schedule in the ordinance. We can assess those costs as well as they’re going to [have to] gather the equipment up,” said Kiel Mangus, deputy city manager.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Lawrence City Commission open to collaboration, code changes to address shortage of affordable homes
City leaders say they’re looking forward to an upcoming review of the city’s development code and potential collaboration with developers and nonprofits to help ease the city’s shortage of affordable housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation from the Lawrence Home Builders Association, the Lawrence Board of Realtors, the affordable housing provider Tenants to Homeowners and others regarding shortages in Lawrence’s housing market. The presentation included ways the city could support potential housing development and help make development easier, and commissioners said they were excited at the prospects.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence task force to recommend consideration of 6-member City Commission elected by districts
A task force of Lawrence residents that has been reconsidering the city’s form of government has come out in favor of expanding the City Commission and having election by districts, as opposed to at large, in addition to having a directly elected mayor. As part of its meeting Monday evening, the City Government Study Task Force voted 8-0, with a few members absent, to recommend that the city consider changing to a six-member commission in which the commissioners are elected by geographic districts, with each serving a four-year term. Currently, the commission is five members, serving four- or two-year terms, and all five members are elected at large, meaning that all represent the city as a whole.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 18, 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.
Vaccinations in rural areas falling behind urban areas in Kansas and Missouri, CDC finds
Urban counties in Kansas and Missouri are running ahead of rural counties in vaccinating residents against the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in a new study published Tuesday. Vaccine hesitancy in rural communities remains a “major barrier” for public health officials, according to the CDC study. In Kansas, 41.3% of adults in rural counties had received at least one dose as of April 10, compared with 49.7% of adults in urban areas. In Missouri, 31% of adults in rural counties had received at least one dose as of April 10, compared with 41.3% of adults in urban areas.
Source: Wichita News
Garden City’s Big Pool is back with a new name, look, and high flying attractions
A notorious Garden City landmark is getting overhauled and upgraded. The Big Pool was a historical centerpiece of Garden City that was open for nearly a century. The pool was the largest hand-dug public pool in the world when it was first built in 1921. During its hay day, the pool held nearly 2.5 million gallons of water. Twenty-eight months ago the prior Garden City city commission took up the issue of the future of The Big Pool and aquatics for the city. It was determined The Big Pool couldn’t maintain operation. The city says the facility was losing nearly 200,000 gallons of water each day and required a budget of around $800,000 for the three-month summer season. This was a significantly higher budget than other departments that operated year-round.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita City Council approves city-owned land bank to handle ‘challenging properties’
The Wichita City Council has unanimously approved the creation of a city-funded and -operated land bank that will be overseen by trustees each council member appoints. The concept of a land bank is to acquire distressed houses and get them into the hands of local nonprofit groups that can repair or replace them, such as Habitat for Humanity or Mennonite Housing. Money could also be used to acquire abandoned commercial properties and help develop, for example, neighborhood grocery stores to address Wichita’s “food desert” problem, where low-income residents have to travel long distances by bus to get fresh meat and produce, Assistant City Manager Scot Rigby has previously said.
Source: Wichita News
Riley County commission approved federally funded pay scale increase for county employees
Riley County commissioners approved a mid year salary adjustment for county employees on Monday. The adjustment is a 1% pay scale increase for all active employees. The 1% increase is for the mid year of 2021, but will also include 2020 and the first part of 2021 for a total of 2.52%. The reason this was brought to the commission was due to the county freezing salaries for the 2021 budget last year in anticipation of economic challenges due to the pandemic. However, the impact was less than anticipated. Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison told the commission that since county employees were considered essential, they continued to work during the pandemic. Not only did they have their normal tasks, but also added significant tasks due to the pandemic.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Builder seeks fee waiver as costs soar
Local contractor Brandon Jellings wants more incentives from the City of Arkansas City to build a housing project that has struggled to get off the ground. He met with city commissioners during a Friday work session and asked that the city waive several required permits and reduce utility connection fees. Jellings Construction is building 54 duplex-style housing units in the Compass Point Addition in northwest Ark City. The original developer planned single-family homes.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Report: Reno Co. fire districts need big overhaul
After a year of analysis, significant change may be coming to rural fire districts in Reno County. What form it takes and how quickly changes might occur is far from clear. For the last 35 years, county commissioners have tried unsuccessfully to address the needs of rural fire districts across Reno County. The overwhelming theme – shown in a comprehensive report – is that central management by a professional fire chief could solve many of the pressing issues each station faces. Existing fire chiefs could manage the specific needs of individual districts while rolling out uniform policies and training.
Source: Hutch News.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 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.
Flooding in Natoma Kansas hits in a flash early Sunday
Natoma is a small town where neighbors help neighbors. When flooding hit early Sunday residents scrambled to help each other. “The elderly didn’t have a chance,” said Jeremy Makings. Makings rushed to help when he knew he couldn’t reach his wife’s grandmother. “I couldn’t get there,” said Makings. “The younger people just barely got out with their vehicles starting to float. So I stopped in town and got in a boat and started going house to house.” Makings used a very heavy “front loader” to also help get some people out.
Source: KSN-TV
Fed’s Bostic says there’s no reason to change policy despite inflation fears
Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic told CNBC on Monday that he’s comfortable with the central bank’s ultra-loose policy even as inflation gains steam in the U.S. economy. “We are still 8 million jobs short of where we were pre-pandemic,” Bostic told CNBC … Currently, the Fed is keeping short-term benchmark borrowing rates anchored near zero and is buying at least $120 billion of bonds each month. That has come even as the Consumer Price Index lurched up 4.2% in April, well above Wall Street’s expectations, and as Bostic’s own Atlanta Fed GDPNow tracker is putting second-quarter growth at 10.5%. However, April’s disappointing jobs report, with nonfarm payrolls growing just 266,000 against projections for 1 million, has Fed policymakers likely on hold, where Bostic said he will be until he sees a broader economic recovery.
Source: CNBC
Lucas ranks among best small-town art scenes in nation
National polling sponsored by USA Today Readers’ Choice 2021 has named Lucas as the fourth-best small-town arts scene in the nation. Voting took place in April and top winners were revealed early in May. The small town, with a population of 400, is the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas. It showcases the ingenuity of self-taught artists. Among all the opportunities to see and learn about art made by hundreds of Kansas and nationally based individuals is the Grassroots Art Center, celebrating its 25th year in 2021.
Source: KSN-TV
‘It’s just unreal’: Salina family picks up home after flash flood hits
In Saline County, some families had a rough wake-up call Sunday as flash floods entered their neighborhoods. Tyler Pfeifer was in the middle of a camping trip when they got a phone call early Sunday from the Saline County Dispatch saying their home was hit. “They were like, ‘Yeah, are you at your house? No? Well, it’s almost completely underwater right now,'” said Pfeifer. Pfeifer and his family rushed home. The water was gone, but its mark fully visible.
Source: KSNT News
New app to give better experience at Topeka park
Shawnee County Parks and Recreation is making your experience at a local park even better with a new app. The department partnered with “Otocast” and launched the app for Ward Meade Park a few weeks ago. The app shows 19 points of interest throughout the Old Prairie Town and botanical garden. Employees are at the park from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but if you come out in the late evening and the buildings are closed and you missed the tour, you can still hear the stories on your own time and get a first-person narrative of what life was like in the late 1800s. “It’s a really unique opportunity to hear stories and listen to some of the challenges that the early pioneers faced and also learn about our buildings as well,” said John Bell, Ward Meade Park Recreation Program Supervisor.
Source: KSNT News
Governor Kelly declares state of emergency because of flooding
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued a state of disaster emergency declaration for flooding that started over the weekend. The action authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in counties that meet certain criteria. “We urge residents to be aware of their safety,” Kelly said in a statement. “Flood waters can be deceptive. Although people often think of tornadoes as the big destructive force of nature in Kansas, floods can be just as damaging, if not more so. Floods affect many, many square miles, destroying or damaging roads, bridges, power lines and other vital infrastructure. I am signing this declaration to help these county governments quickly restore infrastructure and get things back to normal for their citizens.”
Source: KSNT News
Mission sets guidelines for housing assistance program
The city of Mission has set guidelines for it’s housing assistance program — and a way to get started. Mission’s housing assistance program is designed to help residents economically impacted by COVID-19 by offering rental or mortgage assistance. Eligible recipients must meet the following requirements for one month’s rent assistance.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Parsons mask mandate to expire
Beginning Tuesday, masks will no longer be required by law anywhere in Parsons. City commissioners during a regular Monday evening meeting decided not to extend a city ordinance that requires people to wear face coverings in buildings accessible to the public. The ordinance, which was approved in July, also required businesses and organizations to post a notice at their entrances that masks must be worn inside. Employers had to make their workers wear masks when they were in areas accessible to the public or when they couldn’t socially distance from each other. The ordinance was only lightly enforced.
Source: Parsons Sun
Labette County to get over $3M in federal funds
Labette County may get as much as $3.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act passed early in President Biden’s administration, but the county will have limits on how that money can be spent. Though the money is for infrastructure, no bridges can be built. Road improvements are a question mark. Expanding broadband would be an acceptable use, Labette County Counselor Brian Johnson said Monday while updating county commissioners on the COVID-19 relief funding. Commissioners agreed recently to seek a study of broadband coverage in the county. Cities and schools will get their own ARPA funding, Johnson said.
Source: Parsons Sun