Municipal News & Jobs

Two years ago, Nick Poels decided he wanted K-12 students in his rural Kansas community of 2,500 to learn to code. Kids in Phillipsburg soon had a brand-new computer lab, and Poels hoped 20 or 30 children might use it. “Within two weeks of school starting, we had 351 students involved,” he said. Poels quickly realized he had touched on something. At the time he was the economic development director for Phillips County, in north-central Kansas. Now he’s working with nonprofit NetWork Kansas on a new project to bring computer science education to K-12 schools across the state, with support from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The first focus of his new project, dubbed Ignister, is to push for computer science classes to count as a core curriculum toward high school graduation in Kansas.
Source: Wichita Eagle.

When newcomers visit Wichita, many inevitably bring up the affordable cost of living, especially in regard to housing. For most Americans, rent and mortgage payments are the largest monthly expense they accrue. And research shows that affordable housing positively impacts education, health and economic outcomes of communities at-large. But keeping housing affordable for residents while maintaining and improving spaces requires a delicate balance. This is especially important now, as Wichita finds itself in the thick of a housing boom with listings selling at an unprecedented pace.
Source: Chung Report.

Johnson County’s health order requiring masks and social distancing in businesses has become a “strong recommendation,” which carries no enforcement but still encourages employers and organizations to follow federal COVID-19 guidelines. On Thursday, the Johnson County Commission voted 5-1 on a resolution that points residents and employers toward the Centers for Disease Control for best practices on mask wearing and social distancing. Assistant County Manager Joe Connor said the resolution puts the commission on record as backing public health experts while leaving flexibility for changes in federal guidelines that may come as more Americans become vaccinated and cases drop.
Source: Shawnee Post.

Motorized scooters like those in downtown Kansas City are back on the drawing board in Overland Park after a two-year hiatus. A city council committee Wednesday agreed that the city should pursue a pilot project for a scooter share program that could start as early as this summer. The committee asked city staff to move forward with the details after a brief discussion Wednesday night.
Source: Shawnee Post.

The downtown Shawnee core is now a public common consumption area, which means drinking establishments can more easily host outdoor events and serve alcohol in patio settings. After a brief discussion, the Shawnee City Council on Monday unanimously approved the move creating a public common consumption area within the downtown core at Johnson Drive and Nieman Road. The area covers four square blocks bounded by King Street to the west, West 58th Street to the north, Bluejacket Avenue to the east, and West 59th Street to the south.
Source: Shawnee Post.

Each year, the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) and the Division of Water Resources (DWR) measure more than 1,400 wells to track the drops in groundwater levels. Throughout 2020, experts recorded an average groundwater decline of nearly one foot across the Kansas portion of the High-Plains Aquifer. The High Plains Aquifer is one of the world’s largest groundwater resources. It stretches across parts of eight states from South Dakota to Texas and is a significant part in growing billions of dollars of crops each year. The Ogallala portion is the largest in Kansas and perhaps of the most concern.
Source: KSN.

A communications company wants to sign a franchise agreement with the city of Parsons to allow for underground fiber optic cable on city right of way. The city commission will consider an ordinance during a regular Monday evening meeting that would allow Cox Communication Kansas LLC to install an advanced fiber optic network in town. During a Thursday work session, City Attorney Ross Albertini said the non-exclusive franchise agreement is based on one the commission approved about five years ago for Fibernet with a “few minor tweaks.”
Source: Parsons Sun.

Tourism — which is about using the assets we have to bring new dollars into our state — is key to growing the Kansas economy. … Every new resident and business developer is first a visitor to our state. Kansas Tourism and local partners create a great first impression for all new arrivals. Working as a team, Tourism and dedicated partners inspire exploration and personify Kansas ideals and values, which all help visitors fall in love with Kansas.
Source: CJonline.com.

Many municipalities were in danger of financial ruin from sky-high natural gas bills after extreme cold temperatures swept through Kansas in February and caused rolling blackouts. The high prices were caused by the unprecedented demand for energy during the freezing weather, combined with the limited supply due to the freeze taking down critical energy infrastructure. State government itself also wasn’t spared, as the governor’s office early last week requested lawmakers go through the state budget to find money for higher energy costs it faced. ‘We’re spending a lot of dollars out of state general funds here on an emergency situation,’ said Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stillwell.
Source: Salina Journal.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) local relief funds that will go to cities should be released no later than May 10, 2021, creating a short amount of time for smaller cities to get ready to receive the funds. Cities, towns and villages with fewer than 50,000 residents, referred to in the law as nonentitlement units of local government, will receive their money as a pass through from the state. States will receive their money no later than May 10, and then states have 30 days to pass the money through cities, towns and villages with fewer than 50,000 residents. The law contains strong language that should prevent states from withholding funds to cities, towns and villages with less than 50,000 residents. Municipalities with fewer than 50,000 residents will need to obtain a DUNS number to meet the reporting requirements of the law. A DUNS number is a unique nine-character number used to identify an organization and is issued by Dun & Bradstreet. The federal government uses the DUNS number to track how federal money is allocated. Registering for a DUNS number is free of charge. If an entity does not have a valid DUNS number, please visit https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ or call 1-866-705-5711 to begin the registration process.
Source: NLC.

A task force of Lawrence residents that has been reconsidering the city’s form of government has come out in favor of having a directly elected mayor. As part of its meeting Thursday evening, the City Government Study Task Force voted 7-0, with a few members absent, to recommend that the city consider changing to a directly elected mayor who serves a four-year term. Currently, the City Commission chooses one of its own members to serve a one-year term as mayor each year — by tradition, commissioners choose based on whoever received the most votes in the most recent election, though there have been exceptions.
Source: LJWorld.com.

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.

After a competitive search process, the City of Abilene has a new city manager. During Monday’s city meeting, commissioners and Mayor Brandon Rein approved the appointment of Ron Marsh of Clearwater to serve as Abilene’s next city manager. Marsh currently is the city administrator in Clearwater, a job he has held for 3 ½ years. “I am extremely excited to be named the Abilene city manager and appreciate the city commission’s confidence in me,” Marsh said. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a great staff.” Marsh said Abilene has much to offer and he and his wife are looking forward to making Abilene their home and getting to know the community.
Source: Abilene Reflector Chronicle.

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.

Until Wednesday, Lydia Burge, a second grader at Inman Elementary School, never saw a live chicken, nor had she petted one. Goats or sheep hadn’t been on her horizon either. Because of a group of Inman High School students and their agriculture teacher, youngsters like Lydia were able to learn about farm animals and meet horses, cows and donkeys face to face. All the youngsters were able to pet the animals – if they wanted to.
Source: Hutch News.

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 will get to keep all of its current seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, federal Census data confirmed on Monday, but the state still had its worst population showing since the Great Depression. The data showed Kansas’ population grew at one of the slowest rates in the state’s history. Over the last decade Kansas added only 84,762 people. Its 2020 population stood at 2,937,880 people. The numbers were the first the Census Bureau has released from the 2020 Census, and they are some of the most important because the figures are used to determine how the 435 seats in Congress are apportioned among the states. Population totals for individual cities or counties haven’t yet been released.
Source: LJWorld.com.