Kansas Municipal News
Can Inflation Fall Fast Enough for the Fed?
Inflation is still too high. That probably won’t lead Federal Reserve policy makers to raise rates when they meet next month, but unless inflation comes down significantly in the months ahead, Fed policy makers will lace up their boots and start hiking all over again. And maybe inflation will come down. The Labor Department on Wednesday said that the consumer-price index, its measure of consumer prices, rose 0.4% in April from March, putting it 4.9% above its year-earlier level. Core prices, which exclude food and energy items to better reflect inflation’s underlying trend, also rose 0.4%, and were up 5.5% from a year earlier. … There were some aspects of the inflation report that will please the Fed. It has been focusing on what has been termed supercore inflation—the change in services prices excluding energy and housing costs. This is because, first of all, services prices are more closely linked to U.S. wages, as opposed to prices for goods, which are more driven by global demand, and which have been whipsawed by supply-chain problems since the pandemic started.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets
Reno County facing shortage of teachers
As enrollment dwindles in the Hutchinson School District, the need for buildings decreases. But this year, the largest school district in Reno County is facing a new problem − not enough applicants to fill their 14 open teacher slots. Because of this dilemma, the USD 308 staff met with community members at McCandless, Faris and Lincoln elementary schools on Wednesday and Thursday to try to figure out a solution. They threw out all sorts of possibilities, including closing an elementary school. Hutchinson’s superintendent, Dawn Johnson, Ed.D., wants to keep the community involved in what is happening. She is proposing a special board meeting, where community members can speak, be held next Monday evening to focus on this topic.
Source: Hutch News
Salina allows more access for fiber internet installation
Providers of fiber internet will now have more options for where cable can be placed near homes in Salina after approval by the City Commission. During its meeting Monday, the commission approved a resolution to allow fiber optic cable to be placed in utility easements within the city in addition to the public right of way, which was already allowed. Assistant City Manager Shawn Henessee said a utility easement in Salina is typically located at the rear or side of a residence, whereas the right of way is typically located in front of a home. “The city has voluntarily allowed utilities, in the past, to access…the easement in the rear,” Henessee said. As more fiber providers are making their way to Salina, Henessee said the city has been looking at the issue of where fiber cable could be placed.
Source: Salina Journal
Pittsburg Housing Authority awarded vouchers to address housing insecurity
The City of Pittsburg Public Housing Authority (PHA) is one of 62 agencies chosen by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive housing vouchers to provide supportive services to those facing homelessness in rural communities. The Pittsburg Housing Authority was awarded five stability vouchers to assist individuals and families who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or were recently homeless. These vouchers are in addition to 15 Emergency Housing Vouchers issued to the PHA in July 2021.
Source: City of Pittsburg
Cinco De Mayo celebration brings crowd, culture to downtown Emporia
Commercial Street came alive with food, music, dancing and more for the annual Cinco De Mayo celebration. Hundreds packed into downtown Emporia to try one of the many food, drink and snack options, listen to musical stylings of Erick Sánchez, Jaime Izaguirre, Ladee J and the Orquesta Cambalache and enjoy the dance performances from Raíces Hispanas Grupo Folklórico and the Latin Fit Zumba group. The day was packed with CincoK race in the morning, Los Puentes graduation, Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow scholarship recognition, royalty coronation and more.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Valley Center Schools name new Superintendent
The Valley Center School District has named a new Superintendent. Greg Lehr will take over the position on July 1. Lehr comes to Valley Center from Sedgwick Schools, where he has been Superintendent since July of last year, overseeing a $13.8 million bond project and creating a strategic plan. It is not his first time at Valley Center schools. Lehr was an assistant principal for Valley Center Middle School and principal of the intermediate school for a combined 12 years. Prior to that, he was a coach and teacher at Garden City and Newton Public Schools.
Source: KSN-TV
Johnson County’s Negro Creek to keep controversial name, commemorating its grisly past
Despite calls to rename Johnson County’s Negro Creek, a committee has decided to keep the controversial name, worried that removing it would erase a painful piece of history. Many Johnson County residents spent years unaware of the small, unmarked creek that flows through a golf course in Leawood and in southern Overland Park, in one of the most affluent areas of Kansas’ wealthiest county. But a couple of years ago, activists brought attention to the tributary and the mystery behind its troubling name, calling on leaders to remove it. The name, historians have discovered, most likely came from a story passed down for generations, of an enslaved man who ran away from the Missouri farm of a prominent and notoriously violent family. The man was tracked along the Blue River as he fled toward Kansas and made it to a tributary across the state line. The story goes that he chose to die by suicide there rather than be recaptured and return to a life of slavery.
Source: Joco 913 News
‘Grace and patience’: Wichita superintendent Alicia Thompson says farewell
Alicia Thompson, the first woman and first Black superintendent of Wichita Public Schools, gave an emotional farewell speech at Monday’s school board meeting, her last before Kelly Bielefeld takes over as superintendent on July 1. “My mother was a teacher in this school district and I’ve been walking the Wichita Public Schools pretty much all my life — as a student, as a professional,” said Thompson, who has worked in the district for 31 years and is retiring at the end of the school year. Thompson started as a kindergarten teacher at Ingalls Elementary School before taking on assistant principal and principal roles and working in staff development. She became superintendent of Kansas’ largest school district in 2017.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Overland Park named one of best work from home cities in U.S.
Overland Park was named one of the best cities to support remote workers. A study by website SmartAsset determined which American cities have the best circumstances for the “work from home” workforce, including lower cost of living and reliable internet and electricity. Overland Park ranked the fifth best work from home city on the list, and here are some of the key facts from SmartAsset’s findings: Nearly 32% of the city’s working population is remote. Over 5,800 people age 18 to 65 moved to Overland Park between 2019 and 2021, a possible factor in the nearly 24% increase in remote workers during that same time.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Inflation rate eases to 4.9% in April, less than expectations
A widely followed measure of inflation rose in April, though the pace of the annual increase provided some hope that the cost of living will head lower later this year. The consumer price index, which measures the cost of a broad swath of goods and services, increased 0.4% for the month, in line with the Dow Jones estimate, according to a Labor Department report Wednesday.
Source: Economy
Kansas Tourism Awards $421,820 in Attraction Development Grants
Kansas Tourism today announced $421,820 in Attraction Development Grants has been awarded to 10 recipients. The funding will be used to develop new tourism attractions or enhance existing sites across the state. Attraction Development Grants assist in the development of travel experiences that will influence visitors’ travel decisions. The program also spurs economic growth through the creation of jobs, capital investment, revenue and number of visits. “These grants are essential investments in the growth and development of communities across the state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Supporting new and exciting attractions enhances both the visitor experience and quality of life for existing Kansas residents.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
One Johnson County city is trying out composting
The city of Olathe will officially launch its compost dropoff program in the coming days, offering free disposal of food scraps to city residents at its multipurpose dropoff site at 1100 N. Hedge Lane. Olathe residents can stop by during the site’s open hours to dispose of any food waste, from meat and bones to eggshells, dairy products, produce scraps and processed foods. You simply deposit their scraps into one of the three 95-gallon trash bins housed inside a wooden corral.
Source: KC Star Local News
Why Overland Park needs more diverse trees
Cities in Kansas and Missouri are finding that they often have too many of the same kind of trees, making them extra vulnerable to pests and diseases. Houses sell for more money in neighborhoods with big, leafy canopies. So pests that can kill many trees quickly can pose real economic dangers. Kansas and Missouri communities are now hedging their arboreal bets.
Source: KCUR News
Municipal Bond Trends for May 9, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
The Local Infrastructure Hub Launches Spring Bootcamp Series to Help Cities Access Funding for Neighborhood Infrastructure and Broadband Equity
The Local Infrastructure Hub announced a new set of bootcamps designed to help local leaders develop comprehensive and strategic funding applications for federal grants made available to cities as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This next series will focus on five grant opportunities that address highway-rail crossing improvements, drinking water systems, broadband planning, local infrastructure projects, and bridge infrastructure.
Source: www.nlc.org
Wichita’s libraries offering far more than just books these days
A book published a few years back described public libraries as “palaces for the people.” It might not feel like a palace exactly when you visit one of the Wichita Public Library’s seven locations, but it is true that libraries are one of the few places in the modern world where people aren’t expected to pay to learn. Outside of the usual book checkouts, libraries provide a variety of resources for the community to capitalize on. Providing access to new literature and information without the financial burden is what the Wichita Public Library hopes to give to the community. All of the resources that the Wichita Libraries offer can be found on their online site. This includes group courses, collaboration rooms, newsletters, classes, and book discussions.
Source: KLC Journal
Pittsburg leader challenges building owners to revitalize downtown
“Anytime I drive by an empty store front I feel like it’s a missed opportunity for a business that could of been,” said Graphics Manager of Sign Brothers Josh Young. “Anytime there is a ran down store front it doesn’t look good on our down town. It always look better if all our store fronts are filled and beautified,” said Young. City leadership is also noticing the empty buildings. In the city commission meeting on April 25th, Mayor Ron Seglie said that while Broadway is looking good, there’s still work to be done. He holds the building owners responsible and wants to see something being done with those buildings. “We have 13 or 14 empty store fronts we would like to see businesses in those stores and I’m hoping somewhere down the road something like that will happen but some of them are well kept and some are not,” said Seglie.
Source: KOAM News
Overland Park considers dropping food inspections, leaving it to state
Overland Park’s unique food safety inspection regime may be on its way out. The city council’s Community Development Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended ending city inspections of eating establishments because it duplicates the efforts of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Overland Park is the only city in Kansas that has its own food inspection program alongside the state’s.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Derby accepting home repair grant applications
In an effort to continue facilitating more home improvements in Derby, the city is currently taking applications for the 2023 Neighborhood Maintenance Grant (NMG) program. The program, which was retooled to increase utilization in 2022, seeks to help eligible homeowners with exterior home maintenance projects. Usage increased drastically in the first year of the new program as compared to the previous five years. During each annual grant cycle, a total of $25,000 is available to help homeowners with qualifying repair projects including roofs, siding, gutters, paint, doors, windows, masonry porches, exterior lighting, and repair of existing porches, fences, outbuildings, sidewalks, etc.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Grant money changing the game for one Kansas volunteer fire department
Many volunteer departments across the state are pinching pennies, forcing them to prioritize critical equipment over health and safety. “With a limited budget, you kind of have to make a judgment call of, some of the gear is good enough,” Fire chief for Cowley County Fire District 3 in Burden, Chris Cannon, said. “It’s not within the recommended guidelines, but it looks OK. So it was a huge challenge. We really couldn’t do it with a budget of dollars that we had.” Cannon says grant funding is essential to being able to operate effectively and safely. “It’s just very challenging because there’s so many needs and such few resources to meet that,” Cannon said. “The fire marshal grant is great for stretching our dollars and getting those things done.”
Source: KSN-TV