Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for May 25, 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, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 24, 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, or Henry Schmidt.
Communities Across Kansas Receive Nearly $3.2M CDBG Grant Funding
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced 10 communities received almost $3.2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Grant awards were made in three categories: Water and Sewer, Commercial Rehabilitation, and Housing. The three programs, which provide crucial funding for community development projects in Kansas, received a total of $3,193,740. “CDBG grants are tailored to assist in funding broader needs of communities across our great state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These programs play a vital role in the health and well-being of cities and counties throughout Kansas.”
The Water and Sewer Program is designed to support communities by upgrading and expanding their water and sewer infrastructure. The following cities and counties have been awarded Water and Sewer grants for a total of $2,299,990:
- Belle Plaine; $476,760; removing nitrates from potable water sources
- Herndon; $152,583; repairing lagoons
- Miami County; $305,126; building a lift station to pump sewage
- Osage City; $470,801; rehabilitating sewer mains and manholes
- Palco; $417,960; constructing a new water treatment plant
- Wakefield; $476,760; constructing additional lagoons
The Commercial Rehabilitation program provides funding to assist private property owners in the rehabilitation of blighted structures in downtown commercial districts. The following cities have been awarded Commercial Rehabilitation grants for a total of $593,750:
- Atchison; $250,000; repairing a historic property downtown
- Independence; $250,000; rehabilitating a historic downtown building
- Meriden; $93,750; rehabilitating a local bar and restaurant
Finally, the CDBG Housing program provides funding to support the rehabilitation of housing units and the demolition of blighted structures in communities across the state. One city received a Housing grant award this round:
- Holyrood; $300,000; rehabilitating eight homes and demolishing three
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Kansas farmers brace for worst wheat crop production in 60 years as drought cuts yield
With wheat fields about a month from harvest, Kansas farmers are bracing for what is projected to be the worst wheat crop in 60 years or more. “Wheat farmers have been living this every day,” said Marsha Boswell, a spokesperson for the Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. “They’ve seen the effects of the drought since the crop was planted last fall. They’ve seen fields that didn’t emerge until the last couple weeks. “What’s even more heartbreaking than that is the few fields that looked good a couple weeks ago are going downhill in areas that have missed out on recent rains. I think most farmers are just wanting to forget this year’s crop and move on to next year.”
Source: Salina Journal
Kansas rethinks workforce needs: Efforts emphasize good-paying jobs without degree requirements
As Kansas businesses struggle to find workers to fill open positions and a series of megaprojects promise to create thousands of more jobs, state and local officials are promoting non-university options to students. ‘A lot of work is going on around the cosmosphere of not only recruiting businesses, but also ensuring that those businesses have talent and then twice-fold keeping our our talent here in Kansas and recruiting talent to and back to Kansas,’ said assistant secretary of commerce Mike Beene. Beene, who oversees the state’s workforce services and is a former teacher, praised the state’s education system — from K-12 to community and technical colleges to universities — but not the state’s ability to keep the talent instead of exporting it. He hopes high school career and technical programs and similar efforts at community colleges and tech schools will reverse that trend.
Source: CJonline
Haysville declared Purple Heart City
Earlier this month, Haysville joined Derby as the second city in Sedgwick County to earn the Purple Heart City designation. During the May 8 Haysville City Council meeting, Mayor Russ Kessler signed a proclamation making the distinction official, while a ceremony was held May 15 unveiling the signage and banners that will be displayed throughout Haysville announcing its Purple Heart City status.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Flame of Hope to pass through Emporia, Lyon County
Emporia Police Department officers and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office deputies will carry the Special Olympics Kansas Flame of Hope through Emporia and Lyon County next week. Officers will collect the torch on May 31 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and Old U.S. Hwy. 50, and bring it into Emporia. Runners will set off at 9:00 a.m. June 1 after a brief ceremony in front of Emporia State University, 1 Kellogg Cir. In total, this leg of the torch run will travel 105 miles as part of an overall 1,600-mile journey for the Flame of Hope across Kansas as part of the ceremonial 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Kansas.
Source: Emporia Gazette
City of Larned receives $1.1 million for new fire engines
The City of Larned on Monday received over $1 million for upgrades to the Larned Fire Department. The City of Larned says the funds will go towards replacing two outdated fire engines, as well as a mobile emergency communications center. The mobile emergency communications center is a dedicated vehicle that can be driven to a location to serve as a command post, which the city says will “allow the city to continue to serve its citizens during times of crisis.”
Source: KSN-TV
Osawatomie seeks national park designation
The city of Osawatomie now has the official support of the Miami County Commission on its quest to gain a national park designation. Miami County commissioners, during their May 10 meeting, approved a resolution supporting the city’s request to establish the John Brown National Historic Park Site. The commissioners also agreed to give $22,000 to the city to assist in purchasing property for parking surrounding the John Brown Ghost Cabin at the Adair Homestead about two miles west of John Brown Memorial Park. The Ghost Cabin commemorates the exact location where John Brown called home during his Kansas abolitionist activities in the Bleeding Kansas years of 1855-56.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
After lean pandemic years, Overland Park is drawing visitors again
Businesses connected to Overland Park tourism have begun to bounce back from some tough pandemic years, thanks in part to money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, said Warren Wilkinson, president and CEO of Visit Overland Park. Wilkinson presented an improving picture of the city’s hospitality industry to the city council’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee last week. In particular, he pointed out that federal pandemic relief funds through the American Rescue Plan that the city spent on advertising in 2021 and 2022 resulted in hotel performance that approaches or in some cases exceeds 2019.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for May 23, 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, or Henry Schmidt.
MSRB Report Analyzes Buying Behavior in Muni Bond Primary and Secondary Markets
The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has just published a new report on trading patterns in the primary and secondary markets for municipal bonds, which reveals notable differences in the buying behavior of individual and institutional investors in each of these markets. The authors found that individual investors generally buy bonds in the secondary market and have limited participation in the primary market, whereas institutional investors dominate the primary market. They concluded that while individual investors may have valid reasons not to access the primary market, they would likely benefit from more balanced participation between the primary and secondary markets.
Read the press release.
Read the report.
Garden City reviews State Theater proposals
Proposals for the State Theater were reviewed at the Garden City Commission’s regular meeting Tuesday. At its Feb. 7 meeting the commission authorized the release of a request for proposals regarding future use of the State Theater building. A total of three proposals were received on April 26. One from Mark Pamplin, one from the Finney County Preservation Alliance in collaboration with Garden City High School and the final one from the Tumbleweed Festival. Pamplin proposed remodeling the building into a “into a state-of-the-art, 500-seat live entertainment venue” with a second floor to be use for rehearsal, storage and office space. The theater would be done as a theater-in-the-round with an adjustable theater, the ability to turn into a traditional theater by removing a section of seating.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Mural project progressing in Winfield
The design for the Winfield’s 150th Celebration mural has been finalized, and we are working hard to “make our mark” on the side of Home Lumber & Supply at 12th Avenue and Main Street. We are grateful for all the wonderful input we received from the community and are excited to present this featured artwork to the city. As we thought about all the “building blocks of Winfield,” we considered some of the iconic buildings and institutions, businesses, organizations, events and celebrations throughout the years that made an impact on Winfield.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Manhattan to review annual report on local streets
Manhattan City Commissioners will hold a work session this evening at City Hall. The meeting will include an annual update on the pavement management of arterial, collector and local streets. Public Works Director Rob Ott will present the report, taking a look back at the last five years, with a summary of Safe Routes to School Program projects as well as future planned projects that are obligated, projects in design and anticipated projects through 2026. Public Works will be looking for direction from city staff and commissioners on a strategy and potential timeline for what happens once the sales tax for the pavement preservation program and Safe Routes to School program.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Derby city manager earns credentialed designation
Derby City Manager Kiel Mangus recently received the credentialed manager designation from the International City/County Management Association. He is one of 1,400 local government management professionals worldwide currently credentialed through the ICMA program. To receive the prestigious ICMA credential, a member must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government; have earned a degree, preferably in public administration or a related field; and demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity and to lifelong learning and professional development.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Two Economic Development Projects Moving Forward: Pork Processing Plant, Sports Complex
A meat processing plant is back in the works for Bourbon County. “I have been working to bring about the meat processing plant, a pork processing plant,” Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells said in an interview. Billy Madison is the owner of the business, S.H. Pork Processing. “This plant will provide farmers with an outlet for their pork processing,” Madison said. “And provide 15-30 new jobs.” This is an artists rendition of the S.H. Processing Plant that Madison will build. Submitted.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
Macksville Library launches Kids in the Kitchen program
Just one month ago, the new programming area at the Macksville City Library was an empty room, in dire need of furnishings and appliances. Now, thanks to the 2022 $5,000 Children’s Health Grant from the South Central Community Foundation, we have tables, chairs, a refrigerator, microwave, and so much more, making this a usable and welcoming space for patrons young and old. Plus, funds from this grant enabled us to purchase cookbooks, spatulas and healthy ingredients to host three special Kids in the Kitchen programs with local elementary classes.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
What the health department does
Marion County health department director Krista Schneider kicked off a meeting Saturday at Florence Carriage Manor by asking attendees what services came to mind when they thought about the health department. The No. 1 answer was vaccinations. Health department staff members administered 2,696 vaccines from April 3, 2022, through April 2 of this year, Schneider said.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Jackson County commissioners, planners discuss solar regulations
The Jackson County Commission and the Jackson County Planning Commission met Monday afternoon to review open meetings and records guidelines, as well as discuss the process for developing a special use permit for commercial solar energy projects. … County Counselor Lee Hendricks also reported that he and county commissioners plan to spend the next few months developing the “framework” for a special use permit for commercial possible solar projects. Hendricks and the county commissioners are looking at solar regulations currently in place in Kingman County, as well as other counties, including Johnson and Douglas.
Source: Holton Recorder