Kansas Municipal News
AG: Chautauqua County Commission violated state transparency law
The Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners was ordered to take Kansas Open Meetings Act training after the Kansas Attorney General’s Office last year determined the board had violated KOMA by not holding public votes on whether to terminate three former county employees. The attorney general’s office declined to pursue formal enforcement action against the board, though, saying it thinks the board acted in a good faith. In a complaint filed Aug. 14, 2019, a Cedar Vale resident alleged the board took action in executive sessions held during meetings on July 15, 2019, and July 22, 2019, to fire two road and bridge department employees and one solid waste department employee, instead of making the decision in a public vote.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Sales tax collection increase in 2020
Edgerton ranks below Gardner and Spring Hill on combined sales tax rates. Edgerton’s combined rate is 8.975, and both Gardner and Spring Hill combined rates are 9.475. Edgerton collected about $100,000 more in sales tax revenue this year. The total was $852,533 for 2020 and in 2019 it was $747,277.
“Because we have so many businesses that are considered essential, the City of Edgerton did not see the sharp declines that impacted many other cities. We remain in excellent financial shape to begin 2021.” said Donald Roberts, mayor. Sales tax revenue increased in 2020 over 2019, Roberts continued. Edgerton’s sales tax base includes companies that saw an increase in business due to the pandemic and continued to purchase taxable goods and services.
Source: Gardner News
Wichita police say dealing with criminal kids has gotten harder since 2016 reforms
A woman and her two daughters woke up to a burglar rifling through their home. Another got doused with mace during a brazen carjacking attempt at a strip mall. A third, 82, suffered head injuries when three intruders who ransacked her home shoved her before taking her car for a joyride. In another case, an unsuspecting employee got a note from a would-be robber claiming he had a bomb on him. These attacks, all allegedly committed by 13- and 14-year-olds in Wichita over the past year, offer a glimpse into a new wave of juvenile crime local authorities say they’re having a difficult time dealing with. Frustrated with law changes it contends has made officers’ jobs harder, the Wichita Police Department has taken time lately to highlight offenses committed by kids in the hopes legislators and residents would take notice.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Main Street Chanute offers loans, grants
Main Street Chanute and Main Street America have started two programs to help brick-and-mortar businesses in Chanute. The Board of Directors of Main Street Chanute approved guidelines Wednesday for its Main Street Revitalization Program, and Main Street America, in conjunction with Brother International, begins taking applications today for the At Your Side grant program. The MSRP loans are funded through $100,000 provided by the Neosho County Commission for business revitalization and safety improvements. Main Street Chanute will administer the loans at no interest, but the loans have a small origination fee that will go back into the fund.
Source: www.chanute.com
Pandemic drops air fares in Wichita by 36%
The huge hit in air travel demand caused last year by Covid-19 also made it cheaper for those who did fly. According to new data from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, inflation-adjusted average fares from Wichita in the third quarter were down 36% year over year to $253.86. That was slightly higher than the nationwide average of $244.36 for a ticket during the same period, which, according to data from U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, was the lowest quarterly average (also adjusted for inflation) since at least 1995.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Shawnee County wants to expand glass recycling program
Shawnee County is looking to expand its new glass recycling program. The new program started in June, but county leaders tell KSNT News it’s become more popular in the last two months. Shawnee County partners with Ripple Glass in Kansas City. The county collects glass from purple drop off bins and Ripple transports and recycles the glass for free. Shawnee County Solid Waste Director Bill Sutton said this is necessary because the recycling center the county uses for other recycling does not recycle glass.
Source: KSNT News
Lakin and Deerfield Cities Come Together For a Common Goal
The City of Lakin and The City of Deerfield are excited to announce a new “shared service” venture they have embarked on together. When Lakin and Deerfield realized animal control was a common issue amongst their communities, they decided to come together and do something about it. The cities came up with an agreement to share a full time Animal Control Officer who would be able to enforce codes, patrol both communities, and take care of any animals in the pound. … Small communities, such as Lakin and Deerfield, operate off limited budgets. This “shared service” will help both communities keep within their operating budget and help keep city taxes down. Lakin and Deerfield are very enthusiastic about this arrangement, and cannot wait to get it underway!
Source: Lakin Independent.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 21, 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.
KDHE launches new website for COVID-19 vaccine information, FAQs
With Kansas officially in Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, many people plan to get it, but there are still lots of questions. “You hear a lot of different stuff. You can’t really tell what’s true,” said Wichita resident Jace Suddeth. “A lot of people are saying, like, just silly stuff,” said Wichita resident Dakota Burns. Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday the state has a new COVID-19 vaccine website to clear up many of the rumors, and answer questions.
Source: KAKE – News
Johnson County seniors to start getting COVID vaccines next week
Johnson County will begin giving COVID-19 vaccines to residents age 65 and older starting Tuesday, as part of its move into the next phase of distribution, health officials said Thursday. That phase also includes kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers and child care workers, who will get their vaccines through Children’s Mercy, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, the county’s director of health and environment. But it was unclear when those vaccinations would begin. He said the department received more than 6,800 vaccine doses on Thursday, and Areola emphasized that “the opportunity to get vaccinated next week and the week after depends on the supply,” which has been limited.
Source: KC Star Local News
Governor Laura Kelly, Department of Commerce Seek Public Input for Broadband Office Grant Program
Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Kansas Department of Commerce has established an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Office of Broadband Development’s Broadband Acceleration Grant program and provide input on grant requests proposed for communities across Kansas. The goal is to gather public input regarding the grant applications and associated service areas in an effort to ensure transparency in the broadband development process. The project proposals and proposed service area maps for each grant application are posted online, along with a public comment form for those wishing to express support or share concerns regarding a project. These resources will be posted online through Feb. 1.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Endangered black rhino born at Garden City zoo
Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City is announcing the birth of a black rhinoceros, which is a critically endangered species. The baby boy’s mother is Johari. She gave birth at approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The zoo reports that both mother and baby are doing well. Johari is a first-time mother and this is the first black rhinoceros born at the zoo.
Source: KSN-TV
Next vaccines in Harvey County go to law enforcement, first responders, teachers
The Harvey County Health Department is anticipating getting 300 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine. It says the county is moving into Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination plan which includes people 65 and older, people in congregate settings, and high-contact critical workers. Harvey County says those 300 doses will be directed toward law enforcement, other first responders and K-12 educators.
Source: KSN-TV
Area ambulance company faces new challenges during pandemic
EagleMed transports critically ill or injured patients by land or air to hospitals across the midwest. “You never know, we might have a COVID patient this time and then the next one might be a young child with Leukemia. You have to be prepared and keep it safe for everyone,” says Kurt Burkhart, EagleMed flight nurse. During the pandemic, staff are seeing new challenges, leading to more stress on themselves and the patients. “It’s a lot more strategy and logistics, we have to figure out, can we do the transport? Do we have the fuel capacity? If we have to get fuel, where do we get it?”
Source: KAKE – News
Main Street offers loans, grants in Chanute
Main Street Chanute and Main Street America have started two programs to help brick-and-mortar businesses in Chanute. The Board of Directors of Main Street Chanute approved guidelines Wednesday for its Main Street Revitalization Program, and Main Street America, in conjunction with Brother International, begins taking applications today for the At Your Side grant program. The MSRP loans are funded through $100,000 provided by the Neosho County Commission for business revitalization and safety improvements. Main Street Chanute will administer the loans at no interest, but the loans have a small origination fee that will go back into the fund.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Lawrence households still collectively owe nearly $1.3M in back utility bills; more assistance possible
Despite a utility assistance program, past-due utility bills continue to pile up for Lawrence residents. As of this month, 3,570 Lawrence households still have utility payments that are more than three weeks past due, amounting to $1.28 million in delinquencies. The city provides water, solid waste and sewer services, and during the City Commission’s meeting Tuesday, Finance Director Jeremy Willmoth told the commission that a utility assistance program funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, was under utilized, and that the average month-end delinquent balance per household has continued to grow since March.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Scott City city clerk to retire
The longest serving clerk in the history of the City of Scott City has announced she will be retiring from that position. During Monday’s city council meeting, in a letter read by Mayor Everett Green, City Clerk Brenda Davis announced she will be stepping down effective April 20. Davis cited a desire to spend more time with her family as the reason for ending her 22-year tenure with the city. … “I want to thank all the former mayors and city council members with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with so closely over the years,” Davis said in her retirement letter.
Source: Scott County Record.
Twin Valley invests in solar project
Twin Valley Electric Cooperative has broken ground on a 10-acre solar farm totaling 1 megawatt. The solar farm will be built next to a Twin Valley substation south of Mound Valley on Elk Road. Construction is expected to be completed in May. The solar farm will benefit the cooperative’s members in rural Labette, Neosho, Montgomery and Cherokee counties. Through a partnership with 11 other rural electric cooperatives in Kansas, the group will add over 20 megawatts of solar energy to a power source portfolio that powers 80,000 rural Kansas homes and businesses.
Source: Parsons Sun
‘StoryWalk’ being installed along pedestrian trail in Arkansas City
Several community partners have joined forces to offer families an innovative, active, educational and COVID-safe opportunity. A new StoryWalk display has been installed by the City of Arkansas City at the Poplar Walking Trail in Arkansas City and runs along the first quarter mile of the trail. The new display is a joint effort between the Ark City Public Library, the City’s Public Services Department, USD 470 Early Literacy Initiative and RISE Cowley. Each entity has contributed time and funding to help make the storywalk available to community residents.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Wichita’s Project Downtown celebrates ten years
In 2010, a master plan for Wichita’s downtown was given the green light. Project Downtown celebrates ten years of an ambitious fifteen year plan to revamp the Air Capitol’s inner core. Many locals, like Marcus Baysinger, feel the project has changed the vibe in downtown for the better. “You’re seeing job availability come along and so I think, and I think that mixed with kind of a new vibrant culture downtown with younger people, it’s, it’s starting to get better, which is really cool,” said Baysinger.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for January 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.
CARES money helps City of Sedgwick upgrade technology
As part of the funding from the CARES act, the City of Sedgwick will soon be using new technology to live-stream their city council meetings. If everything goes to plan, everything should be up and running by the next meeting on Feb. 1, according to City Administrator Joe Turner. … A year ago the city council meetings were not available online. The city began streaming them on Facebook using an Ipad to encourage people to watch from home, in a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the new equipment, those interested should be able to watch the meetings for years to come.
Source: Harvey County Now
Shelter’s new director enjoys finding good homes for pets
Growing up, Brittni Israel’s home in Westphalia seemed to be a dumping ground for unwanted dogs. A nonstop parade seemed to make their way to her. Maybe it was a coincidence. Or maybe desperate pet owners knew Israel and her family would find the dogs a good home. And they did. Israel’s love for animals has shaped her career. She recently was named director of the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility in LaHarpe.
Source: The Iola Register
Supply shortage: Sedgwick County to limit next round of vaccine to those over 90
The COVID-19 vaccine is in such short supply in the Wichita area that the county health department plans to initially limit its second phase of vaccinations to those aged 90 or older, Sedgwick County officials said Tuesday. Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to announce a move into the second phase of the state’s vaccination program later this week, expanding eligibility to anyone 65 or older. But it could be weeks or months before the youngest in that age group are vaccinated in the Wichita area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Derby pushes for more regular redistricting review
As Derby has continued to transition to a city of the first class following a proclamation last November, staff and the city council have continued to update charter ordinances to maintain operations as they were prior to that designation. Changes so far have not been substantive, but the ordinance brought before the council at its Jan. 12 meeting had at least one significant change proposed. Addressing the selection of mayor and city council election policies in Derby, the regularity of redistricting was brought into question with the new charter ordinance. From a legal standpoint, and with the city’s continued growth (leading it to become a city of the first class), City Attorney Jacque Butler recommended reviewing the boundaries of Derby’s four wards on a more regular basis instead of every 10 years.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Sedgwick County jail moving to e-mail only for inmates
In an effort to stop drugs from making it into the jail, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will no longer allow personal mail to be sent to inmates. The jail contracts with Securus Technologies for a lot of services, and they will handle this too. Starting immediately, mail to an inmate should be addressed as shown below. Letters and photos will be scanned and delivered to inmates electronically.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Neosho County hears discussion on wind turbine warning lights, sound levels
Neosho County Commissioners heard from two property owners in the Neosho Ridge Wind project area and got an update on the electric generation project’s construction…. Property owner Stan Basler met with commissioners about a proposal that the 139 windmills, which have flashing aircraft warning lights, use a system where the lights would be activated by radar when aircraft are present. “Everybody here knows the wind farm’s here to stay,” Basler said, adding that he feels as if he is in an industrial park instead of living in the country. “Compromise is always out there,” Commission Chair Nic Galemore said.
Source: www.chanute.com
Former KS court clerk who stole voided payments sentenced in public funds misuse case
A former southwest Kansas county court clerk who kept more than $8,000 in voided traffic court payments for herself will serve a year of probation, pay $2,962 in restitution and a $2,500 fine, a judge ruled Tuesday. Sonia B. Johnson, 57, an ex-clerk for Seward County District Court, pleaded no contest to one count of misuse of public funds in August. Retired Ellis County Judge Edward Bouker handed down her sentence during a court hearing held via videoconference, U.S. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office announced in a news release Wednesday. Prosecutors say she returned most of the money she stole while working as a public employee but fell a few thousand dollars short, resulting in the restitution order.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lenexa Police upgrade body cams, which will now record automatically if officer’s gun is drawn
The new technology upgrades will automatically cause Lenexa officers’ body-worn cameras to start recording when an officer draws his or her firearm from the holster. It will also begin recording on all body-worn cameras that are within 30 feet of an officer who has drawn their weapon. Chief Dawn Layman said the body-worn cameras also go back 30 seconds prior to an officer’s firearm being drawn when recording an incident to ensure an incident is more fully captured.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
KSHSAA to discuss allowing up to four spectators per participant
The Kansas State High School Activities Association on Wednesday voted to allow up to four spectators at student events. The change will take effect starting Jan. 29 until the end of winter activities regular season. School districts may choose to have stricter limitations based on seating and guidelines from local health departments.
Source: KAKE – News
Dodge City rescinds mask ordinance, cites decrease in COVID-19 cases
Dodge City commissioners have voted 3-1 to rescind the city’s mask ordinance. A news release from the city said commissioners cited the decrease in the daily average of COVID-19 cases in Ford County. “…it will be up to businesses and individuals to continue the downward trend by choosing to keep wearing a mask,” the release said. City Manager Nick Hernandez reported that according to the information reported through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s COVID-19 metrics website, the 14-day rolling average of cases in Ford county had decreased by 81% since the ordinance was put in effect. The seven-day rolling average fell by 90% during the two months the ordinance was in place.
Source: KAKE – News
Park City announces new downtown development, seeks public input
Dana Walden, assistant city administrator for Park City, says the downtown development “Needs to be Park City. What does Park City want here? Who do we want to be? We’re reaching out to our citizens and saying what would you like to see.” With the new Amazon distribution center just down the road, the new district is also an opportunity to boost quality of life for potential new residents. “What is something that we want to keep that money here and we want to provide those amenities that people want to have when they’re here” said Walden.
Source: KAKE – News
Local artists get creative with sprucing up NOTO
Two local artists continue to leave their mark on the art community by adding a little extra flair to the light poles in the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District. Eight structural banners were fastened to light poles in lieu of some of the traditional art banners that feature a variety of local artists from the community. Brainstorming for these metal artwork pieces first began in the Spring of 2018. The two artists, Michael Bradley and Larry Peters, said the art pieces are made out of mostly aluminum and silk screen frames. When a request for spare aluminum parts was made by the artists for the project, the community came together and delivered.
Source: KSNT News
Lawrence to consider new scoring guide to help make spending decisions
As part of their effort to better prioritize their budget decisions, city leaders will soon consider a new scoring guide that would affect how millions of tax dollars are spent. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider approving a proposed priority-based budgeting scoring matrix, which will identify spending priorities by scoring city programs against the commission’s new strategic plan. Danielle Buschkoetter, budget and strategic initiatives administrator, said the matrix was intended to build on the city’s recent budget prioritization efforts.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 19, 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.
Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative breaks ground
A solar energy project is bringing sun farms to Kansas. Twelve Kansas electric companies have signed an agreement with Today’s Power, Inc. This agreement ensures rate stability for the next 25 years. “I just feel like we all work hard for our money, and anything that Sedgwick County Electric can do to save our members money, especially in these times is just going to be helpful,” said Scott Ayres, CEO of Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative. Once complete, the farms will generate more than 20 megawatts of solar power across 800 miles of land in the Sunflower State.
Source: KSN-TV
Woman buys, relocates grandmother’s old house in Hillsboro
For Marlene Richards, life came full circle Wednesday when her grandmother’s house, where she spent her childhood Christmases, was settled onto her property in Hillsboro. Clusters of people gathered in the cold morning air to watch as Unruh House Movers of Galva lifted the home onto the back of a semi and painstakingly moved it from the corner of Grand and Washington Sts. to N. Cedar St. Police officers and fire chief Ben Steketee provided traffic control…
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Green Team Southwestern and City of Winfield offer e-waste recycling event
The Green Team of Southwestern College will again collaborate with the City of Winfield for an e-waste recycling event from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Arkansas City/Winfield Recycling Center at Seventh Avenue and D Street in Strother Field. The Green Team will accept donations to help offset the cost of transporting electronics to the recycler. Use the east driveway to enter the recycling center building and exit out the west driveway after dropping off electronics.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
From ‘Early Settlements of Atchison County’: Kapioma
Most of the early Indian settlements in Atchison County were located on creeks, the most important of these being Grasshopper Creek, now known as the Delaware River. There is some controversy as to how this stream got its name. According to one account, it was named in 1819 by the French trader Joseph Roubideaux, the founder of St. Joseph. While camped along this stream, a great swarm of grasshoppers alighted and in a few days ate all the grass from the river bottoms. From this circumstance he named the river Sautrelle, the French word for grasshopper.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
RCPD seeing significant improvements in retention of dispatchers
RCPD Retention rates for Riley County dispatchers have improved significantly since 2019, according to a report from Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler. “I expected it to take about two years to achieve the gains that you’re seeing in this report, which has cut our vacancy rate in half,” Butler told Riley County Law Board members Tuesday. “I really thought it would take longer to get where we are now, but I’m very pleased and we’re continuing to make progress.”
Source: 1350 KMAN
Kansas lawmakers push health officials for answers as Phase 2 of vaccine rollout nears
Kansas lawmakers grilled state health officials with questions about coronavirus vaccine rollout in a committee meeting Tuesday. But, some left the meeting with their concerns unaddressed and frustrated with the department’s lack of communication. “We want to make sure that all Kansans that want to have the COVID vaccine have that available to them, and so communication is really going to have to improve,” said Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg. Baumgardner and other lawmakers shared in the concern that not all long-term care facilities were receiving vaccines as quickly as skilled nursing homes…
Source: KSN-TV
Keeping Kansas healthy, Colby Elementary secures $30,000 grant to keep students active
Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, a program funded through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) is bringing new life to a northwest Kansas school by breaking barriers toward healthy living. Keeping students healthy and active is the mission of Colby Elementary. But when worn equipment, wintery weather, and cold snaps kept kids inside, it raised concern that they weren’t getting enough exercise or meeting the recommended number of minutes for students to be physically active. “When we would have indoor recess, our students would stay in their classroom and play board games and that type of stuff,” said Bryan Miller, Colby Elementary Physical Education Teacher.
Source: KSN-TV
Lawrence votes to return 23-ton sacred prayer rock to Kaw Nation, apologize to tribe for city’s past actions
Decades after the City of Lawrence removed a sacred prayer rock from the Kaw Nation’s homelands and made it into a monument honoring settlers, city leaders will begin working to return the rock and issue a formal apology to the tribe. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 to move forward with a request from the Kaw Nation to return the 23-ton red quartzite boulder, which is currently in Robinson Park across from City Hall, 6. E. Sixth St. The city will now formally respond to the request and express its intent to work with the tribe and other community partners to seek grants to pay for the relocation of the rock and develop plans for its return to the tribe.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 15, 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.
Torline announces retirement as North Newton administrator
North Newton City Administrator John Torline unceremoniously mentioned his official March 31 retirement date during the Monday night North Newton City Council meeting. This was during a discussion of him wanting to schedule a council spring work session in early March, before his retirement date. Torline told the council he’d like to talk about the past and future status of North Newton during the work session and that he proposed a couple of hours for discussion. He also invited the council to bring other issues to the discussion.
Source: Harvey County Now