Kansas Municipal News
Airbnb data portal to aid city tourism economies amid COVID-19
Even before COVID-19, Airbnb had expressed a desire to work with local governments on addressing some concerning trends around use of the platform in cities. One of those trends included the growing popularity of “party houses,” or rental houses that sometimes host hundreds of people, in violation of local rules around the size of gatherings. Airbnb banned users under the age of 25 from renting homes as a result, and city leaders can now directly go to the City Portal platform to block a party house from appearing on the platform.
Source: Smart Cities Dive – Latest News
Lawrence to consider reducing speed limit on residential streets; more enforcement also planned
In response to concerns about speeding in neighborhoods, city leaders will soon consider reducing the speed limit on residential streets in Lawrence. As part of its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Lawrence City Commission will consider adopting an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on residential streets from 30 mph to 25 mph, according to a news release from the city. The city’s Multi-Modal Transportation Commission is recommending the speed reduction following the results of a resident survey and a city staff recommendation. The city conducted the survey earlier this year and asked residents whether they prefer the current 30 mph standard or would like to see the speed limit lowered to either 25 mph or 20 mph. About 57% of the 511 people who responded to the survey said they wanted to lower the speed limit, with those respondents roughly split on whether it should be 25 or 20 mph.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 29, 2020
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.
Roeland Parkers will see special infrastructure sales tax question on Nov. 3 ballot
Roeland Parkers can expect to see an additional question on their ballots this general election. The city approved asking residents to vote on whether to remove a current one quarter of one percent sales tax and impose a new half percent sales tax to help expedite infrastructure projects. Mayor Mike Kelly said the two top items citizens ask the city to focus on, according to citizen survey data, are sidewalks and streets — both of which are budgeted for out of the city’s special infrastructure fund.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Douglas County Commission to consider comprehensive plan amendment to allow rural property owner to subdivide land
Douglas County may soon make changes to its comprehensive plan to allow for a rural property owner to subdivide his land for residential purposes. The County Commission on Wednesday will consider an amendment to Plan 2040, its joint comprehensive plan with the City of Lawrence, to change the allowed land uses under the plan’s subsection for the K-10 and Farmer’s Turnpike area. The amendment would allow for residential development on the northwest corner of the intersection of North 1800 and East 1200 roads, which is currently only allowed for office and research development under the K-10 and Farmer’s Turnpike Plan.
Source: LJWorld.com.
More than 1,700 Kansas families to receive support to access digital education
Governor Laura Kelly today announced that, as part of the Technology for Families Grant Program, the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund distributed $636,066 to support connectivity for families in need representing 86 Kansas counties. Governor Kelly’s SPARK taskforce recommended that CARES Act funding be available to increase digital access for families, which was part of the Round 2 proposals approved by the State Finance Council in July. “We know that digital infrastructure is a critical need for families not only during a pandemic to access online education and telehealth services, but also for the long-term economic opportunities that technology provides,” Governor Kelly said. “I appreciate members of my SPARK Taskforce and the SFC for making these needs a priority.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Governor Kelly supports new visitor guidelines for nursing homes
Kansas governor Laura Kelly says she supports new federal guidelines detailing how nursing homes can begin allowing visits to patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week said nursing homes should continue to follow COVID-19 related protocols, such as social distancing and temperature screening. But it said indoor visitations can be allowed at facilities that take Medicare and Medicaid if they have not had any new COVID-19 cases for 14 days and are not conducting active outbreak testing. State officials said Tuesday that it will take some time to implement the new guidance because each facility will have to respond according to their own circumstances.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Saline County awarded grant for COVID-19 testing
Saline County will receive more than $100,000 to expand COVID-19 testing in the county. On Tuesday, the Saline County Board of Commissioners voted to accept the award of $133,500 from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). County health officer Jason Tiller said the grant will be used to further testing as the pandemic wears on. “The nice thing about this grant is we have until November 2022 to expend the funds from (it),” Tiller said.
Source: News – Salina Journal
Salina to purchase cot loading equipment for ambulances
All ambulances for the Salina Fire Department will be equipped with cot loading systems after the city received a grant for nearly $131,000. The Salina City Commission authorized the department to purchase the Stryker Powerload Cot loading systems for SFD’s five remaining ambulances, meaning all seven ambulances in its fleet will be equipped with the system. The two other ambulances had the system installed during their remounts. Fire Chief Kevin Royse said the cot loading system is a tracked system built into the floor of the rear of the ambulance and lifts and lowers the cot into and out of the vehicle, reducing spinal loads and the risk of injuries to the department’s personnel.
Source: News – Salina Journal
St. John’s Economic Development’s “Workspace 311” connects citizens with remote work opportunities
A new employment opportunity has opened in St. John at the Stafford County Economic Development Workspace 311, dependent on if 6 to 10 workers are found to fill positions as customer service representatives by mid-October. Stafford County Eco-Devo Executive Director Carolyn Dunn said Zarif Haque, president of DRAIVER, headquartered in Overland Park, visited Eco-Devo’s Workspace 311 location at 311 North Broadway on the east side of St. John Square in late August. “I think he was pleased with the set-up and he really is looking to provide job opportunities for rural Kansas residents,” Dunn said of Haque.
Source: News – Butler County Times Gazette
‘We have to get to crime before it really happens’: Wichita mayor praises new Juvenile Intervention Unit initiative
Wichita police seeing an increase in crime committed by kids and now they are trying to get a handle on it by unveiling a new unit. “The goal is to get to some of these young people before god-forbid they make a life-changing decision that could ruin their lives or someone else’s,” says Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. That’s a trend Mayor Brandon Whipple can get behind after 2020 has seen some not so good ones. Like Wichita police releasing four youth-related homicides among an increase of other violent crimes. “I am glad that we have a forward-thinking police chief who has his ear to the ground of the community to respond in a way where we can provide resources to folks who might be headed down the wrong path,” Whipple said.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka PD picked to take part in national training program
The Topeka Police Department was recently chosen to take part free of charge in a new national training program aimed at preventing misconduct, reducing officer mistakes and promoting health and wellness. The department will take part in Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement, a national initiative of the Washington, D.C.-based Georgetown University Law Center, said Topeka police public relations specialist Gretchen Spiker. The program seeks to build a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm, she said.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Topeka Police one of 30 agencies across the nation to embrace a culture of ‘active bystandership’
The Topeka Police Department has been selected to participate in a national training program that will encourage officers to intervene, when necessary, to prevent other officers from making costly mistakes. With the goal of preventing police misconduct, studies show officers can prevent other officers from making costly mistakes. Selected officers will be trained to teach the skills that encourage intervention, and in time will train other Topeka officers. Topeka is one of 30 departments, chosen from hundreds, that were picked to participate. The program, ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement), trains officers to create an environment that encourages peer intervention.
Source: KSNT News
HFD shares updates from the field
Three wildland certified firefighters from the Hutchinson Fire Department — Brent Fisher, Jacob Ice and Caleb Dunn — are part of the group battling the Mullen Fire in the Medicine Bow-Rout National Forest in Wyoming. They arrived in Wyoming last week in the HFD’s Type 5 wildland engine truck and are on deployment for 14 days. According to HFD, Hutch crews were assigned the swing shift working from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. most days.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Muni bonds to thrive regardless of election outcome, according to Citigroup
The U.S. municipal bond market would benefit from higher taxes either under a Democratic sweep of the White House, Senate and House, or to a lesser extent, if the coming election results in a second term for President Donald Trump and a continued split Congress, a Citi research report said on Monday. Under either scenario “taxes will be going up one way or the other,” according to Citi. States, cities, schools and other issuers sell debt in the $3.9 trillion muni market that attracts mainly higher-income investors due to an exemption from federal income taxes and at times from state and local taxation as well.
Source: Reuters.
65 Kansas counties have so many new cases of COVID-19 that they are in the red zone
Kansas has 65 counties with so many new cases of COVID-19 that their incidence rates have moved into the red zone of the school reopening guide. Only seven of the 105 counties in the state had a green zone rate of new cases compared to population. The county numbers are based on a map published on Monday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The map shows the county incidence rates, which are a measure of new coronavirus cases over the past two weeks compared to 100,000 population.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Sedgwick County manager, others overseeing coronavirus response are hit with COVID-19
Three officials guiding Sedgwick County’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the county manager, have come down with COVID-19 themselves, it was confirmed Monday. County Manager Tom Stolz said he hasn’t been to the office since testing positive a week ago and he began experiencing noticeable symptoms Friday. “It’s a really weird deal,” Stolz said. “Sometimes you feel really, really good and sometimes you feel really, really bad.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Overland Park considers overhauling regulations for business, residential signs
Overland Park officials are considering a slew of changes to the rules governing all kinds of signs – from digital displays to real estate and political signs. The city’s planning staff presented the results of over three years of work overhauling the city’s sign ordinance on Monday to a joint meeting of city council and planning commission members. The most noticeable change involves a new category of “incidental signs” that would include the ubiquitous leasing signs at apartment complexes. The proposed ordinance requires a permit for those types of signs and allows them to be 20 square feet, building or ground mounted and non-illuminated.
Source: Prairie Village Post
This pandemic-survival message brought to you by Pittsburg’s not-toast Toast
Heather Horton has a few pandemic messages for her fellow Kansans. “Don’t give up. Take each day as it comes,” she says, which is good advice in any situation. But also: “Think about the people, not the profit margin, because that’s what matters in the end.” Horton and her husband, Roger, co-own two small businesses in Pittsburg. They opened Sweet Designs Cakery, where they bake party-type desserts, in 2009. A block away is Toast, which they opened last October, with a concept that was unusual for Pittsburg. … All along, their plan was to buy as many ingredients as possible from farmers markets or farmers she knew. “You go to Kansas City and you have probably a restaurant on every block trying to source locally and promote those farmers, but we don’t really have that in Pittsburg,” she says.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Municipal Bond Trends for September 28, 2020
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.
Lawrence continues to suspend late fees and shut-offs for overdue utility accounts; changes to be considered soon
Lawrence city commissioners will soon consider whether to continue suspending utility late fees and shut-offs for the thousands of Lawrence residents who have gotten behind on their bills during the coronavirus pandemic. The City of Lawrence provides water, sewer, and trash and recycling collection service citywide, and as of Sept. 9, there were about 3,300 active utility accounts with a balance more than 21 days past due, totaling about $944,000 in delinquent payments, according to Finance Director Jeremy Willmoth. Willmoth said the commission would soon decide how long those protections should remain in place and that the city was in the process of setting up a utility assistance program.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Douglas County joins new initiative to reduce jail stays, improve connections to care for those with mental illness
Douglas County has joined a new multiyear initiative that aims to measurably reduce jail stays for people with serious mental illness, or SMI, and to track their connections to care. The “nationwide call to action,” called Set, Measure, Achieve, pushes for a 10% annual reduction in jail bookings of people with SMI and a 5% annual reduction in average length of stay, according to a news release from the county. It also calls for a 5% annual reduction in recidivism. The county’s goals for 2021 are to reduce its SMI population in the jail by 1% from 9%, average lengths of jail stays from 27 days to 25 days and recidivism from 66% to 62%.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Artisans are without their annual craft and art fairs. Here’s how they’re coping
Autumn doesn’t seem quite the same without the normal rush of festivals and craft fairs, and no one feels that more than the craftspeople who sell their wares at these places. Pandemic cancellations have forced these to creative people to get, well, a little more creative. For many, craft fairs are sideline, a supplemental income. Melanie Harvey spends her days teaching chemistry at Johnson County Community College, but for the past six years, fall weekends have been a time for selling her many ceramic creations at festivals.
Source: Joco 913 News
There was no ‘imaginary fence’ keeping coronavirus out of this rural Kansas county
Wallace County is at the western edge of Kansas, on the border with Colorado. It’s the second-least populated county in the state, and for the first half of 2020, life here maintained a sense of normalcy while the rest of world dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure, businesses closed in March and stay-at-home orders went into effect, just like the rest of the state. But by summer, many in Wallace County, population about 1,500, felt it unnecessary to take more severe precautions. Officials voted against enforcing the statewide mask order. Riders competed in an amateur rodeo and the annual county fair went off without a hitch. The local pool even opened. Social distancing is a way of life, with about one square mile for every two residents. So, it may have come as a shock when the first case of coronavirus was finally reported on Aug. 20. About a month later, that number has grown to 17.
Source: KSN-TV
Health officer in Sedgwick County evaluating health order weekly, business owners hope for fewer restrictions
The chief health officer in Sedgwick County says as the number of positive cases drops the more he is willing to consider relaxing his emergency health order. “It would help a lot,” says Amber Eddy, Manager at Emerson Biggins. “It would increase everything.” As loud as it may be at Emerson Biggins on gameday one can only assume it would be double that under regular circumstances. “This Friday we had to cut back 50 percent and we had a lot of people waiting out the door and a lot of people waiting to get in,” said Eddy. Bars and nightclubs are working at half capacity right now leaving empty tables and booths and also leaving empty space in the register and employee’s pockets.
Source: KSN-TV
From service to social media: Behind the Emporia Police Department viral TikToks
If you’ve been on TikTok, you may have come across a video from the Emporia Police Department and never realized that it was filmed in your neighborhood. JT Klaurens, the Emporia Police Department officer behind the TikToks hoped the videos break down barriers between law enforcement and the public. “I really don’t post much on social media honestly,” Klaurens said. The Emporia State University graduate will celebrate his three-year anniversary with the department in January. Klaurens is sharing a part of his day with the world, as long as other fellow officers join him.
Source: KSNT News
Shawnee County school enrollment shaping to be down this year, but officials aren’t worried — yet
Student enrollment in Shawnee County school districts fell this year, according to early enrollment numbers from some districts, likely the result of scores of parents opting for homeschooling, virtual school and private school options. Four of the county’s five school districts — Seaman Unified School Disrict 345, Silver Lake USD 372, Auburn-Washburn USD 437 and Topeka USD 501 — reported a combined drop of 829, or 3.38%, students this school year, according to early enrollment data. The data reflects the districts’ headcounts as of Sept. 21, the date the state uses to determine public school funding on a per pupil basis. In any case, districts have a grace period of two weeks to account for any students who are enrolled in the district but may have been temporarily absent from school, and districts will likely add a few students between now and the Oct. 4 hard cutoff.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Local organizations outline plans for CARES funding
Local organizations detailed how CARES funding will help small businesses stay afloat, and help parents navigate childcare during the pandemic. Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays heard from The Greater Topeka Partnership and Child Care Aware on how both organizations plan to disperse the CARES funding that was approved Sept. 17. Glenda Washington, senior vice president of entrepreneurial and minority business development, said the Greater Topeka Partnership has created the Small Business Continuity program. Sixty businesses impacted by COVID-19 will go through “specialized modules,” and write continuity plans to maintain “sanity as well as (their) clients” during emergencies like fires, floods or tornadoes, Washington told commissioners at Monday’s meeting, 701 N. Kansas Ave.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Sales tax receipts fall in September in Hutchinson and Reno County
The novel coronavirus may have finally struck local tax collections. Both of City of Hutchinson and Reno County experienced significant drops in their respective tax distributions for September compared to both last month and the same month last year. Both online and in-store sales took hits, the data show. Retailers collected the taxes on July sales. Thanks to strong returns over the summer, the city remains ahead of collections compared to the first nine months 2019, while the county fell about a half-percent behind. For September, the city received just over $210,000 in compensating use tax receipts, which are sales taxes collected on catalog and internet sales. That compared to more than $225,500 received for the same period last year, for a 7% drop.
Source: News – The Hutchinson News
Prairie Village approves residential compost and glass recycling agreements
Prairie Village residents wanting curbside service for glass recycling or composting will have several city-approved companies to choose from. The Prairie Village City Council voted unanimously last week to allow a compost-collection nonprofit and a residential glass-recycling company to provide their services to interested residents and businesses. Westwood-based GlassBandit LLC and KC Can Compost, based in Kansas City, Missouri, will provide discounted services in Prairie Village starting this month in exchange for the city helping to promote their services.
Source: Prairie Village Post
As cases rise, Kansas begins new virus testing strategy
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday that Kansas is beginning the first phase of a new testing plan designed to significantly increase its capacity to diagnose COVID-19. This comes as Kansas saw its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single reporting period, the governor said, with 2,037 new cases and 5 new deaths since Friday. Overall, there have been 58,629 cases and 637 deaths. The hope is with the new testing strategy, more cases and instances of COVID-19 spread will be identified and contained. Currently, capacity is only at around 60,000 tests a week, which is not enough, Kelly said.
Source: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal
Manhattan Regional Airport to host full-scale emergency exercise
A full-scale exercise taking place at Manhattan Regional Airport will include some traffic adjustments Tuesday. Airport Director Jesse Romo says the exercise is to test emergency responders’ abilities to respond to an aircraft incident. It’s scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday on the airport property near Wildcat Creek Road. A portion of Wildcat Creek Road will be closed between the business park and Skyway Drive, as a result, with limited access for residents. During the exercise, officials will use a mock aircraft, fuselage and manikins. Due to COVID-19, only emergency responders will be participating — including Manhattan Fire, RCPD, Riley County Emergency Management, Riley County EMS and several others. It will not impact daily operations. The post Manhattan Regional Airport to host full-scale emergency exercise appeared first on News Radio KMAN.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Municipal Bond Trends for September 25, 2020
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.
Counties feeling pressed by end-of-year CARES Act money deadline
In June, Kansas approved and allocated $400 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to counties across the state. But as of Wednesday, Crawford County has yet to see any of that CARES money spent, according to Crawford County Commissioner Jeremy Johnson. “We have businesses asking us every day, ’When is the money coming?’ ” he said. “We’ve had a lot of businesses locally that are kind of chomping at the bit to get that money, because they honestly need it.
Source: Leavenworth Times
Wichita Fire Department Receives $63K Grant From DHS
The Department of Homeland Security awarded the Wichita Fire Department with over $63,000 in grant money. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – COVID 19 Supplemental provides reimbursement for money spent to supply local firefighters with PPE during the pandemic, and will also provide funding for the future purchase PPE such as gloves, respirators, safety glasses, and more.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Electric on the go in Winfield
An electric vehicle charging station for public use has been installed in Winfield in front of Shindig’s restaurant, 500 Main St. Winfield city manager Taggart Wall said the location was chosen because the restaurant is a downtown destination. The single charging station is part of a pilot program, and more might be installed in other parts of the city if this one is successful, Wall said. A ribbon cutting for the charging station will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 6. The KPP will also have one of its own electric vehicles on hand at the ribbon cutting for demonstrations.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Even ‘frontier’ counties hit in Kansas’ new COVID-19 spike
Kansas set another record Wednesday for its biggest seven-day spike in new confirmed coronavirus cases, and the state’s top public health official said it’s a sign that the state is seeing community spread of the virus even in “frontier” counties. The state health department reported 1,267 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, an increase of 2.3%, to bring the total to 55,226. The average number of new cases per day was 622 for the seven days ending Wednesday, surpassing the previous record average of 615 for the first seven days of September. The state also reported another 21 deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total for the pandemic to 621. Nine of those deaths occurred before this week and were added to the total after a regular review of death certificates.
Source: KAKE – News
“We are heading in the right direction”: Unemployment rates in Sedgwick County drop to 10.9%
Unemployment rates in Sedgwick County are going back down. Right now it’s just below 11% that’s a large difference from 18.5% back in April. The Workforce Alliance Center and Mayor Brandon Whipple say that’s due to people finding jobs. Part of that being the reopening of schools and additional jobs like child care, and bus companies opening. “We are seeing growth in certain sectors and we want to make sure that folks know about that and some are taking advantage of it which is maybe why our numbers are heading in the right direction,” said Mayor of Wichita, Brandon Whipple. The Workforce Alliance Center has more than 40,000 jobs across Kansas that residents can apply for. And if you’re not able to find a job that matches your skills, they have classes to help you find new strengths.
Source: KSN-TV
New find at lost city in Kansas
The Lost City of Etzanoa may have had up to 20,000 Native Americans living on the banks of the Walnut river inside current Arkansas City. Now drone footage has uncovered a new find. There are likely council circles belonging to the Etzanoa peoples of the area. The lost city is now considered the second biggest Native American city to be found. “This is the next big thing here,” said Dr. Donald Blakeslee, Professor of Anthropology at Wichita State University. Blakeslee has been working on digs to uncover artifacts on the far east edge of modern-day Arkansas City. On private land they have found pottery and shards that could be arrowheads and other artifacts. But the council circles are new. And they could reveal a lot about the Etzanoa natives, believed to be ancestors of the Wichita natives.
Source: KSN-TV
Lawrence settles with Black driver shot by rookie officer
The city of Lawrence has reached a settlement with a Black driver who was shot by a police officer in 2018. The driver, Akira Lewis, filed an excessive force lawsuit after he was shot during a traffic stop. In court documents filed Friday, the city agreed to pay Lewis $80,000. Under the settlement, neither the city nor Lewis accepted liability in the shooting. Lewis was shot by a rookie officer who said she meant to use her Taser but drew her gun instead. He said the traffic stop was racially motivated. The city contended Lewis caused the shooting by refusing to get out his car and fighting with officers.
Source: KSN-TV
Hutchinson Community College ready to train high-hazard workers during COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration awarded Hutchinson Community College more than $85,000 to train Kansas workers in COVID-19 worker protection measures. HCC is able to travel the state and conduct a half-day course to teach workers how to be safe while working during this outbreak. The school can train more than 575 employees, representing approximately 40 high-hazard industries and small businesses in the state. “We can train manufacturing, health care and small businesses,” said Dave Mullins, director of business and industry at HCC. “The grant will cover the cost of training anywhere in Kansas.” One of four OSHA trainers will conduct the four-hour training at each facility. As this is a new protocol, procedures are continually changing. Representatives in Washington see this as a step forward in keeping workers safe.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Topeka given until Oct. 16 to propose settlement in use of force lawsuit
A federal judge on Friday gave Topeka’s city government and police officer Christopher Janes until Oct. 16 to make a settlement proposal to Timothy Harris, who is pursuing a lawsuit involving an incident in which his jaw was broken. Harris then has until Oct. 30 to submit a counter-proposal, U.S. Magistrate Teresa J. James said in a scheduling order she issued that day imposing deadlines for various, specific court actions to be taken by July 2021. The order doesn’t set a date for the trial, which it said is expected to be held in Topeka and last seven days. Civil rights attorney Andrew M. Stroth in September 2018 filed the suit contending Janes violated the Constitutional rights of Harris, who is Black, by using excessive force on him in January 2018 near 2600 S.E. 10th.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Wichita paid $1.5M in overtime to police ordered to work extra during early June protests
The Wichita Police Department spent more than $1.5 million paying overtime to officers and other employees under a temporary staffing directive aimed at monitoring early June protest activity that authorities feared might lead to unrest in the city. At the same time violence prompted Wichita police to break up gatherings at 21st and Arkansas on two successive nights, the department implemented an “Emergency Mobilization Plan” its says was meant to ensure officer and community safety if demonstrations spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota escalated locally. Luckily, the city saw no large-scale protest-related violence outside of June 2 and 3, when cops in riot gear cleared angry and aggressive crowds that had resorted to vandalism, looting and gunfire.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Shawnee wants to regulate virtual learning centers as more pop up during pandemic
Shawnee is developing city code to regulate remote learning centers within the city. The move has been prompted by the recent increase in virtual learning centers set up for children at the start of a school year that has seen tens of thousands of students across Johnson County thrust into remote learning settings amid the COVID-19 pandemic. City staff is drafting text amendments to Chapter 17 of the city code, which addresses how daycares, businesses and pop-up learning centers can facilitate remote education for students. In addition, following an inquiry about a potential homeless shelter, Shawnee city staff is also developing code to address where and how homeless shelters can operate within city limits.
Source: Prairie Village Post
JoCo Election Office expects 90% voter turnout for Nov. 3, with most ballots cast by mail
County election officials are adding secure drop boxes, polling places and an extra Saturday for advance voting, in anticipation of a record 90 percent turnout in the Nov. 3 presidential election, Johnson County Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt told the Board of County Commissioners Thursday. Schmidt told commissioners she expects more votes to be cast by mail than in person this year, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27. “I urge voters if they’re going to send that application in to send it now. Do not wait until the week before the election,” she said.
Source: Prairie Village Post