Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Municipal Bond Trends for July 31, 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.

Planning board lauds wind regulation proposal

Limits on noise and shadow flicker would determine how close a turbine could be to a home — rather than set distances — in a draft of proposed commercial wind energy regulations reviewed by the Reno County Planning Commission last week. The sound and flicker limits proposed are a compromise between more stringent requirements sought by homeowners who have weighed in on the debate and those developers have proposed. Planning commissioners praised the work of a subcommittee that drafted the regulations, suggesting only several minor changes during a nearly three-hour meeting when the document was reviewed a paragraph at a time.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

‘Culture of innovation’: Topeka looks to capitalize on Plug and Play partnership

In coming weeks and months, Topeka’s Plug and Play accelerator program, which was announced last year, is expected to gain serious momentum. Additional founding partners are set to be announced throughout August. Then, those founding partners will help select the first group of startup companies to participate in the accelerator. And this fall, they’ll begin a three-month program aimed at helping the startups make connections, perfect their products and form partnerships with area corporations. Then, at some point this year, results of a viability study to determine the future home of an innovation campus will be revealed, leading to the creation of a space that will serve as Topeka’s hub for creative endeavors and collaborations stemming from the accelerator program.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Revisiting Rice County during the 1950s

For Rice County native, Larry Meredith, growing up during the 1950s in rural Kansas was special – no internet, lots of friends and lots of room to roam.In his newest book, "Real, Rural: Growing Up Rural in the 1950s," Meredith tells tales about Bushton, the 1950s and his graduating class of 12."Nobody worried about the competition between the two grocery stores on Main St. and they drove to Lyons or Great Bend to do their serious shopping," Meredith wrote.
(Read more: State News – Morning Sun)

“Keeping residents and businesses healthy”: City of Wichita hopes to clarify owners’ concerns

Bars, night clubs, and some restaurant just wrapped up another weekend of shutdowns and early closures under a county health order. Monday, the city of Wichita will host a meeting to talk with owners to find ways to get them some help. KSN news spoke with Mayor Brandon Whipple about bar owners concerns. With that meeting, the city says it wants to make sure it’s helping bar and restaurant owners the best that it can. The owner of Quincy’s bar and grill says dealing with shutdowns and early closures has been tough. The same amount of people are out and about, and now they have fewer places to go.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

City of Hutchinson and Reno County both mark record July sales tax receipts

Federal stimulus checks and continuing stay-at-home orders are credited with helping the City of Hutchinson and Reno County both experience record sales tax receipts for July. It was a second consecutive month that receipts exceeded collections compared to the same month last year, at a time when local government officials had been expecting shortfalls due to layoffs and closures forced by the novel coronavirus. “It looks like vehicle sales were up and home improvement-type store sales as well,” said Angela Richard, Hutchinson’s finance director. Also experiencing increase sales, she said, were grocery, sporting goods and hobby stores.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

New micro-hospital in Topeka offers alternative to traditional hospital setting

A lead physician at the recently opened Topeka ER & Hospital says the facility offers an alternative to traditional hospital settings where some people may not feel comfortable. Topeka ER & Hospital, which officially opened July 27, is the first independently owned “micro-hospital” in Kansas, according to Jared Schreiner, chief medical officer and emergency medicine physician. “The whole design of the micro-hospital started maybe a decade ago,” he said, “and the purpose was to build hospitals in communities, because we found that patients were avoiding care because they didn’t want to drive to the city, to fight parking, to fight traffic, to get on an elevator, to follow signs, to get lost, to wait in a waiting room.”
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Fairway approves removal of diseased feature tree in right-of-way on Suwanee Road

The Fairway City Council on Tuesday morning unanimously approved the removal of a feature tree in the right-of-way along Suwanee Road. City staff had KC Arborist, the city’s long-time arborist, evaluate a 43-inch round tree with a large cavity about 20-feet off the ground. The arborist determined the tree to be structurally compromised as the result of a disease, and recommended its removal as soon as possible.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Treasury Department: States, local governments spend only 25 percent of CARES Act subsidies

As deliberations continue in Congress over how to allocate another $1 trillion worth of stimulus money, governors and mayors say they need more than the $139 billion already allocated to their states in March to cover revenue shortfalls. A total of $150 billion was allocated to help state, local and tribal governments with specific COVID-19 response programs. But according to a new report published by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General, states have spent only 25 percent, or roughly $34 billion of $139 billion allocated to states through the CARES Act.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

COVID-19 sapped councilman’s energy during 12-day fight

Tony Emerson’s first three days with COVID-19 weren’t so bad, he says. The local contractor and Topeka city councilman felt some soreness and had a mild fever. Still, he could talk on the phone and work on his computer. “I was like, ‘This is nothing. This is just a walk in the park. My gosh, what’s the big deal?’ ” he recalled. But Emerson, 51, said he then felt horrible for about a week, including being nauseous for all his waking hours. “You think it’s never going to end,” he said.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Kansas hopes sewage will provide advance warning of future COVID-19 surges

Want to know if the novel coronavirus is in your town? The answer might be in the sewers. Researchers at the University of Kansas are teaming up with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to track the coronavirus pandemic by measuring virus particles in wastewater. The technique, called wastewater surveillance, may provide an early warning system to give Kansas communities advance notice of future COVID-19 surges. Wastewater surveillance also helps fill in gaps in COVID-19 clinical testing, which can be limited, costly, and plagued by slow turnaround times. “The amount of positive cases that are reported understate the actual extent of infection within a city or county population,” said Tom Stiles, the director of the KDHE Bureau of Water.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Leavenworth County vs. Copeland: Analysis of Length of Municipal Contracts

In 2016, the Leavenworth County Board of Commissioners approved a five-year employment contract with … the county’s human resources director. After a change in commissioners, the board filed an action in the Leavenworth County District Court to have the contract declared void. The board later terminated the HR director, and she counterclaimed to enforce the contract’s exceptionally generous severance package. The district court found the contract to be unenforceable as a legally impermissible attempt by one elected composition of the board to bind a later composition of that board. Copeland has appealed. The district court correctly applied settled Kansas law to undisputed material facts in granting the board’s motion for summary judgment. We, therefore, affirm the decision.
Read the Kansas Court of Appeals opinion.

Wyandotte County to continue in Phase 3 of reopening plan

Wyandotte County will continue in Phase 3 of the Ad Astra reopening plan, according to Dr. Allen Greiner, chief health officer of Wyandotte County. Dr. Greiner made his remarks at the 5 p.m. July 30 meeting of the Unified Government, a remote meeting held on Zoom. “The 7-day positive rolling average has come down in the past week,” Juliann Van Liew, Unified Government Health Department director, said about the COVID-19 positive rate. The trend is very encouraging, she said. Jackson and Johnson counties are seeing different trends, with their rates not coming down like Wyandotte County’s has in the past few weeks, she said.
(Read more: Wyandotte Daily)

Municipal Bond Trends for July 30, 2020

Kansas allocates $254M in federal virus relief funds

The Kansas State Finance Council has allocated more than $254 million of federal coronavirus relief funds mostly toward efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and boost the state’s economy. The group’s unanimous approval on Wednesday slated the federal funds for public health, education and economic development proposals as recommended by the executive committee of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas task force. More than $100.9 million is going toward public health. Economic development proposals will get $78.6 million, and education will receive about $74.9 million.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Parsons discusses disregard for mask ordinance

“Blatant noncompliance” has been the only problem with an ordinance that requires most people to wear face masks in buildings open to the public in Parsons. The city commission approved the ordinance in a July 6 meeting to help fight the spread of COVID-19, and it took effect on July 9. The ordinance included a two-week education period when it wasn’t enforced, but since July 23 individuals not wearing masks in indoor places of public access can face a fine. Violators at first will be warned, followed by a ticket that could be forgiven by paying a $15 processing fee. Upon the third violation, individuals could be fined $50.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Roeland Park to host socially-distant family bingo night

Roeland Park and the Johnson County Park and Recreation District are hosting a socially distant family fun bingo night on July 31 at 6 p.m. The event, normally held inside the Roeland Park Community Center at 4850 Rosewood Drive, will be held on the front lawn and families are to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Masks are required for the event, and dinner is to be served at 6 p.m.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Lawrence sanitation workers file petition to unionize

Citing concerns about pay and working conditions, City of Lawrence sanitation workers have taken a step toward unionization, and other employee groups may follow. Teamsters Local 696 recently filed a petition with the City of Lawrence on behalf of the sanitation workers, whose duties include handling trash, recycling and yard waste collection, asking that the city conduct a union election. Matt Hall, secretary-treasurer and business agent for the Teamsters, told the Journal-World that more than 90% of the 70 sanitation workers supported the petition. Hall said the sanitation workers have multiple concerns, including pay and working conditions, such as work rules about routes, safety and equipment.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Manhattan to highlight businesses pledging to follow health, safety guidelines

A new local campaign aims to promote health and safety conscious behavior in Manhattan and the Flint Hills region. The safe and open campaign highlights businesses, organizations and individuals who have pledged to abide by recommended public health practices such as physical distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing face coverings in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Officially launched as of Thursday, July 30, eight businesses have already signed the pledge committing to follow federal, state and local guidelines. Those that have pledged will receive a badge and other marketing materials that can be displayed on windows or inside their place of business. They’ll also be added to lists at MHKsafeandopen.org or FlintHillssafeandopen.org for those in the region outside of Manhattan. “When people see the Safe & Open logo, they will know those businesses and organizations have made a commitment to help protect the community,” reads a City of Manhattan press release.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

KSHSAA executive board votes to proceed with fall activities

The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) has announced that fall activities and athletics will proceed as planned. A motion to push back the start date was rejected by the executive board. The vote failed 5-4. All fall activities and athletics will now be able to proceed as scheduled on Monday, Aug. 17. Additional safety protocols, including fan participation, will still come. KSHSAA did say that those decisions will be made by local health officials.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Dodge City Public Schools set to start school at the end of August

Dodge City Public Schools will have nearly 7,000 students returning to school in less than a month. The Board of Education voted 6-1 Monday to start school on August 25 with teachers reporting on August 17. USD 443 reached out to their teachers through a survey asking if teachers would be able to conduct face-to-face instruction, 78% of the teachers responded to the survey with nearly 95% percent responding ‘yes’ saying they want to get back into the classroom. Those who responded ‘no’ due to health concerns may have the option to teach online.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

‘We are flexing up and flexing back’: Local hospitals talk about ICU capacity

Local hospitals have seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases over the last several weeks and an increase in ICU patients. This second wave that we are dealing with now, its doubled and tripled than the first wave,” said Ascension Via Christi Medical ICU Manager, Jenifer Phelps. “We are having a lot more traffic coming through and the traffic we are having the patients are a lot sicker and they’re staying here a lot longer in the ICU.” Sedgwick County Manager, Tom Stolz said the public hospital system in Wichita has a total of nearly 200 ICU beds. The county met with Wesley, Via Christi, the VA and McConnell Air Force base on Monday to discuss what they’re seeing and to get an understanding of how much space is available for COVID patients.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

City of Wichita fights back against the Save Century II petition

Almost three weeks after the City of Wichita was presented with a petition to “Save Century II,” the City has responded with legal action challenging the validity of the petition. The Save Century II group delivered the petition with 17,000 signatures to Mayor Brandon Whipple on July 10. Today, the City of Wichita filed a petition in the 18th Judicial District Court seeking declaratory judgment challenging the validity of the petition. In a news release, the City says it supports the petition process and the right of citizens to express their opinion. But the City believes the petition is legally invalid and does not serve the citizens’ best interests.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Columbus launches new trash program

The city of Columbus has a new program to tackle trash and provide some uniformity in the community. Starting August 3rd, the city will begin taking requests for 95-gallon trash carts. Carts will be available upon request at no cost to residents. There is a limit of 200 carts as the city pilots the trash cart program, so you’ll want to get your name on the list early. Residents will receive the brochure for the trash cart program with your August water bill. The city says they will go to complete cart system by 2022.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE)

Lenexa discusses Climate Action Playbook, citywide approaches to combating climate change

While Lenexa already supports portions of a regional playbook on mitigating climate change, the city has room for improvement. That was a summary of a discussion Tuesday evening among Lenexa city leaders at a committee meeting to discuss the Climate Action Playbook, a compilation of approaches and resources for cities in the Kansas City metro area to consider in efforts to reduce or reverse the effects of climate change. In a presentation to the Lenexa City Council, Community Development Director Scott McCullough said the playbook would act as a guide, similar to Lenexa’s Complete Streets policy, to inform decision-making across a range of areas of city government.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Municipal Bond Trends for July 29, 2020

Fed holds rates steady, says economic growth is ‘well below’ pre-pandemic level

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision announced Wednesday that came along with a tepid outlook on the coronavirus-plagued economy. In a move widely expected, the central bank kept its benchmark overnight lending rate anchored near zero, where it has been since March 15 in the early days of the pandemic. Along with keeping rates low, the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets monetary policy, expressed its commitment to maintain its bond purchases and the array of lending and liquidity programs also associated with the virus response.
Read more: CNBC.

Fight over demolishing Century II goes to court as city files to overturn petition

The city of Wichita has gone to court to try to get a citizens’ petition declared invalid and preserve the city’s right to demolish the publicly owned Century II Convention and Performing Arts Center and the nearby former central library building. The citizen’s petition, if ruled valid, would require the City Council to hold a public vote on destroying either of the two buildings or other city-owned structures deemed to have historical or architectural significance. The city’s filing questions whether voters are qualified to make such decisions.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Merriam sales taxes down less than expected during COVID-19 shelter-in-place order

The Merriam City Council on Monday evening heard the latest sales and use tax update for the month of May, when COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were still in place. Merriam’s report showed May sales taxes were down 20% overall, Finance Director Donna Oliver said. Despite being down 20%, Oliver said she thought it “was very good news” since city staff forecasted sales taxes to be down by 80% due to the shelter-in-place order. “That was quite a bit of a swing, that was good news,” Oliver said. “That disbursement made about a $500,000 difference on our ending fund balance.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Classroom ‘gating criteria’ still unknown as Shawnee Mission families face decision about in-person vs. remote learning models

The Shawnee Mission School District will ask parents this week to choose an in-person or fully remote learning model for individual students for the fall semester. But district officials don’t yet have the final “gating criteria” from the county health department on when and how in-person instruction would be permitted. At a board of education meeting Monday, Superintendent Mike Fulton said that administrators were waiting on guidance from county public health officials before they could make a determination about what class might look like on day one for students who choose the in-person option.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Full measure of mask impact still weeks out

Reno County commissioners and the county’s health officer agreed on Tuesday that individual school districts in the county should each draft their own reopening plan for the coming school year — rather than have a countywide plan — and have the county health officer review it for recommendations. Reno County Health Department director Nick Baldetti, meanwhile, advised it will probably be at least another two weeks — and possibly three to five — before the county sees the effects of a mandatory mask order imposed in the county two weeks ago. That estimate is based on data from Douglas County, which he said has developed a good model for measuring the success of interventions in reducing the spread of the virus, he said. Contributing to the data lag in measuring success are continuing delays in getting test results back promptly, with results now taking 10 days and longer, Baldetti said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Riley County health officer issues new health order

New coronavirus-related rules are coming to Riley County. Beginning 12:01 a.m. Thursday, large gatherings of up to 2,000 people will be allowed. But you’ll need to get a permit at least 14 days in advance. You can fill out a request form here. Strict safety measures would have to be put in place for a gathering to be approved. According to the order, regularly held church services aren’t considered to be events and are exempt. Also under this new order, people must be seated at restaurants and bars. No standing is allowed at bar counter-tops. Dancing also isn’t allowed. Bars and restaurants are still required to stop service by midnight and customers must leave by 12:30 a.m. County health leaders said they will start inspecting restaurants and bars to make sure they’re following the rules.
(Read more: KSNT News)

Lawrence schools to begin online classes after Labor Day

The Lawrence school district has decided to start its school year after Labor Day with at least six weeks of online learning because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The Lawrence Journal-world reports school board members voted Monday to begin with fully remote learning and consider later in the year whether to adopt a hybrid model that would allow for students to spend some school days in classrooms and others at home with remote learning. Three of Kansas’ largest school districts voted last week not to resume their classes until after the holiday.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Governor announces relief from online driver’s license renewal age restrictions

Governor Laura Kelly today announced she signed an Executive Order that will extend Executive Order #20-46, which helps make renewing driver’s licenses easier for people across the state. Executive Order #20-60 offers temporary relief from age restrictions that prohibit applicants 50 years of age or older from applying to renew their driver’s license online. Under the new order, all drivers under the age of 65 are permitted to use the online renewal system.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Loose animals have towns’ police running wild

Police around Marion County have had an adventurous month of animal-control incidents. Marion and Hillsboro police are dog-catchers by necessity. Their communities have no official positions for the job. Peabody has a part-time dog-catcher, but if the dog-catcher is not working, it falls to police to handle issues like loose dogs, police chief Bruce Burke said.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Kansas can’t close businesses, limit crowds to fight coronavirus for seven more weeks

Even as coronavirus cases mount and hospitalizations rise in Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly will be unable to impose statewide restrictions on businesses or mass gatherings until Sept. 15 under a new state law. Because of a single paragraph in a measure hastily passed during a special session last month, neither Kelly, a Democrat, nor her Republican rivals in the Legislature can do much to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 cases when it comes to businesses and gatherings — even if they could agree on a course of action. A provision in House Bill 2016 appears to render the entire state government largely powerless to order changes in business practices or limit crowd sizes for seven more weeks.
(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Department of Commerce’s Third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair will be held today, Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30. “We need to maintain a strong, healthy workforce in our state, and getting Kansans back to work safely is one of my top priorities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The KANSASWORKS virtual job fair has proven to be a creative and effective way to connect Kansans with jobs opportunities, and will be important as our economy recovers from the challenges of COVID-19.” The virtual fair will allow job seekers to easily live chat with employers from across the state through computers and mobile devices. This is the third KANSASWORKS virtual job fair so far in 2020, with four more planned later this year.
(Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce)

Two large school systems in western Kansas will reopen with safety precautions, one going hybrid

The majority of western Kansas schools look to reopen at their original start dates in August. In Garden City, the school board met Monday to discuss their plans. Garden City Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in southwest Kansas with nearly 7,300 students. Their schools will welcome students back into the classrooms officially on September 1 for a full day of class. However, students that are entering elementary, fifth, seventh, ninth, and tenth grades as well as students new to the district will start school on August 31 with a half-day orientation. In order to keep their students safe, the district is taking several precautions.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Salina, Saline County reach agreement on Expo Center

A lease on the Expo Center property has been officially approved by both the city of Salina and Saline County. After unanimous votes by both the city and county commissions, the lease, which is for 30 years and will begin on Jan. 1, 2021, was approved. The general terms of the lease allow the county to use the city’s property in Kenwood Park for the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center. In exchange for this, the county has agreed to make a number of upgrades…
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Municipal Bond Trends for July 28, 2020

Parsons schools to begin the year remotely

The Parsons School District will be starting classes remotely for all students this fall. But the hope is to get back to face-to-face classes. Lori Ray, Superintendent, Parsons School District, said, “Students will start remotely, and so we’re looking to do that, we’re looking at the Labette county numbers in regards to the virus, and trying to be very cognicent of having kids come back and staff come back.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE)

Shawnee County districts finalize school reopening plans

After numerous committee meetings, board of education discussions and communications from parents, staff and the community, the five Shawnee County school districts have settled on plans for starting the 2020-2021 school year. Their overall frameworks are similar, divided into three components consisting of on-site learning, remote virtual learning and a hybrid of on-site and remote learning. Each district chose one of the three based on what they felt was safest and best for their students and parents. Most went with a hybrid learning model, which will allow for 50% of the students to be in the classroom for two days each week, either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ask now for local slice of $5.7M virus aid

The Ellis County committee handing out $5.74 million in federal COVID-19 aid to Ellis County wants applications now. Anyone getting the aid, which is being passed down to the county through the state of Kansas, must spend it before Dec. 30. Any money not spent goes back to the state. Local applications for reimbursement of COVID-19 expenses, or for direct aid for COVID-19, are due by noon Monday, Aug. 3. “I really hope we get a lot of applications,” said J.D. Cox, Ellis County administrator, who assembled and leads the committee. “It just worries me that we would have money that would be left on the table and goes back to the state.”
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

KDHE amends travel quarantine list

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list. Florida as well as those countries with a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice with restrictions remain, but Arizona, Bahrain and French Guiana are removed effective today. Those traveling internationally are subject to CDC re-entry guidance and protocols. This list is effective for all persons returning to or entering Kansas on the effective dates. The state will review/update this list every two weeks. A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have traveled to: Florida on or after June 29. Arizona between June 17 – July 27. Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15. International travel to Bahrain or French Guiana July 14 – July 26.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

24 Sedgwick Co. inmates test positive for COVID-19

The Sedgwick County Detention Facility confirmed Tuesday that 22 inmates tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number to 24. This comes after the detention facility confirmed two cases last week and said it would test inmates and staff who were possibly exposed. Sheriff Jeff Easter said in a press release that 27 inmates are still quarantined under Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidelines. The 27 inmates have either tested negative or results are pending.
(Read more: KAKE – News)