Kansas Municipal News
Mural, Public Art Funding Available from Department of Commerce
The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced multiple opportunities to support the creation of murals and public art in the state through coordinated funding programs from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) and the Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP). The programs will provide funding for communities to use public spaces for the purposes of artistic use and creative endeavors. … The programs are designed to utilize artists, creative interventions, and arts organizations to increase community vibrancy and provide space for artistic expression and public engagement. KCAIC’s Mural and Public Art Program applications are open through March 13 to all 501c3 organizations, units of local government, and federally recognized tribes across Kansas. The maximum request is $10,000. A 100% match is required for the award which must be at least 25% cash match and up to 75% in-kind match. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2024. Applications may be found here. ORP’s Rural Mural Program will also be accepting new applications from March 13 to May 1. The maximum grant award will be $7,500. Only applicants from communities with a population fewer than 15,000 are eligible. A 100% match is required for the award which must be at least 25% cash match and up to 75% in-kind match. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2023. ORP will have a Rural Mural Planning Webinar at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 3 (register here). Once the application window is open, applications will be available here.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Task force makes recommendations to phase out plastic bags in Wichita
A citizens task force is calling for a grassroots effort to phase out the use of plastic bags in the Wichita community. The committee delivered its report to Wichita City Council members in a workshop meeting Tuesday. Task force member Brett Prather said the group looked at environmental, health and economic impacts from single-use plastic bags, and they also looked at steps being taken by other cities across the U.S. Prather said 102 billion plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year and only one to three percent are recycled. He said Wichita has had more than 462.8 million plastic bags in use over the past few years. He said the task force is recommending an educational campaign to create awareness in the community and get schools, churches, and local businesses involved.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Edwardsville City Manager Michael Webb Retires
The City of Edwardsville today announced the planned retirement of Michael Webb, 60, after more than 16-years of service to the city and more than 35 years in the municipal management profession throughout Kansas, Texas, and Arizona. “Edwardsville is unique community with more than one hundred years of history. It took a special type of professional city manager to put in the work to attract quality development, work cooperatively with other governmental agencies and put us in an all-around better position financially,” said Mayor Carolyn Caiharr. “Mr. Webb is well respected in our city and among colleagues throughout the region. We wish Mr. Webb all the best in his next ventures and thank him for his 16 years of service to our city.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Overland Park opening all 4 outdoor pools this summer
Overland Park plans to open all four of its outdoor pools for the 2023 swim season, according to city officials. This marks the first time since summer 2019 that Stonegate Pool, the Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center, Young’s Pool and Bluejacket Pool will be open for the summer. Bluejacket Pool closed two summers ago due to a lifeguard shortage, and the city closed all city pools in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee won’t enforce future county mask orders or vaccine rules
Nearly three years after the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Shawnee has adopted new rules saying it will not enforce future Johnson County health orders having to do with masks, vaccines and social distancing. In a 7-1 vote Monday, the city council took the unusual step of amending one section of the Uniform Public Offense Code, a ream of local rules recommended to Kansas cities annually by the League of Kansas Municipalities. … In explaining his vote for the measure, Councilmember Tony Gillette said, “Hopefully the public realizes that we’re putting this decision out [there] for your own personal freedom.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
Survey: Wichita residents see safety and street repairs as priorities
The results of a Wichita community survey are out. The survey asked residents about the city’s livability, what they like about it and what needs to be improved. … The survey report is 99 pages long. You can read it by clicking here. Or you can visit Wichita.gov and delve into each of the survey segments and compare them to previous survey results.
Source: KSN-TV
Reno County standardizes fire departments across the county
The Reno County commissioners hired fired a fire administrator, Travis Vogt, in March of 2022. Vogt has been working on making some changes so fire departments in the county will be more efficient when working together. Vogt has been working on standardizing equipment, procedures and training across the board. The Pretty Prairie Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Rick Garver, says it’s all about being on the same page before they get into a stressful situation. And it’ll ultimately make their fire response more efficient, saving more lives and more property.
Source: KSN-TV
Schools-to-homes proposal advances
BNIM, a group looking to convert Iola’s former elementary schools into housing, has passed the first phase to apply for state housing tax credits. They’ll now submit a full application. Plans to convert former elementary schools to housing are still moving forward. BNIM, a Kansas City, Mo.-based architect and design firm, is seeking Kansas Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to help pay for the first phase of the project, which would renovate McKinley and Jefferson. Renovation of Lincoln would be in the second phase. BNIM wants to convert all three former schools into housing. Their efforts hinge on a combination of tax credits, grants and other financing. The group would invest about $21.7 million into all three of the schools, converting them into around 61 mixed-income apartments with the possibility of other types of housing or amenities on the properties.
Source: The Iola Register
Affordability, internet access make Wichita one of best cities for remote work, according to national publication
As Wichita strives to bring in talent, a national publication has highlighted one segment of workers who may find the city particularly attractive. Recently, a Wall Street Journal report ranked Wichita No. 9 on its list of top U.S. cities for remote workers, thanks in large part to its broadband internet access and overall affordability. “If you have a growing family, then larger, more affordable homes in a fairly large city may top your list of priorities, along with fast Wi-Fi to accommodate work-from-home and all the kids’ streaming devices. You may want to explore Wichita, Kan.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Greensboro, N.C.,” the article said, also citing Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom saying 13% of working Americans (about 25 million) are fully remote.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Wichita’s new $400M riverfront plan: Keep Century II and old library
The city of Wichita’s new, $400 million plan for the east bank of the Arkansas River downtown keeps and updates its 50-year-old anchor buildings — Century II and the former central library — while expanding current convention space. The plan unveiled Tuesday does not address a new performing arts center. But it does put an end to the $1.2 billion Riverfront Legacy Master Plan, which had momentum in early 2020 but hit a Covid-19 wall before it could be presented to city and county officials, as well as the public. The cost of the plan, unveiled Tuesday in a workshop format to the Wichita City Council, includes $55 million to repurpose 53-year-old Century II and $15 million to renovate the 55-year-old former library.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Kansas Star Casino owners vie for video horse racing with $160M Park City development plan
The owners of Kansas Star Casino have submitted an application to the state proposing the construction a new historical horse-racing gaming facility in Park City. Called Diamond Jo Park City, the proposed facility will be a $160 million entertainment district, including up to 1,000 horse-racing machines, a steakhouse, cocktail lounge, a FanDuel-themed sports bar, a meeting and convention space and what’s expected to be the first Amazon Go store in Kansas.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Rebellion against McLouth cryptocurrency data center triggers one-year application moratorium
The avalanche of complaints about threats to rural quality of life, unresolved issues of land ownership and leasing rights, an oil tank explosion that burned a truck packed with ammunition and widespread distrust of developers — even by a former white-collar criminal — compelled the Jefferson County Commission to impose a moratorium of at least one year on applications for construction of cryptocurrency processing centers. Crypto Colo Center Corp.’s proposal to boost McLouth’s economy by planting a crypto currency mine one-third of a mile north of town imploded under pressure from energy companies, Sierra Club, McLouth City Council, Jefferson County Redevelopment Office and, most significantly, dozens of area residents. They were aghast anybody would bring into their midst two dozen 40-foot shipping containers packed with energy-intensive computer servers that churned around the clock on electricity drawn from eight locomotive-sized generators fueled by natural gas pulled right out of the ground.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for February 28, 2023
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, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.
Dog park plans slowed by ADA requirements
Catapla Park in Arkansas City is still going to the dogs, it’s just taking longer than expected. The city announced its plan last October to revamp the small park into a safe place for pet owners to let their pets get some exercise, but so far no progress has been made. Municipal Planner Nick Rizzio said Tuesday that the goal for the project had been to keep the cost minimal and have it completed before the end of the year. The project will be more expensive than he had anticipated due to the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for parking spaces, sidewalks and an entrance and exit for each gate. He said the cost is still being evaluated.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Wichita unveils new $400M riverbank plan that saves Century II and former library
Wichita has a new plan to redevelop the east bank of the Arkansas River downtown that would save Century II and the former downtown library while expanding convention center space for less than half the cost of the $1 billion Riverfront Legacy Master Plan. “This is the most excited I’ve been about the future of conventions and this complex,” City Manager Robert Layton told The Eagle. “I just finally think we hit it.” For an estimated $400 million, the city of Wichita would transform the east bank to a “new heart of the city,” Layton said. The largest cost is a $170 million expansion of the Bob Brown Convention Center. The plan also calls for investing $55 million in the iconic blue-domed Century II building and $15 million in the neighboring former library building.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for February 27, 2023
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, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.
Southern Kansas school closed because of vandalism, threatening graffiti
The school in St. John, Kansas was closed Monday after a break-in and vandalism incident over the weekend. There was also graffiti on the walls that could be considered threatening in nature, according to a message from Superintendent Josh Meyer. A decision was made to close the St. John-Hudson school out of caution and to allow time for the clean up of broken glass and debris. Meyer said in a letter to the school community that there is no information that indicates a specific plan for violence toward anyone at the school. He said the district is taking the matter seriously and is working with St. John police. It’s not believed there is any imminent danger to staff or students.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Derby FD adapts to growing medical calls
As is in the title, Derby Fire and Rescue keeps busy with its fair share of fire calls. But a majority of the department’s work over the past few years has fallen more into the category of medical response – with roughly 60% of the annual calls for the department classified as EMS/rescue. With the increasing number of emergency medical services and rescue calls, Derby FD is evolving and continually analyzing best practices for the community it serves – both now and in the future.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Tornado damages homes in Liberal
The Seward County Emergency Management director says four to five homes in Liberal have moderate to severe damage, and another 10-12 homes have moderate damage. Director Greg Standard also told KSN one person was treated for minor injuries and has been released. Joshua Volden’s home was damaged, and he says it all happened in a matter of minutes. “The power went out, I looked over and saw stuff flying toward the windows,” Volden said.
Source: KSN-TV
Property values spike in Riley County, here’s why
Property owners in Riley County may see the value of their property rise by as much as 17% over last year’s value. The Riley County Appraiser’s Office said it mailed the 2023 Change in Value Notices (CVNs) for each of the 25,000 real estate parcels in the county Friday, Feb. 24. The CVNs reflect changes in property values prompted by fluctuations in the local real estate market and/or changes made to individual properties, such as additions or improvements.
Source: KSNT 27 News