Kansas Municipal News
Deerfield USD 216 voters decide on 2 issues in school bond
Voters in Deerfield, USD 216, headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to approve a bond for the district’s five buildings. The first question remains close, with eight provisional ballots separating the yes from the no votes. The second issue to improve the district’s track and football field didn’t pass.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita City Council green-lights downtown street plan that will serve as blueprint
The Wichita City Council put their stamp of approval on a blueprint for re-envisioned downtown streets that aims to encourage commerce and improve safety and mobility in the city core. Under the new plan, Main, Market and Topeka will be converted to two-way streets and Broadway and Waterman will undergo the road diet, replacing four lanes of traffic with two lanes and a wide median.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
County cool to Iola’s EMS offer, will explore options
Allen County Commissioners all but cut the strings to a joint ambulance service with Iola at their meeting Tuesday morning. Commissioners said they will explore options for a new ambulance service provider rather than negotiate a contract with Iola, which had said it would terminate its contract with the county in hopes of securing a higher contribution from the county. Commissioners assured county residents there will be ambulance services after the contract with the city ends on Aug. 1.
Source: The Iola Register
Wichita city council members move to make downtown traffic safer, more pedestrian friendly
City council members in Wichita moved to make downtown traffic safer and more pedestrian-friendly on Tuesday. “That’s the goal,” said Council Member Jeff Blubaugh. “There’s going to be more livability downtown, so we’ve got to be able to ensure that we are providing the safest route.” Council approved $460,000 to get started on a project to make changes to roadways off Douglas Avenue downtown. Areas like Topeka and Main could eventually change from one-way traffic to two-way near 1st and 2nd streets with the plan.
Source: KSN-TV
Newton rolls out business registry
Newton businesses will receive a letter and information in the coming days about the City’s new Newton Business Registry. The purpose of the registry is to streamline local businesses’ administrative work with the City by establishing a single record of contact information and licensing and permit needs. For example, this registry would have been extremely helpful in recent years as the City was rolling out information about COVID-relief grants available to businesses. There is no fee for the registration, and it is not mandatory to operate a business in Newton.
Source: City of Newton
Leawood combating antisemitism in wake of recent hate crimes
Leawood took formal steps to combat antisemitism this week, following at least two incidents at Johnson County schools involving racist and antisemitic language. The Leawood City Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at defining antisemitism and developing educational tools that address it. While the measure does not legally compel people to obey any new law, city leaders noted Leawood is the first in Johnson County to pass such a measure in support of the Jewish community.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Prairie Village leaves housing recommendations largely intact
The Prairie Village City Council opted to leave the city’s controversial housing recommendations largely intact following a lengthy discussion over proposed amendments Monday night. Two councilmembers proposed a motion that would have modified the most hotly contested recommendation, which encourages the city to explore “attainable housing” options across the city, including in single-family housing districts. Ultimately, the city council, after hours of public comments from both supporters and opponents of the recommendations, kept their wording mostly untouched.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Lenexa offering up to $5K in city funds for home repairs
Some homes in Lenexa may be eligible for the expanded Exterior Grant Program, which offers money for residents looking to improve or repair their houses. Lenexa is putting up more money in 2023 for its annual grant program designed to help residents in older homes maintain their properties. “It encourages homeowners who obviously have older homes in our community to make exterior or neighborhood benefiting upgrades or repairs to their homes,” Angel Whitaker, Lenexa’s community standards supervisor, said.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Plans in works for celebration mural celebrating Winfield’s 150th birthday
Plans are under way to paint a mural celebrating Winfield’s 150th birthday, a project sponsored by the Winfield Arts and Humanities Council. The theme of the mural is “The Building Blocks of Winfield,” WAHC director Cheri Kindt-Gonzalez told the CourierTraveler. It will be painted on the north-facing wall of Home Lumber and Supply Co., at 1201 Main St. The mural will reflect the values, occupations, recreational activities and significant events that are part of Winfield’s heritage and have shaped its culture.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Fed’s Kashkari says strong jobs data show need for more hikes
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said Tuesday that explosive jobs growth in January is evidence that the central bank has more work to do when it comes to taming inflation. That means continuing to hike interest rates, as he sees a likelihood that the Fed’s benchmark borrowing rate should rise to 5.4% from its current target range of 4.5%-4.75%. “We have a job to do. We know that raising rates can put a lid on inflation,” Kashkari told CNBC during a Tuesday morning interview on “Squawk Box.” “We need to raise rates aggressively to put a ceiling on inflation, then let monetary policy work its way through the economy.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Making Ellsworth County bright with art
Last summer, the Ellsworth County Economic Development received a $10,000 grant from the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity and the Kansas Department of Commerce. The matching grant was used to create new murals and public art projects. Ellsworth County Economic Development Executive Director Stacie Schmidt said the funds completed three murals in the City of Ellsworth and one in the City of Holyrood. “Not only does it improve our aesthetics, we also think it draws attention to the businesses hosting those murals,” said Schmidt. “It draws a little bit of a tourist component too. We wanted to make them for an opportunity for photos so tourists will walk the streets of Ellsworth County a little bit.”
Source: Great Bend Post
Municipal Bond Trends for February 3, 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.
Lawrence to hold public meetings about transitioning city’s fleet of 850 vehicles to environmental options
The City of Lawrence will hold two public meetings this week to share information and gather input about the city’s plan to transition its fleet of vehicles to more environmental options. The Lawrence community is invited to attend “discovery session” presentations for the city fleet analysis process that will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a city news release. The meetings will help the city develop a plan for combating transportation emissions and improving the environmental performance of the city’s vehicle fleet.
Source: LJWorld
Proposed KPERS bond buyback program could save Kansas millions in interest
A new finance bill would buy back bonds used to inject much-needed cash into the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System two years ago, potentially saving the state millions of dollars in future interest payments. The House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee had a Monday hearing on House Bill 2102. The bill would allocate $250 million from the State General Fund to repurchase bonds issued two years ago under House Bill 2405. HB 2405 authorized the Kansas Development Finance Authority to issue bonds to pay off KPERS unfunded pension liabilities. The strategy was to lower the cost over a 30-year period, addressing a $6 billion unfunded liability in the state government worker and teacher portion of KPERS. The system received $500 million in 2021 as a result of the deal.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Sedgwick County judge offers Kansas legislators package of bills to stem domestic violence
District Judge Phil Journey knows the grim statistics on domestic violence and regularly comes face-to-face with perpetrators and victims of violence in the home. His vantage point from a courthouse in Sedgwick County — epicenter of the state’s domestic violence caseload — led to development of a package of reform bills he wants the 2023 Kansas Legislature to consider. Improving the state’s response to 22,500 reported incidents of domestic violence annually, he said, could put downward pressure on 3,000 aggravated assaults, 900 kidnappings and the rapes, strangulations and homicides tied to those incidents.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Manhattan to unveil new $22.5 million joint maintenance facility
A public dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Friday as the City of Manhattan unveils its new $22.5 million Joint Maintenance Facility. City Manager Ron Fehr, Mayor Mark Hatesohl and representatives from BBN Architects, McCownGordon Construction and Public Works Director Rob Ott will provide comments in the north vehicle repair and maintenance shop. y.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Derby PD bringing back Citizens Police Academy
After a few years of being placed on hold, the Derby Police Department is bringing back its Citizens Police Academy in 2023. The COVID pandemic interrupted the last session of the CPA three weeks in, meaning no complete session has been held since 2018 (as it is something the department has traditionally put on in even years). Given that extended hiatus, Derby PD Lt. Caleb Rue noted the department looked forward to offering that once again in 2023.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Organization ‘Grow Kansas Film’ aims to get incentives for movie and tv production in Kansas
Kansas is one of 13 that does not provide incentives for film or television to be produced here. Filmmakers from the sunflower state say its cost Kansas opportunities. “We have missed countless, countless productions because Kansas cannot compete with other states that have incentives” Academy award winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott told the state senate’s commerce committee on Thursday. He is part of a group called “Grow Kansas film” trying to change that with a bill in both the House and Senate. “The film business has changed. Movies are shot in the place that has the best incentive, because the film business like any other business, is motivated first by profit,” Willmott told Senators.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita police chief issues Super Bowl challenge to sheriff
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan challenged Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter to a challenge on the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12. Sullivan, who is originally from Philadelphia, challenged Easter to a friendly wager. If the Eagles win the game, he expects Easter to stand on the corner of Central and Main with a sign saying, “Fly Eagles Fly.” Sheriff Easter responded that he accepts that challenge because he said the Eagles “are not going to win.”
Source: KSN-TV
Shawnee Co. population growth highest in 10 years
In 2022, Shawnee County recorded its largest single-year increase in population in 10 years. This is according to the latest Kansas Division of the Budget report. Shawnee County’s population grew by 2,265 people in 2022. It’s the highest single-year percentage growth among the top-five largest counties by population in Kansas. The Greater Topeka Partnership attributes this population growth to successful strategies like Momentum 22 boosting the morale of people living in Topeka. Pivarnik says Momentum 27 offers new incentives the city hopes will continue to make Topeka a sought-after destination for newcomers.
Source: KSNT 27 News