Kansas Municipal News
Richter named new Jackson County Clerk
When Jackson County Clerk Kathy Mick steps down from her post at the end of March, longtime assistant clerk Kristie Richter will step in to take her place. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited,” said Richter, who has worked in the county clerk’s office in the Jackson County Courthouse for more than two decades. Mick, who has held the county clerk’s position for 30 years and has worked for Jackson County for 44 years, said she has confidence that Richter will do an excellent job. “She’s got the basics down,” Mick said of Richter. “I think she’ll be able to get it done.”
Source: Holton Recorder
Speeding ticket fines may increase in Kansas
Lawmakers met today in Topeka to discuss a potential increase in penalties for speeding cars going 30 miles per hour or higher over the speed limit. The proposed changes would make going 30 MPH or more over the speed limit a $500 fine instead of the current $195. There will be an additional $20 for every mile per hour over. Trooper Chad Crittenden said warnings and citations have been effective for some people but for many others, it does not change their spending habits.
Source: KAKE – News
Lenexa’s longest-serving mayor will retire after 2 decades and a city transformation
Michael Boehm, Lenexa’s longest-serving mayor, will retire after 20 years leading the city. Boehm is a lifelong resident of the city, and has seen the city’s population grow by nearly 20,000 residents since taking office in 2003. Under Boehm, the city took on a massive development project, relocating city hall and creating a new downtown district near I-435 and 87th street. “I think it’s turned out better than anyone could have imagined,” says Boehm of the Lenexa City Center.
Source: KCUR
City of Derby computer network fixed
The City of Derby says its computer network is back to being fully operational as of Tuesday. The network started having problems two and a half weeks ago. It began as a computer network disruption on Jan. 14. The City started working with third-party computer specialists to investigate and notified law enforcement agencies. The City of Derby says the investigation continues and includes trying to determine what impact, if any, the incident may have had on information stored on City network systems.
Source: KSN-TV
Douglas County rent assistance program switching to lottery system sooner than planned; applications open
The Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative is moving away from a first-come, first-served model to distribute funding for residents in need of rent and utility assistance. That change is happening now — sooner than planned, according to an update from the HSC. The HSC’s website was having server troubles because of the large number of people applying for rent and utility assistance on Wednesday, according to the update. Now, people will be able to complete the application at this link anytime before 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6. Qualified applicants will be randomly selected on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Fed raises rates a quarter point, expects ‘ongoing’ increases
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point and gave little indication that it is nearing the end of this hiking cycle. Aligning with market expectations, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee boosted the federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage point. That takes it to a target range of 4.5%-4.75%, the highest since October 2007. The move marked the eighth increase in a process that began in March 2022. … The post-meeting statement noted that inflation “has eased somewhat but remains elevated,” a tweak on previous language. Markets, however, were looking to this week’s meeting for signs that the Fed would be ending the rate increases soon. But the statement provided no such signals. Stocks sold off in the wake of the announcement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling more than 300 points.
Source: CNBC
Parsons’ focus in 2023 is housing
Housing is Parsons’ economic development priority in 2023. Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) at Wichita State University, Jonathan Norris, a research economist at CEDBR, and Jim Zaleski, economic development director for Parsons, presented information during Tuesday morning’s community outlook event at the Wall Family Center, 2605 Main St. Hill reviewed the state forecast, Norris discussed the regional outlook while Zaleski presented Labette County information. Over a dozen people attended. Housing was the focal point of the event’s discussions. “Where we really feel we can make a difference is in housing,” Zaleski said. He presented a three-legged stool model for housing, identifying three key areas of in-fill, new construction and demolition.
Source: Parsons Sun
Heartland Flyer extension on track for federal funding
The project to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer train route from Oklahoma City to Newton is ahead of its competitors in the process to apply for existing federal funding and is firmly on the radar of the Federal Rail Administration, which will administer the funding. That’s the takeaway following an annual Train caucus forum chaired by State Senator Carolyn McGinn on Monday. The meeting included executives from both Amtrak and the Federal Rail Administration, state legislators, local elected officials and proponents for the expansion project. “We have a chance to link a huge swath of the country through passenger rail,” Federal Rail Administration Executive Director Michael Lestingi said during the forum, as he discussed the extension and its importance. That extension would make Newton a layover spot for 200,000 possible Amtrak passengers switching trains between the Heartland Flyer and the Southwest Chief, which travels from Chicago through Newton to Los Angeles.
Source: Harvey County Now
Newton breaks ground on New Library
Newton Mayor Leroy Koehn addressed the crowd of 150 that braved a brisk afternoon on Jan. 31 to attend the groundbreaking for Newton’s new public library. “Did you ever imagine today was going to come?” he asked the crowd. Koehn said many doubted the community would be able to accomplish the goal. “Thanks to the hard work of the community, here we are, a prime example of a public-private partnership,” he said. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of construction on a $7.8 million, 30,000-square-foot library building funded by the city of Newton, the Newton Public Library board and millions of dollars of local donations.
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for January 31, 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.
Fed expected to slow rate hiking to a quarter point but will stay unrelenting in inflation battle
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by just a quarter point, but the central bank will also likely signal it will stay vigilant in its fight against inflation even as it reduces the size of its hikes. The Fed releases its latest rate decision Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell briefs the media at 2:30 p.m. The expected quarter point hike follows a half percentage point increase in December and would be the smallest increase in the federal funds target rate range since the Fed’s first hike of the cycle in March 2022.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
USDA to use outdoors recreation to boost economy around national forests, grasslands
The U.S. Department of Agriculture began planning this month to develop outdoor recreation opportunities near national forests and grasslands, part of a broader Biden administration push to help communities reap economic rewards from the growing recreation sector. Three USDA agencies — the U.S. Forest Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Office of Rural Development — signed a memorandum of understanding last fall pledging to collaborate on plans to develop outdoor recreation economies in “gateway communities” near national forests and grasslands, according to a Jan. 19 press release.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Wichita deputy chief named new chief of police in Liberal
The City of Liberal has hired a Wichita deputy chief of police to be their new police chief. Chester Pinkston currently oversees the Field Services Division of the Wichita Police Department. Liberal officials say Pinkston was chosen during a national search involving 17 candidates. Pinkston has spent the last 32 years with the Wichita Police Department, being named Deputy Chief in 2020. He is one of three current and former deputy chiefs who, along with former chief Gordon Ramsay say they are suing the City of Wichita.
Source: KSN-TV
KDOT installing ‘high performance’ signs on selected highways in Lyon, Greenwood counties
A special signage project is underway on several area highways. The Kansas Department of Transportation says signage is currently being replaced on Kansas Highway 99 in Lyon and Greenwood counties, as well as Kansas Highway 58 east of Madison, US Highway 54 and US Highway 400, both in Greenwood County. This involves so-called high-performance signs, which use lettering that’s highly reflective in headlights for better visibility than other kinds of signs. The new signs can also withstand harsh weather conditions without rusting or going dull.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Merriam nixes some key elements of downtown plan
A long-awaited plan to remake downtown Merriam is moving forward but without any changes to a key two-block stretch of Merriam Drive. Mayor Bob Pape cast the tie-breaking vote last week on a motion to leave Merriam Drive between Hocker Drive and Johnson Drive untouched as part of a broader plan to make downtown more walkable and safer for bikers and pedestrians. The original concept called for decreasing lanes on the busy roadway from three down to two, but that idea garnered pushback from some downtown business owners who feared cutting lanes could create more congestion.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Experience El Dorado to host virtual town hall for mural project
El Dorado residents and visitors have enjoyed the beauty and community spirit two recent murals have brought to the downtown area, and now, the City of El Dorado has the opportunity to add a third mural through a $10,000 grant Experience El Dorado and the City of El Dorado received from the Kansas Creative Arts Commission for a mural and art project that has been named ElDo Plaza. “This is a great opportunity for El Dorado,” said Javan Gonzalez, Destination Services Coordinator for Experience El Dorado. “We have received tremendous feedback from people who love the addition of the murals in El Dorado, so we are excited to add this new mural and art display in downtown El Dorado.”
Source: Andover American
Community support specialists help to offer different approach to WPD calls
Their work could include helping parents find a therapist for their kids, lining them up with after-school programs, or other programs to help the school to provide a family with basic hygiene products. Robinson says “We just try to really work with the families to help them understand, you know, and then show them because a lot of people don’t know what community resources are available.
Source: KAKE – News
Reed reflects on time at USD 465
USD 465 Superintendent Dr. Nathan Reed spoke to the CourierTraveler about some of the successes during his time as district leader, while others who work with Reed said they appreciate his efforts in leading the district through COVID-19 and other challenges. Reed announced last week that he is resigning as superintendent to take a job in the Wichita area. He has been superintendent of USD 465 since July 2018. He will remain as the superintendent until his contract is up in June.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Kansas Senate bill funnels $1 billion into rainy-day fund to bridge economic downturns
State Treasurer Steven Johnson endorsed legislation Tuesday adding $1 billion to Kansas’ budget stabilization fund and recommended the bill include provisions prohibiting withdrawals from the rainy-day account for one-time state government expenditures. The state’s reserve fund contained $980 million on Jan. 1. It was build by state law mandating total transfers to the fund of $969 million in 2022. A straight $750 million was deposited in the account. In addition, $219 million was forwarded to the fund because actual state revenue exceeded the revenue forecast.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Kansas governor announces educational funding for low-income students to combat learning loss
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the creation of a program she hopes will combat learning loss on Tuesday. Kelly announced the creation of the Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP). The program will offer low-income families a one-time $1,000 award per child to help pay for certain “educational goods and services”, including tutoring and school supplies, but not private school tuition, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The program is open to families with incomes below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines.
Source: The Miami County Republic