Kansas Municipal News
Department of Commerce launches COVID jobs website
The Kansas Department of Commerce today launched a new jobs website, connecting job seekers with Kansas businesses hiring to fill urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 jobs site, kansasworks.com/coronavirus, allows employers from essential industries to quickly and easily post critical positions that need to be filled to support activities related to helping individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. The site, which is available at no cost to employers or job seekers, will be updated continuously as businesses add new jobs to the system.
Job seekers can visit the site to find companies hiring for COVID-19-related positions and quickly access company hiring portals.
“While the COVID-19 crisis has led to many Kansans losing their jobs, it’s also driven demand and opportunity for some functions in critical industries such as food and grocery, shipping and logistics and healthcare,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The COVID-19 jobs website allows us to quickly connect individuals looking for work with companies that have urgent hiring needs, particularly those related to support needed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.”
To access the COVID jobs website, visit kansasworks.com/coronavirus.
(Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce)
Local Governments Lead the Charge on Providing Emergency Leave to Employees
A historically heated conversation around paid sick leave might come to a boil today, Wednesday, April 1, when the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) goes into effect. Two things will change:
- Certain employees will be entitled to two weeks (80 hours) of paid sick leave over and above any time already taken off.
- Certain employees who have been on the job for at least 30 days are entitled to 12 weeks of job-protected leave if they cannot work or telework due to a quarantine or isolation order, either they or their family members are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or they are caring for a child whose school or place of care has temporarily closed.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Compensation Survey, over 90 percent of local government workers have access to paid sick leave. In addition to this regular paid sick leave, some employers also offer ad hoc, temporary sick leave or, when feasible, allow or require people to work remotely.
(Read more: CitiesSpeak)
New $5M relief loan fund offers ‘lifeline’ to area small businesses hit by COVID-19 crisis
A group of Kansas City-area businesses and civic organizations announced a $5 million fund to get sorely needed funds to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.
The KC COVID-19 Small Business Relief Loan Fund will offer loans of as much as $100,000 to area companies with fewer than 20 full-time-equivalent employees and less than $2.5 million in revenue. The three-year loans will carry no interest and payments will be deferred for the first six to 12 months, according to a Tuesday announcement.
(Read more: Kansas City Business Journal)
Salina school board approves items to help community
The Salina Unified School District Board of Education approved several items it hopes will help the Salina community during the coronavirus pandemic.
The board met via Zoom video conference at 5 p.m. Tuesday and voted on the items.
In its consent agenda, the board approved over $200,000 to purchase 750 hot spots to deliver internet to families for distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Municipal Bond Trends for March 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.
3D printers in Greensburg help local hospital with supplies
Mike McBeath of Greensburg has been making things on a 3D printer for years. … As the world continues to change and medical supplies become more and more needed due to the spread of COVID-19, McBeath decided to use his printers to help those in need.
“I was listening to the news and heard a story of a couple in New York using their printer farm to print face shields. I did some research and found a Facebook group dedicated to crowdsourcing designs. I reached out to Mary Sweet at the hospital and she said they were already struggling to find supplies. We started out experimenting with masks, but quickly realized it was really difficult to get a solid mask to fit every face with a tight seal. We also struggled to find good filter material. So instead we focused on the shields which are being used with the cloth masks people are also making,” said Mike.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
A new tradition: Folks of all ages cruise Main
Beverly Metcalf and her husband Pat Johnson met in 1973 while cruising the streets of Hutchinson in 1973.
“We loved muscle cars,” Metcalf said. “He had a ‘68 Charger, and I had a ‘67 Chevelle. You know, wide tires, jacked-up rear ends and loud pipes and big engines. Now, we’ve settled into more practical rides, but we’re again looking for our perfect muscle car.”
It seems fitting, then, the Newton residents have taken part in the Main Street cruises the past couple of weekends in downtown Newton. The cruises are providing a short relief from people being cooped up inside so much because of the COVID-19 scare. This past Saturday night, people in a variety of vehicles drove up and down Main Street, Newton, from Sonic to Sonic, forming lines to be able to pull into the drive-through restaurants. When the vehicles were downtown, they honked at each other, and people waved. It was a chance to be out with people, but not be near them.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office delivers essentials to encourage residents to stay home
A Kansas Sheriff’s Office is going the extra mile to serve and protect its county in the fight against coronavirus. Greenwood County deputies are helping people get their essential items without ever leaving home.
Deputies are delivering prescriptions, groceries, and medical supplies to homes throughout the county. Sheriff Heath Samuels said the goal is to encourage Greenwood county residents to stay home and stay healthy.
“We’re just trying to support our community in this time of need,” said Sheriff Samuel.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Gardner giving residents free month of electricity to ease financial burden
Gardner city leaders have decided to help out their residents and business owners with one of their monthly bills as coronavirus causes some to struggle financially.
In a meeting Monday night, the City Council voted to eliminate the electricity charges that were billed in March for residential customers.
Commercial customers won’t be left out though. They’ll be credited for the use of their first 5000 KW/h of electricity, according to the city of Gardner.
“We are fortunate that we own our utilities, so we can authorize these changes and provide this much welcome relief for all in our community while they wait for federal government assistance,” Gardner Mayor Steve Shute said in a news release.
The generous actions will result in approximately $790,000 in lost revenue for the city.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
As COVID-19 threatens revenue, Overland Park furloughs 200 workers, freezes pay raises
Anticipating a significant loss of revenue as the community remains shut down during the coronavirus outbreak, Overland Park has moved to furlough 200 part-time staff members and postpone pay raises for all city employees.
Now, some City Council members, plus the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police, are calling on the city to reverse course and dip into reserves to support its employees.
City spokesman Sean Reilly confirmed that part-time employees at both of Overland Park’s community centers will be furloughed, beginning Sunday. The 200 workers — which include front desk attendants, life guards and class instructors — will be paid through Saturday, although many have not been working since the centers closed on March 15.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Rising interest rates suggest recent municipal bond rally overdone
The municipal market weakened Tuesday with AAA benchmark yields rising by as much as 15 basis points on the long end of the curve, signaling that the massive rally that began a week prior was overdone. Treasuries were also on the rise as stocks sold off near the close.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Reno County implements hiring freeze
Reno County has implemented a hiring freeze and county department heads were advised to begin looking at how to cut budgets – this year as well next – due to the anticipated impact on revenues from the novel coronavirus.
County Administrator Randy Partington advised the Reno County Commission during its regular Tuesday session that he’d already implemented the hiring freeze “other than public safety positions and any positions in the process where a job offer has been made.”
The community is still at the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, Partington said, so it may be some time before its full impact will be known. But he’s reviewed some initial figures with internal county auditor Leslie Roederer.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
All 50 playgrounds will be locked by Wichita Public Schools during coronavirus pandemic
Children staying home all day after schools were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic will no longer be able to play at any Wichita Public Schools playground.
Superintendent Alicia Thompson said during a Tuesday news conference that all 50 school playgrounds will be locked this week “based on guidance from the Sedgwick County Health Department.”
“Believe me, I recognize the angst and unhappiness this will create with our communities,” Thompson said. “But the reality is that we cannot assure that our playgrounds won’t become a harbor for community spread of the coronavirus.”
(Read more: Local News |)
Hutchinson Police to add patrol for closed businesses, EMS looks for volunteers to aid roster
This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to your local newspaper. The Police Department plans to initiate a special security patrol by this weekend to drive by businesses that have shut down due to the novel coronavirus, the police chief reported during a daily conference call.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
‘There is light at the end of the tunnel’: Scott City woman joins social media trend to uplift the community
A Scott City resident is using her home as a billboard to share positive messages with members in her community during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I wanted it to be able to be an inspiration, to be positive in everything that we are going through and be a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Scott City Resident, Elizabeth Kopfmann said.
She was inspired by an online trend where people wrote positive messages on their sidewalks, fences, and driveways. Kopfmann used her home as a canvas to write inspirational messages to her kids who were having a difficult time adjusting to the guidelines set in place as a result of the coronavirus.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Public Finance Network urges Fed to act quickly on municipal bond purchases
Members of the Public Finance Network are asking the Federal Reserve to expedite its purchase of municipal securities to help restore equilibrium to the market.
…
Section 4003(b)(4) of the bill, also known as the CARES Act, gives the Fed and Treasury up to 10 days to begin purchasing municipal securities on the secondary market…. that deadline is Monday, April 13.
The letter urges speedier action.
“Stability in our $3.8 trillion municipal bond market is particularly important during this crisis as state and local governments and the municipal bond market provide critical support for the infrastructure — including hospitals — needed to care for and support our citizens,” said a letter.
Market participants are expecting significant and broad-based relief from the Fed and Treasury delivered on an expedited basis.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Derby approves emergency response resolution
Navigating through the current state of emergency has been a fluid process, according to Derby City Attorney Jacque Butler.
“We are responding as quickly as possible to this,” Butler said.
Measures of response to the coronavirus pandemic are changing daily, though, if not hourly. Considering that, Butler brought a resolution before the Derby City Council March 24 to help in those efforts.
Butler noted that while many municipalities have emergency powers built into their city codes, Derby does not. When an emergency is declared (as was the case in Sedgwick County as of March 16), those emergency powers are then granted to city administration to handle day-to-day operations in a broader scope.
The resolution Butler brought forward at the council’s most recent meeting would grant emergency authority to City Manager Kathy Sexton to close city facilities or suspend city operations; amend, extend or suspend policies and procedures … in response to COVID-19.
Under the resolution, the city council would still retain oversight over the city manager’s actions (as is currently the case), but it could allow Sexton the opportunity to take more immediate action and not have to wait for council approval on each individual decision. Currently, there are exemptions to that process, but they are allowed more on a case by case basis.(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Officials deal with confusion over activities allowed by statewide stay-at-home order
After closing temporarily last week because of a countywide safer-at-home order, Topeka Country Club reopened Monday afternoon while asserting that golf is permitted under a statewide stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Laura Kelly.
Kelly’s order, which supersedes a countywide order issued last week, apparently doesn’t prohibit golf or otherwise address golf courses, Shawnee County Commissioner Bill Riphahn said.
“So as far as I know, they’re good to go,” he said of TCC.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Officials getting better handle on local COVID-19 expectations
Looking at best- and worst-case scenarios for the potential impact of COVID-19 on local medical facilities, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center vice president Chuck Welch said Monday that officials there “feel better and better every day about our readiness.”
“We’ve had an outpouring of health care professionals willing to come in and work,” Welch said during a morning conference call. “Many who may be retired, if the governor passes a reactivation of licensure, they’re ready to help.”
“Projections are projections,” Welch said. “There are worst-case and best-case and a range in between. We’re planning for the worst-case and exploring opportunities to split ventilators if we had to, and flex up with an offsite area for support.”
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Municipal bond market steadies as it enters new normal
Yields in the municipal market declined slightly Monday as new-issue market showed some signs of activity.
Municipal credit is beginning to emerge as more of an investing consideration as the market deals with the coronavirus-led selloff and subsequent Fed-led rebound.
These moves are starting to make participants pick winners and losers from a credit perspective as they look at the underlying worthiness of municipalities after an extended period of significantly low rates and a supply/demand imbalance.
For now, the market is settling into a new normal, though caution still pervades.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Municipal Bond Trends for March 30, 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.
Kansas health providers face financial strain from COVID-19. ‘We need help now’
A pandemic is sweeping Kansas, but Lawrence family physician Chad Johanning isn’t seeing a ton of patients.
“Even with tele-health visits, I’ve seen a 50 percent drop in visits during this and I have heard of other clinicians who are closer to 80 percent drops,” Johanning said.
The novel coronavirus has forced healthcare providers in Kansas — and across the country — to suddenly pivot to confront an insidious disease that threatens to overwhelm hospitals in a matter of weeks. But it’s also meant a sharp drop in the number of patients seeking routine and non-emergency care.
(Read more: Kansas City Government & Politics News |)
New Johnson County health director describes first week on job dealing with coronavirus pandemic
Sanmi Areola started his new job as Johnson County director of health and environment in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. …
From the moment he walked in the door of the public health department in Olathe on March 18, the coronavirus has been his life.
He had a say in crafting the metro’s stay at home order. He asked Johnson County leaders to buy more tests kits for the county’s residents. He filmed a coronavirus YouTube video. He’s trying to take care of his staff’s own health and mental well-being and, oh yeah, the media want to talk to him, too — at least 80 interview requests since he got into town.
The day before the Union Station press conference, it fell to him to announce the county’s first coronavirus death.
(Read more: KC Star Local News)
Thousands of coronavirus test kits coming to Kansas
As of Monday, 65,000 coronavirus test kits are coming to Kansas.
“We’re talking about a different scale,” Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman Norman said.
On Monday, Norman gave an update to members of the media on the coronavirus outbreak in the state. At the time of the press conference, Kansas had seen 368 cases of coronavirus.
Norman announced that the state will receive thousands of kits, likely by the end of the week, that will be able to test for coronavirus in about 45 minutes.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Economic fallout from coronavirus casts pall over budget planning for Johnson County government
As the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues, Johnson County Commissioners have begun to cast a wary eye toward what may be in store for the next year’s budget.
The county budget, which surpassed $1 billion two years ago, has been bobbing along in recent years, buoyed by steady increases in property values and low unemployment. But the rosy outlook has fallen into question the past year as officials have grappled with a possible major loss of commercial property value due to challenges to the way it was appraised, nicknamed the “dark store theory.” Last year they also puzzled over lagging sales tax returns.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Valley Center police, fire make children’s birthdays special during COVID-19
Public safety departments in Valley Center and Garden City are trying to bring joy to children’s lives in the midst of uncertainty.
In Valley Center, the police and fire departments say they know the stay-at-home order makes it difficult to throw birthday parties for kids, so they’re pitching in to help out.
Safety-department leaders in Valley Center say if you’re throwing an at-home birthday party for your child, just let them know and they’ll “drive by with the lights and sirens to wish your child a special Happy Birthday.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
Johnson County wants to launch random sample testing program for COVID-19 — but lab capacity poses hurdle
An unusual plan to test a random sample of Johnson County residents for COVID-19 will have a delayed launch, since one of the testing labs the county had planned to use had to drop out. But county commissioners said Monday they will continue to look for other vendors so the testing can begin within the next month.
If and when it does get up and running, the testing plan may be unique in the metro area. The county would use the donated services of ETC Institute, an Olathe-based marketing research firm, to come up with random sample of test subjects based on age, gender, and geographic location, among other things, said Dr. Samni Areola, director of the county Department of Health and Environment.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post )
Johnson County health department advises grocery stores on best practices for physical distancing
As grocery stores remain open as essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has shared advice with stores on physical distancing best practices.
In a document provided to the Shawnee Mission Post last week, the county department of health and environment recommended several guidelines that would space customers apart while shopping and going through checkout lines.
Some of the department’s recommendations include creating physical barriers between employees and customers, spacing apart customers when entering the store and, ultimately, providing structure and direction for everyone in the store during this unprecedented time.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Johnson County Community College loans ventilators to KU Hospital to help treat COVID-19
Johnson County Community College recently donated life-saving equipment to the University of Kansas Health System.
The college said it’s doing its part to help fight the coronavirus by loaning nine ventilators and donating unused lab supplies.
“We wanted to help because we’re educators. We’re no longer in the field practicing as respiratory therapists. My whole team really wanted to do something to help,” said Renee Portmann, JCCC’s director of respiratory care and neurodiagnostic technology.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
With restaurants, libraries closed, Johnson County’s homeless population lacks daytime shelter
It’s one thing for a homeowner or renter to follow a stay-at-home order. It’s entirely something else for someone without a home, and with all the libraries, coffee shops and indoor gathering spaces closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson County’s homeless population is running out of places to go.
It’s been about a week since the CORE 4 governments put a stay-at-home order in place for the Kansas City metro area. The libraries have been closed even longer than that. Restaurants, coffee shops, bars and breweries have shuttered their dining and drinking spaces, operating on curbside pickup, takeout and deliveries. Those were the only places left for homeless people to go indoors.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Law enforcement still taking steps to make citizens law-abiding
Police and sheriff’s officers will not let the coronavirus stop them from enforcing the law, despite changes in procedures over the past two weeks.
Neosho County Undersheriff Greg Taylor said the jail is maintaining numbers so it can quarantine an inmate if necessary. He said some prisoners on misdemeanor charges without bond were released after a judge reviewed charges, and officers continue to make arrests.
“We’ll use some common sense as to who we bring in,” Taylor said.
(Read more: www.chanute.com)
National Association of Bond Lawyers asks for laws, regulations to deal with coronavirus
The municipal bond industry could benefit from several federal actions to provide regulatory relief as well as additional legislation from Congress to deal with the coronavirus emergency.
That’s the message from the National Association of Bond Lawyers in separate letters it has sent to congressional leaders on legislative suggestions and to the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on regulatory actions.
…The $2 trillion emergency spending bill signed by President Trump on Friday authorized the Federal Reserve to begin purchasing municipal securities on the secondary market within 10 days. It also provides several tranches of financial assistance to state and local governments, the education sector, airports and transit systems.
NABL suggested that the federal government also be allowed to purchase new issues of tax-exempt bonds to allow access to the primary market by state and local government.
(Read more: The Latest)
Offer made for new Ark City manager
Arkansas City commissioners hope they have found their man.
The next person to replace City Manager Nick Hernandez, that is.
Commissioners met last week to interview the four candidates recommended by Osenbaugh Consulting, a firm hired to solicit, screen and recommend candidates.
Read more: Cowley CourierTraveler.
State, JoCo election planning continues largely unchanged amid COVID-19
State election officials and the Kansas Democratic Party are forging ahead – albeit with caution – on election plans this year that have become focused on mail-in ballots and recruitment of high school and college students to run the polls.
Johnson County officials hope to use a simple on-line request form for advance ballots by mail. But that idea and any bigger changes must come from the secretary of state’s office, said Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt.
And as of last week, that office was calling for business as usual, with the caveat that things could change.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Harvard study outlines readiness for Topeka area
“Flattening the curve” is a term we’re constantly hearing about almost every day now, but how will it actually play out in the end?
“We are going to continue to have more cases until we peak out and then it will slow down,” said Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman.
A new study from Harvard University breaks down a few possible scenarios for areas all over the country, including the Topeka area.
It’s worth pointing out that this study bases the finding on a very high infection rate, one that is much higher than what is currently projected.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Hospitals in rural Kansas challenged as coronavirus cases increase
Hospitals across the country are facing challenges while treating coronavirus patients: a limited amount of tests, personal protection equipment and bed space.
Out of the 105 counties in Kansas, 37 have confirmed cases of coronavirus. Those with no reports are mainly in rural parts of the state, but healthcare staff in those areas are still preparing for an influx of patients.
“We could be potentially looking at 935 people in our county needing to be hospitalized from this. There’s no way we can handle those numbers,” said Cloud County Health Officer Dorothy Breault.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Main Streets around Kansas are packed as residents take part in a Social Distancing Cruise
While the state of Kansas is limiting gatherings to no more than 10 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a gathering Friday evening in Garden City’s downtown area far surpassed that number — sort of.
A Social Distancing Cruise, organized by Rosie Rodriguez-Swick and friends on Facebook, brought locals out for a Friday evening of cruising Main Street through the downtown area, while keeping the safe social distance from each other by staying in their vehicles.
“I saw surrounding communities doing this, so I ask a few friends and could we do this,” Swick said. “I created a Facebook event along with some friends and invited 40 friends and boom. Somehow it went viral.”
Indeed.
Vehicles filled with individuals, friends and families, waving at passing motorists, filled Main Street in both directions, bumper to bumper, on the slow cruise from Fulton Street to Kansas Avenue.
Some, when stopped at stop lights, would jump out and do fire drills around the vehicle. Others carried signs with words of encouragement to passing motorists.
(Read more: GC Telegram)
With over 100 coronavirus cases, Johnson County poised to spend $400,000 for tests
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Monday agreed to allocate $400,000 to purchase thousands of coronavirus tests — despite a shortage of testing supplies creating a major hurdle.
At least 116 people in Johnson County have now tested positive for COVID-19, the most of any county in Kansas, according to statistics released Monday by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. Two have died. Statewide, the total number of cases was 368.
Because of statewide shortages, the Kansas health department is only testing Johnson County residents who are high-risk and need to be hospitalized. But county health officials argue limiting testing will make it more difficult to get a clear picture of how the virus is spreading in the community.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
CARES Act & Local Government
Your government may have heard that the US Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Perhaps you are interested in what this means for your state and local government and why you should care.
Relevant to State and Local Governments, the CARES Act provided $150 million toward the Coronavirus Relief Fund. After carve outs for outlying territories and tribal entities, $139 million is left to State and Local Governments.
The distribution is based on the latest Census data available, with a $1.25 billion small state minimum. The United State Treasury administers the funds to the State Governments. If your local government is 500,000 or greater, you may petition the Treasury for a direct payment. Direct payments to local governments is capped at 45% of the State allocation. The State’s receive the remainder of the allocation (55%) which may also be used for local payments as well.
(Read more: ELGL)
How’s Kansas doing with social distancing? Not very well, data say
As the coronavirus continues to spread, Kansas isn’t doing a good enough job social distancing to flatten the curve, data show.
Human mobility company Unacast uses anonymous data from cellphones to determine the average distance people are traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the average distance they traveled prior to the outbreak. The data is entered into a color-coded map that is updated daily.
Kansas earned a D ranking. The United States as a whole garnered a C, as of Monday morning.
(Read more: Kansas City Breaking News, Crime & Sports |)
Goessel City Council encourages census count
The Goessel city council met on March 16 and heard from city clerk Jennifer Bliss that it is important for city residents to fill out the census form and send it in. She said the census affects how much grant money the city can receive.
Turning their attention to another matter, the council mentioned the Coronavirus situation. The council will monitor the situation and make decisions accordingly.
The city is asking residents to take precautions, to prepare for what might come to ensure each household’s health and well-being, and that of the community.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
City of Lawrence will continue to pay all employees, but some will be assigned new duties
The City of Lawrence employs more than 800 people, all of whom will be getting paychecks regardless of whether they’ve been able to work their full hours or perform their usual duties.
Though the coronavirus pandemic has led to the closure of city buildings, cancellation of recreational functions, suspension of most municipal court dockets and a hiatus for parking enforcement, the paychecks for city employees will keep flowing for at least the next couple of months.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence’s resident survey shows increased dissatisfaction with infrastructure, diminished perceptions of downtown
As Lawrence residents filled out the city’s recent citizen satisfaction survey, streets and utility infrastructure seemed to be on their minds, and many were not happy.
Though a large majority of respondents to the city’s 2019 survey said they were satisfied with city services overall, only 37% said they were satisfied with the maintenance of streets and utilities. Since the 2015 citizen survey, satisfaction with the timeliness of street maintenance repairs and the condition of streets also significantly decreased. Another area that saw a significant decreases in ratings since the last survey was perceptions of downtown Lawrence.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Trump approves Kansas disaster request, allowing state to receive federal funding
President Donald Trump has approved a federal disaster declaration for Kansas, a move that will make federal assistance available to the state as it fights the new coronavirus.
The White House announced Monday that Trump approved the declaration on Sunday. The decision comes as hundreds of additional Kansas cases are expected in the coming days.
The White House statement said Trump declared a “major disaster” exists in Kansas. The declaration means that federal funding will be available to the state government, along with tribal governments, local governments and certain non-profit organizations “for emergency protective measures” for all areas impacted by COVID-19.
Read more: Wichita Eagle.
Municipal bond interest rates continue to come back down
Municipal benchmark yields were five to 10 basis points lower Friday, extending the market’s recent rally through the end of the week.
The municipal market has weathered an unprecedented, volatile month during which the market swung from record-low yields to a 200-basis-point selloff before erasing much of the losses as the impact of the coronavirus ravages the global economy.
The virus led to unprecedented Fed interventions in the markets. For the first time ever, it will buy VRDNs and short- and long-term municipal bonds — a move the Fed did not even consider in the 2008 financial crisis.
…
The Federal government will provide $2 trillion through a stimulus package passed Friday that will give direct cash payments to governments, industries and individuals to attempt to prop up the U.S. economy.
Read more: Bond Buyer.