Kansas Municipal News
Mission seeks public input on Mohawk Park improvements
The city of Mission on Thursday evening held a public meeting to get feedback from residents on the upcoming improvement project at Mohawk Park, at 67th Street and Lamar Avenue.
Confluence, a landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm in Kansas City, and SFS Architecture are leading the Mohawk Park Master Plan. The Confluence team, including Senior Principal Terry Berkbuegler, presented two preliminary options for the park, both of which included the following:
- Soccer fields (two in option one, three in option two )
- A loop trail
- An updated playground
- A restroom facility
- A basketball court
- Fitness stations for all ages
- A yard game area (horseshoe and washer pits)
Berkbuegler said the options presented to the room of approximately 50 attendees were not at all set in stone, but were put together to offer them something to bounce ideas off of. If there was something attendees liked, disliked or saw missing, the team wanted to hear it and take those comments back to the drawing board, he said.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Skyline school wins grant to establish beehive colony
A new observation beehive will join the campus of Skyline Schools at Pratt to help the community of Skyline learn more about these important insects.
Second-grade teacher Carrie Harrold and Ag instructor Anita DeWeese approached the USD 438 school board in September to present the idea of bringing this learning experience to Skyline.
“This will especially benefit the second-grade class as they learn about insects, but there is an appeal to all grade levels,“Harrold said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Kansas lawmakers push to legalize year-round firework sales
The latest volleys in the border war with Missouri now involve fireworks.
Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that they hope will create more revenue for the state.
… Senator Bud Estes is the chairman of a committee trying to pass year-round fireworks sales in our state.
“This is strictly about the ability for permanent fireworks dealers to be able to sell their fireworks all year round,” said Estes.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Council picks five finalists for Hutch city manager interviews
The Hutchinson City Council on Thursday afternoon selected five candidates for in-person interviews in the search for a new Hutchinson city manager.
The council met in executive session for an hour and 45 minutes on Thursday to review videos and questionnaires submitted by six candidates who’d been selected as semi-finalists from among more than 30 applicants.
Only one of those was culled for the next step in the process, on-site interviews.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Greensburg airport project denied funding
The airport was a hot topic this past week in the city of Greensburg. Not only did the council decide not to lease out the 107 acres of harvestable land that surrounds the operational portions of the property. Immediately following that decision the council was informed by City Administrator Stacy Barnes that the Greensburg Airport was not picked as one of the twenty-three project of the Kansas Airport Improvement Program grants.
The Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding is for the purpose of planning, constructing or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
The council gave up the possibility of more than $3500, which is what the city received last year for one cutting of hay when they decided to maintain the airport themselves, inevitably costing money instead of making money on the airport. The $3500 earned last year went back into the airport fund for future improvements.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Neosho County discusses economic development
The director of the Chanute Regional Development Authority met with Neosho County Commissioners Thursday to discuss a comprehensive economic development plan for the county.
“We have a lot of strengths in Neosho County that we need to highlight and I’d like to do that,” Godinez said. “We’ve got to call ourselves out on what we could be better at.”
(Read more: www.chanute.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article)
Conway Springs rewarded Community Development Block Grant for wastewater improvements
Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today the award of $600,000 in Community Development Block Grants to Conway Springs.
The city intends to use these funds to make wastewater improvements for the city. The city will provide $2,977,275 in matching funds it secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
“Quality of life is key to economic development,” Secretary Toland said. “This investment in critical infrastructure helps keep communities like Conway Springs competitive as they work to retain and recruit residents and businesses. Governor Kelly and I are proud to support projects in rural communities across our state.”
The CDBG program allows the Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their communities. CDBG funds are one of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s small, predominantly rural communities. Each community awarded has a population less than 50,000.
(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)
Scott County’s health insurance spikes 14%
A 14 percent hike in health insurance premiums is being felt by Scott County taxpayers and county employees.
The county’s share of the premium increase for Blue Cross/Blue Shield health coverage will amount to about $70,464 based on current employees on the payroll. Costs can fluctuate slightly as employees leave or are hired by the county.
The county pays the cost of a single plan for each of its employees. Those who opt for additional coverage (employee/spouse, family, etc.) pay 25 percent of added cost.
(Read more: Scott County Record RSS)
McPherson hits $1 million in housing grants
For the third time in about four years, the city of McPherson has picked up a grant to help homeowners replace windows, roofs, siding and other home improvements for those who qualify.
Since 2016, the city has been able to make an investment of about $1 million in housing using similar grant funds.
“We’ve done rehab on 30 or 32 houses,” said Nick Gregory, city administrator for McPherson. ”… The outside of house, once we have done it, is a fairly noticeable difference.”
(Read more: McPherson Sentinel)
Kansas could allow fireworks to be sold year-round under proposed bill
Kansas lawmakers are considering allowing fireworks to be sold year round and repealing a ban on bottle rockets.
Under the proposed bill, retailers would be allowed to sell fireworks every day of the year.
Seasonal retailers, who temporarily sell fireworks around Independence Day, would get an extension. Kansas law allows those retailers to start selling fireworks on June 27, but the proposed bill would push it back a week. The sales period would run from June 20 to July 5.
Read more: Wichita Eagle.
Treasury Sells 30-Year Bonds at Record Low Yield
The U.S. Treasury Department sold 30-year bonds at a record low yield on Thursday, highlighting investors’ demand for longer-term debt and its benefits to the government.
The Treasury sold $19 billion of 30-year bonds on Thursday afternoon at a 2.061% yield. That beat the previous record of 2.170% set last October, according to data from BMO Capital Markets.
The auction came as Treasury yields generally moved lower after Chinese officials changed the way they counted coronavirus infections, leading to a big jump in the number of confirmed cases in the country’s Hubei province. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note settled at 1.616%, compared with 1.629% Wednesday.
Read more: Wall Street Journal.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 13, 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 Advisors.
County looks for feedback on Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe
Johnson County this month unveiled its preferred vision for the new Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe, which will be created after a new courthouse is finished next year and the existing one is razed.
The concept includes an iconic art element at the northeast entrance on Santa Fe and Cherry streets, a community green, an art garden with a non-traditional play area, a history/education plaza and a structure that can be used for performances and weddings. An existing fountain will remain with the idea of upgrading it later.
Through Feb. 29, the county is seeking feedback on the concept at surveymonkey.com/r/JoCoSquare3.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
The most congested highway in Johnson County could get $300M expansion — with tolls
Officials with the Kansas Department of Transportation and Overland Park on Thursday said funding a $300 million expansion of U.S. 69 — the most congested four-lane highway in the state — could likely mean adding toll lanes.
During his annual State of the City address, Mayor Carl Gerlach said improving the infamously backed-up highway is one of the city’s top priorities — saying that leaders have been “knocking on doors, texting and calling state and federal representatives,” pleading for support.
The city and Kansas Turnpike Authority are conducting a study to determine the financial feasibility of widening U.S. 69 to six lanes from 103rd to 151st streets. Gerlach said the preliminary cost estimate is $300 million.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Crawford County Deputy named Deputy of the Year in Kansas
A Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy is being recognized for being one of the best in the state.
Sheriff Deputy Kurt Grotheer, said, “It was a great honor. I mean I don’t even know how to explain that because it was like. It really took me by surprise.”
Crawford County Deputy Kurt Grotheer was honored with a Kansas State Senate Tribute last month, recognizing him for being named the 2019 Kansas Deputy of the Year by the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Shawnee County Public Works says new trucks will help increase efficiency
Shawnee County Public Works is hoping to save money and increase their work efficiency with the next snowfall.
Public Works will get two new dump trucks that will allow them to do more work.
The department says one of the trucks is a traditional style dump truck with a snowplow and sander, while the other is a “hook, lift, and load” truck that can be used for a number of different things like fixing potholes.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Fact finding hearing reveals McPherson teachers are under compensated
A sea of red filled the audience during the fact finding hearing for USD 418 certified staff salaries. Teachers, students, parents and concerned community members filled the seats, many dressed in red to show their support. In front of a standing room only audience the McPherson Education Association and the Board of Education presented their cases to a fact finder.
One thing both parties agreed on – McPherson teachers do not have adequate salaries.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
City begins to lay out footprint for water treatment facility in NW Wichita
The architectural plans for Wichita’s new water treatment facility are starting to take shape. It won’t be long before crews begin the groundwork, according to the Wichita Business Journal.
The $553 million project — which has been funded mostly by federal and state loans — will replace the city’s current facility, which is 80 years old. Wichita Water Partners, the design-build group contracted to do the work, completed design plans and submitted loan applications to secure the funding for the project.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
City of Hillsboro announces new 1-gigabit speed internet plan
Hillsboro high school students attended Tuesday’s city council meeting where they heard about plans for faster and more reliable internet.
On Tuesday, Feb. 4 the Hillsboro City Council meeting was full of exciting news about the council moving forward in an agreement with Tri County Wireless (TCW) to provide Hillsboro residents and businesses with up to 1-gigabit speed. They will develop a fiber network to serve Hillsboro customers.
This is big news for the town that currently struggles with reliable internet service.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Proposal would ban vaping flavors, raise smoking age to 21 in Kansas
Severe restrictions proposed on vaping and smoking in Kansas met widespread opposition Thursday from advocacy groups, retailers and individuals divided on whether the bill goes too far or not far enough.
The sweeping legislation would conform to federal standards by raising the legal age for tobacco products to 21, which would protect $12 million in federal grant money. The legislation also contains a public indoor vaping ban and outlaws the sale of all vaping flavors except menthol. The legal age for vaping also would be 21.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Task force: Homeless in Topeka tent city to be displaced
Homeless people living in tent city will soon be forced out, according to a news release Thursday from the Homeless Task Force.
The release said the task force has been made aware that railroad-owned properties in the areas adjacent to N.E. Curtis Street will be enforcing a Kansas statute regarding trespassing on railroad property.
Enforcement of the statute is expected to start March 2 and the task force estimates about 60 people will have to move their camps.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
NLC: New Principles of Home Rule
Home rule is a longstanding legal principle that gives us the power to decide which services we provide, the policies we implement, and the ways we solve problems locally. In 1953, the American Municipal Association (AMA) — which became the National League of Cities (NLC) in 1964 — published the last comprehensive proposed reform of home rule, sparking a wave of state constitutional change in the years that followed.
However, much has changed about the state-local relationship in the intervening six and a half decades. NLC partnered with the Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) to release the first update in almost 70 years.
(Read more: NLC)
Overland Park takes first step toward creation of mental health task force
A mental health task force was not exactly what Overland Park transparency advocate Sheila Albers originally asked for. But she said Wednesday she is pleased that the city council’s public safety committee took the first steps toward a group that will invite diverse public participation on city policies pertaining to mental health.
The added transparency is important, she said, “because with that transparency we are able to identify where systems have not worked for people.” Albers, whose son died in a police shooting, added that she was glad that Councilmember Faris Farassati asked that police use of force be included among the topics the task force will examine.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Columbus schools closed after staff member dies from flu
Columbus Schools USD 493 announced Wednesday that a paraprofessional at Park Elementary had passed away on Sunday. It was learned that her brother is in intensive care for similar symptoms. The only confirmed diagnosis for each of them at this point is influenza type b, the announcement said.
A disease specialist is further investigating any underlying causes of their illness. Due to the fact that this can take 48 hours to get results back, it was decided to close schools for Thursday and Friday to ensure that the proper steps to keep students safe and protected are taken.
(Read more: www.chanute.com)
The stop light debate: City and KDOT disagree about intersection of US 56 and Old US 81
When it comes to the intersection of US 56 and Old US 81 Mayor Tom Brown has some real concerns.
“I don’t want anyone to die out there,” Brown said in a meeting regarding the intersection Monday.
The city has received up to $1 million to improve the intersection, mainly to remove and replace deteriorated pavement and make safety improvements. Currently, the intersection is not well marked and serious wrecks have occurred.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
39 Kansas towns to receive Community Development Block Grants
Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today the award of more than $17 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to 39 Kansas communities.
A total of $17,486,103 in federal funds is being made available through the CDBG program this year. Communities receiving grants have presented plans for projects to make improvements toward water and wastewater systems, streets, facilities and housing.
“Quality of life is key to economic development,” Secretary Toland said. “Each of these investments in critical infrastructure helps keep communities competitive as they work to retain and recruit residents and businesses. Governor Kelly and I are proud to support these projects in rural communities across our state.”
CDBG funds are one of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s small, predominantly rural communities. Each community awarded has a population less than 50,000.
The CDBG program allows the Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their communities. To receive funds, projects must meet at least one of the following federally mandated criteria:
· The project benefits low- or moderate-income individuals
· The project removes or prevents slum or blight conditions
· The project eliminates an urgent need created by a disaster when local funds are unavailable
Grants in this category are awarded through an annual competition and support a variety of activities in communities throughout the state of Kansas.
The following communities are recipients of Community Development Block Grants:
Rural Basehor man fears annexation, calls on state to crack down
Jim Seeman lives in the farmhouse he grew up in near Basehor, the place where his parents moved in 1947, and he doesn’t like the idea of being swallowed by sprawling urban development.
He also doesn’t like the idea that people he can’t vote for could someday make him a city resident.
Seeman testified Wednesday in a House committee where he urged lawmakers to provide more stringent protection for county property owners. He favors legislation that would remove unilateral annexation from the toolbox of cities looking to expand their boundaries.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Senate panel considers bill requiring paper ballots in Kansas elections
The Senate Ethics, Elections and Local Government committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill that would require all Kansas counties to use paper ballots to count votes.
Ballots would have several requirements, including the voter’s signature. Votes would be counted by hand or using vote-tabulating equipment that would tally the paper ballot.
“At one time, everything was paper ballots, but now Kansas currently has a mix,” said Sen. Richard Hildebrand, R-Baxter Springs. “Once you cast your ballot, you are up to whatever the machine says you voted without the verification from the voter.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Insurance agent breaks down statistics on dog bites
Insurance agent Alex Case gave Marion Kiwanis members a view of the problem of dog bite injuries in Marion County and nationwide Feb. 5 when he spoke at the club’s weekly meeting.
…
Between 2005 and 2018, 469 people — more than half of them younger than 10 — died from dog bites in the U.S., he said.
The breed most often identified as having inflicted serious injury or death between 1982 and 2014 was the pit bull, but more than 30 breeds and mixed breeds of dogs are incorrectly identified as pit bulls, Case said.
…
Pit bulls are three times as likely to be named a culprit in a serious dog attack than the next nine breeds together.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)
Marion resident asks for railroad ordinance
Robert Crawford has had enough of running railroad engines and tanker cars full of hazardous chemicals parked on the tracks just yards from his house.
The Marion man spoke to city council members about it Monday, asking for a city ordinance to be passed.
“We are asking that the city of Marion impose a 72 hour limit on parking and leaving a setting diesel engine to run and at the end of 72 hours move it elsewhere,” Crawford said.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
City of Topeka hears first plans for improved housing
Topeka city leaders are considering ways to improve the city’s housing market. A St. Louis planning and real estate firm studied Topeka for months and came up with different options.
One option is to renovate existing homes in the city, rather than building brand new ones. They also suggest the city work with local groups to come up with ways to renovating older homes.
“From nonprofits to community development corporations to financial institutions as well the city, philanthropy works in a lot of communities,” said Justin Carney with Development Strategies. “They all play a different role and I think these strategies are designed to leverage all of these resources.”
(Read more: KSNT News)
Junction City city manager back at work after being ill for five weeks
For five weeks a local city manager fought for his life. Now he’s back at work and looking to make a comeback.
Junction City’s Allen Dinkel became extremely sick around New Year’s Eve. He was hospitalized with pneumonia and sepsis.
…
“My goal is to do a 5K on July 4th at Sundown Salute. I don’t know if I’ll make that,” Dinkel said. “The other day I walked a half-mile and it was enough!”
Dinkel is now back in the office and hard at work again.
(Read more: KSNT News)
As Prairie Village explores plastic bag ban, Kansas Chamber gets behind effort to preempt such bans
Less than a month after the Prairie Village Environmental Committee announced it would be forwarding a proposal on a city-wide plastic bag ban, a bill to prevent such a ban was introduced in the Kansas House Commerce Committee on Monday.
The bill, HB 2625, would preempt individual cities and counties from banning or regulating plastic bags and other single-use plastic items. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce requested the bill’s introduction on the basis that single-use plastic bans in individual municipalities will hurt businesses.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Municipal Bond Trends for February 12, 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 Advisors.
Andover city leaders vote to save its municipal golf course
Andover city leaders voted Tuesday night to save the municipal golf course after a majority of the community asked the city to keep it.
The vote comes after the current course operator told the city he is no longer interested in running it.
The city spent the last two months exploring other possibilities for the course, but ultimately entered a three-year agreement with Oak Golf. The company owns several golf courses around Kansas.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Mayor explains advisory board’s role in selecting Hutchinson city manager
The role of a “community advisory committee” in helping the Hutchinson City Council select a new city manager will occur both before and after Thursday’s special meeting of the council.
Members of the seven-person committee were independently reviewing questionnaires and videos this week submitted by the six finalists, and they were to forward their thoughts in writing for the City Council to consider when it meets Thursday, explained Hutchinson Mayor Jade Piros de Carvallo.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Wichita police on ‘COPS’: Driver turns seat belt violation into arrest at gunpoint
A Missouri man who was driving in Kansas without wearing his seat belt turned a minor traffic stop into an arrest at gunpoint that was aired on national television.
The “COPS” episode features Officer Kaleb Brewer of the Wichita Police Department. The scene is part of “COPS” episode 22 of season 32, titled “Too Little, Too Late,” which first aired Monday on the Paramount Network.
Spoiler: The TV show posted video of the scene on Facebook.
(Read more: Local News |)
County compromises on ambulance station
County commissioners compromised with Hillsboro Monday by agreeing to build a new ambulance station in return for land and water and sewer services from the city.
Emergency Medical Service director Travis Parmley suggested a month ago that the county purchase a former gun shop in north Hillsboro and build a two-bay garage for the ambulances.
The following week, Hillsboro city administrator Larry Paine spoke to commissioners about the city’s plan to build a public safety center at the north end of the city to house police, fire, and emergency medical services.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
Kansas bill creates civics testing mandate to graduate high school
Attorney General Derek Schmidt endorsed a proposal Tuesday to create a state law requiring that Kansas students pass an examination based on the U.S. citizenship test to graduate from high school.
He said the idea of establishing a test was unassailable because evidence of the nation’s shortcomings in basic civics knowledge was pervasive. A survey released last year showed a mere 39% of Americans were able to name the three branches of government, he said. An appalling 22% could identify no more than one branch. Only 53% of those surveyed knew a two-thirds vote of Congress was required to override a presidential veto, he said.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Lawrence city leaders express interest in changing illegal camping ordinance
City leaders said they are interested in changing or possibly repealing ordinances that make it illegal to camp or sleep on public land, in city parks and in downtown Lawrence.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission discussed ordinances regarding illegal camping and park hours that some say negatively affect homeless people. Several residents spoke out against the ordinances, saying that they gave the city cause to police, ticket and clear the campsites of homeless people who have no other choice but to sleep outside.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Parsons to get $916K for Tri-City taxiway
Only a few days after the announcement of a $225,000 grant for new fuel tanks, the city received notice of nearly a million dollars of new funding for the Tri-City Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration will give the city $916,259 for a new parallel taxiway that will connect the existing taxiway with the airport’s runway.
“Everybody’s excited about it. It’s just a big improvement,” David Christy, airport manager, said.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Consultants suggest new Topeka housing strategies
A substantial need for affordable housing exists in Topeka, despite this city’s having what would seem to be a modest median home value of about $110,000, two consultants from a company conducting a housing study for Topeka’s city government said Tuesday.
They shared six strategies they recommend the city consider implementing to deal with the housing challenges it faces.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Bill responds to Salina LLC’s tax puzzle
A pair of elected officials from Saline County joined forces Tuesday to lend a hand to the Salina-based nonprofit humanitarian organization caught up in an unusual decision to block a property tax exemption.
Saline County Appraiser Sean Robertson said the Occupational Center of Central Kansas, which provides employment and independent living support for people with disabilities, learned in October the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals denied OCCK an exemption from property taxes because it was a limited liability company and not a corporation. The board’s decision conflicts with past rulings, he said.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Kansas communities work to educate people about 2020 Census
We are just over a month away from the start of the 2020 Census, and the push is on to get everyone to respond.
Officials in Dodge City say people don’t realize filling out the census has a direct impact on them and the resources their community receives. Infrastructure, education and public resources for places like libraries are all partially funded based on information obtained from the U.S. Census.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Municipal Bond Trends for February 11, 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 Advisors.