Kansas Municipal News
Newton considering changing government
Residents should soon expect a survey asking them how exactly they want to structure their city government. In October, the city held a work session discussing making the mayor position a separately elected office. Tuesday, they circled back to the topic, as staff asked for more direction on the subject…. Currently, the top vote-getter in an election serves first as vice mayor for one year and then mayor for the next year in Newton. This isn’t in law as much as it is observed in practice. Technically, the mayor position is nominated by members of the commission and then voted on along with the vice mayor position. A change to that could result in people running for the specific office of mayor. Depending on the style of governance the city would choose, the mayor could be a voting position or non-voting position.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hesston approves $6 million in IRBs for AGCO improvements
Hesston City Council on Monday approved the issuance of $5.8 million in industrial revenue bonds for AGCO Corp. AGCO approached the city in 2021 with a request for support in the planned purchasing and equipping of improvements to its manufacturing facilities over give years. The city held a public hearing in June 2021 on the issuance of $72.8 million in IRBs and a tax abatement. The city issued $22.6 million in IRBs in 2021. The city has issued more than $242 million in IRBs for AGCO since 2001.
Source: Harvey County Now
Westfall looks back on his 16 years in office as county commissioner
George “Chip” Westfall offered sage advice for anyone who might be considering a run for local office. “Always listen,” he said. “You don’t have to discuss it in detail with them.” Westfall, who decided not to run again after serving four terms as a Harvey County commissioner, said it was hard to discuss an issue in detail with someone who appeared before commissioners. He said he tried to be friendly when he ran into somebody again because there’s no reason to be offensive. “You don’t have to become enemies and a lot of people think that you are,” he said. “Be well versed on both sides and balance it out and do what’s best for Harvey County. Many people are surprised at how friendly you are with them.
Source: Harvey County Now
Without enough drivers, Olathe schools to cancel certain bus routes on ‘blackout’ days
Without enough bus drivers, the Olathe school district next month will begin eliminating routes on “blackout days,” requiring families to find alternative transportation on those days. The district has previously warned families that its bus driver shortage has reached an “all-time high.” Last week, officials said there is a “substantial waitlist of families unable to receive transportation, as well as several buses that regularly arrive up to 30 minutes late for pick up/drop off, impacting instructional time.”
Source: KC Star Local News
City, county finally finalize tax rebate plan
After weeks of discussion, Allen County commissioners signed on to Iola’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. The county will keep its tiered rebate reimbursement plan, while the three other participating entities will change theirs. That was a point of contention week after week, starting when Gregg Hutton, codes enforcement officer for Iola, asked for the change. The city’s hope is to boost housing construction by offering a full, 100% rebate for 10 years. The program works by rebating property taxes for homeowners who make improvements; the rebate applies only to the amount of taxes that were added because of those improvements. All participating entities — the city, the county, the school district and Allen Community College — offer the rebate.
Source: The Iola Register
New ‘downtown’ Park City expected to get off the ground in 2023
Spurred by recent economic development growth in the area, a years-long effort to build a downtown district in Park City is expected to get off the ground in 2023 … city officials say [it] will serve as a vibrant city center on 48 acres of city-owned land near the southeast corner of 61st Street and Hydraulic Avenue. Called Park Centre, the project includes initial plans for a central park, a 416-unit apartment complex, an 89-unit townhome complex, and 96,000 square feet of commercial space available for lease.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Law enforcement ‘taking a beating’, Emporia chief says
Emporia’s Police Chief says law enforcement “has been taking a beating” over the last few years, but he’s “proud” to see new officers willing to serve. Ed Owens gave the keynote speech Friday at a commencement ceremony for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Lawrence. “The resilience of young people like we have today — it’s refreshing to me, my administration and everyone’s across the state and nation,“ Owens told a class of Basic Training graduates at the University of Kansas.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Fed raises interest rates half a point to highest level in 15 years
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in 15 years, indicating that the fight against inflation is not over yet despite some promising signs lately. Keeping with expectations, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee voted to boost the overnight borrowing rate half a percentage point, taking it to a targeted range between 4.25% and 4.5%. The increase broke a string of four straight three-quarter point hikes, the most aggressive policy moves since the early 1980s. Along with the increase came an indication that officials expect to keep rates higher through next year, with no reductions until 2024. The expected “terminal rate,” or point where officials expect to end the rate hikes, was put at 5.1%, according to the FOMC’s “dot plot” of individual members’ expectations.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Kansas share of federal broadband cash in jeopardy because of ‘grossly inadequate’ map
Kansas officials worry the state will lose part of its share of a $42.5 billion federal investment in broadband expansion because the Federal Communications Commission commissioned a “grossly inadequate” map of existing services. The map, released in late November, shows broadband is available everywhere in Kansas. The state faces a Jan. 13 deadline to challenge the map by encouraging residents to self-report discrepancies with it. The federal broadband investment is part of the massive infrastructure package Congress passed last year. Grant money will be allocated to states based on the need for broadband services. Staff members from the state broadband office explained the challenge during a forum Monday at the Kansas Health Institute about broadband access and telehealth. Kimberlyn Jones, digital equity program manager for the state, said the FCC map is “somewhat grossly inadequate, and based on the information on that mapping, that determines how much the state can get.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Shawnee Mission ACT scores are declining
Shawnee Mission’s ACT scores have been steadily declining over the last five years with the district’s average composite score down more than two points in that time. The district’s average ACT score of 21.3 remains above state and federal averages but essentially sits right at the cutoff of 21 used for admissions for Kansas Board of Regents schools, including KU and K-State. … The class of 2022’s average composite ACT score in Shawnee Mission was 21.3, down from 23.8 for the Class of 2018, according to board documents. Why this could be happening: District administrators told the board there are several factors contributing to the steady decline, including most notably, the two-year disruption caused by COVID-19.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Wichita City Council considering new rules for renting following shooting
After a shooting that killed one person and injured three others, the Wichita City Council is considering new rules for short-term rental properties. The goal of these changes is to hold the property owners accountable while making the neighborhoods safer. “Well, I definitely think they should, because there doesn’t seem to be any teeth behind anything,” said a concerned Crown Heights resident. This man who didn’t want to be identified lives near a short-term rental property on Battin Street. It’s where a shooting in April of last year killed one man and injured three others.
Source: KAKE – News
Fitch: Inflation to mount for U.S. water, sewer utilities in 2023
Fitch Ratings says 2023 will bring a series of challenges that U.S. water and sewer utilities have not experienced in over a decade, according to Fitch Ratings’ 2023 outlook for the sector. Fitch Ratings’ 2023 sector outlook for U.S. water and sewer utilities is ‘Deteriorating’ and largely driven by rising inflation and a slowing U.S. economy, with Fitch economists calling for a mild recession around mid-2023. Next year will likely mark a second straight year of cost and capital pressures for water and sewer utilities, according to Senior Director and U.S. Water and Sewer Sector Head Audra Dickinson. “General inflationary pressures, notably higher chemical, labor and power costs, and weaker economic growth are likely to weaken financial performance for water and sewer utilities,” said Dickinson. “Though next year’s operating budgets are already reflecting higher costs, financial performance could further erode if utilities are unable to generate revenue to counter rising costs.”
Source: Water Finance & Management
Municipal Bond Trends for December 13, 2022
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.
Saline County Livestock and Expo Center to raise rental prices due to inflation
After a year of inflation on goods and overall rising costs, the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center will raise its prices next year. The Expo Center, which oversees several buildings available for event reservations, is led by director David Flaherty II. At the weekly county commission meeting Dec. 13, he explained the rise in rental fees is due to higher costs for things like maintenance and utilities. “At this time, in 2022, it’s due to rising utility costs and after some improvements have been made and comparing costs with other facilities,” Flaherty said.
Source: Salina Journal
Lawrence City Commission will delay final approval of source of income protections to hear from landlords
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday voted in favor of an ordinance change to create a protected class based on source of income, but will delay final approval in order to seek feedback from landlords. The ordinance will likely come back in front of the commission in mid-January. Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission recently advanced proposed ordinance changes that would prevent landlords from denying someone housing just because a prospective tenant’s rent money comes from housing assistance such as vouchers, settlements, benefits, subsidies, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers and more. The advisory board had been working for about two years and researching similar ordinances in other cities.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Four fire departments receiving safety grants
Several area volunteer fire departments are receiving state grants to improve the protection of personnel. The Office of the State Fire Marshal awarded 2023 grant money to Chase County Fire District No. 1, Eureka Volunteer Fire Department, Lyon County Fire District No. 5 and Olpe Fire District No. 1. They will share in $1.3 million in funds, provided largely through the American Rescue Plan Act. A statement from the Fire Marshal’s office does not specify how much each department will receive. The equipment includes “bunker or wildland gear (coat, pants, helmet, gloves, hood and boots) and new masks for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units for department members,” the statement said.
Source: Emporia Gazette
The Fed has to portray itself as tough on inflation even as it pushes through a smaller rate hike
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by a smaller half percentage point Wednesday yet signal that its battle with inflation is still far from over. The central bank is also slated to release new forecasts for interest rates and the economy when it winds down its two-day meeting Wednesday afternoon. Fed officials have indicated they would reduce the size of rate hikes, after four straight three-quarter percentage point hikes in a row. Fed officials may take some comfort in the latest data on inflation, but they likely won’t show it. November’s consumer price index, released Tuesday, showed signs inflation is cooling though still at a high 7.1% annual pace. That was below the 7.7% rate of October and less than the 7.3% expected by economists.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Cleanup from Keystone oil spill in Washington County likely to take several weeks
Nearly a week after a massive oil spill from the Keystone pipeline in rural Washington County, officials still don’t know what caused the failure, resulting in over 14,000 barrels of crude oil to flow into Mill Creek, near the Kansas-Nebraska border. Clean up activities continue, with the Environmental Protection Agency saying it had recovered nearly 2,600 barrels of liquid from the scene, most of it an oil-water mixture. Just 435 barrels of oil have been recovered directly from the ruptured pipeline.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Pottawatomie County bridge among 33 selected for state program targeting $40 million in upgrades
Gov. Laura Kelly was in Westmoreland Tuesday to announce more than $40 million will support 33 local and off-system bridge projects across the state in fiscal year 2024, including one in rural Pottawatomie County. Joined by Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz and Pottawatomie County Commission Chair Pat Weixelman, Gov. Kelly highlighted the local project along Armstrong Road over Vermillion Creek, just northeast of Havensville. It’s one of just two in the area that crosses the creek.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Derby police chief announces retirement
Derby Police Chief Robert Lee’s 42-year-long law enforcement career will come to an end on July 4, 2023. Chief Lee has served the city of Derby since March 2009. “Derby has been an amazing place to work in the second part of my career,” said Robert Lee. “I feel like I have accomplished everything I set out to do, and now it’s time to step down and allow others to lead the department.” “The leadership that Chief Lee has provided during his career in Derby is invaluable,” said Kiel Mangus, City Manager. “He is a dedicated public servant who put a strong emphasis on community policing and police officers being active and involved in the community, himself included. I will miss his straight-shooting attitude and approach to law enforcement. I wish him the best in this next stage of life.”
Source: KAKE – News