Kansas Municipal News
‘Every second counted’: Leawood honors rescuers who pulled woman from burning car
Three weeks ago, 51-year-old Caroline Kill was pulled from a fiery crash in Leawood by first responders, a dramatic rescue that was caught on a police officers body camera. At a City Council meeting on Monday, Leawood leaders honored her rescuers for their bravery and saving Kill’s life. “They are heroes,” said Martha Gage Elton, Kill’s mother. The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Tomahawk Creek trailhead parking lot at 117th Street and Tomahawk Creek Parkway, near the Leawood Police Department.
Source: KC Star Local News
Prairie Village is getting heated over a plan to expand affordable housing
An ad hoc committee appointed by the mayor of Prairie Village has submitted recommendations meant to diversify the city’s housing stock and affordability. The plan, among other things, would change zoning rules to allow more multi-unit buildings in zones designated for multi-family housing. Dan Schoepf, a member of Prairie Village United — a group organized in opposition to the recommendations — questioned the city’s ability to mandate diversity and rent costs. And he raised concerns about expanding the use of accessory dwelling units.
Source: KCUR
Prairie Village may expand home improvement funds
More Prairie Village residents could become eligible for two city grant programs aimed at helping homeowners make exterior improvements to their homes. City staff recommended city council approve several changes to the city’s exterior grant and sustainability grant programs. Both programs reimburse qualifying residents for portions of either exterior or sustainability-related improvements to their homes.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Merriam approves $1M fund to help revive hotels
The Merriam City Council has approved a $1 million fund to help revive its four hotels, a key part of the city’s tax base. The fund, approved by an unanimous vote at the council’s Nov. 28 meeting, is an attempt to help the city’s hotels, all of which are located along Interstate 35, refurbish their properties and increase their revenues. City staff told the city council the goal is to decrease blight and increase the average daily room rates at the four hotels, which include the Extended Stay America, Hampton Inn Suites, Hotel Lotus and Quality Inn clustered around I-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Panel at Lawrence library to address housing problems and solutions
Local housing experts will discuss rental problems and the shortage of affordable housing options during a panel Thursday at the Lawrence Public Library. Panelists will “share their expertise about feasible policy solutions including inclusive screening practices, banning housing discrimination based on source of income, and tenants’ rights to counsel,” according to a news release from the library. “In 2020, our community identified affordable housing as one of our top three issues,” Marc Veloz, community resources specialist at LPL, said in the release. “It hasn’t gone away and folks are eager to find a solution to this crisis.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas to receive part of $981M federal investment in rural communities
More than $980 million has been sent to numerous states and two territories to help create new and better market opportunities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Tuesday that a total of $981 million would be sent to 47 states along with Guam and the Virgin Islands. Part of this cash disbursement will also be sent to the state of Kansas. “Rural people provide the everyday essentials our country depends on,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is dedicated to helping people through job creation and expansion of entrepreneurial opportunities in the rural places they live. The partnerships we’re announcing today demonstrate USDA’s commitment to advocating for rural business owners and building brighter futures for everyone in rural America.”
Source: KSN-TV
Flags are to fly at half-staff Wednesday and Thursday
Flags will be flying at half-staff Wednesday through Thursday. Wednesday is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. It was 81 years ago when a sneak attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy struck America’s naval base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 American service members and civilians and wounded over 1,000. In addition, the bombing raid destroyed nearly 20 American naval vessels and over 300 aircraft. It was the final catalyst that brought the United States into World War II. The following day, Dec. 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Imperial Japan.
Source: KSN-TV
Drought forces more coyotes into Kansas towns
Kansas Game Wardens are warning residents of the Sunflower State to keep an eye out for increasing numbers of coyotes in residential areas. Coyotes are being found more often in towns this year in Kansas, according to game wardens. This is due to extreme drought conditions as the coyotes search for food and water. Game wardens say that you should stay calm if you spot a coyote in your neighborhood. Many coyotes avoid people and seeing one during the day and seeing them is not a cause for alarm as they are mostly looking for a place to rest. Coyotes are usually fearful of people.
Source: KSNF/KODE
USD 383 board to vote on superintendent succession Wednesday
The Manhattan-Ogden school board will vote to make USD 383 assistant superintendent Eric Reid the next district superintendent at its meeting Wednesday. The regular meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Robinson Education Center. The final business item listed in the meeting’s agenda is the superintendent succession plan that calls for Reid to succeed superintendent Marvin Wade upon Wade’s retirement in June. If approved, Reid will replace Wade, who will leave June 30 after the board accepted his retirement last month. Reid previously served as superintendent at USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo for four years before joining USD 383 in 2015. Reid replaced Robert Seymour, who retired from the assistant superintendent position.
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article
Fed to Weigh Higher Interest Rates Next Year While Slowing Rises This Month
Federal Reserve officials have signaled plans to raise their benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage point at their meeting next week, but elevated wage pressures could lead them to continue lifting it to higher levels than investors currently expect. They have raised rates this year at the fastest pace since the early 1980s, including by 0.75 point at each of their past four meetings to combat inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated last week that the central bank was prepared to downshift the size of rate increases at its coming meeting on Dec. 13-14. A smaller 0.5-point increase would mark a new phase of policy tightening as they calibrate how much higher to lift rates. Policy makers expect price pressures to ease meaningfully next year, but brisk wage growth or higher inflation in labor-intensive service sectors of the economy could lead more of them to support raising their benchmark rate next year above the 5% currently anticipated by investors.
Source: WSJ.com
Municipal Bond Trends for December 5, 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 and Beth Warren.
Following redistricting town hall, Douglas County is pulling together new data based on public feedback
“The only way that you could ensure that a district has rural representation is that the district only has precincts that are not in the City of Lawrence,” [Douglas County Clerk Jami] Shew told the Journal-World Friday. “That’s why that map was presented, some people said they wanted to make sure that there was a rural commissioner. Well, that’s the only way you can get it, because both the U.S. and Kansas Constitutions state that if you reside in a district, you have a right to file for and serve in any office that is within that district.” Because the districts are required by state statute to be contiguous and as equal in population as possible, doing much more than that is impossible based on the percentage of the population that lives in Lawrence, Shew said.
Source: LJWorld
Lawrence proposes using $8.3M in pandemic funds on homelessness, affordable housing
City leaders will soon consider a recommendation to spend more than $8 million in federal pandemic relief funds on projects related to housing and homelessness, including a proposal to spend $4.65 million to build tiny, modular homes for people experiencing homelessness. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a recommendation from city staff to spend the city’s remaining $8.29 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds on eight projects related to housing and homelessness.
Source: LJWorld
Construction at Salina’s new tennis complex is all but complete
After nine months of construction, the new tennis courts at Kenwood Park are all but complete, with just a few punch list items and final approval from the city to go. The new facility includes 12 state-of-the-art tennis courts with lighting, new parking space and a clubhouse with restrooms and other amenities. Liz Bothwell, Executive Director of Salina Tennis Alliance Inc., said the organization is already planning clinics, tournaments and other events to be held at the facility this spring. People can view events as they are planned and get involved at the new facility by visiting salinatennis.org.
Source: Salina Journal
Bringing ideas to the table
Applicants for west Topeka’s vacant District 9 seat on the Topeka City Council will be asked Tuesday to explain how they handle conflict and tell what primary goal or agenda they hope to accomplish. Those are among the nine questions Topeka’s mayor and city council plan to pose to the five people seeking the seat recently vacated by the resignation of Councilman Michael Lesser, which took effect Nov. 1. The mayor and council plan during Tuesday’s 6 p.m. meeting to interview the applicants. They may then either vote to choose someone to fill the seat, or postpone that decision until later.
Source: CJonline
New program offering utility assistance in Haysville
The Haysville Chamber of Commerce was recently updated on a new charitable organization that is now just over a year old. Built off needs identified by employees in USD 261, the HOPE Utility Assistance program was started to help community members in need. It is operated in partnership with the Haysville United Methodist Church. Through the program, a family can get up to $250 to help prevent their utilities from being turned off. It is operated solely through donations and has received $18,000 so far to help more than 40 clients, as reported by The Times-Sentinel.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Major Newton employer to close
The MasterBrand Cabinets plant (Norcraft) in Newton is shutting down. That’s according to a notice sent to board members of the Harvey County Economic Development Council as well as job placement professionals. Tucky Allen, business services director/rapid response coordinator for Kansas WorkforceONE, is currently working to find employment for the 480 employees of the plant at 831 S Columbus Ave, Newton. “What our plan is, MasterBrand has agreed and would like as many employers as possible to potentially hire affected workers,” Allen said. “They’ve agreed to let them [employers] come on site and do interviews. It will be called a job fair for affected employees. We’re going to do rapid response services meeting with all employees affected.”
Source: Harvey County Now
KC’s first 1 million-square-foot-plus distribution center is available for sublease after outdoor-gear giant packs up Gardner operations
The Coleman Co. Inc. is preparing to pull up its stakes from a 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center in Gardner. At the opening of the $35 million industrial facility at 17150 W. Mercury St., the then-Wichita-based outdoor-gear giant’s CEO Sam Solomon said the 25-acre building was a “key component of our global business strategy.” Built in 2009 on a 50.5-acre site adjacent to Interstate 35, the distribution center won a Capstone Award in the industrial category in 2010. When the distribution center officially opened in 2010, the company had approximately 160 local full-time employees. It’s unknown how many employees it has now.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
This city was recognized by American Planning Association as ‘Great Place in Kansas’
Downtown Overland Park has been recognized as a Great Place in Kansas by the Kansas Chapter of the American Planning Association. These awards recognize excellent standards in planning and highlight neighborhoods, streets and public spaces. “Today, Downtown Overland Park is a destination. Just mention Downtown Overland Park in metropolitan Kansas City and you are likely to encounter people who are familiar with its increasing appeal, vibrancy and artistic presence,” said Mayor Curt Skoog said in a prepared statement.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita and Sedgwick County are applying for FEMA grant to help Calfskin flooding issues
It’s been a dry year in Kansas with very little rainfall, which has kept Bob Powell from needing to deal with a problem his home just south of calfskin creek has had for decades. He is referring to the Halloween flood of 1998. which caused him thousands of dollars of damage. Powell says the situation has improved over the last decade but as of now, his home still sits on a floodplain. “It’s hard to sell the house because of you have to buy flood insurance and people just don’t want to be bothered.” Over time the city of Wichita and Sedgwick county has made improvements to the calfskin creek watershed to try to mitigate flooding issues for homes and roads in it. Now the two are trying to get funding for a new project.
Source: KAKE – News