Kansas Municipal News
After 45 years the on job in the courthouse steps out
Clerk of the District Court Donna Oswald is retiring after more than four decades of service in Atchison County District Court. Oswald plans to retire effective Friday, Dec. 9. Through mounds of court documents to the age of e-filing in the 1st Judicial District and the entire Kansas Judicial Branch, Oswald has overseen the district court operations for most of the 21st Century up to this point.
Source: News | atchisonglobenow.com
Altamont talks water costs
Cost of water to the city of Altamont is going up from $0.004 to $0.0045 per gallon, lending to the Altamont City Council discussing the amount of water being purchased versus documented usage prior to signing a contract for 2023. Altamont City Council member Raymond Coffey told the council that Rural Water District No. 4 is checking with all cities to see if towns are wanting to decrease or increase their minimum usage and is looking at changing the maximum amount the city can purchase from three times the amount to two times the amount, which would lower the obligation of what they have to supply to the city. Coffey said that would lower the water district’s obligation of what it has to supply the city.
Source: Parsons Sun
Advocates say Johnson County needs plan to end homelessness
Local advocates are calling on Johnson County leaders to develop a comprehensive plan to end homelessness in Kansas’ most affluent county. The Good Faith Network, a group of more than 20 local interfaith communities, and Project 1020, Johnson County’s only winter homeless shelter that serves single adults, want county leaders to actively work toward ending homelessness.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Douglas County has one month to decide on maps for 5 commission districts
Now that Douglas County voters have called for an expansion to five county commission districts, new maps must be drawn and decided within one month. During a well-attended town hall meeting Thursday evening, Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said that out of 114 precincts, 109 voted in favor of adding two commissioner districts. Two of the five precincts that voted “no” to the Nov. 8 ballot question were in the city and the other three were in the county; there was no “county versus city” split, or anything like that, Shew said.
Source: The Lawrence Times
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help People in Rural and Tribal Communities Access Remote Education and Health Care Resources
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting grant applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program to help people in rural and tribal communities access remote education and health care resources. The DLT program helps fund real-time, interactive distance learning and telemedicine services in rural and tribal areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable. This effort is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal that every American has access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. Digital equity is an important component of that mission. For instance, the DLT program gives students the opportunity to participate in classes that may be in places that are too far to access. DLT funds can also help connect rural people virtually to medical professionals without leaving their home. USDA plans to make $64 million available in fiscal year 2023. Of this amount, $12 million is intended for projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services to people in rural areas. Eligible applicants include state and local governmental entities, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses. Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov no later than January 30, 2023. For additional information, visit the DLT webpage.
November Trading Volume Beats Previous Records, MSRB Data Shows
The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) reported that trading volume reached another record in November 2022, with 1.29 million municipal bond trades recorded. November trades exceeded October’s previous record of 1.25 million trades and was more than double the volume in November 2021. Year to date, municipal bond trade count is up 63% compared to the same period in 2021, likely fueled by individual investor demand, as customer purchases and inter-dealer trades rose more than customer sales. As anticipated in a recent press release, November 2022 was the seventh month in the last eight months with more than 1 million trades being reported to the MSRB. This compares to only eight months in the last 15 years with more than 1 million trades. Meanwhile, increased demand coupled with decreased supply caused tax-exempt benchmark yields to decline by 55-65 basis points during the month.
Source: MSRB
‘Pleasantview really needed a coffee shop,’ and now it has one
The owner of Hutchinson’s newest coffee shop believes farmers and ranchers are in need of quality coffee and a space to meet. That’s why Rodica Nisly started The Rendezvous Coffee Shop in Pleasantview. The gourmet coffee shop, which opened in late May, serves a variety of signature drinks with freshly ground coffee beans roasted in Galva. The beans come from Free Space Coffee company. The lattes, although they sometimes have names reminiscent of alcoholic beverages, are all alcohol-free. To pay homage to many in the area, Nisly serves up the Farmboy, a blend of butter rum and caramel; the Farmer’s Daughter, which has chocolate and raspberry flavors; and Highway 50, which includes amaretto and chocolate.
Source: Hutch News
New Road and Bridge appointment rocks Atchison County history
Assistant Superintendent Kim Glover, Atchison County Road and Bridge Department, has earned the distinction as being the first woman appointed to the position according to the current records on file. Road and Bridge Superintendent Joe Snyder recently announced Glover’s appointment during a county commission meeting. Glover’s appointment as the new assistant superintendent became official Nov. 16, according to Human Resource Director Jodi Moore.
Source: atchisonglobenow.com
City takes water from Lake Fort Scott
On Tuesday, the city began taking water from Lake Fort Scott. Rock Creek and Cedar Creek lakes have supplemented the Fort Scott water supply for several months as the drought conditions have continued. Fort Scott Assistant City Manager Brad Matkin said recent rains have not helped and the lakes’ waters “are dropping to levels that is posing a problem to our city water supply.”
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
Halstead purchases new marquee with eye-catching design
The City of Halstead will soon be getting a new marquee to replace the one that is well past its life expectancy. City Manager Ethan Reimer gave the city council four bids for new signs during their Monday night meeting. He said staff was really impressed with the quote from Miracle Signs. Their proposed marquee would incorporate a 3D cutout of the swinging bridge and the word “Halstead,” just as it appears on the sandwich board message signs used by downtown businesses. This would appear above the marquee in place of the city’s old logo, which the city has talked about updating for several years.
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for November 30, 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.
Fed Chair Powell says smaller interest rate hikes could start in December
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed Wednesday that smaller interest rate increases are likely ahead even as progress in the fight against inflation has largely been unsatisfactory. Echoing recent statements from other central bank officials and comments at the November Fed meeting, Powell said he sees the central bank in position to reduce the size of rate hikes as soon as next month. But he cautioned that monetary policy is likely to stay restrictive for some time until real signs of progress emerge on inflation.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Holton approves “pickle ball” plan
With fund-raising completed for the construction of a pickle ball court and ice skating rink at Holton’s Rafters Park, the Holton City Commission on Monday approved a plan as submitted by representatives of Holton Middle School’s Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) chapter to get construction started in the near future. Commissioners voted unanimously to allow the chapter to get started on plans to build the pickle ball court, which Holton City Manager Kerwin McKee said would involve Holton city employees in “pouring the concrete and preparing the site.” When completed, the pickle ball court will be the second major addition to a Holton city park that stemmed from the KAY chapter’s plans. The first was a concrete walking path at Countryside Park that began to take shape in 2018 and is widely used today by area residents.
Source: Holton Recorder
Kansas salary survey: 70% of state government jobs pay workers below-market rates
Seven of 10 categories of Kansas government workers were paid below average market rates based on a new survey examining wages at comparable in-state employers and state government employers in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and elsewhere. The Kansas Department of Administration’s report identified pay deficiencies of 32% for law clerks, 22% for social worker supervisors, 19% for driver license examiners, 13% for chemists, 9% for senior electricians, 7% for fire investigators, 3% for property appraisers and 1% for technology support consultants.
Source: Kansas Reflector
New federal broadband maps indicate widespread availability
If you want to check new federal maps about broadband availability, you can now do that. If you want to challenge the map, you can do that as well. The new maps, using location-specific information, should be more targeted than the prior maps, which were outdated and “overly general,” according to US Senator Roger Marshall. The new maps serve another purpose — paving the way for federal funds to bolster broadband in areas where high-speed internet is limited or unavailable.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Kansas Supreme Court to begin Rural Justice Initiative
The Kansas Supreme Court is planning to launch what it calls the Rural Justice Initiative with a brief ceremony Thursday. The committee involves 35 members. Its main charge is to examine unmet legal needs in rural areas of the state as attorney numbers decline. The committee will have its first meeting Thursday after the official creation as signed by Chief Justice Marla Luckert. The ceremony starts at 10 am at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Valley Center’s 3D-printed home community delayed
Kansas’s first-ever community of 3D-printed homes is delayed. The city of Valley Center was partnering with the Crain Company, or CC3D, to bring the development to the state. This week, the Valley Center City Council voted to withdraw its contract with the company. “We still do plan and hope to have the first 3D printed structure and the first 3D printed home here in Valley Center, Kansas,” City Administrator Brent Clark said. “That’s not going away.” The City also entered another agreement with a different developer for the project, now named Sunflower Valley. CC3D was running into supply chain issues with getting the needed 3D printer to Valley Center.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita is one of the best cities for digital nomads, a new report says. Here’s why
If you’re a remote worker who moves around, you may want to consider Wichita as one of your stops. A new report lists Wichita as one of the best cities for digital nomads. The report from Incfile, a online business formation and startup services company, analyzed 100 of the largest cities in the U.S. for digital nomads based on the cost of living, broadband internet strength, walkability, transit scores and average temperatures, a news release from the company said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Louisburg extends permit waiver incentive
Home buyers and builders can waive their building permit fee on the construction of a new single-family home after the Louisburg City Council continued the wavier incentive to 2023 at a recent meeting. A homebuilder on average can save between $1,200 and $1,500 on permit fees on a 2,000-square-foot home, according to a city news release. Building permit fees are based on the assessed value of the home, so savings can vary depending on the home’s value. The builder must be licensed in Miami County to take advantage of the permit fee waiver.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Cop, drug dog go to county
A Marion drug dog that cost $7,600 in 2019, $2,500 for a kennel in a police car, $2,357.67 for emergency surgery after she ate an extension cord in 2021, and about $7,000 a year to house, feed, and recertify, is now in the possession of the sheriff’s office because officer Aaron Slater, the dog’s handler, changed jobs. For now, the dog remains the property of the city of Marion. The sheriff’s office is expected to purchase the dog, named Blue, but a price has not been negotiated. Slater’s last day with Marion police was Saturday. He worked his first shift with the sheriff’s office Sunday.
Source: Marion County RECORD