Kansas Municipal News
City asks community to help choose next Topeka Police Chief
Topekans met with the city for the second time to say what they hope to see in the next police chief. The City of Topeka held its second of three input sessions for the community to say what they would like to see in the next police chief. The City Manager offered three available times throughout this week and into the weekend, as well as an online survey to try and reach as many people as the city can. These sessions and survey let people voice their opinions on what they would like to see in the police chief to help better the community. Many community members showed up to speak on what they would like to see with the common themes surrounding clarity, transparency, and inclusiveness interaction. “I’m just here out of concern for the community. We all have to work together. It’s not just on the city manager,” LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, Justice Advocate and Attorney, said. “It’s not just on the Chief of Police. It’s on me, and it’s on you to come together and you know talk about what we need and then stop talking and put some action into place.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Wichita firefighter Ty Voth lived and died as a hero, WFD chief says
The city of Wichita is taking steps to honor a 27-year-old firefighter who died in the line of duty on Thursday, and the firefighters union president is calling for a full investigation into what happened. Wichita firefighter Ty Voth, a 5-year veteran of the Wichita Fire Department, responded with a crew on Engine 19 to “a heavy fire at a modular home down in Haysville” on Thursday afternoon, Chief Tammy Snow said at a Friday morning news conference. His crew was assigned to attack the fire. “He was extremely dedicated and a brave firefighter who served our community,” Snow said. “Ty ran in to danger when others ran out. He served valiantly for others, for the greater good. We value the critical services and sacrifice of firefighter Voth. This is a loss that weighs heavily on all of us. Ty was a proud member of Station 5, and his station brothers and sisters in our entire community grieve deeply together. “He lived as a hero. He died as a hero. And he’ll be remembered as a hero.” The city of Wichita has lowered its flags to half-staff and will illuminate City Hall in red lights to honor Voth, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said on Friday.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
K-State community health worker project helps rural Kansas and agricultural workforce
A large collaborative K-State 105 project is bringing together 12 partners — including Kansas State University units, other higher education institutions and health organizations — to help improve rural and agriculture-connected health across the state. The Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project focuses on sustaining the health and safety of rural Kansans and the agricultural workforce. The project is establishing resource and service hubs staffed by community health workers who are co-supervised by local K-State Research and Extension units and health care partners. The project has received funding and support through the K-State 105 initiative. “Local extension units participating in the Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project serve as a gateway to help rural residents manage chronic conditions, prevent injuries and reduce risk of illness,” said Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor in community health and state extension specialist. “Extension units are known for providing education to promote and improve health; now, with the addition of community health workers, extension will be a resource and partner for local health care teams.”
Source: The New Sunflower State Radio Network
Municipal Bond Trends for August 2, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
This JoCo suburb is celebrating its 75th anniversary with several upcoming events
Like one of its northeast Johnson County neighbors, the city of Fairway is turning 75 years old this year. To celebrate, the city is hosting several free events in the coming months at Neale Peterson Park — including a citywide party and a free concert.
Source: Johnson County Post
Fed holds rates steady and notes progress on inflation
Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday held short-term interest rates steady but indicated that inflation is getting closer to target, which could open the door for future interest rate cuts. Central bankers made no obvious indications, though, that a reduction is imminent, choosing to maintain language that indicates ongoing concerns about economic conditions, albeit with progress. They also preserved a declaration that more progress is needed before rate reductions can happen.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Overland Park will soon break ground on its newest park, which will have a touch of Germany
Overland Park announced the name of the park as part of the city’s festivities celebrating the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, back in 2019. With that connection in mind, Overland Park has drawn “architectural and cultural inspirations” from the German city and incorporated that into the park’s design, according to the city.
Source: Johnson County Post
Lenexa could get parkland out of rare land swap with developer
The city of Lenexa is exploring a trade with developers that would net the city about 12 acres of parkland in the vicinity of Prairie Star Parkway & Mize Road. It’s a rare move and a precursor to an as-yet undefined residential project that could eventually be proposed in the city’s far western reaches.
Source: Johnson County Post
Johnson County school districts see small number of transfers
In Kansas, it’s the first year of open enrollment, where parents can apply to send their kids to any public school district they want, no matter where live. One of the stipulations though is that the desired building in that other school district has to have room or capacity for that student. Early estimates from two of Johnson County’s largest public school districts show that a small amount of parents took advantage of this new law this year. Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) Chief Communications Officer David Smith says 38 students are transferring into the school district from outside of its boundaries for the 2024-2025 school year. “When we think of about 38 students, that’s out of 26,000, so it’s just a little over one tenth of one percent,” Smith said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday. “That’s a really small number. and I guess to me, that means that there probably wasn’t a lot of public interest or support.” Republican State Senator Molly Baumgardner supported the bill that called for the open enrollment policies. She said there were more than 1,000 openings available in the SMSD for the upcoming school year. The only other Kansas school district in the metro bigger than Shawnee Mission is Olathe. At a July board meeting, Olathe Public School (OPS) leaders talked about this issue and went more in-depth about the transfer numbers in. District wide at the elementary level in Olathe, there were 386 openings available but just 28 open enrollment applications into the district. At the middle school level, there were 119 openings and 21 open enrollment applications into the district. At the high school level, there were 85 openings available and 29 applications to enroll into the district. “I don’t think that school districts knew really what to predict,” Baumgardner said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday. As to whether a school district can accommodate more students depends on whether they’re growing, according to Baumgardner. “You have some school districts such as Spring Hill which just like Maize, that’s west of Wichita, they are the two fastest growing districts,” she continued. “They have very little [transfers in]. In fact Maize said, we have no openings for anyone except for those students that live within our service area.” The enrollment for OPS has dropped since 2021, according to their website. In 2021, they had 29,404 students. In 2022, they had 29,043. In 2023, they had 28,619. The application process for a parent wanting their child to attend a different public school district than the one they live in in Kansas closed at the end of June for this upcoming school year.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Governor Kelly Announces Summit Truck Bodies Investing $50M, Creating 80 New Jobs in Wathena
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Summit Truck Bodies (STB), a leader in service and lube truck body manufacturing, will invest $50 million to construct a new state-of-the-art facility in Wathena. The strategic expansion, which will double the company’s production output and create 80 new jobs, aims to meet the rising demand for high-quality service trucks. The new plant is being built next to its existing facility, and construction is expected to be completed in 20 months. “Summit Truck Bodies’ expansion is proof that our dedicated workforce, quality of life, and central location draw businesses across various industries,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Kansas will continue to partner with first-class companies like Summit Truck Bodies to ensure communities throughout the state have opportunities to prosper.” The new facility will include a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing space and 20,000 square feet dedicated to office spaces and showrooms. It will be located adjacent to the existing production and warehouse facility to ensure efficiency, optimize workflow, and double production output. This expansion will focus on service body production and the final assembly of service trucks. “The most exciting aspect of this expansion is the integration of new technology and streamlined processes that will maximize our production efficiency,” Summit Truck Bodies Plant Manager Chris Walter said. “The advanced equipment will improve fabrication and paint speed, reduce physical strain on our workers, and ensure consistent high quality. This expansion will significantly decrease lead times and enhance after-sales support, directly benefiting our customers.” The current 132,000-square-foot facility will be transformed to streamline capability in key areas, shifting its focus to manufacturing lube trucks, drawer systems, cranes, body refurbishments, and parts sales. “A concerted focus on strengthening our state’s advanced manufacturing sector is not only attracting companies from around the world but encouraging existing companies to expand operations right here in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Working with companies like Summit Truck Bodies is what will keep our state on the dominant trajectory of growth we’re experiencing.” “We are excited about Summit Truck Bodies’ investment and their expansion of their facility in our city,” Wathena Mayor John Hontz said. “Summit has proven to be a great employer, providing valuable opportunities and benefits to our community. The Wathena City Council is pleased to be partners and stands ready to assist them in any way possible.” Summit Truck Equipment (STE), a sister company of STB, is focused on selling custom service and lube trucks and equipment STB produces. The recent expansion of Summit Truck Bodies’ manufacturing capabilities will significantly elevate STE’s capacity to meet market needs. “The expansion of Summit Truck Bodies will improve our responsiveness to market needs, shorten lead times, and improve customer experience,” Summit Truck Equipment National Sales Manager Daniel DeAces said. “This growth will allow us to hire more sales team members to cover open territories, expand our market reach, build stronger relationships, and gain deeper insights into our customers’ needs. With strategically located sales representatives across the U.S., we can connect with new clients and grow our customer base by leveraging brand recognition, trust, and factory support.”
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Fed holds rates steady and notes progress on inflation
Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday held short-term interest rates steady but indicated that inflation is getting closer to its target, which could open the door for future interest rate cuts. Central bankers made no obvious indications, though, that a reduction is imminent, choosing to maintain language that indicates ongoing concerns about economic conditions, albeit with progress. They also preserved a declaration that more progress is needed before rate reductions can happen. “The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals continue to move into better balance,” the Federal Open Market Committee’s post-meeting statement said, a slight upgrade from previous language. “Inflation has eased over the past year but remains somewhat elevated,” the statement continued. “In recent months, there has been some further progress toward the Committee’s 2 percent inflation objective.” However, speaking with the media, Chair Jerome Powell indicated that while no decision has been made about actions at future meetings a cut could come as soon as September if the economic data showed inflation easing. “If that test is met, a reduction in our policy rate could be on the table as soon as the next meeting in September,” Powell said.
Source: Finance
Outdoor watering limited to once a week in Wichita as historic drought continues
Wichitans will soon see mandatory restrictions on lawn and flower watering as the city copes with an ongoing drought. City pools also will close earlier than usual. Officials announced Thursday that the city is entering Stage 2 of its drought response. When the restrictions go into effect on Monday, Aug. 5, Wichitans will be limited to watering lawns and flower gardens once a week and will be prohibited from watering between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. “We must all come together to change our lawn care practices in order to preserve our most precious resource,” City Manager Robert Layton said. “We’re probably going to have to get used to brown lawns in order to make sure that we have safe drinking water for all of our residents.” Water levels at Cheney Reservoir have dropped below 62% as of the last reading, a historic low. City officials had previously encouraged Wichitans to reduce water use voluntarily. With the Stage 2 restrictions in effect, residents will now be fined for perpetual violations. Food-producing gardens are exempt from the restrictions as long as they are watered by irrigation rather than an automatic sprinkler system. Residents who use well water for irrigation are also exempt. Businesses dependent on water use for operations such as hospitals, car washes and golf courses are exempt from watering restrictions.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for August 1, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Trees down all over Lawrence after storm; meteorologist says harsh winds were likely a downburst
Trees were destroyed and damaged all across Lawrence in a storm late Wednesday. Thursday morning light revealed the extent and the collateral damage from felled limbs and branches. Damage was widespread across town. Robert Bieniecki, director of Douglas County Emergency Management, said there were 40-plus reports of trees or limbs down, 12 reported power lines down, 14 reports of arcing power lines and two reports of traffic signals out. They did not receive any reports of injuries, he said. The city is canceling its city-load compost event set for Saturday and will instead open the compost facility to Lawrence residents only for storm debris dropoff. Find details about that in the article at this link. Some have speculated that the strong wind gusts that accompanied the thunderstorm may have been a microburst. Sarah Teefey, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Topeka, said that “Right now I would classify it as what we call a downburst — wind gusts similar to a microburst except a little bit bigger in coverage. It was likely just a strong updraft from a thunderstorm that came down and pushed out from that thunderstorm.” Wind gusts reached between 70 and 80 mph, and the NWS’ rain gauge at the Lawrence airport showed the area received .63 inches of rain in the storm, Teefey said. She said temperatures would likely stick around the mid-90s, but “right now we’re looking dry through the weekend.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas maternal health care deserts mean hardships on mothers, communities and providers
Thirteen counties in Kansas ceased to offer obstetric care services from 2013 to 2023 — a statistic that points to a shrinking availability of maternal care in Kansas, the lack of which can cause poor outcomes in pregnancy and delivery, overburdened hospitals and long drives for women seeking adequate care. Jennifer Cunningham drove more than six hours for care at the University of Kansas Health System for two of her four, high-risk pregnancies because she didn’t feel the limited obstetrics department in her home area of Garden City could take care of her. Garden City, with a population of about 30,000, serves as a local hub for shopping and other services in southwest Kansas. But with a declining number of providers who can deliver, Cunningham said, many of the women she knows are driving to Wichita, or further, to seek adequate care during their pregnancies and for deliveries. It makes her worry for the future growth and prosperity of the town. “If we can’t provide those basic services, we can’t continue to survive in general,” Cunningham said Tuesday during a KU Health news briefing on rural maternity care. “Local professionals, who are lawyers or other doctors or other professionals, they aren’t going to choose to come and live here if they can’t even have a baby here.” Obstetric and family medicine providers are searching for solutions to the maternal health care deserts in everything from telehealth to student loan repayment incentives. Bob Moser, executive director at the Kansas Center for Rural Health, said it is difficult for a rural hospital to retain or attract an OB-GYN doctor or someone who can provide those services. “It’s challenging if you go out there and you’re the only provider providing obstetrical services, because you’re basically on call 24/7,” Moser said. Additionally, these hospitals often lack consistent anesthesia services and wraparound, pre- and postnatal care. “As more (communities) are dropping (obstetrical services), it falls to those who are remaining to take on that added burden,” Moser said. Patients are driving further, sometimes an hour or more, to seek care throughout their pregnancies, which means more time off, additional child care and increased expenses. Moser said the travel distance also increases the risk of roadside birth or a person in labor walking into the nearest emergency room, to be met with a nurse who maybe hasn’t delivered in 10 or more years. Marc Parrish, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at KU Health, performs telemedicine services with patients across the state. Parrish was Cunningham’s caregiver and performed some of her check-ups via telehealth and a partnership with an ultrasound clinic in Garden City. Parrish said it’s like being “in a fight with one hand tied behind your back.” Telehealth can only be as good as what the local partner is able and willing to provide, he said. Michael Kennedy, a family medicine physician and rural health expert with KU Health, said he also sees a lack of obstetric exposure during residency programs and not enough effort to get doctors in training to experience rural hospitals. There are several loan repayment programs on a state and federal level that incentivize doctors who specialize in OB-GYN services or choose to serve in health professional shortage areas. Kennedy and others on the panel said these programs could be an effective way to alleviate some of the maternal care shortages. Maternal care deserts exist throughout the country, including in urban areas. Sandra Stites, an OB-GYN and chief medical officer at Vibrant Health in Kansas City, Kansas, said if care is not culturally accessible, even folks in an urban setting can be in a care desert that can endanger their pregnancies. Medical professionals on the panel said solutions for all of these shortages will require collaboration across local, regional, state and national advocates. Carrie Wieneke, OB-GYN clinical service chief for KU Health, said access to maternal care is on the 2024 list for the top 10 patient safety hazards. “We’re going to have to work together with lots of people at lots of levels, not only in Kansas City but Topeka and D.C., to really be able to provide the care that people deserve,” Wieneke said.
Source: Garden City Telegram
City announces 2024 street improvement plan
The City of Great Bend Public Works Department has released information about this year’s projects pertaining to driving surfaces. A news release from the department notes that streets and projects are chosen each year based on condition assessment and what can be done within the budget. Projects for this year are highlighted on three maps. The first map shows select alleyways scheduled for resurfacing, pending City Council approval, at a cost of $145,000. At the upcoming council meeting on Aug. 5, staff will present select asphalt alleyways with ongoing issues. The majority of them are in residential areas. This work will involve alleys that have been patched and repaired multiple times throughout the years. Overlaying these will alleviate the need to continue patching and making repairs for years to come, allowing the department to focus its attention on other areas of concern. The second map, labeled “asphalt resurfacing,” shows streets targeted for removing and replacing asphalt driving surfaces. The cost is dependent on the bid and approval of $800,000 to $950,000. The largest component of this year’s improvement will be the upcoming bid for work involving asphalt resurfacing. This is the part of the plan where the work is more involved. The City will bid out areas of repair that are not suitable for maintenance but will need to have a complete resurfacing. These areas still have a good base, but the surface needs to be removed and redone The third map is for streets targeted for chip and seal maintenance, to extend the life of those streets, at a cost of $312,000. In June, the council approved chip and seal with a fog seal topcoat maintenance plan that will begin within the next few months. Chip and seal is a process that provides a wear surface on top of streets that need an extra layer to extend the overall life of the street. This year the City will do 60 blocks of streets of chip and seal with a fog seal topcoat. “These projects are in addition to the work that our crews do every day,” the news release states. “They include but are not limited to asphalt patching, pouring concrete intersections, curb and gutter, alley approaches and storm boxes. Each year we continue to work doing as we can to improve and preserve our infrastructure. We are committed to staying within budget, enhancing safety, functionality, and overall quality of our infrastructure.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
10-year Treasury yield dives to the lowest since December after weak jobs report
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield dropped to its lowest since December after a weaker-than-expected jobs report for last month added to fears that economic growth is slowing. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury was last at 3.853%, down 12 basis points, or 0.12%. Earlier, yields hit a low of 3.79%, the lowest level since December 2023. The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 3.966% after dropping more than 19 basis points. Yields and prices have an inverted relationship and one basis point equals 0.01%, or one one-hundredth of a percent. Treasury yields tumbled after the July nonfarm payrolls report showed an increase of 114,000 jobs last month, far less than expected the 185,000 that economists had expected, according to the last survey by Dow Jones. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, the highest in nearly three years, since October 2021. The cooler labor market data — first-time claims for weekly unemployment benefits jumped to 249,000 on Thursday, and continuing claims rose to their highest since late 2021 — has investors concerned the Federal Reserve should have acted sooner to head off a possible recession. Earlier in the week, the central bank kept rates unchanged at its latest policy meeting but hinted that a September rate cut was on the table, sending Treasury yields lower. “The Fed will need to go into economic protection mode moving forward to calm markets,” wrote Byron Anderson, head of fixed income at Laffer Tengler Investments. “We should see rate cuts shortly.” Markets are now pricing in a 58.5% likelihood of a half percentage point rate cut in September, up from only a 22% chance one day ago, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Kansas v. Missouri stadium battle shows how states are reigniting border wars
For decades, academic research has been clear: Taxpayers almost never get their money back on subsidized sports stadiums. And yet, over and over again, U.S. cities and states find themselves locked in lopsided negotiations with beloved football, baseball and basketball teams, hoping to keep them from jumping to a new market. In the newest bidding war, Kansas aims to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to lure the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs or MLB’s Royals from their side-by-side stadiums in Missouri just a few miles away. It could be one of the most expensive stadium deals yet, according to Victor Matheson, a researcher who studies stadium subsidies. “This is wildly destructive,” he said. “This is in some ways significantly worse than intercity competition, because you’re just spending billions of dollars to just move economic activity from one point in the metro area to another.” Matheson, an economics professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, watched closely in June as lawmakers in Topeka, Kansas, approved an expansion of an often-criticized tax incentive program with the aim of subsidizing a new stadium for one or both teams. The bidding war for the teams is being viewed as particularly irresponsible by those who hailed a 2019 compact between Kansas and Missouri that some had hoped would set a new model for states across the country to curb corporate tax incentives. Five years ago, the Democratic governor of Kansas and the Republican governor of Missouri celebrated an end to the so-called economic Border War, a long-standing practice in which governments would offer lucrative subsidies to lure companies back and forth across state lines in the Kansas City area. People saw the practice as wasteful, since it paid companies to relocate without spurring new growth for the regional economy. The truce was momentous for Kansas and Missouri, two states whose rivalry traces back to bloody Civil War days. But it also garnered national acclaim from both liberals and conservatives who saw the move as a blow to corporate welfare and the cynical practice of companies pitting governments against each other. But more powerful than the bipartisan cross-border cease-fire, apparently, is the allure of a new professional sports venue.
Source: Kansas Reflector
WPD leaders share plan update for ‘real time’ information center
Leaders of the Wichita Police Department hosted a town hall on Wednesday to discuss the “real-time” information center that they want to have up and running by next spring. Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said advancements in technology, which are used every day, will keep people and officers safer. “It’s going to be a game changer for crime fighting here in Wichita,” said Sullivan. Chief Sullivan said they will soon have the technology, already used by departments across the country, to allow 911 calls to be heard from officers in that specific area in real-time. He also said they will have Flock gunshot detection in high-gun violence areas, which can pinpoint nearly the exact location of the weapon being fired. Chief Sullivan said it’s an effort to reduce crime. “We’re utilizing technology, we’re taking the subjective human element out, and making sure that the judgments that we make, the strategies that we devise are data-driven and that they’re fair, and they’re objective, and they’re based on making communities safer,” said Chief Sullivan. Karen Leve of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said that after WPD’s gang list settlement, not everyone was sold on the idea that these technological advancements lead to fair policing. “I think at the root of it is this issue of trust, and where communities are over-policed, I think there is this erosion of trust,” said Leve. She hopes these advancements will be tested extensively before implementation and said there could be severe consequences if not. “The repercussions can be huge arrests, can be false arrests, over-policing, over-surveilling of people, so we really need to make sure that the technology is right,” said Leve. Chief Sullivan assures that privacy policies are being made and will be shared publicly. Gunshot detection is being tested right now in local neighborhoods. Chief Sullivan is optimistic that the department can have a new detection system and real-time information center, which will will sit on the fifth floor of city hall, up and operational by the spring of next year.
Source: KSN-TV
Reno County Commissioners approve Yoder water deal
On Wednesday, Reno County Commissioners approved the purchase of water from Hutchinson for the Yoder water district. Commissioners said there isn’t enough water to meet the district’s needs without the purchase. County documents show the agreement has been in the works for months. According to those documents, Hutchinson will provide a monthly average of 32,000 gallons to Yoder, a town that has dealt with high nitrate levels in its water for a while. The purchase still has to be approved by the Hutchinson City Council. If it is approved, water rates in the district may go up because of the cost of getting water from the city. The Reno County Commissioners approved a $1 million loan on July 10 to provide Yoder with safe drinking water. The loan is for a 20-year term at a “relatively low interest rate,” between 2% and 3%. Reno County said in March the nitrate levels for Rural Water District 101, which serves Yoder, have “continued to be above allowable limits.” Health officials say high nitrates are especially bad for babies because they can prevent the transport of oxygen by the blood. “Nitrate attaches to hemoglobin and stops it from being able to carry much oxygen, and infants will basically show that as becoming a little blue,” Stiles said in March.
Source: KSN-TV