Kansas Municipal News
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
Planners discuss signage in Marion
Ten members of the public, half of them downtown business owners, spoke Tuesday with Marion city planners about downtown signs. Discussion of downtown signs began in August after Chelsea Mackey opened Dawn’s Day Spa at 331 E. Main St. and soon afterward had a perpendicular sign mounted over the sidewalk. Perpendicular signs violate zoning regulations downtown area.
Source: Marion County RECORD
History preserved for future generations
On Friday afternoon, the McPherson Fire Department, along with representatives from the City of McPherson and McPherson Police Department, buried two time capsules under the flagpole at the fire department. The time capsules replace the two original ones that were buried in 1972 and 1976 for McPherson’s Centennial and America’s Bicentennial and then opened for McPherson’s 150th anniversary on May 28, 2022. Today’s capsules will be opened in 2072 and include items from residents, schools, factories and local businesses. Pfizer included a vial of COVID-19 vaccine, while others donated photos, documents, and even a plastic duck. McPherson Board of Public Utilities donated 50 years of comprehensive plans for McPherson for future generations to see the city’s progress.
Source: McPherson Weekly News » Local News Category Feed
Economic instability pushing KPERS investment returns to negative
Volatility in the stock market will push annual return on investment to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System into negative territory at close of the year, the pension system’s executive director said Tuesday. The assumed investment return for KPERS was adjusted downward in May from 7.75% to 7%. To strengthen the bottom line, the Kansas Legislature agreed to pump an extra $1.1 billion into the system. The snapshot on investment return will be calculated based on financial position of the portfolio Dec. 31, said Alan Conroy, executive director of KPERS.
Source: The Iola Register
Municipal Bond Trends for November 29, 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.
TopGolf Wichita to Open on Friday
Topgolf will open its second Kansas location in east Wichita location on Friday. The two-level entertainment venue will have 52 climate-controlled outdoor hitting bays along with Topgolf’s Toptracer technology, a 9-hole miniature golf course, a full-service restaurant and bar, outdoor patio, private event rooms and more. Topgolf Wichita is located off K-96 near the Greenwich Place Shopping Center at 2796 N Greenwich.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Commissioners agree not to sign moratorium
The Jackson County Commissioners have agreed not to sign an 18-month moratorium that would temporarily ban applications or permit requests for commercial solar and wind energy projects in the county. In lieu of a moratorium, the commissioners, on a 3-0 vote Monday, approved a motion to accept a letter submitted by NextEra Energy last week during a public hearing stating that the company will not apply for a permit for its solar project until May 2024 (18 months) or “until new solar regulations have been passed in Jackson County, whichever is sooner.” “It’s basically the same thing as a moratorium, it just doesn’t say the word moratorium,” Commissioner Ed Kathrens said. More than 70 people attended a 40-minute public hearing regarding the proposed moratorium last week. About 20 people spoke during the hearing, including those both for and against the moratorium.
Source: Holton Recorder
McPherson to host building code webinar
The City of McPherson, along with the Building Code College, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, will host a continuing education webinar on contractor codes. The webinar will cover the provision of the 2018 International Residential Building Code and will run from 1 to 4 p.m. in Citizens Hall of the McPherson Community Building, 122 E. Marlin Street. Glenn Mathewson will serve as the instructor of the course, a three-hour (.3 CEU) training. Mathewson served as the building, plumbing and mechanical inspector for the City of Westminster, Colo. and has earned multiple ICC inspection certifications.
Source: McPherson, KS
Paige Jones dreamed of working and living in a small town
Recent visitors to Sedgwick’s City Hall may have noticed the new face. Paige Jones started as the city’s Utility Clerk on Oct. 31. Yes, her first day of work was on Halloween. That weekend also marked Jones’ first anniversary of living in Sedgwick. She and her husband Bradley moved to town last year on Halloween weekend. Jones, who moved from Park City, said they picked Sedgwick to live in because of the reputation of the school system. Jones and her husband Bradly are in their mid-twenties and don’t have any children, yet, but they do have three dogs.
Source: Harvey County Now
‘I’m thrilled to be here’: Wichita police chief focusing on improving community relations
There is a new Chief in town. Joseph Sullivan has officially reported for duty and we sat down with him one-on-one to discuss what plans he has for the department. Sullivan comes to Wichita after recently serving as deputy police commissioner for the city of Philadelphia. KAKE News talked to him about a number of issues starting with the lawsuit from executive members of the police department against the city. Sullivan is taking on the badge at a time the department is in turmoil. In a lawsuit, former Chief Gordon Ramsay, two current deputy chiefs, and one former one are calling for City Manager Robert Layton to resign. “I have the authority to run the department and make necessary changes. But of course, he is my boss. I kept him informed. I’m going to focus on my mission and we’ll leave that to the attorneys to sort out,” said Sullivan.
Source: KAKE – News