Kansas Municipal News
Here is the city’s 5-phase plan to fix WPD’s problem-riddled evidence facility
Wichita City Manager Bob Layton took a lot of heat Monday after announcing a list of big problems at the Wichita Police Department evidence building after an audit almost two years ago. “Based on what I heard from the chief, I thought we were taking immediate action,” said Layton, referring to when former Police Chief Gordon Ramsay first told him about the audit last year. It includes things like poor security, huge backlogs, lack of staff, and not storing some rape kits at the proper temperature.
Source: KAKE – News
Charges filed after 68 dogs seized from Conway Springs home
Sumner County officials have seized 68 dogs from a home in Conway Springs, and the homeowner was arrested for cruelty to animals. Deputies found the dogs suffering from poor health, malnourishment and traumatic injuries. Three dogs were taken last week by animal control officers in Wellington to a hospital for treatment. Deputies served a search warrant and seized 65 more dogs, ranging from puppies to adults. Several agencies have been helping to find foster homes for the dogs.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Hall celebrates retirement from DRC after 18 years
Jay Hall has been a friendly face to co-workers and patrons of the Derby Recreation Center for nearly 18 years. As a facility coordinator, he helped ensure the rec center was running smoothly by overseeing the building operations while on duty. On Sept. 22, Hall celebrated his retirement with the DRC staff. There is a lot to reflect on after nearly two decades with the organization, but one thing that stood out to Hall was the people. He said he worked with a passionate staff that supported each other and worked well as a team.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Slate of fall festivals set to begin
A number of neighboring communities will be hosting fall festivals in the coming weeks, with Andover and Rose Hill among them. First up, Greater Andover Days will be held Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, with a number of additions to the normal slate of activities this year. There will be a photography contest, a pair of fitness-oriented events put on by the Andover YMCA, Touch a Truck, and tailgating/cook-off competition introduced with this year’s festival. … According to festival president Lovina Finders, Rose Hill’s annual festivities will be a fun-filled weekend as well, taking place Oct.7-9. “We have a wonderful festival planned for this year,” Finders said.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Olathe ranks No. 3 on Fortune list of Best Places to Live for Families
Olathe is the third-best place in the United States for families to live, according to a Fortune report. The ranking highlights areas in the U.S. where multigenerational families are most likely to have access to critical resources, community support and financial well-being, according to a release from Fortune. The cities chosen had good access to hospitals, public schools and offered more support for aging relatives. They were also more affordable than cities in big metro areas such as Los Angeles and New York City.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Nearly a pound of fentanyl-laced meth found in Garden City
This is what nearly a pound of meth looks like. Law enforcement officers say they found it during a traffic stop in Garden City on Wednesday. A Garden City officer pulled over a Kia Soul. The officer said the woman driving it failed to signal a turn at a stop sign located at North 3rd and East Hamline. According to the Finney County Sheriff’s office, the officer detained the driver and the car after becoming suspicious. A Finney County K-9 officer was called in to assist. The dog indicated there were possibly drugs in the car, which led to a search.
Source: KSN-TV
Detox program saves city and county time and money
The Substance Abuse Center of Kansas, or SACK, is working to keep non-threatening addicts out of jail and get them sober or into treatment. Social detox is located inside the Mental Health Crisis Center. “We have 15 beds in detox and another 10 in the sober unit,” Harold Casey, the executive director of SACK, said. SACK can’t offer medication. What they can provide is a safe space. The average stay is five to six days for social detox and one day for the sobering unit. This is a passion project with a personal connection for Casey.
Source: KSN-TV
Brown v. Board historic site to celebrate 30th anniversary
A special service will be held in Topeka to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the National Park Service’s creation of the Brown v. Board park. The upcoming service will be held on Friday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. It will feature speakers who will talk about the history of school desegregation and the five cases that ultimately led to the Brown decision. These speakers include Dr. Zoe Burkholder, Dr. Michael Hines and Dr. Jonna Perrillo. They will be joined by representatives from affiliated areas of the national historic park from Delaware, Virginia, Washington D.C. and South Carolina.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Sen. Moran presents Humboldt Building Better Communities award
Humboldt is getting its brand out. In response to comments from a New York City mayor that his city has more of a brand than the state of Kansas, a US Senator recognized Humboldt’s achievements Wednesday on the Senate floor. “I had planned to give this floor speech before the mayor of New York City used Kansas as a punchline, but now it seems a little more fitting,” Sen. Jerry Moran said. Moran’s remarks came with the presentation of the Building Better Communities award to the city of Humboldt. Comments by New York City mayor Eric Adams during an overseas trip drew pushback Tuesday from Kansans, including from actor Eric Stonestreet. The Kansas Office of Tourism has invited Adams to the Sunflower State.
Source: Parsons Sun
Kansas public university, community and technical college headcount declines by 1%
Enrollment at state universities, community colleges and technical colleges in Kansas this fall semester dwindled 1% to accentuate a five-year decline in student headcount of more than 9%, officials said Thursday. The Kansas Board of Regents, which has oversight roles among seven universities, 19 community colleges and seven technical colleges, reported 165,198 students enrolled at start of the 2022 academic year. Collectively, these higher education institutions lost 1,677 students from 2021. The report indicated headcount at the six state universities fell by 1,333 students or 1.5%; Washburn University in Topeka slipped by 283 or 4.1%; community colleges declined by 630 or 1%; and technical colleges expanded by 569 or 6% over last year’s enrollment totals.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Wichita Public Libraries hold amnesty week to forgive fees
This week, the WPL held an amnesty event that encouraged patrons to return overdue materials without the embarrassment of an assigned block or fee payment. Eliminating overdue fees at the Wichita Public Library removes a costly obstacle to the city’s library access. “Sometimes, when people would accrue overdue fees, they would be too embarrassed to return the materials,” Sean Jones, WPL communication specialist said. “This amnesty week gets our materials back but also eliminates fees for patrons.” While overdue fees seem like a logical system to ensure the return of materials, they often create financial burdens instead of compliance with due dates. This burden leads to patrons being unable to access the free services at the library.
Source: The Sunflower
Catch fish with your hands at these Kansas lakes
It’s about to become a fishing free-for-all at a couple Kansas lakes. That’s because two Kansas lakes are removing normal limits on fishing because of drought, according to an announcement from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Ellis City Lake in Ellis and Warren Stone Memorial Lake near La Crosse have announced temporary fish salvages because current drought conditions and future dry weather could lead to significant fish losses, according to the department. The temporary salvage allows anyone to catch the remaining fish by any legal means as well as by hand, dip net or seine. Any limits on fish size or catch limits are also removed.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Municipal Bond Trends for September 28, 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’s Bostic favors raising rates to 4.25%-4.5% by year end
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said he backs raising rates by a further 1.25 percentage points by the end of this year to counter inflation that has been worse than he expected. “The lack of progress thus far has me thinking much more now that we have to get to a moderately restrictive stance,” he told reporters Wednesday via a telephone conference call. “And for me, that is in the 4.25% to 4.5% range for our policy. My preference is that we get there by year end.” Fed officials raised interest rates by 75 basis points on Sept. 21 for the third straight meeting, bringing the target for the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 3% to 3.25%. Median projections show officials forecast that rates would reach 4.4% by the end of this year.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Public Temporarily Allowed to Salvage Fish at Ellis City Lake Due to Drought
Recent drought conditions resulting in minimal inflow at Ellis City Lake are having detrimental effects on local fish populations. And, continued dry weather may lead to significant fish losses in the near future. That’s why the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) and the City of Ellis, Kan. have issued a temporary order to open the lake to public salvage effective immediately. When a public fish salvage is in effect, the public may collect any remaining fish in the designated waterbody by any legal methods, as well as by hand, dip net, or seine, per K.A.R. 115-7-1. The Ellis City Lake fish salvage order also temporarily removes all daily creel limits and size limits, per K.A.R. 115-25-14.
Source: All Web News
Bee swarm lands in downtown Emporia
A beekeeper was heading to the 600 block of Commercial Street Tuesday to help relocate an errant swarm. According to the Lyon County Emergency Communications Center, the swarm is located in the alleyway behind 627 Commercial St. The swarm appeared after a five-gallon bucket of honey was spilled in the alley, which “created a literal golden buffet for the region’s bee population.” “The amazing bee experts of our city have advised that the bees should have the honey gobbled up in the next few days, but as far as clean up and removal — it’s a little late to do that,” LCECC said in an initial post to social media. “The bees would not be pleased.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Bar owners say food requirement is arbitrary
A state law requiring places that sell alcohol to derive 30 percent of their revenue from sales came into focus last week when the state held up the license renewal of Sandhills Brewing in Hutchinson. The brewery sold more than $16,000 worth of hot dogs and food in one night and needed another $13,000 in food sales by the end of the month to renew its license. Sandshills’ plight drew a lot of attention about the law, which some accused of being arbitrary and a hindrance to opening a business. “It seems like it’s a law to keep clubs and businesses away, and they just want to have restaurants that serve alcohol,” said Allen Brinkman, co-owner of Moxie Grill & Bar in Newton. “It seems like it’s a very biased law.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Overland Park has installed its first outdoor, publicly accessible automated external defibrillator
Overland Park has installed its first outdoor, publicly accessible automated external defibrillator in Thompson Park, 8045 Santa Fe Drive in the downtown area. The defibrillator was donated by a group of Overland Park residents in honor of Rick Worrel, a business community member who died in 2019. It’s housed in a climate-controlled cabinet known as a “SaveStation” on the south side of the restroom building next to the water fountain. The AED will be available around the clock for anyone to use for someone who appears to be in cardiac arrest.
Source: Joco 913 News
Olathe homeowners appeal HOA decision barring flying American flag
An Olathe, Kansas, couple is facing unknown fines from their HOA for their love of the American Flag and the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ve been told they can’t fly either flag in their backyard. Since the flag flap started, the Clarks have learned though Chiefs and other flags are banned by the HOA, American flags are not. But the HOA has taken issue with their flag pole threatening fines if any flag is flown. Since 2018, the Clarks say they’ve raised a Chiefs flag on game days on their backyard patio and proudly flown an American flag the rest of the time.
Source: KSN-TV
New art public piece completed in Lawrence
Members of the public are invited to help celebrate the installation of new artwork in the City of Lawrence next month. The piece, named Through Other Eyes, was recently erected between the Lawrence Kansas Police Department and an adjacent trailhead. …The art piece is the work of Joe O’Connell with Creative Machine. He plans to give away 50 small, colorful glass spheres so attendees can take a piece of his artwork home with them.
Source: KSNT 27 News