Kansas Municipal News
City of Emporia unveils results of recent citywide operations survey
The results of a recent citywide survey will go a long way in helping city administration improve operations at every level. The survey was sent out to local residents back in August and City Manager Trey Cocking was very pleased with the response as right around 480 community members offered feedback. According to Cocking the largest response came in central Emporia, which he says is not a surprise. However; Cocking says the responses from north and south Emporia was very uplifting. Overall, Cocking says the results were mixed with very few surprises. Unfortunately, this includes a less than satisfactory response regarding transparency from city government.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
De Soto latest JoCo school district to stock Narcan to prevent opioid overdoses
Nurses at middle and high schools in USD 232 in De Soto will now be equipped with Narcan, a nasal spray that aims to quickly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. Why it matters: This comes about a year after the death of 16-year-old Cooper Davis, a USD 232 student whose parents say he died after taking a pill he didn’t know was laced with fentanyl, a powerful opioid. The details: Alvie Cater, a district spokesperson, told the Post via email that the De Soto school board supported an agreement with the county to implement an “opioid antagonist protocol.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
Governor Laura Kelly celebrates legacy of Amelia Earhart with statue unveiling in Atchison
Governor Laura Kelly today joined the Amelia Earhart Foundation in honoring its namesake with a statue unveiling ceremony. The bronze statue, located at the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, is the sister statue of the one that was installed in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol in July. “How better to cement our state’s legacy as the Air Capitol of the World than with a statue at the museum that celebrates a woman who showed all of us what it means to “reach for the stars,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I want to express my deepest appreciation for this museum and for this immortalization of an extraordinary individual who truly represents the best of the Kansas spirit.”
Source: Western Kansas News
Butler County voters to consider food-service requirement with liquor licenses
Butler County business owners are closely watching an issue that will be presented in a question on the Nov. 8 general-election ballot. Butler County voters will decide whether businesses with liquor licenses should be required to make 30% of their sales from food. A “yes” vote would eliminate this requirement while a “no” vote means nothing will change. “For businesses, if you’re going to have a liquor license, as a restaurant, you have to hit the minimum of 30% food sales. For some people like myself, it’s not a problem. For others, it’s a big struggle, said Shane Scott, owner of Sugar Shane’s Café, in Augusta. “(For) a small business, it can be a really big struggle.”
Source: KWCH
Municipal Bond Trends for September 26, 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.
Muni yields rise amid global bond market volatility
Municipal yields climbed again Monday amid elevated secondary selling pressure following a major U.S. Treasury selloff while equities also ended in the red as global bond market uncertainties rattle all markets. Triple-A municipal yields rose as much as 18 basis points on the short end, with the one-year just below or above 3%, further flattening the curve. The two-year UST hit 4.3% while the 10-year climbed 21 basis points Monday.
Source: The Bond Buyer
2-year Treasury tops 4.3% as yields rise following Fed rate hikes
Yields soared on Monday, with the 2-year Treasury reaching a fresh 15-year high, as markets digested the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes and looked toward economic commentary from Fed speakers. The yield on the policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury briefly climbed above 4.3%, hitting levels last seen in 2007. … The benchmark 10-year Treasury also climbed higher, with its yield up 6 basis points to 3.7668%.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Wichita begins new program to prevent violent crime
The City of Wichita will be working with a consulting firm on a Violence Interrupter Program that will work with community leaders to reduce gun violence. The City Council has approved an agreement with the consulting firm Cure Violence Global, which began in Chicago and operates in a number of U.S. cities. Assistant City Manager Donte Martin said the program will provide an understanding of violent behavioral outcomes and risk factors. He said Cure Violence will work with community organizations and train Wichita residents on the program that will be created. Funding will be provided to local organizations that work in youth development and violence prevention.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Fort Scott City Clerk Diane Clay Retires On Oct. 1
Diane Clay’s first job with the City of Fort Scott was as Administrative Assistant to the City Manager Richard U. Nienstedt in March 1998. Her last day on the job is October 1, 2022. “I have been employed for 24 years…with the City of Fort Scott,” she said. “I have been City Clerk 23 of those years.” For many, Clay was the first contact with the city that citizens had. And for this reporter, she was always helpful and timely in her responses to questions.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
Legislators float proposal to lower property taxes by reviving dormant LAVTR fund
A three-part proposal to reduce property taxes could save Kansas homeowners millions, Democratic lawmakers said during a news conference Monday at the Statehouse. Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, and Rep. Mike Amyx, D-Lawrence, released the plan for consideration in the next legislative session, which begins in January. The plan includes reducing residential property assessment rates from 11.5% to 9%, financing a statewide property tax reduction fund and raising residential property exemptions from the state mill levy that funds public schools. Miller and Amyx want to refinance the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund, which was designed to help local governments lower property taxes. The fund was suspended in 2002, but the two believe the state government now has enough funds to resume payments.
Source: Kansas Reflector
70,000 attend McConnell open house and air show
The free air show at McConnell Air Force Base appears to have been a big success this past weekend. Organizers say approximately 70,000 people attended the Frontiers in Flight Open House and Air Show. It was the first air show at McConnell in four years. They plan to hold the next one in 2024, most likely in September. In addition to enjoying the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and other flying acts, visitors were able to get an inside look at dozens of planes and vehicles on display.
Source: KSN-TV
SEK attorney & municipal judge to serve as honorary bailiff for Supreme Court special session in Parsons
Longtime attorney and municipal judge Rick Tucker has had his share of days in court, but he will take on a new role when the Supreme Court comes to Parsons. Tucker was selected to be honorary bailiff at the Supreme Court’s special session, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday, October 3, at Parsons High School. “I am excited to be able to ‘suit up’ and serve as bailiff for the Supreme Court in the presence of my community,” Tucker said. Chief Judge Lori Bolton-Fleming nominated Tucker for the position, noting his nearly half-century of service to the southeast Kansas legal community.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Johnson County Library patron returns video tape 19 years after it was due
Staff at the Johnson County Central Resource Library saw a particularly unusual return last week when a patron brought back a video tape 19 years after it was originally due. The patron returned a copy of the Oscar-winning Russian language film “Burnt by the Sun” on VHS — a type of media staff say the library largely doesn’t carry anymore.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Dodge City residents to vote on various tax initiatives
On November 8, 2022, Dodge City voters will have the opportunity to consider a one-half percent, or 0.50% retail sales tax increase on the ballot. … This special dedicated sales tax can only be used to provide City of Dodge City property tax relief (4 mills in 2024), costs of street improvements and associated utilities. Associated utilities refer to water and sewer lines, most of which are 50 to 100+ years old and located within the streets to be reconstructed and repaired. If approved, the Sales Tax will generate approximately $3.5 million dollars a year to be used to reduce property tax and for street improvements.
Source: Western Kansas News
Teachers cite salaries, work-life balance among top reasons for leaving Lawrence Public Schools
The Lawrence school board on Monday heard a report including specific reasons why teachers are leaving the district, like low salaries and overflowing class sizes, as well as an update on the district’s efforts to better recruit and retain employees. Members of the district’s Human Resources team, including Executive Director Kristen Ryan, Director of Human Resources and Safety Ron May, Director Sarah Hamlin, and Facilitator of Recruitment and Retention Kaitlin Shulman, presented to the board their findings from last school year’s survey on exiting certified staff. As of May 2021, approximately 150 teachers were exiting the district for a variety of reasons. The HR team conducted an exit survey to ask teachers their reasons for leaving. 86 out of the approximately 150 teachers participated.
Source: The Lawrence Times
2-Year Yields Indicate Fed Funds Rate Could Rise Another 2%
One major theme of 2022 is the Federal Reserve raising to squash. Case in point, the Fed raised rates another 75 basis points on Wednesday. Will this be enough? What’s to come of interest rates? That question brings us to today’s chart, where we compare Fed Funds to the (a good short-term gauge of interest rates). As you can see, the 2-year yield and Fed Funds have been pretty correlated over the past 30 years. Typically, the 2-year yield leads Fed Funds on the way up and down. But what happens when it reaches extremes? Because this is what we have today.
Source: Bonds Analysis & Opinion
Wichita Libraries Waiving Long-Overdue Fees During “Amnesty Week”
Wichita Public Library will host Amnesty Week September 26-October 2, 2022 to give customers the opportunity to return long overdue materials and have processing and replacement fees eliminated. This is an effort to reintroduce lapsed customers to the Library and get lost materials back into circulation. During this week, customers with materials considered long overdue (multiple months or years not returned) can visit any seven Wichita Public Library locations and return materials at the front desk, no questions asked, no matter the condition.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Greater Andover Days Begins Friday
Greater Andover Days kicks off next weekend It runs from Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd, at Central Park in Andover (1609 E. Central Ave.). Greater Andover Days is a family-friendly festival that features food trucks, live music, kid’s activities, fireworks, Zumba, a car show, golf tournament and more.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Marion County towns working together for SEED grant
The Marion County Board of Commissioners met for their regular meeting on Monday and opened with information from Hillsboro City Administrator Matt Stiles. Stiles informed the commissioners that he, along with several others, is applying for the KDOC SEED grant. “It’s for a lot of different things, but we are looking at helping grocery stores primarily. I’m trying to put everyone together so we don’t have a bunch of applications from the county since it can only be awarded once to the county,” said Stiles. There are several items on the list from multiple towns in Marion County and this way will allow all of the places to benefit.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press