Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for November 21, 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.
Douglas County invites community to discuss process to move to 5 commission districts
Douglas County leaders will hold a community meeting to discuss the process of moving to five commissioner districts. Voters in the Nov. 8 election voted roughly 61% to 39% to add two additional commissioner districts to the current three. During the meeting, “County Clerk Jamie Shew will provide an overview of the process for moving to five districts. There will be an opportunity for the public to weigh in on the districts during roundtable discussions at the meeting,” according to information from the county. “The Board of County Commissioners will adopt a resolution outlining the new districts before or on Jan. 1, 2023. All of the districts need to be contiguous and have the same population size.” … What happens after the resolution is adopted will be determined by Gov. Laura Kelly, according to the county. Kelly — with advice from the county commission — will either declare election for new districts at the next general election, which will be in November 2024, or call for a special election to be held between 75 and 90 days from the date of the board resolution, according to the county.
Source: The Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence reveals new logo as part of brand update process
he City of Lawrence has revealed its new logo as part of an ongoing update to the city’s brand and marketing strategies. The logo continues to use a symbol that represents both a flame and a phoenix, a reference to the city’s abolitionist roots and struggles against pro-slavery factions leading up to the Civil War, but with some updates. City spokesperson Maureen Brady said that public input sessions showed that the community had a strong connection to the flame and phoenix logo, so the design was refreshed rather than created anew.
Source: LJWorld
Fed’s Mester wants more progress on inflation before ending interest rate hikes
Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said Monday inflation will need to show more signs of progress before she’s ready to stop advocating for interest rate increases. While acknowledging that recent data has been encouraging, the central bank official told CNBC that the progress is only a start. “We’re going to have more work to do, because we need to see inflation really on a sustainable downward path back to 2%,” she said in a live “Closing Bell” interview with Sara Eisen. “We’ve had some good news on the inflation front, but we need to see more good news and sustained good news to make sure that we are returning to price stability as soon as we can.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Former Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay Announces Intention to Sue the City of Wichita
Former Wichita Police Dept. Chief Gordon Ramsay is intending to sue the City of Wichita. A notice was released on Monday, November 21st from Wichita Attorney James Thompson in which Ramsay accuses city leaders of undermining him in police investigations and discipline, as well as defamation and corruption. Wichita City Manager Robert Layton and City of Wichita Human Resources Director Chris Bezruki were directly named in the notice. Ramsay alleges an “inappropriate relationship” between Bezruki and the Fraternal Order of Police. Also alleged is that both Layton and Bezruki covered up misconduct and lied about their knowledge of incidents involving several investigations stemming from inappropriate text messages shared between WPD officers.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Sedgwick is looking for alternatives to the current internet service
Sedgwick council member Brenda DeHaven said she had Cox Communications service outage update placed on last week’s agenda so people know it’s an issue the council is aware of and that they’re trying to think of solutions. She said that everyone’s Cox service that she knows is having issues. “It’s spotty. It’ll go out. Sometimes we have to reboot,” DeHaven said. “It’s been for months. And they always say we are aware there’s an issue in your area. That’s their excuse you get every time.” She asked about City Hall’s service and City Clerk Janise Enterkin said the phones have been in and out for the last several months.
Source: Harvey County Now
Keeping rural restaurants alive saves more than supper
A central Kansas bar’s struggle to survive is indicative of broader challenges facing many small-town eateries. For those that make it, a willingness to adapt and community support often prove crucial. Residents often aren’t just keeping open a place to eat, they’re keeping a vital part of the community fabric from unraveling. Here are the stories of survivors, both those waiting things out and restaurants that have returned from the brink.
Source: KLC Journal
New website launched for Century II
Wichita’s Century II on Monday launched an updated website at century2.com. The previous site was century2.org, but the old address will redirect to the newly updated site. According to ASM, the new website is designed to drive ticket sales and showcase the venue for the fans and the community. Visitors will see upcoming events featured on the home page. “We’re thrilled to launch a completely reimagined website which marks another step forward in modernizing the look and feel of the Century II brand and identity on not only a local, but a national level,” said Christine Pileckas, director of booking and marketing. “As we continue to make strides towards an enhanced guest experience, this all-new website will set the tone, allowing fans to seamlessly navigate through upcoming event information, venue policies and more.”
Source: KSN-TV
NLC and the Local Infrastructure Hub Launch New Series of ‘Bootcamps’ to Help Small, Mid-Sized Cities and Towns Apply for Federal Infrastructure Grants
Building on the successes of bootcamps underway, the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Local Infrastructure Hub have expanded their offerings and are launching five new bootcamps starting in January. These training courses are designed to help cities, towns, and villages develop competitive funding applications for federal grants made available to cities as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This next round of support will focus on five grant opportunities that address energy efficiency and conservation, EV and charging infrastructure, roadway safety planning, roadway safety implementation, and brownfields activities.
Source: nlc.org
Emporia selected to participate in USDA Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced that the agency is awarding $4 million in cooperative agreements to 17 organizations under its Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge program. RPIC provides planning support, technical assistance, and training to encourage placemaking activities in rural communities. Funds can be used to help build capacity for broadband access, preserve cultural and historic structures, and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces.
Source: Emporia Gazette
New tech could mean faster traffic stops in Shawnee County
Topeka-area drivers could soon have a faster ticketing experience when pulled over by a Shawnee County sheriff’s deputy. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office plans to pay $159,000 for e-ticketing from vendor Tyler Technologies, Lt. Justin Vest told the Shawnee County Commission on Thursday. Commissioners asked if it’s going to make more work for officers inputting information. “Actually, it’s going to create less work,” Vest said. “And so it’s going to improve officer safety because officers will just scan the driver’s license …”
Source: CJonline
Washburn collaborating with GO Topeka on local business development
It really has been a chicken-and-egg type of situation for GO Topeka and the Washburn University School of Business. For years, the economic development organization had supported the business school’s endeavors, including financial support for the annual pitch competition for budding, entrepreneurial business students. It’s all been part of a goal of growing the local economy by developing and promoting young talent, especially that at Washburn. But the challenge, representatives from the two organizations have often found, is that the very same young people who can create economic opportunities often leave Topeka because they haven’t found it here.
Source: CJonline
GBED competition will bring businesses to Barton County
Great Bend Economic Development launched a competition Friday that will result in one entrepreneur winning $50,000 to open/start a business in Barton County. A total of $95,000 will be given away at the end of the IGNITE Rural Business competition, including $50,000 to the grand finale winner in October of 2023. Second place will be awarded $30,000 and third place gets $10,000, according to GBED President Sara Arnberger. Those following along the journey of the competition will vote online for the People’s Choice Award and award a business with $5,000. New inventions/businesses are encouraged to apply as well as startups.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Municipal Bond Trends for November 18, 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.
Students seek civic service with the Engage Dodge program
Presenting the youngest class to graduate from the City of Dodge City’s Engage Dodge program! Dodge City High School and Dodge City Community College students were honored Nov. 16 for their dedication to learning all the facets of civic engagement during the six-week Engage Dodge course. They were presented with certificates and street signs bearing their names. …Dodge City USD 443 ESOL and Diversity Engagement Coordinator Blanca Soto said… “Our hope is they will share the information they learned with their friends and families.”
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Emporia Spanish Speakers luncheon tackles community inclusion, cohesion
Can a city truly be bilingual? That was the question Emporia Spanish Speakers attempted to answer at its luncheon event with the Kansas Leadership Center Wednesday afternoon. ESS members, community leaders and Emporia residents gathered in The Next Level bar above Casa Ramos Wednesday for a luncheon discussion about the future of a bilingual Emporia. The conversation was sparked by Emporia Spanish Speakers’ recent feature in a state publication… Can one city have two languages? For ESS Founder and Director Lelan Dains, the answer is simple: Sí. Yes.. “When we think about bilingualism we tend to think about native Spanish speakers who learn English,” Dains said. “That is the predominant form of bilingualism that we find in Kansas, it’s absolutely the predominant form here in Emporia and if I can be so frank it has been the expectation of us native English speakers that the obligation is upon them to learn English.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Wichita has had a record number of pedestrian deaths already this year, data shows
A man who was killed Tuesday while crossing South Seneca is the latest in a record number of pedestrians killed in Wichita this year. This year’s number of pedestrian fatalities is roughly three times higher than it was for 18 years — before a spike in the past four years. Police records on pedestrian deaths, which go back to 2000, show that Wichita had five or fewer deaths each year until 2018, when eight people were killed. There were 11 in 2021; and there have been 14 so far this year.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Chetopa beer sales on Sundays to begin in January
Chetopa residents will be able to purchase beer on Sundays in the near future. The Chetopa City Council gave its approval for the ordinance Nov. 1. Sixty-one days from now the ordinance will go into effect, so around the middle of January. It had to be published twice in the Labette Avenue newspaper. The second notice was published today, Chetopa City Clerk Toni Crumrine said. Once it goes into effect, people will be able to buy beer from noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Source: Parsons Sun
New National Broadband Map Offers Granular Look at Service and Gaps
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday released an initial draft of a national map showing in greater detail than ever before what locations in the country have broadband service. The move is a major step toward making sure roughly $42 billion to increase high-speed internet service that was included in last year’s bipartisan infrastructure law goes to the places that need upgraded connections the most. The prior map used to distribute federal dollars has been criticized because of its lack of detail about service availability.
Source: Route Fifty – All Content
USD 383 prepares to name Eric Reid as next superintendent
The Manhattan-Ogden school board will officially consider naming assistant superintendent Eric Reid as the next superintendent. Board president Curt Herrman this week said the board would vote on the matter, which the board previously approved as a succession plan, at the meeting Dec. 7. If approved next month, Reid will replace Marvin Wade, who will leave June 30 after the board accepted his retirement during Wednesday’s meeting. Reid is no stranger to serving as superintendent. He was the leader of USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo for four years before joining USD 383 in 2015. Reid replaced Robert Seymour, who retired from the assistant superintendent position.
Source: themercury.com