Kansas Municipal News
Mission voters renew 0.375% sales tax for parks and rec
Mission voters opted to renew a 0.375% sales tax that funds city parks and recreation projects. In a special mail-in election this month, Mission residents have voted overwhelmingly to renew a three-eighths percent, or 0.375%, sales tax dedicated to the city’s parks and recreation department.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
City Commission to provide direction for Manhattan housing market analysis
Home prices continue to outpace income growth, and housing in Manhattan is getting more expensive. Manhattan city commissioners will take their second look at a housing market analysis …: There is a high cost of new homes in Manhattan. Sales trends indicate that the sales price for a home in 2012 that cost $222,000 cost $329,000 in 2021. The median house price is $232,000, which is far higher than regional neighbors. Topeka is at $117,000, Salina $138,000 and Junction City $166,000.
Source: themercury.com
Fort Scott City Manager Kelley Zellner heads to Caney, New Interim Jeff Hancock is Hired
The Fort Scott City Commission met on Sept. 22 to approve the severance agreement for City Manager Kelley Zellner, who resigned to pursue an employment opportunity in Caney, KS. … On Sept. 20, the City of Fort Scott hired Hancock as interim city manager, and appointed Brad Matkin, current Human Resource Director, to also become assistant city manager. … Hancock, from Camdenton, Missouri, is a consultant for Management Partners…
Source: Fort Scott Biz
‘Twin’ Amelia Earhart statue to be unveiled in Atchison Saturday
A new bronze statue of legendary Kansas aviator Amelia Earhart will be unveiled Saturday. The statue, which is being installed in the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, is identical to the bronze statue that was installed in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on July 27 of this year. This statue is being installed at the entrance to the new museum, which is officially opening next year. The public is invited to the unveiling celebration starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. … Thirteen-year-old Gabrielle Henry, Amelia Earhart’s great-great niece, will also be attending.
Source: KSN-TV
Lyon County Sheriff’s office finds missing bull, now we need an owner
A wandering bull escapes his home pasture and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find out where he belongs. “We need some help locating the owner of this Watusi bull,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook Friday around 9:40 a.m. 
Source: KSNT 27 News
Nemaha County prepares to send out county-wide survey
Nearly two years after the formation of the Nemaha County Planning Commission (NCPC), a county-wide survey is ready to send out to all Nemaha County households asking for residents’ opinions on various topics regarding life in Nemaha County. In 2019, during the development of the Soldier Creek Wind Farm in southern Nemaha County — surrounding the communities of Corning and Goff — it was apparent that Nemaha County residents were divided in their vision of what life in Nemaha County should look like. Therefore, the NCPC was formed to begin the initial steps of developing a comprehensive plan for Nemaha County.
Source: Sabetha Herald
Understanding a local brewery’s quandary
Lt. Gov. David Toland stopped in to learn firsthand about the dilemma facing microbrewery owner Pippin Williamson after Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, who’s also been trying to help Williamson navigate the situation, called him. The brewery is hosting the special nightly dinners in an effort to meet minimum food sale requirements to renew its license, after learning on Monday from state regulators their license was under threat. Probst has been researching the history of the law that requires the brewery to make 30% of its gross sales annually from serving food and what changes might be made to address it.
Source: Hutch News
‘How do we keep them here?’: Salina officials work to recruit young people in workforce
For several years, Salina area professionals have been enhancing efforts to attract and retain young adults in Saline County. These efforts are one part of a bigger puzzle officials are working on – glaring gaps in the local workforce. Salina isn’t unique from any other midwestern town in the fact that it has experienced brain drain – substantial emigration or migration of individuals – over the last several decades, as well as overall population loss. … So, how can communities like Salina attract workers and promote its variety of available jobs? The consensus from local experts seems to be focusing efforts on programs that help young people prosper.
Source: Salina Journal
Salina has tight rental market
Finding housing in Salina is more complicated than ever, and one sector of that industry, rental properties, isn’t immune from the confusion, as properties that come up for rent are occupied almost as fast as they open. The issues of rental properties are impacting both owners and managers of rentals and their tenants or perspective tenants. All types of housing are feeling the crunch. “We have people out looking for units to rent, and there’s just none available,” said Phil Nix, the executive director of the Salina Housing Authority. “And what does come on the market, rents rather quickly.”
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for September 23, 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.
Affordable housing complex in Baldwin can modernize nearly 40-year-old units; without ARPA aid, it would’ve taken another decade
Baldwin Retirement Apartment Complex Inc. … received $733,711, which will help the nonprofit modernize Jersey Street Apartment Suites, a 24-unit complex of one-bedroom apartments spread across four buildings. It will also allow for two of those units to be converted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it will allow a maintenance update that BRAC staff described to the Journal-World as crucial. It’s a project that definitely wouldn’t be happening if not for ARPA aid. In fact, it would be a 10-year project without it….
Source: LJWorld
Derby seeks to expand tools in addressing current housing market needs
Following completion of a housing study specific to Derby, presented to both the planning commission and City Council in the past month, two major needs were outlined in the community. The study showed a rather unique market need for homes targeted to households making more than $75,000 annually – as well as a more common demand for availability of units for households with an annual income below $25,000. In conjunction with the city’s comprehensive plan and eligibility for new programs, the housing study was completed to help the city determine ways to address both of those needs. City Planner Scott Knebel noted that a number of subsidy programs exist to help develop housing for lower income households, outlining those opportunities in a recent report to the council – while also pointing out their underutilization in Derby.
Source: Derby Informer | News
‘World class’ justice center sure to be inviting to public breaks ground in Lenexa
Lenexa leaders held a groundbreaking on Sept. 13, the ceremonial start of construction on the city’s new Justice Center at Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street. Completion is expected in the spring of 2024. “Our organization has needed a new facility for a significant amount of time. Setting aside the obvious deteriorating necessities such as air conditioning and plumbing, we need a space that will better allow our personnel to complete their work efficiently,” Police Sgt. Curtis Weber said. “On top of that, the police department needs to be a facility that is inviting and engaging for the community. Our current facility does not allow for that type of environment. The new Justice Center will allow our facility to reflect the standard our staff is expected to strive for: world-class.”
Source: KC Star
2-year Treasury tops 4.2%, a 15-year high as Fed continues to jolt short-term rates higher
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury fell on Friday as markets adjusted to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike and attention turned toward flash PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) data for September that is due to be released later in the day. … The policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury continued to hover around 4.1% after having risen off the back of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike. On Thursday, it had soared as high as 4.163% — a level not seen since October 2007… September flash PMI data is set to be released on Friday, giving markets preliminary insight into the economic state of the manufacturing and services industries for the month. PMI data is used as a key indicator for inflation and recession concerns as it reflects whether industries are growing or shrinking, as well as supply and demand.
Source: CNBC
Baldwin City to ask voters for additional half-cent sales tax to rehab brick streets
The Baldwin City government will ask city residents to approve on the November ballot an additional half cent of sales tax authority to be used to rehabilitate brick streets in its historic district. Baldwin City Mayor Casey Simoneau said that the City Council in June approved placing the sales tax referendum before voters. If approved, the additional half cent in sales tax, which would be permanent, would be added to the existing 1.25-cent sales tax the city collects on retail sales in Baldwin City to help pay for various infrastructure needs. With county and state sales taxes, approval of the measure would increase the total amount of sales tax charged in Baldwin City to 9.5 cents on $1 of retail sales.
Source: LJWorld
Scott City finally has leverage with problem trees
Individuals who are worried that a neighboring tree is a potential hazard for their property finally have a remedy. The Scott City Council has adopted an ordinance that offers a legal option to trim tree branches or remove dead or diseased trees from private property if they are a hazard to life or property, or if they harbor insects or disease that put other trees at risk.
Source: Scott County Record
Municipal Bond Trends for September 22, 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.
Garden City launches new customer service tool
The City of Garden City has launched a new customer service tool, My GCKS, a text messaging service that lets residents quickly and easily connect with the City 24/7 without the need to download an app. Launced in partnership with Citibot, the leading provider of interactive chat solutions for local government, My GCKS grew from feedback from public surveys in August of 2021 in which residents indicated support for using a texting option if it were available. With that information, Staff moved forward with the best text messaging options to fit the needs of the residents and the City.
Source: Greater Garden City
Wamego poverty simulation shines light on difficulties families face
The K-State Research and Extension Office recently hosted a poverty simulation at Wamego High School. Tuesday’s event, Living on the Edge – The Realities of Living Paycheck to Paycheck in Today’s World, was attended by about forty community members. Pottawatomie County Family Consumer Science Agent Erin Tynon explains. The decisions involved housing and utilities, clothing and laundry, meals, transportation, childcare, communications, personal care, recreation, and insurance. Each decision created decisions in other areas of the budget. If the family owned a used car, they had to use some of their budget for auto insurance. If they chose work-sponsored health insurance, they first had to obtain full-time childcare for the three-year-old.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Newton City Commissioner Vogts leaves a legacy of helping others, entrepreneurship
Newton City Commissioner Rod Kreie and Al Vogts used to dream out loud to each other about how to make Newton a better place to live. “Our relationship evolved to where we really liked being around each other,” Kreie said. “We looked at buildings and spaces together to see how they might fit into an overall master plan, talked about how to get people on board and his patent dream was to make Main Street an angle parking street.” Parallel parking had to change for things to work, Kreie said. Vogts died on Sept. 12 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita at the age of 62. Vogts, with a business degree under his belt, followed his brother’s and father’s paths to become an entrepreneur, according to his obituary. For the past 40 years, Vogts used his business plans for construction companies, an event center, real estate companies and developments, and an athletic training club, as well as other ideas for which he wanted to impact his community.
Source: Harvey County Now