Kansas Municipal News
Downtown Hiawatha comes to life with annual Maple Leaf Festival
Downtown Hiawatha is the place to be on Saturday for the annual Maple Leaf Festival. Sponsored by the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau, the Maple Leaf Festival promises more than 60 craft and food vendors, inflatables and other children’s activities, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, live music, a car show and much more. Events kick off at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. around the courthouse square. Streets will be blocked off around the square for the occasion. The Brown County Historical Society trolley will be picking up festival-goers on the Southwest side of the courthouse square for free rides out to Heritage Days at the Historical Society’s Ag Museum.
Source: Local News | hiawathaworldonline.com
Hearing set to update Paola’s building and fire codes
The city of Paola plans to transition to the 2018 International Building and Fire Codes, mirroring adoptions that have already been made by the cities of Louisburg and Osawatomie, as well as Miami County. Paola City Council members agreed, during their Sept. 13 meeting, to schedule a public hearing for 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Paola Justice Center to receive feedback on the proposed 2018 Building and Fire Code updated draft. Paola has been using the 2006 International Building Codes and the 2006 International Fire Code. City officials discussed updating the codes during a work session earlier this month and pointed out that the county and nearby cities are already using the 2018 codes.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
The Fed forecasts hiking rates as high as 4.6% before ending inflation fight
The Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to up to 4.6% in 2023 before the central bank stops its fight against soaring inflation, according to its median forecast released on Wednesday. The central bank on Wednesday raised benchmark interest rates by another three-quarters of a percentage point to a range of 3%-3.25%, the highest since early 2008. The so-called dot-plot, which the Fed uses to signal its outlook for the path of interest rates, showed six of the 19 “dots” would take rates even higher to a 4.75%-5% range next year.
Source: CNBC
Winfield city clerk Brenda Peters retires
Winfield city clerk Brenda Peters is retiring Monday after 27 years of working with the City of Winfield. Peters was hired as deputy city clerk in October 1995, working with previous clerk Diane Rosecrans. She was hired as the city clerk in 2009. Before coming to Winfield, Peters was the clerk for two cities in Wyoming. Peters said she has most enjoyed the people she works with, calling the City of Winfield, “The best place I’ve ever worked.” She also said she enjoys providing services to the community and helping people find what they need.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
City of Olpe sees positive response during community meet and greet to introduce new community fitness park
The City of Olpe was able to gain valuable feedback and input from local residents on a planned multi-million dollar community improvement project currently in the works. The city hosted an alumni and community meet and greet inside of the Olpe Knights of Columbus Hall Saturday afternoon for that exact purpose. Along with a spaghetti dinner and bingo, the afternoon also featured a presentation on the city’s planned fitness facility project. USD 252 Southern Lyon County Superintendent Mike Argabright led the presentation saying the community’s response was overwhelmingly positive towards the prospect.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Dodge City approves Sunday liquor sales
City commissioners in Dodge City have approved an ordinance allowing liquor and malt beverage sales on Sundays and some holidays. … Now liquor and malt beverages can be sold from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays except for Easter. Alcohol can also be purchased on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
Source: KAKE – News
Paola renews modified new housing incentive program
New home construction is on the rise in Paola, and city officials want to maintain the momentum. Paola City Council members, during their Sept. 13 meeting, agreed to renew the city’s housing construction incentive program that was set to expire Sept. 30. The program typically is reviewed each September and either renewed, modified or allowed to expire. The approved program was modified though to help offset losses in the city’s water fund. Previously, the incentive gave new home developers a reduction in building permit cost, plan review cost, and water and sewer connection fees on a sliding scale based on construction valuation.
Source: republic-online.com
Relax on the river: Quenemo celebrates life along the Marais des Cygnes
Quenemo will be celebrating the town’s riverbank heritage with the Marais des Cygnes River Valley Festival, scheduled for 2-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. The day full of fun and entertainment features historical reenactors, live music, vendors, parade, dancers, and touch-a-truck. Quenemo historical items will be on display at the community center, presented by curator
Source: Osage County News
Labette County explores idea of zoning
The Labette County Commission is exploring the option of zoning the entire county. The commissioners voted 2-1 to appoint people to join the Labette County Planning and Zoning Board and the Labette County Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals at Monday’s meeting. There is a possibility of the county being zoned and excluding wind farms, but it is all part of the plan the board will work on in the coming months. Nothing is set in stone yet with zoning as the commissioners just appointed people to the board Monday.
Source: Parsons Sun
Leawood residents will have chance to weigh in on city’s pit bull ban
Following several weeks of discussion, a divided Leawood City Council voted Monday to approve conducting a community-wide survey that asks residents to weigh in on the city’s current dangerous animals ordinance, which bans pit bulls. Leawood is the last Johnson County city currently with a pit bull ban still in place.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for September 20, 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 expected to hike rates by three-quarters of a point again, but its forecast may matter most
It’s not what the Federal Reserve does, but what it says it could do in the future that will be most crucial when the central bank winds down its two-day meeting Wednesday. The Fed is expected to fire off another three-quarter point rate hike — its third in a row. It will also release new quarterly forecasts for inflation, the economy, and the future path of interest rates Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. The Fed’s projections are always important, but this time they are even more so because investors have been trying to game how high the Fed will raise interest rates and how much officials expect their actions could impact the economy.
Source: CNBC
Garden City launches new text messaging service
Garden City has launched a new text messaging service for residents. My GCKS will allow residents to ask questions of city officials and request services, as well as receive alerts about everything from severe weather, to roadwork and utility issues. Last August, the city conducted a survey of residents asking a variety of questions about communication from the city. From the survey, they learned that many residents would prefer a text messaging option. … More details can be found on the city’s website.
Source: KSN-TV
Lawrence Police Department training to help kids experiencing trauma
Lawrence Police Officers are being trained this week on the best way to handle children who are exposed to trauma. The training is called “Handle with Care,” and involves School Resource Officers, Lawrence Public Schools, and the Douglas County advocacy group, DCCCA. The training shows officers how to notify schools when a child is encountered at the scene of a traumatic event. A simple private message will be sent to the child’s school. The message has the child’s name, grade, and “Handle with Care.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Overland Park approves ordinance regulating nuisance parties
Overland Park approved a new ordinance Monday regulating nuisance parties. The city council unanimously approved the measure, which help police deal with properties where people are violating noise ordinances, using drugs or alcohol illegally, damaging property, littering, creating parking or traffic issues and more. In addition to citing individuals physically at the properties, the ordinance will allow Overland Park police officers to issue fines of up to $500 against the renter or owner of the problem properties for violations.
Source: KMBC.com
10Y Treasury Yield Surges To Highest In A Decade As Fed Decision Looms
The benchmark Treasury Yield rose to its highest level since April 2011 as investors brace for another major interest rate hike this week. 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield climbed to the highest level since April 2011 as markets brace for a third straight 75 basis points interest rate hike at the Fed’s Wednesday. The benchmark 10-year yield rose six basis points to over 3.5%, a new decade high…. The jump comes as investors await the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Sept. 20-21, when the U.S. central bank is almost widely expected to deliver another 75 bps interest rate hike after two in July and August.
Source: Investing.com
Wichita Fire Department building temporary station to help response times around Amidon bridge construction
The Amidon bridge is a vital artery for traffic for north and west Wichita. Darrin Smith lives right at the bridge’s south end and says he uses it constantly. “Sometimes two, three times a day just to go over to the grocery stores, or to grab a coffee or just something to eat really quick, or even the gym,” he told KAKE Monday. The City of Wichita started prep work to tear down the bridge and replace in on Monday. It a project that could last up to a year and a half. Smith says the work has led some of his neighbors to be concerned about emergency response to their neighborhood, since the closest fire station to them is north of the bridge.
Source: KAKE – News
Augusta to consider overturning breed-specific dog ban
The Augusta City Council on Monday will be considering the first draft of a revised animal control ordinance that would do away with banning specific dog breeds. The ordinance will be discussed at the council’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. City Code Ch. 2, Article 1, 2-114 Dangerous Dogs; prohibited states, “It shall be unlawful for any person or legal entity to keep, harbor or in any way possess a dangerous dog as defined by this article within the limits of the City of Augusta, Kansas.” “The current draft of the revised city ordinance would continue to address dangerous animals, but the provisions would no longer be breed-specific or prohibit certain breeds from existing within the city,” the city said on Facebook.
Source: KAKE – News
New state website focuses on investor education
The Kansas Insurance Commissioner and Securities Commissioner have jointly announced a new state website to educate individual investors and help them avoid fraud. SmartInvestKS.com uses a sports theme to help teach Kansas investors how to invest wisely and avoid fraud. “Over a century ago, Kansas became the first state in the country to pass laws protecting consumers and their investments,” says Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “The investment world looks different than it did back then but our commitment to protecting Kansans remains steadfast.” Securities Commissioner Dan Klucas says that the financial damage that can be inflicted by investment fraud can rarely be undone.
Source: KSN-TV
Prairie Village City Hall to undergo first major renovation in quarter century
The Prairie Village City Council earlier this month unanimously approved a $130,000 contract to jump start the design process for a city hall renovation. The project will be the first large-scale renovation of Prairie Village’s municipal campus on Mission Road since 1996, according to city documents. Melissa Prenger, senior project manager for the city, told the city council on Sept. 6 this is the result of knowing city staff is outgrowing its space at City Hall.
Source: Prairie Village Post