Kansas Municipal News
Derby approves new pavement process for annexed neighborhoods
The final piece of Derby’s 2022 pavement rehabilitation project, which was approved by the City Council at its most recent meeting, addresses some unique situations within the city limits. Back in 2013, city policy was amended to allow for surfacing of sand/gravel in areas annexed into Derby (following a petition from residents). Residents in the annexed Farborough Estates, Oakridge Estates and Woodland Valley Estates took advantage of that policy and had their streets resurfaced with a cement-stabilized base and chip seal surface (super slurry).
Source: Derby Informer | News
Lawrence City Commission to consider utility rate increases and weigh options to expand assistance programs
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider water, sewer, solid waste and stormwater rate increases, and assess possible ways to expand a program to help financially stressed residents pay their bills. … Commissioners will discuss the options and obstacles attached to expanding its utility assistance program in light of probable utility rate increases. The city’s current “Low-Income Elderly Rate” program helps people ages 60 and older who are impoverished. To qualify, an older individual must make less than $14,168 from all income sources, or those with head-of-household status must have total household incomes of no more than $19,162, according to a city staff memo to the commission.
Source: The Lawrence Times
New jobs come to Hesston
Stanley Black & Decker, formerly Excel Industries, which manufactures Hustler-brand mowers sold nationwide, is expanding its workforce. The company aims to hire 70 employees over the next three months. Stanley Black & Decker, the world’s largest tools company and an outdoor equipment leader, is hiring employees at its Hesston plant to support its manufacturing of zero-turn radius mowers.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for September 19, 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.
10-year Treasury yield jumps to 3.51%, the highest level since 2011
Treasury yields ticked higher early Monday as traders anticipate the U.S. Federal Reserve’s next moves in the face of persistently high inflation. The yield on the 2-year Treasury bond rose 7 basis points to trade at 3.93% at 6:41 a.m. ET, trading around levels not seen since 2007. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, meanwhile, gained nearly 5 basis points to 3.494%. … The Fed’s two-day meeting is due to begin Tuesday, with most market participants expecting another 75-basis-point hike by the central bank. Some analysts have, however, argued the Fed could increase interest rates by a full point, or 100 basis points.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Recruiting ‘never really stops’ — Saline County schools seek backup school bus drivers
School districts in Saline County share a similar message when it comes to recruiting bus drivers — as many as they can employ, there is always room for more. While there is not a dire need for school bus drivers right now in Saline County, local schools never really stop recruiting for drivers. Southeast of Saline Superintendent Roger Stumpf said he has become a driver himself, filling in any gaps that may arise in the district’s routes.
Source: Salina Journal
KDHE Partnership Providing Free COVID-19 Tests for All Kansas Communities
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital, and Project ACT, is now offering free at-home COVID-19 tests to households in all Kansas communities. All Kansas households can now visit AccessCovidTests.org and enter their zip code to place an order for 5 at-home COVID-19 test kits. Amazon will deliver the test kits directly to your house. Frequent testing is especially important for those with more exposure outside the home, such as kids in school or people who spend time in a group setting. By visiting AccessCovidTests.org, Kansans will be able enter their zip code to order free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
KDOT to Receive $39.5M Over 5 Years for EV Charging Infrastructure
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Charge Up Kansas NEVI Plan has been approved and is set to receive $39.5 million total over the next five years under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The plan provides KDOT federal funds to help build a high-powered EV charging network across the state. Initial program funding will be matched with local funding to build direct current fast chargers (DCFC) along designated EV charging corridors. In Kansas, those corridors are I-70, I-35, I-135, I-335, U.S. 400 and U.S. 81 from I-70 north to the Nebraska state line (see map below). Once complete, this will result in nearly 1,600 miles of Kansas interstates and highways with readily accessible fast-charging stations.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Why is Bourbon County Shrinking?
…the most common question I get is, “Why are we shrinking?” Many people are quick the lay the blame on any number of local factors, but… ten primary reasons from my research over the years, which are listed below: 1. Rapid industrialization during and after WWII. 2. Change in tax policies to promote manufacturing. 3. Agricultural efficiencies and the drop of ag employment…
Source: Fort Scott Biz
Downtown Wichita sculptures will receive a pop of color from local artist
As many people flock to downtown Wichita for Open Streets ICT, there will be one event going on that will bring color to downtown long after this weekend. The sculptures in downtown Wichita will be receiving new decorations in the form of crocheted hats and even overalls. Tamara Gonzales posts many of her creations on her Instagram page @CrochetWithTamara. She also posted her idea to add overalls to the sculpture of the man reading there and that sparked her latest project. She took her idea to Wichita’s Division of Arts and Cultural Services with a unanimous vote to allow the crochet items on the sculptures. Now, she has items ready to go for all the sculptures in downtown Wichita. She plans to put them on Sunday morning before Open Streets ICT kicks off.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita pours millions of dollars into fixing Century II roof
If you look at the skyline of Wichita, it’s hard not to notice the round blue roof of Century II. However, in recent years that roof has fallen into disrepair. “We found flakes of the roof when we’ve been watering. So yes, the roof is deteriorating, the building looks rundown, it’s decrepit,” said Save Century II Chairperson Celeste Racette. The city is looking to fix that. On Tuesday the Wichita City Council will review a plan to spend just short of 10 million dollars on repairs to the historic building. Half of that will go to the roof. “Our goal is to just bring it up to the quality and a level that Wichitans should expect from any asset that they themselves actually own,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple.
Source: KAKE – News
Explosive device found in Parsons
A homemade bomb was found in Parsons Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to block an area. Around 2 p.m., Parsons police got a call for a suspicious object found in the 2700 block of Dirr. Officers arrived in the area and found the device tested positive for explosive material. Police called the Kansas Highway Patrol Hazardous Device Unit to collect and dispose of the device. Parsons Fire and Labette County Emergency Medical Services were staged in the area just in case the device detonated. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an Improvised Explosive Device is defined as a “homemade” bomb and/or destructive device to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract.
Source: KSN-TV
Johnson County solar farm project is pitting neighbor against neighbor
Frank Gieringer rides a flatbed trailer toward rows of apple trees loaded with Galas, Crimson Crisps and other varieties, ready for the picking. His family owns this bucolic orchard and berry farm outside Edgerton, Kansas. Just beyond its borders lie 2,000 acres of land, a potential location for the state’s first utility-scale solar farm. Gieringer says he’d welcome the new neighbor. “To really look at ‘em, it’s not a heck of a lot of difference than looking at an orchard or a vineyard really. It’s just rows of panels,” Gieringer says. “They’re harvesting sun. Same thing I’m doin’. All of agriculture sells the sunshine.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
Lawrence City Commission to consider 30-minute total limit and signups for general public comment
A revised draft of a city ordinance would limit general public comment during Lawrence City Commission meetings to 30 minutes total and require advance signup, and it suggests that comments won’t be livestreamed. It also adds more specific language regarding decorum and restricts the public’s ability to request that items be removed from the consent agenda. The proposed changes come after commissioners, following the end of an executive (closed-door) session and before their regular meeting began on Aug. 9, voted unanimously to “Direct staff to return with proposals regarding operations of the City Commission meetings to enable the Commission to be more efficient while complying with both the Kansas Open Meetings Act and the First amendment.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for September 16, 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.
Salina parks, trails keep people active, connect the community
There are a lot of ways to stay entertained in the greater Salina area, and for those who enjoy exploring outdoors, the city certainly has a few places to offer. Salina has a robust trail system and several parks that are interconnected by paths throughout the city. … Salina has 21 total miles of completed trails to offer, both aggregate and concrete. The trail system serves a dual purpose; the town is essentially surrounded by 21 miles of levee to prevent flooding from the nearby Smoky Hill River, which used to run through the city. So, the levee doubles in as a path that makes the city more interconnected and accessible on foot.
Source: Salina Journal
Johnson County commissioners vote to recommend increase in sheriff’s deputy salaries
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to recommend a plan that would increase pay for incoming sheriff deputies. After a presentation on a loss of deputies at the sheriff’s office, commissioners voted 4-2, with one absent, to recommend the staff consider a proposal from human resources to increase the minimum and maximum potential salaries of sheriff’s deputies with an annual planned increase in pay. The sheriff’s office, which employs just over 500 deputies along with civilian employees, pushed for salary increases after experiencing a higher vacancy rate than normal. There are 69 deputy vacancies in the office, according to a presentation made to the board by human resources and sheriff’s office officials. They said the openings have led to reduced community policing and staffing in jails and court security.
Source: KC Star
2-year Treasury note tops 3.9% as investors anticipate further Fed rate hikes
U.S Treasury yields rose further on Friday after major indices were down in premarket trading as investors anticipated further interest rate hikes to curb inflation. The Yield on the 2-year Treasury bond climbed above 3.9%, a level it had not seen since 2007. … The 2-year Treasury is highly sensitive to policy decisions as it is widely recognized as in indicator of how investors think central bank policy will develop in the near future. … robust economic data indicated to investors that the Fed could comfortably continue hiking interest rates without running the risk of putting too much pressure on the economy.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
City of Ellis initiates TNR program
The City of Ellis initiated a Trap-Neuter (or spay)-Return (TNR) program on Thursday, Sept. 15. According to the Ellis Police Department (EPD), in the first round of trapping, near the intersection of Walnut St & E 11th St, a mama and her four kittens were caught. … “If these cats are not claimed in three days time, they will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and returned to the area in which they are caught.” The EPD says the program began in order to control the community cat population in the city.
Source: KSN-TV
Sen. Moran stops by to congratulate Hiawatha PD on technology grant
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran stopped by Hiawatha City Hall Thursday afternoon to visit with city officials and members of the police department about a grant he helped the city obtain. It was shortly after 2 p.m. when Sen. Moran stopped by City Hall. There he met with city officials including City Administrator Larry Paine, Mayor Bill Collins, Police Chief Mickey Gruber, among other police personnel. As the lead Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies, Sen. Moran helped secure $30,000 in federal funds for the Hiawatha Police Department to replace outdated technology.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com