Kansas Municipal News
Housing study adopted to help guide Derby’s growth opportunities
As part of the Vision Derby 2040 comprehensive plan, housing diversity – to meet the needs of a variety of age groups and income ranges – was outlined as a key tool for Derby’s future success. In line with meeting those needs, and securing resources to help do so, the planning commission received and filed an updated housing study at its Sept. 1 meeting. The new study will serve as the current housing needs analysis for Derby. Like the previous analysis done based off the 2017 census, the new housing study indicates that Derby still has a shortage of affordable housing.
Source: Derby Informer | News
‘I don’t want anybody to go through what we did’: Sedgwick County and partners launch new fentanyl awareness campaign
Law enforcement, along with Sedgwick County and City of Wichita leaders, launched a new fentanyl awareness campaign Thursday. “One Pill Can Kill” aims to educate teens and parents about the dangers of fentanyl. Sedgwick County released a series of videos about the drug, secret emoji codes used in drug trafficking and how to spot an overdose. “We need people to be able to speak up and address the issues that are taking place, because it’s about saving souls,” Interim Chief of the Wichita Police Department Lem Moore said. In 2018, 98 people died from a fentanyl overdose in Sedgwick County, and 242 died in 2021, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter. This year, he said the county is on track to see over 300 people to die of the same cause.
Source: KAKE – News
Changing Topeka’s story
Topeka is remaking itself. It’s been a long road, but the Capital City has improved its quality of life and its image the past several years, spurred by downtown revitalization and increasing community-wide collaboration. One community leader says Topeka has “fallen in love with itself again.” And it’s better off than many residents might think, despite persistent problems. But optimism still battles pessimism in Topeka.
Source: KLC Journal
Augusta to reconsider ban on some dog breeds
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sept. 7, the City of Augusta announced that it will reconsider its dog breed ban at its next meeting that is scheduled for later this month. “The City Council will begin considering a preliminary first draft of a revised animal control ordinance at their next regular meeting on September 19th, overturning the existing dog breed ban in the City of Augusta,” said the Facebook post. The city says the current draft of the revised city ordinance will continue to address dangerous animals but that the provisions will no longer be breed-specific or prohibit certain breeds from existing within the community.
Source: KSN-TV
Mayor Padilla receives second wave of art as the Topeka’s art initiative continues
You may have seen some of the art in City Hall, but now it has a new home. The Mayor’s Art Initiative in Topeka wrapped up its first showing on Wednesday. Art that was displayed in Mayor Mike Padilla’s office is now on display at 785 Arts on 6th Avenue. Some of the artists attended to receive recognition and engage with the public. “It’s a good way to get exposure for many artists who don’t have an opportunity to be in a gallery otherwise,” 785 Arts Gallerist Lisa LaRue-Baker. “This might give them a break into the art world in Topeka.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Leawood Foundation raising funds for permanent restrooms on city trails
The Leawood Foundation, an organization that funds city amenities that might not be funded by tax dollars, is working to add public restrooms along the city’s trail system. Project details: As one of the organization’s 2022 initiatives, the foundation has begun raising funds to build permanent restrooms along city trails. The foundation appears to focus specifically on adding restrooms along the Tomahawk Creek Trail first, with plans for a permanent restroom adjacent to the north lake.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Labor Day Bash: Atlanta community hosts three-day celebration
The 137th annual Labor Day Celebration, “Sweet Home Atlanta,” was last weekend, and visitors to Atlanta on Monday started lining up on Main Street about 9 a.m. to get a good spot for watching the annual parade scheduled to begin at 10:30, just after the kiddie parade. … The main parade began at the baseball field at 10:30 and lasted until about 11:15. There were 32 entries that signed up for judging plus the Central High School band, along with assorted fire engines and others who arrived too late to be judged. Eight classic and antique trucks and cars were also in the parade. Some were later exhibited in the car show.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Scott City looks at reducing fee for produce vendors
How many watermelon or ears of corn must one sell to cover the City of Scott City’s vendor fee? City council members are in general agreement the answer is “too many,” which is why they are looking at the prospect of waiving that fee for individuals selling farm and garden produce. Police Chief David Post expressed concern during Tuesday’s council meeting that the current vendor fee seems excessive.” Those who sell produce are currently required to pay a $25 fee, plus $50 for a background check. He agreed that vendor permits should be required in certain situations, but said, “Since this is an agricultural community, maybe we should exempt agricultural products.”
Source: Scott County Record
South Hutchinson residents might see their water rates increase soon
South Hutchinson residents may see a rise in their water rates next year after the city council agreed to review the city’s ordinance establishing monthly rates. City Administrator Joseph Turner contends language in the ordinance has been misinterpreted since at least May 2017, when the city adopted its current rate schedule, and perhaps going back as far as 20 years. Turner argues the ordinance sets both a monthly service fee and a per gallon user fee with a minimum charge but that residents have been only paying the user fee.
Source: Hutch News
Municipal Bond Trends for September 7, 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.
Topeka temporarily repeals residency requirement it’s had since the early 1980s
Topeka’s city government is rescinding, at least for the next five years, the residency requirement it’s had in place since the early 1980s.The Topeka City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday evening to approve an ordinance taking that step, which is aimed at increasing the city’s pool of potential workers at a time when high-quality employees have been hard to find. The ordinance OK’d Tuesday arranges for the repeal to expire on Dec. 31, 2027, unless the mayor and council vote to extend it beyond then.
Source: CJonline
Sedgwick’s Historical Society to be a major hub for Fall Festival
As could be expected, with this year’s Fall Festival (Sept. 17-18) celebrating Sedgwick’s 150th anniversary, the historical society will be even more involved than normal.
From dancing showgirls to old-time photos, to horseshoe and blacksmithing demonstrations, the northeastern edge of the activity center for the Fall Festival will host a lot of events and all of them will be kid-friendly, according to historical society president Nancy Stahl.
Source: Harvey County Now
Market bracing for another three-quarter point hike from the Fed this month
Traders are now seeing a near-certainty that the Federal Reserve enacts its third consecutive 0.75 percentage point interest rate increase when it meets later this month. The probability of a three-quarter point hike moved to 82% Wednesday morning, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tracker of fed funds futures bets. That follows a series of positive economic data and statements from Fed officials indicating that tight policy is likely to persist well into the future. In a pivotal speech Aug. 26, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warned that warned that increases will proceed and higher rates likely will stay in place. “In June a 75 [basis point] rate hike from the Federal Reserve was seen as surprising acceleration from the 50bp and 25bp delivered at the two previous meetings. Less than three months later, 75bp has become something of a global norm with both the [European Central Bank] and Bank of Canada set to raise rates by 75bp,” Citigroup economist Andrew Hollenhorst said in a client note Wednesday.
Source: CNBC
After tumultuous week of brawls and guns, Wichita schools announce new security measures
Officials at Wichita Public Schools, the largest district in the state, announced new safety precautions following a tumultuous week that included multiple brawls and students being arrested for bringing a gun to school. Terri Moses, director of safety and environmental services, said Wednesday the school district will put automated screening devices — which she said are a step up from traditional metal detectors — at all of its high schools. There will be 45 to 50 devices at a cost of up to $1.5 million, she said. “This is a sign of our times,” Moses said, referring to guns in the community and at other schools nationwide.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
McPherson Schools to begin partnership program
The Parents in Partnership program is about to begin at McPherson Schools. Throughout the school day, parents and grandparents will lend a helping hand. By showing students that education is important enough for them to attend school as well, Parents in Partnership aims to create more positive role models for students. Adding extra eyes and ears will also help to improve school safety and minimize bullying. The ultimate goal is to foster a genuine sense of partnership between families and the schools.
Source: McPherson Weekly News
Wichita, Sedgwick County trying again to get federal funding for flood project
Wichita and Sedgwick County are making another try at federal grant funding for a proposed flood control project. The Wichita City Council and the Sedgwick County Commission have approved letters of intent to apply for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and its BRIC (Building Resilience in Communities) program. The city and county applied for the grant last fall but did not get approval for funding. They are making a new application under the Fiscal Year 2022 round of grants, which will have a total of almost $2.3 billion available for projects across the U.S.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
50th annual Walnut Valley Festival coming to Winfield
Crowds are set to descend on the Winfield Fairgrounds from Sept. 14-18 for the 50th annual Walnut Valley Festival, featuring 30-plus musical acts ranging from bluegrass to folk and more. Other highlights of the festival include a juried arts and crafts fair and a host of national and international contests, including the National Flat Pick Championships. Festival contests over the years have attracted contestants from all 50 states as well as a host of foreign countries (Australia, Sweden, Japan, etc.).
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Proposed zoning changes aim to ease child care shortages around county
Home day care facilities could enroll more children under proposed changes to the Wichita-Sedgwick County zoning code. This could mitigate child care shortages that some say are reaching crisis levels. “We’re only meeting 38% of the demand [for child care] in Sedgwick County,” said Tanya Bullock, program director at local nonprofit Child Start. “That means about 17,600 children under the age of 5 are potentially needing child care.”
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Sedgwick County Commission approves pay increase for Comcare to help recruit, retain staff
When you ask leaders at Comcare what their biggest issues has been over the last two years, they will say it has been keeping staff. Director of Quality and CCBHC Michelle Calvert says “It’s been incredibly difficult for us to retain staff, especially throughout the pandemic. At a certain time, throughout the pandemic, we were down about 42 percent of our staff.” The major reason why? “Pay is the overwhelming reason why staff have left us staff have said when they left.” The Sedgwick County Commission is fixing that. Wednesday It approved by a vote of 5-0 for a new pay scale for Comcare to better reflect its new classification as a certified community behavioral health clinic.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita Public Schools seeks approval of devices to detect guns, explosives
Terri Moses, the Director of Safety Services for Wichita public schools, said a new plan is being proposed to the school board on Monday, September 12. This new plan requires the purchase of automated screening devices that are, according to Moses, a step above standard metal detectors. They are designed to only detect firearms and explosives so students and staff would not have to take things out of their pockets or bags to be searched before entering the school.
Source: KAKE – News