Kansas Municipal News
Overland Park moves carefully on short-term rentals
In a continuing effort to evaluate short-term rentals like Airbnbs and VRBOs, the Overland Park City Council has asked the staff to draft a nuisance party ordinance, which will help authorities hold the property owners responsible if large parties or gatherings violate city code. The staff also has been asked to investigate the potential licensing of short-term rentals, to keep identifying those that are operating in the city and to make residents more aware of how to report problems associated with short-term rentals.
Source: KC Star
It’s back: Old Settlers celebration in Olathe means parade, kids’ fun, these 2 acts
If it’s early September, it’s time for the Old Settlers celebration in downtown Olathe. The festival — featuring carnival rides, a parade, entertainment and even a gab fest — starts on Sept. 8, a Thursday, and concludes on Saturday, Sept. 10. Two free concerts are scheduled: Simply Queen at 7:30 p.m Sept. 9 and Lonestar at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10. For details, visit johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com.
Source: Joco 913 News
Parsons housing effort includes 3D-printed houses
3D Printing is becoming more common across the world, but instead of using it to print toys or machines, some people are using it in other ways. “It was kind of serendipity and fell out of the sky, it’s exactly what we’ve been looking for,” said Leland Crooks, Mayor of Parsons. Thanks to the construction company Alquist, the City of Parsons could potentially see a solution to its housing issue. The catch, instead of building it the old-fashioned way, these new homes will use a giant 3D printer.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Kansas school district settles lawsuit over student pronouns
A Kansas school district will pay a former middle school teacher $95,000 to settle a lawsuit she filed after she was disciplined for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns, her attorneys announced Wednesday. Pamela Ricard, a former math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, sued the Geary County School District in March after she was reprimanded and suspended for three days in the spring of 2021. She said the district’s policies on preferred pronouns violated her religious beliefs.
Source: The Iola Register
Little Balkans Days inspired by King Coal Festival
In many respects, Little Balkans Days had its origin 88 years ago when approximately 25,000 people participated in a coal celebration held in Pittsburg. Called the King Coal Festival, it was established in October of 1934 to help lift the spirits of Southeast Kansas residents suffering economically during the Depression as well as symbolize the importance of the coal mining industry to Pittsburg and Southeast Kansas. The following year, and in the years thereafter, up to 40,000 people swarmed into Pittsburg as reigning Kansas governors came to town to crown the coal queens. It was the largest regular event in the state of Kansas at that time.
Source: Morning Sun
Cowley College celebrates 100 years of operation
Cowley College began celebrating its 100th year in operation Wednesday night during a Proclamation Celebration in the Robert Brown Theatre. Cowley College began its life as Arkansas City Junior College in 1922. Classes were first held on the top floor of the high school. The college would not have its own dedicated classroom building until 1952. The school’s name was changed to Cowley County Community College and Vocational-Technical School in 1965 before finally being called Cowley College.
Source: KSN-TV
This 72-year-old lawyer thinks about retirement, but rural Kansas can’t find enough attorneys
Charles Peckham works 70 hours a week as an attorney. He’s 72. He daydreams about retirement. But if he closed up shop, clients would just show up at his home in Atwood, Kansas. “(Stopping) is not workable at this point,” he said. The next closest attorney is 30 miles away. That might not be accessible for the older population in need of legal help. Atwood boasted six attorneys, counting Peckham, when he first arrived in 1983, but that number has dwindled down to two and the other attorney farms on the side. If the town of about 1,300 people in a county with some 2,500 had enough lawyers, Peckham could cut back his workload and spend more time with his grandchildren. But with nobody around to take over his practice, he’ll keep working.
Source: KCUR News
Peabody to get mural celebrating its history
A new mural in Peabody will highlight the town’s history. Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission gave Sunflower Theatre a $7,500 grant to create a mural at Peabody Market. Susan Mayo, chairman of the Sunflower board, said the mural would celebrate the “rich history of Peabody and transform the south wall of the Peabody Market into a work of art.”
Source: Marion County RECORD
Johnson County Emergency Management emphasizing emergency preparedness with 30 Days, 30 Ways campaign
September is National Preparedness Month, and Johnson County Emergency Management is making sure Johnson County residents are prepared for all types of emergency situations. Emergency Management is providing education throughout September with its 30 Days, 30 Ways campaign, with daily tips to help you prep for emergencies. These tips – from creating an emergency plan to practicing emergency drills – can help you stay safe in the case of an emergency, such as a tornado, flood, power outage or fire. Emergency Management will be sharing preparedness tips daily on its social media channels. … You can find additional preparedness information from Johnson County Emergency Management at jocogov.org/em, as well as through FEMA at ready.gov
Source: Johnson County Kansas
Legalized sports betting begins in Kansas with ‘soft launch’
Legalized sports betting arrived in Kansas on Thursday, with wagers being taken at state-owned casinos and via mobile apps. The “soft launch” of sports betting in Kansas comes after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill in May that the Republican-controlled Legislature passed with bipartisan support. The launch meets a goal set by state officials to have the operations running by Sept. 1, in time for the first NFL games. An official launch of the operations is scheduled for Sept. 8. Bettors must be in Kansas to place their wagers. Under the law, each state-owned casino may offer in-person sportsbooks and mobile sports betting on up to three platforms or applications. As of Thursday, in-person betting is available at Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Emporia water wins state taste test again
Emporia is back on top when it comes to the tap. The city announced Wednesday that Emporia has been judged the best tasting tap water in Kansas by a section of the American Water Works Association. The decision was made Tuesday by what the city called “a panel of water experts.” It rated samples on a seven-point scale, from “best” to “far from ideal.” Emporia’s water now advances to a national Tap Water Taste Test. It will occur at the AWWA’s national conference next June in Toronto. Emporia won the world championship of tap water at an international competition in West Virginia in 2013, then placed second among municipal water supplies in 2015. It’s placed at the national level seven times.
Source: Emporia Gazette
2-year Treasury yield hits highest level since 2007 to start September as traders look ahead to jobs data
Treasury yields rose Thursday after data showed a significant slowdown in private payroll growth and U.S. equities continued a sell-off. The 10-year Treasury yield was up 6 basis points to 3.1984% at 5 a.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond gained 5 basis points on the day to 3.3107%. The 2-year Treasury note yield was 4 basis points higher, trading at 3.4953%. The yield on the short-term note has not been this high since 2007. … Yesterday, a jobs report from payroll processing company ADP showed U.S. private payrolls grew by 132,000 in August, a deceleration from 268,000 in July.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
‘Starting over with vision’: steering committee identifies priorities for development code update
The ability to create denser neighborhoods that allow commercial and other uses are among the priorities of a steering committee working to update the city’s land development code. The Land Development Code Update Steering Committee had its first meeting Wednesday to discuss the update to the code, which determines where and how the city grows. City Commission member and Committee Chair Brad Finkeldei, who previously served six years on the Planning Commission, said he saw the update as a chance for the city to reset. “We’ve seen changes over time, and I look forward to this not just being a small change to a code, but starting over with vision and having a brand new code that we can work from,” Finkeldei said.
Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for August 31, 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’s Mester sees benchmark rate above 4% and no cuts at least through 2023
Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said Wednesday she sees interest rates rising considerably higher before the central bank can ease off in its fight against inflation. Mester, a voting member this year of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee, said she sees benchmark rates rising above 4% in the coming months. That’s well above the current target range of 2.25%-2.5% for the federal funds rate, which sets what banks charge each other for overnight borrowing but is tied to many consumer debt instruments.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Conference in Wichita this week explores affordable housing in Kansas
The Kansas Housing Conference returned this week to its first in-person gathering since before the Covid-19 pandemic — and a lot has changed in the housing market the last two years. “This is a really pivotal time for us in our industry in affordable housing, and specifically here in Kansas,” said Emily Sharp, a spokesperson with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, which puts on the annual conference. “… I think that the pandemic really put a lot of the housing challenges that were already existing in our state, and across the nation, really under the microscope.” It’s also the conference’s largest crowd yet. The three-day event started Tuesday and runs through Thursday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Wichita. In its 17th year, the conference has 600 registered participants.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Wichita chosen as site for national youth soccer event
The U.S. Youth Soccer organization has announced that Wichita will be the host site for the National President’s Cup competition in 2023. The event will attract over 2,000 athletes, coaches, officials and fans to Wichita. It will be held from July 7th through the 12th at the Stryker Sports Complex. The 2023 National President’s Cup will be the 15th annual edition of the event. Wichita Vice Mayor Becky Tuttle said in a press release that the city is honored to host the competition, and she said the Stryker Complex can host tournaments of all sizes.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Hesston voters say yes, Rose Hill voters say no to school bond issues
Voters in Hesston have narrowly approved a school bond issue for over $33.4 million, while voters in Rose Hill defeated a $19 million bond issue. In Tuesday’s election, the Hesston bond issue was approved with 790 yes votes to 780 no votes. The bond issue is intended to make improvements to the middle school and high school, with new classrooms and other improvements in USD 460. The Rose Hill bond issue had 724 no votes and 471 yes votes. It would have provided improvements for the high school and middle school along with an expansion of day care services in USD 394.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Girard receives grant to make city more accessible
The City of Girard is about to make its community more accessible. It’s received a $75,000 Pathways Grant from Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. The money will be used to help cover the design costs for a new sidewalk construction project. It will focus on increasing accessibility across the city for the disabled or economically disadvantaged — and could include walkways towards medical services, educational, and-or recreational facilities. “We’ve been working on this for a while. Actually our old city clerk, Debbie Smith, kind of started the ball rolling like five years ago and we’ve done two pretty big sidewalk projects since then and this third one will be pretty well set as far as the connectivity piece,” said Johanna O’Brien, Girard City Administrator.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Firms seek grants to expand broadband service in county
Proposed broadband expansions in Miami County accounted for nine of the 118 grant applications the state received for the second phase of its capital projects grant fund for broadband infrastructure expansion statewide. Gov. Laura Kelly announced in mid-July that more than 21,000 Kansas homes and businesses are set to receive high-speed internet access for the first time thanks to an $83.5 million grant program through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Broadband Development. A priority of the program is to support broadband expansion to facilitate work, education, and healthcare in areas that lack access to internet speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com