Kansas Municipal News
After Wichita’s wild housing ride over past two years, forecast predicts what’s next
With the “extraordinary home price appreciation” of the last two years and “a lot of things that are unfolding before our eyes,” as Stan Longhofer put it, you can’t blame him and other economic forecasters for getting a prediction or two wrong these days. “Economic forecasters were put on this earth to make the weatherman look good,” said Longhofer, director of the Center for Real Estate at Wichita State University. Still, he and Lawrence Yun of the National Association of Realtors are going to make their forecasts for next year’s housing market at the 2023 Wichita Housing Forecast Conference on Wednesday. Yun will present his forecast on the national market via Zoom.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for October 17, 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.
USD 232 Superintendent Frank Harwood to retire next summer
Unified School District 232 Superintendent Frank Harwood says he will retire after the current school year on June 30, 2023. Harwood, who has led USD 232 for the past seven years, says the district is about to enter a critical new phase over the next five to 10 years with a promised Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto and other developments expected to spur major growth.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Historic Oak Grove Schoolhouse is open for future generations
Oak Grove Schoolhouse is open now! The 1877 one-room stone schoolhouse is in SE Neosho County, located in a rural area about 7-1/2 miles NE of Parsons. The efforts to restore Oak Grove stretch back more than 50 years. Much of the progress has been made in the last 5-10 years but the majority of the work has been done in the past 3 years. Thanks to the grants from the Kansas Historical Society’s Heritage Trust Fund the school is ready for students. The plan is for the school to open as an active classroom for fourth graders to learn as if they were back in 1877. Research has revealed that Oak Grove was more than the average one-room schoolhouse. Due to its historical past, Oak Grove has been listed on both the Kansas and National Historic Sites Registers. Oak Grove was built out of local sandstone in 1877 – but it was first established as a log structure in 1867.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Prairie Village City Council votes down strategy for affordable housing
After a public outcry, the Prairie Village City Council has gone on record against putting duplexes, apartments and other multi-family developments in single-family residential areas as part of an affordable housing strategy. Signs had gone up around the city protesting recommendations from an ad hoc committee tasked with finding ways to diversify Prairie Village’s housing stock so more people can afford to live there. Council member Piper Reimer said residents are concerned that regulations might be changed “in a way that would allow the developer or builder to come in and potentially take down the house next door to you and put up some sort of multi-family unit.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Harvey County commission approves updates to renewable energy regulations
The Harvey County Commission approved updates to the County’s Unified Development Code Section 16.14, in regard to commercial renewable energy projects, at its Oct. 13 meeting. … Among the updates to the regulations previously in place: The setback distance from non-participating property lines was established at 1,000 feet. The setback distance from a home remains 2,000 feet. Renewable energy equipment and operations will not be allowed in an area defined as the Sand Hills Overlay District, due to grassland fire dangers. Restrictions addressing wind turbine flicker, ice throw and noise. Financial protections for project decommissioning and environmental cleanup.
Source: Harvey County Now
Property tax “freeze” for Pittsburg metal fabrication company
Atkinson Industries was founded in Pittsburg more than 100 years ago, and has facilities across the country. This city-approved tax freeze involves the company’s $2,000,000 manufacturing expansion project in Pittsburg. “By being able to essentially freeze their property taxes at their current rate, it allows them to recoup the cost that they put into the expansion, so it obviously benefits the company, but it also benefits the community because this enlarges the company’s foot print in our community and obviously they’re adding jobs, adding to our local economy,” said Blake Benson, President, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. … “Among the benefits would be, $9,000,000 in new personal incomes, almost $13,000,000 in new local retail sales tax generation. So, it’s certainly a project that’s good for the community and this is a tool that will be very helpful to them,” added Benson. It will also result in more people becoming Pittsburg residents, which has been a focus recently for city officials.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Proposed Wichita Ordinance Aims to Crackdown on Catalytic Converter Thefts
An ordinance from the City of Wichita was proposed that aims to crack down on catalytic converter thefts. These cases can be difficult solve since catalytic converters can’t be traced. The proposed ordinance would allow Wichita Police to investigate and charge suspicious accumulation of catalytic converters, as well as officers to seize catalytic converters from people who cannot explain how they came into possession of them. The city did say that the ordinance will allow protection for people who came into possession of the part legitimately, including people who own the vehicle, can provide proof of purchase or permission from police to temporarily possess the part, or those who are licensed metal dealers.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
New communications director not new to Ark City
A native of Arkansas City has circled back home to become the communications director for the City of Arkansas City. Shana Adkisson stepped into that role two weeks ago, replacing Andrew Lawson, who left in March after more than seven years to take a similar position with the City of Manhattan. City Manager Randy Frazer said a committee of department managers conducted 15 interviews. … Adkisson’s past work experience combined with her education and personality made her a great fit, Frazer said. She has a good understanding of the community having grown up in Ark City and attending Cowley College.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Overland Park opens city’s first all-inclusive playground
A new playground is opening in Overland Park just in time for families to get out and enjoy the weekend. Overland Park says Strang Park at 89th and Farley is the city’s first all-inclusive playground. It allows children to play no matter their age or ability. The new playground is located behind the Johnson County Central Resources Library.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Johnson County welcomes new human resources director, outlines recruitment and retention efforts
Johnson County is welcoming a new Human Resources Department Director, William Coy. He begins his role with the county on Nov. 28. Coy’s experience includes more than a decade serving in a dual leadership position while working for the U.S. Army. He most recently served as a division chief/career executive appointment in the State of California’s Department of Human Resources. An ongoing concern for Coy to address as he joins the Johnson County team will be recruitment and retention. There are currently, 3,787 full-time positions at the county, with 442 vacancies. As of September, the county had a voluntary turnover rate of 13%, compared to 8.44% in 2019. The county, however, has been making progress toward incentivizing new and ongoing employment.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Lenexa will install 6 new electric vehicle charging stations
Lenexa will install four electric vehicle charging ports in its Civic Center parking garage and two in Old Town as a pilot project to determine how to plan electrical infrastructure for the increasingly popular cars. And, as a somewhat poetic side note, the Old Town ports will be directly in front of the city’s first gas station, built close to a century ago at the dawn of the gasoline-fueled automobile craze.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Jeff Porter to take over as Wellington City Manager
effrey M. Porter will officially begin his tenure as the new Wellington City Manager… He was the city administrator for the City of Medicine Lodge from Oct. 2014 to the present. Medicine Lodge is a community of 2,000 residents. During his tenure, he was in charge of developing and managing the city’s $4 million annual budget. He oversaw a team of staff, contractors, and funding agencies to complete a $5 million upgrade to the city’s municipal water distribution system. and served as staff liaison to advisory boards dealing with landscaping projects, airport improvements, tourism and planning and zoning.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Baldwin City’s Maple Leaf Festival sees big turnout amid pleasant fall weather
Shortly before noon on Saturday, Charlene Hannon and her daughter Annie Hannon had just a few free minutes before the Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival parade ended and a throng of people started moving a block west to their booth on the corner of Seventh and High streets. It was the second straight year the Baldwin City mother and daughter had sold their baked goods at the prime corner location, next to the popular Baker baseball team’s sausage booth with its billowing aromatic smoke. “It’s a good location,” Annie Hannon said. “They squirt water on the grill to build up the smoke to draw customers.” The annual fall festival started on Saturday and will continue Sunday, and Charlene Hannon said the atmosphere was great.
Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for October 14, 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.
Housing a big topic during Salina conference
The outlook for the economy in the Salina community is relatively good, and with the help of more housing, it can look even better. That was the general mood Thursday as several people from the area and around the state offered insight at the 2022 Salina Economic Outlook Conference Much of the reason for a positive outlook on the future of the Salina community is because of economic developments that have been happening over the past few years, including the Schwan’s pizza plant and Great Plains Manufacturing expansions on the south side of town.
Source: Salina Journal
In face of job dissatisfaction, Kansas teacher vacancies continue to rise
A staffing crunch continues for Kansas K-12 schools as superintendents and principals struggle to staff classrooms with adequately licensed personnel. The number of reported vacancies surged from 1,253 in fall 2021 to 1,628 in fall 2022, according to the Kansas State Department of Education’s seasonal Teacher Vacancy and Supply Report.
Source: Salina Journal
Finney County business leaders discuss workforce; how to grow it
Finney County Commissioners, Garden City Commissioners, Finney County Economic Development, USD 363 and 457 staff, Garden City Community College staff, business leaders and others met Wednesday to discuss the workforce situation in Finney County. Bob Kreutzer, a Finney County commissioner, led the meeting. The purpose of the gathering was to bring stakeholders together to inform everyone on the workforce situation within the county and how to link that to the educational system and the business community. “I think if we can figure out a way to link the talent that we have on both sides of that fence, really good things could happen,” he said.
Source: GC Telegram
On its 10th anniversary, Reams pleased with growth at Great Plains Industrial Park
Great Plains Industrial Park Director Brad Reams is pleased with the progress and growth at the park over the past 10 years. On Wednesday, the park celebrated its 10th anniversary as companies announced intentions to come to Great Plains. Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, local officials, company directors and operators attended the celebration at the park Wednesday. “It meant a lot to have the support of the community,” Reams told the Sun Thursday. Reams said he was happy for the board members of Great Plains. He said their dedication has paid off.
Source: Parsons Sun
Treasury yields fall as markets digest hotter-than-expected inflation data
U.S. Treasury yields fell on Friday as markets digested Thursday’s higher-than-expected consumer price index reading and kept a close eye on the U.K. economy as the Bank of England’s emergency bond-buying program is due to end. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was at 3.9197%, down by 3 basis points at around 4:40 a.m. ET. It had briefly surpassed the 4% mark on Thursday following the release of the inflation report…. Markets continued to absorb Thursday’s consumer price index reading, which showed that inflation had risen more than expected in September. The price of goods had increased by 0.4% for consumers last month and was up 8.2% from a year ago. The Federal Reserve has been hiking interest rates to push back against persistent inflation, despite investor concerns about this leading to a recession. Analysts are expecting another 75 basis point rate hike to be announced at the central bank’s next meeting in early November.
Source: CNBC – Bonds