Kansas Municipal News
Pawsitively great day at Manhattan for 2022 Pet Poolooza
The City of Manhattan Parks and Rec Department hosted Pet Poolooza at City Water Park today, and it was well attended. K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine brought their Wellness on Wheels vehicle and administered rabies vaccines. Enzo didn’t even flinch when he got his shot; he just enjoyed the attention he got from the medical staff. Manhattan’s Bluemont Church had a tent with members from their congregation passing out milkbones, and visiting with the community. St. George residents Jesse Brinson, and daughter Ayanna helped. Ayanna shared what she liked about volunteering at the event.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Seneca Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a 100th birthday celebration for their fire engine
On Saturday, Aug. 27, the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a 100th birthday celebration for their 1922 Model K Baby Stutz Fire Engine. The Stutz, as it is commonly called in Seneca, was purchased in March 1922 by the City of Seneca and has been owned by the city ever since. The Stutz Motor Company produced 23 Model K fire engines between 1922 and 1928, and to the knowledge of the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department, Seneca’s Stutz is one of two left in existence. Restored once before in time for the 1976 bicentennial, the Stutz is once again in need of repairs and restorations.
Source: The Sabetha Herald
Federal grant will improve Flint Hills Trail
A new federal grant could go a long way toward completing the Flint Hills Trail. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation will provide $24.8 million to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The money will be used for about 40 miles of the 118-mile trail, which goes through northern Lyon County on its way from Herington to Osawatomie. The KDWP website suggests the area to be improved will be west of Council Grove. The grant will be used for everything from bridges and fences to pipes and drainage improvements.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Municipal Bond Trends for August 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.
Shawnee County residents to vote on whether to raise sales taxes for Gage Park, zoo, Discovery Center
Shawnee County residents will vote Nov. 8 on whether to levy a new, countywide, 0.2% sales tax to benefit Gage Park, the Topeka Zoo and the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. Shawnee County Commissioners Aaron Mays, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn voted 3-0 Thursday to schedule a ballot question election regarding that matter. “I think it’s important to note that we are not passing a sales tax,” Cook said. “That is for the taxpayers to decide on a ballot.”
Source: CJonline
A park built with patience: A look at the treasure these acres in Olathe hold
It’s a huge area, but those who worked to create Olathe’s Cedar Niles Park hope visitors wander through the many acres and soak up all of its unique specifics. “It’s a beautiful part of Johnson County with wooded hillsides and streams,” said Bill Maasen, superintendent of Parks & Golf Courses, Johnson County Park and Recreation District. “It’s one of the most scenic portions of our county.” Cedar Niles was opened to the public last January and officially was dedicated earlier this spring. The park, which is more than 1,000 acres, is located west of downtown Olathe, stretching nearly two miles north and south between 119th and 135th streets. It is adjacent to Lake Olathe and the Prairie Center and features a paved trail, a single-track hiking and mountain bike trail, three access points with water fountains, a playground, shelter and restrooms.
Source: Joco 913 News
Lawrence makes bus rides free starting 2023
With the rise in costs for many goods and services around the country, the City of Lawrence hopes that it can help its residents out by making bus rides free next year. Lawrence Transit will initiate a pilot program to go fare free for the entirety of 2023 for all services which includes fixed route, T Lift, Night Line and planned Sunday microtransit. This decision was made during the Lawrence City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The Fare Free Pilot Program is expected to help several areas of the city’s Strategic Plan and streamline transit operations.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Municipal Bond Trends for August 18, 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.
Hutchinson turns 150 and hundreds celebrate at a mile-long block party on Main Street
Hundreds gathered for a giant block party, commemorating Hutchinson’s 150th birthday. The mile-long celebration started at 6 p.m. with a photo of more than 300 celebrants, dressed in Hutchinson’s yellow and blue, forming the number 150 and waving at a drone. “It’s a fun historic event,” said Lauren Storm of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great idea for the city officials to involve everybody on this historic moment.” The Reno County Museum, the City of Hutchinson, Hutch Rec and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce partnered to create a community block party on Aug. 18.
Source: Hutch News
Despite dark national homebuilder report, Wichita market not seeing as much gloom
… while Wichita’s homebuilders and residential real-estate market are not immune to inflation and supply chain headwinds — the local market is not in dire shape, according to Wess Galyon, Wichita Area Builders Association president and CEO. “We don’t see a sharp downturn coming anytime soon,” he said. According to the latest data from South Central Kansas MLS, in July, Sedgwick County experienced a 19.9% year-over-year drop in closed listings (713 for the month). That followed a 10.6% year-over-year drop in closed listings the prior month. But even with that move, Galyon said a slowdown in Wichita would not be to the degree seen in much larger markets in the U.S.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Ark City citizens weigh in on small vehicle use
The first draft of an ordinance that would allow the use of golf carts, utility vehicles, micro-utility trucks and all-terrain vehicles on public streets in Arkansas City drew a lot of comments from local citizens during the Tuesday commission meeting. The ordinance permits those vehicles to operate on residential streets but restricts them from Summit Street. Among the commenters, those with more advanced vehicles agreed with the restriction on golf carts but argued that the utility-terrain vehicles, also known as UTV’s, should not be excluded from the city’s main commercial corridor.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Derby takes first step toward updating economic development incentives
The updated policy was presented by staff and spurred on by recent action both in and outside the city limits. Both the city of Wichita and Sedgwick County jointly adopted new incentive policies in 2020, and BG Products presented an incentive request to the Derby advisory board in 2021 that would have been in line with those policies – but not with Derby’s. An exception was made to approve the industrial revenue bond incentives and keep BG Products in Derby, which also started the gears turning on the updated incentive policy. Derby’s policy was last changed in 2011.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Fed’s Daly pushes back against bets on rate cuts next year
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said the central bank should raise interest rates “a little” above 3% by the end of the year to cool inflation, pushing back against investor bets that officials would then reverse course. “We need to get the rate up, up to neutral at least, which is around 3%, but likely to restrictive territory — a little bit above 3% this year and a little bit more above 3% next year,” she told CNN International in an interview on Thursday. “I really think of the raise-and-hold strategy as one that has historically paid off for us.”
Source: The Bond Buyer
Sports betting to begin in Kansas on September 1st
Sportsbooks at the four state-owned casinos in Kansas will begin accepting wagers in person and on mobile platforms starting September 1st, and the sportsbooks will officially open on September 8th. Sports wagering, like all gaming in Kansas, is owned by the state and will be operated by the Kansas Lottery. The Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, the Boot Hill Casino and Resort near Dodge City, the Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel in Pittsburg will be starting sports betting in time for the first professional football game on September 8th.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Wichita To Vote on Third Party Evaluation of WPD
The Wichita City Council will vote on Tuesday whether or not to approve a third-party agency evaluation of the Wichita Police Department. If the measure is approved, Jensen Hughes will be contracted to provide a thorough review of the department’s culture, administrative processes, procedures, and standards of conduct. This stems from the investigation into “racist, homophobic, and sexist” messages shared between some Wichita Police Officers and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the disciplinary actions taken.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Evergy, City of Wichita hold meeting to discuss installing huge steel power poles in Wichita neighborhood
Evergy is upgrading a transmission line in north Wichita, and to do so, the company will have to install some steel power poles. Westar Energy, which merged with another company to form Evergy, installed those poles near 9th and Green a few years ago in Wichita, leaving some neighbors furious. The City of Wichita and Evergy hosted a meeting Thursday to discuss this new project with neighbors in hopes of preventing future problems. “This is trying to get all of the questions answered up front before they even get started,” Wichita City Councilmember Brandon Johnson, who represents the neighborhood in question, said.
Source: KAKE – News
Johnson County home developer to pay $51,690 for allegedly violating Clean Water Act
A Johnson County development company tied to home builder Tom French will pay a $51,690 penalty for allegedly failing to adequately control storm water runoff at two housing developments in Olathe, according to a news release from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heartland Development LP has agreed to pay the penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act at the Covington Creek and Covington Court housing developments near 115th Street and Lone Elm Road. In the consent agreement, Heartland Development neither admitted nor denied the allegations and legal conclusions in the settlement with the EPA.
Source: KC Star Local News
Parsons OKs noise ordinance
Following weeks of discussion and review, Parsons city commissioners unanimously approved a new noise ordinance Monday. The commission gave its approval at setting residential levels to not exceed 65 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. At night, it moves to 55 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. For commercial and industrial entities, the noise ordinance sets the level at 75 dB(A) for the day and 60 for the night.
Source: Parsons Sun
Jeff Porter named Wellington City Manager
The Wellington City Council voted 5-1 to approve Jeff Porter as the new city manager at Tuesday night’s meeting. Porter has been the City Manager at Medicine Lodge.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Douglas County leaders voice full support for internet provider’s proposal to expand rural broadband access
Douglas County leaders were unanimous Wednesday in supporting a project that would increase the quality of internet access in rural areas of the county. At its meeting Wednesday, the commission approved internet provider Midco’s request for $5,000 to support a grant proposal that Midco plans to submit to a state office. If Midco ultimately is successful in securing the grant, the company’s project would deploy fiber broadband in Kanwaka Township west of Lawrence and Palmyra Township to the south, affecting 176 homes and businesses.
Source: LJWorld