Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick County to support Wichita application for rail traffic study
Sedgwick County commissioners have agreed to support the City of Wichita in a grant application for a study of rail traffic that has caused delays along a major north side corridor. The Wichita City Council has approved a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a Reconnecting Communities grant program. The city is applying for $1 million to fund a study that will find solutions to the impact of rail traffic along 21st Street, from Waco to Grove. There are delays for traffic several times a day because of trains that have stopped to change crews or uncouple rail cars.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Atchison holds some of Kansas’ favorite haunts
Kansas is like every other state that has its share of haunting tales that make for wonderful road trips. Our dear Atchison is said to be the home of one of the most eerie hauntings recorded. Located on N. 2nd Street, the house looks normal. But it isn’t the looks of the house that is the problem, The Sallie House was built in the mid-1800s, commissioned by the Finney family and home to Dr. Charles Finney, he practiced medicine from the house, using the bottom floor for surgery and examination, and a bedroom as an office. The Finney family lived upstairs until moving out due to a lack of space.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Kansas to receive $17 million to help address the opioid crisis
Governor Laura Kelly announced Oct. 6 that the State of Kansas and the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas (KTIK) have together received $17.2 million in federal grant funding to address the opioid crisis. The funding will be used to increase access to treatment for substance use disorders, remove barriers to public health interventions like naloxone, and expand access to recovery support services. “The opioid crisis impacts families across Kansas, which is why it’s critical that we make opioid treatment and prevention resources available in every community,” Gov. Kelly said. “This funding will help make that possible, and in doing so save lives and bring relief to struggling Kansans.”
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Shawnee brewery awarded city loan to aid expansion
Servaes Brewing Company is getting ready to expand and were awarded with a $100,000 loan by the city to help. The council voted to award the brewery, located at 10921 Johnson Drive, a Shawnee Entrepreneurial and Economic Development (SEED) agreement that will help the company expand into their recently purchased acquisitions at 10919 and 10923 Johnson Drive. Servaes invested $750,000 to purchase the building and plan to put another $350,000 into renovations. The expansion would include new indoor and outdoor spaces for the brewery, including a venue rental space.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
34 Kansas cities get funds to improve state highways
Thirty-four Kansas cities will receive a total of $28.65 million to make improvements to state highways in their communities. The grants come from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program. KDOT was able to increase CCLIP funding by more than $10 million over previous years thanks to federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation. The funds will be used to resurface or preserve road surfaces, add turn lanes, and make general and safety improvements to state highways within the city limits of each community. Here is a complete list of communities that will receive the grants.
Source: KSN-TV
After successful Rural Rise Summit, Emporia Main Street readies for Kansas Main Street quarterly training session in town
Emporia Main Street is reporting a positive spillover effect from a recent national conference held locally. Following the Rural Rise Summit held in downtown Emporia late last month, Main Street Director Casey Woods says a lot of regional and national organizations are connecting with Main Street. Rural Rise brought a number of economic development entities and about 125 participants from across the country for networking and information. The conference actually sets the stage for the next economic development meeting Thursday and Friday at the Emporia Arts Center.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Osawatomie receives $1.5 million grant for pathways project
The city of Osawatomie has been awarded a $1.5 million state grant for an infrastructure pathways project to create a more walkable community. Osawatomie’s project, titled “John Brown South Levee Loop Connection,” includes plans for a crushed limestone pathway on top of the southern levee, and a 10-foot-wide multi-use concrete pathway loop through central neighborhoods that connects amenities and other destinations, according to a city news release. These pathways will promote a more active community, enhance the walkability of neighborhoods and school routes, and help to guide visitors from the Flint Hills Trail Mile Zero trailhead to the downtown district and other community amenities, city officials said in the release.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Shawnee appoints Doug Whitacre as interim city manager while it searches for permanent replacement
On Monday, the Shawnee Governing Body announced a decision on the City’s Interim City Manager. After an Executive Session ended during a Special Call City Council meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to appoint Public Works Director Doug Whitacre to lead the organization during the City Manager transition. Whitacre has worked for the City as Public Works Director since December of 2015. Before coming to Shawnee, Whitacre held leadership roles in Topeka, McPherson and Embarq/Sprint.
Source: City of Shawnee
Slow-moving tobacco conversation may be picking up momentum at Lawrence City Hall
A variety of tobacco issues will soon be before City of Lawrence leaders after being absent for more than a year. The Lawrence City Commission at its Oct. 18 meeting is set to discuss a number of tobacco-related items, including vaping, Tobacco 21 — the federal law raising the legal age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 — and tobacco retail licensing. Kari Rinker, the American Heart Association’s state government relations director for Kansas, told the Journal-World that local measures related to tobacco retail licensing were ultimately intended to reduce youth access to tobacco products by holding retailers accountable for underage sales.
Source: LJWorld
Lawrence city leaders suggest multiple funding sources, potential formats for expanding utility assistance
Lawrence city leaders on Tuesday discussed multiple potential funding sources and methods to expand the city’s limited utility assistance programs, with plans to discuss options in more detail at a future meeting. The Lawrence City Commission previously asked to consider a possible expansion, and as part of its meeting Tuesday discussed the city’s two utility assistance programs and options for expanding the assistance or discounts available to residents. Potential funding sources discussed included federal pandemic relief dollars, money from the city’s affordable housing trust fund and general fund dollars, and both internal and external programs were suggested for consideration.
Source: LJWorld
Salina eyes tree pruning program
After several weather events in the past few years have taken down limbs and branches from trees in Salina, the city is looking at using a maintenance program to prevent such destruction in the future. On Monday, the Salina City Commission approved city staff to submit a letter of interest to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) for a grant of more than $165,000 for a citywide right-of-way and parks tree pruning mitigation program. Salina Public Works Director Jim Teutsch said this project would allow the city to proactively maintain the city’s tree canopy.
Source: Salina Journal
USDA Invests Over $5.5 Million in Community Infrastructure and Economic Development in Eight Rural Kansas Communities
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas Director for Rural Development Christy Davis today announced that USDA is investing $5,517,200 in loans and grants toward eight community projects across the state.
“Every Kansan deserves clean water and a safe place to live.,” Davis said. “USDA Rural Development is proud to assist in projects that help rural Kansas communities meet the needs of their residents and businesses.”
Background:
The Rural Business Development Grant program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.
The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage. The program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program provides funding for essential community facilities and services. More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
The SEARCH-Special Evaluation and Assistance for Rural Communities and Households program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.
The Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grant program assists low-income communities with initial planning and development of applications for USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal direct loan/grant and loan guarantee programs.
Project details of today’s eight announcements are:
- A $90,000 grant will assist Tabor College in creating the Central Kansas Entrepreneurship Center (CKEC). The center will provide support for small businesses including marketing, pitch development, operations and management, finance and accounting and will be located on the Tabor campus in Hillsboro. It is anticipated 46 full time jobs will be created.
- A $50,000 grant will assist in purchasing a fire truck on behalf of the Almena Rural Fire Department. A new brush fire truck will provide fire protection throughout Norton County and, when needed, to surrounding counties and southern Nebraska.
- A $47,200 grant will help purchase a fully equipped vehicle and other equipment for the City of Neodesha law enforcement department. Funds from this project will provide rural residents with new and improved public safety services.
- A $29,000 grant will be used to prepare an engineering evaluation for the City of Blue Mound‘s water system. The city needs an evaluation of their water facility and distribution system to determine what improvements are needed to mitigate line breaks. With this evaluation the city will be able to plan future water system improvements.
- A $1,640,000 loan and a $995,000 grant will help complete improvements to the City of Hiawatha‘s wastewater collection system. This project will upgrade the system’s ability to process wastewater and make needed improvements to the north lift station.
- A $143,000 loan and a $661,000 grant will help complete the first phase of improvements to the City of Vermillion‘s water system. The city previously received $1,279,000 in grants and a $272,000 loan for the project.
- A $900,000 loan will help complete the rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant for Rural Water District 4 in Bourbon County. Previous funds for the project included $488,000 applicant contribution from the Rural Water District and a $2,772,000 loan from Rural Development in 2020.
- A $312,000 loan and a $650,000 grant will make improvements to the water distribution system of the City of Fulton. Improvements will include replacing the original water distribution system, meter assemblies, valves and fire hydrants. The city received a $15,000 grant in Aug. 2019, from Rural Development via the Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant to complete a Preliminary Engineering Report.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 11, 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.
‘It means community’: Kansas rural development director evangelizes small-town life
When I began driving around the state for the Kansas Reflector last year, I didn’t know what to expect. I was raised and educated in Kansas, yes, but I had spent nearly 15 years away. When I returned, I worked in Topeka and Lawrence. The rural areas of my youth weren’t just distant in memory — they were a lengthy drive away. My childhood recollections of these places as comfortable and nurturing clashed with the national political narrative that had emerged over the past 20 years. Urban areas were growing and progressive. Rural ones were decaying and reactionary.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Inflation expectations ease, while spending outlook tumbles, Fed consumer survey shows
Inflation expectations and the outlook for household spending growth fell sharply in September as the Federal Reserve’s rate increases take hold in the U.S. economy. Consumers expect the inflation rate a year from now to be 5.4%, the lowest number in a year and a decline from 5.75% in August, according to the latest New York Fed Survey of Consumer Expectations. That level peaked at 6.8% in June and has been coming down since as the central bank has instituted a series of rate hikes totaling 3 percentage points. Markets largely expect the Fed to continue raising rates until it brings inflation down to its long-run target of 2%.
Source: Economy
Lenexa Mayor Boehm honored with excellence award
Lenexa Mayor Michael Boehm was honored with the E.A. Mosher Excellence in Local Government Award by the League of Kansas Municipalities during a ceremony on Oct. 10, 2022 at the Overland Park Convention Center. The E.A. Mosher Excellence in Local Government Award is presented to elected city officials who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the city they serve, an active commitment to strong local government and service to the League of Kansas Municipalities. Named in honor of E.A. Mosher, League Director from 1960 to 1991, this award is designed to honor excellence and leadership at the highest level.
Source: City of Lenexa
Wichita City Council approves new food and farm council
The Wichita City Council has voted unanimously to create a Wichita-Sedgwick County Food and Farm Council to help direct the implementation of a food system master plan that was adopted earlier this year by the city and the county. The master plan will look at production, distribution and availability of food in the community and work to address issues with “food deserts” where neighborhoods don’t have convenient access to food. The plan was created in a partnership with the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita. The Food and Farm Council will serve as an advisory board to the city and county on food system issues, and it will have 14 members. Wichita Vice Mayor Becky Tuttle said the creation of the council and the food system master plan will be a game changer in addressing food deserts in the community.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
This city in Kansas really conserves its water, but that still might not be enough to survive
While communities across the semi-arid High Plains all face their share of droughts, Hays was — and is — the only city in Kansas with more than 15,000 residents but no sustainable source of water. It’s caught in the middle. Too far west for reliable rainfall and reservoirs. And too far east to tap into the massive — if disappearing — Ogallala aquifer. So when prolonged drought hits, the town’s bucket of backup plans isn’t exactly overflowing. That’s why Hays continues its decades-long quest for a sustainable water source today — it’s now in the middle of jumping through legal and regulatory hoops to build a 70-mile pipeline that would bring in water from three counties away. The 1992 crisis wasn’t the first or last time Hays has had to worry about running low on water. But it marked a turning point.
Source: KCUR News
Fort Scott airs out pungent problem; announces November sludge cleanup
For those that live or drive through Fort Scott, Kansas, you may be aware of a sewer-like odor filling the air. KOAM’s Keri Worthen today spoke with the City to discuss what is being done to fix the pungent problem. Assistant City Manager Brad Matkins says the colder the temperature, the more you can smell the lagoon from the wastewater plant. They say they have been actively treating the smell to mitigate the issue. “We are chemically treating it by putting a chemical in there twice a week, heavy doses plus we are putting a drip of this chemical, that has eliminated some of the smell,” Matkins said.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Small earthquake recorded near Marion
A small earthquake was recorded early Monday morning near Marion. It happened shortly after 12 a.m. and was centered near 77 Highway and 170th St, just east of Marion County Lake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, which recorded the temblor, there are no reports of damage or any reports from the public of having felt the early morning quake. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, there was a slightly stronger earthquake the day before in Dickinson County. It was recorded shortly after 8:30 a.m. Sunday north of 700 Avenue and just east of Rain Road, between Hope and Herrington.
Source: KSN-TV