Kansas Municipal News
Negative fans contribute to Kansas shortage of officials
Kurt Loesch and the rest of the officiating crew were walking off the field after a Friday night football game, a hotly contested conference rivalry. A voice from the stands rang out, “I hope you get home safe tonight!” Loesch couldn’t tell if it was just a joke or an actual threat but said it — and similar encounters — are becoming more common. This fall, Loesch will mark 26 years as a Kansas State High School Activities Association official. He officiates multiple sports and said fan interaction has gotten worse in recent years.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for July 8, 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.
Hillsboro youth working and playing in the garden
The Hillsboro Elementary Community Garden Club has been having fun while working hard on cleaning up the garden and harvesting all the growing vegetables. They have been giving away a lot of fresh veggies to community members. “Thank you so much to the City of Hillsboro for helping make the garden club successful,” said President Emerson Corby.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Grant allows low-income people to get free rides in Harvey County
People with low incomes can breathe a little easier for a while because they can apply for taxi ride aid through the Harvey County Department on Aging. That’s thanks to a grant from the Newton Community Foundation Impact Fund, according to Lona Kelly, Department on Aging director. The grant is for Newton residents, and to quality, a household of one can have an income of $17,667 at the most each year, while a household of two is allowed an annual income of $23,803. Fees for OT Cab Company increased from $7.50 to $12 in March, according to information discussed at a county commission meeting at the time. The cab service is the only reliable form of public transportation in the county outside of Harvey County InterUrban.
Source: Harvey County Now
Local Law Enforcement to Hold Town Hall on Fentanyl Crisis Thurs. July 14th
Wichita Police, The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration will be holding a town hall meeting next Thursday, July 14th to discuss the fentanyl crisis in Wichita. The event is free and open to the public. It will begin at 6 p.m. on the 14th on the WSU campus at Beggs Hall’s Rhatigan Student Center (1845 Fairmount St.). There will be a Q&A with speakers from the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, Sheriff’s Office, Wichita Public Schools, and DEA among others.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Voter registration resumes for city of Atchison residents
All citizens residing in Atchison County, including residents of the City of Atchison, may still register to vote in the primary election on August 2, 2022. Registration will close on July 12, 2022. Following guidance from the Kansas Secretary of State, and in accordance with State Law, Atchison County previously closed registrations for residents of the City of Atchison, on account of a special election called by the City for July 14, 2022. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, in his capacity as chief state election officer under the National Voter Registration Act, has now recommended that Atchison county allow any Atchison County resident, otherwise eligible to vote, to have their ballot accepted, if they attempt to register up to July 12.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
First 50 daily pool passes free every day through July 31 in Holton
Two local businesses have offered to cover the first 50 admission fees on Wednesdays and Thursdays through the end of July at Holton’s municipal swimming pool in Rafters Park — and that means the first 50 people who come to the pool any day of the week will be admitted free. GNB Holton has offered to cover the first 50 passes to the pool on Wednesdays and Barrow Tooling Systems has announced that it will cover the first 50 passes on Thursdays. With the commitments of those two businesses, the first 50 visitors to the pool on any day of the week will be admitted free until Sunday, July 31. Additional businesses are invited to help cover a day also, as there is no limit to the number of businesses that can participate.
Source: Holton Recorder
With megaprojects on the table, De Soto simplifies zoning rules for battery manufacturers
With at least one $4 billion megaproject under serious consideration, De Soto has updated its zoning code so manufacturers in some high-tech industries can more easily win approvals for new factories in town. Depending on the area, De Soto’s code previously could require a pair of city approvals for prospective builders of electronics, computer product or battery plants — for industrial land rezoning as well as a special use permit allowing that manufacturing onsite.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
City of Girard hosts CDL training
If you’ve ever wanted to get the training needed to operate a semi-truck, a local town is providing it. The city of Girard, Kansas is offering CDL license training to people who are interested. The city’s CDL instructor, Michael Clark, says there is a theory test you must pass before testing for the CDL license.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Frontenac Mining Days makes return to SEK community
A Southeast Kansas community is spending the weekend highlighting the city’s history. Frontenac Mining Days has made its return. It’s the city’s annual homecoming celebration which has been going on since 1986. It took a break for a couple of years before making its return in 2016, and officially adopted the Mining Days name last year.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Olpe Downhome-Days festival hosts day of activities to support longtime park improvement project
Efforts to build a new splash park in Olpe received a tremendous boost Saturday thanks to the annual Olpe Downhome-Days festival. Activities included breakfast at the Olpe United Methodist Church to begin the day before residents launched into a series of games, activities and competitions. From a 5K run and walk, bike ride, fishing derby, sidewalk chalk decorating, prize drawings and barbecues there was no shortage of activities to take part in. Organizer Jennifer Kimberlin says the Downhome festival elevates the sense of community that Olpe is known for.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Sedgwick County prepares for launch of new 988 mental health hotline
For several years Sedgwick County has had a higher average suicide rate per 100,000 people than the national average. In 2020 Sedgwick County recorded its highest rate, according to data from Sedgwick County and KU School of Medicine-Wichita. During a year of lockdowns, isolation and closures, there were approximately 20.4 suicides per 100,000 Sedgwick County residents, which equates to 105 individuals. Mental illness was linked to more than half of those 2020 deaths, with 55% of the individuals who died having a known history of mental illness.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Arkansas City police launch safe return program
The Arkansas City Police Department would like to introduce the citizens of Ark City to a new initiative that it is implementing to better serve the most vulnerable members of the community, called Safe Return. This program is already a success in other parts of the country, including the Bedford Police Department in Texas. Safe Return is a community resource program for the members of vulnerable populations who reside within the City of Arkansas City. These community members include children and adults who suffer from Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Autism, Down Syndrome or any other developmental disorder.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Neosho County Commission debates hiring freeze
Looking to address a potential million-dollar budget shortfall, Neosho County Commissioners continued to debate the merits of an across-the-board hiring freeze at Thursday morning’s budget workshop. …Providing some clarification on the matter, 2nd District Commissioner Nic Galemore indicated that department heads must budget accordingly and have the green light to make hires if the funds are available within their budget. If not, additional employment slots should not be added.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Johnson County, KS man becomes state’s first presumptive positive monkeypox case
A Johnson County man has tested “presumptive positive” for monkeypox, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The KDHE said this is the first presumptive positive case in Kansas. Health officials said the man recently traveled out of state. The KDHE said he is working with health officials to identify any recent contacts who might have been exposed. “The risk of monkeypox spreading in Kansas remains low,” Janet Stanek, secretary of KDHE, said. “If you are experiencing symptoms of monkeypox illness, it’s important to stay home and contact your health care provider as soon as possible to avoid spreading the disease to others.”
Source: KMBC.com
Delaware Township v. City of Lansing
When an interlocal agreement governing the operation and management of a fire district is terminated by one of the parties under the terms of the agreement, and the district’s assets are allocated under those terms, the fire district itself is not altered or dissolved as a legal entity. Provisions in such interlocal agreements permitting termination and asset allocation after sufficient notice are not void for violating public policy.
Read the full Kansas Supreme Court opinion.
Leawood Police Department Adds Tesla Model Y To Fleet
The latest force to add an EV to its fleet was Leawood Police Department, Kansas. The PD added a Tesla Model Y Long Range to its patrol division. Leawood PD had been exploring the possibility of adding an EV to its lineup for over a year before finally deciding the Model Y was its best option. The primary reason for the decision to go electric was running costs. At current gas prices, a Ford Explorer would cost in excess of $6,000 a year to run. Meanwhile, a Model Y would set the PD back around $700 provided the majority of charging was done at the police station and not on public infrastructure. Given police cars stay in service for several years and often clock up over 100,000 miles in the long run gas savings will be substantial, even if prices are to return to normality. In this case, Leawood PD wants to keep the Model Y for roughly four years. In that period, it could potentially save the PD in excess of $20,000 versus an ICE vehicle.
Source: InsideEVs
KC region strategizes on long-term potential of $1.2T infrastructure law
The federal government has offered up $1.2 trillion for infrastructure spending, and entities across the country — including in the Kansas City area — are excited for the potential. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed in November, targets critical infrastructure — the types of projects that meaningfully affect people’s everyday lives, spanning transportation, power, water, broadband internet access and more. Kansas and Missouri are slated for more than $12 billion over the next five years. However, reaping true, long-lasting benefits from those funds will require cooperation across geographic and political boundaries and across the public and private sectors, plus a thoughtful vision of the future… While the five-year spend is huge — “really the largest in a generation” — not all of those dollars are up for grabs, said Julie Lorenz, secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation and IIJA infrastructure coordinator for the state. About 60% of the money made available through the IIJA will flow through federal agencies to lower levels of government. But 40% of the money is discretionary, meaning entities must apply. There’s a temptation to apply for everything all at once, but that’s not the most effective approach.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for July 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.
Fed officials Waller and Bullard back another big interest rate increase in July
The Federal Reserve is well on its way to another sharp interest rate hike in July and perhaps September as well, even if it slows the economy, according to statements Thursday from two policymakers. Fed Governor Christopher Waller left little doubt that he believes increases are necessary if the institution is to meet its duties, and the market’s expectations, as an inflation fighter. “I’m definitely in support of doing another 75 basis point hike in July, probably 50 in September, and then after that we can debate whether to go back down to 25s,” Waller told the National Association for Business Economics. “If inflation just doesn’t seem to be coming down, we have to do more.” In June, the Fed approved a 75 basis point, or 0.75 percentage point, increase to its benchmark borrowing rate, the biggest such move since 1994.
Source: CNBC – Bonds