Kansas Municipal News
Fed’s Williams sees 50 or 75 basis-point rate hike debated in July
Federal Reserve officials will discuss whether to raise rates by 50 basis points or 75 basis points when they meet next month, with the decision being determined by economic data, New York Fed President John Williams said on Tuesday. “In terms of our next meeting, I think 50 to 75 is clearly going to be the debate,” Williams said during an interview with CNBC. “My view is we’ve got to get interest rates higher, and we have to do that expeditiously.” The policy maker said he supports raising the Fed’s benchmark interest rate to a range of 3% to 3.5% by the end of this year, and that the path for next year will depend on the data. He said he expects economic growth to slow and the unemployment rate to rise as the Fed hikes borrowing costs to tame inflation, but he doesn’t project a recession.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Louisburg makes changes to vicious dog codes, lifts breed ban
The pit bull breed ban in the city of Louisburg has been lifted with action taken by the Louisburg City Council at its June 6 meeting. At the same meeting, the council passed two new ordinances that strengthen the dangerous and vicious animal laws inside the city limits. Both ordinances were unanimously approved by the five-member council and went into effect June 15 after publication in the official city newspaper. Under the new ordinance a dangerous animal is one that is defined that either attacks or bites any person or domestic animal or has attacked or bitten a person or domestic animal…
Source: Louisburg, KS
Governor approves drought declarations for Kansas counties
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has approved an update to drought declarations for all 105 counties in the state. The new declaration places all of the counties in a watch, warning or emergency status. The declaration places 34 western Kansas counties into an emergency status, while 8 counties have been placed in a warning, including Stafford, Pawnee, Pratt and Barber counties in southern Kansas. Sedgwick County and the surrounding counties in south central and central Kansas are among 63 counties that are under a watch.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Unincorporated Johnson County speed limit increases
On June 23, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners voted to increase speed limits on 13 segments of roads in unincorporated Johnson County, upon the recommendation of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Public Works Department. An engineering study was conducted to determine the 85th percentile speeds as well as a review of safety and sight distance issues at intersections and entrances. The 85th percentile is simply the speed that 85% of the drivers will operate and is an important component considered when posting speed limits. The 13 segments that met the criteria for safe increases in speed limits to either 40 or 45 MPH …
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
McPherson looks to add improvements with renewing second half-cent sales tax
The second half-cent sales tax is expected to end next year in McPherson, and after finishing many projects these past 10 years, the City wants to keep moving forward. If approved, this would keep the 9% sales tax in the city. The half-cent sales tax generates about $1.6 million each year over the course of 10 years. It has funded the renovation of the community building and the reconstruction of 1st Street. If approved for the next 10 years, 70% will go to street projects, and 20% will be for public lands like the golf course and parks.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County firefighters to receive $2m in funding
The Kansas Insurance Department (KID) has made a $2 million distribution to local Sedgwick County Firefighter Relief Associations (FRAs). The funds are being distributed to eight local FRAs in Sedgwick County, pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act. A total of $2,054,954.93 has been distributed. The funds are generated by a 2% tax paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning insurance premiums written in Kansas. The FRAs primarily use these funds for insurance premiums and safety enhancements. Some FRAs may use these for the health, accident, disability and life insurance premiums of local firefighters.
Source: KSN-TV
“Grow Pittsburg” CDC hopes to continue city’s development
The Pittsburg community is hoping to start a new program to help with the ever-growing needs of the area. During Tuesday night’s commission meeting, members of Imagine Pittsburg will request $150,000 from the city to establish a new community development corporation called Grow Pittsburg. It would allow Imagine Pittsburg to set up a 501 (c)(3) and better look at ways to improve the community. That could include anything from housing to entertainment to education. Grow Pittsburg would be made up of members from Imagine Pittsburg, the city, school district, chamber and business community.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Over $1M in funds now available for part-time, volunteer Kansas fire departments
The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced that over $1.2 million have been made available to their office due to a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), on Tuesday. In 2022, $1.2 million was given to the OSFM through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant (KFRSG), along with $100,000 from the OSFM’s budget, for the OSFM to disburse by June 30, 2023. “This increase in funding will go a long way in providing much needed equipment for our volunteer fire departments across the state,” said Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal. “In many rural areas of our state, the smaller departments are the sole providers of fire and rescue response. So, it is vital that they have the proper safety gear and recruitment tools to ensure their community’s safety.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Iola leader wants boost for economic development
Iola City Administrator Matt Rehder said Allen County and its cities should invest more in economic development. He suggested Iola, Humboldt and the county each invest the equivalent of 1 mill into the fund. Iola and Allen County should be investing more in economic development, City Administrator Matt Rehder said Monday. Rehder proposed to Iola City Council members the city increase its annual economic development investment from $20,000 to about $50,000, utilizing a tax increase for the funding. … Iola wouldn’t be the only local entity to pay more for economic development, Rehder offered, suggesting Allen County and Humboldt do the same.
Source: The Iola Register
Charging Forward: Bringing Electric Vehicles to Rural America
Register for this event on Thursday, July 7 at 2:00 p.m. ET. USDA Rural Development (RD) invites rural partners and stakeholders to join a webinar on Thursday, July 7 from 2-4 p.m. ET to learn about federal funding opportunities and programs to help develop electric infrastructure. Webinar participants will learn about funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will be administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop electric vehicle infrastructure.
The Act provided $7.5 billion to DOE and DOT to build a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the country. The Act also provided $5 billion for a bus replacement program. This includes $2.5 billion for electric buses and $2.5 billion for low-emission combustion engine buses. Webinar participants will also learn about RD programs that can help develop electric vehicle infrastructure and support related community economic development opportunities.
RD wants to ensure people in rural communities are able to take advantage of these opportunities to expand their electric vehicle infrastructure as part of their broader economic development strategies.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Visit the Department of Transportation website for additional information on the IIJA.
Serving his city
Despite not being born or raised in Salina, Dr. Trent Davis has done as much as he can to make the city better for the people and citizens he calls neighbors in this place he’s made home for the past 23 years. Davis spent his early life on the East Coast, being raised in Washington, D.C., going to undergraduate at Hobart College in New York and returning to Washington for medical school at Howard University. His career as a neurologist took him to California before he settled in Salina in 1999, the city he has called home since then. Even before being appointed to the Salina City Commission in 2014, to fill a vacancy at that time, Davis was already getting involved in making changes in the city that was relatively new to him “The organization I’ve probably worked the most with over the years (in Salina) has been the NAACP,” Davis said.
Source: Salina Journal
Number of people driving far above speed limit remains high
A sharp surge in people driving far above the speed limit accompanied the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas and surrounding states. Thousands were ticketed for going more than 100 mph. One driver doubled up, topping 200 mph. That person drove an Audi A7 sports car that was clocked in July 2021 going 202 mph in a 65 mph construction zone on the Kansas Turnpike, Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones told a Kansas legislative committee last February.
Source: CJonline
Art in the Park gives ‘great day’ in downtown Garden City
Saturday was a great day for the Art in the Park. Katy Guthrie, Executive Director of Garden City Arts, which puts on the annual art festival in Stevens Park, said Saturday was a great day. It wasn’t 100 degrees outside and despite some wind and a little rain, it was good weatherwise. Plenty of people were in attendance, Guthrie said. It was busy throughout the morning and in the afternoon, there was a slow trickle of people, which picked up after lunch and the rain ended. Guthrie said it was great to have so many creatives gathered, and they were feeding off each other, some already planning what they’re going to do next year to make their booths better.
Source: GC Telegram
3 hotel developers look at Hutchinson, 1 explores fairgrounds option
Acting on a suggestion from the Chamber, a group of investors proposing to develop a Hilton Garden Inn in Hutchinson met last week with Kansas State Fair officials to explore locating the hotel on state property near the fairgrounds. Developer Aaron Brooks confirmed he met Thursday with Kansas State Fair Manager Bryan Schulz to explore the grounds and discuss the possibilities. But he provided no decision timeline. Hutchinson /Reno County Chamber of Commerce President Debra Teufel said that Brooks’ group is one of three developers looking at Hutchinson to construct a new hotel. Though one of those three has indicated Hutchinson was probably not a fit for their type of development, Teufel said, the other two could both decide to build here, with an announcement from one anticipated in the next month or two.
Source: Hutch News
Topeka leaders have new plan to get property owners to cut overgrown grass and weeds
Topeka’s city government is preparing to significantly change its approach for dealing with overgrown grass and weeds in local neighborhoods. For decades, the city has had property maintenance employees respond to complaints and find out if grass, weeds or other uncultivated vegetation is more than 12 inches tall. If it is, the city asks the property owner to cut the grass. If the owner doesn’t, the city has Shawnee County Jail inmate crews cut the grass, then bills the property owner. But the city is preparing to set up two separate programs aimed at improving on that, said city Councilwoman Karen Hiller. One will involve the city’s hiring a local company to mow lawns on a fixed-price basis for property owners who can’t do that personally but can afford to pay, she said. The other will involve volunteers signing up to mow lawns to aid property owners who are unable to mow those lawns and can’t afford to pay to have them mowed, Hiller said.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for June 27, 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.
Leawood still working to clean up some large debris from this month’s tornado
Leawood is still working to clean up debris caused nearly three weeks after a tornado rolled through the city and on its path through Johnson County and other parts of the Kansas City metro…. According to Leawood Public Works director David Ley, who spoke to the city council last week, approximately 20 properties in northern Leawood between 92nd and 98th Street still have debris or trees that need to be removed.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Manhattan takes stock of damage after stormy week
Citywide cleanup efforts moved into Area 2 (north-central/purple/State Streets) on Friday, June 24 after City crews from the Street Division and Parks Division finished picking up tree and limb debris in Area 1 (southeast/tan/Ward District) on Thursday, June 23. The amount of tree and limb debris collected so far has been significant, leading to multiple days of work being needed in each region to transport all the material away. Crews will continue to collect in the north-central area early this week and only move into Area 3 (southwest/blue) once it is complete.
Source: Manhattan – News Flash
Garden City Community College awarded $1 million for technology upgrades
Garden City Community College has been awarded $1 million in federal funding for technology upgrades. The $1 million will fund IT equipment upgrades, staff and technology to put Zoom-enabled classrooms into each of the service area high schools in the GCCC service area while also addressing technology upgrades for GCCC to enhance distance education. “Since the pandemic, the importance and value of online education has been greatly realized,” Dr. Ruda, GCCC President, said.
Source: KSN-TV
Johnson County Library welcomes new county librarian
Johnson County Library will welcome Tricia Suellentrop as its new county librarian beginning July 1. The Library Board of Directors confirmed Suellentrop’s hiring at their June board meeting. Suellentrop will succeed Sean Casserley, who announced his retirement earlier this year after a decade at the helm of one of Kansas’ largest public library systems. Suellentrop brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served as the deputy county librarian since 2008. She acted as the interim county librarian for six months in 2012, during the national search for a new county librarian that resulted in Casserley’s hiring. With Johnson County Library, Suellentrop has also held the positions of systemwide services manager, youth services manager and teen services coordinator.
Source: Prairie Village Post