Kansas Municipal News
Topeka gave out 176 computers to residents
For Sharon Chambers, the computer given to her will enable the flexibility and privacy she needs. “I’m just here to pick up a computer because mine died,” said Chambers, 74. “I need to print stuff, and I don’t have one anymore.” While Chambers says a lot of the work she needs to do can be done on her phone, having a desktop computer is important because of the access it offers. … Chambers was one of 176 residents given a computer Wednesday through the city of Topeka’s TSC-Get Digital program, which strives to increase digital equity in the capital city. This program was enabled by a $250,000 grant the city received from the Kansas Digital Equity and Inclusion Collaborative last year.
Source: CJonline
Douglas County leaders end COVID-19 disaster declaration, praise county’s emergency management team
Douglas County leaders approved a recommendation to end the county’s COVID-19 disaster declaration, which had been in effect since March 17, 2020, at their meeting Wednesday night. That approval comes about a week after the county’s Unified Command team, which was formed to respond to the pandemic, elected to demobilize. County Emergency Management Director Robert Bieniecki and Deputy Director Jillian Rodrigue were on hand to thank the commission for their support. Commissioners, for their part, praised Bieniecki, Rodrigue and the rest of the Unified Command team who helped guide the county’s response to the pandemic.
Source: LJWorld
Opinions mixed as Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board considers 15-cent fee for plastic and paper bags
Members of Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board met Wednesday to begin discussing an ordinance to impose a 15-cent fee for single-use plastic and paper bags, revealing some mixed opinions about how the board wants to proceed. The Lawrence City Commission asked the board last month to restart the discussion on disposable plastic bags. The city has previously discussed banning plastic bags altogether or creating a bag fee, and a draft ordinance was even proposed, but the process was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for state legislation prohibiting such bans. After discussing other agenda items at Wednesday’s meeting, the board only had time for about 30 minutes of discussion about bags before it had to adjourn. In that time, a few of the board’s nine members expressed support for the existing draft ordinance, which would require stores to charge their customers a 15-cent fee for each single-use plastic or paper bag. Two members, meanwhile, expressed opposition.
Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for June 9, 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.
‘Recovery Connect’ aims to help Sedgwick county residents find aid to bounce back from pandemic
The last two years have been tough for Robert Chavez and his non-profit, Veterans Unidos. The Coronavirus pandemic forced a lot of people to cut back on their spending, meaning donations to his organization dropped. “We had to start asking the hard questions on what did we need to do to get ourselves back to where we were pre pandemic?” Chavez turned to Sedgwick County Commissioner Lacey Cruse, who told him about a county program, Recover Connect. It helps connect people to resources out there, from housing assistance and daycare, to job training and grant writing. Cruse says “We can’t have a healthy community if we don’t have healthy people, and healthy in mind, body and spirit and so people are seeking these services that will help get them back on their feet.”
Source: KAKE – News
Western Kansas wheat crops are failing just when the world needs them most
This time of year, the wheat growing in this part of western Kansas should be thigh-high and lush green. But as a months-long drought continues to parch the region, many fields tell a different story. “There’s nothing out there. It’s dead,” farmer Vance Ehmke said, surveying a wheat field near his land in Lane County. “It’s just ankle-high straw.” Across western Kansas, many fields planted with wheat months ago now look like barren wastelands. The gaping spaces between rows of brown, shriveled plants reveal hardened dirt that’s scarred with deep cracks from baking in the sun.
Source: KCUR News
Kansas lawmaker wants to spend $150B to harden schools
A Kansas lawmaker wants to redirect $150 billion dollars in COVID relief dollars to harden schools, increase security measures and pay for armed resource officers. On Thursday, June 9, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., and U.S. Congressman Mike Garcia from California introduced the Safe Schools Act legislation that would allow COVID dollars to be used for video surveillance, locks, panic buttons security systems and armed guards inside schools. “While we made some progress in previous legislation to make our schools stronger, harder, and safer, certainly there is more that can and must be done immediately to protect kids,” said Senator Marshall. “What happened in Uvalde was a horrific tragedy. While many have been quick to play politics, one thing we can all agree on is that Congress must act to harden schools. For these reasons, I am introducing this legislation that allows the abundance of unused COVID relief dollars to be allocated to secure schools in Kansas and throughout the nation.”
Source: KSN-TV
How the new Wichita Water Treatment Facility will help water treatment in the future
This is the second boil advisory issue for Wichita in eight months. The two issues are not connected. One involved a problem with a pipe, the other a filter at the water treatment plant. That plant is more than 80 years old, but a new one is under construction. We are still several years out until the plant is up and running. The main thing that will really benefit Wichita in the future is having this new equipment and fewer repairs needed when this site opens up. “We are the largest water provider in the entire state of Kansas, and to continue to do that well. We not only have to update our plant, and also make sure that we have the best people working for us, but also make sure that we have parts on hand so that we have as little interruption of service as possible,” said the Mayor of Wichita, Brandon Whipple.
Source: KSN-TV
Ellsworth warns residents of ransomware attack
The City of Ellsworth is dealing with a ransomware attack. It found out about the attack after employees noticed unauthorized activity on the City’s network on June 2. The City took the system offline to stop any potential malicious activity and notified federal law enforcement. Computer forensics experts are investigating, and a new server is being installed. So far, there is no information on who is behind the attack or how it happened. The City posted a news release on social media to warn residents. However, the City has not determined if any personal information is at risk. It will update residents as investigators get more information. Residents can still get City services, but internal operations are limited this week. However, the City hopes to have the new server operational by Friday morning.
Source: KSN-TV
Lyon County’s Click It or Ticket efforts leads to over 70 citations, including seven DUI arrests
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has announced the results of its recent Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign at the end of May into early June. Lyon County Deputy Jody Meyers says there were over 70 citations issued during the two-week effort, including 13 safety belt citations, 46 speeding citations, one citation for texting while driving. There were 13 other citations and arrests, including seven arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Meyers says there were 115 vehicle stops, of which 80 percent were conducted at night. Ten occupant restraint tickets were handed out during the night patrols.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Leawood residents could request crosswalks at certain intersections under draft policy
Leawood officials are reviewing the initial draft of what would be the city’s first-ever crosswalk policy, a conversation that was sparked by concerns raised by residents about the intersection at 93rd Street and Lee Boulevard. If ultimately approved by the Leawood City Council, the new policy, which was reviewed this week by the council’s Public Works Committee, would allow residents to provide a written request to the city engineer for a crosswalk on non-arterial roads within city limits
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Overland Park committee approves city-county partnership for fire station use
Plans for continued sharing of fire and medical resources between Overland Park and Johnson County moved forward last night. At this month’s meeting, Overland Park’s Public Safety Committee unanimously approved four respective lease agreements allowing the Overland Park Fire Department to share resources with the Johnson County Med-Act emergency service center. Under the agreement, the fire department and the county would share use of Fire Stations 2, 3, 4 and 5. In exchange, the county would pay $12 for each square foot of the space it occupied in each station to cover operating and utility costs.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Manhattan looks to not call applicants unfit if commission rejects them for boards
The Manhattan City Commission wants to be able to reject board applicants without calling them unfit to serve. Commissioners didn’t vote Tuesday, but they agreed that they wanted to opt out of the state law that requires using that term. The issue came up recently with the commission’s 3-2 rejections of Annie Cook to the Human Rights and Services Board and Thomas Hanson to the Historic Resources Board on May 17. The commission still disagrees on whether commissioners can make their own recommendations after rejecting the mayor’s.
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article
Manhattan commissioners change meeting quorum from four to three
The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday changed its quorum for voting in meetings from four to three. A quorum is the minimum number of members needed for a valid vote. The change means the commission can take action when at least three of the five members are present. Commissioners passed the measure 4-1, with commissioner Usha Reddi voting against it. Commissioner John Matta said his reason for the change was that in previous commissions, commissioners sometimes would not show up. If they didn’t reach the quorum, the commission couldn’t conduct business. He said his reasoning now is that if anything happened to two commissioners, the meeting could still run.
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article
Wichita bumps new specials from 15 to 20 years (for a 2-year period)
As metro area home prices rise, while housing availability remains low, the Wichita City Council approved a program Tuesday intended to help address those issues. The council unanimously approved a two-year program of 20-year special assessments for new single-family housing developments. City staff is also directed to meet with those in the industry to develop implementation timelines and program details. Fifteen-year special assessments are currently the norm in the city. Special assessments include infrastructure such as sewer and water lines, streets and stormwater improvements. “This is just one more tool you have in your toolbox that will marginally affect affordability of single-family homes,” said Kathy Sexton, interim assistant city manager, in a presentation to the Council.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Kelly ‘very confident’ Kansas will land $4B megaproject
Even as Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration accepts its second consecutive national Gold Shovel Award for economic development, the state’s best business attraction days might well lie ahead. Should Kansas beat out Oklahoma in landing a $4 billion advanced manufacturing facility, reportedly a Panasonic Corp. battery plant, that single megaproject would more than double the $1.45 billion valuation of the state’s top 10 projects won in 2021. An executive last week said Panasonic is “finalizing” which U.S. state it will choose for a new battery plant site, according to Reuters.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Eisenhower Airport ridership jumped 32% in April
The number of passengers flying in and out of Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport rose year-over-year in April. The airport says on its website that a total of 119,921 passengers flew through Eisenhower National in April to mark a 32.5% increase over the same month in 2021. The increase was aided by a greater use of larger aircraft in Wichita by airlines, with the airport noting a 196% jump in the usage of narrow-body jets. That resulted in 16.4% more seats on 3.8% more flights in April. Passenger count through the first four months of the year was up 47% to 410,578.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
It’s now safe to use Wichita tap water normally, health department confirms
It’s now safe to drink and use Wichita tap water normally, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed early Thursday morning. But boil advisories in several surrounding communities remain in effect. The all-clear for Wichita and Andover came at 12:41 a.m., after laboratory testing confirmed water quality has been restored. Wichita’s boil advisory, the second in eight months, lasted 32 hours. Advisories remain in effect for Rose Hill, Valley Center, Derby, Kechi and Sedgwick County rural water districts 2 and 3, all of which purchase water from Wichita.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for June 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.
Plan for Lawrence’s Community-Police Oversight Work Group gets approval from city commission
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday approved a plan for a work group that will revise how complaints against Lawrence police officers are handled. The existing Community Police Review Board has long wanted greater authority than the scope that city law currently allows — a scope so narrow that since the board was created in 2018, it has not reviewed a single complaint. The current ordinance only allows CPRB members to review appeals of the police department’s decisions in complaints about bias-based policing. Starting in 2020, at the direction of the Lawrence City Commission, board members began drafting an ordinance that expanded its duties. But an outside consultant’s review of LPD, completed about a year ago, suggested that the CPRB and police department form a task force to determine the best way to move forward.
Source: The Lawrence Times