Kansas Municipal News
Wichita schools to discontinue universal free lunches, preserve free breakfast next year
Wichita Public Schools will discontinue its universal free lunch program while preserving free breakfast for all students during the 2022-23 school year. School nutrition funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In March, Congress let a pandemic relief waiver program lapse that had provided for schools across the country to offer all meals to students for free over the past two school years. “I think we all want our kids to be able to come to school and get food, but this is not something that we had a choice in,” Wichita school board member Sheril Logan said at Monday evening’s meeting.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Prairie Village to implement two 14-day limits per year on storage pods as of July 1
Prairie Village will impose new citywide storage pod limits beginning July 1. Some residents and businesses are keeping portable storage units on their properties for extended periods, causing a recent increase in complaints. A newly approved ordinance means storage pods usage needs to adhere to the following starting July 1: A limit of two 14-day periods per year; Placed at least 10-feet back from the curb, in a spot that doesn’t obstruct traffic visibility.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for May 5, 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.
Douglas County sheriff uses own trauma to encourage others to seek help
May is mental health awareness month. The sheriff in Douglas County, Kansas, knows a healthy deputy means a healthy community. Studies show, 6% of the general population experience PTSD. That number is much higher among first responders at 20%. Sheriff Jay Armbrister takes his own trauma to encourage his employees to seek help. The sheriff’s office has taken their Peer Support Program from six members to now 18.This voluntary group of people, both uniformed and civilians, stepped forward to be trained on peer support.
Source: KSN-TV
ACLU settles diversion-agreement lawsuit with Montgomery County prosecutor’s office
The Montgomery County attorney settled a lawsuit with the ACLU by agreeing to create new policies to inform defendants of their right under Kansas law to seek diversion agreements. The American Civil Liberties Union settled a lawsuit filed five years ago against prosecutors in Montgomery County for disproportionately seeking harsh sentences for defendants posing nominal risk to the public by declining to make available diversion program alternatives required under Kansas law. The ACLU and ACLU of Kansas said Thursday the settlement was finalized with Montgomery County Attorney Lisa Montgomery, who operates out of the county seat in Independence. She agreed to adopt new policies on deferring prosecution in criminal cases, expanding eligibility for diversion programs and improving flow of information on this alternative to defendants.
Source: Kansas Reflector
The pandemic shrunk Kansas public school enrollment and that means cuts in education budgets
Kansas public schools feel the pinch of enrollment losses that came with the COVID-19 pandemic — and it could mean fewer teachers, bigger classes and widespread budget cuts. The number of students enrolled in Kansas public schools dropped by more than 15,000 since the start of the pandemic, according to state data. Some of those students may have moved out of state, but many likely turned to homeschooling or online education. Federal COVID relief money helped districts cover shortfalls at the start. But longer-term student losses will mean less state funding. “We will have to start to reduce the budget footprint, because the student footprint is down,” said Susan Willis, chief financial officer for the state’s largest district, in Wichita. “And it appears to be more permanently down, and not just a one-year COVID anomaly.” Wichita’s enrollment has dropped by more than 7% over the past six years. Some of that came from declining birth rates and shifting housing patterns. But COVID worsened the problem, especially in preschool and kindergarten.
Source: KCUR News
Pittsburg to directly contract with KDHE
A new partnership has been formalized in Southeast Kansas. The City of Pittsburg has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This will allow KDHE to provide environmental services to the city on a per-project basis. Deputy City Manager Jay Byers says Pittsburg will now contract directly with KDHE, and benefit from the organization’s relationship with the Environmental Protection Agency. “It makes it easier for us to get the work done. They have connections to contractors. They have some capabilities in-house and a great deal of familiarity with this kind of work so that way the city can work with the state so we can get these projects done and probably more cheaply,” Byers said.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Kansas ‘waiting’ on billion-dollar megaproject decision
It’s been nearly four months since Kansas lawmakers signed off on a bid to attract a $4 billion business investment from a secret company. While state leaders have been quiet about the details of the project, including the prolonged timeline, according to Secretary of Commerce and Lieutenant Governor David Toland, the state is still in the running to secure the deal. “We’re just watching and waiting,” Toland said in an interview this week.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Kelly signs bipartisan legislation creating state tax incentive for housing construction
Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Thursday creating incentives in the form of state income tax credits for investors in construction of residential housing that contributes to economic development in Kansas. The Kelly administration’s statewide survey of housing needs — the first of its kind in three decades — pointed to the need for affordable housing, especially in rural communities. The shortage was identified as an impediment to expansion of existing businesses and attracting new employers. The tax credit administered by the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation and the Kansas Development Finance Authority would be capped at $13 million annually. The law limited a qualified housing developer to use of the tax credit on 40 residential units per year. In terms of credits available after July 1, the measure would offer $35,000 per housing unit in counties with a population under 8,000. The cap would fall to $32,000 per unit in counties with 8,000 to 25,000 residents and to $30,000 per unit in counties with a population between 25,000 and 75,000. The bill set aside $2.5 million for each of the smaller population groups of counties and designated $8 million for the larger set of counties.
Source: The Lawrence Times
County outlines EMS issues in Clearwater
Sedgwick County officials spent an hour last week outlining EMS service in the community, and answering questions about staffing issues. The discussion with the Clearwater City Council was requested by city officials, who are concerned about response times in the community and staffing issues with a Sedgwick County EMS Citizen Response Vehicle (CRV) stationed in Clearwater.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers
Public Comment Period now open for CDBG 2023 Proposed Changes
2023 CDBG Proposed Program Changes can be found here https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/cdbg/2023proposedchanges/ and in the Kansas Register. Public comments that either support or oppose changes are welcome. All comments should be submitted to cdbg@ks.gov until the Public Hearing, which will be held on Tuesday, June 7 at 10:00 AM (CST) via Zoom. All members of the public are welcome submit comments and participate in the Public Hearing. The Public Hearing meeting information can be found at the link above.
Hope in a Desert: Be Filled of South Topeka tries to put resources back into Montara
The Montara community of Topeka once served as base housing for Forbes Field when the U.S. Air Force owned the land. Now, the area is home to Shawnee County residents, or about 430 households. It’s also a desert. The area isn’t lacking in water but resources. The closest supermarket is 5.5 miles away, and the closest bus stop is almost 4 miles away. Be Filled of South Topeka offers food, clothing, classes and other resources for community members. Since its soft opening in January, it has helped more than 1,500 people. “All they have to do is come in, and we will help them,” said Nell Ritchie, a Be Filled board member. There’s no cost.”
Source: CJonline
Finney County discusses possible blackbird mitigation program
Possible future mitigation of various blackbirds and other nuisance bird species was discussed at Monday’s Finney County Commission meeting. Blackbirds and other species include European starlings, common grackles, great-tailed grackle, red-winged blackbirds, American crown, Eurasian collared dove and pigeons. Commissioner Lon Pishny said the large bird population is damaging to the area regarding feces accumulation from roosting, which causes a human health and safety hazard; damage to HVAC systems; damage to electrical substations; damage to vegetation including trees and landscaping within city limits; lost crop yields; and economic loss for feedlots, dairies and granaries throughout Finney County.
Source: GC Telegram
Scootin’ Along: New scooters hit Ark City but raise concerns
Electric-powered scooters have been flying here and there in Arkansas City in recent days. The Bird company, which promotes the devices as a safe and climate-friendly alternative to vehicles, brought a fleet of its scooters to town. But they are creating some safety concerns and confusion about what rules riders are suppose to follow.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Electric scooter company Bird looking to expand to Salina
Electric scooters could be on their way to Salina in the near future after a company that offers the service made a presentation to the City Commission Monday. Bird, the transportation company that operates electric scooter-share programs in places around the world, presented during the commission’s study session Monday and said it would like to see Salina added as the next city in Kansas to hop on the scooter-share model. “Electronic scooters have become a new and modern form of transportation using a variety of different ways,” said Lauren Driscoll, the director of development services for the City of Salina. “(Scooters) are used both for pleasure and travel and tourism, but also for what we call ‘last-mile’ in the transportation world.”
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for May 4, 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 raises rates by half a percentage point — the biggest hike in two decades — to fight inflation
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point as the most aggressive step yet in its battle against generational highs in inflation. Along with the move higher in rates, the central bank indicated it will begin reducing asset holdings on its $9 trillion balance sheet. The Fed had been buying bonds to keep interest rates low and money flowing through the economy, but the surge in prices has necessitated a dramatic rethink in monetary policy. The plan outlined Wednesday will see the balance sheet reduction happen in phases as the Fed will allow a capped level of proceeds from maturing bonds to roll off each month while reinvesting the rest. Starting June 1, the plan will see $30 billion of Treasurys and $17.5 billion on mortgage-backed securities roll off. After three months, the cap for Treasurys will increase to $60 billion and $35 billion for mortgages.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Sedgwick County extends local disaster declaration for April 29th tornado
Sedgwick County commissioners have voted to extend the local disaster emergency declaration for the April 29th tornado that left destruction from the southeast part of the county into western Butler County. Commissioners were told that the initial declaration issued by Commission Chairman David Dennis would only be valid for up to seven days, and action would be needed to extend it. The commission voted to extend it through at least May 18th.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Andover issues guidelines for building repair work
In response to the tornado event on April 29, 2022, the City of Andover Community Development Department has conducted Damage Assessment of over 180 structures to determine the level of damage caused by the storm. All structures were given a rating of Safe, Unsafe, Habitable, or Limited Entry. As these structures are considered for re-occupancy, certain requirements must be met in order to have utilities re-energized and once again be suitable for occupancy.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Hillsboro sets rules for container homes
Hillsboro city council members approved a process Tuesday for development of alternative construction homes, such as a container housing development planned for the north side of 3rd St. Under the plan, a developer would need to present the planning commission a site plan for each structure, either one at a time or several at the same time. Mayor Lou Thurston called the process “a good compromise.”
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal