Kansas Municipal News
Lawrence working on plans to address spread of hundreds of invasive Bradford pear trees
The Bradford pear trees across Lawrence are replete with their springtime blooms, but the white flowers are not a welcome sight for those in the city’s forestry division. The Bradford pear is a type of ornamental pear tree native to Asia that has been popular with landscapers, but the fast-growing trees have spread to parks and other forested areas to the detriment of native tree and plant species and wildlife. It was initially thought the trees would not be able to reproduce, but that proved not to be the case as the trees began spreading, creating a widespread problem in the U.S., according to national media reports.
Source: LJWorld.com
$15 million Atchison museum will celebrate the trailblazing aviator’s legacy
The trailblazing female pilot vanished as she tried to fly around the world on July 2, 1937, along with navigator Fred Noonan and their Lockheed Electra 10-E airplane. Their fate has become one of the world’s great unsolved mysteries. Only one Lockheed Electra 10-E still exists. It is named “Muriel,” after Earhart’s sister, Grace Muriel Earhart Morrissey, who died in 1998 at age 98. That plane will become the centerpiece of the soon-to-be-created Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum at Atchison, Earhart’s birthplace. Museum founder and president Karen Seaberg announced April 13 that supporters had already donated $10 million of the estimated $15 million needed to create the museum. Those donors include corporate powerhouses FedEx, Garmin and Lockheed Martin. The museum is expected to open next year, according to its website.
Source: Hutch News
Municipal Bond Trends for April 20, 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.
Fire, ambulance response times are harmful for emergency outcomes in Lawrence, Fire Medical leaders say
Over the last 15 years, Lawrence’s firefighter-paramedics have seen a 62% increase in call volume but no increase to the number of fire stations. Tom Fagan, interim chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, told Lawrence city commissioners Tuesday that LDCFM’s first responders are successful when they are able to reach emergencies within their goal of four minutes or less of travel time. But the substantial increase in calls for service over the past several years — from 8,964 calls in 2006 to 14,560 in 2021, according to LDCFM’s presentation — and the simultaneous calls that occur can stretch limited resources and hinder the outcomes of fire and medical emergencies.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Sedgwick County ends COVID disaster declaration, will close testing, vaccination sites
Sedgwick County is no longer under a disaster declaration for COVID-19. The County Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to rescind the declaration that was approved in March 2020. The move comes after the county commission announced a shift from an emergency response to a recovery response to COVID earlier this month. The county also plans to close testing and vaccination sites in Wichita at the end of April, county director of communications Akeam Ashford said in a meeting on Wednesday.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Rediscover Arma
This Sunday, April 24, at 2 p.m., the Miners Hall Museum in Franklin, Kansas, will be hosting a special panel consisting of Joan Barbieri, Emma Louise Ales, Pat McKee, and Mike Doue. Spend the afternoon learning about the Coal Camp of Arma and its changes throughout the years. Hear interesting stories about businesses that have kept Arma a thriving small hometown community. This special program is being presented in conjunction with the quarterly exhibit “Coal Camp – Arma” hosted by Christie (Nicoletti) Parrish.
Source: Morning Sun
Manhattan approves resolution supporting $650 million Scorpion Biological project
The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday officially supported a biotech company’s plans to build a new facility in the Manhattan area. Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution of intent to commit to the project from Scorpion Biological Services, which is slated to bring 500 new jobs to the region. On Monday, Gov. Laura Kelly, along with other local, state and company officials, announced that the San Antonio-based firm will build a $650 million, 500,000 square-foot building in Pottawatomie County. The new facility will be at the northeast corner of Excel Road and U.S. Highway 24 near Manhattan.
Source: themercury.com
Garden City’s new housing development kicks off
Garden City officially broke ground on a new housing development Wednesday morning, the first of what may be several such developments over the next decade designed to meet workforce housing needs. Hunters Glen is a multi-phase development located on 40 acres north of Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Dirt work has already begun on Phase I of the project, which will include 86 two- and three-bedroom apartment units and possibly a small grocery store to serve residents. Project developers hope to finish the first phase by the end of 2022. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran said housing is near the top of the list of needs to keep rural Kansas thriving. “The reason it’s good to be in Garden City is this is a place that has figured out how to make good things happen. You’re a role model for growth, prosperity. The things that are happing here are things we hope happen across our state,” he said.
Source: Greater Garden City
Sedgwick County calls on state to investigate railroad crossing near Maize, increase safety
The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the Kansas Department of Transportation to investigate a railroad crossing near Maize. Three tracks run across 135th between 53rd and 61st street in Northwest Sedgwick County. The resolution calls on KDOT to look into what “necessary warning devices” would make the area safer. “We want the state to become involved in this and put some kind of protection for our citizens,” David Dennis, chairman of the commissioners, said. This comes after a fatal accident at the crossing last fall. A train hit and killed a woman in her van while she was trying to cross the train tracks.
Source: KAKE – News
Bombardier names Wichita its U.S. headquarters and brings hundreds of jobs to town
“I’m just very proud of all of the things that are happening here in the state of Kansas,” said Bradley Mims, the Deputy Administrator for Federal Aviation Administration. A big announcement from Bombardier Tuesday that’s bringing more than just attention to the Air Capital. “This is a huge day for Wichita and especially for Bombardier defense. It really does mean a whole lot to us to launch the new business here in the air capital of the world,” said Steve Patrick, the Vice President of Bombardier Defense. Partick said nationwide the company is creating 500 new jobs, 200 of them right here in Wichita. And best of all, its Wichita facility is now the designated U.S. headquarters for the company, called Bombardier Defense. “It’s the people. It’s the people with a history, the experience, the talent, the flexibility, the sort of work we’ve been doing at Bombardier in Wichita for the last 30 years is perfect for the defense market. It really allows us that agility, that responsiveness that our customers look for,” said Patrick.
Source: KAKE – News
Governor Kelly: ‘I am confident that we are ahead’, competition over mystery company heats up
The competition continues to heat up over which state will land the big ‘mystery company’. Monday, Oklahoma’s Governor, Kevin Stitt asked lawmakers for incentives to help lure a ‘mystery company’ to The Sooner State, but Kansas is still in the running. With Kansas being the other finalist, KAKE News caught up with Governor Laura Kelly Tuesday to ask if there were any updates on the big project. Governor Kelly says she wishes she had an update to share with us at this time, but said that this would no doubt be transformational, if Kansas were able to land this project. Monday, Oklahoma’s Governor Stitt, asked the legislature to do some special ‘mega-legislation’. “We have an opportunity to land one of the largest factories in the entire country. Just a humongous, humongous factory with billions and billions of dollars worth of investment… thousands and thousands of jobs,” Oklahoma’s Governor Stitt said. A company that still hasn’t been named, has Oklahoma and Kansas top of mind.
Source: KAKE – News
Flame of Hope travels in Pittsburg for Special Olympics
Law enforcement officers, athletes and community members come together to carry the Flame of Hope in Pittsburg. It’s a tradition of the Special Olympics Kansas ahead of the State Summer Games in Wichita each May. In late April, the highlight of the Torch Run season begins when the Flame of Hope travels from all corners of the state. Today, the Pittsburg Police Department ran with athletes to carry the flame. The route started at the police department and ended at Pittsburg State University with a lap on the track to start the Special Olympics Southeast Spring Games. Statewide, the “Final Leg” of the Torch Run is the culmination of the run, from Wichita City Hall to the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Games at Wichita State University.
Source: KOAMKOAM
Garden City police receive $500k for new mobile dispatch
A federal investment of $500,000 will be given to the Garden City Police Department (GCPD), Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced on Wednesday. The investment will give GCPD a Mobile Command Emergency 911 Dispatch Center. It will provide a secondary option of communication for first responders if the main 911 dispatch is inoperable. Additionally, because it is mobile, it will allow transportation to other nearby agencies if assistance is needed.
Source: KSN-TV
Garden City working to solve housing crunch
Garden City is closer to having more housing available for residents. On Wednesday, crews broke ground on Phase I of Hunters Glen. The development is near the intersection of North Third Street and Leawood Avenue, just north of Valley View Cemetery. The project’s first phase will create 86 housing units at a total development cost of more than $19 million. Phase II is in final application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It would add another 106 units and a total development cost of $22 million. Phase III will be submitted for preliminary application to USDA in the fall. Greater Garden City said Phase I is funded through a USDA loan and grant with Bonneville and Horizon Bank financing. Phase I will provide affordable housing options for farmworkers as broadly defined by USDA.
Source: KSN-TV
Evacuation lifted in Kansas town threatened by plant fire
Evacuations orders have been lifted in a western Kansas town threatened by a fertilizer plant fire, officials said. Barricades to the town of Leoti had been removed by Tuesday night and those evacuated were allowed to return to their homes, Wichita County Clerk Lynda Goodrich told television station KWCH. Parts of the town had been evacuated because hazardous materials were involved in the Tuesday afternoon fire at a Nutrien Ag Solutions plant in Leoti, a town of about 1,500 that lies 226 miles (364 kilometers) northwest of Wichita.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Kansas fiscal forecasters bump revenues by $760 million; fires up food sales tax debate
State economic forecasters on Wednesday boosted their tax revenue estimates by $760 million over two years, leaving Kansas with an ending balance of $3.1 billion and firing up the debate over how fast the food sales tax should be eliminated. The state is anticipated to roll up about $9.3 billion in taxes for the current fiscal year ending in June, up from last fall’s estimate of about $8.9 billion.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Kansas tears down ‘Bank of KDOT’
Gov. Laura Kelly signed new budget Tuesday that brings an end to the “irresponsible practice” of using hundreds of millions of dollars in state highway funds to bankroll other parts of state government. The new $15.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2023 does not call for moving any money out of the highway fund, a practice Kelly started to end after she became governor. Over the years, dating as far back as 2001, the state has used billions from transportation to help backfill other parts of the state budget.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
New revenue projections give Kansas a $3.1B surplus as governor pushes for food sales tax cut
A revised economic forecast for Kansas projects the state will collect $407.8 million more than previously expected in the upcoming fiscal year, adding to a budget surplus that could be used to eliminate the 6.5% state sales tax on food. Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat seeking reelection this year, has made the total elimination of the sales tax on food a cornerstone of her campaign. Republicans have favored an approach that would phase out the tax over several years, as long as revenue numbers remain strong, while eying other potential tax cuts and criticizing the governor for vetoing a tax bundle three years ago. The new revenue estimate, which is tempered for inflation and includes all of the legislation already signed by the governor, shows the state would have a $2.7 billion surplus entering July and a $3.1 billion surplus in another 12 months. The elimination of the sales tax on food would reduce revenues by an estimated $402.5 million.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Coverage lapses in 911 radio system could require more towers in Miami County
Coverage gaps in the county’s new 800 MHz emergency radio system could require two new additional towers to be built. At the County Commission’s April 13 study session, Chair Rob Roberts said the coverage lapses seem to be most prevalent in the northeast and south-central portions of the county, based on recent discussions he and Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Whelan have had with radio system provider Motorola and project consultant TUSA Consulting Services. The $8.3 million radio system from Motorola became fully operational in early July and is to be used by first responders with all the agencies in the county. “They (Motorola) concluded, along with TUSA, that in the northeast part of the county there is definitely some missed opportunities to have that area covered, as well as the south central,” Roberts said. “Both TUSA and Motorola agree that to best satisfy 95 percent in those two areas you need two towers and equipment to go with it.”
Source: The Miami County Republic
Fire crews respond to chemical fire in Leoti
Officials are saying that a fire at Nutrient ag Solutions caused local evacuations Tuesday afternoon in Leoti Kansas. Wichita County officials say the Ford County Regional Hazardous Materials Team deployed to Leoti for the fire Tuesday afternoon and was fighting the blaze and removing hazardous material. The fire began around 3:30 p.m. at a Nutrien Ag Solutions plant.
Source: Western Kansas News