Kansas Municipal News
RCPD testifies neutrality on constitutional amendment requiring sheriff elections
As Kansas lawmakers consider a bill proposing a constitutional amendment requiring most counties to continue electing sheriffs, Riley County police administration are staying neutral in light of a provision grandfathering in municipalities that abolished the office prior to 2022. HCR 5022 was before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, having received the House’s go-ahead on a voice vote in February. If approved by two thirds of both bodies, 104 of Kansas’ 105 counties without consolidated police forces will be required to maintain the office of sheriff and ensures they can only be removed from office by recall or the State attorney general. The amendment will be on the November ballot if it reaches the necessary threshold.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Streaming services seek exemption from Kansas franchise fee as local governments protest
Kansas senators debated Monday extending an exemption from a local government-collected franchise fee to streaming giants such as Netflix and Hulu. Under Kansas law, cable companies are required to pay up to 5% of their revenue to municipal governments because they rely on the public right of way to deliver services to customers. Companies are also required to register with the Kansas Corporation Commission and pay a fee to the state. Senate Bill 547 would ensure streaming services would not be subject to these requirements. The issue has come to a head in Fort Scott, where the city filed a lawsuit against Netflix and Hulu over these fees.
Source: Kansas Reflector
10 Kansas counties to share over $6 million for road projects
Some Kansas counties will get to make some road safety improvements now that they’ve been chosen to receive more than $6 million from the Kansas High-Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) program. HRRR is a federally funded state/local partnership initiative designed to make rural roads safer. This year’s 10 projects were chosen from more than 40 applications.
Source: KSN-TV
Hesston Tornado remembered 32 years later
For some the Hesston/Burrton tornado seems like it wasn’t 32 years ago. The memories are still fresh on their minds. “When we found damage around Burrton from first responders that’s when it hit me, this could get worse,” said Ron Hoffman. Hoffman, who is retired, was 9-1-1 director in Harvey county the day the F-5 tornado hit. “It brings back memories. But good memories, too,” said Hoffman. “The response and professionalism of everyone involved is what I remember. The agencies that responded. The volunteers that came in after.”
Source: KSN-TV
Merriam hopes $500K approved by Congress will ‘kickstart’ work to solve Turkey Creek flooding issues downtown
Congress has sent a $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations package to President Joe Biden’s desk that includes $500,000 in federal funding for a design and analysis project to remove downtown Merriam from the Turkey Creek floodplain. Turkey Creek runs along downtown Merriam and frequently floods, discouraging investment in new and existing businesses, city officials have long complained. The $500,000 included in the massive omnibus spending bill will go specifically toward a design and analysis project conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Riley County expresses interest in cost-share project for paving Wildcat Creek Road
Riley County commissioners on Monday indicated their interest in working with the Manhattan city government to improve Wildcat Creek Road. Brian Johnson, city engineer for the Manhattan city government, asked the county commission if it would be interested in a cost-share project to pave the road, which is currently gravel. Johnson said the intent is to pave Wildcat Creek Road from Scenic Drive to the Wildcat Creek bridge. The county government would be responsible for the portion from the city limit to the bridge. Johnson said the cost-share would be a 55/45 split, with the county responsible for 55% of the costs and the city 45%. Officials are still determining project details and costs.
Source: themercury.com
New community violence dashboard launched in WYCO
A new community violence dashboard has been launched by the Unified Government Health Department. The dashboard provides statistics about patterns of ongoing community violence in Wyandotte County, along with information about resources available for victims of violence and those who want to help lower incidents of violence in the community, according to a spokesman.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
One in six Kansas teachers say they may leave public education early, adding to staffing fears
About one in six Kansas teachers feel they’re likely to leave public education before retiring, according to a statewide survey of 20,000 teachers. The Kansas Educator Engagement and Retention Study, conducted by Emporia State University Teachers Collège professor Bret Church and independent organizational psychologist Luke Simmering, also found that one in seven teachers feel likely to retire in the next three years. The survey’s report adds a layer to other Kansas data that shows the state’s schools are facing a staffing crunch. Teacher vacancies, including jobs filled with teachers not fully licensed for those positions, rose 62% to 1,253 vacancies in fall 2021, per a report from the Kansas State Department of Education.
Source: CJonline
Residential appraisal spike concerns
Appraisal values rose by an average of about 13.5% per residential property in Shawnee County. That concerns Topeka City Councilman Tony Emerson. “This is something that really affects my constituents,” Emerson told The Capital-Journal this past week. “People can’t afford to pay more and more taxes year after year.” The new appraisal values — or revised versions of those values, if residents successfully appeal them — will be paired with mill levy levels local taxing entities set when they adopt 2023 budgets later this year to calculate the property tax bills for which Shawnee County residents will pay the first half beginning in December.
Source: CJonline
Parade of Quilts returns to downtown Yoder
The 22nd Annual Parade of Quilts is on display for the month of March, featuring about 90 original, hand-stitched quilts made in a variety of patterns, colors and sizes. “People enjoy looking at the quilts, (there is a) nice variety of colors and patterns,” said Linda Miller, Parade of Quilts coordinator. “We think it is a fun event for the community, and it draws people in to Yoder.” The patterns range from traditional to modern and include lone star, log cabin, starburst and bargello. There are also unique wedding ring traditional patterns, but one of the most popular ones is the compass star pattern.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for March 11, 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.
Harvey County to end recycling program May 1
The Board of Harvey County Commissioners eliminated the county’s recycling program Tuesday morning on a 3-0 vote. The change will take effect May 1. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber presented commissioners with additional fee structures that would be more affordable for those choosing to recycle. The suggested fees cost $12 for residents to bring in 100 pounds or fewer of recyclables and $36 for up to 300 pounds. Under the first proposal presented to commissioners last week, residents would have had to pay $48 for up to 500 pounds. Commissioner Randy Hague asked if the county would hold off on purchasing any equipment for the recycling program until the City of Newton decided whether to continue accepting recyclables.
Source: Harvey County Now
Construction superintendent dies after on-the-job injury at Wichita’s new water plant
Work has been suspended at the Wichita Northwest Water Treatment Facility after a superintendent for one of the companies building the new water plant was fatally injured on the job. Family members have identified the man as 55-year-old Manuel Esparza, of Wichita, a superintendent for UCI Industrial Construction Services, a subcontractor on the Wichita Water Partners team hired by the city of Wichita. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into Esparza’s death, city officials confirmed Friday. Neither the city nor Wichita Water Partners — a joint-venture headed by Missouri companies Burns & McDonnell and Alberici — would give any details of the circumstances surrounding Esparza’s injury or death.
Source: Wichita Eagle
SE Kansas officials reflect on pandemic 2nd anniversary
The world changed two years ago when the pandemic first began. Health departments plan for events like this — but the newness of COVID-19 forced many to adjust on the spot. Now with cases going down, many departments are hoping to use the lessons learned during this time in the event something like this happens again. “A lot of what’s been going on with this pandemic will prepare us for, God forbid if we have another one,” said Teddi Van Kam, Crawford County Health Officer. The coronavirus first hit Cherokee County on March 19th, 2020. Constant updates to the science and guidelines had health departments adapting on a daily basis. But the virus wasn’t the only thing they had to contend with.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates in week ahead, as Ukraine crisis adds volatility
Investors may take the Federal Reserve’s first post-pandemic interest rate hike in stride, while uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis continues to hang over markets. The Fed has clearly broadcast that it intends to raise its target fed funds rate by a quarter percentage point from zero, and it is expected to announce that move at the end of its two-day meeting Wednesday. The central bank should also reveal new forecasts for interest rates, inflation and the economy. There are a few economic reports of note in the week ahead, including the producer price index Tuesday, retail sales Wednesday and existing home sales Friday. “Earnings are over. Monetary policy is obviously going to be important here. I don’t see the Fed surprising anyone next week,” said Steve Massocca, managing director at Wedbush Securities. “It’s going to be a quarter point and then step into the background and watch what’s happening in Europe.”
Source: CNBC
Gardner to offer signing bonuses for police new hires; approves 2 % COLA
Gardner sworn officers and city staff will be receiving a two percent increase cost of living compensation bonus and benefit package. Todd Winters, mayor, approved the updated salary structure and compensation plan at the March 7 city council meeting. The COLA would be in addition to Gardner’s annual merit pay increase which was budgeted at $286,500. The starting salary for a police officer is currently $21.646 per hour; Gardner has 32 sworn officers currently on staff (includes all ranks) and six vacant sworn officer positions. Matt Wolff, finance director, said the plan is to help ease the burden of the current seven percent inflation. “Everything is going up,” he said. Wolff said it would also help make the city more competitive and hiring and retaining sworn officers was a national issue not just a local issue.
Source: Gardner News
Study: Irrigation boosts western Kansas land values by $3.8B
A recent report of the value of water in western Kansas by two Kansas State University agricultural economists has concluded that land values in that part of the state are $3.8 billion greater today than they otherwise would be without access to the Ogallala Aquifer. “It’s a large, substantial number and it provides evidence of just how valuable irrigation is in western Kansas,” said Gabe Sampson, an associate professor in K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics. The study takes a look at ways water is captured in order to make a judgment on its value. In this case, farmers draw water from the aquifer to irrigate farm crops and raise livestock; in 2013, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service listed sales from eight western Kansas counties overlying the aquifer at $4.7 billion, or about one-third of total agriculture revenue in the entire state.
Source: themercury.com
Goddard looks at new fees for developers
Goddard city council members continued their discussion at Monday’s meeting of new sewer and water fees for residential and commercial developments in the city. The city is considering adding a sewer plant equity fee and a water infrastructure equity fee, which in effect would add fees to what is required before a building permit is issued. Currently the city charges $1,500 per new residential home to tap into city water and $1,500 to tap into city sewer.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers
Fed to Start Rate Hikes With License to Turn Aggressive Later
The Federal Reserve will this week begin a multi-month campaign to conquer inflation that could see Chair Jerome Powell moving even more aggressively after Russia’s war on Ukraine fanned prices further. Already pivoting to tightening monetary policy amid the fastest consumer price gains in four decades, Powell and colleagues now have to deal with the economic fallout of the war, which threatens to deliver the twin blows of weaker growth and even-quicker inflation. With a 25 basis-point hike near-certain on Wednesday after Powell took the rare step of publicly backing such a shift, futures markets show around 165 basis points of tightening this year, or the equivalent of at least six quarter-point increases.
Source: Bloomberg
Visit Emporia receives $11,600 in tourism grants for local projects
Visit Emporia is pleased to announce we have awarded $11,600 in tourism grants to 10 entities to assist with events/projects taking place in Emporia. The recipients are: $1,000 Awarded to Emporia Freedom Fest for 2022 Emporia Freedom Fest. $500 Awarded to Natural Resources Advisory Board for Emporia Earth Day Extravaganza. $500 Awarded to Flint Hills Beef Fest for Flint Hills Beef Fest. $1,500 Awarded to Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow for HOTT Cinco de Mayo Festival & 5K. $1,500 Awarded to No Coast Film Fest for No Coast Film Fest. $2,000 Awarded to National Teachers Hall of Fame for NTHF Induction Week.
Source: Emporia Gazette