Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for February 18, 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.
Kansas City, Kansas, mayor shares goals and frustrations two months into his term
Tyrone Garner, former Kansas City, Kansas Deputy police chief was sworn in as mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, on December 13, 2021. When asked about the on-going federal investigation into misconduct by the city’s police department from which he retired in 2019, Mayor Garner provided few details The KCKPD is under a federal investigation stemming from allegations of decades of abuse and corruption at the hands of law enforcement officers. As an internal affairs officer, Garner said at times he was responsible for investigating and disciplining officers for misconduct.
Source: KCUR
Historic Larned Opera House to be demolished
More than a century-old opera house in western Kansas is about to be obsolete. Larned officials say the building is a danger to public safety. The Larned Opera House sets on the corner of Fourth Street and Broadway. “This guy named John Schnack, he in 1886, decides he, the community can support and need a venue to show plays and stuff,” said Kevin Holt, historian. The opera house was built on top of five businesses.
Source: KSN-TV
Kansas is looking to develop its agriculture industry
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has launched its second Agriculture Workforce Needs Assessment Survey. This is through a partnership with the Department of Agriculture Economics at Kansas State University. The survey is designed to help find current and future needs people in the industry face. It hopes to identify jobs and specific skills required in the industry and help promote growth in the state. Kansas farmers, ranchers, and producers are asked to contribute to the assessment.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Parsons gets first look at future veterans memorial
People are getting their first look at a new memorial coming to Parsons. The first rough drafts have been completed for Five Pathways to Freedom veterans memorial. It’s expected to be built next to the Parsons Municipal Building and will honor veterans from the five military branches. The renderings were created by former and current students at Parsons High School. “Mainly it’s just been me and Colin Ryan, we’ve been the main contributors to it and that’s just what we’ve been working on for the majority of our first semester here,” Nick Sanborn, PHS Senior, “We still add little details here and there and still whatever Mr. Rea asks us to do we still put it on there.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Hydroponic Kansas farm is thriving this winter, influencing local county schools
The winter weather can put a lot of plans on hold like school, business, or even events. But one Pittsburg business was built to grow in this, or any kind of weather — all while making nutritious food more accessible. “Weather does not affect our farm. You know it’s blowing cold wind outside, and we’re standing in here, it’s 71 degrees,” said Brad Fourby, Leafy Green Farms Owner. The winter weather isn’t slowing down production at Leafy Green Farm. “We’re standing in a 40-foot shipping container that’s not even hooked up to the city water, and we use about 10 gallons of water a day to grow about 100 pounds of leafy greens for the community. It’s doing perfectly. We had a nice harvest. We got some nice Swiss chard, some basil, some purple basil.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
High school composting project expands within community
What started as a high school project has become a force for change across Cherokee County. Compost, the newest form of waste reduction that will soon help make some gardens bloom a little brighter. “It’s something that I always wanted to do, but it just gave me time to sit down, plan it out and be like ‘Hey! Maybe this would work out,” said Emily Welch, Columbus High School student. Welch partnered with fellow senior Casey Soper and quickly the project began coming together. “My teacher told me the K-State Extension office had a grant for composting. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, everything is aligning,'” said Welch.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Topeka’s Gage Park in motion to get new train
The Shawnee County Commission approved a request by the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department to start looking for bids to purchase a new Gage Park train. “The current train is down regularly a day, a week, when it’s in season for repairs. Also, replacing will make it ADA compliant so everyone can ride,” Director Tim Laurent said. The train is expected to cost $600,000 to $700,000, however, the money will come from the American Rescue Plan Act. County Commissioner Kevin Cook asked the Parks and Recreation Department if the old train could be put on display. The idea was well received and both the commission and the parks department agreed to honor the legacy of the train by putting it on display.
Source: KSNT News
‘We can’t wait 15 years’: Legislative committee works to overhaul Kansas water policy
Time to protect water in Kansas is running short. Parts of the aquifer in far western Kansas may only have 10 years of water left. Small towns are struggling to provide clean drinking water, and upgrading their facilities would bankrupt them. If the state is going to preserve its water resources, it has to act soon, say proponents of an overhaul to the state’s water regulation. “I don’t like to use the word ‘crisis,’ but our situation in our state is serious,” said Rep. Ron Highland, chairman of the House Water Committee. For years, the state hasn’t fully funded its water plan. It has failed to secure federal grants to help with water projects because they require a state match. Gov. Laura Kelly has proposed in her budget that the state fund its share for water programs — $8 million — for the first time in more than a decade.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Resident speaks out against license plate camera
At the Garden Plain City Council meeting held last Wednesday, Feb. 9, local resident Sheldon Irwin used the citizens’ comments period to voice his opposition to the idea of adding one or more Flock Safety license plate cameras to the community. Interim police chief Alissa Imperatore had shared some information on Flock Safety cameras at the city council meeting last month.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed
Proposal to ban cities from banning plastic bags pits Sierra Club against Kansas Chamber
Sierra Club lobbyist Zack Pistora told lawmakers he could talk at length about the “big mess” plastic bags have created for aquatic ecosystems, landscape and infrastructure in Kansas. But the real problem with Senate Bill 493, he said, is an assault on democracy. The Kansas Chamber, manufacturers of plastic bags, and service industry representatives asked the Senate Commerce Committee to adopt the legislation, which would ban cities and counties in Kansas from restricting the use of plastic bags and containers. Pistora said the bill is “disingenuous” because it doesn’t provide a way for communities to reduce the accumulation of trash caused by these products. He asked lawmakers to embrace the popular saying: “Don’t tread on me.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
USD 231 selects interim superintendent
James Sutton will serve as the interim superintendent at USD 231 for the next four months. Mark Meyer had served as acting superintendent after the departure of Pam Stranathan last December. Sutton will serve as interim thru July while the board of education conducts an employment search for a permanent replacement. In a statement Sutton said, he is very excited about getting to know everyone in the district and communities as much as possible. He recently retired from Belle Plaine, Kan., after 40 years in education. Sutton was born and raised in Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh, but his undergraduate degree in elementary education came from Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Mo. He attended Pittsburg State University attaining a Masters and then Education Specialist degrees.
Source: Gardner News
Conway Springs sells final lot in Countryview Addition
The City of Conway Springs is getting out of the housing industry. No, the city has not been building homes, but it had been selling lots in the local subdivision. At their meeting last week, members of the Conway Springs City Council voted to sell the final lot in the Countryview Addition. Because it is the last lot available, and because it was a smaller lot, the city sold the home site for half price.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed
Derby Parks starts gathering input for master plan
Derby parks were feeling the love last week, as the parks department and PROS Consulting held a kickoff event Feb. 15 (at Derby’s Madison Avenue Central Park) to launch the community engagement portion in forming the new Parks Master Plan. The crowd on hand was not shy in giving input, either, which is exactly what PROS representatives said they are looking for throughout the planning process. PROS assisted Derby with its previous master plan and President Leon Younger commended the community’s reputation as a “can-do city.” Considering that, Younger said his company is looking forward to engaging the community once again to form a plan that will be embraced in Derby.
Source: Derby Informer | News
President approves disaster assistance for Kansas
Kansas will get federal assistance to help with damage done by devastating wildfires in December. On Friday, President Joe Biden approved Governor Laura Kelly’s federal disaster request. The wildfires on Dec. 15, 2021, were driven by high winds gusting between 60 and 100 mph. The fires damaged buildings, crops, pastureland, bridges, roads, and public utilities. The damage estimate is $15 million. Kelly requested public assistance for Barton, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Doniphan, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Meade, Mitchell, Morris, Morton, Nemaha, Ness, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Republic, Rice, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Scott, Sheridan, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Trego, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Washington, Wichita, and Wyandotte counties.
Source: KSN-TV
Maize named fastest growing city in Kansas
A new report from the League of Kansas Municipalities, using data from the 2020 U.S. Census, has named Maize the fastest growing city in Kansas. Residents and city officials said they aren’t surprised at all. “I don’t see how any other community among the state could be any busier,” City Administrator Richard LaMunyon said. “It’s just impossible. And then this came out to kind of justify what we were saying.” LaMunyon has lived in Maize for over 40 years. Residents are used to seeing new homes, apartments, businesses and lots of construction every day. “We can tell,” resident Andrea Graham said. “I mean, there’s just so many more families and apartment buildings going up.” Graham said she likes living in Maize because it has all the perks of a small town along with cool activities.
Source: KAKE – News
Johnson County’s Central library set to debut drive-thru, areas for kids ‘to burn off some steam’
Johnson County’s Central Resource Library in Overland Park is set to re-open Tuesday after being partially closed for a year. When the library closed for renovations last February, the staff walled off a small portion of the building and called it Little Central to keep patrons safe from construction. Little Central closed on Feb. 14 of this year so workers could finish final touches and knock down the partition wall. Librarians at Central said they are excited to welcome patrons back to a space that’s nature-themed in staff spaces and throughout, which Johnson County head librarian Sean Casserley said connects employees and patrons to the larger, overarching goal of the library. “Having a connection to nature was really important in the sense that it was calming, relaxing,” said Casserley. “And I think that’s the thing, the role the public library plays, which is we have no agenda. We’re not trying to sell you something. There aren’t any politics. We are completely neutral, and our goal is to find something that interests you.”
Source: KCUR News
Moving out of the Sedgwick county courthouse? Commissioners will vote to move 10 agencies Wednesday
To make more space in the crowded Sedgwick County Courthouse, 10 agencies may be on the move. The decision to move them could be as early as the next county commission meeting, on Wednesday, February 23. “COVID has been a huge monkey wrench in the wheels of justice, so it is very difficult to get trials completed, particularly criminal trials you have to be sure that issues like due process are followed,” said Judge Phil Journey, a judge in the Sedgwick County District Court judge. According to one Sedgwick County commissioner, Sedgwick County has about 170 people being held on murder charges, and not enough space to meet the backlog. “Right now, this thing is clogged up and we’ve got to find a way to get back on track, and so that’s moving out of the building is just a huge investment in helping make our solution come forward,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell.
Source: KSN-TV
‘Don’t Meth with Us’ comes to Winfield
The Winfield Noon Kiwanis Club has a mission to help the children of the world, one child at a time. This mission has been demonstrated through the presentation of the “Don’t Meth with Us” program in two of the four Winfield Elementary Schools. Methamphetamines have been determined to be in the top five most addictive of drugs, along with cocaine, heroin, alcohol and nicotine. “Don’t Meth with Us” is designed to educate children and families about the consequences of meth, arming them with the tools necessary to combat illicit drug use and addiction. To accomplish this, we go into the schools and engage students on a personal level, opening their eyes to a bright, drug-free future. To date, this program has been presented to the fifth-grade classes in Whittier and Lowell elementary schools. As the students complete the one-hour program, they are presented with a T-shirt, pencil, wrist band and a pledge card. This program was started in San Juan County, N.M., and is now presented in multiple states throughout the U.S. Kansas Kiwanis has embraced this program, and this program is available to schools through their local Kiwanis Club. The Winfield Noon Kiwanis Club is scheduling dates for both Irving and Country View elementary schools.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Newton’s birthday party planned for 2-22-22
There was a dark side and a lighter side to Newton when the town came into existence about 150 years ago. On the seedier side was Hyde Park, a place with pop-up saloons where gunslingers and cowboys bellied up to bars and poker tables. There were ladies of the evening and one particular Sunday became famous for a gunfight, giving the town the moniker, “Bloody Newton.” There also were folks on the other side of the moral coin, who started churches and made sure their children attended school. Families did things together and people ran other kinds of businesses, like grocery stores and newspaper stands. There probably were people in between, as well.
Source: Harvey County Now