Kansas Municipal News
City Council taking steps to address vacant properties in Topeka
City officials are moving forward with taking action over those vacant properties around the city. With Tuesday’s vote, the City of Topeka is adopting updated standards for building code enforcement. It is now in line with two sets of standards called the “International Energy Conservation Code” and the “International Existing Building Code”. The vote comes as city officials are looking to address the number of vacant house fires in Topeka. Monday, a fire broke out at an abandoned home near 16th and Clay in Central Topeka. That fire marks 690 vacant or under renovated house fires in 20 years, according to a Topeka Fire Department Official.
Source: KSNT News
Bill seeks to reduce excessive record fees
A Kansas Senate panel considered Monday how best to proceed with amending the state’s open records act to increase transparency without triggering unintended consequences and placing an undue burden on municipalities. Senate Bill 386 would limit fees for copying and providing records, including the cost of staff time, under the Kansas Open Records Act to the lowest hourly rate of the person qualified to provide the records. The bill would also ensure no fee is charged if a search determines the record does not exist. It would also give the record custodian the discretion to waive any fee should it be in the public interest to do so. Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, pointed to a 2020 incident following a series of personnel firings in Frontenac where the city attorney wanted to charge $3,500 for records without explanation of how he arrived at that figure.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Community health needs discussed
A meeting was held Tuesday to discuss tactics and available resources for implementing the Community Health Improvement Plan, which is a list of the Cowley County’s most pressing needs paired with potential resources to address them. “We want to take all the insights, information and feedback and put it to use in the community,” said William Newton Hospital marketing director Sarah Johnson, who facilitated the Zoom discussion. The top community health needs, identified in earlier planning meetings, include behavioral/mental health, drug/substance abuse, suicide, poverty, affordable housing, child care, awareness of healthcare services, lack of health resources, obesity, preventative health and wellness, lack of “owning health” and lack of health insurance.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Chanute to expand fiber through three new areas
Chanute city commissioners authorized the next expansion phase of the city’s fiber optic broadband utility at Monday evening’s meeting. But the project won’t begin until Oct. 1 because of the anticipated waiting time for materials and supplies. If City Manager Todd Newman had waited until the fall to authorize the work during the winter of 2022-23, he said, the expansion might not have begun until the fall of 2023. City officials have ordered transformers and expect it will take 70 weeks for them to arrive. The project will expand fiber through three areas … Officials expect the project to cost $600,000 and to sign up 840 customers, which would bring in an anticipated $189,000 in revenue annually. The construction costs will be paid from the fiber utility’s revenues.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Man explains desire to expend Pottawatomie County Commission
“I wanted you to hear from me why I’m doing that,” Doug Kern said. If Kern’s petition is successful, the expansion would be added to the November ballot. Kern said expanding the board will allow board members to have conversations outside a formal meeting without violating open meeting law. He said expanding the board to five would remedy that. “I think there are times and issues that might need some discussion outside the scope of the public ear. And that’s my motivation,” he said. “I have no desire to be a county commissioner, so I’m not trying to expand it to five so I can run or some crazy thing. It’s not a referendum on whether I think you’re doing a good job. It’s simply that I would like our commissioners to be able to call another commissioner on the phone or go to lunch and talk.”
Source: themercury.com
County commits $125,000 to dam project
The Chase County Commission committed $125,000 for the Cottonwood Falls dam repair project Monday morning, after a discussion with Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants and Pat Larkin, representing the city of Cottonwood Falls. The dam has been a cause of concern since 2013 when deterioration became visible on the outside walls. It has been monitored over the past nine years. The dam, which was originally constructed of wood in the 1860s, and later replaced with limestone and concrete in 1906.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Townships frustrated with drivers blowing donuts at rural intersections
Township officials in Harvey County have seen an increased amount of reckless driving causing damage to rural roads, and they say it’s time for it to stop. “It’s like every time you grade the roads, somebody comes and does donuts in the intersection and makes it almost impossible for people to go through safely,” Jeff Stein, grader operator for Sedgwick Township, said. “So then you’ve got to go back out and grade it again. It ends up not being a cheap deal.” Stein said the problem with donuts in intersections has gotten worse in the past six months.
Source: Harvey County Now
Sedgwick’s new superintendent will focus on student and community relationships
Sedgwick’s board of education made it official Monday evening by naming Greg Lehr as the next superintendent for USD 439. Lehr is a Valley Center graduate where he now serves as the Valley Center Intermediate School Principal. He’s in his twelfth year as principal. He began his education career as a high school history teacher after earning his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Kansas State University in 2001. Lehr said he earned his master’s degree in school leadership from Baker University to become a better teacher but while taking the classes he became interested in becoming a principal.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hutchinson Fire Chief calls for updated fire mitigation plan
After several fires swept through parts of Hutchinson Tuesday, Hutchinson Fire Department Chief Steven Beer says the department will work with the Reno County Commission to adopt, or update policies as needed. “When a burn ban goes in effect, or a burn day, instead of being used during a declaration, an emergency declaration, it needs to be used for the whole entire month,” Chief Beer said. Although Chief Beer says he does not wish to preclude farmers and ranchers from burning their pastures as needed, he says Reno County is in desperate need of stricter zoning requirements and control burn requirements.
Source: KSN-TV
2021 cold anniversary: How Kansas towns, schools handled sky-high gas bills
With a year passing since freezing temperatures caused an energy crisis in Kansas, KSNT’s Capitol Bureau revisited towns and school districts hit hard by bills that came in the aftermath. The cold snap in February 2021 hit the majority of the state, with as many as 100,000 Evergy customers going without power during rolling blackouts at peak. Kansas saw two days of controlled outages because electricity providers were facing generating issues from the cold, and the effects trickled out. Schools closed, homes had to plan for staying warm with no power, and cities like Manhattan lost critical infrastructure like traffic lights. Alongside electrical grid strain, the state saw extraordinary demand for natural gas. During the cold crisis, the Kansas Corporation Commission told state gas companies to do everything they could to keep supplying the utility to customers, defer the charges, and then develop a plan to allow customers to pay the unusually high costs over time.
Source: KSN-TV
Will Topeka and Hutch get license plates? Kansas cities split on bill
Hutchinson drivers could soon see their city flag on license plates, but a similar provision for Topeka hit a bump in the road when city officials opposed a bill from Kansas lawmakers. House Bill 2633 would authorize both cities to use their flags as a logo on license plates, similar to the Wichita flag. Royalty payments of between $25 and $100 would go to the cities, with funds earmarked to support parks and recreation in Hutchinson and the zoo in Topeka. The Hutchinson plan enjoys support from lawmakers and city officials, but the Topeka plan faces opposition.
Source: CJonline
‘Day in the life’ event gives Pittsburg fire department recruits real-world experience
Pittsburg Fire Department hosts ‘Day in the Life’ course to show students what it’s like to be a firefighter. Members of the Pittsburg Fire Department serve as the instructors for the academy, working with each recruit during the ‘Day in the Life’ training. … “Recruits will be presented with problems that the class will have to solve, experience teamwork in a dynamic emergency atmosphere, and prepare for their first shift with their platoon,” says Deputy Fire Chief Tom Vacca. “The academy works to prepare them for a structure fire 10 minutes into their first shift. They will learn how to be a productive member of the team and to make split-second decisions during an emergency with life safety in the balance.”
Source: KOAMKOAM
KSDE approves Redesign Project Launch for Columbus High School
This month, the Kansas State Board of Education approved nine schools in seven districts to be a part of the “Kansas can redesign project plan” for the current school year. One of those schools approved–was Columbus high school. “The approval from the state board, we’re very appreciative because it’s validation that we’re doing things the correct way,” said Columbus High School Principal, Dan Grundy. The program, which invites schools from all over the state to apply, has the goal to find ways to best meet the needs, of all students. “We looked at our master schedule that’s been completely redesigned to where teachers can choose whether or not they have 90 or 45-minute classes, the same amount of time on the week, but it’s just structured differently to meet students needs and whatever is best for that type of instruction,” said Columbus High School counselor, Nicki Strickland.
Source: KOAMKOAM
FLY MHK: Manhattan City Commission to see final plans for $47.2 million runway project
The Manhattan City Commission is taking a look at the final plans for a $47.2 million runway reconstruction project at the Manhattan Regional Airport. … The City of Manhattan is expected to pay $4.4 million for the runway. More than 90 percent of the project is being funded by the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration is paying for 100 feet of the 150 feet wide runway with other federal grants covering the rest. Airport Director Brandon Keazer said it was important to maintain that 150 feet because of the charter aircraft that are used by Kansas State University and Fort Riley.
Source: KSNT News
Municipal Bond Trends for February 15, 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.
Four months after unanimous rejection, OP planners recommend revised Lux Senior Living proposal
In a complete reversal from an October rejection, the Overland Park Planning Commission unanimously agreed Monday to recommend approval of a rezoning request to create The Lux Senior Living, an apartment complex for active adults over 55, at the northwest corner of 137th Street and Quivira Road. Developers Vijay and Nevin Dewar, through Park 289 LLC, are requesting roughly six acres of land be rezoned from a Planned Apartment District (RP-5) to Planned High-Rise Apartment (RP-6). The property was zoned RP-5 in 1999, but has not been developed. The current zoning would allow for the construction of up to three buildings with a total of 104 units. Following a public hearing in October, the Planning Commission voiced concerns about the overall height of the project not fitting into the nearby single-family neighborhood. In November, the City Council sent the proposal back to the Planning Commission to allow the developer time to adjust the plan based on neighbors’ concerns.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
School district outlines plan to spend final $2 million of bond funds
With a majority of the Derby school bond projects having been completed, Burke Jones, Derby Public Schools Director of Operations proposed some additional projects to the Board of Education. Those ideas centered on how to spend the remaining $2 million of school bond money. At the Feb. 7 meeting, Jones told board members the $2 million are reserves that were held back to be available in the event any unforeseen expenses may have occurred with previous projects. “We have about $2 million in the bond funds remaining. Some of the projects we have been discussing in the last two years, we can now talk about,” Jones said.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Pottawatomie County moves forward to force clean up of property near St. George
Pottawatomie County commissioners are submitting paperwork to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment toward cleaning up some waste build up on a property near St. George. County Sanitarian Scott Schwinn told commissioners Monday he’s received complaints about the property and says efforts to have the property owners clean up the debris have been unsuccessful. “Ultimately, they declined to clean it up. The county is going to be on the hook for cleaning it up and we will be reimbursed up to $10,000 for that,” he said. Anything above that $10,000 threshold will be the county’s responsibility.
Source: 1350 KMAN
U.S. 10-year yield rises above 2% after Bullard says Fed needs to act faster to fight inflation
U.S. Treasury yields were steady on Monday with investors evaluated safe-haven assets amid the escalated geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was flat at 1.961% at around 8 a.m. ET. The benchmark 10-year rate hit the 2% level last week following the hottest inflation reading in four decades. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond, meanwhile, was steady at 2.261%. Yields move inversely to prices and a basis point equals 0.01%. Yields were lower earlier but came back following comments from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Vladimir Putin that appeared to suggest Russia would continue talks with EU and NATO over Ukraine.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
A new wave of major Kansas City area school districts dropping COVID mask mandates
A new wave of school districts throughout the Kansas City metro this week dropped mask mandates as COVID-19 cases fall. They include the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission districts in Johnson County and the Independence and North Kansas City districts in Missouri. The decisions come as school officials expect both the Johnson County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Kansas City to let their school mask orders expire. In Johnson County, the board at its meeting on Thursday is expected to consider whether to end its health order mandating masks in all schools that serve students as old as sixth grade. The Gardner Edgerton school district last week already decided to drop its mask mandate in all schools, starting on Monday.
Source: Joco 913 News