Kansas Municipal News
Hillsboro community garden approved
Hillsboro Elementary School’s garden club appeared Tuesday at Hillsboro’s city council meeting to propose creating a community garden near the pioneer Adobe house’s visitor center. In their presentation, members highlighted growing crops for supermarkets and food banks, bringing the community together for gardening, and growing flowers to beautify the town. The school has applied for grants for a watering system, tool shed, and equipment for the garden. Existing fencing should keep wildlife out, and 4-H and FFA members could form a board to manage the garden.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Franklin Co. Receives $1.8M for 2019 Flood Disaster Reimbursement
The Franklin County Public Works Department announced Friday that it has received $1.8 million in reimbursement funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pay for the repair work conducted over a two-year period after severe flooding damaged roadways, bridges and ditches around the county in 2019. In 2019, four separate weather events brought over 5 inches of water within a 12-hour period, causing massive flooding throughout Franklin County. According to the Public Works Department, over 300 road sites needed repair following the floods. During a normal year, the Public Works Department receives about 900 work orders; in 2019 they received over 3,300. Staff recorded over 15,000 hours in the field addressing the damage to roads, and over 70,000 tons of rock was used to repair road shoulders and reconstruct railway roadbeds.
Source: The Ottawa Herald
‘Price of admission’: Critics say Kansas’s $800M tax incentive package for mystery company has red flags
The Kansas Legislature has so far advanced the largest tax incentive program in state history as it competes for a mystery company’s $4 billion, 3 million square-foot advanced manufacturing facility — also raising questions about how much the state is willing to provide to chase national megaprojects. “There are a whole bunch of red flags,” said Nathan Jensen, a professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas-Austin, who researches state and local economic development. The Kansas Department of Commerce is fast-tracking the new program, the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) bill, that would provide super-size subsidies to companies that invest at least $1 billion over five years.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Cities and States Find New Ways to Tax Streaming Services
More than half the states and dozens of cities now levy taxes or fees on digital streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, aiming to recoup the revenue they lose when people cut the cable cord. Cable customers pay sales taxes and a variety of other taxes and fees imposed by state and local governments. For example, states and localities require cable companies to pay franchise fees—up to 5 percent of gross receipts, under federal law—for the easements allowing them to run cable in public rights-of-way. Cable companies recover these costs by adding charges to customers’ bills. But as more consumers drop their cable and satellite television subscriptions, the amount of money that governments can collect from these companies and their customers is shrinking. States and cities argue that they shouldn’t be deprived of taxes on video services just because people have changed how they watch video. But some of their new taxing strategies have landed them in court.
Source: Governing
Municipal Bond Trends for January 31, 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.
Bostic says Fed could do half-point March hike if needed
The Federal Reserve could opt to raise its benchmark rate by 50 basis points if a more aggressive approach to taming inflation is needed, Raphael Bostic, president of the Fed’s Atlanta branch, told the Financial Times in an interview. Bostic stuck to his prediction that three quarter-point increases starting in March is the most likely scenario, though stubbornly high consumer prices may justify a more robust rate rise. The Fed typically increases rates in quarter-point increments. “Every option is on the table for every meeting,” Bostic said on Friday. “If the data say that things have evolved in a way that a 50-basis-point move is required or be appropriate, then I’m going to lean into that. . . . If moving in successive meetings makes sense, I’ll be comfortable with that,” he told the newspaper.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Wichita task force seeks retail ban on single-use bags, Dillons working on phased elimination
The purposeful life span of plastic bags that are a staple of retail stores can be measured in minutes, while these thinnest of load-bearing containers take decades to decompose in landfills. The familiar store-to-home bags have a knack for finding their way into the environment as litter on the ground or floating in streams, rivers and oceans. When multiplied by about 500 billion each year, these easy-come, easy-go bags become a menace to the planet. Alternatives exist — reusable cotton or non-woven polypropylene satchels, for example — but convincing people at grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores to make the switch is a tough sell. Lori Lawrence… is part of the Wichita City Council’s task force studying potential of an ordinance prohibiting use of plastic bags by businesses starting in 2023.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Wyandotte County ushers in historic change with slate of new African American leaders
Barely a month after Tyrone Garner was sworn in as mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, he and the county commission selected Cheryl Harrison-Lee to be the new interim county administrator. The appointment means African Americans, for the first time in county history, hold five key UG positions simultaneously: mayor, police chief, district attorney, county administrator and general manager of the Board of Public Utilities. For Garner, the milestone was about more than just breaking racial barriers. “What resonates more to me than anything else is that I see a new energy in people really caring about Wyandotte County, wanting better for Wyandotte County — wanting better for themselves, their families and their neighbors,” he said.
Source: KCUR News
How much snow? Biggest storm of the season so far is forecast for Wichita this week
Enjoy the warmer weather while you can. A winter storm — with potentially six inches of snow for the Wichita area — is headed for parts of south central and southeast Kansas. Here’s what National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Metzger says is expected. He notes the forecast could change: Rain is expected early Tuesday afternoon. The rain-sleet mix is expected to transition to all snow early Wednesday, Metzger says. The wind chill is expected to get steadily worse starting Tuesday night. Metzger says the area could see wind chills of 11 or 12 below zero. Driving advisories will be in effect. Those who must travel are advised to slow down and take extra time, he said. The city of Wichita says it will be ready to roll out snow plows if needed.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Rural towns say they need a hand to fight off hackers and ransomware
The federal government set aside $1 billion to help cities and counties improve their cybersecurity, but rural communities worry they will be left out and end up more susceptible to attacks like ransomware. The funding comes from the congressional infrastructure law, with $250 million dollars specifically targeted at rural areas. The funds are distributed to states over the next four years and will begin going out later this year. But rural community leaders say they lack the resources and expertise to come up with a comprehensive cybersecurity plan and to pursue the grants.
Source: KCUR News
4.5-magnitude earthquake rattles Wichita, south-central Kansas on Monday
People across Wichita and south-central Kansas are saying on social media that they felt a earthquake rattle the area late Monday morning. Reports started rolling in on Twitter and Facebook shortly after 11 a.m. The United States Geological Survey’s earthquake map says the quake was centered about seven kilometers — or 4.3 miles — northwest of Medford, Oklahoma, not far from the Kansas-Oklahoma state line. It was about 7.8 kilometers deep and had a magnitude of 4.5, according to the USGS. The earthquake’s epicenter was about 75 miles south of Wichita. But it was strong enough to make the ground shake across the city for several seconds, causing a flurry of online posts.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Why municipal electric utilities seek deals with cryptocurrency miners
What to do when your municipal electric utility is slammed by huge bills after the state electric grid failed to balance supply and demand? Bring in a new power-hungry customer to help pay off those bills. That’s what Denton, Texas, is doing. Now, the money it realizes from having Core Scientific as a customer will pay the town’s $7 million in annual debt service it has from the $140 million in debt Denton issued to cover the cost of power when the price of electricity from Electric Reliability Council of Texas, ERCOT, soared to $9,000 per kilowatt hour, said Tony Puente, general manager of Denton Municipal Electric. “We will get about $8 million net revenue from the utility that will offset that $7 million in debt service,” Puente said. Denton signed the agreement with Core Scientific in October. The company, which uses its facilities and technology for both hosted mining and self-mining of digital assets, is expected to start operations in March.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Pottawatomie County planning to extend moratorium on solar farms to 2023
Pottawatomie County commissioners gave consensus Monday to extend its ongoing moratorium on solar farms until January 1, 2023. Doing so doesn’t mean the board and the county planning commission can’t still meet to draft zoning regulations. Commissioner Greg Riat says without it, a resident could in theory start building a solar farm operation on their property. “Just say we’re not going to do any solar farms in our county until January 1 of 2023 and for some reason we get our planning and zoning done in August we take it off.” The current moratorium is set to expire in March. The process of drafting regulations has been a complicated one that continues to try to hash out concerns over property rights, environmental concerns and other circumstances that may arise.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Noble Health Announces Reopening a Hospital in Fort Scott
Officials and community members gathered in the McAuley Center at the former Mercy Hospital building on Jan. 31, 2022, to hear Noble Health’s announcement to reopen a hospital. Fort Scott will get a new hospital. The Fort Scott City Commission and the Bourbon County Commission signed a contract in July 2021 to facilitate Noble Health Corp’s feasibility study of reopening the former Mercy Hospital building as an acute care hospital. Today, the decision was announced by Noble Health Corp. to move forward with the project. Bourbon County, the City of Fort Scott, and other government officials and members of the community gathered in the McAuley Center at the former Mercy Hospital this morning to hear the announcement.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
For sale: Kansas missile silo, $380,000
Yes, you will have privacy and the ability to withstand a nuclear strike. Although not unheard of, Zillow is offering a rare find, an old missile complex for sale that could be used as a home, apartments, or even a bed and breakfast for the right family. The property is a decommissioned Atlas F missile silo complex on 11 acres near Abilene. The 6,900 square foot complex has two upper levels once used for launch control and living quarters. The main missile silo is 170 feet deep. Zillow, who lists the property, said the facility has water, electricity, and a forced sewage system to the ground surface. A 4,000 square foot Quonset building with water, electricity, and plumbing comes with the property.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Girard fire department provides free smoke detectors
First responders in Kansas are doing their part to keep the community safe. The Girard Fire Department is offering free smoke detectors for city residents. This was made possible through the Future Fund Giving Circle grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas. “In case if someone’s house were to catch on fire, it would help alert them if they were asleep or they were home and they didn’t know their house was on fire, it will help alert them that there is smoke inside the residence. So we don’t have any victims trapped inside the residence,” says Johnny Moutz Jr., Girard Fire Chief. To request a smoke detector you can call the fire department to arrange an installation, or leave a message with your name, phone number and address.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Lawrence community replicates students’ steps through school closure, boundary revision scenarios
A group set out Monday afternoon with a goal of showing what it’s like to walk a mile or two in a student’s shoes. Walkers began the 1.8-mile journey at Schwegler Elementary under a sunny sky en route to Broken Arrow Elementary. With water bottles and backpacks in tow, families marched south down Ousdahl Road hoping to show the school board the realities students would face trudging back to the Broken Arrow neighborhood should the board vote to close their neighborhood school. Save Our Schools 497 sponsored the gathering with the intent of following the city and school’s collaborative Safe Routes to School map. Students who live within 2.5 miles of their school don’t receive busing from the district unless they qualify through other services such as special education or English to Speakers of Other Language programs.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Legislature Looks At Adding Regulations On Green Energy
Green energy companies and environmentalists are fighting a revived push in the Kansas Legislature for stricter limits on wind turbines and solar farms in a state where renewable resources account for nearly half the capacity for generating electricity. Two Senate committees have held hearings on bills backed by a key conservative lawmaker and landowners upset with wind turbines going up near their homes. Wind energy officials said the proposed rules would be so strict that no new wind or solar farms could be built in Kansas. The measures are pushed by Senate Utilities Chair Mike Thompson, who questions whether wind and solar farms can provide a reliable power supply.
Source: WIBW News Now
Sedgwick County Sued For Racial Discrimination
A former Sedgwick County employee alleges in a lawsuit that his coworkers called him the “colored guy” and sang spirituals from the slavery era while he worked as a bridge crewman. David Partridge filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Sedgwick County commissioners, The Wichita Eagle reported. Partridge alleges that he encountered a racially hostile work environment while working for the county from December 2019 to August 2021. After Partridge complained, a county investigation verified the racial discrimination, and Partridge was told he would not have to return to that work crew, according to the lawsuit.
Source: WIBW News Now
Governor Laura Kelly announces Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) Grant Application
Governor Laura Kelly, today, announced the launch of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) program. BASE is a new grant opportunity to help support infrastructure development and advance economic development opportunities across Kansas. “Programs like this provide vital funding to ensure Kansas communities continue to recover from COVID-19 and grow their economies,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These dollars represent an important opportunity for communities to build economic foundations for the future.” The grant program will be administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. As proposed by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, the program offers matching funds to address economic development opportunities with the goal of expanding the state’s base of businesses and residents as we continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce