Kansas Municipal News
Shawnee County plans $5 million-plus in pay increases to try to keep up with competition for workers
Shawnee County gave its employees wage hikes totaling about $5 million after a study it had conducted in 2015 said they were generally underpaid. A similar but less comprehensive study conducted last year on the county’s behalf showed that once again, its employees on average were making less than the competitive market level. … The county remains in the early stages of implementing those recommendations, which were sought in an effort to ensure the wages the county pays are competitive with those offered by similar employers.
Source: CJonline
Lawrence moving forward with long-delayed project to reconstruct Queens Road
This spring could finally see construction begin on a long-delayed city road project that has been tied up in litigation for years. The Lawrence City Commission approved two special taxing districts in December 2018 to fund the reconstruction of Queens Road and the installation of a stoplight, and a lawsuit was subsequently filed in January 2019. Two courts have now dismissed the lawsuit, and while the individual who filed the lawsuit has again appealed, the city is moving forward with preparations for the project and tentatively plans to begin construction later this year.
Source: LJWorld.com
Emporia approves housing opportunity overlay district
The Emporia City Commission approved the creation of a housing opportunity overlay district to allow for the potential development of smaller residential properties Wednesday night. The housing opportunity overlay district — which was created in a 16.8-acre vacant lot directly east of the intersection of Soden’s Road and South Exchange Street — decreases the minimum lot sizes in a certain area from the 9,000 square feet mandated in city codes to 5,800 square feet. This would consequently increase the number of residential units that could be built within the identified area and could be a more cost-effective means of developing housing.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Madison council moves to stop leak
There’s a leak at Madison City Hall. Not the political kind, but a real leak. “There is rain leaking in from outside, and it drips down a wall onto the floor,” City Clerk Victoria Stewart said during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The Council voted to have Quality Masonry of Emporia repair the leak on the south side of the building. It was the only business Stewart found that would offer a bid, at about $3,700. “This is a wall we had waterproofed by a mason years ago,” Mayor Paul Dean said. The mayor was satisfied with the proposal.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Fire crews rescue several cats from house fire in Overland Park
Fire crews responded to a house fire in Overland Park and saved three cats and reunited them with their owners early Monday morning. The Overland Park and Leawood Fire Departments responded to a house fire call just after 2:30 a.m. Monday morning in the 9900 block of Horton Street. When crews arrived on scene, they saw flames coming from the single-story home and a resident was reportedly out safe.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Kansas officials want legislature’s help in wooing massive, $4 billion secret factory
Kansas is pushing lawmakers to fast-track legislation creating the state’s largest business incentive program ever as officials say a $4 billion factory could be on the line. Details about that project, however, are scarce. According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, the state is a finalist in what development officials call a mega project. It is anticipated to produce 4,000 jobs paying about $50,000 per year as well as temporary construction employment for 6,000.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Amazon Air begins daily cargo flights to Wichita’s Eisenhower Airport
E-commerce giant Amazon is launching daily cargo services at Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport, the city announced Thursday. Amazon Air’s inaugural flight arrived at the airport shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday. Daily flights from Fort Worth Alliance Airport will be operated by Silver Airlines. “We are proud to welcome Amazon Air to Wichita Eisenhower Airport,” said Jesse Romo, Wichita’s director of airports. “This location is uniquely positioned with convenient access to Hwy 54/400 and Interstate 235 to support Amazon’s delivers to customers in Kansas and surrounding areas.”
Source: Wichita Eagle
COVID cases remain very high in Wyandotte County
COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County are about as high as they have been. Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer for Wyandotte County, said that the seven-day average was about 483 cases on Wednesday in Wyandotte County. He spoke during the Thursday morning media update from the University of Kansas Health System. “We can’t keep up with contact tracing,” Dr. Greiner said. The state health agency also can’t keep up. They are trying to do education other ways, he said.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
Container houses draw criticism, support in Hillsboro
For the first time since he retired in June, former city administrator Larry Paine came to a meeting to advise Hillsboro city council members Tuesday. “It’s strange to be on this side of the table,” Paine said. Paine was there to join an open discussion about proposed development of container houses in Hillsboro. Paine said he was concerned about the aesthetics and what people would think when they drove into the community. Paine said when he researched container homes, he noticed names of shipping companies on the sides of the containers. “If you want to proceed with this, you want to do a development agreement,” Paine said. “I’m imploring the planning commission to look at what they can do.”
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Johnson County wants you to report your at home COVID test results to gauge the spread
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is asking Johnson County residents to voluntarily report at-home COVID-19 test results. Whether it’s positive or negative, the results will aim to give JCDHE a better understanding of the spread of COVID-19 in Johnson County. As of Jan. 17, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Johnson County was nearly 30%, which local health officials categorize as high community risk. It’s hard to get a full sense of the spread and positivity rate when the reported data only includes results from test sites, and not the results from at home tests people take on their own. The county’s health department website states that the county won’t contract trace any of the test results and that information submitted by residents will be stored in a database that is HIPPA-protected.
Source: KC Star Local News
Johnson County’s newest park sure to delight hikers, bikers
Johnson County opened its newest park in early January, capitalizing on the natural beauty of an area west of Kansas 7 highway. Cedar Niles Park encompasses about 1,000 acres roughly between 119th and 135th streets. It has streams, dramatic topography, 4 miles of paved trail, plus single-track trails for hiking and mountain biking. The unpaved trail network, called the Columbine Loop, is in the northern area of the park and named for the wildflower that grows abundantly there.
Source: Joco 913 News
Garden Plain city clerk receives new title
City clerk Kimberly McCormick has earned the designation of Master Municipal Clerk, which is awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc. IIMC grants the MMC designation only to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements; and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state. “It’s a lot, but it’s worth it,” said McCormick. … “Learning never ends,” said McCormick. “Regulations and society changes so quickly, I will always need to take classes. My education is never complete.”
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers
Spring Hill councilman’s refusal to attend meetings leaves city at standstill
City business in Spring Hill, Kansas is at a standstill. A political stalemate has ensued as the councilman who lost his election bid to become mayor is refusing to come to meetings. The man who voters elected mayor in November isn’t there either, he now lives in Florida. Steve Owen may not have showed up for a third straight meeting after storming off January 10, but many of his supporters in the odd political battle did. Thursday night’s meeting started like any other with an invocation and reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. But you could tell by all the empty council seats no city business would get done in Spring Hill Kansas once again.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Advantages of Lawrence’s parking payment apps outweighed by dissatisfaction for some downtown users
Mobile payment options added to metered parking in downtown Lawrence have provided a new level of convenience for many shoppers and diners, but the change has left others fighting tickets and feeling frustrated. The City of Lawrence launched the new payment options last spring as part of a larger parking management system that added mobile apps and kiosks to metered parking areas. The system was intended to improve downtown parking through added convenience, but also by enabling the city to collect data and adapt to accommodate needs. Some app users, however, say the new system is generating unwarranted parking tickets that are difficult to appeal.
Source: The Lawrence Times
De Soto primes for massive (but not explosive) growth
Sunflower Ordnance Works sprang up after the attack on Pearl Harbor pushed the United States into World War II. Almost overnight, it grew to become the world’s largest powder and propellant plant, bringing as many as 12,000 employees at a time to the small town of De Soto. Workers bused in from virtually every town within an hour’s drive, and Sunflower Village was built to house others. Sunflower Village, now known as Clearview City, became part of De Soto. And although there have been plans through the years to turn the shuttered ammunition plant into everything from a research park to a Wizard of Oz theme park, the only activity has been a long-running environmental cleanup.
Source: Kansas City Business News
Riley County discuss details of proposed rural economic advisory board
Riley County commissioners on Thursday discussed term details for a proposed rural economic development board. The proposed rural economic development board would consist of six members of the public, plus the county extension director (Gary Fike), a county extension staff member (John Jobe), and a staff member of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce (Daryn Soldan). So far, the county has received applications from Gordon Hibbard, Kent Glasscock, Brenda Jordan, Ron Wilson and Jada Sharp. The commission hasn’t voted to accept these applications. The county government wants to create the board to develop more ways for rural residents to continue economic development outside of the city and find more ways to attract business and opportunity for the rural part of Riley County.
Source: themercury.com
New broadband program available to help with internet costs
The Emergency Broadband Benefit, a federal program that helped almost 9 million low income Americans afford internet service in 2021, ended on December 31. The Kansas Corporation Commission wants Kansans to know that a new $14.2 billion federal program, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), is available to fill the gap. With higher income maximums, the ACP could help even more families afford internet access for work, school, and health care. Current Emergency Broadband Benefit participants have until March 1 to contact their internet provider and switch over to the new plan with no interruption of service.
Source: Local News | hiawathaworldonline.com
Municipal Bond Trends for January 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.
Pandemic has taken a serious toll on mental health
Community Mental Health Centers across Kansas are looking to ease pandemic anxiety. The Crawford County Mental Health Center is offering more options than ever to help. In fact, it’s now offering zoom therapy and telephone visits. “Services are easier than ever to get into. We are still offering in-person services so if that’s important to you it’s still an option,” said Amy Goines, Clinical Director of Crawford County Mental Health Center. During the pandemic the CCMHC is seeing more teachers and school district employees coming in for therapy.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Legislators push back on proposed incentives for ‘megaprojects’
A parade of state and local economic development leaders, however, painted the legislation as a key way of modernizing how the state attracts and retains large companies. Officials argued that mega-projects, or deals totaling more than $1 billion in investment, are now the norm and Kansas must keep up with the Jones — or, in this case, states like Texas and Arizona. … In this case, the legislation is largely targeted at the mystery company, who has agreed to create 4,000 permanent direct jobs, with an average income of $50,000. Paul Hughes, deputy secretary of commerce, told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday that thousands more jobs will be created indirectly, either in construction or further down the supply chain.
Source: CJonline