Kansas Municipal News
City of Wichita says no road pre-treatment ahead of snowy weather
With just two days away from a winter storm heading toward KAKEland, the City of Wichita says it will not have crews laying down pre-treatment ahead of the drastic changed conditions. “We are watching the forecast and will change, if necessary,” said interim assistant director of public works with The City of Wichita. Nelson says that the rain would wipe away the work that crews would have to do ahead of time so you won’t see the ‘brine’ solution placed in the streets ahead of Saturday.
Source: KAKE – News
UG Commission approves temporary cold weather shelter at Reardon Center
The Unified Government Commission on Thursday night voted unanimously to approve a temporary cold weather shelter at the Reardon Center. Several community members and social service workers spoke in favor of the shelter, warning that people left outside during the coming cold weather this weekend could lose limbs or their lives. Mayor Tyrone Garner told the group he was in favor of helping the homeless. However, he had unanswered questions about the plans to place the shelter at the Reardon Center, and that is why he had delayed the shelter’s opening.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
Bulky trash day no longer inspires folks to ‘swap’ in Overland Park. Here’s what’s replacing it
They often became unlikely community gatherings. We’re talking about those “bulky trash pickup” days organized and financed by the city of Overland Park. Every other year, depending on which side of Antioch Road they lived on, people placed unwanted furniture, appliances and other large items at curbside for pickup. Neighbors would come by, see something they liked and haul it off before the city did. Scrappers did the same. Conversations happened. Now those days are history. The Overland Park City Council recently approved a new trash collection ordinance, mandating that haulers provide a curbside bulky item pickup at least once a year as part of their service to residents. Residents will now work with their hauler to schedule the annual pickup.
Source: Joco 913 News
Lawrence Public Library leaders say eliminating late fines has improved access, not resulted in more late books
Two years after the Lawrence Public Library decided to eliminate fines for overdue books, library leaders say the change has not adversely affected the turnaround of materials and has improved overall access to the library. The library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to eliminate late fines for overdue books and other media beginning in January 2020. LPL Executive Director Brad Allen said that eliminating fines has not affected the timeliness of book returns, the waiting period for holds or the percentage of lost items, but has improved access to the library for people with low incomes.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Active COVID cases top 1,200 mark in Douglas County; community now in code red phase
Active COVID cases in Douglas County soared past the 1,000 mark, health leaders announced on Wednesday, but the spate of new cases did not produce an increase in hospitalizations. As of Wednesday, Douglas County had 1,216 active COVID cases, which was up from 987 active cases on Monday. However, inpatients being treated for COVID at LMH Health remain virtually steady at 15 patients, down one from Monday’s figures. The new numbers, though, put Douglas County firmly in the code red transmission category, which is triggered anytime active case numbers top 1,000. The code red designation — the highest of three alert levels — is expected to lead to discussion about whether Douglas County commissioners should implement a new mask mandate for residents.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 29, 2021
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.
Kansans getting scam texts tied to COVID
Kansans are getting scam text messages that appear to be coming from the Kansas Health Department and Department of Revenue. The texts may mention something like “Kansas Covid-19 Vaccine Driver License Waiver Validation,” and include a link. The link appears to be a KDHE website, though it ends with .com, while real state pages end in .gov. The website you are taken to resembles a state website, and you are asked to put in personal information like your date of birth and social security number. If you get a message like this you are urged to report it as spam and delete it.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
County group working hard to help those impacted by fires in western Kansas
While many in Marion County and surrounding areas experienced some damage on Dec. 15 from the extreme winds, the damages paled in comparison to what western Kansas faced when the storm caused fires to spread throughout the central and western part of the state. According to the Kansas Forest Service, 400,000 acres burned in 11 counties in western Kansas with smaller fires in other counties. Many in Marion County are doing something about it. Jonas Frantz and Kelly Novak of Tampa, KS have gotten together and organized efforts to get supplies and money to those who need help in western Kansas, and they will take help from anyone who wants to contribute. “I just thought our fellow farmers could use help, contacted Kelly about donating some hay and we started working together to get something done,” said Frantz.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Morrill resident discusses concerns over law enforcement
The Brown County Commission met for regular session Tuesday morning and heard concerns from a Morrill resident. Lee Wymer expressed his concerns about a specific person who continues to violate the law by speeding around town, spinning and screeching tires during the middle of the night. He said law enforcement has been contacted several times and a county deputy has responded, however the individual has not been able to be caught. Wymer said the individual spots the officers and ceases his activity once law enforcement presence is there, however when the officers leave town the person starts back up. “He knows the game and he plays it well,” Wymer told commissioners.
Source: County Government | hiawathaworldonline.com
Ark City joins Winfield, county in pursuit of opioid compensation
Arkansas City commissioners will participate in a nationwide class action lawsuit to recover resources lost due to opioid abuse and addiction. The decision, made last week during a commission meeting, makes Ark City the latest local government to join a major lawsuit in hopes of getting monetary compensation for costs associated with the proliferation of opioids. Opioids are commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain, but they have been found to be highly addictive. City Attorney Larry Schwartz told commissioners that the Kansas Attorney General has put a team together to help communities and county governments litigate the lawsuit.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Sedgwick County backs off mask mandate, emergency orders
Action taken by the Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly in mid-March led the Sedgwick County Commission to reassess its emergency public health orders tied to the coronavirus pandemic. With the stipulations of Senate Bill 40 presenting a number of obstacles to keeping the county’s health orders in place, the commission ultimately moved to rescind them immediately and approve a resolution recommending – but not enforcing – many of the same health and safety guidelines. That included wearing of masks and social distancing – with business organizations encouraged to keep such requirements in place – as well as individuals becoming vaccinated against COVID-19 once eligible. Both motions were approved on a 3-2 vote after a good deal of discussion regarding what the new legislation could do, as well as the lack of enforcement.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Flags at Half-Staff for 7001 Kansans Lost to COVID-19
In honor of the more than 7,000 lives lost due to COVID-19, and the families they left behind, Governor Laura Kelly today directed flags be lowered to half-staff throughout the state effective immediately to sundown Friday, December 31, 2021. “It is with great sadness that I am ordering flags to half-staff for the seventh time since the pandemic began,” Governor Kelly said. “We have the tools to stop this virus and prevent further unnecessary deaths of our loved ones. Whether you are considering your first shot, or your third, I urge all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Source: Fort Scott Biz
Wyandotte County Administrator Doug Bach to retire in January
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas announced that County Administrator Doug Bach will be retiring next month. Bach has served as county administrator since March 2014. Before that, he served as deputy county administrator from 2003-2014 and in several other leadership roles across multiple departments, including the finance, community development and police departments, among others. “I am honored to have served with the many hardworking, talented individuals across the Unified Government,” Bach said. “Together, we have tackled many challenges and are now well-positioned to rebound from this pandemic stronger than ever.”
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
McPherson County places moratorium on solar energy
McPherson County won’t be seeing any commercial solar energy projects anytime soon. The McPherson County Commission has passed a resolution placing a moratorium on commercial solar energy projects in the county. “Effectively, this would prohibit any commercial solar energy projects in McPherson County for a two year period from the time of adoption,” Brian Bina, county counselor said. “This will allow the county to undertake any studies or information the county needs to utilize to set up an appropriate program, if at all, for the approval of these projects.” Bina advised there are currently no massive commercial solar energy projects underway throughout the state. This is one of the reasons McPherson County would like to gather more information and see more studies before considering the appropriateness of wind energy development in McPherson County.
Source: McPherson Weekly News » Feed
County Commission honors outgoing Louisburg mayor
County commissioners presented outgoing Mayor Marty Southard with a plaque and a proclamation during the Louisburg City Council meeting Monday, Dec. 20, for his dedication and service to the community. The proclamation declared Dec. 20 as Mayor Marty Southard Day in Miami County. County commissioners Rob Roberts and Phil Dixon made the presentation to Southard.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Court sets (proposed city of ) Golden hearing for January
The county’s motion to dismiss the Golden appeal will be taken up next month in Miami County District Court. A Zoom hearing has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14. The County Commission voted 3-1 against incorporation of the proposed city of Golden at its Oct. 13 meeting. The decision prompted two Golden supporters, Jennifer Williams and Charlie Koch, to appeal the county’s decision. Doug Patterson, with the The Property Law Firm in Overland Park, filed their appeal Nov. 12 in Miami County District Court. Williams filed a petition April 9 to incorporate about 9 square miles north of Hillsdale Lake into a city to block the march of intermodal warehouses into Miami County. After presentations from numerous experts on a number of topics related to the proposed incorporation and upon receiving volumes of correspondence, both for and against the proposed city, over the course of several months, commissioners deliberated and later voted to deny incorporation.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Meeting held Wednesday discussing how to pay to heal Western Kansas following December 15th fires
The Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association and local community organizations hosted a meeting Wednesday night discussing the disaster assistance available for farmers and homeowners who lost either all or part of their property in the December 15 wildfires. Governor Laura Kelly was one of the very first to speak and said, “We will get you the help you need.” One of those families in attendance were the Dickerson’s of Paradise, Kansas. “Stories like this. These are the ones that need to be on the news. People helping people,” said Stephanie Dickerson when referring to the help the people of Western Kansas have been getting from strangers.
Source: KAKE – News
Amid driver shortages, City of Lawrence approves 12% starting wage increase for bus drivers; union anticipates more will be needed
City leaders have approved an approximately 12% increase to the starting wages for local bus drivers as the industry struggles with staffing shortages, and union leaders anticipate more wage increases will be needed. As part of its meeting this week, the Lawrence City Commission voted as part of its consent agenda to approve an amendment to the service agreement between the city and First Transit to raise the starting pay for bus drivers from $15.61 to $17.50 per hour, or an approximately 12% increase. The commission also approved funding for pay increases for other hourly transit employees, such as dispatchers and road supervisors.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Next phase set to begin for pilot program to reduce cut-through traffic in Old West Lawrence
The pilot program of a new traffic control method in the Old West Lawrence neighborhood is entering its next phase, which will include a review of traffic data and potential revisions to the temporary traffic diverters currently in place. The Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association applied to be part of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Pilot Program, and the temporary diverters were installed in November and will be in place until the spring. The diverters, which prohibit motorists from making certain turns or entering streets at certain intersections, are meant to reduce cut-through traffic and have been met with mixed reactions from residents…
Source: LJWorld.com.
As local COVID cases near 1,000, Douglas County health leaders to again consider mask mandate
Douglas County is on the verge of again having 1,000 active COVID cases, which will lead local health officials to again consider a countywide mask mandate. “The operative word there, though, is ‘consider,’” Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Director Dan Partridge told the Journal-World. “We haven’t yet had the meeting.” Partridge said it is not a foregone conclusion that public health officials will recommend that the Douglas County Commission approve a mask mandate once cases hit the 1,000 mark.
Source: LJWorld.com.