Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for December 28, 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.
A changing of the guard
For the first time since 1995, Barton County has a new county clerk. Bev Schmeidler was sworn in Tuesday morning by her retiring predecessor, Donna Zimmerman, at a ceremony in the County Commission chamber.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Morrill Public Library launching new youth programs
The Morrill Public Library is launching new programs for young adults. The library is looking for teen volunteers to serve on the Teen Advisory Council of Students (TACOS) at the library. … Kelly Meyer, Community Services Librarian, said they are looking for teen volunteers — both middle school and high school age — who are willing to offer ideas and implement programs for their peer groups at the library. She said 5th-12th graders are welcome. High school students can earn volunteer hours for this new service club.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Strother Field to benefit from bipartisan infrastructure deal
Strother Field is among the beneficiaries of the recently passed federal infrastructure package to provide $15 billion for airport-related projects of urban, regional and rural airports across the country. According to manager Shawn McGrew, Strother Field will receive $159,000 a year for the next five years in addition to $150,000 a year in standard funding. The standard funds come from taxes paid on airline tickets, he said. According to information given out in a recent webinar, he said, the new infrastructure money will be run much like the Airport Improvement Plan, but the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has not yet worked out all the details, including what kinds of projects will be eligible for funding.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Johnson County Park and Rec District planning 3 new public art projects in 2022
Johnson County Park and Recreation District is asking local and regional artists to submit ideas for three upcoming public art projects. JCPRD opened the call last week as part of the district’s new public art master plan. Artwork for the three projects will be executed and installed in 2022, the district says. The three projects include: An artist residency program with JCPRD’s Natural Resources team at Shawnee Mission Park. A mural on the south façade of Okun Fieldhouse at Mid-America West Sports Complex in Shawnee. A temporary art installation at The Theatre in the Park.
Source: Prairie Village Post
$54.8 million highway expansion in Cherokee County
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to expand U.S 166 in Cherokee County. KDOT expects the work to begin around the week of January 3rd. The $54.8 million dollar project expands a six-mile section of U.S. 166 into a four-lane expressway. KDOT will construct the expansion between U.S. 166/U.S. 400 and U.S.166/K-26 junctions and it includes the construction of interchanges at U.S. 400 and K-26. U.S. 166 traffic will not be affected during the early project phases. The expanded U.S. 166 alignment and interchanges will be open to unrestricted traffic by late May 2024, weather permitting.
Source: KOAMKOAM
State highway update on SW KS projects
Some highway updates were given at the Dec. 20 Finney County Commission meeting. Lona DuVall, President/CEO of the Finney County Economic Development Corporation gave two area highways updates at the meeting, both being announced as part of the Kansas Secretary of Transportation’s new highway proposals on Dec. 15. The first update is that the expressway on U.S. Highway 50, between Dodge City and Cimarron, will be finished and then U.S. Highway 83, between Garden City and Scott City, is slated to get passing lanes. … FCEDC gave a presentation on the modeling data of the highway system, traffic counts and how that relates to the economy. DuVall said the high point of the presentation is that southwestern Kansas’ GDP per capita and per vehicle surpass every other region of the state but there are fewer divided highways, which are important for the economy to get the goods made in the area to other parts of the state. ‘The way that KDOT has traditionally scored economic impact wasn’t capturing a picture of our gross domestic product out here,’ she said.
Source: GC Telegram
Municipal Bond Trends for December 27, 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.
$100,000 donation helps Wichita expand microloan program for small businesses
A $100,000 gift from Intrust Bank will allow the city of Wichita to expand its microloan program for underprivileged entrepreneurs into a citywide initiative in 2022. The program was rolled out in May with a narrow focus on women- and minority-owned small businesses in City Council District 1. But officials say it generated the most interest from otherwise qualified business owners who didn’t live in the district. “When we went out to the public for interest, we had many more applications that fell outside of District 1 boundaries, and so they were ineligible,” Assistant City Manager Scot Rigby said at a Thursday press conference.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Battle between urban and rural power providers could hit electric bills across Kansas
Two companies that have long been partners in providing Kansas electric power are locked in a battle over who should pay for what — and the outcome could affect your bills. The dispute, which will be resolved by federal energy regulators, pits rural Kansas customers who get their electricity from member-owned cooperatives against Evergy, a for-profit company and the dominant electric utility in the state. At stake is as much as $27 million that the Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, known as KEPCo, says it’s being overcharged by Evergy for operation and maintenance of power plants that Evergy runs but that supply power to both companies’ customers.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Artful benches to enhance skate park landscape in Atchison
The Beautiful Benches Public Art Program continues expanding aesthetics to rest one’s mind and weary bones from the center of downtown to one of the area parks. Just days before Christmas Atchison Art Association members placed three benches at the Skate Park at Reisner Park. Ellie Folsom and Ree Greenwood are credited for the artwork. A blue bench was done in tribute to the late Joshua Kinsman and will soon have a Skate High With Hope plaque attached onto it. The benches will not only offer skateboarders and non-motorized scooters and roller-skaters a place to rest, but a place for spectators to comfortably watch the activities. Kinsman envisioned a public skate park for the Atchison Community months before his death. Kinsman, an avid skateboarder, unexpectedly passed away Jan. 27, 2018, at the age of 17.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
An incentive for $2B Overland Park mixed-use will begin, then pause until 2024
Overland Park has given Brookridge’s developers a better chance to max out an incentive for the $2 billion mixed-use project at the former golf course and fitness club property. Under its redevelopment deal with the city, Curtin Property Co. was cleared to receive up to $36 million through a 1.5% sales tax imposed via a community improvement district (CID) that will span 101.8 acres southeast of 103rd Street and Antioch Road. Site plans have depicted a combination of retail, residential, office and hotel uses within that area — a portion of the expansive stretch of projects approved in December 2019 across the 212-acre site, north of Interstate 435.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
New program offers grants to KCK businesses in need of pandemic aid
Small businesses in Kansas City, Kansas, may be eligible for aid under a new metro area grant program. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, announced the KCK Small Business Resiliency Grant Program. Eligible businesses can be given up to $10,000 in grants, according to a release. Priority applicants are businesses with fewer than 25 employees, but those with up to 100 employees also are eligible. The funding will be given to companies that seek to upgrade their business models to accommodate technology changes, including upgrading e-commerce platforms, software upgrades, and building remediation to comply with safety guidelines, according to the release.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
Kansas ranchers face a long road to recovery after devastating wildfires
This time of year, rancher Rich Koester is normally busy caring for newborn calves or feeding his herd to get them ready for winter. Instead, he’s busy burying livestock. As he walked up to the edge of a freshly dug pit roughly the size of a backyard swimming pool, the charred stubble of prairie grass crunched beneath his feet. Days after the wildfire that torched his pasture went out, the smell of smoke still hung in the air. “It was burning so fast that it just went over the top of everything. … A lot of the cattle didn’t have a chance,” he said, fighting back tears. “I don’t know how any of mine survived.”
Source: KSN-TV
Fallen Colwich officer Theodore James Ohlemeier honored by Point 27
A global nonprofit recently honored a fallen Colwich, Kansas police officer, Theodore James Ohlemeier, who died on Dec. 8 from COVID-19 complications. Ohlemeier was 58-years-old when he died. Ohlemeier contracted COVID-19 while in the line of duty as he arrested a COVID-positive DUI driver in Maize. He had served as a police officer for over 33 years. His years of service were spent working for the Colwich (3), Derby (20), Clearwater (8), and Caldwell (1) police departments. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and three sisters.
Source: KSN-TV
Support from across the country helps make a Parsons Police Department dream a reality
Since December 3rd, the Parsons Police Department has been working to bring those responsible for the murder of Ranger to justice. The story has gained attention of people and organizations all over the country, showing their support for the department during this dark time. It’s thanks to this support the department will soon see one of its dreams come true. “The response to an incredibly heinous and dark and evil crime has been overwhelmingly supportive,” says Robert Spinks, Parsons Police Chief. “Literally tens of thousands of social media postings with an outpouring of support.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
New mayor wants to spur debate
When Steve French is sworn in as Iola mayor in January, he promises to do so without ego, but rather a desire to see the remaining City Council members meet his one request. “I will encourage true debate when we have a topic,” he said. “I don’t even care what the topic is, whether it’s patching a hole in the road vs. mill and overlay. We need a true debate.” French has been a part of debates aplenty in his time on the Council. He was one of the original Council members chosen in 2011, when Iola switched from a three-member city commission to an eight-member city council. He then was re-elected to a seat in 2019.
Source: The Iola Register
Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee counties agree to reapply for grant funding for Belvue Bridge replacement
Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee County commissioners have tentatively agreed to resubmit for a grant to repair the deteriorating Belvue Bridge which crosses the Kansas River. The move comes after a federal RAISE grant was denied for the project earlier this year. Pottawatomie County Engineer Nathan Bergman says after consulting with the designers of the replacement structure, it was determined the bridge could only withstand one more budget cycle before it would ultimately need to be closed.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Dodge City Regional Airport Reaches New Passenger Record
Dodge City Regional Airport will reach 8,000 passengers flown for 2021 on December 23. This will set a record for the airport for passengers flying out of Dodge City in a single year. “It is thrilling to reach this milestone at DDC after having record lows during the pandemic,” said Airport Manager Kelli Enlow. “The accomplishment would not have been possible without the jet service we receive from United Operated by SkyWest Airlines through the Essential Air Service Program and the many customers that have chosen to Fly Dodge.”
Source: Western Kansas News
There’s a fast-growing area of Wichita that is proving ‘the sexy place to be’
Delano was a wild area filled with saloons, brothels and gambling before 1880, when it was officially incorporated into Wichita, but fast-forward a century to 1980, when Jack Kellogg moved his Hatman Jack’s Wichita Hat Works there, and Delano was wild for another reason. “You could have (put) a rock-crushing plant next door to me, and no one would bat an eye,” Kellogg said of the lack of zoning for the area. Today, Delano is an eclectic mix of distinctive retail shops, restaurants and a growing number of business offices. Then there’s the new Riverfront Stadium that’s attracting much potential development and keeping city officials and major developers laser focused on the burgeoning area.
Source: Wichita Eagle