Kansas Municipal News
Lawrence City Commission to consider using two city recreation centers as emergency shelters over the winter; plan would require temporarily suspending some city codes
Lawrence city leaders will soon consider suspending certain building and fire codes to enable the city to use two recreation centers to provide overnight shelter during the winter for up to 150 people experiencing homelessness. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a resolution to temporarily suspend enforcement of certain provisions of the city’s land development code, international building code and international fire code from Nov. 3 to March 31 to allow the recreation centers to be used as emergency overnight shelters during that time period.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Narrowing Yield Gap in Treasurys Signals Worries Over Fed, Growth
The gap between yields on shorter- and longer-term Treasurys narrowed at month’s end, reflecting the tension between investors’ expectations that interest rates will climb and their concerns about the prospects for longer-term growth. Yields on longer-term Treasurys, which tend to fall when investors expect cooling economic growth, have retreated since approaching their 2021 highs earlier in October. The slide came after new data showed tepid growth and lingering inflationary pressures, intensifying some investors’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will hasten interest-rate increases, slowing the economy. Yields on shorter-term Treasurys, meanwhile, have continued to rise. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which tends to climb when investors expect rates to rise, settled at new yearly highs throughout the past week.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for October 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.
Gas prices up $1.25 a gallon over past year, home heating fuel costs expected to skyrocket this winter
U.S. gasoline prices reached a 7-year-high this week, with the national average of a regular gallon of gasoline rising to $3.399, up from $3.187 last month, AAA reports. Gasoline prices at the pump have gone up every day in the past 27 days, adding about 21 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas, AAA says. A year ago, the average price of a regular gallon of gasoline was $2.151 a gallon, meaning motorists are paying about an average of $1.25 more a gallon this fall than last. “With the U.S. economy slowly recovering from the depths of the pandemic, demand for gas is robust, but the supply is tight,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement. Gas prices haven’t been this high since September 2014, he adds.
Source: The Miami County Republic
GDP growth slows as Americans’ economic confidence declines
The U.S.’ Gross Domestic Product grew only 2% for the third quarter of 2021, signaling bad news for the economy. In the second quarter, the GDP grew 6.7%. The U.S. Department of Commerce released new GDP data showing the disappointing growth figures. According to the agency, this was partly caused by decreased federal spending and lower residential fixed investment. The Commerce Department also pointed to the ongoing pandemic and diminished federal aid for the pandemic but admitted it is impossible to quantify how much impact that had on the slower growth.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Fort Scott and Bourbon County officials discuss additional sharing opportunities
City and county leaders discussed potential ideas for collaboration between the two entities during a work session Tuesday at the Empress Event Center. Topics discussed during the meeting included working together to save money on construction and demolition materials, using inmates at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center for city projects, taxes and economic development.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
Maize Superintendent announces departure
The Superintendent of Maize Public Schools has announced he is leaving. Dr. Chad Higgins announced he would be resigning following the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year. Higgins sent out the following message to parents Friday: … Earlier today, I informed the Maize Board of Education of my intent to resign at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year. After a great deal of reflection and conversation with my family, the time has come for me to step back and embrace a new chapter in my life.
Source: KAKE – News
The purple lights in Wichita are dwindling
Earlier this year Evergy discovered many streetlights were turning purple due to a faulty subcomponent causing the light to fail. Andrew Baker, a spokesperson for Evergy, said identifying and replacing these lights has been quite an undertaking, but the company is finally making progress. “We’ve identified just under 4,000 lights in the Wichita area that were putting out this blue-purple light,” said Baker. It’s a big number, but he knows it may not be the final count.
Source: KSN-TV
Baxter Springs welcomes first disc golf tournament for its new course
A new city addition was put to the test this weekend. Kiwanis Park was the site of the first Spring River Spooktacular disc golf tournament. This was the course’s first tournament since it opened back in August. While many of the competitors traveled locally, some competitors travelled from as far as Olathe and Tulsa. Aside from competition, the tournament was designed to help promote business throughout Baxter Springs. Charles Rector, Baxter Springs Disc Golf Club President, says, “Usually people come in the week prior to do some practicing and go in town and buy gas and food and we’re just hoping to see that help our businesses out in Baxter because they’ve supported our course so much, we have about 10, 15 really good sponsors and we just want to take care of them.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Medical marijuana cash seizure in Kansas will resonate from companies to court to Congress
When Kansas law enforcement officials seized cannabis-related cash from Missouri during a routine traffic stop, they triggered what could be a legal fight that reverberates throughout the nationwide marijuana industry. The deputy pulled over a van and asked where the vehicle was headed. The driver explained she was headed to Kansas City to pick up cash from state-legal medical marijuana facilities to transport to a credit union in Colorado. The sheriff called the Drug Enforcement Administration, which set up surveillance on the driver the next day, watching her pick up cash from several state-licensed dispensaries in Kansas City. When the driver headed back to Colorado, Dickinson County Sheriff’s deputies pulled her over again, but this time seized five bags containing $165,620 in cash.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
After a year off, festival goers reveling in Arkalalah
Thursday was windy and chilly and downright unpleasant, but Arkansas City had Arkalalah to warm hearts and stomachs. After the event was canceled last year due the coronavirus pandemic, several residents uptown said braving the elements so far has been well worth it. Despite rain Wednesday, people flocked downtown for the food vendors and lined the streets for the night parade. The carnival rides are going strong.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Derby approves STAR bond district expansion to explore potential development
The Derby City Council had a captive audience at its Oct. 26 meeting, as the city hall lobby was full of local residents on hand for a public hearing regarding the expansion of the Derby STAR bond district. As noted by staff, the vote at hand was simply to expand the boundaries of the current STAR bond district to include a nearly 44-acre tract of land east of the Derby Sports Zone site (and northeast of the Target store on Tall Tree Road). The vote did not include approval of the proposed project itself, which would feature a Crystal Lagoons man-made beachfront attraction, 150-room hotel, glamping (“glamorous camping”) site and more.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Local K9 officers to receive donation of protective vests
The Garden City Police Department and Finney County Sheriff’s Office K9s will soon each receive a bullet and stab proof protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization, Vested Interest in K9s. According to media releases, K9 Koda’s vest will be embroidered with the message, “in memory of K9 Kye, Oklahoma Police Department,” while K9 Shiva’s vest will be embroidered with “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always.” Delivery of the vests is expected within eight to ten weeks.
Source: Greater Garden City » Feed
Johnson County voter turnout this year could set new record for off-year municipal elections
A higher-than-average voter turnout is expected in Tuesday’s municipal elections in Johnson County. That’s judging by advance voting numbers so far along with requests for mail-in ballots, county Election Commissioner Fred Sherman said Thursday. Sherman told Johnson County commissioners this year’s turnout may be near or slightly above 20% – which would be a high point for off-year, midterm elections that usually draw fewer voters than the partisan contests that happen in even years and feature races for state and federal offices. Turnout in the 2019 city elections was close to 17%, according to the election commission archive. Sherman said there’s been some improvement in voter turnout for city elections since the Kansas Legislature moved them from April to November, starting in 2017.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park could see electronic scooters starting this spring with proposed pilot program
Motorized scooters are one step closer to making their way from downtown Kansas City to the Overland Park area. At their Wednesday meeting, the city council’s Public Works Committee recommended the approval of a new resolution that would allow city staff to start negotiations for an e-scooter pilot program with Lime and Bird, two of the biggest players in the emerging e-scooter industry. Both companies have shown interest in bringing their pay-per-ride vehicles to the Johnson County suburbs. Last month, Bird inked a deal with Prairie Village to launch a pilot in that city.
Source: Prairie Village Post
‘We have a place for you:’ Johnson County sheriff welcomes unvaccinated officers from other states
The sheriff of Johnson County wants to welcome officers from across the county. In a news release, Sheriff Calvin Hayden said Thursday his office is a safe haven for law enforcement officers in other states who do not want to be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine. “True to our Midwestern values, Johnson County is a place where freedom is valued, and law enforcement is respected. The support our citizens have shown over the last several years has been overwhelming,” Hayden said. In August, Johnson County implemented a policy requiring employees to be fully vaccinated or get a weekly COVID-19 test. A day after the county made that announcement, Hayden said he would not follow the mandate.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Cybersecurity experts release recommendations
A statewide position to coordinate cyber security work across sectors, an emergency plan for potential digital attacks and allowing local governments to tap into state IT contracts are among the initial recommendations released Thursday by a panel of cybersecurity experts asked to evaluate the state’s digital landscape. The report from the task force, created by Gov. Laura Kelly in July, comes as the state’s vulnerabilities to cyber attacks come better into focus, with officials looking at ways to reduce the potential risks of state and local governments to costly attacks. Earlier this month, officials in Pottawatomie County paid out over $72,000 to resolve an attack which crippled many of its computer systems for weeks.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for October 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.
New Halstead police officer enjoys serving tight-knit community
Halstead’s newest full-time police officer describes himself as a community-oriented person who wants to do the best job possible to help people. “Building relationships with people in the community and being able to go up and talk to them in a personable manner or almost as a friend instead of as an officer—that’s what I want to do,” Josh Crowe said. “I just want to be embedded in the community and help out as much as possible.” Crowe, whose first day with Halstead P.D. was Sept. 27, said he’s looking forward to meeting more people and building good relationships with them.
Source: Harvey County Now
Garden City celebrates construction of new shooting range
Bracing against 50-mph wind gusts that stirred up grit and dust, local elected officials, law enforcement and community members met Wednesday afternoon to “break ground” for the new gun range located south of Garden City on Old Highway 83. Construction of the state-of-the-art facility actually began several weeks ago and is well underway. The project is one of four projects included in a sales tax initiative Finney County voters approved in 2017.
Source: Greater Garden City » Feed