Kansas Municipal News
Wichita heads back to the future as riverfront possibilities abound
After more than a year of disruption and delay because of the pandemic, new questions are being asked about the future of Wichita’s riverfront. Public projects on the riverfront have had some success over the years, such as Exploration Place and the Keeper of the Plains. But the centerpiece of Wichita’s riverfront, the area that stretches from Douglas to Kellogg along the east bank of the Arkansas River, has been the subject of redevelopment plans for decades that have had mixed results. Pieces of some of those plans — such as the Hyatt Regency, the Boathouse, WaterWalk Place and the Fairfield Inn — were successes. Some died on the City Hall drawing board while others were implemented and failed.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Paola PD to host Children’s Fall Festival
The Paola Police Department will host a Children’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 2. The festival will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Paola Justice Center, located at 805 N. Pearl St. The event will feature a free lunch, children’s face painting, fingerprint ID cards, games and more. Children will also be able to check out emergency vehicles from the Paola Police Department, Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Paola Fire Department and Kansas National Guard. Bicycles will be raffled for multiple age groups. Winners must be present for the drawing at 2:30 p.m., according to a news release.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Atchison sees rise in tourism for haunted attractions
On a late September weekend, the city of Atchison was bustling with tourists looking for a good scare. With fall beginning and the return of Halloween season, the city of about 11,000 people becomes a hot spot for out-of-town tourists and national publications like BuzzFeed. Kaycee Slough, director of marketing at the Atchison Chamber of Commerce, said it’s one of the most thrilling times of the year for the city. “We know that people are so excited about everything that Atchison has to offer, specifically the haunted aspect, and so really delivering on all of those things is something that’s really important to us,” she said. Haunted attractions like the Sallie House, a turn-of-the-century home that’s drawn paranormal investigators to it, and the 1889 McInteer Villa, which brings in visitors on self-guided tours and overnight stays looking for evidence of the paranormal. Each year, Slough said, it seems like their popularity grows.
Source: News | atchisonglobenow.com
Shawnee Tribe and City of Fairway will investigate the Shawnee Indian Mission boarding school
At a press conference Thursday to mark Orange Shirt Day — a memorial to the thousands of lives lost at Indian residential schools — the chief of the Shawnee Tribe announce a partnership with the city of Fairway to investigate the history of the Shawnee Indian Mission, while calling on the federal government to research U.S. Indian boarding schools nationwide. Earlier this year, the Department of Interior announced an initiative to find out the inner workings of federally-operated Indian boarding schools. Places like Shawnee Indian Mission, which was an Indian boarding school from the 1830s to 1860s on 2,000 acres of Shawnee Tribe land, isn’t included in the initiative since it was operated by Methodist missionaries. Now, the Shawnee Tribe is partnering with the city of Fairway to begin looking into the operational details of the Shawnee Indian Mission. But Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes said the federal government “needs to step up” as well.
Source: KCUR News
Kansas county fixing systems after ransomware attack
Computer systems are being restored in an eastern Kansas county after hackers launched a ransomware attack on Sept. 17, county officials said Friday. Pottawatomie County resolved the attack by paying less than 10% of the hackers’ original demands, County Administrator Chad Kinsley said in a statement. The eastern Kansas county did not disclose the amount it paid, WIBW-TV reported. “We are a small county with small resources,” Kinsley said. “With the extraordinary demands that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on local governments like ours, we wanted to make sure that the hackers understood that there was no way we could even come close to meeting their demand.” Technical workers have installed more sensors on all servers to prevent further attacks. The investigation into how the hackers gained access to the system is continuing.
Source: KAKE – News
City of Lawrence bans airsoft, BB and paintball guns in parks after hearing community concerns
As a parent who visits the playground at Brook Creek Park regularly with her child, Jamie Benvenutti felt surprised last week to learn that BB and compressed air guns were permitted in city parks near areas where children and families congregate. “Shouldn’t there be a sign posted at each public park so parents can decide if they feel safe enough to bring their children to a place where it’s OK to shoot BB guns? I know I certainly don’t feel OK taking my child to a park where shooting guns is allowed,” Benvenutti said in an email late last week. Benvenutti’s concerns cropped up after reading a neighborhood post on a social media platform about squirrel hunting with BB guns at Brook Creek Park, 1200 Brook St.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Local governments struggle to hire public sector workers
Some local Kansas governments are operating with 10% of their positions unfilled, making it hard to deliver the services that citizens expect. Across the state, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that Kansas has seen a 4.7% drop in the number of public sector workers, which translates into about 12,000 vacant jobs, but some towns are being hit harder. The pandemic has made the situation worse because the competitive labor market makes it hard to replace older employees who decided to retire.
Source: KSN-TV
Local governments struggle to hire workers; some are operating with 10% of positions unfilled
In Concordia, City Manager Amy Lange has gotten a lot of mileage out of the “Kansas strong, Kansas nice” mindset. The north-central Kansas city is down six workers. While that may not seem like a lot, it accounts for about 10% of the city government’s workforce. Residents might not notice the impact unless they’re paying attention. Potholes don’t get fixed quite as quickly, and it might take a bit longer for questions about taxes to be answered. But Lange said this obscures the real impact, noting her staff is having to cover for vacant positions — even though they are already down to the bare minimum of workers that are needed to perform the city’s functions. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated hiring issues that already existed pushing older employees into retirement. The competitive labor market has made it hard to replace them.
Source: Salina Journal
Can you pronounce these 10 city names correctly? If so, there’s a good chance you’re from Kansas.
“The one thing I really love about language is how language can point to our history of human contact, relationship and movement,” said Mary Kohn, an associate professor at Kansas State University, who holds a doctorate degree in linguistics. “That’s very true for Kansas, as well. “Whenever we look at place names or pronunciation, what we’re getting is a cultural representation that reflects our history, and I think that’s really beautiful.” When it comes to pronouncing the names of places in Kansas — cities, counties, and even local and regional landmarks — native residents of the state may have a leg up.
Source: CJonline
Kansas tax collections beat estimate by $162.2 million, indicate growing economy and business profits
Kansas state officials reported more tax revenue was collected than expected over the past month, indicating a growing economy and improved profit margins for businesses. September total tax receipts were $876.5 million, beating the estimate by $162.2 million, or 22.7%. The revenues also beat September 2020 collections by $147.6 million, or 20.2%. “Our tax collection numbers continue to show promising growth,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a Friday news release. “In the months ahead, we must maintain fiscally-responsible policies to strengthen our growing economy.” The additional revenue was primarily due to individual and corporate income tax collections, as well as retail sales taxes.
Source: Dodge Globe
JFK’s hearse brings visitors to Hill City museum
There is just one week left to view the 1964 Cadillac Hearse that transported President John F. Kennedy’s body from Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas to Air Force One on that fateful day in 1963. The infamous automobile arrived in Hill City in April. It was part of the opening of the Graham County Auto and Art Museum, a new tourist attraction that is bringing visitors to the city. … By bringing a destination museum into this town of less than 2,000, Hill City is giving its downtown a small boost.
Source: Hutch News
Derby’s housing needs continue to grow
Like many growing cities of its size, there are a variety of housing options in Derby. A city website lists 14 new housing developments in town, along with five apartment complexes, six assisted living and retirement living centers, and several property management firms. And, of course, there are existing homes for sale or rent, too. Like any market, if money is no object, what a buyer wants can usually be easily obtained. Several of the developments on the housing website indicate prices of $300,000, or $400,000 and up. For others, the need is high, but the price point lower, especially for rentals, entry-level housing and affordable senior-oriented units.
Source: Derby Informer
The most iconic films from the Sunflower State
There’s no place like home, and if you’re looking for the most iconic movies from Kansas, we have the list for you. From Westerns to fantasy to a nuclear apocalypse, the Sunflower State has been the setting for many iconic films. Eight such movies are listed below. If you want further readings, the Center for Kansas Studies at Washburn University has compiled lists of movies with Kansas connections. The school’s listings are available online.
Source: Hutch News
Hackers hit Pottawatomie County: Cyberattack on community underscores security risks for governments
A Kansas county is still recovering from a cyberattack almost two weeks ago, underscoring the internet security risks local governments in the state face amid a national wave of attacks from hackers. Pottawatomie County was hit with the attack on Sept. 17, officials say, with some of the county’s computer system encrypted by the hackers, making them inaccessible and shutting off some services. “We are very limited,” County Treasurer Lisa Taylor told county commissioners Monday, the Wamego Times reported. “The driver’s license (system) is completely down, we can’t do taxes.” The county said such services as EMS, police and fire haven’t been impacted. Most other services are accessible in-person if residents drive to the county courthouse in Westmoreland, officials said. Federal and state law enforcement have been investigating the attack, the county said in a statement.
Source: Hutch News
Wamego gears up for OZtoberFest this weekend
Wamego celebrates … a lot. Coming up this weekend, Wamego will celebrate fall and the Wonderful Wizard of Oz with the annual OZtoberFest. This year’s theme is the Emerald City, so expect to see a lot of green — from costumes to auction items. The festival is a collaborative effort between the OZ Museum, Columbian Theatre and the Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce. “Even though many are in love with the Wizard of Oz, you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy OZtoberFest,” said Kara Holle, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “This family friendly, fun-filled festival offers something for everyone. Also, come and enjoy shopping and local restaurants.”
Source: themercury.com
One of the finest in the state: Newton City Auditorium built in 1915, torn down in 1966
The Newton City Auditorium served an important function in the community when it stood at 130 W. Sixth St. decades ago. “It’s a community center,” said Kris Schmucker, curator at the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives in Newton. “It’s important. It served a function.” Schmucker said that going through old newspapers, she came across advertisements for shows and meetings in the auditorium. “It was used as a meeting place for WCTU,” she said, adding that stands for Women’s Christian Temperance Union. That group was focused on no drinking, getting the women’s right to vote and morals of the state.
Source: Harvey County Now
City of Pittsburg receives grant for interactive historical walking tour
The city of Pittsburg is taking a modern approach to remembering its past. The city recently received the “2020 Historic Preservation Fund Grant” from the Kansas Historical Society. The grant will go towards creating an interactive walking tour for the downtown area. While still in the developmental stages, the city hopes to have the new tour involve a mobile app and QR codes to help make its history more accessible.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Rural Opportunity Zone loan assistance program expands to Crawford County
It’s the first chance many are getting to take advantage of the Kansas “Rural Opportunity Zone” program in Crawford County. The ROZ program expanded its coverage back in may to 95 counties in Kansas. Crawford County was later adopted in June. The program offers Kansas residents up to 15 thousand dollars in loan forgiveness over five years or an income tax abatement for new county residents.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Municipal Bond Trends for September 30, 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.
City updates public on natural gas cost spike
Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said that the city tried to keep customers informed about what was happening from the beginning regarding natural gas costs, while some larger utility companies are just now starting to announce rate increases related to the storm. Kansas Gas Service, which serves Arkansas City, has presented plans showing how it plans to recover its $452 million in gas purchases over the next five, seven and 10 years. Black Hills Energy has proposed a five-year plan to recover its $88 million in gas costs. All together, natural gas customers in Kansas spent around $1 billion to meet needs during the cold spell.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler