Kansas Municipal News
Wichita City Council votes for private company to manage Century II
The Wichita City Council on Tuesday voted to have a private company manage Century II. The council voted 5-to-2 to allow ASM Global to manage Century II. Mayor Brandon Whipple and council member Jeff Blubaugh voted against the contract. ASM Global already manages INTRUST Bank Arena and the Orpheum Theatre. Under the contract, the city will continue to own the building and ASM Global will maintain accounting records and meet with the city regularly. ASM will continue to operate the building in accordance with the city’s operating standards. Councilman Brandon Johnson voted in favor of the new contract. He says under ASM, that Century II will operate more efficiently and be able to book more acts since they operate both the Orpheum and InTrust bank arena and know the market. “All wanted to see activation out of that space and this contract is going to make that happen.”
Source: KAKE – News
Emporia to discuss rental property concerns
The Emporia City Commission will take a look at its rental property maintenance codes during its study session Wednesday morning. Chief building inspector Kory Krause has reported an increasing number of complaints in regard to poor living conditions in rental properties and has asked the commission to consider adopting the International Property Maintenance Code. The IPMC is intended to provide safe and sanitary conditions for those living in Emporia rental units. Emporia is the only Kansas city that hosts a state university and has not adopted the IPMC. Additionally, it is one of only three of the state’s 20 First Class cities with more than 19,000 people that do not use the IPMC.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Johnson County school district with weak COVID rules is warned it has worst case rate
The Spring Hill school district, which has the most lenient COVID-19 rules of any public district in Johnson County, has seen far higher infection rates among students than neighboring districts, health officials report. Now, health officials are warning the district they are concerned by the trend. Every other district in the county requires everyone to wear masks at all grade levels. But in Spring Hill, in southern Johnson County, masks are only required for younger students, and were made optional for high schoolers. In addition, the school board agreed to allow parents to sign mask exemption forms — which previously required a doctor’s signature — essentially making masks optional for students districtwide.
Source: Joco 913 News
High grad rates, flat test scores: Is an ambitious overhaul of Kansas schools working?
Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe was among the first to undergo an overhaul of Kansas’ public school system, creating seismic shifts in how students are taught and prepared for life after graduation. Now, a few years later, students are job shadowing and taking courses where they solve real-world engineering and environmental problems. They have more access to counselors and lessons on social-emotional skills. On “Exploration Days,” they are immersed in experiences and classes outside of the regular curriculum. And they are required to spend time volunteering or serving the community.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
How Johnson County Hospitals Are Trying To Cope With Staffing Shortages, Nurse Burnout
As COVID-19 transmission in Johnson County continues to remain high, area hospitals and their staffs are still working around the clock to treat and discharge patients, roughly a year-and-a-half into the pandemic. The struggle to endure long shifts and multiple days working can be physically taxing and mentally draining, health officials say. “There are some weeks where I’m here at the hospital more than I’m at home,” Julie Rojas, a respiratory therapist with KU Health, said last week during one of the hospital’s daily COVID-19 briefings. “Your coworkers become like your family, and they understand the things you see and deal with.”
Source: KCUR News
Could Century II be private Tuesday?
Tuesday may be the day the city stops managing Century II after more than 50 years. “What’s in the contract?” asked Celeste Racette, founder of Save Century II. “The City manager office scheduled them (city council) to approve a deal Tuesday?” Racette is talking about details on a deal between the city and ASM Global Management to operate Century II. … “I definitely think privatization is the right way to go,” said [City council member] Cerullo. “I would be in agreement to possibly doing a one-year at a time deal. Five years is a long time.”
Source: KSN-TV
City of Green celebrates 140th Anniversary
Several dozen people gathered outside of the brand-new Green City Hall and Museum at 11 a.m. on Saturday to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the founding of the town. Local historian Bev Caley thanked everyone in attendance and gave particulars for several of the items on display in the new museum. She said the museum had been a labor of love for both herself and the community, with ample opportunity to continue growing in the future.
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com
Municipal Bond Trends for September 20, 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.
Nebraska Furniture Mart And The Battle Over ‘Dark Stores’
Nebraska Furniture Mart, one of the busiest retailers in the region, stands to get a nearly $1.5 million property tax refund on its Kansas City, Kansas, location after winning an appeal to a state tax board. What could this mean for other big box retailers?
Podcast: KCUR News
Isolation And Stigma Push Suicide Rates Higher In Rural Kansas
Kyle Carlin understands first-hand how hard a mental health crisis can hit in rural Kansas. He dealt with depression starting as a teenager. It eventually led him to attempt suicide. But he didn’t think about seeking counseling until he was preparing to leave the Army Reserve in Hays roughly 12 years ago. Even then, asking for help wasn’t easy. “Stigma is such a big issue around mental health,” Carlin said, “especially in western Kansas.” His story illustrates a growing trend stressing rural communities across Kansas and the nation. While suicide rates have increased by nearly 45% statewide over the past two decades, rates have risen most sharply in the most sparsely populated parts of Kansas.
Source: KCUR News
Public restrooms at Wichita splash pad vandalized
The City of Wichita said the Boston Park Splash Pad public restrooms will be closed until further notice. City staff found the restroom facilities vandalized and sinks broken over the weekend. The city said they had seen increasing amounts of vandalism at facilities. However, there is no word on whether park vandalism is tied to the ‘devious licks’ challenge. Recently, kids across the U.S. have been posting TikTok videos of themselves vandalizing school bathrooms and stealing soap dispensers and even turf from football fields. The “devious licks” social media challenge went viral last week and bedeviled principals and school district administrators. Some schools have even had to shut down bathrooms, where much of the damage is occurring.
Source: KSN-TV
Lawrence playground invites children of all abilities to play, thanks to donation from late benefactor
School and business leaders are gearing up to celebrate an inclusive playground for youngsters on Lawrence’s southeast side. Featuring wide pathways and ground-level entry, the play equipment provides accessibility, no matter a child’s method of mobility. A celebration for the William Dann Playtown will take place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Kennedy Early Childhood Center, 1605 Davis Road. The Lawrence Schools Foundation and Lawrence chamber of commerce will host the event. The shiny play equipment features two covered areas connected by a slightly elevated pathway, as well as bars to climb on and hang from, and a tunnel and slide. It also encourages children to use sign language via a panel that teaches the signs for play, friend, peace, love and help.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Plastic bag ban: Could this be a Wichita ordinance by next year?
Banning plastic bags in Wichita is a discussion that’s been brought to the Wichita City Council several times. As a result, the city started the Wichita Plastic Bag Ban Task Force in February of 2020. The group includes some city council members, businesses like Dillons and Goodwill, and other advocates. Member Lori Lawrence said it has been a slow process to present an actual ordinance to the council. COVID-19 has pushed back meetings and outreach efforts. The task force has also been working on getting an economic impact and litter study finalized.
Source: KSN-TV
Wondering how testing out of school quarantines works? The Eudora school district shares a look at the process
A COVID-19 testing program used since August in the Eudora school district aims to reduce COVID-19 quarantines. Students and staff exposed to a positive case can “test out” of quarantine as long as they don’t have symptoms and continue to test negative for the virus. Mark Dodge, spokesperson for Eudora Public Schools, said an advantage of the plan was that it helps students and staff stay in schools as much as possible — and with no financial cost to the district for testing supplies.“We are a ‘test-to-stay’ district and do not quarantine students due to close contact,” Dodge said in an email. “Our Stay to Learn and Play plan allows us to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, while working to keep students and staff in school and at work.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Sedgwick County unemployment rate remains one of the highest in Kansas, but drops off
Sedgwick County’s unemployment rate remained one of the highest in Kansas in August, but no longer topped the list across the state, according to the Kansas labor market report released Friday. The unemployment rate in Kansas remained at 3.8% in August, the same as July. Last August, the state had an unemployment rate of 6.2%, showing some economic recovery over the last year. “August estimates indicate little change in the labor force since July, resulting in no change to the unemployment rate at 3.8 percent,” Labor Secretary Amber Shultz said in a statement. “The private sector added jobs for the third consecutive month. Most of the gains in August were due to continued economic recovery in manufacturing and leisure and hospitality.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Proposed tax law changes, muni provisions could alter muni landscape
Tax law changes and bond provisions included in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package being debated in Washington likely will shift the demand components for and the makeup of the muni market in dramatic ways in the coming decade. The market is closely watching Washington to see whether the proposed tax law changes — higher rates for both individuals and corporations — and new municipal bond tools — the return of tax-exempt advance refundings, a higher bank-qualified limit and direct-pay taxable bonds — come to fruition. “If enacted as drafted, the impact on the municipal bond market will be comparable to the 1986 tax reform: munis’ supply and demand will both be expanded extensively, and credit quality will strengthen,” BofA Securities strategists Yingchen Li and Ian Rogow said in a Friday report. “A golden decade is to be expected. The tax-exempt muni market will over time transform to a market with much shorter average maturity and mostly advance refunded bonds, while taxable munis will grow fast and big and become the majority of outstanding munis after five years.”
Source: The Bond Buyer
Candidates debate privatization as Wichita preps to outsource Century II on Tuesday
Three days before a vote to turn Century II, Wichita’s last large public venue, over to private management, candidates for City Council clashed over whether privatization of park and arts facilities is a good idea. Southeast Wichita Council District 3 challenger Mike Hoheisel said he thinks it’s time to pump the brakes on turning over major city assets to private profit-making companies. Privatization “is putting another barrier in between accountability to the people and the people who need to be held accountable,” he said during a Saturday evening campaign forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
Source: Wichita Eagle.
Lawrence City Commission to discuss strengthening city’s rental inspection program
Close to 60% of Lawrence residents are renters, but an extremely small number of the city’s rental properties — under 1% in recent years — are inspected annually for code and safety violations. That could soon change. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider the first draft of amendments to the city’s rental inspection ordinance, which includes provisions to increase the number of units inspected and to reduce the number of violations that allow landlords to qualify for less-frequent inspections, among other proposed changes. Commissioners agreed in August that the current inspection program is inadequate and expressed interest in a potential overhaul.
Source: LJWorld.com.
City of Lawrence announces testing requirements for unvaccinated employees; Douglas County to consider similar policy
The City of Lawrence will soon be requiring its unvaccinated employees to be tested regularly for COVID-19, and Douglas County could soon adopt a similar policy for its employees. Between the two local governments, such policies would cover more than 1,600 workers. While these kinds of policies don’t go as far as the vaccine requirements that President Joe Biden recently announced for federal workers, officials with both local governments said their positions were influenced by the high voluntary vaccination rates among their workforce. City Manager Craig Owens said the city has already verified that 77% of its employees are vaccinated, and that employees continue to turn in vaccination cards and make the decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Winfield faces increased natural gas costs
Projected natural gas prices for the coming months were discussed at Thursday’s Winfield City Commission work session, as the effects of record high gas prices during February’s cold snap continue. The average market price for natural gas one year ago was $2.07 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBtu), according to Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall. The current average is $3.98 per MMBtu. … Wall said the higher prices are caused by several factors, including leftover concern from the February event and reduced productions due to recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler