Kansas Municipal News
Derby population over 25k in latest Census data
The latest Census data from 2020 indicates Derby’s population is officially over 25,000 people. Per the Census report, Derby is still the second-largest city in Sedgwick County, behind Wichita at 397,532 people. With an estimated population of 25,625, Derby is well over twice the size of the city closest to it in size, Haysville. Derby’s estimated population has grown by more than 3,000 since the last Census report in 2010. Data indicates the population was around 22,294 at that time.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Hesston’s Excel Industries sold
One of Harvey County’s largest employers has been sold. Excel Industries was purchased by Stanley Black and Decker. The transaction was announced today. Excel is a leading manufacturer of lawn equipment under the brand names of Hustler and BigDog. The Hesston company has approximately 600 employees. The deal is for $375 million in cash. The deal has been approved by a majority of Excel shareholders.
Source: KAKE – News
Buffalo carved out of butter featured at Kansas State Fair
Kansas’s state animal — the buffalo — is being celebrated at the State Fair this year with a 700-pound butter sculpture. A sculptor from Iowa, Sarah Pratt, had to do some research on buffaloes before she designed this year’s butter statue. Pratt said that if she winds up with any extra butter she may add a buffalo calf or some sunflowers. Pratt, who teaches school by day, lives in West Des Moines with her husband and three children, all of whom help her out with sculpting – from the Kansas State Fair to fairs in Iowa or Illinois.
Source: KSN-TV
One project for the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation is nearing completion, and the community is getting its first look
One project for the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation is nearing completion, and the community is getting its first look. This weekend was the soft opening for the city’s new splash pad in Schlanger Park. The $325,000 project was funded through community donors and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The splash pad was designed to have universal access so everyone in the community could enjoy it with or without a disability. Kim Vogel, Director of Parks and Recreation, says, “Regardless of age or ability, we want to make sure that everybody has the opportunity for recreation in Pittsburg, and that’s really the mission of the ‘Everybody Plays’ committee, is to make sure we’re creating inclusive safe places.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Emporia Public Schools nearing end of first wave of $78 million bond projects
Emporia Public Schools will be updating all of its schools over the next three years and the first projects are close to completion. These projects are part of a $78 million bond voters approved in 2019. Jones Early Childhood Development Center is located at 327 South Walnut Street. It will feature classes for three and four-year-olds, as well as infant and toddler services. The district said there will also be mental health and literacy experts working out of the new facility. It is the only new facility the district is building under the bond. Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder said it was an investment the district needed to make. “Early childhood is a really important goal for Kansans Can for the state and we know how much attention we need for early childhood,” Anderson-Harder said. “Where we’re at right now is an older building and it wasn’t sufficient for what we needed, so we were able to build a much bigger building.”
Source: KSNT News
Downtown Overland Park group presents concept to remake area around farmers’ market — ‘We are dreaming big’
An alley that separates the Overland Park Clock Tower from the Farmer’s Market Pavilion downtown could get a new look that would make it more pedestrian-friendly on market days, once the rest of the market space is eventually updated. At a city council committee meeting earlier this month, officials with the Downtown Overland Park Partnership presented some early ideas about what could be done with Overland Park Drive. Their conceptual design includes new lighting, entrance way monuments, seating space, planters and other streetscaping intended to incorporate the service alley space into a better design for the market area.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park City Council to vote on repeal of pit bull ban
Overland Park could soon drop breed restrictions preventing residents from owning pit bulls. On Thursday, the Overland Park Public Safety Committee unanimously approved staff recommendations to update city code regarding pet licensing, dog tethering and breed restrictive language.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Grant Money Is Out There for Communities Who Can Write Applications
With Congress expected to finish its work on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill in the coming weeks — and potentially an even larger social spending bill — that will put a lot of money on the table for rural communities that are set up to get a share. Yet, a lot of communities struggle to go out and get those funds because they don’t have anyone who can write grant applications in a competitive environment. Those communities get left behind.
Source: Progressive Farmer
Historic Midland Theater in Coffeyville, Kansas, is in the midst of a $3 million renovation plan
At present, it may be just a shell of its former self, but a group of dedicated fans of Coffeyville’s historic Midland Theater are working to ensure this landmark has a secure and splendid future once it is restored to its former glory. Built in 1928, the Midland Theater originally was designed to accommodate the vaudeville acts that were a mainstay of live entertainment, as well as the newfangled motion pictures, both with and without sound. Its 10-foot-tall sign, adorned with 714 flickering yellow lights, attracted moviegoers of all ages to the Midland from the 1930s to 1990s, before time and economic downturns in the area took a toll on this town just north of the Oklahoma-Kansas state line. In recent years, however, the city of Coffeyville has been making efforts to reinvigorate itself through a number of civic initiatives, including the Midland Theater Foundation Inc., which has begun a $3 million capital campaign to renovate the theater to be the community hub it was for much of the 20th century.
Source: Tulsa World.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 10, 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.
Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas extends mask requirement
The United Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas has extended its public health order requiring masks be worn in public spaces as the region continues to deal with the latest surge of COVID-19. Commissioners on Thursday evening unanimously approved the extension, which goes through Nov. 18. It mirrors the existing order that was passed in August first reinstating masks for the area. Under the health order, everyone ages 5 and up is required to wear a mask when visiting indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status. Some exceptions are offered for people with a medical condition or a disability that would make mask-wearing difficult.
Source: KC Star Local News
Columbus community shows gratitude with annual “Military Veterans and First Responders Appreciation Day”
The Columbus community spent the day giving back to those who work on the front lines protecting our country and communities. Today marked the annual “Military Veterans and First Responders Appreciation Day” sponsored by Columbus area churches. Every piece of food was provided for free by local businesses and organizations, including “Hatfield Motors,” “Sonic,” and the Lions Club. The meals were prepared by Crossland Construction and handed out by students from Central Junior High School. “Anytime we have a community event, whether it’s a benefit or whatever it is, our community always comes together and the response is so overwhelming and my kids do an outstanding job at giving back,” said Michelle Mosler, Central Junior High School Teacher
Source: KSNF/KODE
Pittsburg’s “Paint The Town Red” annual tradition returns
The city of Pittsburg is “red” once again as an annual tradition makes its return. “Paint The Town Red” made its in-person return after going virtual last year due to COVID-19. The celebration has been a joint effort between the city, the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and Pittsburg State University for the past 15 years. Throughout the week, area businesses got in on the fun with a building decorating contest, keeping with this year’s theme “The Great Gus Gatsby”. “To see people walking up and down the sidewalk and their businesses and posting on Facebook and other forms of social media that they’re all dressed in red, they’re really getting behind this event and we couldn’t be more prouder,” said Julie Reams, Pittsburg Chamber Special Events Director.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Miami County commissioners discuss ‘Golden’ roads, incorporation
Miami County commissioners met Sept. 1 for their fifth week of study sessions listening to expert feedback on various topics related to establishing a city within the county. The testimony phase continues through early September before county commissioners deliberate on incorporation of third class city Golden, Kan. It requires a 4-0 vote by the county commission. Residents in a nine square mile radius in Northwest Miami County north of Hillsdale Lake bordering Southern Johnson County have petitioned a proposal for the city of Golden. They hope to keep Edgerton’s intermodal warehouses known as Logistics Park from being built on land used for rural residential living and agriculture.
Source: Gardner News
KDOT requests information for electric vehicle charging station installation program
The Kansas Department of Transportation is announcing a Request for Information (RFI) in advance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the state’s most traveled highways. Through this RFI, KDOT seeks to receive input from industry stakeholders and potential applicants that will help develop program criteria for awarding funding toward the installation of EV charging equipment. KDOT has identified approximately 12 preliminary locations for the installation of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations (50 kW or greater) to improve public access to charging stations every 50 miles along primary corridors.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Cherokee County law enforcement received some help from the community of Baxter Springs, Saturday
Cherokee County law enforcement received some help from the community of Baxter Springs Saturday. The Back the Badge Barbeque helps the non-profit Baxter Springs Police and Cherokee County Reserves. The fundraising event helps cover the out of pocket cost for equipment and training materials for the non-profits. Preparations began on Thursday with the delivery of the smoker. Meat was tended to since Noon on Friday before being served Saturday. Sierra Hulsey, Baxter Springs Reserves, says, “The people love to support our local law enforcement and it’s really humbling to see all the people that actually do come out and support with everything that’s going on in the world.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Prairie Village, one of last virtual holdouts in Johnson County, will explore hybrid meeting options
The Prairie Village Council Committee of the Whole has directed city staff to move forward with planning to begin hybrid city meetings. Prairie Village’s governing body appears to be the only one in Johnson County that has yet to return to in-person meetings since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. The decision to move forward with hybrid meetings comes just two weeks after a citywide mask mandate took effect on Aug. 24. Tim Schwartzkopf, assistant city administrator, said the city’s investment in technology and equipment to allow for hybrid meetings has been tested and works.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park on verge of doing away with pit bull ban — here’s what revised city code would say
A long exile may finally be ending for pit bulls in Overland Park. The dogs, which animal welfare advocates say have been unfairly maligned, could be allowed back in Overland Park homes as soon as September 28, pending final approval of changes in the city’s animal control ordinance. The council’s Public Safety Committee took the first step Thursday by unanimously voting to end the ban that has been in effect since 2006. If the full council gives final approval, Leawood will be the last city in the Kansas City area to prohibit a type of dog that started to become stigmatized in the 1980s and 1990s when pit bulls became associated with drug subculture. Pit bull is a catch-all name that refers to any dog that animal control officers say has a resemblance to Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers or American Pit Bull Terriers.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wichita force marks National Police Woman Day with first all-female squad
For the first time in history, the Wichita Police Department had an all-female squad working first shift at Patrol West on Sunday morning. The squad, comprised of officers and supervisors who are all women, was arranged in honor of National Police Woman Day, celebrated annually on Sept. 12 to acknowledge women’s contributions and work in a historically male-dominated field. Currently, the Wichita Police Department employs 107 commissioned officers who are women. More than 300 women work for the department overall in both commissioned and non-commissioned roles, the Wichita Police Department said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Douglas County leaders approve study that aims to help community end chronic homelessness
Douglas County leaders have approved a study that aims to identify what services, programs and support are needed for the community to achieve its goal of eliminating chronic homelessness. As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission voted 2-0, with Commission Chair Shannon Portillo abstaining, to approve a $71,525 agreement with the University of Kansas Center for Research to perform a homeless needs assessment for the county. The county will pay for the study using pandemic relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Assistant County Administrator Jill Jolicoeur told the commission that the study would comprehensively assess what programs and services are available in the community for those experiencing or at risk for homelessness, who is being helped by those resources and who is not being helped. She said that information was important to know as the county prepared to begin distributing the $23 million it will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act over the next two years.
Source: LJWorld.com.