Kansas Municipal News
Hutch awards contract to create Ark River access point
The Hutchinson City Council approved awarding a contract Tuesday to develop an access point to the Arkansas River just of Fourth Avenue, near the old Fun Valley waterslide. The project will include creating a paved road and parking lot, and installing a set of railroad tie steps down to a sandbar on the river. The council awarded the contract to Ward Davis Builders Inc. of Hutchinson for $76,775. A state grant will cover $20,000 of the cost.
Source: Hutch News.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 2, 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.
Kansas town named best place to raise a family
Overland Park, Kan., was named the best American city in which to raise a family, according to a new study by WalletHub. The Kansas City suburb with 195,000 residents received an overall score of 72.5, receiving high marks for education and the top ranking for affordability. The study compares 182 cities – the 150 most populous plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state – across five categories: family fun, health and safety, education, affordability and socioeconomics.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Plan approved for golf destination facility in northeast Wichita
Wichita City Council members have approved changes to a development agreement to allow for a new golf destination facility in the northeast part of the city. The city established a STAR Bond district at K-96 and Greenwich Road for the development of the Stryker Sports Complex with the construction of an indoor facility. Another phase of the project was intended for a golf and entertainment venue, and the city has reached an agreement with Topgolf to provide that facility. Topgolf will have a two-story, 50-bay interactive golf facility with a restaurant and meeting space. Assistant City Manager Scot Rigby said future development plans include a hotel and restaurants, office space and apartments.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Mission Gateway’s unpaid property taxes spur calls for new developer
The Mission Gateway developers are delinquent on $356,000 in property taxes, which could put the long-awaited $225 million project in jeopardy. The mixed-use development already has faced 16 years of fits and starts, including a yearlong delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Developers Cameron Group LLC and GFI Development Co. are on the clock if they wish to retain about $36.6 million in agreed-upon incentives for their development along Shawnee Mission Parkway, near Roe Avenue and Johnson Drive in Mission. They have 60 days to pay the property taxes or they’ll risk defaulting on the city’s redevelopment agreement. Another looming deadline is wrapping up construction by year’s end.
Source: Kansas City Business News
Manhattan considering construction on new indoor aquatic center
After Kansas State University shut down the Ahearn Natatorium permanently due to maintenance costs, the city of Manhattan was left without an indoor pool that could be used for competitive swimming activities. Now the city is considering constructing a facility of their own. But there are still decisions to be made, like when to begin the facility and where it will go. “Past studies have pointed towards Cico Park,” said Jason Hilgers, Deputy City Manager. “It’s where an existing outdoor facility, outdoor pool, is located. But it is also a site where I think five different Manhattan High School varsity sports are played.”
Source: KSNT News
Voters to consider $112.8 million bond on June 8
Next Tuesday, June 8, voters who reside within the boundaries of McPherson Public Schools will be asked to consider a proposed $112.8 million bond. Advance voting is already underway at the McPherson County Courthouse and will continue until noon on Monday, June 7. The proposed bond includes renovations and updates to all of the current schools in McPherson as well as the construction of a new middle school for seventh and eighth grade students on the grounds of McPherson High School. The district has said this proposal addresses all of the facility needs for the district. It will also allow for safety improvements, including secure entrances at all elementary schools.
Source: McPherson Weekly News
Topeka on pace to match 2020 when 41,077 potholes were patched
Topeka patched 41,077 potholes in 2020 and is on pace for similar numbers this year. Lyndon Johnson isn’t surprised. He became closely acquainted with the city’s potholes when he worked as an enumerator for the U.S. Census. He drove, mostly on the east side of town, about five hours a shift from June to September. Johnson has used the city’s See Click Fix App to report potholes he sees. He said he has reported 375 instances of potholes or poor street conditions in his almost six years on the app.
Source: CJonline.com.
Lawrence City Commission expresses interest in making outdoor dining setup a permanent option downtown
The patio and outdoor dining areas constructed in parking stalls downtown during the coronavirus pandemic could be allowed to stay. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to direct city staff to develop a proposal for a long-term version of the now temporary right-of-way or “parklet” program. The program has allowed downtown businesses to repurpose sidewalks and parking stalls directly in front of their storefronts for outdoor dining or other uses.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 1, 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.
Parsons downtown pocket park dedicated
Dozens of people gathered at noon Friday for the dedication of the new downtown pocket park, an example of what can be done when “cooperation supersedes everything else.” The pocket park, called The Gathering Place, is a result of fundraiser efforts led by Rod and Karen Landrum through the Southeast Kansas Point of Pride, a civic group dedicated to the beautification of the Parsons area. Landrum received permission from the Parsons City Commission to build the park on the vacant lot on the south side of the 1800 block of Main Street. The lot is the former location of the Parsons Theatre, which burned down in the 1990s.
Source: Parsons Sun
Lenexa will start reimbursing homeowners up to 50% for exterior improvements
Lenexa has expanded its home revitalization grant program to include more aging neighborhoods citywide. The revamped program, recently renamed the Exterior Grant Program, now allows homeowners to apply for up to 50% reimbursement on exterior improvements, so long as their homes were built in or before 1987, and appraised by the county at $315,000 or less. The program is designed to help owners of older homes to reinvest in their properties. Angel Whitaker, community standards supervisor for the city of Lenexa, said the city’s neighborhood revitalization grant program was established about 15 years ago and has been underutilized.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Lenexa tests the waters for future aquatics investments
After several years of professional evaluation and public engagement, Lenexa’s Parks & Recreation Department is wrapping up a study about the future of the City’s aging outdoor public pools. Aquatics Study findings will guide City leadership on how to invest in a sustainable aquatics system that best serves our growing community. Phase 1 of the study, completed in 2019, looked at population and market analyses, existing facility conditions and possible modernization strategies. Phase 2, which is coming to a close, engaged the public in learning about the City of Lenexa’s outdoor pool challenges. It also explored community preferences and priorities for aquatic programs and pool features.
Source: Lenexa
Your local swimming pool could cut its hours because kids aren’t taking lifeguard jobs
During a normal year, Brian Hill doesn’t have much trouble hiring enough lifeguards to staff Wichita’s six public swimming pools. Not in this pandemic year. “Usually I’m about 80% staffed by February,” said Hill, Wichita’s aquatics director. “This year, I was about 10% staffed.” Lifeguarding took a hit last summer, when the COVID-19 pandemic closed most gyms, water parks and community pools. High school and college students who would normally work as guards took the summer off or found other jobs. Training classes were cancelled. So were junior lifeguard programs for 11- to 14-year-olds. “That’s our pipeline,” Hill said. “In a lot of ways, we were kind of starting this summer from scratch.”
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita approves outdoor dining, sidewalk sales on public property another 5 years
Pandemic restrictions are gone, but businesses will still be allowed to use city property rent-free for outdoor dining and sidewalk sales for another five years. The Wichita City Council on Tuesday unanimously granted the extension for the plan known as Open Air ICT. It started as an emergency measure during the COVID-19 pandemic and allows businesses to use public sidewalks, on-street parking and other controlled areas for outdoor food service or merchandise sales on a daily basis, as long as they don’t block traffic too much.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Kansas’ new prize raffle to incentivize COVID-19 tests and vaccines
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that Kansans could get prizes for getting their COVID-19 vaccines. The incentive called “Race to End COVID-19” offers a raffle drawing for prizes and a two-lap trip around the Kansas Speedway track. Anyone interested in entering can do so “by getting a free COVID-19 saliva test and/or vaccine administered by the University of Kansas Health System and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.”
Source: KSN-TV
Douglas County Sheriff’s office provides details on drone program; drone has been deployed 46 times so far
Sheriff Jay Armbrister says he realizes the idea of a law enforcement agency operating a drone over the skies of Douglas County could make people uncomfortable, and he says that’s why the sheriff’s office is trying to be upfront about its drone program and how it’s being used. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office began the program in December and has since used the drone 46 times, including to help catch a fleeing suspect, document the scenes of traffic accidents and aid in fire-fighting strategy, Armbrister said. He told the Journal-World that his office knows the public can view a drone as extremely intrusive and a possible violation of privacy, but that’s not what the program is about.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence City Commission to discuss making outdoor dining setup a permanent option downtown
City leaders will soon discuss whether to eventually end a program created at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic that has allowed restaurants to expand their outdoor dining into parking stalls or to consider making the program permanent. In June 2020, the city created a temporary right-of-way or “parklet” program that has allowed downtown businesses to repurpose sidewalks and parking stalls directly in front of their storefronts for outdoor dining and other uses. The program was initially set to expire after four months, but as the pandemic persisted the commission later extended the program through the end of this year.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Larned opens refurbished swimming pool
On Friday evening, May 28, as one of the kick-off events to Santa Fe Trail Days, the public and Larned City officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication celebration at Schnack Park for the newly refurbished Larned Municipal Swimming Pool. Once the dedication was finished, enthusiastic swimmers and the public and officials were treated to an outdoor barbecue featuring hot dogs and hamburgers. The event culminated almost two years of planning and work. The pool was not open in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns but it provided a perfect time for the community and City officials to take a look at the aging infrastructure, wiring and plumbing of the pool and decide whether to repair it or replace it with a newer, smaller pool at another location.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Your Local Kansas Swimming Pool Could Cut Its Hours Because Kids Aren’t Taking Lifeguard Jobs
During a normal year, Brian Hill doesn’t have much trouble hiring enough lifeguards to staff Wichita’s six public swimming pools. Not in this pandemic year. “Usually I’m about 80% staffed by February,” said Hill, Wichita’s aquatics director. “This year, I was about 10% staffed.” Lifeguarding took a hit last summer, when the COVID-19 pandemic closed most gyms, water parks and community pools. High school and college students who would normally work as guards took the summer off or found other jobs. Training classes were cancelled. So were junior lifeguard programs for 11- to 14-year-olds. “That’s our pipeline,” Hill said. “In a lot of ways, we were kind of starting this summer from scratch.” Wichita is not alone.
Source: KCUR News