Kansas Municipal News
Road improvement project to benefit new Amazon facility
Sedgwick County commissioners have approved a funding agreement with Park City and Valley Center to make road and drainage improvements that will benefit a planned new Amazon distribution center. The project will reconstruct 77th Street North from the Big Ditch to I-135, with plans for a truck roundabout and other improvements to help what is expected to be a large increase in truck traffic in the area. The Amazon center will be around 1 million square feet and it will employ around 500 workers. County public works director Jim Weber said the total cost of the road project will be $6.3 million. He said Park City and Valley Center have obtained an economic development grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation that will fund $3.5 million. Sedgwick County, Park City and Valley Center will split the remaining cost, with each paying around $936,000. Sedgwick County will provide in-kind services and cash for its share of the project.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
City of Pittsburg and Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce to Host Job Fair
The City of Pittsburg and the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce will host a citywide Job Fair on Wednesday, May 12, from 11:00am – 7:00pm at Memorial Auditorium … Local employers will be available to discuss open positions and interview candidates. Individuals are encouraged to apply for open positions prior to attending the event, but pre-application is not required. The event is free and open to everyone.
Source: City of Pittsburg
Governor Laura Kelly Announces 247 New Jobs in Dodge City, Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly today applauded the announcement from Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. of their plan to build a major production facility in Dodge City. The new $460 million investment is slated to create 247 new full-time jobs, with significant plans for further expansion in the future. “Hilmar’s decision to invest in Dodge City will truly be transformational for Southwest Kansas, and I am thrilled to welcome this world-class company to our state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Dodge City and Southwest Kansas are perfect for this new facility because of its proximity to high-quality producers and a top-notch workforce. It’s great to see another major food manufacturer recognizing the benefits of locating in Kansas, and I’m grateful to Hilmar for putting their trust in our state as the best place for their investment.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Young men help people with tasks around Wamego community for free
A group of young men is helping people complete tasks around the Wamego community for free. What started as a task for church has now become a part of their daily routine. They said they just want to help people and that money is not the important part. They help people with tasks like yard work and moving and help those who might not be able to physically complete the tasks themselves. They said they have received the best kind of payment possible. “Nothing but a lot of love really,” Leonard Poulson, one of the Wamego helpers said. “Everything they said is typically just ‘thank you’ and stuff like that. We’ve made a couple of lasting friendships and people talk to us pretty regularly.”
Source: KSNT News
Marion to give ballpark to school
City council members unanimously endorsed plans Monday to turn over youth recreation to Marion’s school district. David Mayfield plans to draft a letter of understanding with the district for a plan of cooperation, which would include turning over the city’s ball fields to the school district. The school district would take over most youth sports, but the city would continue to support Art in the Park, Chingawassa Days, holiday events, and similar celebrations. “I think that is the best thing for everyone,” Mayfield said. “They would represent their school district, not just the city.” The move would allow the city to do away with its recreation budget, Mayfield said, and would save the district money because it would not be charged to use baseball fields.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Caldwell is celebrating its 150 birthday this weekend with two-days of fun filled events
Caldwell is celebrating its 150th Birthday on Friday and Saturday highlighted with a cattle drive up Main Street Caldwell on Saturday at 11 a.m. There will be 150 longhorns driven by a crew of drovers and guest drovers through Caldwell culminating a five-day, six-night adventure that started in Pond Creek, Okla. on Monday. Here is a schedule of the events for the 150th celebration in Caldwell…
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Garden City’s Garden Rapids grand opening set for May 29
Three special events are coming to Garden Rapids at the Big Pool before in the month of May. Jennifer Cunningham, Garden City Assistant City Manager, informed the Garden City Commission of the events at their regular meeting Tuesday. The first event is on May 22, which will be a staff day. … The second event is on May 28, which is a stakeholders reception for the pool. The third event is the grand opening of the pool on May 29 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. During the two hour window, it will be free to get into the pool, but afterward people will have to pay to get in, Cunningham said.
Source: GC Telegram.
Colleges, K-12 schools could lose aid
Kansas needs to boost funding for public higher education or else risk jeopardizing federal COVID-19 aid to public schools and universities, officials warned in a memo to legislators Monday. The warning from Budget Director Adam Proffitt comes as legislators wade through a heated debate over how to fund K-12 education. Republican legislators acknowledge the risk that exists to federal relief for both public K-12 education and the state’s colleges and universities.
Source: GC Telegram.
Topeka hasn’t spent any money on sidewalk repairs in 2021. A much-debated policy change could change that.
Under the old program, the city would find rundown sidewalks and contact contractors to get it repaired. Now, property owners would contact public works to have an inspector decide whether the repairs qualify for the program. If so, the property owner will pay the contractor and work with public works for reimbursement. … “It is no longer going to be 50-50,” said council member Christina Valdivia-Alcalá at Tuesday’s city council meeting. “You are going to be in charge of the majority of getting your sidewalks fixed. You are going to be in charge of phone calling, you are going to be in charge of paying more, most likely.” Valdivia-Alcalá said this change was well-intentioned, but she is frustrated the changes put more of a burden on residents.
Source: CJonline.com.
Finney County discusses loan for housing development
The Finney County Commission discussed loaning money to a developer for a potential housing development that would add about 300 units. Lona DuVall, president/ CEO of Finney County Economic Development Corporation, said the project would be made possible through the USDA Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants program. … The requested amount for the development is $125,000 and would be repaid by Nov. 30, 2021.
Source: GC Telegram.
South Hutchinson hires Joseph Turner (from Sedgwick) as new city administrator
South Hutchinson has a new city administrator. The South Hutchinson City Council approved a contract for Joseph Turner Monday. Turner is currently the city administrator for the town of Sedgwick. He informed that community’s city council of his decision on Tuesday. Turner has been with the City of Sedgwick since July of 2019 and has also worked as Director of Public Works for the City of Goddard.
Source: Hutch Post.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 4, 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.
Wichita’s Q-Line will return at the end of May
Starting May 29th, Wichitans will be able to once again hop on the Q-Line. During the pause in service due to the pandemic, all the old Q-Line trolleys have been replaced with a new, 100% electric fleet. “These will be much more comfortable for passengers,” said Nathaniel Hinkel, the senior communications specialist for Wichita Transit. Hinkel said Wichita Transit needs drivers to alleviate the current ones but claims that won’t stop the Q-Line from starting up at the end of the month. “We’re excited to bring back to Q-Line,” continued Hinkel.
Source: KSN-TV
Fed’s Barkin sees higher inflation this year, but then a reversal in 2022
Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin told CNBC on Monday that he sees inflation pressures building this year that he expects to subside in 2022. “I think we will see price pressure this year. You’ve got a very strong demand situation, and you’ve got constraints in supply,” the central bank official said during a “Closing Bell” interview. “When those things happen, you’re definitely going to see price pressure.” However, Barkin added that he expects those pressures to subside as economic dynamics change through the year and the economy returns to a more normal state. “Inflation is a recurring phenomenon. Prices go up this year, prices go up next year,” Barkin said. “I think it’s fair to argue the question of whether the combination of supply chain constraints and stimulus-driven price increases actually revert next year.”
Source: Economy
Yellen says she was not predicting or recommending rate hikes
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she was not predicting or recommending interest-rate increases when remarking earlier about the impact of fiscal spending on the U.S. economy. Earlier on Tuesday Yellen caused a set of hiccups in financial markets when she said the Biden administration’s spending measures will likely provoke a rise in interest rates. “It’s not something I’m predicting or recommending,” Yellen said during an online event hosted by the Wall Street Journal. “If anyone appreciates the independence of the Federal Reserve I think that person is me.” Yellen, herself a former Fed chair, said she didn’t anticipate a bout of persistently higher inflation — but that if one occurred the central bank has the tools to deal with it.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Jobs in Wichita could grow faster than expected in hard-hit restaurants, aviation
New spending on restaurants and travel in Wichita could return jobs in that sector to near pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, and employment in aviation manufacturing could rebound faster than expected by the summer. Those are among the findings of an updated employment forecast for Wichita’s economy from Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. Local employment in the Wichita area could increase by 3.1% from the end of 2020 to the end of 2021. That’s a jump up from the 0.7% employment growth the Center forecast in January.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Brookville Hotel, known for its famous chicken, to reopen with new owners, new name
The Brookville Hotel, which closed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will reopen its doors under new ownership. The restaurant will reopen as Legacy Kansas on Wednesday, June 23. It will combine Munson’s Prime, LLC steakhouse and the Brookville Hotel, known for its chicken dinners, in one location. Chuck and Deanna Munson, Munson Angus Farms and Munson’s Prime Steakhouse, are purchasing the restaurant. Their restaurant in Junction City was destroyed in a fire in February.
Source: KSN-TV
Douglas County Commission to consider creating regulations for solar farms in rural areas
County leaders will soon consider whether to create regulations for solar farms in rural Douglas County. As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission will consider initiating a text amendment to the zoning and land use regulations for rural Douglas County for the development of standards for Solar Energy Conversion Systems, or solar farms. Planning staff are requesting the creation of regulations for solar farms because they were recently contacted regarding plans to develop a solar farm in rural Douglas County.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 3, 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.
Pottawatomie County reviews plans for Blue Township transportation and thoroughfare study
County Planner Stephan Metzger says the project essentially creates a road map for future development. “This plan is really going to dive down into individual roads need to go here, this is kind of what the material costs are going to be, these are the long term maintenance costs are going to be, which is something that we’ve never done,” he said. Metzger says they’ll use some of those previous plans that looked at the area from a higher level as an initial guide and then drill down on specifics for the future,
Source: 1350 KMAN