Kansas Municipal News
Crews put out fire at Dodge City utility and water building
Firefighters responded to a fire at the Dodge City Utility/Water building Thursday morning. The fire at 703 W. Trail was reported around 4 a.m. … There were no injuries, but there is damage to the building. The City of Dodge City says the total damage is unclear at this time. The Kansas State Fire Marshal will investigate what caused the fire.
Source: KSN-TV
Attorney representing more than half of KS school districts pushing back against skyrocketed gas bills
The Kansas Association of School Board Boards has hired an attorney to look into possible price gouging. The Newton school district, which saw a gas bill more than six times what it usually receives, is among the districts planning to fight back. …The attorney looking into schools’ gas bills will potentially represent up to 178 public school districts across the state. Kansas has 309 public school districts. There is also word that the University of Kansas and Kansas State University are involved in the case. With what it’s facing, the fear for the Newton school district is that ultimately, students could pay the price. “What we want the public to understand (is) the ultimate losers are students because when there’s less money within the school district, there’s less money to fund programs. There’s less money,” the Newton school district explained.
Source: KWCH.
CDBG – CV3 funds
The State of Kansas, Community Development Block Grant – CV3 (CDBGCV3) program has been awarded an additional $4.5 million in addition to CARES Act funding. This program has been a powerful tool in helping Kansas communities retain jobs and businesses during the pandemic.
CDBG – CV3 Program:
• This program will award an additional $4.5 million in CARES Act funding.
• CDBG – CV3 eligibility will be limited to community Economic Development projects that are retaining jobs.
• Awards will be made in accordance with federal CARES Act funding and HUD.
• Awards are made when no other funds are available.
Eligible applicants:
• All cities and counties in the State of Kansas that were not awarded CDBG – CV1 and CV2 grants.
• All cities with a population under 50,000 and all counties with a population under 200,000.
*Cities and counties including Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Overland Park and Johnson County are not eligible to apply.
Application Process:
May 1, 2021 – Application available online
June 1, 2021 – Application deadline
July 1, 2021 – Awards announced
The Department of Commerce will present an Informational Webinar for CDBG – CV3 funds, which will be held via Zoom on April 21 from 10:00-11:30.
Registration is required. Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpf-mqrDosH9XEYMhGe4BnGgX0N_2ewzDJ.
If you have questions or need assistance with grant applications and administration, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.
The Santa Fe Trail turns 200
The Santa Fe Trail is turning 200. This international highway of sorts began in 1821, running from Franklin, Mo., to Santa Fe, N.M., which was part of Mexico at that time. Kansas is the only state that is crossed in its entirety by the trail. The Santa Fe Trail Association has created activities and events to celebrate this historic milestone. The SFTA Quivira Chapter, which covers McPherson, Rice and Barton counties, designed activities to help youth and adults learn more about the SFT and its place in local history. On April 17, a program featuring tales of buffalo soldiers will take place in Great Bend, and a camp teaching youths and adults how to be re-enactors will occur this summer.
Source: Hutch News.
The crash rate at this Olathe intersection is high. Here’s how the city will help
A new intersection being created in Olathe is the first of its kind for the Kansas City area. At Old 56 Highway and Lone Elm Road, crews are working on a continuous-flow intersection, designed to move traffic faster and more safely. Its most distinctive feature is a “displaced” turn lane used by drivers who are turning left from Old 56. Well before the main intersection, traffic signals and lane markings will guide left-turning vehicles across the opposing lanes of traffic and into their own turn lanes.
Source: Joco 913 News
Municipal Bond Trends for April 14, 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 of Lawrence to receive $1.6M from American Rescue Plan to combat homelessness
Lawrence will be awarded more than $1.6 million in funding from the latest federal pandemic relief package to increase affordable housing and other supports to address homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced that as part of the American Rescue Plan it will allocate nearly $5 billion to help communities across the country create affordable housing and services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, according to a HUD news release. The supplemental funding is allocated through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to 651 grantees, including states and local governments. The $5 billion includes $39 million that will be allocated to the state of Kansas. Of that, the City of Lawrence will receive $1.64 million, according to HUD allocation tables.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Wichita air ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ official says
Pollutants from burning in the Flint Hills has made Wichita’s air “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” city of Wichita Environmental Management Analyst Alejandro Arias-Esparza said in an email Wednesday. Elderly people, young children or anyone with a respiratory illness should limit their time outdoors, Arias-Esparza said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment warned Wednesday morning that the pollutants could affect the Wichita area Wednesday and Thursday.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Marysville raises lifeguard pay
Lifeguards at the Marysville Aquatic Center will see a 50-cent-per-hour raise this year, bringing entry-level pay to $8.50 per hour. Marysville City Council approved the raise Monday by a 6-1 vote. Voting yes were council members Parker Price, Diane Schroller, Colleen Behrens, Todd Frye, Keith Beikman and Terry Hughes. Council member Kevin Throm voted no. Bobbi Pippia was absent. Throm said he was against giving the lifeguards a raise, in part, because the city pays for lifeguard certifications, which cost $225.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Marshall County wind farm agreements approved
Construction of the Irish Creek Wind Farm will begin soon, NextEra Energy attorney Alan Anderson said Monday after Marshall County commissioners voted to approve four agreements with the company. The agreements included haul routes, buried electric line cabling routes, improvements to county and township roads and bridges, and decommissioning plans for wind tower sites. The improvement agreement states NextEra will pay the county $779,350 to replace five bridges and a culvert within the area where the wind farm is to be built. The affected area will also receive $85,000 per year for 10 years for road use, which will be distributed equitably to the affected townships of Wells, Vermillion, Clear Fork, Noble, Bigelow, Blue Rapids City, Elm Creek and Center.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Ditch baling permits now required in Barton County
As the Barton County Commission Monday morning approved a resolution establishing a permitting system for baling hay in county rights of way, it was noted the issue boiled down to safety. Included with the resolution is a Barton County Harvesting Hay on County Right-of-Way application which describes the permit, performance and liability directives, County Works Director Darren Williams said. The permitting fee is $1,000, but $500 will be returned to the applicant if there is no damage to adjoining property.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Geary County School District gets $24 million grant to build new elementary school
USD 475 Geary County is getting a new elementary school to replace the aging Jefferson Elementary building in Fort Riley. Geary County School District officials announced Monday the approval of a $24.4 million grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) within the U.S. Department of Defense to build a new school on Custer Hill. The grant provides 80% of the $30 million total budget for the project. David Wild, USD 475 chief operations officer, said in an email that demolition of Jefferson Elementary will begin as early as August of this year, with earthwork on the new school scheduled to begin in late fall or early winter.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Harvey County employees get 1.5 percent pay hike
The Harvey County Board of Commissioners approved 1.5% raises for employees Tuesday morning, effective April 17. Commissioner Randy Hague voted against the market-adjustment raises for all employees, and he opted out of accepting a raise for himself. “Yeah, I’d like to make that request,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable taking an increase.” County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber gave commissioners an option of either a 1% or 1.5% hike. The 2021 budget includes $90,000 earmarked for a 1% increase. He said money was available for the higher amount of $106,000, since the county saved about $167,000 on its health insurance renewal.
Source: Harvey County Now
ACLU warns Merriam new ordinance limiting panhandling is ‘unconstitutional’
The city of Merriam is standing firm on its new ordinance that prohibits pedestrians from standing in medians at nine major intersections. Merriam’s City Council approved the ordinance in a 6-2 vote on February 8, despite concerns that the measure singles out panhandlers — though the ordinance doesn’t mention panhandling. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the National Homelessness Law Center, a national legal organization dedicated to ending homelessness, are now also raising concerns. On March 15, the two organizations sent a four-page letter to the city council and mayor expressing their objections to the ordinance, saying it is unconstitutional and could make the problem of poverty worse
Source: Prairie Village Post
This Hoxie restaurant owner proves rural western Kansans have good taste
Without looking at a map, who knows where Hoxie is? Some of you are raising your hands. For the folks who are struggling: It’s where you get Seattle-style sushi in a town of maybe 1,200 people. As far as big cities go, Hoxie’s about 270 miles east of Denver and 350 miles west of Kansas City. There’s one flashing stoplight. “We are in a food desert out here,” says Emily Campbell. “We don’t have a lot of eating options.” Her restaurant, The Elephant Bistro and Bar, is changing that. When it opened almost three years ago, the number of dining establishments in Hoxie jumped from two to three.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Wichita may tighten rules after Airbnb killing
A Crown Heights house where a man was shot to death at a party early Sunday morning was an unlicensed bed and breakfast, operated in violation of city code and will be ordered shut down, city officials said. The incident could lead to tighter rules on vacation-style online rentals across Wichita. City Manager Robert Layton said Tuesday that once the current situation is dealt with, he plans to put together a multi-departmental task force to consider rewriting regulations for temporary rental of rooms or homes as B&Bs.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Demand for Muni Bonds Pushes Short End to Record Lows, 10-Year Below 1%
A flurry of diverse credits in the primary helped to guide the secondary with the 10-year falling below 1% on both Bloomberg BVAL and IHS Markit as municipals continue to grind lower. One-year municipal debt has fallen to record lows with benchmark yield curves at 0.05%. The yield currently on the 30-year municipal triple-A hovers at or just below the 10-year U.S. Treasury. New deals in both the competitive and negotiated markets were oversubscribed…
Source: Bond Buyer.
Natural gas bill now law
The governor didn’t sign or veto the Energy Choice Act, merely letting it become law. Now, no Kansas municipality can put a ban on the use of natural gas, a result desired by those in the natural gas industry. This comes after fears that cities would have done so after Berkeley, California, put a ban into place in 2019. The city of Lawrence had opposed this bill, as it had committed previously to powering the city with all renewable energy by 2035. With the act now law, it’s going to complicate if not outright stop, that effort.
Source: GC Telegram.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 13, 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.
Salina mask mandate stays in place after split vote
After a 2-2 vote, the mask mandate for the City of Salina will continue. As it was a topic that concerned many of the citizens who attended the Salina City Commission meeting Monday, the discussion on the mandate was moved up to the first action item of the agenda. The commission heard an update about COVID-19, including infection rates and vaccination rates, from Saline County Health Officer and Health Department Director Jason Tiller.
Source: Salina Journal.