Kansas Municipal News
Shawnee set to allow public consumption of alcohol in downtown area
Shawnee appears set to make the public consumption of alcohol permissible in an area covering four square blocks in the city’s downtown core. The Shawnee City Council on Monday unanimously agreed to direct city staff to develop an ordinance to allow the possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor within certain boundaries for civic and special events, sidewalk cafes and outdoor patios. … The city’s proposal for a common consumption area is a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses needed more space to allow for physical distancing among customers, including outdoor dining.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Redbud plantings kick off new Winfield tree program
The City of Winfield recently began planting 39 redbud trees along Ninth Avenue as part of a donation the city received for a new tree program. The redbud plantings is the first of a three-prong program to improve the landscape throughout Winfield’s park system and rights-of-way. The other two programs include the installation of shade and ornamental trees of a variety of species in the parks and the establishment of a tree farm to act as a feeder into the program over the long term.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Johnson County opens vaccine clinics to residents, workers age 16 and up
Johnson County opened its COVID-19 vaccine clinics to anyone age 16 and older who live or work in the county. It’s something the state did several weeks ago, but allowed each individual county to decide how it wanted to use its allocation of vaccine. Until now, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment only scheduled people who had taken the county’s vaccine interest survey. Leaders have said the county took that approach to make sure the most vulnerable people received the vaccine first.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
With at least 280 people experiencing homelessness living outside, Lawrence area leaders prepare for more action
With at least 280 people estimated to be living outside in Lawrence, city and county leaders are preparing for a deeper discussion about the resources and coordination needed to address the issue of homelessness. As part of its study session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received an approximately three-hour presentation on the various services supporting people experiencing homelessness as well as efforts being made by Douglas County leaders. Speaking to the frustration that has been voiced by some in the community about an inadequate response, Mayor Brad Finkeldei said that he hoped the community would soon be making progress.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Iola Administrator getting to know community
Iola’s new city administrator Matt Rehder has been touring city facilities and getting to know the city and its people. Matt Rehder’s first month on the job as Iola City Administrator has been thankfully routine. There have been no emergency meetings called to address some unforeseen crisis. “On the good side, it’s been kind of quiet,” Rehder said, rapping his knuckles on his wood desk. “My experience tells me that something will pop up at some point.” For now, Rehder is content to immerse himself in all things Iola, as he’s done since his arrival in March.
Source: The Iola Register
Municipal Bond Trends for April 12, 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.
Prairie Village residents may soon be able to get reimbursed for making homes greener
Prairie Village residents could receive reimbursements for a number of energy efficient home improvements with a new sustainability grant program that will be formally considered by the city council on April 19. Installing green energy systems, like solar panels, are replacing old windows and HVACs would be covered by the proposed grant fund. Photo credit Allan Henderson. Used under a Creative Commons license. The city of Prairie Village is considering adopting a new sustainability grant program to encourage homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Leawood considers becoming latest Johnson County city to allow backyard chickens
Leawood is considering becoming the latest Johnson County city to allow residents to keep chickens within city limits. This week, the city council voted unanimously to direct city staff to research how other area cities approach allowing chickens. They city will also seek citizen input through the city’s website and social media and then draft an amendment to the city code, which currently prohibits keeping chickens. After all that, the council would then consider the measure in a work session and send it to the planning commission, after which it would return to the council for final consideration.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Popular pool in Olathe won’t open for summer because of COVID-19 impact
It’s almost pool time, but a popular location in Olathe won’t open for the 2021 summer season. Because of COVID-19 impact on staffing, no one will be diving into Frontier Pool this summer. The city said there is a chance it could open late if staff determines there is enough personnel to safely operate. The pool had extensive repairs that forced it to close for part of the 2016-2017 season as crews worked to locate and repair a leak.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Fort Riley getting new elementary school with $24M Department of Defense grant
The Department of Defense awarded a $24,387,000 grant to Geary County’s school district to replace the current school facility with a new Jefferson Elementary School on Fort Riley. The grant will be used to build a new elementary school in place of Jefferson Elementary on Custer Hill in Fort Riley. The funding for this grant comes from the Department’s Public Schools on Military Installations Program. A federal evaluation team determined the current facility was overcrowded and in desperate need of repair, meaning it was eligible for a grant for schools considered in poor condition.
Source: KSNT News
Shawnee City Council establishes task forces for public art, community input
Shawnee is establishing two new task forces to enhance community engagement and public art opportunities in the city. The Shawnee City Council was divided last month on whether to set up the task forces. On the one hand, half of the council spoke in favor of any initiatives that draw the public further into conversations with the city’s future, as well as initiatives for public art to enhance their experiences living here. But some councilmembers opposed the two task forces’ creation, arguing that they lacked real purpose or goals. Some also suggested the task forces could cost money for the city at a time when Shawnee is on the tail end of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and should focus its finances on other issues.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Lawrence’s affordable housing board calls for prohibitions against source-of-income discrimination in housing
For those struggling to afford housing or already experiencing homelessness, being approved for housing assistance can seem like a solution is finally at hand. The reality is that even with that money guaranteed, it can be months before recipients of housing assistance are able to find a landlord or property management company willing to rent to them. Dana Ortiz, executive director of the housing support program Lawrence Family Promise and member of the city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board, said that a family who qualifies for a housing voucher is initially given 90 days to find a landlord, and sometimes that isn’t enough. Ortiz said it’s not uncommon for a family to need one or even two 90-day extensions, or six to nine months total, to find a landlord who will accept the vouchers.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Utilizing a pilot program, the Topeka Fire Department finds never-before-seen stats
The Topeka Fire Department is one of 200 departments nationwide to participate in the National Fire Protection Association’s second phase of a pilot program mapping out community risk. [Alan Stahl, public education officer with the Topeka Fire Department] said the website can provide the Topeka Fire Department with information it has never had before. He said the department has always known the downtown area can pose a great fire risk because it is a “swell population.” Not as many people live there, but over 18,000 people drive down to work every day. The fire department can use the information to tailor fire prevention programs to specific areas or populations of the city.
Source: CJonline.com.
Century-old barn returns to Wilson
Barns normally stay put. But a century-old stable in Wilson has the distinction of moving twice. The first time, was just after World War II ended. The second was last Tuesday. The barn was first housed in the center of Wilson, Kansas. After a little less than half a century, it moved to rural Ellsworth County, and now it is back in town. In 1906, this stylish structure wrapped in tin housed racehorses in the city center. When it moved to the country, it housed livestock. Starting on Memorial Day, this historic 40-by-60-foot structure will cater to humans.
Source: Salina Journal.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 9, 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.
Nearly 7,500 fans in attendance to watch Wichita State beat Houston in first game at new Riverfront Stadium
Wind Surge officials said Riverfront Stadium was nearly at capacity; with 7,500 people in attendance to watch Wichita State defeat Houston 10-1 in a college ballgame hosted by Riverfront Stadium. This was the first game played at Riverfront Stadium after much waiting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wind Surge officials thanked the community for their ongoing support, saying they are very excited for the team’s official home opener on May 11th.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Local gathering limits loosened, but vaccine numbers ‘too low’ in Cowley County
Cowley County’s public health officer is loosening restrictions on mass gatherings and mask requirements at school events, while at the same time pleading with residents to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Thomas Langer on Friday announced updated health orders that take affect Monday. Mass outdoor gatherings no longer have any size limits, which will allow for more traditional school graduations and upcoming community events such as the county fair or Tacolalah. Social gatherings indoors of 300 people or more where space is available can now allow 60 % occupancy instead of just 25 %. On-site operations of businesses or other entities are no longer restricted by size.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Seward County takes step toward better mental health for its community
Mental health remains a concern for many across the country as COVID-19 rages on. In southwest Kansas, Seward County officials are stepping up to help their community. School, work, daily routines — almost everything has been turned upside down over the past year. With that, can come things like stress and anxiety, taking a toll on many people’s mental health. According to a recent study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35% of Americans and more than a third of Kansans are facing mental health-related issues. In Seward County, a COVID hotspot last spring, county officials say they knew mental health services would be essential, but for some, access and cost were a concern. “In the early days, a lot of it was focused on our physical health. Right? And as we’ve moved through this, the realities of mental health have increased all the more,” said Leslie Bissell, Southwest Guidance Center Executive Director.
Source: KSN-TV
Las Vegas pushes to become first to ban ornamental grass
A desert city built on a reputation for excess and indulgence wants to become a model for restraint and conservation with a first-in-the-nation policy banning grass that nobody walks on. Las Vegas-area water officials have spent two decades trying to get people to replace thirsty greenery with desert plants, and now they’re asking the Nevada Legislature to outlaw roughly 40% of the turf that’s left. The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates there are almost 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) of “nonfunctional turf” in the metro area — grass that no one ever walks on or otherwise uses in street medians, housing developments and office parks.
Source: Wichita Breaking News, Sports & Crime |
Ex-employee tampered with Kansas water plant, feds say, a sign of online vulnerability
Wyatt Travnichek was just entering his 20s, but he had a vital job. After residents across eight central Kansas counties headed home for the night, Travnichek would keep watch — virtually — over the utility that supplied them with clean drinking water. As a worker at the Post Rock Rural Water District, headquartered in Ellsworth, he was periodically responsible for monitoring the plant after hours by remotely logging into its computer system. His duties lasted until he resigned in January 2019, the circumstances of which are unclear. Two months later, an unauthorized person gained remote access to the Post Rock system and shut down the facility’s cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
Source: Wichita News