Kansas Municipal News
FAA awards $18M to improve Kansas airports
More than two dozen Kansas airports are getting grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. The U.S. Department of Transportation says $627.7 million of FAA grants are going to airports across the United States. Kansas is getting more than $18 million of it. Today’s grant announcement includes 449 grants to 390 airports. “These grants are an investment in safety and continued innovation,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in a news release. “Every airport in every community plays a vital role in our air transportation system.” Some Kansas airports are getting a lot of money. Goodland is getting $3.1 million to reconstruct runways.
Source: KSN-TV
GOP lawmakers repeal Kansas mask mandate, lawsuits expected against local orders
Kansas’ statewide mask mandate, already an exemption-filled patchwork, came to an end Thursday, canceled by top Republican lawmakers under a new law that makes it more difficult for health officials to keep COVID-19 precautions in place. A group of leading legislators, known as the Legislative Coordinating Council, voted 5-2 along party lines to overturn Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s mask mandate hours after she reissued it to fulfill the requirements of the new law. One member of the eight-person panel, embattled Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, was absent for the vote conducted over video conference. “The revocation of a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate does not in any way impact any local orders that are in place,” said Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, an Ottawa Republican. “The numbers don’t support a statewide mandate at this time.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Opposition mounts to potential Labette County wind farm
Area residents with questions and some with statements of opposition to the proposed development of an industrial wind farm were present at the Labette County Commission’s Wednesday meeting in Oswego. RWE is exploring the development of a wind farm that would have an estimated 50 to 75 turbines that could be 500 feet tall at the tip of the blade, although turbine numbers, exact heights and placement will be determined by the collection of wind and weather information. The proposed footprint runs south of 19000 Road, north of 8000 Road, west of Meade Road and east of Douglas Road, though contracts have been signed for property outside that area. Wayne Bozman of rural Edna said many people know the disadvantages of having a wind farm next to their homes, but he asked commissioners to tell them the advantages.
Source: Parsons Sun
Lenexa is again weighing the future of its outdoor pools
Lenexa is wrapping up the latest phase of a years-long study of its outdoor aquatics services in an attempt to gather more public input after residents opposed previous plans to close at least one city pool. At issue for the city is finding a way to balance residents’ desires and needs for existing pools with fiscal responsibility in paying for them. A study of the city’s pools completed in 2019 concluded, in part, that the city’s three outdoor pools are too expensive to maintain and don’t get enough yearly visitors collectively to warrant all of them remaining open.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Ark City students back in buildings full time
Most public school students in Arkansas City, except for those on remote learning plans, we’re back in class Wednesday for the first time since March of last year when the coronavirus pandemic first struck. Wednesday is the date lawmakers set for public schools to begin offering in-person classes five days a week in a bill that is awaiting Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s signature, according to the Associated Press. The Ark City school district had planned to return all students not on remote learning plans to classrooms five days a week starting next week. State legislators pushed that up one week. USD 470 Superintendent Ron Ballard said he expected to get attendance reports for Wednesday on Thursday morning. “It was a smooth transition — we’re pleased,” Ballard said.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Local leaders express interest in expanding Douglas County Commission from three members to five
Douglas County leaders are open to increasing the number of seats on the County Commission, and will soon develop a plan to gather public feedback on such a change before potentially taking further action. As part of its meeting Wednesday, the commission discussed increasing the number of seats from three to five, which would require holding a public election. The issue came to the commission following some public concern about whether rural residents are adequately represented in county government, but Commission Chair Shannon Portillo said that to her, the issue spoke to broader questions about representation.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for March 31, 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.
What’s in a breed? Johnson County city reconsiders its ban on these types of terriers
Overland Park says it’s one of a few Kansas City area communities with a dangerous dog ordinance that specifically bans pit bulls and similar dogs. However, a City Council committee is considering whether a change is in order. After advocates asked the Public Safety Committee to eliminate the breed-specific language, committee members agreed to study the issue through the summer. “We understand there are many members of the community very passionate about this issue,” said committee chair Paul Lyons. “We are interested in your input on whether or not you would support eliminating the breed-specific dog ban.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Olathe’s Future Educators program aims to change the school district for the better
A guaranteed job when you’re fresh out of college can be a strong incentive to graduate, and that’s what the Olathe School District is aiming to provide. The district’s new “Hire Our Own” program targets students in its 21st Century Future Educators Academy at Olathe East, with the hope of making them employees in four years. “This has kind of been a goal, with the national teacher shortages, to try to encourage our students to go into education,” said Cathy Donovan, director of staffing and talent acquisition for the district. The program is only open to students who are enrolled in the educators academy. The academy marks its second year with a graduating class in 2021. About 29 seniors were eligible to apply this year, and Donovan expected eight to 10 of them to apply. Shelley Staples, a facilitator for the academy, was more optimistic, hoping as many as 16 might go for it.
Source: Joco 913 News
North-Central Kansas pharmacy hitting the road with extra COVID-19 vaccine doses
Too many COVID-19 vaccine doses, not enough arms to put them in, that is the situation S&S Drug in Beloit, Kansas found themselves in recently. The north-central Kansas community has been able to successfully vaccinate all residents that wanted a shot, so the local pharmacy is hitting the road to help vaccinate other communities. But how is that possible? “First of all, we are part of the Federal Pharmacy Partner Program it’s the federal program that allocates vaccines directly to pharmacies we are currently not allocated any of our vaccines through the state or the KDHE,” said S&S Drug Pharmacist Chris Mondero.
Source: KSN-TV
Labette County residents weigh in on potential wind farm
Labette County could be the newest site for wind farms — but not everyone is excited about it. Helen Erickson, Labette County Resident, said, “We are 31.7 miles away. We see the flashing lights at night.” Wednesday’s Labette County Commission meeting was where residents gathered to voice their concerns about the potential RWE wind farms. While an agreement has yet to be reached, RWE has already begun talking to local landowners.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Fake palm trees have made an appearance in west Lawrence; whether they can stay is an open question
Jeff Crick, the city’s director of planning and development services, [says] artificial trees haven’t become an approved use in the city. He pointed to the landscape material standards section of the city’s land development code, which reads, in part: “No artificial plants or vegetation may be used to meet any standards of this section …” Matt Gish with AllConstruct LLC, is building the home, … said his reasons for installing the fake palm trees, which are about 20 feet tall or so, are simple: He’s trying to create a Caribbean feel for the home, which will have a pool near the palm trees. “I suppose the city created the ordinance because they want to protect the city’s look, but I don’t think these hinder that,” Gish said.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Argonia looking into skyrocketed gas bills
More Kansans are opening their gas bills and wondering how they will find the money to pay. The city of Argonia says most of its residents are seeing bills in the thousands for just one month. On a warm spring day in Argonia on Tuesday (March 30), people around town still feel the impact of February’s cold snap. They tried to prepare to avoid natural gas bills beyond what they could afford. “We turned our thermostat down to 65 during the day, 60 at night to try to conserve. It didn’t help,” said Argonia resident Ken Bradfield. Bradfield couldn’t believe what he saw when he received his February gas bill last week.
Source: KWCH.
How the Shawnee Mission School District spent $3.8M in federal COVID-19 relief money
The Shawnee Mission School District has allocated nearly $3.8 million so far in federal COVID-19 relief money since the start of the 2020-21 school year. Nearly $1 million of that, or roughly a quarter of the total, has been spent on upgrading schools’ air ventilation systems, seen as a critical need to tamp down potential spread of the airborne pathogen. In August 2020, the Board of Education approved spending nearly $800,000 to purchase and install heavy-duty negative air machines and air scrubbers to better filtrate air in school buildings and have since okayed the use of higher-grade air filters for buildings’ HVAC systems.
Source: Prairie Village Post
As vaccination rate lags, Sedgwick County hopes to convince skeptics to get a shot
As the supply of COVID-19 vaccines has increased, Sedgwick County officials are grappling with a problem they weren’t expecting this early in the year — more vaccine doses than people who want a shot. “We’re trying to take away every barrier that we can think of regarding why someone would not get a vaccine,” Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz said Monday. Those efforts include hiring interpreters and holding mobile vaccine clinics to target neighborhoods with low turnout to the vaccine clinic at the former Central Public Library in downtown Wichita.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Libraries prepare for limited openings
Both the Winfield and Arkansas City public libraries plan to open on a limited basis within the next several weeks. The Winfield library expects to move from Phase 3 of its reopening plan to Phase 4 next month. Starting April 14, adult patrons can make an appointment and are allowed 25 minutes to select books and make use of the computers, copier and the fax machine. Time slots for computer use will also be available for important needs such as job needs and printing. Masks will be required to enter the library and must be worn at all times. Some areas of the facility will be restricted.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Latino leaders fighting COVID-19 vaccine myths
Even as much of the country thrills at the prospect of getting their COVID-19 shots, sizable pockets need convincing. In the immigrant and refugee communities of southwestern Kansas, cultural barriers and access to the shots could leave those hit hardest by the pandemic in ongoing peril. So town by town, county by county, public health officials find themselves shooting down unfounded fears about the shots that could finally beat back a virus that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and millions around the world.
Source: Hutch News.
‘Heroic’ crews key to halting fires
Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer called efforts he witnessed on Monday by firefighters working to save homes in rural Reno County “heroic,” noting “I’ve been doing this for 34 years and I saw stuff I haven’t seen in my entire career.” The result he said, was that they brought two major wildfires under control with damage to only one home. The efforts of nearly 160 firefighters from five counties resulted in saving more than an estimated $27 million worth of property. The battle continues, however, with both fires at only 50% contained late Tuesday morning.
Source: Hutch News.
Wichita fire department using latest technology to help fight fires
New technology is helping crews in Reno and Sedgwick county battle the many fires we have seen this week. The Wichita Fire Department is using their drone to help battle these fires, but Thermal Imaging Cameras help the Wichita Fire Department battle fires from the ground. “We use it all the time almost on every fire,” said Lance Gifford, a firefighter with Station One. Gifford said they have been using thermal imaging for more than a decade, but as technology advances so has the equipment. Now, these cameras are handheld making it easier on firefighters. “This is so much better clarity-wise resolution,” said Gifford.
Source: KSN-TV
Community comes together with donations for crews battling Reno County fire
The fire crews battling the Ice and the Beer Fire in Reno County received outpouring support from people in their community. One of the Hutchinson VFW members said they were able to gather two truckloads full of donations to the men and women on the frontlines. “Gatorade, lots of Gatorade — anything that they can eat quickly and drink quickly to keep them nourished so they can do the job,” said Ron Bremer, member of the VFW Auxiliary post-1361. Hutchinson resident, Kim Campbell, says she stood outside of Dillon’s grocery store and collected donations for the firefighters. “I put an empty cart outside, made a sign, and by the time I was done, I had five carts full,” she said.
Source: KSN-TV