Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick police department now carrying tasers
The Sedgwick police department has a new tool to help fight crime. They received 15 tasers from one of the larger police agencies in the Kansas City metro area, according to police chief Brian Daily. Along with the used tasers, the department received additional cartridges, training cartridges, and holsters. Daily said the tasers are enough for each officer to carry one with several kept in reserve.
Source: Harvey County Now
$36 million contract to rebuild the worst part of Wichita’s worst freeway bottleneck
In a piece of good news for some long-suffering commuters, the state of Kansas has just accepted a $36.3 million bid to rebuild the worst part of Wichita’s worst freeway bottleneck — the North Junction interchange of I-135 and I-235. The bid will allow Dondlinger Construction to start work next month on a flyover bridge linking northbound 135 to westbound 235, said Tom Hein, Wichita spokesman for the Kansas Department of Transportation. “That’s really the bottleneck every night, with the loop ramp being such a tight turn and (drivers) having to weave into traffic from westbound 254,” Hein said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
KDHE issues guidance for vaccinated Kansans
In conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued Monday for those who have been vaccinated, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is issuing similar guidance in Kansas. The KDHE said two weeks after Kansans receive their completed COVID-19 vaccination, residents may begin to gather in their private homes with other fully vaccinated people, in small groups, without masks or social distancing. A completed vaccination refers to two dozes of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or a single Johnson & Johnson dose. The guidance also allows for vaccinated people to gather in private homes with unvaccinated people so long as the unvaccinated people are from a single household and are at low risk for developing severe disease.
Source: KAKE – News
Sedgwick County moves to phase 2A of COVID-19 vaccination plan
Sedgwick County has moved into phase 2A for COVID-19 vaccinations. This group includes people like veterinarians, employees at meat processing plants, childcare workers and more. Margo Jones is the owner of Kids World Childcare Center in east Wichita. She’ll be getting her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this weekend. “I’m looking forward to it. I encourage all of our daycare providers and everyone who’s working with children to go ahead and get that vaccine. Just to keep yourself healthy, keep children healthy and make sure that everybody’s staying safe.” On Tuesday, Sedgwick County announced it will be moving into a new phase of the vaccination plan. The complete list of who’s eligible in the new tier can be found on the county’s website.
Source: KAKE – News
KDOT worker finds alligator carcass in Sumner County
The carcass of an American Alligator was reportedly found in the Ninnescah River in Sumner County. According to a social media post from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), a KDOT worker discovered the deceased animal. A local herpetologist told KDWPT the alligator carcass is around three-years-old.
Source: KAKE – News
Municipal Bond Trends for March 10, 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.
U.S. 10-year yield could spike ‘well above’ 2% in the next three months, strategist says
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield is likely to hit 2% by the end of the year but could spike “well above” that in the second quarter, according to ING senior rates strategist Antoine Bouvet. Bouvet told “Street Signs Europe” on Wednesday that the envisaged re-opening of the economy in the second quarter, when it’s hoped the vast majority of the U.S. population will be vaccinated against the coronavirus, will result in strong retail sales on the back of the U.S. government’s stimulus package. All these factors will “contribute and conspire towards optimism in the market and then towards that spike in U.S. Treasurys,” Bouvet said, expecting yields to reach a “minimum” of 2%.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
City Commission discusses future of housing in Emporia
The Emporia City Commission discussed updates to its Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) policy to address the housing shortage in Emporia during its study session Wednesday morning. Special Projects Coordinator Jim Witt explained that about 53% of local households could afford houses priced at $150,000 and that this data point would help guide the commission in moving forward with making decisions in regard to housing. However, he also said that the variability of housing prices would be important to consider as well. “That’s the second point, I think, to be made is that the rising costs of housing — affordable materials, etc. — is going to impact whatever we do,” Witt said.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Ellinwood City Council reviews February energy emergency
Meeting Tuesday, the Ellinwood City Council received updates from city staff regarding expected cost related to the energy crisis in mid-February caused by extreme cold weather. City Administrator Chris Komarek said there are still several unknown variables when it comes to expenses. “This is related to both the wholesale purchase of power and the usage within our own infrastructure,” said Komarek. “One of the main issues at hand will be the bills we will be sending to our citizens and businesses on April 1.” He added that, depending on what the increase might be, the city will need to decide on the type of adjustments to pay agreement policies and how long to offer extensions.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Lawrence bar owners, students excited for new COVID guidelines, loosened restrictions
More counties in Kansas are beginning to loosen their COVID-19 restrictions. Douglas County is the latest area to follow the trend. Under the new order, mass gatherings increase from 25 to 50 people and food and drink venues can return to normal business hours. Social distancing and masks are still required, and indoor capacity limits will remain at 50%.
Source: KSN-TV
Mayetta votes in favor of sales tax increase
People in Mayetta voted in favor of a one-half percent sale tax increase in a special election Tuesday. The current sales tax will increase to 1.5% and will start April 1. This increase will help cover the cost of extending a city sewer line to the new Dollar General store. It’s currently under construction on Mayetta’s west city limits. Revenue from the sales tax will also be used for general street maintenance, sidewalk construction and repair.
Source: KSNT News
Lawrence City Commission votes to set 11 p.m. end time for meetings, approves other meeting rule changes
The Lawrence City Commission has voted to amend rules governing its meetings in an effort to improve their efficiency and prevent them from running late into the night. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission voted 3-0, with commissioners Stuart Boley and Jennifer Ananda absent, to adopt an amendment to the section of city code related to meetings of the governing body and a new resolution that lays out the commission’s meeting rules and procedures. The changes include the addition of an 11 p.m. end time, which can be overruled, where there was no end time before. Mayor Brad Finkeldei said that while he was not a big fan of how the 11 p.m. end time was set up, the changes had been the consensus of the commission and they were worth a try. Finkeldei said he thought some of the other changes approved, such as those made to how work sessions and the consent agenda work, would also help the commission’s meetings run more smoothly.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Jetmore woman launches internet company to overcome the digital divide in her rural community
It started as a retirement idea in 2016 and has since made a significant difference in the community. Susan Nuss, a lifelong Jetmore resident, has created her own internet company, helping her town stay on the digital map. Nuss has nearly 30 years of experience in the internet world. Launching her own company to serve those she grew up knowing has been a dream of hers. She created Black Dragon Networks, LLC. Black Dragon Networks, LLC is a minority, woman-owned engineering company rooted in Hodgeman County. It specializes in bringing high-speed internet to rural, remote areas of the state. Many of the areas of focus are communities that have been overlooked by other carriers, leaving them with little to no service.
Source: KSN-TV
Average price for a new home in Johnson County? $558,000 as property values rise
As buyers face a bidding war over Johnson County’s limited housing inventory, new homes are selling for $558,000 on average, according to a county appraiser report. Factor in existing homes as well, and the average sales price of a single-family home was $394,000 in 2020, the appraiser said. Last month alone, according to the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors, the average sales price soared to more than $411,000. “This year, we just don’t have the inventory,” said Marti Lilja, a real estate agent with Keller Williams, adding that the pandemic delayed a lot of construction. “We’re so behind. There are so many buyers who still need houses, it’s going to take a while before everything gets caught up.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Ark City students headed back to school five days a week
Students in the Arkansas City public school district will return to classrooms five days a week starting with elementary grades March 22. The USD 470 school board made the decision Monday night. Middle and high school students will start the full in-person schedule April 6. The students currently are going to schools four days a week with Wednesday a remote learning day.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Reno County leaves mask order in place three more weeks
The Reno County Commission will leave in place the governor’s mask mandate for the county until at least March 30, when the board will take it up for discussion once again. Local health officials asked the commission on Tuesday to leave the order in place at least for another month, to allow more employees in high contract critical jobs to be vaccinated against the virus.
Source: Hutch News.
Municipal Bond Trends for March 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.
Kansas to move to next vaccination phase in 4 weeks or less
Kansas’ top health official says the state could finish vaccinating seniors and essential workers and move on to the next phase of coronavirus vaccinations in the next month. Dr. Lee Norman said Tuesday that the state could reach the third phase in four weeks or sooner. The next phase includes people aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at severe risk if they are infected with COVID-19, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes, as well as workers in critical industries such as information technology and government.
Source: KSN-TV
Parsons celebrates 150 years
There was a sesquicentennial celebration Monday in Southeast Kansas. We spoke with the families who’ve called Parsons their home for generations. Marilyn Smith, Parsons Resident, said, “Everybody was community built, everybody was friends with everybody.” This was a major day for the city of Parsons 150 years ago. Dave Mattox, Parsons Historian, said, “On March 8th, 1871, the very first lots were sold in Parsons at the KATY Freight Depot. They were looking for a junction point for the two KATY lines, and Parsons ending up being that junction.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
Lowes launches ‘100 Hometowns’ project to improve communities
A company dedicated to improving homes now wants to improve communities. Lowe’s, the retail chain, is celebrating its centennial and is promising to spend $10 million on 100 neighborhood projects.”It might be a community center that needs revitalization, a garden, a block, something that has maybe fallen into disrepair, something that has been subject to the many natural disasters we know,” says Lowe’s executive vice president Marisa Thalberg. Thalberg says the projects come at a time when Americans need a sense of community.
Source: KSN-TV