Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick County lowers age restrictions for COVID vaccination; blocks county jumping
The Sedgwick County Health Department has opened its COVID-19 vaccination program to anyone 80 or older and is scheduling appointments for walk-in or drive-through vaccines next week, county officials announced Thursday afternoon. But no county jumping will be allowed. Only Sedgwick County residents can sign up for vaccines from the health department, Assistant County Manager Tim Kaufman said. That’s a major departure from guidance by the state’s top doctor, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Dr. Lee Norman, who said last week that “a resident can go into any county and get vaccinated.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
City of Manhattan facing budget issues, looking at raising taxes or cutting services
The city of Manhattan is facing a budget crisis and it could mean difficult decisions in the near future. This week, the Manhattan City Commission received an update from city departments. This includes an overview of 2020 and challenges going into this year and beyond. Assistant City Manager Jason Hilgers told KSNT News that the city relies too much on sales tax revenue. He said that revenue has been flat for more than a decade and saw a dip during the pandemic. This leaves the city with tough decisions to make about the future. “It gets complicated to maintain revenue streams, but yet your costs go up,” Hilgers said. “You can erode a few pots of money, but it’s not a sustainable approach and we have eroded those. It’s reached a point now where we either are raising revenues or we are going to reduce services.”
Source: KSNT News
Replacement mask mandate passed in Washington County
The Board of County Commissioners has approved a new county-wide mask mandate. This mandate replaces the statewide mandate that Washington County has been under since late November. The new, local mandate is less stringent than the state-wide mandate and requires people to wear masks both indoors and outdoors in public spaces when unable to maintain 6 feet of distancing. The provisions do not apply to people who live together, and residential property and private offices or workspaces that are not open to customers or public visitors are exempt. County attorney Elizabeth Baskerville Hiltgen told the commissioners this week that the authority for local governments to opt out of the state-wide mandate was scheduled to end on Jan. 26. If Washington County did not opt out of the state mandate and create their own prior to Jan. 26, they could have potentially lost the ability to implement less stringent provisions or opt out in the event the statutory authority allowing counties to do so was not extended.
Source: www.backroadsnews.com/
Wyandotte County is confident it can vaccinate thousands over the next few weeks
Wyandotte County is confident it can vaccinate thousands over the next few weeks. Of course, it all depends upon supply. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids said that a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine is holding up progress on fighting the virus. On Thursday, state Rep. Louis Ruiz received the first dose of the vaccine at the Wyandotte County vaccination center. “We don’t care who you are or where you are in Wyandotte County, if you’re a resident, I want your arm and I want to stick a needle into it,” said Bob Bennett, director of vaccinations for Wyandotte County. Bennett said his goal is to vaccinate 25,000 county residents a week. But that requires a key ingredient in short supply.
Source: KMBC.com
Kansas expects over $1 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding
Kansas anticipates getting at least $1.1 billion from the latest federal coronavirus relief and expects to spend about half of it on K-12 schools, higher education and grants for child care. State data shows about $168 million is earmarked for testing, tracing and mitigation. Another $26 million is planned for vaccine distribution. How the money is spent is dictated by federal law. The new funding, which follows $1.03 billion in federal aid received last year, arrives as the state is working to speed up vaccinations. Governor Laura Kelly received her second dose Wednesday and used the occasion to urge continued caution, saying “we all must remain vigilant.”
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Counties take lead as residents await vaccine
As counties across Kansas are ramping up to carry out Phase 2 of the state’s COVID19 vaccination plan, Osage County is tracking things the old-fashioned way. With residents age 65 and older, as well as essential workers, now eligible for the vaccine, phones are ringing off the hook in the county of 17,000 residents south of Topeka. One of the county’s five staff members fielded over 100 calls in just one hour from residents seeking a vaccine appointment, and county health administrator Jackie Patterson said that has been a normal volume in recent days.
Source: Garden City Telegram.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 27, 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.
Valley Center looking at quiet zones
The Valley Center City Council on Jan. 19 took a step toward creating a railroad quiet zone across the city. The council directed the city’s engineering firm to put together a proposal to thoroughly study the possibility. The study would include an evaluation of the measures that have to be taken to further protect train intersections to alleviate the use of train horns. Council members said they often hear complaints about train noise in town.
Source: Ark Valley News
Sedgwick downtown no longer looks the same after transformation
The last two years have seen quite a transformation of downtown Sedgwick. First the City purchased the empty medical building, and while it was still new, they remodeled to make it functional as a City Hall. Then they completely remodeled the old City Hall and turned it into a new, bright library. These early weeks of 2021 are significant in the continued downtown transformation.
First, the Sodality Room and Truly You held a ribbon cutting last weekend, offering tours for residents to see the now beautiful insides of a building that not long ago had been condemned and near collapse. Mayor Bryan Chapman told those in attendance that the building had been around since the late 1800’s and Owner Rebecca Whistler had done the city a great service by remodeling and preserving the building.
Source: Harvey County Now
Merriam considers banning pedestrians from busy medians, but some worry it won’t address causes of panhandling
Motorists traveling near Interstate 35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway may have seen individuals standing or sitting in medians, often asking for money or food. Now, Merriam city officials are considering prohibiting pedestrians from standing, sitting or otherwise being in nine major intersections across the city, citing concerns for driver and pedestrian safety. But some worry such a prohibition may put extra burdens on people already struggling on the margins of society without addressing the deeper roots of the problem.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Residents can help plan for public art in Johnson County parks
Johnson County Park and Recreation District (JCPRD) has launched a new Public Art Program. The goal is to embed public art into park spaces, trails, and facilities to enhance and enrich the experience for visitors. JCPRD is undergoing a public art master plan to establish a road map for this program and seeks citizen involvement to make the plan reflective of the community. ”The COVID-19 pandemic brought patrons to JCPRD parks in record numbers, said Executive Director Jeff Stewart. “The community has a renewed appreciation for the role parks play in our overall health and well-being. We have always been about providing spaces for recreation, gathering, and experiencing nature. It will soon include the chance to encounter art in JCPRD facilities and natural spaces.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
Vaccinations slow but ramping up
Allen County currently gets about 100 doses of COVID-19 vaccine a week. The supply chain filters from manufacturers to the federal governments, to states and then to county health departments who will allocate it as needed. The county is nearing the end of Phase 1. Volunteers are sought for a vaccination clinic. It’s going to take a bit of time and a lot of patience before most Allen County residents can get a COVID-19 vaccine, but the local health department is starting to develop a plan for when that time comes.
Source: The Iola Register
Federal Reserve leaves interest rates and asset purchases unchanged, sees growth slowing
The Federal Reserve kept its foot to the floor Wednesday in terms of the help it is providing for an economy that central bank officials say has slowed down. Consistent with market expectations, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee said it was keeping its benchmark short-term borrowing rate anchored near zero and maintaining an asset purchasing program that is seeing the Fed buy at least $120 billion a month. At the core of the move to keep policy historically accommodative was an economy in which the sectors most vulnerable to the pandemic are taking the hardest hit.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Sedgwick County commissioners add citizens advisory boards to promote transparency, accountability
Sedgwick County commissioners continue to develop citizens advisory boards to keep elected officials accountable, while working to remain transparent. Commissioners Lacey Cruse and David Dennis created citizens advisory boards for their districts last year, while Commissioner Jim Howell will have the first meeting with his board next month. Commissioner Sarah Lopez is in the beginning stages of developing her own and the last commission is following suit it the near future. The citizens advisory boards are official groups formed by commissioners and the members are selected citizens who live in each district.
Source: KSN-TV
Marion’s drug dog earns her keep in 1st year
In her first year as a drug dog, Blue’s nose for illegal substances already has led to multiple drug busts for Marion’s city police. A few times, an arrest would not have been possible without her, said officer Aaron Slater, who serves as Blue’s handler for the department’s K-9 unit. “She has been working really well,” he said. “I’ve bonded with her for sure.”
Source: Marion County RECORD
Grant Opportunity: “WaterSMART Funding”
Through the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states and other entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts. Projects eligible for funding include installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system, lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or other similar projects that are limited in scope.
More information is available here. The Bureau of Reclamation has published a notice of funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects. The notice of funding opportunity is available on grants.gov by searching for opportunity number R21AS00257. Applications are due on March 18, 2020, at 4 p.m. MDT. View Funding Opportunity
City officials will soon begin discussing proposal to allow accessory dwelling units in more Lawrence neighborhoods
City planners are moving forward with drafting a code change that would allow homeowners to build garage apartments and other smaller living quarters in all neighborhoods. The city will soon begin taking public input regarding the details of the code amendment, and it is expected to go to the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission for consideration this summer. The local comprehensive plan as well as an affordable housing plan have called for expanding the areas where such living quarters, known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs, can be built, and city planner Sandy Day said the units can be used for a variety of purposes.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 26, 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.
Johnson County voters approve $264M bond, tax increase for Shawnee Mission schools
Johnson County voters overwhelmingly approved a $264 million bond issue and property tax increase in the Shawnee Mission school district to rebuild and renovate schools, plus hire additional teachers as a way to address workload concerns. More than 49,600 voters cast ballots, which were due at noon Tuesday. According to the unofficial results, 69.4%, or 34,441 voters, approved the bond referendum, while 30.6%, or 15,178, voted against it.
Source: Joco 913 News
Douglas County approves plan to distribute Phase 2 vaccinations
Douglas County says it has approved an initial plan to begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines to groups identified in Phase 2 — residents 65 years and older, those who live and work in congregate settings and essential workers. “Doses right now are extremely limited based on the supply. Given that everyone in Phase 2 is considered critical and a priority, each group will receive an allocation of doses every week,” said Dan Partridge, director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.
Source: KMBC.com