Kansas Municipal News
AG: Chautauqua County Commission violated state transparency law
The Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners was ordered to take Kansas Open Meetings Act training after the Kansas Attorney General’s Office last year determined the board had violated KOMA by not holding public votes on whether to terminate three former county employees. The attorney general’s office declined to pursue formal enforcement action against the board, though, saying it thinks the board acted in a good faith. In a complaint filed Aug. 14, 2019, a Cedar Vale resident alleged the board took action in executive sessions held during meetings on July 15, 2019, and July 22, 2019, to fire two road and bridge department employees and one solid waste department employee, instead of making the decision in a public vote.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Sales tax collection increase in 2020
Edgerton ranks below Gardner and Spring Hill on combined sales tax rates. Edgerton’s combined rate is 8.975, and both Gardner and Spring Hill combined rates are 9.475. Edgerton collected about $100,000 more in sales tax revenue this year. The total was $852,533 for 2020 and in 2019 it was $747,277.
“Because we have so many businesses that are considered essential, the City of Edgerton did not see the sharp declines that impacted many other cities. We remain in excellent financial shape to begin 2021.” said Donald Roberts, mayor. Sales tax revenue increased in 2020 over 2019, Roberts continued. Edgerton’s sales tax base includes companies that saw an increase in business due to the pandemic and continued to purchase taxable goods and services.
Source: Gardner News
Wichita police say dealing with criminal kids has gotten harder since 2016 reforms
A woman and her two daughters woke up to a burglar rifling through their home. Another got doused with mace during a brazen carjacking attempt at a strip mall. A third, 82, suffered head injuries when three intruders who ransacked her home shoved her before taking her car for a joyride. In another case, an unsuspecting employee got a note from a would-be robber claiming he had a bomb on him. These attacks, all allegedly committed by 13- and 14-year-olds in Wichita over the past year, offer a glimpse into a new wave of juvenile crime local authorities say they’re having a difficult time dealing with. Frustrated with law changes it contends has made officers’ jobs harder, the Wichita Police Department has taken time lately to highlight offenses committed by kids in the hopes legislators and residents would take notice.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Main Street Chanute offers loans, grants
Main Street Chanute and Main Street America have started two programs to help brick-and-mortar businesses in Chanute. The Board of Directors of Main Street Chanute approved guidelines Wednesday for its Main Street Revitalization Program, and Main Street America, in conjunction with Brother International, begins taking applications today for the At Your Side grant program. The MSRP loans are funded through $100,000 provided by the Neosho County Commission for business revitalization and safety improvements. Main Street Chanute will administer the loans at no interest, but the loans have a small origination fee that will go back into the fund.
Source: www.chanute.com
Pandemic drops air fares in Wichita by 36%
The huge hit in air travel demand caused last year by Covid-19 also made it cheaper for those who did fly. According to new data from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, inflation-adjusted average fares from Wichita in the third quarter were down 36% year over year to $253.86. That was slightly higher than the nationwide average of $244.36 for a ticket during the same period, which, according to data from U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, was the lowest quarterly average (also adjusted for inflation) since at least 1995.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Shawnee County wants to expand glass recycling program
Shawnee County is looking to expand its new glass recycling program. The new program started in June, but county leaders tell KSNT News it’s become more popular in the last two months. Shawnee County partners with Ripple Glass in Kansas City. The county collects glass from purple drop off bins and Ripple transports and recycles the glass for free. Shawnee County Solid Waste Director Bill Sutton said this is necessary because the recycling center the county uses for other recycling does not recycle glass.
Source: KSNT News
Lakin and Deerfield Cities Come Together For a Common Goal
The City of Lakin and The City of Deerfield are excited to announce a new “shared service” venture they have embarked on together. When Lakin and Deerfield realized animal control was a common issue amongst their communities, they decided to come together and do something about it. The cities came up with an agreement to share a full time Animal Control Officer who would be able to enforce codes, patrol both communities, and take care of any animals in the pound. … Small communities, such as Lakin and Deerfield, operate off limited budgets. This “shared service” will help both communities keep within their operating budget and help keep city taxes down. Lakin and Deerfield are very enthusiastic about this arrangement, and cannot wait to get it underway!
Source: Lakin Independent.
Municipal Bond Trends for January 21, 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.
KDHE launches new website for COVID-19 vaccine information, FAQs
With Kansas officially in Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, many people plan to get it, but there are still lots of questions. “You hear a lot of different stuff. You can’t really tell what’s true,” said Wichita resident Jace Suddeth. “A lot of people are saying, like, just silly stuff,” said Wichita resident Dakota Burns. Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday the state has a new COVID-19 vaccine website to clear up many of the rumors, and answer questions.
Source: KAKE – News
Johnson County seniors to start getting COVID vaccines next week
Johnson County will begin giving COVID-19 vaccines to residents age 65 and older starting Tuesday, as part of its move into the next phase of distribution, health officials said Thursday. That phase also includes kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers and child care workers, who will get their vaccines through Children’s Mercy, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, the county’s director of health and environment. But it was unclear when those vaccinations would begin. He said the department received more than 6,800 vaccine doses on Thursday, and Areola emphasized that “the opportunity to get vaccinated next week and the week after depends on the supply,” which has been limited.
Source: KC Star Local News
Governor Laura Kelly, Department of Commerce Seek Public Input for Broadband Office Grant Program
Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Kansas Department of Commerce has established an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Office of Broadband Development’s Broadband Acceleration Grant program and provide input on grant requests proposed for communities across Kansas. The goal is to gather public input regarding the grant applications and associated service areas in an effort to ensure transparency in the broadband development process. The project proposals and proposed service area maps for each grant application are posted online, along with a public comment form for those wishing to express support or share concerns regarding a project. These resources will be posted online through Feb. 1.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Endangered black rhino born at Garden City zoo
Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City is announcing the birth of a black rhinoceros, which is a critically endangered species. The baby boy’s mother is Johari. She gave birth at approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The zoo reports that both mother and baby are doing well. Johari is a first-time mother and this is the first black rhinoceros born at the zoo.
Source: KSN-TV
Next vaccines in Harvey County go to law enforcement, first responders, teachers
The Harvey County Health Department is anticipating getting 300 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine. It says the county is moving into Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination plan which includes people 65 and older, people in congregate settings, and high-contact critical workers. Harvey County says those 300 doses will be directed toward law enforcement, other first responders and K-12 educators.
Source: KSN-TV
Area ambulance company faces new challenges during pandemic
EagleMed transports critically ill or injured patients by land or air to hospitals across the midwest. “You never know, we might have a COVID patient this time and then the next one might be a young child with Leukemia. You have to be prepared and keep it safe for everyone,” says Kurt Burkhart, EagleMed flight nurse. During the pandemic, staff are seeing new challenges, leading to more stress on themselves and the patients. “It’s a lot more strategy and logistics, we have to figure out, can we do the transport? Do we have the fuel capacity? If we have to get fuel, where do we get it?”
Source: KAKE – News
Main Street offers loans, grants in Chanute
Main Street Chanute and Main Street America have started two programs to help brick-and-mortar businesses in Chanute. The Board of Directors of Main Street Chanute approved guidelines Wednesday for its Main Street Revitalization Program, and Main Street America, in conjunction with Brother International, begins taking applications today for the At Your Side grant program. The MSRP loans are funded through $100,000 provided by the Neosho County Commission for business revitalization and safety improvements. Main Street Chanute will administer the loans at no interest, but the loans have a small origination fee that will go back into the fund.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Lawrence households still collectively owe nearly $1.3M in back utility bills; more assistance possible
Despite a utility assistance program, past-due utility bills continue to pile up for Lawrence residents. As of this month, 3,570 Lawrence households still have utility payments that are more than three weeks past due, amounting to $1.28 million in delinquencies. The city provides water, solid waste and sewer services, and during the City Commission’s meeting Tuesday, Finance Director Jeremy Willmoth told the commission that a utility assistance program funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, was under utilized, and that the average month-end delinquent balance per household has continued to grow since March.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Scott City city clerk to retire
The longest serving clerk in the history of the City of Scott City has announced she will be retiring from that position. During Monday’s city council meeting, in a letter read by Mayor Everett Green, City Clerk Brenda Davis announced she will be stepping down effective April 20. Davis cited a desire to spend more time with her family as the reason for ending her 22-year tenure with the city. … “I want to thank all the former mayors and city council members with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with so closely over the years,” Davis said in her retirement letter.
Source: Scott County Record.
Twin Valley invests in solar project
Twin Valley Electric Cooperative has broken ground on a 10-acre solar farm totaling 1 megawatt. The solar farm will be built next to a Twin Valley substation south of Mound Valley on Elk Road. Construction is expected to be completed in May. The solar farm will benefit the cooperative’s members in rural Labette, Neosho, Montgomery and Cherokee counties. Through a partnership with 11 other rural electric cooperatives in Kansas, the group will add over 20 megawatts of solar energy to a power source portfolio that powers 80,000 rural Kansas homes and businesses.
Source: Parsons Sun
‘StoryWalk’ being installed along pedestrian trail in Arkansas City
Several community partners have joined forces to offer families an innovative, active, educational and COVID-safe opportunity. A new StoryWalk display has been installed by the City of Arkansas City at the Poplar Walking Trail in Arkansas City and runs along the first quarter mile of the trail. The new display is a joint effort between the Ark City Public Library, the City’s Public Services Department, USD 470 Early Literacy Initiative and RISE Cowley. Each entity has contributed time and funding to help make the storywalk available to community residents.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Wichita’s Project Downtown celebrates ten years
In 2010, a master plan for Wichita’s downtown was given the green light. Project Downtown celebrates ten years of an ambitious fifteen year plan to revamp the Air Capitol’s inner core. Many locals, like Marcus Baysinger, feel the project has changed the vibe in downtown for the better. “You’re seeing job availability come along and so I think, and I think that mixed with kind of a new vibrant culture downtown with younger people, it’s, it’s starting to get better, which is really cool,” said Baysinger.
Source: KSN-TV