Kansas Municipal News
First doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Cowley County
TThe first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived at William Newton Hospital in Winfield on Wednesday, and will be administered to front line staff who directly care for or come in close proximity to COVID-19 positive patients. The hospital received around 145 doses of the vaccine at around 1 p.m. Wednesday and began giving them to employees on Thursday morning, according to an email from Cowley County Health Officer Tom Langer. The hospital also posted on its Facebook page Thursday morning that it had received the vaccine and begun administering it to workers.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
COVID-19 economic woes ‘crushing’ OP Convention Center, which projects $2.8 million loss in 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has crushed revenues at the Overland Park Convention Center this year, with officials now expecting to end the year with only about a third of the revenue and less than half the staff they had in 2019. “This pandemic has moved us back 20 years,” said Brett Mitchell, the center’s general manager. The numbers now more closely resemble how the center was doing its first year of operation, he told the city council’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development committee this week.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Supersonic planes to fly over Kansas on invisible racetrack seven miles high
Supersonic test flights are coming to Kansas with a deal signed between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The test flights will be on the new Kansas Supersonic Transporation Corridor (SSTC), an 886-mile invisible racetrack. The planes will fly at or above 39,000 feet, which is 7.3 miles above ground, in federal airspace. The SSTC is for non-military aircraft that fly faster than the speed of sound. … The deal is a collaborative effort involving U.S. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, the FAA, NASA, the Air Route Traffic Control Center and the National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University. Moran says industry forecasts show a market for up to 300 supersonic aircraft over a 10-year period. It is unclear how soon testing could begin.
Source: KSN-TV
Dodge City police determine messages to former mayor weren’t direct threats, sent from out of state
The Dodge City Police Department completed an investigation into the alleged threats over a mask mandate received by former Mayor Joyce Warshaw. The investigation determined that the emails were sent by an out of state resident in response to an article he had read in an expression of displeasure because the city did not adopt a mask protocol sooner. The investigation of findings, which was reviewed by two prosecutors, showed that the messages received by Warshaw did not meet the elements required by Kansas Criminal Statutes regarding threats.
Source: KSN-TV
Parsons pocket park opens to the public
A local pocket park has opened for one Southeast Kansas town. A tiny park located between two buildings called The Gathering Place, has opened in Parsons on Main Street. This was a joint effort between the city and Southeast Kansas Point of ride. The project was funded locally and several businesses in town contributed to its construction. Jim Zaleski, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, said, “It’s great that we were able to have local contractors, the assistance of the college, the fund was all local, the city stepped up with the land and some of the assistance, the bank, we just had so many people come to this cause, just because that’s how great we feel about the potential of our main street.”
Source: KSNF/KODE
GoFundMe launched to replace police chief’s favorite khakis damaged during Kellogg tackle
A GoFundMe has been set up to replace the Wichita police chief’s khakis, which were ruined after he tackled a suspect that appeared to be trying to commandeer moving vehicles Thursday morning along Kellogg. Chris Underwood of Brookville was a passenger in a vehicle going east on Kellogg and captured the incident on video. Traffic had come to a halt as a man ran around trying to get into vehicles, Underwood said. The man hopped the barrier, bringing the westbound traffic to a halt. He attempted to get into one vehicle without success, and then he tried the same with a small, red pickup.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
KDOT wants to hear from people on how to improve biking, walking options
The state is preparing for the future as the way people are choosing to travel is changing. Walking, biking, skating, or riding a scooter are some of the forms of travel that more people are choosing to use to get where they need to go. “Couple reasons, one for sport and one for exercise,” said Topekan Jim Edwards about why he likes to ride his bike….The Kansas Department of Transportation wants to hear from him, and others with an interest in more than just driving. … KDOT is asking people to fill out a survey that asks questions about safety and accessibility.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for December 17, 2020
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.
After 7 decades, should Lawrence change its style of government? Commissioners say it’s worth considering
It has been 70 years since the city decided on its current government structure, and Lawrence city leaders say it’s time to reconsider whether it’s still the best fit. Commissioner Jennifer Ananda, who just finished a yearlong term as mayor, recently suggested that Lawrence consider whether it would benefit the city to have a directly elected full-time mayor. Her fellow city commissioners agreed that the topic was due for reconsideration, and the city now plans to study the issue. Ananda told the Journal-World that the topic was often raised and discussed casually, and now she thinks it’s time for a serious discussion.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence’s annual statement to legislators calls for support of local control in pandemic response
Lawrence city leaders have approved their annual list of legislative priorities, including several additions regarding state support for local government responses to the coronavirus pandemic. The Lawrence City Commission provides the priority statement annually to the local state legislative delegation ahead of its session, and city staff uses the statement to guide input on legislation. Issues related to the pandemic in the statement include support for enforcement of local health department orders, local control regarding any changes to the Kansas Emergency Management Act, and assurances related to the availability of state and federal funding and supplies.
Source: LJWorld.com.
First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine arrive in Emporia
Larry Finley is the first person in Emporia to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after Newman Regional Health received 160 doses in its first allocation Wednesday afternoon. The vaccine arrived five days after the Food and Drug Administration approved Emergency Use Authorization of the vaccine. Finley, a certified registered nurse anesthetist and director of anesthesiology at Newman Regional Health, was one of five health care providers to receive the vaccine in the hospital’s walkthrough for Thursday’s mass vaccination.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Kansas Board of Regents embraces goal of linking spring break for all public education
The Kansas Board of Regents wants to align spring break at the six public universities as part of a broader plan to coordinate the annual respite from academic endeavors with the state’s public two-year colleges and K-12 public school districts. The state Board of Regents and the Kansas Board of Education are plowing ahead with a campaign to establish a uniform spring break throughout the Kansas education system starting in 2022. The Board of Regents voted unanimously Wednesday to direct universities to comply, but community colleges and technical colleges in the higher education system are controlled by locally elected boards with jurisdiction over calendar issues.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Wichita police report success with new license plate reading devices
Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said a new license plate reading system that was put into use in November has had big results. The Flock readers are installed in areas of the city with high crime activity. Chief Ramsay told reporters that since the devices were turned on on November 9th, “we’ve been astounded at really the amount of information that we’re getting from them and how it has impacted our ability to fight crime.” He said with the help of the system, police have recovered 68 stolen cars with a value of over $580,000.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Sedgwick County to pay Intrust Bank Arena operator for COVID-19 losses
Sedgwick County will pay the operator of Intrust Bank Arena $200,000 next year to manage the county-owned facility, plus cover ongoing operating losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 loss is estimated to be $1.1 million, as the arena struggles to bring operations back to normal after being almost entirely shut down for nine months by coronavirus concerns, said county Chief Financial Officer Lindsay Poe Rousseau. The county will also cover this year’s arena losses, which will be invoiced in January and are expected to be as much as $500,000, county spokeswoman Kate Flavin said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Olathe mayor: After a rough year, ‘we’re hopeful for better days ahead’
We’ve almost made it. With just two weeks left in 2020, many of us are filled with mixed emotions. We’re eager to wrap up a difficult year and feel sorrow for the struggles many faced over the past months. But we’re hopeful for better days ahead. My heart goes out to all who have suffered loss this year, and I know there are many. I think of our friend, the late Mayor Mike Copeland. I pray for those who have lost loved ones, as well as for those who have lost jobs, businesses and even for those who have lost precious time in the classroom.
Source: Joco 913 News
Fed raises its economic outlook slightly, sees 4.2% growth next year and 5% unemployment rate
The Federal Reserve dialed up its economic expectations slightly for the end of this year as well as for 2021, according to the central bank’s Summary of Economic Projections released on Wednesday. The central bank now expects real gross domestic product to fall just 2.4% in 2020, compared to a decline of 3.7% predicted in September. The Fed also upped its 2021 real GDP forecast to 4.2% from 4.0% expected previously. The Federal Open Market Committee said in its statement Wednesday that it would continue to buy at least $120 billion of bonds each month “until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals.”
Source: CNBC
New grocery store opens in south central Kansas town
A year ago, the only grocery store in Oxford, Kansas was shut down, turning the Sumner County city into a food desert. Today residents are celebrating the opening of a new grocery store, right where the old one stood. “It is a blessing to have one here” says Oxford resident Mary Robinson. Wednesday was the store’s grand opening. Providing relief for many people who live in Oxford. The city’s previous grocery store closed last year. Before today, townspeople had to travel upwards of 15 to 20 miles out of town, just to go to the grocery store.
Source: KAKE – News
Municipal Bond Trends for December 16, 2020
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.
Topeka council bans discrimination against LGBTQ persons
The Topeka City Council has voted to expand the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance to include LGBTQ residents and military veterans. The council unanimously approved an the ordinance Tuesday that prohibits discrimination in work, housing and public accommodations because of gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation or veteran status. The ordinance also was updated to prevent discrimination through telecommunication, which includes harassment over social media, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported. A first offense could result in a misdemeanor charge, a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. A second offense carries a possible $2,500 fine and up to one year in jail.
Source: KAKE – News
Long named Derby Firefighter of the Year
While he may have only joined the Derby Fire Department two years ago, Frank Long has plenty of experience in the field – two decades’ worth, to be exact. That experience has been a boon to Derby Fire and Rescue and is part of why Long was recently recognized as the 2020 Derby Firefighter of the Year. Prior to joining Derby FD in June 2018, Long had spent 18 years serving with the Overland Park Fire Department. While family brought Long and his wife to the area, the chance at a new opportunity is what drew him to seek a firefighter position in Derby.
Source: Derby Informer | News