Kansas Municipal News
Gary Haller leaves major legacy in Johnson County
Johnson County recently lost a champion of green space and recreation activities who was instrumental in impacting the quality of life in Johnson County. Longtime JCPRD employees have lost a friend. Former JCPRD Executive Director Gary L. Haller passed away in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 10. He had retired from the agency in March 2001 after 27 years with JCPRD, but had remained in touch with many current and former employees. “Many of you, like me, had the privilege of working with him and seeing his true genius that left lasting impacts on JCPRD and Johnson County, as well as beyond those boundaries,” JCPRD Administration Manager Jo Ann Courtney wrote in a Thursday email to staff. “He will not be forgotten, and the Gary L. Haller Trail on the Mill Creek Streamway Park will tell a part of his story to generations to come.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
City of Wellington Public Utility Electric Department receives national commendation for mutual aid support
The City of Wellington Public Utility Electric Department has received a national commendation from the American Public Power Association for its mutual aid support in electric power restoration efforts in Blackwell, Okla. On October 27, 2020, a powerful ice storm caused significant power outages in Blackwell, Okla. so the City of Wellington sent a crew of three and a bucket truck to assist efforts of restoring power to the city. The City of Wellington participates in the American Public Power Association’s Mutual Aid Network, which coordinates with utilities and authorities during widespread power outages. Mutual aid is at the heart of what public power does, and the public power community steps up to help a neighbor in need – whether they are next door or thousands of miles away.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Wichita bar owners argue a Covid curfew violates their constitutional rights. But will their lawsuit hold up in court?
Under the latest order from Sedgwick County health officer Garold Minns, bars and nightclubs have to close their doors at 11 p.m. and limit occupancy to 50% capacity in an effort to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the group of Wichita bar owners challenging local Covid-19 restrictions in court say they feel singled out by the rules and want their hours back. In a civil lawsuit refiled Friday in Sedgwick County District Court, a long list of plaintiffs representing 11 Wichita establishments argue a business curfew violates their right to due process protected under the 14th Amendment and the Kansas Bill of Rights.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 15, 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.
Digital testing serves 16 counties
Less than two months after its opening, the Wichita State’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab is digitally transforming the COVID-19 landscape, combining medical laboratory sciences, advanced robotics, and automation to process thousands of tests for Kansas communities each week. "When so many of our Kansas communities are suffering from the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wichita State is working to mitigate the spread of the virus," …
Source: News – Salina Journal
Changes approved for project to restore historic Wichita theater
Wichita city council members have approved some changes in an agreement for the restoration of an historic theater. The agreement is with the Power Community Development Corporation for the renovation of the Dunbar Theater at 1007 North Cleveland. Power CDC has been working to raise funds for a three-phase project, but fundraising has been below expectations and the first phase of the project won’t be completed by January 1st.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Pott. County discusses COVID-19 vaccine-shipment timeline
Kansas hospitals are beginning to receive COVID-19 vaccine shipments this week. Leslie Campbell, Pottawatomie County health director, says hospital staff will have up to five days to receive the vaccination. “Once they get their 24,000 doses, they’ll be able to give it to all the hospital personnel,” Campbell said. “Any hospital personnel; it doesn’t have to be nurses.” The first dose of the vaccine will be followed by a second dose about three to four weeks later.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Hutchinson school board extends winter break
The Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education voted to extend winter break. The district said the change in scheduled in designed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on students and staff. The proposal, which the board voted to adopt on Monday, says students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade will return to class in the hybrid model on Jan. 11 instead of Jan. 4. Similarly, Hutchinson High School students will resume remote learning on Jan. 11, with plans to return to the hybrid model on Jan. 25. The Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy will also return on Jan. 11 to the hybrid model.
Source: KAKE – News
Roeland Park residents to receive up to 50% discount to city parks and rec facilities, services
The Roeland Park City Council last week approved a parks and recreation pricing policy that gives residents a discounted rate of up to 50% less than non-residents. The new policy outlines how the city charges residents and non-residents for a wide variety of services from parks and rec staples like the aquatic center, to facility rental fees and individual recreational lessons. Councilmember Jan Faidley emphasized the importance of reviewing pricing each year so residents can give feedback regularly.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee opts against using county resources to enforce JoCo pandemic health order
After some back-and-forth among city leaders, the Shawnee City Council on Monday night decided to opt out of Johnson County’s recent pandemic health order. Despite the vote, the health order remains in effect in Shawnee, but the council’s decision means that the city will handle enforcement instead of utilizing county resources. The order, originally issued on Nov. 16, is limited to businesses and organizations in violation of the county’s limits on things like gathering size and hours of operation and includes exemptions for private residences and religious organizations. Businesses found to be in violation could pay a fine of up to $500.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Fairway approves add-on sales tax for Stroud’s redevelopment
The Fairway City Council Monday evening approved the nearly $2 million Stroud’s redevelopment agreement and the city’s first-ever Community Improvement District. A 1.5% add-on sales tax will apply to shoppers at the multi-tenant site, which intends to bring a Starbucks with a drive-thru, a retail space and a restaurant to 4200 Shawnee Mission Parkway.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Iola picks Matthew Rehder for city administrator
Matthew Rehder, city administrator of Seneca, has been tapped to become Iola’s next city administrator. City Council members voted, 5-3, to extend a three-year contract offer to Rehder. Terms of the contract were not announced. According to Rehder’s LinkedIn profile, he’s been city administrator in Seneca since 2013. Prior to that, he worked for seven years as planning director for El Dorado.
Source: The Iola Register
Another massive warehouse is coming to Park City, this time for an Amazon supplier
Even before Amazon finally confirmed in October that it is building a massive new warehouse in Park City, Pratt Industries had started making plans for its own large warehouse, office and production facility there. No one with Pratt Industries returned calls this summer or this week, but there’s no doubt about its plans. The Georgia-based company, which bills itself “America’s 5th largest corrugated packaging company and the world’s largest, privately-held 100% recycled paper and packaging company,” is a major supplier to Amazon elsewhere. The new facility seems to be in conjunction with Amazon’s plans, but that’s not confirmed.
Source: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |
After 2 years on the job, Shawnee Mission school superintendent says he’ll step down
Shawnee Mission Superintendent Mike Fulton plans to retire from his position in July, he told the school board Monday night. Fulton said in a statement that announcing his decision now will allow the district enough time to find his replacement. He has led the Johnson County school district, which is one of the largest in the state with more than 27,000 students, since 2018. “My plan beyond the superintendency is to stay engaged with the educational community in ways that support leadership development and promote equity and excellence in public education,” Fulton wrote. “To serve as superintendent in SMSD has been an honor. … The future is bright in the Shawnee Mission School District.”
Source: KC Star Local News
Lecompton’s Christmas tree display highlights antique holiday decor
Each year, the Territorial Capital Museum in Lecompton brings holiday cheer to the small town by hosting its Christmas tree display. The event draws a few thousand people each year to look at the unique trees and ornaments that date back to the 1800s. Paul Bahnmaier, president of the Lecompton Historical Society, answered questions about this year’s Christmas tree display and the changes the museum has incorporated to keep its guests safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 14, 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.
Wichita Police host annual Holiday Feast
The Wichita Police Department hosted their annual Holiday Feast for people and families in need on Sunday. The event allowed families to pick up food prepared by Pig In Pig Out, an area barbecue restaurant, as well as meet Santa Claus and receive wrapped gifts from officers and people from the community. The event has been a staple of the WPD for the past 12 years.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka Police Chief says he’ll be ‘moving down the road’
Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran said he’ll be “moving on down the road,” after retires in January 2021. Cochran was officially named the police chief in January of 2018. He took the job with a big hurdle ahead of him as 2017 became the deadliest year on record in Topeka with 29 killings. After just one year on the job, homicides in Topeka went down by more than 40% from that deadly year, logging 17 killings in 2018. Looking back at his long career, Cochran said he was most proud of his work as a homicide detective and as part of the accident reconstruction team. Cochran said he was proud of bringing families closure.
Source: KSNT News
Over 1,000 Lyon county residents concerned about rezoning plans
Hundreds of people in Lyon County are concerned about a rezoning plan being considered by the county commissioners that could potentially cause them to lose their farms. Angel Cushing owns a small goat farm of less than 40 acres in northern Lyon County. The new plan would require her to prove the agricultural purpose of her land because it is less than 40 acres.
Source: KSNT News
Rage against the machine
In 1900, Iola Portland Cement Company was the largest plant of its kind in the United States. From 1900 to 1903, it was also the single largest employer in Allen County, and so had the honor of naming the factory’s housing settlement in honor of one of its own: S.H. Bassett, an official who worked there. Not much of Bassett remains today, save a few foundations and “shotgun” style houses, which earn their name since it is almost impossible to detect an individual from out of a group.
Source: The Iola Register