Kansas Municipal News
Mangus retiring from Winfield after 31 years
After 31 years working for the City of Winfield, assistant to the city manager Gary Mangus will retire on Dec. 11. Mangus began working for the city in February 1989, helping set up a central purchasing department under then-city manager Rick Cotton. Mangus was purchasing coordinator for two years, before becoming assistant to the city manager in 1991. He has held that position under four city managers (eight including interim managers).
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Huge grass fire battled in eastern Cowley
All Cowley County fire departments responded to a large grass fire before noon Tuesday south of Dexter. When the first responders arrived they reported the fire was more than a mile long, according to radio communications. Fire units staged at 241st Road and 266th Road, then created a perimeter from the origin of the fire to U.S. 166 Highway in attempts to keep it from jumping the highway due to high winds. Winds ranged from 15 to 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Once water tankers were able to extinguish the fire at U.S. 166, they began moving east toward the intersection at K-15 Highway. By 1:30 p.m., trucks and tankers began breaking off for other grass fires reported in the county, one near Atlanta and another between Udall and Oxford.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Don’t wait on contact tracers to notify others, official said
With the number of cases under investigation by contact tracers piling up, health officials ask that people who know they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 go ahead and reach out to people they have been in close contact with to let them know. And if waiting on test results due to symptoms, isolate. The county added 93 more positives since yesterday afternoon’s report, pushing the community active case count to 896. Meanwhile, the number of cases under investigation by contact traces, who work to determine the exposure route and notify likely close contacts, has reached 685.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Wesley CEO says 10% of his COVID patients dying; Sedgwick County leans toward toughening rules
Saying their hospital is overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients — 10 percent of whom will probably die — officials of Wesley Medical Center pleaded with the Sedgwick County Commission to do much more to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the community. And it looks like the hospital officials may get much of what they’re asking for, with commissioners urging their health officer to draft an order with more restrictions on businesses and private gatherings. Dr. Lowell Ebersole, medical director for the Wichita area’s second-largest hospital system, presented a list of recommendations to strengthen the county response to the viral pandemic. Several echo Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order from earlier this year, which was gutted by the state Legislature in late May and early June.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Gov. Laura Kelly issues new statewide mask mandate, adding teeth to anti-coronavirus directive
Gov. Laura Kelly responded to surging coronavirus infection Wednesday with a statewide executive order on face coverings that grants county commissions the option of accepting the governor’s version, crafting their own standard or rejecting new limits entirely. Counties would have one week to pass their own nuanced ordinance before automatic implementation of Kelly’s mask protocol, which would go into effect the day before Thanksgiving. There is concern among health professionals that gatherings during the holiday could turn into superspreader events, but those same officials insist people wear masks, wash hands and keep their distance if compelled to attend family events. Kansas counties and cities that have implemented mask requirements will be exempted from Kelly’s revised executive order and can keep their existing rules, she said.
Source: Kansas Reflector
With prior order in place, JoCo exempted from Gov. Kelly’s new statewide mask mandate
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly responded to surging coronavirus infections Wednesday with a statewide executive order mandating people wear a mask in public and requiring county commissions to take a public vote if they want to reject the mandate or craft their own measures. Counties have one week to pass their own measure or accept her public-safety directive, which goes into effect the day before Thanksgiving. Kelly signed a comparable mask order in July that lacked instructions for a local government vote, and nearly four of five counties determined masking was unwarranted to stem the tide of COVID-19.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee set to write city’s first long-term plan in 33 years — and officials want residents’ input
Shawnee is seeking public input on a comprehensive plan to update the city’s development guide and vision. Shawnee city staff recently launched a survey as the first step to garner public opinions on things like shopping, entertainment, dining and nightlife; services and city amenities like parks and recreation; and also development of the city’s housing stock. The survey also asks participants to weigh in on critical issues facing the city, including “NIMBYism” and fear of change, a lack of a unified city plan, trust among residents and government and division on the Shawnee City Council.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wichita schools ask city for help as COVID surges among teachers threatens closures
The Wichita school district is calling for help from the city as teachers and school staff are contracting COVID-19 at an alarming pace, causing staffing shortages that could force some school buildings to close. “The District is in the process of considering closing of a number of school buildings due to a shortage of staff at those buildings,” USD 259 leaders said in a letter to the Wichita City Council on Tuesday. “If something in the community does not change soon, the District will have to consider closing additional buildings.” There are more absent teachers and paras than there are substitutes. When a school nurse misses work during the surging coronavirus pandemic, the school goes without. And the COVID situation is getting worse.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Hays chef creates Kansas-made market on Main Street — next door to his new barbecue joint
When Ellis County native Philip Kuhn was 9, he was through with eating grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He decided to start cooking some specialty items for his four siblings. At 33, armed with years of experience, a culinary degree and a successful downtown restaurant, Kuhn is ready to be inventive again. Along with opening a barbecue restaurant, he’s starting a specialty market, which includes meats and homegrown lettuce produced in his basement. Kuhn learned how to make bierocks from his great-aunt Vi and how to fry bacon from his grandmother. After graduating from Hays High School, he attended culinary school at the Art Institute of Colorado and worked for restaurants in Dodge City and Hutchinson. Five years ago, he headed home to Hays to open his own restaurant, The Press.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Local entities teamed up to entice the business to locate in Humboldt
Murphy Tractor & Equipment, one of John Deere’s largest construction and forestry dealers in North America, is up and running in Humboldt. It’s the company’s 30th location…. Indeed, a variety of players teamed up to entice Murphy to move to Humboldt. Allen County commissioners provided $335,000 to aid Humboldt in extending utilities to the 30-acre industrial tract. B&W Trailer Hitches, Monarch Cement Company and the county also provided in-kind participation, with Humboldt maintenance workers and B&W resources replacing contracted labor.
Source: The Iola Register
Fire chief hangs up his helmet
Iola Fire Chief Tim Thyer has seen a lot of changes over the 33 years he’s worked for the department, but the basic mantra remains the same: “Put the wet stuff on the red stuff.” But thanks to technology, Thyer said, “We just have new ways of applying the wet stuff.” Go back to 1987, though, and things were quite a bit different. In January 1987, then-Fire Chief Clarence Hydorn interviewed him for a full-time position, though Thyer wouldn’t actually be hired for another six months.
Source: The Iola Register
Municipal Bond Trends for November 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.
Wyandotte & Jackson Counties Coordinate COVID-19 Response
Wyandotte County, Kansas & Jackson County, Missouri Coordinate COVID-19 Response to Reduce Regional Spread. Leaders with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri, have coordinated to issue local health orders in response to a strong resurgence of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in the region. The Unified Government Public Health Department’s (UGPHD)s new Local Health Order will lower capacity at businesses and restrict gatherings to ten or fewer people. This new Order will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020, and will remain in effect until it is extended, rescinded, replaced, or amended.
Source: Edwardsville, KS – News Flash
When Buhler couldn’t serve lunch, rival school McPherson stepped up
Buhler and McPherson schools may be rivals on the field, but they’re partners in education. When Buhler High School needed help bringing lunch to students at the high school, USD 418 stepped up. Last Wednesday morning, Buhler High School food staff received word that they all needed to begin quarantining due to close contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Gatherings in Reno County now limited to 10, with exceptions
The Reno County Commission, on a split vote, agreed Tuesday to allow a county health order to be put in place to limit the size of gatherings in the county to 10 people. The order contains the same exceptions as an earlier order that limited gatherings to 100 people, as long as a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing can be maintained, interim Reno County health officer Karen Hammersmith advised the county commission.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
New ‘storymap’ has trove of info on Sedgwick County COVID crisis; here’s where it’s at
Amid major increases in Sedgwick County’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the county has created a “storymap” to help residents understand the threat better. The storymap offers far more detail than the county’s COVID dashboard, which has until now been the main source of public information on the local impact of the pandemic. The storymap was demonstrated to county commissioners by epidemiology project manager Kaylee Hervey at a staff meeting Tuesday. Using the storymap, residents will be able to see a much clearer picture of the spread and impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the community, she said. One of the new features is a “toggle map” allowing people to instantly compare case rates and testing rates by ZIP code.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Garden City Public Schools Foundation Awards Mini-grants To Teachers
The Garden City Public Schools Foundation Grant Squad awarded $200 mini-grants to help teachers enhance their classrooms on Monday, November 16. The Grant Squad presented the checks to the teachers virtually this year to follow the district’s operational level protocols to keep everyone safe. The virtual presentation can be found on the district’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gckschools/. The grants are awarded to help support learning initiatives in the classrooms and at the schools.
Source: Greater Garden City » Feed
Firefighters contain large grass fire in Cowley County
Firefighters responded to a large grass fire burning in Cowley County Tuesday afternoon. Fire crews said the fire started from someone burning trash when the wind caused the fire to spread quickly and burning over 100 acres before it was contained. No one was hurt and no property was damaged due to this fire. The state has two Black Hawk helicopters on standby in case they are needed to fight grass fires Tuesday and Wednesday.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County: Conducting anonymous survey on COVID-19 vaccine
Sedgwick County announced Tuesday they are conducting an anonymous survey where residents in south-central Kansas, including Sedgwick County, can complete an anonymous survey to estimate how many people will get a COVID-19 vaccine. In a news release Tuesday, Sedgwick County stated the survey responses will help the Sedgwick County Health Department plan for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and information. The Health Department partnered with KU School of Medicine – Wichita to create the survey. Regional and county-specific results will be analyzed by the KU School of Medicine – Wichita.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka municipal court closes, efforting to reduce coronavirus spread
The Topeka Municipal Court is closing its doors in an attempt to reduce the rate of community spread in Shawnee County, according to a news release. Starting Wednesday, Nov. 18, the court is canceling all dockets and trials. These cases will be rescheduled after its planned reopen on Dec. 4., according to a news release. The court will still conduct jail hearings through video conference on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Topeka Municipal Court will also remain open for walk-ins Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. People are encouraged to use online and mobile services whenever possible to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Source: KSNT News