Municipal News & Jobs

The Lawrence City Commission will soon decide on procedures for investigating potential ethics violations by its members and other city positions. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a resolution that establishes procedures for investigating alleged violations of the city’s ethics and professional conduct policy, according to a city staff memo to the commission. Currently, there is not a process laid out for investigating ethics complaints made against commissioners, city advisory board members or the city manager.
Source: LJWorld.com.

With two newly elected candidates taking their seats soon, the Douglas County Commission will have a much different look than before — and maybe an unprecedented one. When Shannon Reid and Shannon Portillo take their seats to represent the 2nd and 3rd districts, respectively, they will both be Lawrence residents representing districts that include the rural parts of the county. Commission Chair Patrick Kelly’s 1st District is entirely within Lawrence city limits. That means the County Commission will consist solely of Lawrence residents. That will be the first time that has happened in at least two decades, and it might be the first time ever.
Source: LJWorld.com.

After Michael Ernatt’s dog allegedly bit his next-door neighbor, an officer with the Animal Control Section of the City of Wichita Police Department deemed the dog “potentially dangerous” under Wichita City Code of Ordinances Sec. 6.04.045(a) (2018). Ernatt appealed to an administrative hearing officer, who also concluded that Ernatt’s dog was potentially dangerous. There was no transcript taken of this hearing. Ernatt then appealed to the district court under K.S.A. 60-2101(d). Besides challenging the hearing officer’s potentially dangerous dog finding, Ernatt raised several constitutional challenges to Wichita’s dangerous dog ordinance scheme. The district court did not rule on Ernatt’s constitutional arguments but reversed, finding the lack of a transcript prevented the court from meaningfully reviewing the potentially dangerous dog ruling. The City of Wichita (the City) appeals, arguing that the district court misunderstood its review powers under K.S.A. 60-2101(d). Ernatt cross-appeals, raising some of the constitutional challenges to the ordinance scheme he raised below. We affirm the district court’s ruling.
Source: kscourts.org.

The Lawrence Community Police Review Board is wrapping up its process of drafting an ordinance to strengthen oversight of complaints against police and preparing to begin a public input process regarding the proposed changes. As part of its meeting Thursday, the board voted unanimously to change or clarify several sections in the draft ordinance and is now scheduled to vote on advancing the draft for public comment at its next meeting. The changes aim to strengthen a board that members have said is ineffective at providing oversight in its current form.
Source: LJWorld.com.

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.