Kansas Municipal News
Topeka’s new microhospital could accept some COVID-19 patients from Stormont, St. Francis
The recently opened Topeka ER & Hospital could accept some COVID-19 patients from Stormont Vail Hospital or the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis campus — though neither of those hospitals has taken Topeka ER up on the offer yet. Jared Schreiner, Topeka ER & Hospital’s chief medical officer, told The Topeka Capital-Journal on Friday that the facility has treated some “moderately ill” COVID-19 patients over the past few weeks. But it doesn’t have any inpatients positive for the coronavirus now, nor has it run into the capacity issues being faced by St. Francis and Stormont. The Capital-Journal reported Friday that St. Francis’ intensive care unit was at 100% of capacity that morning, while Stormont’s ICU capacity sat at 97%.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
VA outpatient clinic in Liberal closing next next year
The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center said it will close its outpatient clinic in Liberal next year. The Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, which opened in 2018 in Liberal, will cease operations after Jan. 14, the Dodge City Globe reported. “We are disappointed to have to make this decision,” said Candace Ifabiyi, Medical Center director for Dole VA.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
With KC beds sparse, rural hospitals in Kansas, Missouri face new COVID ‘tidal wave’
Like just about every healthcare facility in the nation, Holton Community Hospital spent the early months of the year making big plans as leaders there awaited the arrival of the coronavirus. There were disaster planning sessions, preparations to move around staff and plans to add temporary hospital beds. “Then it didn’t happen,” said Krista Eylar, nursing director at the hospital about 30 miles north of Topeka.
Source: KC Star Local News
Majority of counties in Kansas have mask mandate in place following governor’s order
Sixty-two Kansas counties now have mask orders in place, with many coming as Gov. Laura Kelly’s new statewide mask order went into effect, according to a list compiled by the Kansas Association of Counties. That’s up from the 50 reported counties, out of 105, with mask mandates as of Tuesday. The remaining 43 of the counties have opted out, but most are encouraging or recommending people wear masks. It’s a stark contrast to the response Kelly received to her first mask order in July, when the majority of counties opted out. But as cases of COVID-19 soar and hospitals struggle with the number of patients, the switch shows local officials developing a willingness to take more aggressive action to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Source: KC Star Local News
Municipal Bond Trends for November 24, 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.
Officials announce online portal to report businesses in violation of health order
The City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and other local officials announced on Tuesday an online portal for residents to report businesses in violation of Dr. Garold Minns latest health order. “While the focus of enforcement is to educate businesses about COVID-19 safety and to encourage best health practices, failure to comply with the local health order is a violation of County code and may result in the offending business receiving a citation and notice to appear in County Court,” the county said in a news release. “The penalty for any violation would be a fine.” Once a complaint is received and reviewed, the business may receive a notification letter from the Sedgwick County Health Department. Officials will begin an investigation and if a violation is confirmed, the business could receive a citation and a notice to appear in court. If no violation is found, there will be no further action.
Source: KAKE – News
316 Hotel in Wichita to be redeveloped into affordable housing
The City of Wichita announced Tuesday that the city, in collaboration with Continuum of Care, is providing funding to HumanKind Ministries to purchase the 316 Hotel located at 1011 Topeka Ave. to add to much-needed affordable housing. Both public and private funds will help transform the property into studio apartments, a 56-unit supportive permanent housing complex specifically aimed at helping our community’s most vulnerable residents. The program is currently being called the 316 Hotel Project and will serve those who are homeless or experiencing housing insecurity. This joint initiative comes at a time when The City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, the business community and the nonprofit community are concentrating their efforts to positively impact Wichita’s mental health services, education, job training, substance abuse assistance and more.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita Police Department delivers turkey dinners to those in need
Members of the Wichita Police Department delivered turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to those in need as part of the Hope for the Holidays program. It is all do to help from different businesses and organizations. The deliveries included turkeys, pumpkin pie, and dressing. “It has been a crazy year, especially with the pandemic. It has been taking a real big hit on the community and people with their jobs, financial issues. So, it is a great feeling that we can serve the community in this sort of way, and we are able to get them some normalcy to 2020 and enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal,” said officer Kristopher Gupilan.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County’s new public health order pressures businesses to slow COVID-19 surge
Sedgwick County is putting the onus on businesses to help slow the coronavirus as it rapidly spreads in the Wichita area. A new health order signed by Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns on Tuesday requires businesses to take steps to track the number of people coming and going and ensuring patrons comply with social distancing and a mask mandate. Businesses and organizations must also “make reasonable efforts to inform members of the public as to applicable mask or other face covering requirements” and “require all employees, customers, visitors, members or members of the public to wear a mask or other face covering” when working in a space that’s visited by customers or members of the public, whether customers are around or not.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
KSHSAA votes to ban fans, start winter sports on time
High school winter sports will start on time in Kansas. But they’ll start without fans until nearly February. A proposal to delay the high school basketball, wrestling, bowling and boys swimming and diving seasons by the Kansas State High School Activities Association amid the COVID-19 pandemic was struck down on Tuesday. The association’s Board of Directors voted to start the season on time by a 53-22 vote. “I’m pleased that those learning opportunities will be part of (student-athletes’) reality,” KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick said. “We’re working towards a healthier Kansas. We need to make sure that those mitigation protocols are followed through with fidelity.”
Source: Parsons Sun
Merriam looks to improve options to record its council meetings with $60,000 budget
Merriam residents wanting to tune in to the city’s council meetings may have an enhanced experience in coming months. Currently, the city broadcasts its bi-monthly meetings live via Zoom and residents can also catch a recording after the fact on the city’s YouTube channel. But now Merriam is working toward upgrading its Audiovisual system, which will be used to record future in-person council meetings. Meredith Hauck, assistant city administrator, presented the city council with several examples and options to choose from including singular versus multi-camera setups. Hauck said a basic setup would cost the city about $50,000 initially and $10,000 annually for maintenance. The city has $60,000 allocated in its 2021 budget for the item.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Chanute fiber project on target for end of year deadline
City officials told Chanute city commissioners they are confident they will be able to get the fiber expansion project completed by a Dec. 30 deadline. City Manager Todd Newman updated commissioners at Monday evening’s meeting on the fiber optic broadband project, funded by a Connectivity Emergency Response Grant, which seeks to provide connections to homes and businesses in an area southeast of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue. Newman said he does not want to jinx it, but feels confident the project can be completed by the deadline. The city has received payment of the first half of the $1.6 million grant, and if it does not finish in time, might not receive the second half.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Osawatomie’s holiday celebration moving to digital/online format
A surge in COVID-19 cases in Miami County and throughout the region has forced the city of Osawatomie and the Osawatomie Chamber of Commerce to transition their Miracle on Main Street event to an online/digital format, the city announced Tuesday, Nov. 24. Organizers said Tuesday afternoon they would still like to have the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, the announcement of the Citizen of the Year, and free socially distanced Santa photos, but most of the other pieces of the Dec. 5 event are being tabled until next year. “We’re very disappointed by this, of course, but the safety of our community comes first,” a representative of the city said in an email.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Atchison County strengthens mask requirement and lowers person limits
Atchison County Health officials have updated their recommendations and guidelines in effort to lessen the community spread of COVID-19 infections that will be in effect until late January 2026 Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021well after the holiday season. County commissioner adopted the order as part of their business during their weekly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 24. Emergency Manager Director Wesley Lanter explained the Health Order 2020-13 will go into effective at midnight Wednesday, Nov. 25 and is to remain in effect until Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Mullinville old school building houses unique antique mall
The Old School Antique Mall in Mullinville has been around for six years, with Susan Clayton at the helm since November 2018. Doris Headrick and a group of her friends started the antique mall in 2014 after recognizing they had a special affinity for not only the antiques they collected, but also the building which houses their shop, an unused schoolhouse in the small, western-Kansas town.
Source: News – Butler County Times Gazette
Overland Park pushes back against KC Star lawsuit seeking records in police killing of John Albers
The city of Overland Park says its severance agreement with the police officer who shot and killed teenager John Albers in 2018 is not subject to public disclosure. On Friday, the city asked a Johnson County judge to toss a lawsuit brought by The Kansas City Star seeking to obtain a copy of the agreement. In a lengthy motion for summary judgment, Overland Park says the agreement is a personnel record that it has the discretion to close under the Kansas Open Records Act. At issue is the severance agreement the city entered into with police officer Clayton Jenison nearly four weeks after Jenison shot Albers, a 17-year-old high school student.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Municipal Bond Trends for November 23, 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.
Topekans can get help covering basic needs through city program
Topekans struggling to pay housing bills during the pandemic can schedule an appointment with the city to help cover some costs. Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance program is a $1.5 million CARES Act fund to help Topekans cover the cost of rent, mortgage payments or utility bills. The 45-minute to hour-long appointments can be scheduled by calling (785) 233-1365, or by walking in and scheduling the next available time. “The City of Topeka knows how much our neighbors are struggling during these difficult times,” said City Manager Brent Trout in a Monday press release. “The Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance program is designed to keep our neighbors housed and with their utilities on so they can focus on other needs this year.”
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Experts say jails can be superspreaders. The Shawnee County Jail is trying to prevent that.
Jails weren’t designed for a pandemic. Experts say a lack of airflow, overpopulation and bunk beds make jails the “perfect setting” for the coronavirus to spread. “It’s not a secret at all to know … that COVID is a huge challenge,” said Brian Cole, director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. “Not just in Shawnee County, but across the United States when it comes to COVID.” COVID-19 cases are up across the country and have been increasing exponentially in Shawnee County, with 1,027 cases reported between Nov. 8-14.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Butler County Courthouse closed due to COVID
Those headed to the Butler County Historic Courthouse Monday to do business found a locked door — the building was closed to the public. “Many Departments within the Courthouse cannot serve our public at the level our public expects and we have made the decision to close the Historic Courthouse to the public through the Thanksgiving Holiday,” said Will Johnson, county administrator. “The closure will give our employees who are currently off work time to finish their quarantines and those currently experiencing any illnesses time to get healthy so they may return to work.” Beginning Monday the Butler County Historic Courthouse was restricted from public access — and will remain that way through the Thanksgiving holiday. The county intends to reopen the buildng to the public on Nov. 3.
Source: andoveramerican.com