Kansas Municipal News
Johnson County health officials urge school districts to cancel indoor winter sports
Health officials in Johnson County are urging school districts not to allow indoor winter sports, such as basketball and wrestling, where COVID-19 mitigation techniques aren’t possible. In a letter sent to superintendents throughout the county, Health Department Director Dr. Sanmi Areola said there are risks associated with indoor sports due to the level of community transmission of the virus. “While school districts permitted athletics and activities during the summer and fall months, many were outdoor sports that allowed for some safeguards to minimize the risk of widespread transmissions,” Dr. Areola said.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Boeing’s 737 MAX plan gets murkier for Wichita
Even with the plane nearing its long-awaited return, what comes next for the 737 MAX and Wichita got more uncertain with new delivery plans revealed Wednesday by the Boeing Co. While Boeing (NYSE: BA) maintained its production plan of increasing to 31 per month on the MAX by early 2022, the company also added a year — now through the end of 2022 — to the amount of time it expects will be needed to delivery the aircraft it already has in storage. And, in prioritizing delivery of the completed jets, Boeing CEO David Calhoun said it will be new production that feels the pinch if either side of that equation needs changed.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Lawrence whole-home Airbnbs now subject to new rules, possible fines up to $2,500
The city’s new prohibitions on many Airbnbs and other short-term rentals where the operator doesn’t also live in the home are now in effect, and those who continue to operate such rentals could soon be fined up to $2,500. Earlier this month, the Lawrence City Commission voted 4-1 to prohibit non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in neighborhoods that are zoned for single-family homes, allowing them only in residential areas zoned as multi-family and in specific types of properties. Those new regulations went into effect over the weekend, and the city will soon start enforcing them.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 27, 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.
Election looms as De La Isla balances life as Topeka mayor and congressional candidate
Michelle De La Isla said her days were already long when she was serving as Topeka’s mayor, but her days are even more hectic after as her campaign for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District seat enters the final stretch. De La Isla has campaigned before, for city council and mayor, but said running for Congress is different, especially during a pandemic. She noted her campaign staff has grown from past elections to this one. When running for city council, she ran the campaign mostly by herself. For mayor, she had two co-chairs helping her, and now, she has a team of consultants helping her manage everything.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Hutchinson hospital reaching ICU capacity
They haven’t filled every bed available in the intensive care unit since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but during periods over the past two weeks Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has reached its capacity in terms of staffing, a Hutchinson Regional Medical Center official reported Tuesday. At the same time, health officials are finding more people are unwilling to assist with contact tracing, and people sick with the virus appear to be staying sick longer. “As of 7 a.m. (Tuesday) we had 19 positive COVID patients, with three of the 19 intubated and on mechanical ventilation,” said Chuck Welch, HRMC vice president. “Over the last month and a half, we’ve seen an increase into the high teens to 20 consistently. Before that, we were holding at anywhere from five to 10 positives. The positives in the community have definitely trended up.”
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Pike named Barton County health consultant
Meeting as the Barton County Board of Health, county commissioners Monday morning accepted the resignation of Dr. Stanley Hatesohl as the county’s health consultant. Next, they appointed Dr. Jonathan Pike to fill the vacancy. Hatesohl was named to the post on March 16 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he has retired and moved from Kansas, said county Health Director Karen Winkelman. “During his tenure, he has successfully provided a vital community service.” Hatesohl advised the county of his resignation via email. “It has been a pleasure working with Karen Winkelman and the county during these challenging times,” he said.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Governor, top lawmakers agree: No Kansas mask rule for now
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republican legislators agreed Tuesday to try for now to encourage Kansas counties to adopt local mask mandates rather than consider a statewide rule as the state experiences its biggest surge in new coronavirus cases of the pandemic. Kelly had a private Zoom meeting with eight leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature, six of them Republicans, and participants said afterward that they discussed encouraging greater mask use. The state health department reported Monday that the state’s rolling seven-day average for new cases set a record of 815 a day for the seven days ending Monday. Kelly issued a statewide mask mandate July 2, but a state law enacted only the month before allowed the state’s 105 counties to opt out, and most did. The Democratic governor said last week that she wanted to work with top Republican lawmakers on a bipartisan mandate to require people to wear masks in public.
Source: KAKE – News
KDHE recommends social distancing for Halloween, no door-to-door trick-or-treating
Halloween is just days away and state leaders are recommending new ways to still have fun, while staying safe. Streets and sidewalks in local neighborhoods are usually filled with little witches and super heroes on Halloween. But what will it look like this year during a pandemic? “Our plans for this year, we’re really not going to do very much different than we normally would. We usually pass out candy in our neighborhood,” says Kristi Burchfiel, who plans to still hand out candy. Everyone we talked to expects a crowd waiting at their door, just like every other year.
Source: KAKE – News
Hutchinson schools approves plan for modified hybrid learning
The Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved a modified learning plan that will allow groups of students to return to the classroom the week of Nov. 2, while maintaining small groups. Under the plan, students will continue to eat in small groups, with elementary students eating in their classrooms. On Mondays and Wednesdays, roughly half of students will attend school in-person while the other half attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will attend in-person on alternating Fridays, with the first group going one Friday and the second group on the next.
Source: KAKE – News
KCK schools launch campaign to address violence in community
The Kansas City, Kansas School Board said Tuesday it is launching a community campaign to address violence in the KCK area. The campaign, called “Enough is Enough. Save our Kids. Save our Community” will begin Wednesday morning when blue ribbons and banners are placed throughout the area. City hall will also be lit in blue every night this week. The school district said that over the last year, it has lost 18 students. “While not every tragedy was caused the same way, the majority of our students have died due to gun violence, in fact 11 students in less than a year,” the board said in a letter to families. The school district said it is partnering with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office.
Source: KMBC.com
Wichita plastic bag ban study searches for more female and minority voices
A survey, which will influence city decision-making with the future of single-use plastic bags, needs to hear from more women and minorities over whether plastic bags should be banned. Currently the survey is not representative of Wichita’s population, heavily skewing towards perspectives that are male and white. Developed by Wichita’s Single-Use Plastic Bag Taskforce and researchers from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, the survey is being conducted to gauge citizens’ interest in either reducing plastic bag use or banning single-use plastic bags altogether. The survey asked demographic questions to see if they were representative of Wichita’s demographic. Currently, the survey is not, said Dr. Elizabeth Ablah, professor at the KU School of Medicine in Wichita.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Municipal Bond Trends for October 26, 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.
Cost to add new train crossing signal horns in Old Town Lenexa now tops $500,000
A plan to install signal horns at two railroad crossings in Old Town Lenexa will cost substantially more than anticipated. The Lenexa City Council earlier this month unanimously approved an increase of $190,000 to the original price tag of $350,000 to install the signals, known as wayside horns, at the crossings at Noland and Pflumm Roads, in order to warn motorists of oncoming trains. That makes the total cost of the project now roughly $540,000. Last month, BNSF Railway reported to city staff that it needs to replace aging equipment at the two crossings. The company had intended to replace much of its equipment but told the city it could not obtain materials necessary for those upgrades because of the age of the existing system.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Leawood residents concerned green space could be lost with development at 86th and State Line
A proposed mixed-use project at 86th Street and State Line Road in Leawood has some nearby homeowners expressing concerns about the possible loss of green space the project could entail. The project, at 8680 State Line, would include 189 apartments, 66,900 square feet of office space and 32,250 square feet of retail space, on what is now a parking lot, the developer said in a notice sent to nearby homeowners. The site is zoned for planned office; single family, low-density residential; and mixed use, and it would require rezoning. The developer, Doug Weltner with State Line 87 LLC and executive vice president of Colliers International’s Kansas City office, did not return phone calls seeking comment on the project.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Prairie Village diversity task force discusses steps to remove the city’s racist deed restrictions
The city of Prairie Village’s diversity task force Tuesday evening met for the second time to continue its brainstorming session from September, including discussions about erasing racially discriminatory deed restrictions and implicit bias within the police department. Following the September meeting, Mikkelson said he’d received feedback — overwhelmingly positive and constructive feedback, that is — and addressed three “good faith suggestions:” the amount of white people on the task force, the fact that it’s being led by a straight, white male and the balance of being action-oriented and listening to the community. Mayor Eric Mikkelson spearheaded the diversity task force, which is charged with developing recommendations to the city council on ways to diversify Prairie Village — specifically to racially diversify the city at this time, though it does include diversification of sexual orientations and socio-economic incomes, as well.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Officials set to face off over masks as Kansas cases rise
Kansas’ coronavirus case count continued to climb, even as one GOP lawmaker pushed back against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s call for a statewide mask mandate. “I’ve stated all along, and still believe, a one-size-fits-all COVID solution doesn’t work for our diverse state,” Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said Thursday in a written statement. “Local leaders have done a great job in dictating local responses after public hearings and discussions with their constituents.” More than 90 of the state’s 105 counties have opted out of the current mask order. That’s why Kelly said Wednesday that she plans to speak with House and Senate leadership to work toward a bipartisan mask requirement with more teeth.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
After criticism, Overland Park won’t use $350K in COVID-19 relief money for soccer
After drawing national criticism, Overland Park will no longer use $350,000 of federal COVID-19 relief money to install video cameras at Scheels Soccer Complex, officials announced Monday. Sean Reilly, city spokesman, said that officials decided to pull the funding due to a timing issue. Last week, the Overland Park City Council voted 10-2 to purchase the video equipment with federal money provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act. The city also agreed to grant Musco Sports Lighting the license to stream games on its platform, and the city would receive 70% of all revenue made from people paying to watch or download the videos.
Source: KC Star Local News
‘It’s just a big change’ — Lenexa police chief to retire in December
After 31 years in law enforcement, Lenexa Police Chief Tom Hongslo is retiring in December. The city of Lenexa announced Hongslo’s upcoming retirement last month. Details about recruitment of the next police chief have not yet been released. “Got a little anxiety; it’s just a big change,” Hongslo said. “I’ve been doing this for 31 years. To think that on Dec. 19, I’ll no longer be a police officer and be part of this organization again, it’ll be sad. “But it’s a great time for the organization, it’s a great time for me. We’re in a really good spot right now, and I’m hoping that I have put the building blocks in place that whoever takes my spot, all they’ve got to do is keep improving.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
KANSASWORKS virtual job fair begins Tuesday
The sixth KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair begins Tuesday, October 27, and continues through Thursday, October 29. On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly encouraged Kansans to participate in it. The virtual fair will allow job seekers to easily live chat with employers from across the state through computers and mobile devices. KANSASWORKS has organized four virtual job fairs in 2020, with three additional virtual fairs planned later this year. The Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Local Workforce Development Boards, moved its statewide job fairs online this year to eliminate public health risks associated with mass gatherings, and as a way to continue to provide job opportunities and maintain a ready workforce for Kansas businesses.
Source: KSN-TV