Kansas Municipal News
Police and Community committee spend two hours discussing TPD policies, plan future meeting for further discussion
The Police and Community committee spent two hours discussing the Topeka Police Department’s policy before it ran out of time in this meeting. The committee will meet again to continue its review of TPD’s use of force, de-escalation, duty to intervene, and standard interaction and bias profiling policies. Council members on the committee were provided with the department’s training policies, and were given time to question officers, Police Chief Bill Cochran and the police’s legal counsel Mark Jones. Council member Karen Hiller said the review of the police department is about how well TPD policy is written and how well officers are following that policy.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
McPherson passes new mask ordinance
There was some COVID-19 news at the McPherson City Commission — the annual Mayor’s Cup basketball games will not be at the Round House this year, and the commission took action to renew a facial covering ordinance in the city. The commission took a look at recent statistical reports — including the Oct. 23 report that showed 18 new cases — all but one were symptomatic cases of the disease. Most stemmed from a known exposure to the disease. Because we have had a lot of cases lately, we are in a red the last two days(according to a report by Harvard Global),” said mayor Tom Brown said. “We are right at 30 The threshold is 25. That is not doing good.”
Source: McPherson Sentinel
Duplexes are partial solution to housing dilemma in Greensburg
Affordable housing is an issue in any rural community, but since the tornado of 2007 hit Greensburg it has been an ever-present problem. A group of contractors and grant recipients recently held an open house to show-off new housing units that help alleviate that problem on a small scale for Kiowa County. Stacy Barnes, Greensburg City Administrator, said the completion of two duplexes are the culmination of long-awaited project. “Since the 2007 tornado, housing is continually identified as a need for Greensburg’s continued recovery and growth and we are excited that this project has come to fruition,” said Barnes.
Source: News – Butler County Times Gazette
Lawrence changes virtual meeting procedures in effort to make public comment easier
The City of Lawrence is making changes to how it runs its online meetings in an effort to make public participation easier. The Lawrence City Commission began holding virtual meetings in response to the coronavirus pandemic and adopted a resolution modifying meeting procedures in April. Under those regulations, the city encouraged residents who wanted to speak during general public comment or about a particular agenda item to submit their comments in writing, either via email or using a drop box at City Hall. Residents can also request to be part of the Zoom meeting, either online or by phone. Limited staff members are also in place at City Hall for the public to comment in person.
Source: LJWord.com.
Lawrence snow shoveling program seeking volunteers, applicants for help
The City of Lawrence and the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County are seeking applicants and volunteers for the Safe Winter Walkways Program. Volunteers are needed to help elderly and disabled individuals clear snow from public sidewalks in front of their homes, according to a city news release. All volunteers are asked to commit to the entire snow season and shovel after each snowfall. The program makes an effort to match volunteers with residents in their neighborhoods.
Source: LJWord.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 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.
10-year Treasury yield hits 4-month high
U.S. government bond yields posted their largest weekly gain since August, lifted by signs of economic recovery and the hopes for economic stimulus before or after the presidential election. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note reached as high as 0.87% in early trading Friday before settling at 0.84%, according to Tradeweb—down slightly from 0.847% on Thursday. It had previously climbed for six straight sessions, reaching its highest level since early June.
Source: Wall Street Journal.
Governor Kelly Announces 250 Jobs with New Empirical Foods Facility in Garden City
Governor Laura Kelly Thursday announced the groundbreaking for a new Empirical Foods ground beef facility in Garden City. The planned facility, which is now the largest single investment in the company’s 40-year history, will bring 250 new jobs and more than $250 million in capital investment to Garden City and Finney County. “Empirical Foods made a smart decision in choosing to do business in a community with so much to offer in excellent schools, infrastructure, and quality-of-life amenities for employees and their families,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Projects like this will continue to strengthen our state’s foundation and help us attract more companies, like Empirical, to do business in Kansas.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Despite challenges, Kansas’ rural schools handling pandemic. A big hurdle? Getting community buy-in
It was a little over a month into the school year that Holton Unified School District 336 superintendent Bob Davies realized the district was fighting a losing battle. The battle wasn’t against COVID-19, though, at least not directly. Like most other rural districts, USD 336 took a shot at the beginning of the school year and opened with in-person classes, with the hopes that social distancing, mask and hygiene policies could stave off the virus in their classrooms, and more than a quarter into the school year, this was Davies’ conclusion: the precautions were working.
Source: Education – Morning Sun
Collaborative art installation highlights importance of migration, trails that ran through Topeka
An art installation two years in the making is now complete and on display at Redbud Park in the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District. The sculpture named “The Travelers” was a collaborative project between a group of local artists and Phoenix-based sculptor Patricia Sannit. Sannit came to Topeka two years ago to host a workshop as part of the Kansas Artist Craftsmen Association’s conference. During her time in the city, Sannit guided and assisted several artists in conceiving and crafting the sculpture.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Why Wichita says new electric buses are better than their diesel predecessors
Wichita transit added seven new electric buses this month in the next step of its plan to eventually electrify the entire fleet. With 11 buses, Wichita currently has the largest electric transit offering in Kansas. The buses, which cost more than their diesel counterparts, were paid for by two federal grants. Still, each bus is expected to save the city $462,000 over its lifetime — at least 12 years — as electric buses cost about 50% less to run than the diesel buses, according to Mike Tann, city transit director.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
‘Urban art project’ brings splash of color to Topeka park
Jamie Colon’s paint-stained hands are cold from the frigid October weather, but he keeps painting outside because he wants to bring color to Santa Fe Park. Colon, the lead artist, said Topeka’s parks lack color. “You go to every park in Topeka, it’s beige,” he said. “The whole idea is to put a splash of color in the park so when you come here in the winter time when everything is brown and gray skies, you got this bright spot of color that pops out of the park.” Colon, along with artists Andy Valdivia and Robert Tapley Bustamante, are working at Sante Fe Park, 1500 N.E. Division St. Each artist is reimagining a different side of the public bathroom at the park that was graffitied with hateful messages months ago.
Source: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal
Amtrak service reductions in place
There are a couple of milestones at Amtrak this month — milestones that some are not happy about. For the first time in nearly 150 years, there is not a daily passenger train stopping in Newton — and the same can be said for dozens of communities across multiple states served by the Southwest Chief. And, this month, for the first time in nearly 150 years, there has been a day without a passenger train departure from Chicago headed to Los Angeles.
Source: Newton Kansan
Kansas Gas working to restore natural gas service to Ellinwood
Crews are continuing to respond to today’s damage to a Kansas Gas Service natural gas pipeline struck by a third party, resulting in the interruption of natural gas service to Ellinwood, Kansas. Technicians continue to go door to door to complete safety checks of the meters. Chris Komarek, Ellinwood City Administrator, and Amy Miller, Barton County Emergency Manager, are assisting local residents during this natural gas service outage.
Source: KAKE – News
Municipal Bond Trends for October 22, 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.
CARES Act Landlord Incentive Program launched in Pittsburg
The City of Pittsburg Public Housing Authority has launched a new landlord incentive program aimed at increasing affordable housing options for families in Pittsburg. The program reimburses landlords participating in the Section 8 Rental Assistance program for eligible repairs up to $1,000 per unit. This new program is made possible thanks to grant funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Source: City of Pittsburg
Treasury Yields Touch Multi-Month Highs
U.S. government-bond yields hit their highest levels in more than four months, following signs of progress in Washington toward a deal on a roughly $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note settled at 0.815%, according to Tradeweb, compared with 0.796% Tuesday. That marked its highest close since early June, just before a summer surge of coronavirus cases. …Yet powerful forces continue to suppress Treasurys yields, keeping them near historic lows. Though the economy has rebounded from its sharp contraction earlier in the year, the path of its recovery remains uncertain in the midst of the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets
Wichita Firefighters take off to assist with Colorado fire
Wichita Fire Department Chief Tammy Snow confirmed Thursday that four firefighters and one structure truck will be heading to Colorado to assist with the East Troublesome fire. This is southwest of Estes Park, Colorado. Chief Snow said WFD firefighters will be assigned to help with structure fires, not fighting the forest fire. Chief Snow said they are scheduled to be there for 72 hours.
Source: KSN-TV
Hutchinson Fire Department crew headed to Colorado to assist with wildfire
The Hutchinson Fire Department shared on its Facebook page that based on a request it received Thursday morning for mutual aid through the Kansas Forestry Service for assistance with a growing fire in Colorado — HFD firefighters took off Thursday afternoon and are expected to reach Granby, Colorado Thursday night. The Hutchinson Fire Department shared they deployed a team of four wildland certified firefighters and one Type 1 Engine. The growing fire is named the East Troublesome Fire. The East Troublesome Fire is only 5% contained and growing rapidly with high winds and Red Flag conditions.
Source: KSN-TV
Leavenworth Municipal Court offers diversion program to address mental health
Leavenworth city commissioners were briefed this week on a new Municipal Court diversion program for people with mental health problems. "We continue to deal with issues regarding mental health as a public safety issue," Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens said. He addressed commissioners when they met Tuesday for a study session. He said Leavenworth police officers responded to 166 mental health calls last year.
Source: Leavenworth Times