Kansas Municipal News
Emporia renews contract with FEMA, discusses library reopening plan
City of Emporia Commissioners renewed a long-standing agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a combined study/action session Wednesday morning. Board members reviewed their obligations included as part of FEMA’s Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation plan, which is traditionally completed every five years, incorporating each community in Lyon County along with the county itself. The plan includes a Threat Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, or THIRA, which examines the likelihood of severe weather, flooding and wildfire events, identifying potential area projects and mitigation strategies to manage such threats.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Reno County Planning Commission loosens regs on commercial wind in latest draft
The Reno County Planning Commission made more changes this week to proposed zoning regulations for commercial wind developments. While the new draft creates greater minimum distances that turbines must be from a home, they loosen restrictions on noise and shadow flicker that may be generated by the machines. The changes did not sit well with a group of residents who opposed the Pretty Prairie Wind development and have sought much stricter zoning regulations.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
After years of dispute, OP committee recommends removing — and not replacing Westlinks golf course fence
The long-running dispute over the wrought iron Westlinks golf course fence may end with no fence at all, much to the chagrin of Overland Park neighbors whose homes abut the course. The city council’s Community Development Committee took up the controversy — which has been brewing since 2013 – once again Wednesday night and ended with a recommendation that the fence be torn out. Neighbors have been pushing to have the deteriorating fence replaced with a similar-looking, 5-foot black powder-coated steel fence. They have said that type of fence would maintain their property value and the looks of the course.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Gov. Kelly awards Yoder Meats, other Kansas businesses through grant program
Gov. Laura Kelly announced more than $9 million in grants for projects to strengthen the state’s food supply system. Kelly, along with Kansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland visited Yoder Meats in Yoder on Oct. 14 to make the announcement. Yoder Meats is one of 183 Kansas agriculture and food-related businesses in more than 70 counties that was awarded grants as part of the Securing Local Food Systems.
Source: Community – Cherokee County News Advocate
Olathe school board votes to let students in ‘high-risk’ activities return to in-person class
Olathe will allow students in “high-risk activities” back into the classroom next week. The school board had a special meeting Wednesday morning where members voted to let students in activities like football go to in-person classes when the district starts its hybrid schedule Monday. The district had originally opted to require students in high-risk activities to attend classes online for the entire season. But after the Johnson County health department changed its gating criteria on high-risk activities, Olathe updated its decision to reflect that.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Renovations to rural rail service estimated to take nearly 10,000 semis off the roadways
A new Kansas Department of Transportation Short Line Rail Fund program will be bringing much-needed upgrades to rail systems across the state. The project is part of Governor Kelly’s IKE Program and will fund five million dollars annually for three years toward improving railway grain transportation. There are a total of 13 renovations taking place on three short-line railway systems across the state aiming to improve and build nearly 15 miles of track. Four of the projects will be focused on improvements to short-line rails, and the other nine projects will bring repairs to grain elevators.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for October 14, 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.
NCAA announces March Madness tournament is returning to Wichita for a third time
March Madness will be returning to Wichita for a third time. The NCAA announced its future host site selections for the men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday and Wichita’s Intrust Bank Arena was selected to host the first and second rounds in 2025. Wichita previously hosted the first and second rounds of the men’s NCAA Tournament in 2018 and is scheduled to once again this coming spring on March 19 and 21, 2021.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
LaHarpe digs new pump track
The first of a number of community projects kicked off over the weekend, with a team of volunteers gathering to help build a new pump track for bicycling enthusiasts. The group worked at the LaHarpe City Park Saturday and Sunday to mold an elaborate series of berms, rollers and tabletop fixtures, all made out of dirt. By Sunday afternoon, the entire track was laid, with most of the remaining work centered on contouring and compacting the dirt.
Source: The Iola Register
The 2020 census count comes to an end Thursday. Here’s how that will affect Kansas and its cities.
After many challenges imposed this year by the coronavirus pandemic and innumerable twists from the White House, the 2020 census will come to an end Thursday night following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Tuesday. The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could halt the 2020 census count ahead of schedule. People can fill out the census until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 15 by visiting 2020census.gov or responding via mail.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Traveling exhibit highlights rural America
The 5.4.7 Arts Center in Greensburg is ready to welcome a new exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution titled “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” thanks to work put in by Ann Dixon and Humanities Kansas. “The 5.4.7 Arts Center is blessed to be selected to host the Smithsonian exhibit ‘Crossroads: Change in Rural America,’ ” said director Ann Dixon. “This county has seen significant change over the past 13 years and we have all learned to envision for the future, engage everyone in planning for the future, and endeavor together to build sustainable rural communities.” The exhibit arrived Tuesday and will celebrate its grand opening from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. It will be in town until Nov. 29.
Source: News – The Hays Daily News
Hospital staffing and capacity a concern for Kansas communities as COVID-19 multiplies
Concerns are growing about adequate staffing levels and bed capacity at Kansas hospitals and nursing homes strained by rising COVID-19 cases. Hospitals in southeast Kansas already are struggling with capacity issues. Ascension Via Christi Hospital announced this week it would implement its surge plan and cease all elective surgeries because of a spike in cases in Crawford and Bourbon counties. Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman said Tuesday most hospitals he has spoken with are staying ahead of the virus. He said as case numbers rise in a community, however, so will the strain on hospital staff.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Wichita auto enthusiast travels long road through City Hall to start a tiny car lot
The Wichita auto enthusiast won City Council approval Tuesday to open a small car-sales lot near Central and West, after a lengthy stop-and-start process that’s been going on since July. The council action clears the way for up to four cars at a time to be sold on the parking lot at 4231 W. Central. Currently, that parking lot is shared by an automotive shop and a car upholstery business. The car lot will be separately operated from the other businesses by applicant Jeremiah Leathers, who’ll be leasing four parking spaces along with a small office in the upholstery shop.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Reno County limits mass gatherings after spike in COVID-19 cases
The Reno County Health Department issued its first COVID-19 emergency public health order since March, prohibiting mass gatherings of 100 or more people after a big spike in new cases. “It’s crazy. Like, I thought Hutch, well, it’s pretty small. You know what I’m saying, I didn’t think we’d have to do this again,” said Stephfon Hunter, a Hutchinson resident. Since October 4th, Reno County’s 14-day positive test rate jumped from 14.7% to 17.3%.
Source: KAKE – News
Municipal Bond Trends for October 13, 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.
Lawrence City Commission moves forward with draft strategic plan that will guide city budget decisions
City leaders are moving forward with a draft of the strategic plan that will guide budget decisions for the next two years, and more detailed discussions about how to accomplish the plan’s goals are forthcoming. As part of its work session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission discussed key pieces of the strategic plan, which will update a plan created by the last commission in 2017. City officials said the plan would play an important role in the city’s budget process and prioritization of the city’s funding. “This is not meant to be a nice, pretty plan that we adopt and sit on the shelf,” Budget and Strategic Initiatives Administrator Danielle Buschkoetter said. “This is really intended to be the plan that really drives our day-to-day work, and everything that we do should be able to be tied back to the strategic plan.”
Source: LJWorld.com.
Overland Park ranks among top 50 cities for millennials
Millennials represent the largest segment of the U.S. workforce, and as these young professionals assess where they might want to build a career and a life away from the office, a number of factors can shape their decisions. If you’re one of those young workers already living and working in Overland Park, this report says you’re in one of the top 50 cities for millennials. If you’re perhaps looking to take your talents to a new city, this research might help you find one that’s best for you. … Among the factors considered in the ranking are local public schools, crime, housing, nightlife, diversity, jobs, weather, cost of living, outdoor activities and commuting.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
Reno County imposes new gathering restrictions due to COVID-19
Reno County officials agreed Tuesday to allow the re-imposition of a mass gathering limit within the county of a maximum of 100 people, based on a recommendation by local health officials. The Reno County Commission didn’t vote on the gathering limit – which includes multiple exceptions – but allowed an order proposed by Interim County Health Officer Karen Hammersmith to be stand. There was no discussion on Tuesday of implementing a local mask ordinance that is criminally enforceable, though various officials – from the hospital to clinics to schools superintendent to county commissioners – all pleaded with the public to wear them.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Newton to move high school online; Hutchinson to welcome back some sports fans
Newton Public Schools will move into an orange zone in its gating criteria next week, meaning students in seventh through 12th grade will move to remote learning and sports can continue, but now without fans. Limited fans will still be allowed at home games this week. The move is due to the increased spread of COVID-19 in the community, according to school officials. Pre-kindergarten through sixth grade will go from on-site to hybrid next week.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
More than 80% of Kansas counties now reporting COVID-19 case rates in the red zone
More Kansas counties had so many new cases of COVID-19 over the past two weeks that they moved into the red zone of one key state benchmark for closing schools during the coronavirus pandemic. A map from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed 88 of 105 counties in the red zone of the incidence rate as of Monday. That’s 13 more counties than last week and 23 more than two weeks ago. The measurement compares the number of new cases of COVID-19 over two weeks with the population, expressed as the rate of new cases per 100,000 people. It is one of five school reopening indicators established by the Kansas State Department of Education. The KDHE releases information by county for three of the five indicators.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle