Kansas Municipal News
Overlay project awarded for K-96 in Reno, Sedgwick counties
A Wichita contractor won the bid this week to overlay nearly 33 miles of K-96 and K-14 highways in Reno and Sedgwick counties. Cornejo & Sons LLC won the project with a low bid of $7.862 million. The contract includes an overlay of K-96 from the K-14 junction in Reno County east to Maize Road, and K14, from the K96 junction east to the east US-50. Officials did not indicate when the project was scheduled to begin. The bid was one of 26 awarded around the state from an Oct. 21 bid letting in Topeka, including a signing project in Reno County and four other projects in South Central Kansas. KDOT also announced the award of a short bicycle path project in Finney County from the September bid opening.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Lenexa approves CID sales tax to help finance mixed-use Ten Ridge project
The Lenexa City Council on Tuesday voted 6-0 to approve a public financing agreement for a new mixed-use development along a southern part of the city. The developer, West Star Development, plans to build Vista Ridge, a $43 million mixed-use project at the northeast corner of K-10 Highway and Ridgeview Road. A portion of the site is now approved as a Community Improvement District, on which the developer can be reimbursed up to $3.5 million in eligible costs associated with the project.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Fed holds interest rates steady near zero, says economy is still well below pre-pandemic levels
The Federal Reserve held short-term borrowing rates near zero in a decision Thursday that characterized the economy as growing but not near where it was before the coronavirus pandemic hit. As markets widely expected, the Fed kept its benchmark interest rate anchored in a range between 0%-0.25%, where it has been since an emergency cut seven months ago in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. There were few language changes in the post-meeting statement from the Federal Open Market Committee, though the panel did note that the economy continues to struggle.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
How Lenexa trains police officers
Whether they’re new to law enforcement or transferring from another agency, Lenexa police officers go through extensive training to prepare them for solo patrol. All recruits start with pre-academy training and orientation instructed by Lenexa officers. This establishes baseline skills to benefit the recruit going into the police academy, including geography of Lenexa, physical conditioning, and basic firearms. Recruits are also issued uniforms and equipment during this time.
Source: City of Lenexa
There is something remarkable happening in tiny Humboldt, Kansas
Just a little over 100 miles southwest of Kansas City, Humboldt is like a lot of other rural Kansas towns, except that Humboldt is now undergoing a major transformation from typical Kansas small town to a town with more cool stuff going on than many of our dense urban neighborhoods. In recent years, the Works family, a local family that owns a very successful trailer hitch manufacturing company, has been embarking on an unusual and exciting redevelopment of Humboldt’s downtown area. They have purchased several century-old buildings in the town square, and have been planning and working on an “experiment” that could very well lead to something of a renaissance for itty bitty Humboldt. Currently under construction: a music venue, a small boutique hotel, bars, and even a maker space. The town already boasts a solid coffee shop and mercantile, as well as a pretty great old-school fried chicken restaurant named Opie’s.
Source: The Pitch.
Municipal Bond Trends for November 4, 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.
Louisburg USD 416 bond passes
The Paola and Louisburg City Councils will have some new faces, and Louisburg USD 416 voters narrowly approved a $24 million bond proposal. The incumbents in the state Senate and House races will retain their seats in Topeka. Miami County voters turned out in record numbers for the 2020 presidential election. The county recorded 17,740 ballots, for a 71.64 percent turnout, compared to a 68.81 percent turnout for the 2016 presidential election. The county has 24,764 voters. It appears there will be a new member on the Paola City Council.
Source: Hiawatha World Online
Repeal of liquor law in JoCo creates win for businesses
Johnson County voters have repealed Kansas’ liquor-by-the-drink law that put stipulations on food sales for businesses serving alcohol. Per the law, 30% of an establishment’s sales had to come from food. The requirement created challenges for places such as bars and breweries, where patrons aren’t always craving food. “People are stopping here after work to have a beer with their buddies,” Emily Mobley, co-owner of Limitless Brewing in Lenexa, told FOX4. “They’re stopping on a Friday night on their way home from work. They’re just stopping in here to relax and have a beer. They’re not coming in here to eat a meal.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
Saline County voters pass sales tax hike for new jail
Voters in Saline County passed a 1% sales tax hike. The money will be used to build a new jail and sheriff’s office. “Since 2009, we have had more inmates than we have had beds,” Sheriff Roger Soldan told KSN News on Monday. “We have to house outside between 70 and 100 inmates a day, and we have spent more than $7 million to date.” On a $100 purchase, you will pay 50 cents extra. The increase will generate about $6 million each year.
Source: KSN-TV
Newton High School is now a COVID-19 cluster, Harvey County health officials say
Harvey County health officials have identified an outbreak of the coronavirus at a Newton public school. The cluster includes five active COVID-19 cases at Newton High School, county officials announced Wednesday in a news release. The local health department is investigating to determine the source of exposure. “We take this very seriously,” USD 373 Superintendent Fred Van Ranken said in a statement. “We work with the Health Department to conduct contact tracing, and will continue to implement plans to keep our students and staff safe.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
International association awards Kansas State Fair first place
The International Association of Fairs and Expositions gave the Kansas State Fair a top award for its Kansas Road Trip. The trip, “Ike’s Kansas Road Trip,” promoted corn and Kansas. Ike is the fair’s mascot. The association gave the fair first place in the sponsor exposure category, a partnership with Kansas Corn and the organization’s campaign, Fueled by Kansas. “While we had to cancel the 2020 Fair, it didn’t mean we couldn’t still celebrate our great state,” Amy Bickel, the fair’s marketing director, said in a release. “The idea of showcasing Kansas’ beauty and tourist attractions, plus the people who call Kansas home, allowed us to find a way to still provide sponsorship support to a longtime partner, Kansas Corn, and its ethanol promotion, Fueled by Kansas.”
Source: News – The Hutchinson News
Post-election pop: Municipal bond interest rates declining for first time in weeks
With the final result of the U.S. presidential election in doubt, municipal bonds traded significantly stronger on Wednesday following a U.S. Treasury rally of as much as 14 basis points. In secondary trading, yields on AAA munis dropped all across the curve, with some falling by as much as 10 basis points. While the White House race was still undecided, it appears the Senate will not switch and will stay Republican and the House will remain in Democratic control. “Trading in munis remains quite firm, but the pace has slowed somewhat as participants digest the day’s events and set up for the next trade,” said Peter Franks, Refinitiv MMD senior market analyst. He said Treasury yields had fallen by as much as 18 basis points on the long end overnight in reaction to election news, adding that muni yields headed demonstrably lower Wednesday after weeks of adopting a wait-and-see approach.
Source: The Bond Buyer
0.5% Recovery Sales Tax Initiative in Manhattan Passes
On November 3, Manhattan voters passed a ballot measure to adopt a 0.5% Economic Recovery and Relief sales tax. Riley County unofficial final results indicate 11,138 (YES) Manhattan residents for and 7,212 (NO) voted against the measure. “It was important to ask the tax question early in order to allow for more opportunity to help with pandemic recovery initiatives. This frees up previously pledged funds to be held in reserve to pay future financing obligations on substantial infrastructure and economic development related projects.” said City Manager Ron Fehr. “Seeking responses by our local citizens in a high voter turnout election was very important. We look forward to working with the community and our community partners moving forward.”
Source: Manhattan – News Flash
Hospital serving Kansas stressed as coronavirus cases rise
Several dozen hospitals serving Kansas patients reported Wednesday that they expect to deal with staffing shortages over the next week as the state continues to report an average of well over 1,000 new coronavirus cases a day. The Wichita area’s two major health systems said Wednesday that almost 150 coronavirus patients were hospitalized, their highest numbers since the pandemic began. The Ascension Via Christi system is trying to bring about 60 nurses from outside Kansas into the state to help with staffing, and it has converted space into two new units for COVID-19 patients. A surge in cases even prompted public health officials and the local Chamber of Commerce in Reno County in south-central Kansas to launch a 10-day campaign to be more diligent in following the county’s mask mandate and following other public health recommendations, such as observing social distancing and avoiding gatherings.
Source: KAKE – News
Municipal Bond Trends for November 3, 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.
JoCo school districts keep eye out for families in need of help during the pandemic
It’s not something people always think about in Johnson County, but housing insecurity exists in the community. Often the people who shoulder the consequences are kids — and that’s where programs such as Impact Olathe and Project Home come into play. Programs like these are part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, passed into federal law in 1987. According to the Family and Youth Services Bureau, the purpose of the act was to ensure “the right of students to go to school even when they are homeless or don’t have a permanent address.” That can include help with transportation, living situations and issues with official documents.
Source: Joco 913 News
With skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, Johnson County in ‘red’ per school opening guidance
Johnson County is once again reporting an exponential rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases, pushing it into the “red” zone, according to the health department’s school reopening criteria. Last week, the county reported 1,251 new coronavirus cases — a 75% increase from the preceding week, officials said. On Friday, health officials reported 287 new COVID-19 cases, which was the highest number of confirmed infections in a single day so far in the pandemic. The surge in new cases puts the county in the “red” zone according to its guidance on when and how to safely operate schools. In that zone, the health department advises that all students should learn remotely, although officials are not yet making that recommendation. And it is up to districts to decide whether to follow the county’s guidance.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita hospitals have ICU space to meet need for now, but call Covid trends ‘concerning.’
He says “the numbers that get reported are a specific snapshot of a moment in time. Those change day to day, they also change hour to hour.” Both hospitals have already implemented emergency protocols to expand the number of ICU beds they have, so as to be able to accommodate their patients. Because of that, Carla Yost from Ascension Via Christi, says the number to worry about right now is not ICU bed capacity. She says “there is a concern about the number of hospitalizations. No, about three weeks ago, we had 70. A week ago, we had 90 now we’re up to 111. Now, that’s not sustainable, long term.”
Source: KAKE – News
Project to fix one of Wichita area’s biggest traffic concerns moves forward
The project to help mitigate traffic concerns and wrecks at one of the worst bottlenecks in the Wichita area has taken another step forward after the Wichita City Council approved roughly $3.77 million in funding on Tuesday. The junction of I-135 and I-235 in north Wichita causes one of the worst traffic jams in the city during morning and evenings on workdays. The Sedgwick County Commission had previously approved its half of roughly $7.55 million. The Kansas Department of Transportation will pay 75% of the roughly $30.22 million project. The junction was built roughly 50 years ago.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
With COVID quarantines rising, Wamego High may be forced to shift instruction mode
Wamego High School may be forced to switch its mode of teaching and learning if it can’t slow the spread of COVID-19 in its building. In a letter to USD 320 families Monday, Superintendent Tim Winter said the district has reached a COVID-19 crossroad after the number of quarantined students at the high school grew from 13 to 62 from Friday to Monday. The increase in quarantines is a direct result of just three positive students cases within the high school. Winter says approximately two dozen students were reportedly feeling ill Monday. The current number of quarantined students (62) is 14 percent of the onsite enrollment at the high school. The high school is the only building experiencing high numbers.
Source: 1350 KMAN