Kansas Municipal News
Winfield library works to reopen
The Winfield Public Library is working toward reopening its building to the public, although staff believe the current model of curbside and virtual services is the safest option for the time being, according to a presentation from WPL director Joan Cales to the Winfield City Commission on Thursday. According to a copy of Cales’ presentation, although the building remains closed the library is providing community services 43 hours a week. Services include e-library, curbside service, wireless internet access, craft kids, copy and fax services, virtual programs and more.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Shawnee Mission to vote on $264M bond plan, raising taxes, lowering teacher workload
The Shawnee Mission school district will ask residents to approve a $264 million bond issue and property tax increase to rebuild schools, fund renovation projects and hire additional teachers to address workload concerns. The school board this week agreed to put the bond referendum to a public vote Jan. 26. The proposal would raise the district’s property tax rate, an annual increase of $8 per every $100,000 of assessed home value for the average homeowner. If approved, the bonds would pay to rebuild five elementary schools, renovate middle and high schools, plus fund other updates and repairs. Superintendent Mike Fulton said it would also make it possible to reduce the workloads of middle and high school teachers.
Source: Joco 913 News
Largest utility in Kansas wants to charge everyone to collect more from solar users
The State’s largest utility wants to charge customers with solar panels about $25 a month, even if their homes pull almost no electricity off the grid. If courts and regulators reject that idea, power-provider Evergy’s backup proposal would charge all customers — not just those harvesting power on their roofs — a minimum of $35 a month just for plugging into its system. For most customers, that charge wouldn’t matter, because it would count against their energy consumption. But some poorer households don’t use that much electricity, so they’d be paying more. Evergy, the largest electric utility in Kansas, needed to make a plan because the Kansas Supreme Court shot down a previous solar rate. Meantime, the utility insists it needs to recover the cost of having electricity on demand for solar-equipped homes that don’t buy many kilowatts.
Source: KAKE – News
Rental crisis still looms
A recently announced state program to help with overdue rent impacts from novel coronavirus could be a big boost to many struggling local families. With the continued rise in infections, however, and the likelihood it will affect some jobs for months, officials in helping agencies are concerned the assistance may not be enough to keep the community, already experiencing growing homelessness, from suffering a serious housing crisis. Complicating the situation, at least one property manager said, is an influx of new residents seeking to escape larger cities because of the virus, putting greater pressure on landlords and an already tight housing market.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
In race for Sedgwick County Treasurer, one candidate campaigns for no more elections
One of the candidates for Sedgwick County Treasurer in Tuesday’s election wants to be the last person ever elected to the office. “I hope to be the last who has to run for this seat,” said Democrat Charity Kennedy, who is campaigning in part on eliminating the role of county treasurer as an elected position and transitioning it to a nonpolitical staff role. “Imagine a county treasurer who is devoted totally to serving the public instead of worrying about her next election. Right now, after reviewing certain financials of the treasurer’s office, I’m seeing opportunities for more efficient use of taxpayer funds. It’s time we demand a culture of taxpayer trust in Sedgwick County government.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
JoCo will study its sewage in hopes of getting ahead of next COVID-19 surge
Health experts in Johnson County will soon be studying bowls of swirling water to help them predict a possible next coronavirus surge. But it won’t be tea leaves they’re reading. Instead, it will be sewer samples. The county has joined a statewide study of community sewage systems in Kansas that experts hope could give them up to a one-week jump on the next wave of the disease. Samples from six wastewater treatment plants in the county are being collected so scientists can look for RNA from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, which has caused more than 14,000 infections, 560 hospitalizations and 201 deaths to date in Johnson County. The county is joining a study that started in May on a smaller scale and has now grown to 97 of Kansas’ 105 counties.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
With suicide up 70% in Wichita so far this year, police want people to talk to each other
Wichita police want people to talk with each other as the suicide rate climbs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Total suicides are up more than 70% and suicide attempts by firearm are up 150% year-to-date as of Friday, Officer Paul Cruz said. “We just noticed that the numbers are higher,” Cruz said. “Regardless of what the circumstances are … it’s just an alarming rate. We’re trying to sound the alarm for our community to bring awareness. The best thing we can do as a department and the No. 1 thing we can do is talk about this and bring awareness.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Pittsburg names new Fire Chief
A new Fire Chief is appointed for a Southeast Kansas community. After serving as the Interim Fire Chief, Dennis Reilly has been announced as the new Pittsburg Fire Chief. Reilly has served in stations all over the U.S. and says this is one of the smoothest transitions he’s experienced thanks to the cohesiveness of the team. Dennis Reilly, Pittsburg Fire Chief, said, “I inherited a very well run, very well equipped, very well staffed fire department. I think that we have an excellent group of professionals in here in the fire department and I’ve been very impressed with the city overall. The leadership in the city, the commitment to excellence and community.” Reilly has served in New Jersey, California, North Carolina, and Missouri. He even served on a search and rescue team following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Source: KSNF/KODE
AGCO plant shut down following COVID-19 cluster
The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at Plant 1 of the AGCO facility in Hesston. According to a news release, 23 employees tested positive. Those individuals remain in isolation. The Newton Medical Center is working with AGCO to test the remainder of Plant 1 employees using rapid-result antigen tests during a drive-through testing event Friday. If test results are negative, the employee can return to work as soon as Monday. When employees return to Plant 1, they will continue to wear masks and will follow strict guidelines to prevent another outbreak. Workers will be tested every seven days until the outbreak is no longer considered active.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas deputy killed in accident involving school bus
An eastern Kansas deputy is dead following an accident involving a school bus. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the accident happened Friday afternoon in Leavenworth County near the town of Tonganoxie. Deputy Corporal Daniel R. Abramovitz was driving an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle when it collided with a school bus. The bus driver was hospitalized with injuries characterized as not life-threatening. A child on the bus had minor injuries that did not require hospitalization.
Source: Wichita Breaking News, Sports & Crime |
Treasury yields dip as coronavirus cases surge and election uncertainty continues
U.S. Treasury yields moved lower on Friday after coronavirus cases globally reached a single-day record, along with uncertainty ahead of next week’s U.S. presidential election. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 0.822% at 5:14 a.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond dipped to 1.597%. … It comes after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases recorded daily hit a record 500,000 on Thursday. Traders were also mindful of the U.S. election next week.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Municipal Bond Trends for October 29, 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.
Weight limits placed on more county bridges
There are 370 bridges in Barton County, some of which are a century old. A lot has changed in 100 years, and some of the older structures can’t handle today’s heavier vehicles. As a result, County Engineer Barry McManaman told the County Commission Monday morning that traffic has to be restricted on an increasing number of them. So, commissioners approved establishing weight limits on a new batch of bridges maintained by the county, action that rescinded a resolution adopted in March 2019.Source: Great Bend Tribune
‘Tsunami of mail ballots’: Nearly half of registered Johnson Countians already voted
With five days to go before the Nov. 3 election, nearly half of all registered voters in Johnson County already cast their ballots. As of Thursday morning, 215,362 Johnson Countians had voted, the election office reported. That’s nearly 48% of all registered voters. A record number of residents registered to vote this fall, totaling 451,963, said Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt. The majority of ballots cast so far — 122,027 — have been returned by mail or in eight drop-off boxes placed throughout the county. As of Wednesday night, 93,335 residents had voted in person at 10 advance voting locations. Nine of those early voting sites are open until 3 p.m. Saturday, while voters can still cast ballots early at the Johnson County Election Office until noon Monday.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita school board to reconsider COVID reopening; PreK-12 may move full remote
The Leavenworth County government will pay only half of the cost of installing a traffic signal at 20th Street and Eisenhower Road. County commissioners made that decision when they met Wednesday. The decision came as commissioners approved a construction bid for improvements to a section of the Eisenhower Road project. The traffic light had been requested as part of the project. The decision to pay for only half of the cost of the traffic signal places the burden of paying the remaining cost on either the city of Leavenworth and Lansing or both cities.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
County agrees to pay for half of traffic signal
The Leavenworth County government will pay only half of the cost of installing a traffic signal at 20th Street and Eisenhower Road. County commissioners made that decision when they met Wednesday. The decision came as commissioners approved a construction bid for improvements to a section of the Eisenhower Road project. The traffic light had been requested as part of the project. The decision to pay for only half of the cost of the traffic signal places the burden of paying the remaining cost on either the city of Leavenworth and Lansing or both cities.
Source: Leavenworth Times
4 pounds of mercury found on side of road
About four pounds of mercury was discovered in a container that was left near the side of a road in southern Leavenworth County, the Emergency Management director said. It does not appear any of the substance leaked onto the ground. The mercury, which is considered a hazardous substance, was discovered around noon Tuesday along the side of County Road 1 near the entrance for the Kansas Turnpike, said Leavenworth County Emergency Management Director Chuck Magaha.
Source: Leavenworth Times
Sedgwick County looking for source of hepatitis A outbreak, more than 100 cases
Local health officials are looking for the source of a hepatitis A outbreak in Sedgwick County. The Sedgwick County Health Department, Ascension Via Christi and other healthcare providers say more than 100 residents have been diagnosed with the illness since May. That is a major increase over last year when the were only four cases reported in Sedgwick County.
Source: KSN-TV
‘Our community needs this’ — Lenexa names winners in citywide Halloween decoration contest
Skeletons, ghosts, spooky animatronics and a haunted maze in the backyard all made the Leichter home the Best in Show for Lenexa’s Fall-O-Ween Yard Tour competition this month. Lenexa put on the event as a way to bring the community together in a safe, physically distanced way this fall, due to the health risks of gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 60 homes and businesses participated in the competition, using a variety of fall-themed and Halloween-themed decorations. A big fan of Halloween, Susan Leichter said she was “absolutely thrilled” that she and her husband, James Leichter, won the competition — even as she battles breast cancer.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Lyons officer returns home to hundreds of supporters after being shot over two weeks ago
Lyons Police Sergeant Cory Ryan was shot Friday, October 16th. Less than two weeks later, he was out of the hospital. Some said his recovery is shocking. It wasn’t an ordinary homecoming, as the Lyons Police Sergeant was met with supporters, cheers, and much more. It could be seen for nearly a hundred miles. "It feels good to leave the hospital and it feels good to go home," said Sergeant Cory Ryan.
Source: KSN-TV