Kansas Municipal News
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
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.