Kansas Municipal News
Derby preparing for transition to city of the first class
As Derby prepares to transition to a city of the first class, staff is managing the inherent changes to operations – with that process coming before the Derby City Council at its Sept. 22 meeting. With that first class status – a mandatory transition once a city’s population reaches 25,000 – comes a number of statutes that apply to cities of that size. Those statutes though, City Attorney Jacque Butler pointed out, predate the Home Rule Amendment of the Kansas Constitution, which allows cities to exempt themselves from non-uniform statutes. Charter ordinances allow for those exemptions, but Butler pointed out Derby’s current ordinances will be invalid after the transition as they apply to second class cities.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Spirit Aerosystems to close Oklahoma plant, some work will move to Wichita
Spirit Aerosystems has announced it will be closing its plant in McAlester, Oklahoma. The closing is due to the downturn in the commercial aviation market caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX jetliner. The company said it now has an excess of production capacity. Spirit plans to consolidate some operations over the next few months and the work in McAlester will be moved to facilities in Wichita and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The McAlester plant has had around 175 workers.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Emporia moves forward with expanded COVID-19 testing initiative, discusses library reopening
The City of Emporia may soon be getting increased access to close-contact COVID-19 testing. During Wednesday’s meeting of city commissioners, City Consultant Jim Witt updated the board on his efforts to increase availability, saying the initiative would be a partnership between Newman Regional Health and Lyon County Public Health. As with other necessary health resources during the pandemic, Witt said the added tests will also be funded through SPARK funds and are expected to total around $105,000. “We’re at the point where [the organizations] would like to be able to start the close contact testing by Monday …” Witt said. “There were questions from the commission that came up as to how this would affect our overall positivity rate, and I received an answer which was more or less that it should, but might not depending on who’s tested … If you’re doing just people that have been in close contact, you could see an upswing in positivity rate.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Johnson County health department updates school gating criteria
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has updated their school gating criteria after some districts opted out of following previous guidance, saying it was too strict. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment will now include the incidence rate category, or the number of new COVID-19 cases added per 100,000 people over the prior two-week period, as well as the positive percentage rate in the county. The new guidance comes after several districts opted out of previous guidance to move students to in-person learning and allow extracurricular activities, like sporting events.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Kansas has $73 million tax surplus; official still sees uncertainty
Kansas reported Thursday that it collected nearly $73 million more than expected in taxes in September but its top revenue official said the economic outlook in coming months remains uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic. The state Department of Revenue said Kansas collected nearly $729 million in taxes last month, when it expected to take in $656 million. The surplus of 11% for the month was tied largely to better-than-expected income tax collections. The September collections allowed the state to finish the first three months of the 2021 budget year that started July 1 with $108 million more in tax collections than anticipated. The state collected $2.25 billion during those three months, 5.1% more than projected.
Source: KAKE – News
NEJC communities receive grants to improve walkability, major corridors
Projects in Overland Park, Merriam and Westwood that address walkability and improvements to major corridors have earned grant funding from the Mid-America Regional Council. “It is exciting to see local governments focus on planning for and creating vibrant assets for their residents,” said Beth Dawson, a senior land use planner at MARC. MARC’s Board of Directors and Total Transportation Policy Committee approved $877,825 in grant funding for 14 projects in the Greater Kansas City area, including eight in Kansas and six in Missouri. The grant funding is directed at efforts to create sustainable development.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Near-zero interest rates may be needed for up to 3 years, says Dallas Fed’s Robert Kaplan
Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan told CNBC on Wednesday that it is likely appropriate to keep interest rates anchored near zero for up to three years to aid the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. “I think we’re going to need to keep the Fed funds rate at zero for the next probably 2½ to three years years,” Kaplan said on “The Exchange.” ” It could be that long that until we get on track, to have weathered the crisis and are on track to meet our full employment and price stability goals.” Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee voted to keep short-term rates targeted at 0%-0.25%, where they have been for the last six months, and indicated they would remain there until inflation rises consistently. Kaplan was one of two Federal Open Market Committee members to vote against the policy action, but he stressed Wednesday it is due to his desire for the central bank to have more leeway to its monetary approach.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Cowan appointed Assistant City Manager in Independence
During a special Independence City Commission meeting Wednesday evening, City Manager Kelly Passauer announced the appointment of long-time City leader David Cowan as Assistant City Manager. Prior to this promotion, Cowan served as the City’s Director of Safety and Code Enforcement. In his new role, Passauer explained, Cowan, who is now in his 34th year of service, will oversee the operations of Fire/EMS, Park & Zoo, Public Works, Utilities, the Building Department, Code Enforcement and Memorial Hall – some of which have already been under his supervision for several years. “David is a hard worker, is passionate about the City and has excellent customer-service and problem-solving skills. I am excited to see David in his new role,” Passauer said.
Source: Independence, KS – News Flash
Governor Kelly orders flags at half-staff in honor of Rep. Leonard Mastroni
In accordance with Executive Order 20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings, grounds, and facilities beginning today, Wednesday, Sept. 30, until the day of interment, in honor of Kansas Rep. Leonard Mastroni. Mastroni, La Crosse, has represented Kansas House District 117 since 2017. “I was saddened to hear of the passing of Representative Mastroni, who was a dedicated public servant during his tenure in the Kansas House of Representatives,” Governor Kelly said. “I respected and admired his commitment to working with his colleagues in the Legislature to improve the lives of his constituents. I offer my sincerest condolences to his wife, Linda, their four children, and all of his friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Leonard will be missed on the House floor, and throughout his district.” Representative Mastroni graduated from Fort Hays State University, and in 1981 was elected as a District Court Judge for the 24th Judicial District. After retirement he served as a Rush County Commissioner for six years before being elected as State Representative. He and his wife, Linda, lived in La Crosse for over 40 years.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Wichita police launch new program to catch drivers running red lights
Wichita police have launched a new program in hopes of reducing the number of drivers running red lights at a high-accident intersection. Capt. Brent Allred said Wednesday that the Blue Light Crash Reduction Project was funded by a grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Here’s how it works. WPD installed six blue lights on traffic signals at Kellogg and Rock Road. When a traffic light turns red, its corresponding blue light illuminates. That lets nearby officers in the area know that the traffic light is red and they can see who, if anyone, is running it. Capt. Allred said it’s difficult for officers to minor at the intersection because of its complexity and traffic volume.
Source: KAKE – News
Peabody seeking new logo design
Peabody will be taking contest entries for an updated city logo, and councilman Lindsay Hutchison is wasting no time getting the ball rolling. Entries are due by Dec. 15 to be approved by the council Dec. 28, and the new logo will be rolled out in January, according to Hutchison’s proposed plan. “It would have been great to do that in March when everybody was stuck at home and they could just color pictures for the whole day,” she said. “We don’t necessarily have to retire the logo we have currently but we need something that has fewer colors and less fine detail.”
Source: Marion County RECORD
Merriam seeks information about names found in time capsule at old community center
The city of Merriam is searching for interesting stories about — or living relatives of — the names found in the Irene B. French Community Center’s 1911 cornerstone time capsule. The city of Merriam is seeking information about names found in a time capsule at the Irene B. French Community Center. Denton Excavating crews stumbled upon the time capsule in the 1911 cornerstone when demolishing the old community center last month. Now, the city is looking for any information — interesting stories or living relatives — about the names of students and Merriam residents.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
New energy crucial to a town’s survival
Heather Horton has a few pandemic messages for her fellow Kansans. “Don’t give up. Take each day as it comes,” she says, which is good advice in any situation. But also: “Think about the people, not the profit margin, because that’s what matters in the end.” Horton and her husband, Roger, co-own two small businesses in Pittsburg. They opened Sweet Designs Cakery, where they bake party-type desserts, in 2009. A block away is Toast, which they opened last October, with a concept that was unusual for Pittsburg.
Source: The Iola Register
‘We’re still open’
With a smile and a wave, Paola Free Library Director Emily Burgdorf greets regular patron Bob Ayres as he takes a seat at one of the library’s computers. It’s a scene that’s happened countless other times at the library, but everything is just a little bit different during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ayres is wearing a mask, the computer next to him is off limits due to social distancing protocol, and the library is far from bustling with activity because there is a limit of 10 patrons at any given time. “The library is not closed, we’re still open” Burgdorf said.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Kansas airports face years of recovery after coronavirus slowdown
Katie Hansen’s recent trip from Columbus, Ohio, through Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Wichita felt pretty familiar. Sure, several restaurants sat closed, but O’Hare looked busy and her flights were full. “If people didn’t have masks on,” Hansen said, “there would be nothing different.” The sense of bustling airports is a mere illusion, the result of a smaller number of air travelers grouped into a reduced number of flights.
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS
Extended unemployment benefits program to begin
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that the state’s Lost Wages Assistance Program is set to start Friday. The program will give Kansans already receiving unemployment benefits an additional $300 per week. “Short term, the Lost Wages Assistance program will help provide critical support to unemployed Kansans due to the coronavirus pandemic,” the governor said in a statement. “I urge the Senate to pass legislation to extend federal benefits to those still in need.”
Source: News – The Garden City Telegram
Kansas governor backs new guidelines on nursing home visits
Gov. Laura Kelly says she supports new federal guidelines detailing how nursing homes can begin allowing visits to patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week said nursing homes should continue to follow COVID-19 related protocols, such as social distancing and temperature screening. But it said indoor visitations can be allowed at facilities that take Medicare and Medicaid if they have not had any new COVID-19 cases for 14 days and are not conducting active outbreak testing. State officials said Tuesday that it will take some time to implement the new guidance because each facility will have to respond according to their own circumstances.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Kansas still in ‘first wave’ of coronavirus according to top doctor
Kansas has experienced another spike in coronavirus cases over the last week. The state’s top doctor says Kansas has possibly not seen the worst of it yet. Since Monday, the state has seen an increase of 1,120 cases; that brings the total number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic in Kansas to 59,749. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said he believes Kansas is still in the first wave of the virus. The state is currently seeing an average of 500-600 new cases each day. Secretary Norman anticipates cases will begin to level off before a second wave of the virus hits. He said the second wave could bring 800-900 new cases each day.
Source: KSNT News
USDA Provides Over $2.65 Million to Kansas Cities to Promote Economic Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that the USDA is investing $2,659,746 in loans and grants to support rural economic development.
“This economic development funding is a great asset for rural communities to save and grow jobs,” Hinrichsen said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Kansas in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America prospers, all of America prospers.”
Alma – This project will provide a $600,000 loan to Grandma Hoerner’s Foods, a food processing facility, to make building improvements and purchase additional equipment. The applicant will provide an additional $150,000 toward the project and the project will create 19 jobs.
Cheney – This project will provide a $422,800 loan to SPK Grocery Inc. and SPK Holdings LLC to make purchases and improvements to a grocery store in Cheney, Kan. The borrower will provide an additional $56,000 and private/commercial sources will provide an additional $49,700 toward the project for a total project amount of $528,500. The project will save 16 jobs.
Colby – This project will provide two loans of $870,000 and $150,000 to Citizens Medical Center Inc. to purchase an MRI machine and make building improvements to the MRI department at the hospital. The $150,000 Rural Development investment will be used to create a revolving loan fund through Rural Telephone Service Company Inc. The initial loan through this revolving loan fund will be made to Citizens Medical Center. Both loans through Rural Telephone will then be loaned to Citizens Medical Center Inc. The applicant will provide an additional $217,500 toward the project and it is expected to save 14 jobs.
Leavenworth – This project will provide a $116,946 loan to Next to Nature Farm to construct a new facility and purchase extraction and harvesting equipment. Next to Nature Farm is a bee farm of 58 hives. They also produce fresh fruit, fruit products and operate two area farmer’s markets. The applicant will provide an additional $29,236 toward the project and the project will create four jobs.
Wellington – This project will provide a $500,000 loan to assist the city of Wellington with necessary improvements to the existing emergency department so that the facility can reopen. The applicant will provide an additional $200,000 toward the project, Ascension via Christi will additionally provide $1,134,914 and the project will create 25 jobs.
The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program which provides zero-interest loans to local utilities that they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA.
The REDLG program also provides grants to local utility organizations that use the funding to establish a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan funds to projects that will create or retain rural jobs.
Contact USDA Rural Development
Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/ks, or by calling (785) 271-2700.
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Nearly 1,000 Permanent Jobs and $8 billion of Total Investment to Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly today joined Kansas Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary for Business Development Bill Murphy and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Invenergy Kris Zadlo to announce Inevergy’s new Grain Belt Express transmission line.
“Kansas is uniquely positioned to be a regional and national leader in the development and expansion of clean and renewable energy,” Governor Kelly said. “The Grain Belt Express will be instrumental in helping to power Kansas and other states, and will bring nearly 1,000 jobs and billions in economic investment and energy savings to our state. My administration is committed to rebuilding our foundation and supporting key investments that will continue to boost economic development, recruit businesses, foster a healthy workforce, and produce sustained growth.”
According to an analysis on behalf of the company, the Grain Belt Express will create up to 22,525 jobs supported over the three-year construction period, 968 full-time, permanent operations jobs, and $8 billion of total, long-term economic investment in Kansas. Additionally, the project will save up to $7 billion in electricity costs for Kansas and Missouri consumers through 2045, and produce $3.7 billion in economic output during construction and $235 million in annual economic output once operations begin.
“All of us in the Kelly administration are extremely proud of our state’s position as a national leader in wind energy production – and we know the future is even brighter on this important front,” Deputy Secretary Murphy said. “Not only is Kansas wind energy production good for the environment, it’s also good for business. Wind energy is a proven job creator that employs thousands of Kansans, and has helped to fuel our state’s economy with billions of dollars in capital investment.”
Grain Belt Express will begin in Spearville, Kansas, and continue through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. The project will deliver significant advantages in access to affordable energy, added infrastructure for broadband, and significant capital investment.
“Economic recovery and long-term economic competitiveness in Kansas and Missouri depend on new investment, more jobs, and tapping into low-cost, homegrown clean energy, which Grain Belt is moving full speed ahead to deliver,” Zadlo said. “Grain Belt is proud to increase our investment in Kansas and Missouri to rebuild the economy, deliver billions of dollars in energy cost savings, and meet growing renewable energy demand.”
About Grain Belt Express
Grain Belt Express is an approximately 800-mile high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line being developed by Invenergy Transmission. It will deliver up to 4,000 megawatts (MW) of low-cost, homegrown clean energy from western Kansas to millions of Americans in the Midwest and other regions. Learn more at: www.grainbeltexpress.com