Kansas Municipal News
Battle of the badges blood drive spurs healthy competition in McPherson
Now in its 17th year, the Battle of the Badges blood drive to benefit the Red Cross is spurring healthy competition between the McPherson Sheriff’s Department and the McPherson Fire Department. Last year, the McPherson Fire Department knocked out the competition and claimed the traveling trophy.
Source: McPherson Weekly News » Feed
Proposed development prompts debate about Paola community garden
For the past eight years the Paola Community Garden has sat on city-owned land in the Paola Industrial Park, but garden volunteers have always known they may need to move the amenity if a developer was ever interested in the property. Over time the garden’s footprint has grown along with its produce, and it now features a bridge, picnic table, shelter, shed and a butterfly garden that includes a memorial tree in memory of Regan Johnson, a 16-year-old Paola High School junior who took her own life in December 2017. Her death led to the creation of the Shifting Gears for Regan suicide prevention organization.
Source: The Miami County Republic
Independence Appoints Kelly Passauer as City Manager
The Mayor and City Commissioners are proud to announce the appointment of Kelly Passauer to the position of City Manager effective immediately. Over the last several months, the Commission discussed the specific needs of Independence, realizing there is a need to develop a long-term direction for the community. In doing that, they interviewed various candidates for the position and discussed the new direction with all finalists. The Commission felt that it would be necessary for the City to move in a new direction, breaking the traditional model that has been a guide in the past. The new model would develop a strong team between the Commission and the City Manager that would look beyond the typical relationships and consider Independence as a regional community.
Source: Independence, KS – News Flash
Wastewater Operator could face up to 3 years in federal prison
An operator of the Wamego Wastewater Treatment Facility was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of violating the Clean Water Act, said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. According to the office of the United States Attorney Stephen McCallister, David Schleif, 47, of Belvue, was charged with discharging untreated and inadequately treated sewage from the Wamego Wastewater Treatment Facility into the Kansas River. The crime is alleged to have occurred between May 2017 and August 2019. Schleif was also charged with 19 counts of including falsified data in discharge monitoring reports.
Source: KSNT News
Efforts underway to build walking trail to new school site in Iola
One of the potential hurdles to extending the Missouri Pacific Trail through east Iola has been cleared, even before the project has entered the city’s radar. Iola City Council members approved the purchase of a parcel of land at 308 N. First St. for $1,500. The land held a recently demolished house that had been condemned by the city because of its unsafe condition. It also happens to be the only portion of the old Missouri Pacific Rail Line that Iola did not have sufficient easements necessary to extend the walking and biking trail from downtown Iola to the new Iola Elementary School site. Rather than be fitted with the entire $3,275 demolition bill, the property owners have agreed to deed the property to the city for the trail project, whenever it begins.
Source: The Iola Register
California intern learns to build community ties in Allen County
Californian Anya Poplavska came to Allen County this summer to learn more about the Midwest and work on environmental projects. She left last week with a better understanding about what it means to be part of a community. Her introduction to Allen County, though, came with an eye-opening city council meeting in a small town. She felt the judgmental stare from a local resident, who seemed to be sizing her up as a West Coast elitist. “I’d never experienced anything like that, and it was a taste of my own medicine,” she said. “It made me realize we like to put people in boxes. We think we understand people before we even get to know them.” Poplavska spent just about a month in Iola, working as an intern for Thrive Allen County. Though it was a relatively brief time, she took advantage of the opportunity to throw herself into a couple of projects she hopes will benefit the community for years to come. More importantly, she said, she challenged her own assumptions and developed a greater appreciation for the region.
Source: The Iola Register
Fed sees interest rates near zero until at least 2023
The Federal Open Market Committee, excluding four members, sees interest rates staying at the zero to 0.25% range they’re in now for the foreseeable future, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Summary of Economic Projections, released after its meeting, which ended Wednesday. “The Committee expects to maintain an accommodative stance of monetary policy until” it hits its goal of maximum employment and 2% inflation over the long-term, according to its post-meeting statement. “We will maintain current rate until inflation reaches 2.0%,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at his press conference. “Progress has been better than expected, but even so, overall activity is lower than pre-pandemic, and further recovery is unpredictable and uncertain.” He noted median inflation projections have now “increased to 1.2% for this year, 1.7% next year and 2.0% in 2023.” The post-meeting statement, “affirmed the Fed’s commitment to use all measures necessary to boost inflation and improve labor market conditions,” according to Mark Heppenstall, chief investment officer at Penn Mutual Asset Management. “With the zero interest rate policy now expected to last through 2023, the Fed continues to give a green light to investors with little near-term risk of removing the markets’ punch bowl.”
Source: The Bond Buyer
New owners plan to redevelop, rename and build more on Overland Park’s Sprint Campus
New owners of the Sprint Campus plan to rename, renovate and expand the sprawling office park in Overland Park. Wichita-based real estate development firm Occidental Management, which purchased the campus from Sprint Corp. in July 2019, announced plans Wednesday to renovate existing buildings and add as much as 2.7 million square feet in new construction. The company plans to add new multi-family housing, office, retail and restaurant space. Sprint opened its iconic campus in 2001 but as the telecommunications company’s fortunes changed, it dramatically reduced its workforce on the 190-acre site, which has nearly 4 million square feet of office space. T-Mobile, headquartered in the Seattle area, completed its $26 billion merger with Overland Park-based Sprint in April.
Source: Joco 913 News
Fed Meeting to Focus on Laying Out Interest-Rate Strategy
Federal Reserve officials resume deliberations Wednesday about how to detail plans to support the economy now that they have formally adopted a strategy to keep interest rates lower for longer. Officials’ public remarks before entering their traditional pre-meeting quiet period two weeks ago suggested they hadn’t yet decided how to reconfigure their policy statement to reflect the new framework. This raises the prospect they could make a few changes now and more extensive ones later this year. The central bank releases its policy statement at 2 p.m. Eastern time along with new economic projections. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell follows with a press conference at 2:30 p.m., at which he could explain how he and his colleagues are thinking about possible additional steps.
Source: Wall Street Journal.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 15, 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.
Newly discovered photos tell unique Udall tornado story
Greg Proctor, 69, said he was helping his friends Joyce and Bill Shook at their home this summer when the couple showed him some photos they found buried away in their belongings. “So I took them home and looked at them. The more I looked at them, I realized they were original pictures because they had original handwriting on the back from whoever took them,” said Proctor. Proctor scanned the photos depicting the aftermath of the tornado and posted them to Facebook. “People started piping in that they had never seen those pictures before,” Proctor explained. “Gosh, within just a few days we had over 100 hits on those pictures with people with their individual stories and personal accounts.”
Source: KSN-TV
COVID-19 hits the Great Bend Police Department prompting a request for assistance from the Barton County Sheriff’s Office
Overwhelming call loads and officer shortages is the reality the Great Bend Police Department is facing after more than two dozen employees have either tested positive or are in quarantine for COVID-19. The exposures have impacted officers from command to patrol, straining the Great Bend Police Department’s rank-and-file and making it difficult to keep up with the call load. The department has even been forced to start moving their detectives to patrol. However, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office is now offering their help to keep up with the demand.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita Police Department launches program to help clear non-DUI traffic warrants from records
The Wichita Police Department announced Tuesday they are launching ‘Second Chance Thursday’ — a program providing an opportunity for citizens to quickly clear traffic warrants on their records without going through the Sedgwick County jail. This opportunity is only for city-issued traffic citation warrants that don’t involve driving under the influence. Second Chance Thursday will take place on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Patrol West Community Policing Office, 5803 W. Central.
Source: KSN-TV
Harvey County Commission extends face mask order through Oct. 19
The Harvey County Commission voted at its commission meeting on Tuesday to extend a local order requiring face masks to be worn through Oct. 19 in a continued effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The face mask order requires individuals to wear a face mask over their nose and mouth in any indoor or outdoor public space where social distancing cannot be maintained at all times. It is the second extension of the local face mask order. The commission implemented a local order beginning July 15, and extended it on Aug. 11.
Source: KSN-TV
Girard residents to receive free meals thanks to grant
Starting this Friday, Girard residents will be eligible for free meals through a grant. Greenbush and the city of Girard partnered together to offer this with CDBG funds. Residents can get free meals from September 18th through the 25th at 102 North Ozark from 10:30 a.m. To 12:30 p.m. All they need to bring is either their driver’s license or a bill to show their proof of residency. Food will be given out on a first come first served basis.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Continuing mask order in Johnson County, Kansas, will go up for debate this week
Johnson County, Kansas, leaders will consider whether to keep requiring residents to wear masks this week. It comes after a county commissioner falsely claimed the mask mandate had already been lifted. ShananiGanns Boutique in Shawnee is chock full of unique items. Tucked in with all the merchandise are row after row of face masks. “We have masks for first communions, for weddings, for every high school and grade school,” said ShananiGanns owner Kristina Gann Albright. Sales of the coverings have helped lift the small business up after losses suffered during the stay-at-home orders when its doors were closed.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Basehor establishes Municipal Services Department
The city of Basehor has created a new Municipal Services Department. City Administrator Leslee Rivarola said in a news release that the department will oversee all public infrastructure in Basehor. This will include building permits and inspections. According to Rivarola, the city is taking a “one-stop shop” approach to deliver construction services by consolidating certain services under the leadership of one department.”
Source: Leavenworth Times
The Federal Reserve will stay on hold until 2023, according to CNBC survey
In the first CNBC Fed Survey since the Federal Reserve announced its new, more dovish monetary policy strategy, respondents now forecast no rate hikes from the central bank until 2023. The results are a potential first sign that the Fed’s new strategy of targeting average inflation, where it will allow inflation to run above its 2% target for an unspecified time, have had an immediate impact on the rate outlook. The new average forecast, which has the Fed on hold until February 2023, is six months later than the July survey and comes amid more upbeat views on the economic recovery and higher inflation forecasts. Under the previous strategy, where the Fed aimed for a symmetrical 2% target, those conditions might have brought forward the outlook for rate hikes.
Source: CNBC
A production company is filming a Netflix-funded documentary at Haysville’s Campus High
Haysville, Kansas, is getting a shot at stardom. Some of its high school students are, at least. A New York City television production company called Left/Right Productions now has at least three camera crews at Haysville’s Campus High School following 10 different seniors through their final year of high school. They’re working on a documentary project titled “The Graduates” that has funding from Netflix and may eventually be picked up and aired by the streaming service, said Adia Ludwig, the communication director for USD 261 in Haysville.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
The Keeper statue stolen from Planeview Park has been recovered
The Keeper statue that was taken from Wichita’s Planeview Park by vandals over the weekend has been found and returned to Together Wichita, the group that initiated the Keeper 150 project. But it’s so badly damaged that it’s not likely repairable, they said on Tuesday. On Monday, a resident spotted the missing statue in the grass beside a creek that runs by Colvin Elementary School, said Tessa Brungardt, who manages the Keeper project for Together Wichita. That resident called Brungardt, who alerted the city of Wichita. Its maintenance workers retrieved the statue on Monday evening. The creek is not far from Planeview Park, 2819 Fees St.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle