Kansas Municipal News
40,000 Topekans haven’t responded to Census
An estimated 40,726 Topekans have not yet responded to the 2020 U.S. Census, with 22 days remaining in which to count residents, the Topeka City Council learned Tuesday. Council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla heard a presentation at their evening meeting from three Census Bureau employees, one of whom acknowledged that unprecedented challenges and operational disruptions have hampered the Census Bureau’s ability to effectively count everyone. Some residents, particularly racial minorities, don’t understand what the Census is and are afraid to share information with the government, Census Bureau staff members added. They encouraged city officials to team up with local organizations – including those residents trust most, such as schools and churches – to get the word out and encourage Topekans to be counted.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
‘It just takes one person’: KU student tension grows as parties continue amid COVID-19
Some University of Kansas students are taking bets on how many more weeks they’ll be on campus. Junior Derek Dunn said he doubts in-person classes will make it past mid-October. But Dunn, chair of Student Rights and Responsibilities at KU, said he thinks even this is optimistic. As of Sept. 1, 546 members of the campus community had tested positive for COVID-19. The majority are students, with 332 cases coming from Greek life alone. In a video update last week, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod said the Greek community was testing positive at a rate of about 10%.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
USDA Invests $14,000 in Community Infrastructure in Effingham, Kansas
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $14,000 to replace the roof of a senior citizens center in the city of Effingham, Kan. … The city of Effingham will use a $14,000 Community Facilities Grant to replace the roof of the senior citizens center. The Effingham senior center provides a hub for public transportation, meals on wheels service and a place for congregate meals for nearly 600 people in Effingham and surrounding townships. This project will ensure the continued viability of the senior center and its efficient service for the community. This civic improvement is made possible because of the partnership with Project Concern Inc. of Atchison County, which is contributing $26,000.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 8, 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.
USDA Invests Over $41,000 in Community Infrastructure in Washington, Kansas
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $41,400 to renovate the public library in the city of Washington, Kan. “Modern, safe community infrastructure is essential for rural communities to thrive,” Hinrichsen said. … The city of Washington will use a $41,400 Community Facilities Grant to replace the roof and guttering of the public library facility and make other repairs. The Washington Public Library provides educational and public resources to nearly 1,200 people in Washington and surrounding townships. This project will ensure the continued viability of the public library and its efficient service for the community. This civic improvement is made possible because of the partnership with the city, which is contributing $29,510, and the community, which is contributing $47,486 in total donations.
Johnson County students met with stress and technology problems on first day of school
At 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, thousands of Olathe students sat at their computers, ready to start the first day of school and meet their new teachers via a Zoom video chat. But within a few minutes, many realized they had been blocked from doing so. “At first I thought that maybe the internet wasn’t working in our whole neighborhood, since everyone was trying to get online. But then we figured out that (the district system) must have crashed,” said Cassie Collar, who has a middle schooler and high schooler in the Olathe district.
Source: Joco 913 News
In tough times, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens ‘beneficial to the soul’
Karen Kerkhoff’s job is situated within one of the largest plots of natural splendor in Overland Park. Yet now, working within a pandemic, it is the beauty of those who visit the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens that often catches her attention. “The most fun for me is when I see a family has come in; the kids may find a good stick walking the trail, and life is good,” says Kerkhoff, who been with the arboretum since 2004. “And when they are leaving, they are sweaty but they seem to be very happy.
Source: Joco 913 News
Kansas City malls were struggling before the pandemic. Now dozens of stores are closed
Just two years ago, the Country Club Plaza seemed poised for a bright future under new owners. Kansas City’s iconic outdoor shopping center enticed Nordstrom to leave rival Oak Park Mall and open a new store anchoring the Plaza’s west side in 2021. They also signed New York-based cult favorite Shake Shack for a prominent corner. But the COVID-19 crisis has upended the retail landscape.
Source: KC Star Local News
New outdoor dining platforms in Downtown MHK
On August 18, the City Commission authorized City Administration to move forward with the design and construction of dining platforms for seven food establishments in Downtown Manhattan: MHK Brewing Co., Tap House, Bourbon & Baker, El Patron, V, The Chef, and Finn’s Pub. The platforms will be constructed on City parking stalls along Poyntz Avenue and 4th Street. In an effort to aid businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, this project will provide food establishments an additional seating area while allowing for social distancing requirements. The City Commission awarded a maximum budget of $250,000 for design and construction. The platforms will be constructed of decking material and include a combination of planters, benches, fencing, and protective barriers. All platforms will meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.
Source: Manhattan – News Flash
Manhattan City Mask Ordinance extended to December 31
Manhattan City Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to extend the ordinance requiring masks or other face coverings in city limits at their meeting on Tuesday, September 2. The mask ordinance will remain in effect until December 31. Ordinance No. 7488 is posted on the City of Manhattan website at https://cityofmhk.com/DocumentCenter/View/59247/7488-Require-Face-Covering-070720 Please see the full text of the ordinance to see when masks are required and when people are exempt from mask requirements.
Source: Manhattan – News Flash
Kansas schools under most stress he’s ever seen, education commissioner says
It’s a school’s football coaching staff in quarantine in one Kansas school district. In another, the entire kindergarten staff is in quarantine. In other schools, it’s just one or two students or staff members who test positive for COVID-19, but suddenly, the entire school has to quarantine. Those are just some of the situations Randy Watson, state commissioner of education, saw when he toured western Kansas schools last week, and they’re the challenges that each district, big and small, will eventually face, he told the Kansas State Board of Education Wednesday. Most rural Kansas schools opened before Labor Day, Watson said, and have been in school for a few weeks. In that short time, they’ve been tested already by the strains of keeping schools open during the pandemic, especially as cases begin to pop up among students and staff.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Mask mandate extended for Wichita after 7-hour public hearing, protest at Century II
After a marathon of comments from residents opposed to Wichita’s mask mandate, the City Council voted to extend it by as much as another six weeks. The council voted 5-2 to extend the mask mandate until Oct. 21 or until the COVID threat drops below the green threshold and the countywide positive test rate drops below 5 percent, whichever comes first. Council members James Clendenin and Jeff Blubaugh dissented.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
City of Lawrence to resume parking enforcement downtown, continue ambassador program in limited capacity
The City of Lawrence will soon resume parking enforcement downtown after its temporary suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to resume all downtown parking enforcement beginning on Sept. 14, including parking meters, parking garages and overstays in the two-hour parking lots. Enforcement was suspended in March because of reduced activity downtown amid the pandemic, but Parking Supervisor Brad Harrell told the commission that demand had been steadily increasing and enforcement was needed again. “The most recent occupancy data suggest that there’s a need for metering and enforcement services to be reinstated,” Harrell said. “Monitoring parking is necessary to create the turnover and accessibility of available parking stalls for downtown visitors.”
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 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.
Wichita’s Temporary Downtown Pop-Up Park Closes After Five Years
After five years, the pop-up park in downtown Wichita has closed for good. The park near Douglas and Market, funded in part by a Knight Foundation grant, was always meant to be temporary. Still, when news filtered out last month that it was closing, “it did catch us off guard,” said Adam Bussey, vice president of the Wichita Food Truck Coalition and the owner of Hot 2 Trot Gourmet Hot Dogs. The park’s closure means Bussey and other food truck operators will have to find new places to set up shop.
Source: KMUW
Drug dog makes a big difference in St. John
Just seven months on the job and the statistics for criminal activity stopped by St. John’s K-9 officer Glenn, a Belgian Malinois dog certified in narcotics, suspect apprehension, tracking, evidence recovery and patrol work, are worth noting. In the small, rural town of St. John, Glenn, assisted by his handler Police Chief Allen Adams and fellow St. John officers, conducted another car stop in August, bringing the SJPD’s total number of 2020 narcotics cases to 11, which includes three distribution cases. “Glenn’s made a real difference in the seven months since he joined the force,” Adams said. “He’s good little partner to have.”
Source: News – Wellington Daily News – Wellington, KS
Topeka school board allows football practices to continue — for now
Football teams at Topeka, Topeka West and Highland Park may continue to practice for the next two weeks, but questions about the season at-large remain after the Topeka Board of Education punted on a decision for allowing the district’s teams to play games against other districts’ schools. The board voted 5-2 Thursday evening to allow football teams to practice through the board’s next meeting on Sept. 17, when the board will make a decision on future competition against other teams.
Source: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal
Dodge City looks for artists for Eisenhower Park
Get the paint brushes ready. After being awarded a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, Strategic Investment Program for New & Expanded Works, the city of Dodge City is looking to commission a mural at Eisenhower Park.Once completed, the mural would be the final renovation project at the park. "The Request for Proposals was recently published to begin the process of finding the artist that will bring the mural to life,"…
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS
Facing protests and lawsuits, Blue Valley, Olathe districts will allow fall sports
Facing lawsuits and ongoing protests, both the Blue Valley and Olathe school districts will now allow fall sports. Despite rising cases of coronavirus in Johnson County, the Olathe school board voted Thursday to allow high school sports and activities to resume, and the Blue Valley superintendent announced the same Friday morning. During a four-hour meeting, the Olathe school board voted 5-2 to follow the county health department’s criteria for opening schools — which puts the county in the “red” zone — except for sports.
Source: Joco 913 News
Shawnee Mission golfers denied in first round of suit demanding district let them play
A Johnson County judge has denied five high school golfers’ request to allow them to immediately begin their season despite COVID-19 restrictions. The golfers, all girls, and their parents are suing both the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts because officials temporarily banned all fall sports and activities. Blue Valley officials on Friday, though, announced the district would resume high school sports this weekend. Attorney John Duggan, who is representing the families, was not immediately available to comment on how Blue Valley’s decision will affect the lawsuit.
Source: Joco 913 News