Kansas Municipal News
Johnson County Board of Commissioners addresses concerns over stray bullets hitting homes in southern JoCo
Danger from target shooters’ stray bullets near homes in Stilwell and Spring Hill has been such a persistent problem this year that Johnson County commissioners were willing to touch the “third rail” of politics Thursday. The commission, after hearing a second round of horror stories from residents about bullets hitting their homes, approved a resolution to place a higher priority on stray bullet complaints as they come into the sheriff’s department and the district attorney’s office.
Source: Prairie Village Post
DA’s office investigates Wichita City Hall over inaccuracies in Century II reports
Prosecutors have opened an investigation of the city of Wichita’s handling of records after a complaint by one of the founders of a group seeking to save the Century II Convention and Performing Arts Center from potential demolition as part of a proposed redevelopment project. Celeste Racette, leader of Save Century II, says she’s gotten what she believes to be incorrect and/or incomplete information in response to requests she’s filed in her campaign. A city official admitted there are errors in the documents that were provided to Racette, but said they were inadvertent clerical mistakes in descriptions caused by errant cutting and pasting. The money actually went where it was supposed to go, City Treasurer Mark Manning said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
No big problems so far with Winfield mask order
Other than some confrontations between people, few problems have been reported to authorities so far regarding compliance with the City of Winfield’s face mask ordinance. … Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said there have been a handful of incidents at local businesses involving customers who refused to wear masks, but these have been resolved without any further issues.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Grant to aid in Winfield trail conditions
The City of Winfield has applied for a Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism grant that would help to pave some of its city-owned trails, making them more durable for all-weather use and improving ADA access. City officials are tackling trail improvements after receiving feedback from the community. “Recreational trails were one of the highest priorities received in the community survey last fall,” said Winfield city manager Taggart Wall, referring to a survey release last year to help with comprehensive planning.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Four Kansas cities seeking HQ of U.S. Space Command
Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday she is pushing for President Donald Trump’s space force to be in Kansas. Four cities, including Leavenworth, have submitted proposals seeking to land the headquarters of the U.S. Space Command, which would be in charge of military operations in space. The other cities are Derby, Kansas City and Wichita, who have also provided information on potential development sites to the federal government, the governor’s office said. “Our strong teams of state and local economic development professionals have the tools available for the attraction, growth, and retention of the U.S. Space Command headquarters,” said the governor in a news release.
Source: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal
New Junction City High School more than half finished, expected to open before next school year
Geary County Schools U.S.D. 475 is currently more than halfway done with the construction of a brand new Junction City High School. Construction on the massive project began 18 months ago and is expected to be finished in June 2021. Chief Operations Officer David Wild said the school has been split in to three zones. Zone three, which includes the athletics department, is still mostly concrete and steel. On the other end of the project, crews have completed the roof on zone one and are putting up drywall.
Source: KSNT News
Garden City approves second bid package for Big Pool project
The guaranteed maximum price for Bid Package 2 for the Garden Rapids at The Big Pool project was approved by the Garden City Commission at its regular meeting Tuesday. … Bid Package 2 is a total of $3.9 million, bringing the total project cost to $12.3 million. In addition to the base bid package, the commission approved a buy-up option for a breezeway between the old bathhouse and the new admission/concession building.
Source: News – The Garden City Telegram
Risk Creeps Into Municipal Bond Market, Yet Rates Stay Low
Add the municipal market to the long list of American institutions reshaped by Covid-19. The pandemic is threatening the creditworthiness of many municipal securities long seen as safe investments—bonds for higher education, health care, tourism and travel. … Municipal bond defaults have reached their highest rate since 2011, the aftermath of the last recession, according to Municipal Market Analytics data. Still, Americans continue to pour money into municipal bond mutual funds, which are clocking 17 straight weeks of inflows since mid-May.
Source: Wall Street Journal.
USDA Invests Over $265,000 in Community Infrastructure in Lucas, Kansas
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $265,300 to renovate a community center in the city of Lucas. “Modern, safe community infrastructure is essential for rural communities to thrive,” Hinrichsen said. “Whether it’s a safe and accessible library or facilities for public and civic meetings, rural communities rely on modern infrastructure to invigorate and serve their town and public. Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand, USDA is dedicated to rural communities like Lucas and their long-term commitments to economic prosperity; because when rural America prospers, all of America prospers.”
The city of Lucas will use a $222,300 loan and a $43,000 grant to purchase and renovate an existing vacant building to house a community center, public library, municipal offices, wellness equipment, and recreation room for public meetings and events. The library is currently housed in a building constructed in 1920 with deteriorating floors, limited space for children’s activities and patron privacy, and is not accommodating to individuals with disabilities. The existing municipal space is experiencing similar issues. The new facility will provide infrastructure for disabled individuals, larger spaces for privacy and security and a communal space for the nearly 400 residents of Lucas.
Today’s investment is in coordination with the recent announcement by Deputy Under Secretary Brand that USDA is funding 44 projects in the following states: Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 3, 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.
Federal cleanup funding proposed for southeast Kansas smelter sites
The Environmental Protection Agency has added a site in Caney in Montgomery County to its Superfund List of hazardous waste sites eligible for federally funded long-term remedial cleanup and has proposed adding another site in Weir in Cherokee County to the list, the Kansas Department of Health Environment announced this week. As a result of historic smelting operations at the two sites, both contain lead, which can pose serious health risks…
Source: Newton Kansan
New mask order from Sedgwick County health officer extends mask requirement to Oct. 21
A new emergency order from Sedgwick County’s health officer extends the face mask requirement for more than a month while changing the definition of a mask. The order issued Thursday by Dr. Garold Minns extends the mask requirement to Oct. 21. It had been set to expire Sept. 8. The order also removes masks with a one-way valve or vent through which air can be exhaled. Face shields are still allowed.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Shawnee leaders stress need for multifamily housing to spur economic growth but admit buy-in from neighboring residents will be needed
Several Shawnee city leaders last month touted the need for multifamily housing — and buy-in from neighboring single-family homeowners — to spark sustainable economic growth in the community. In a virtual discussion hosted Aug. 20 by the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee, Mayor Michelle Distler and most members of the Shawnee City Council discussed the merits of multifamily housing, particularly because of the city’s location along major arterials and highways, and quick access to downtown Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City International Airport. Shawnee lacks the type of multifamily housing — even luxury-priced units — for residents who prefer those options, particularly empty-nesters wanting to downsize or younger professionals and families just starting out. But several residential projects — many of which are multifamily — are underway.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Destination Kansas: Discover the hidden gems of Hutchinson with Cosmosphere and Strataca
Hutchinson has been home to salt mines since 1887 and has earned the nickname “Salt City” offering visitors the opportunity to go back nearly 280 million years to explore what’s beneath the surface. “It’s a great way to get away from daily life,” said Tonya Gehring, Strataca operations manager. “When we take you underground, it’s 650-feet underground where it’s 68 degrees, and while we do have WiFi, phones stop ringing. We don’t pipe in music. It’s very quiet, very calm and we take you back through geological timeframes.” The salt mine is like a time capsule, which lets you see the salt beds that were left behind from a time when Kansas was underwater.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Cedar Vale to host ‘Let’s Celebrate!’ 150th birthday
This year marks the 150th birthday of Cedar Vale. Founded in 1864 and recognized as a city in 1870, the theme of this year’s 108th annual Labor Day celebration will be “Let’s Celebrate.” Labor Day events will run from Saturday through Monday.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
City updates sidewalk enhancement policy
City of Emporia commissioners approved amendments to the city’s existing sidewalk enhancement policy during a brief action session Wednesday afternoon. Originally drafted in 2012, the document provides guidance to area businesses on the temporary placing and permanent affixing of “enhancements” — such as displays, signs, tables, benches, bike racks and more — on sidewalks, right-of-ways, streets, and private/public parking spaces so as “not to impede traffic or pedestrian movements. “[The amendments] are proposed in order to offer additional options and flexibility for local businesses …
Source: Emporia Gazette
Heritage groups unite to preserve history of Haviland
The Haviland Heritage Foundation and the Southwest Kansas Antique Engine and Thresher Association announced the merger of the two groups … HHF President Jean Jones and SWKAET Association president Andy Kimble signed a merger agreement to make it official. “This merger will unite the two groups to carry on the history of Haviland, and provide the community and the county a beautiful place to gather and hold events,” Jones said.
Source: Leavenworth Times
Public art installed and Goddess of Justice in place. New JoCo Courthouse nearly open
After two years of construction, the new Johnson County Courthouse is substantially complete and on track to open to the public on Jan. 4 in downtown Olathe. The certificate of substantial completion was dated Aug. 21 for the seven-story courthouse in downtown Olathe, which contains 28 courtrooms. Public art has been installed, and the Goddess of Justice statue has been relocated to the lobby. This is the third courthouse to house that statue, according to a county news release.
Source: Joco 913 News
‘Game-changer’: Johnson County schools to get thousands of saliva COVID-19 tests
Johnson County is purchasing thousands of COVID-19 saliva tests for schools to use as many students return to classrooms next week, said Sanmi Areola, county public health director. During a virtual town hall meeting hosted by the Shawnee Mission school district on Wednesday, Areola announced the plan and said within the next couple of weeks, students, teachers and staff could start getting tested. Areola said that increasing testing is critical to mitigating the spread of coronavirus and keeping schools open. He said districts can test students and staff in elementary schools — many of which open next week — along with those participating in sports and activities, for example.
Source: Joco 913 News
Council members say ‘there was no greater cheerleader for Olathe’ than Mayor Mike
The first 30 minutes of Tuesday night’s Olathe City Council meeting were devoted to two pieces of business: remembering the late Mayor Michael Copeland and swearing in new leadership. Copeland died Aug. 19 at age 58. He was Olathe’s longest-serving mayor, serving for 19 years. “This isn’t an easy day for Olathe. It’s the first city council meeting in 27 years without Mike Copeland as a part of this council,” said John Bacon, former City Council member and the new mayor of Olathe. “I felt fortunate and proud to live in a city with Mike as my mayor and count it a privilege to have been able to work alongside him on this council for so many years.”
Source: Joco 913 News