Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for September 11, 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.
Kansas Department of Commerce official optimistic of state’s economic growth, opportunities
Bill Murphy, the new Deputy Secretary of Business Development for the Kansas Department of Commerce, shared his vision for economic development, business retention and staying competitive in the national talent pool, Thursday afternoon. Murphy, who took part in the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce’s virtual Day In Topeka, said he was excited by the “determination” he saw to rebuild the Department of Commerce prior to his coming on board. The goal, he said, is to capitalize on the strengths of the department and reenergize and renew its enthusiasm as funding sources returned. “What I’m seeing is, for the first time in seven years, the department has a full business recruitment team in place,” Murphy said. “That team is spread out across the country to attract businesses to the state of Kansas. Having worked in three other states, each state has a different approach to business recruitment.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Anthony, KS memorial tells story of fallen firefighter to future generations
There’s a piece of Sept. 11, 2001 history in Kansas. The town of Anthony, Kansas is home to a September 11th memorial that has gained recognition from across the country. It highlights the connection between the town and a firefighter who gave his life in New York. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” says Donna Crowe, the now 9/11 Memorial Committee Chairperson of Anthony. The former mayor asked Crowe to do a difficult task. “He asked me to try to get ahold of somebody in New York City to see if we could adopt a fireman who had lost his life,” she says.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas school bus equation complicated by virus, social distancing
Just northwest of Wichita, the small school district of Maize has a difficult time finding interested and qualified drivers in a normal year. Add in a couple of retirements and general challenges from COVID-19, and superintendent Chad Higgins said it’s even more difficult. “More buses and more bus routes really isn’t an option because it’s the drivers,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many buses you have if you don’t have anyone to drive them.” Maize’s problem is threefold: It can’t add buses or routes, each bus carries fewer students and routes need to be as short as possible.
Source: Leavenworth Times
As bars across Wichita ignore COVID curfew, county warns of consequences
If you want to go out and party after the 11 p.m. coronavirus curfew, it’s not hard to find a place to do it in Wichita. On Friday night, bars and nightclubs across the city were packing in customers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., basically ignoring a county health order setting 11 as closing time for places selling alcohol by the drink. When he issued the order, county Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns said bars and clubs are particularly prone to spread coronavirus because they attract crowds who stay and socialize for hours at a time and/or flit from bar to bar in the course of a night.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Meatpacking plants, prisons, have highest number of active COVID cases in Kansas
Meatpacking plants and correctional facilities continue to be the main sites of active COVID-19 clusters in Kansas, with each reporting thousands of cases, according to data released Wednesday by the state health department. It was the first time the Kansas Department of Health and environment publicized specific active COVID-19 clusters. The state identified 117 active clusters, involving 5,099 cases, 192 hospitalizations and 63 deaths.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
New book examines Reno County during the Cold War
Reno County played a part in Cold War history. According to Oklahoma history professor Landry Brewer, the author of the recently-released book, "Cold War Kansas," during the Cold War, every city in the U.S. was asked by the government to build fallout shelters. Reno County built two very large ones.The Cold War began after World War II. This rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union lasted through the 1980s.
Source: News – The Hutchinson News
Lenexa Police Department holds use of force workshop for members of the public
Every split-second decision made by police can be scrutinized. That’s why Lenexa’s police department holds its annual citizens workshop, where residents can get a first-hand look at how and why officers use force. The annual Use of Force Workshop held by Lenexa Police comes at a time when officers across the nation are under fire for use of excessive force, including in the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This annual gathering is a time of transparency, where the public can learn why police do what they do.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Johnson County’s microtransit ride share expanding service area
Microtransit, a ride share system meant to aid current transit services, is expanding its pilot program to include more of Johnson County, according to a statement from the county manager’s office. Beginning Monday, Sept. 14, service area will be expanded to include important new destinations, including the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, the new Johnson County Courthouse, and Merriam Town Center. It expands the current northern border all the way to the Wyandotte County line along Shawnee Mission Parkway and grows the southwest corner of the service area to include downtown Olathe.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Small, private school in Ark City arises amid pandemic
The pandemic crisis has people thinking outside the box and responding to needs in original ways. Or in the case of Ark City’s One Room Schoolhouse, using an old education model to educate kids in a new way. On Aug. 10, the Arkansas City USD 470 Board of Education made their decision to go with a hybrid format for classes this year. On Aug. 11, Lenell and Clay Puchalla decided they needed to set up a different kind of school for their kids’ sake. The Puchallas have a total of six adopted and foster children. Some of them have IEPs (Individual Education Programs) because they have special education needs.Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Trustee won’t drop litigation in Platte County, Missouri, default
The trustee for $32 million of defaulted bonds that Platte County, Missouri put its appropriation pledge behind wants the Missouri Supreme Court to have the last word on whether the county bears legal responsibility for repayment. UMB Bank NA has so far failed to persuade courts of its position that the financing agreement tied to the bonds require the county to make up pledged revenue shortfalls. The trustee on Wednesday filed a motion seeking a rehearing with the Court of Appeals and also asked for transfer of the case to state’s high court, according to court filings.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Revitalize Russell Continues to Gain Momentum
The Downtown Streetscape Committee and Revitalize Russell experienced a recent big win. One of the committee partners, the Russell County Historical Society, was awarded an $80,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, resulting in a nearly funded Outdoor Restroom and Visitors Center Facility. As momentum continues to build, the project is undergoing beginning stage progress.
Source: KRSL Russell Radio
Wichita receives $21 million grant to improve North Junction
“Today’s award is a great benefit to Kansans, as the North Junction serves as a major crossroads in our state,” said Rep. Estes. “Transforming this area has been a top priority for the State of Kansas. This project will have a travel-time savings of $127 million and a safety savings of $4.6 million resulting from reduced crashes. The interchange connects rural and urban parts of our state, but years of vehicle traffic, congestion and crashes have diminished the efficiency of the current interchange and threatens the long-term prosperity of the region. Correcting this decades-old design is great news for south central Kansas.”
Source: KAKE – News
Pittsburg considering loan forgiveness for local business
Pittsburg city leaders will discuss loan forgiveness for a local business. If approved, a $700,000 loan would be forgiven for Riggs Chiropractic. It’s part for a loan forgiveness plan that some businesses can apply for. The city would pay for it from the economic development fund. That money comes from a sales tax in place since the 80s. Dr. Kayla Riggs, Owner of Riggs Chiropractic says without this opportunity, getting her business up and running would have been a lot more difficult.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Economic leaders looking to pay remote workers to move to Topeka
The Greater Topeka Partnership is looking to pay people who work from home to move to Topeka. The proposal is a part of the economic group’s Choose Topeka program, which received national attention when it was announced. Originally, the program was used to pay people to move to and work in Topeka full-time. People could get $10,000 for renting and $15,000 if they bought a home. Employers had to agree to match 50 percent of the incentive.
Source: KSNT News
‘Ghost sign’ restoration recalls Wellington history
For more than 100 years, a sign advertising an early cornerstone business in Wellington had been hidden. Today, through the magic of modern technology, people in other countries have been watching the restoration of the sign on YouTube. The “ghost sign” — 15 feet high, 50 feet long and 36 feet above the ground — on the now vacant building at 120 S. Washington advertised the Jacob Engle Dry Goods Store, opened in 1892 by Jacob Engle, a German immigrant.
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS
Oktoberfest Hays 2020 revision
Members of the Volga German Centennial Association and organizers of Oktoberfest Hays, announced their 2020 Oktoberfest Hays REVISION plan. Even though the traditional Oktoberfest Hays event in Frontier Park will not occur this year, the format for 2020 will still offer the community some German traditions without the crowds. “I cannot say without a doubt that having a traditional Oktoberfest would be in the best interest of the city of Hays, the Volga German Centennial Association, and for our local community,” said Philip Kuhn, President of Oktoberfest Board.
Source: News – The Hays Daily News
Celebrating El Dorado’s History
The city of El Dorado is marking the 150th anniversary of Eldorado’s incorporation as a city. El Dorado incorporated as a city of the third class on Sept.12, 1871. In celebration of this historic occasion, many events are being planned throughout the 150th year which officially begins on Sept. 12, 2020 and extends through Sept. 12, 2021. As part of this year-long event, Everyday El Dorado will be turning back the clock of time on a hunt for history through a podcast series with host Deanna Bonn and co-host Suzanne Walenta. Walenta is the Curator of the Butler County Historical Society Home of the Kansas Oil Museum.
Source: Newton Kansan
Affordable housing a top concern as Prairie Village drafts new 20-year plan
Prairie Village officials are seeking more feedback on the draft of the city’s comprehensive long-term plan, Village Vision 2.0, that the city council may take up as early as mid-October. It’s been a nearly two-year process developing Village Vision 2.0, but Mayor Erik Mikkelson said Wednesday night during a public meeting that the process, as well as the guiding document itself, are both valuable. The original Village Vision, created in 2007, brought Prairie Village to the place it is at today, he said, including the addition of two brand new parks.
Source: Prairie Village Post
‘Open Prairie’ — $500,000 public artwork unveiled at new Johnson County Courthouse
After four years of planning and construction — and having recently reached “substantial completion” after 26 months — officials unveiled a $500,000 piece of public art inside the new Johnson County Courthouse in downtown Olathe Wednesday. The work, entitled “Open Prairie,” hangs in the entryway of the new $193 million courthouse at 150 West Santa Fe Street. Larry Meeker, chairman of the county’s public art commission, said the piece allows each individual who walks beneath it to bring their own story and background to it.
Source: Prairie Village Post