Kansas Municipal News
Infamous Pittsburg Walmart parking lot pole removed
A yellow pole at the south side of the Walmart Supercenter parking lot in Pittsburg that became notorious after multiple collisions with it by vehicles driving through the lot was removed August 21, the day after it was hit yet again. It remains unclear whether the pole will be relocated or permanently removed from the lot. Before its removal the Pittsburg Walmart pole, bent out of shape after numerous collisions, developed a cult following. A Twitter account, @pole_walmart, and two Facebook groups — “Pole of shame / Pittsburg walmart,” with well over 1,000 members, and “Pittsburg Walmart Pole,” with more than 6,000 — were created in dedication to the pole.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Salina extends TPEC management agreement 10 years
The Tony’s Pizza Events Center will be managed by Spectra for at least 10 more years after an agreement was reached by the city of Salina.The agreement comes after a vote by the Salina City Commission at its Monday afternoon meeting. The vote saw the city end its current agreement with Spectra and replace it with one that will run through February 2030.The agreement will see Spectra make several upgrades to the facility, including upgraded food service …
Source: News – Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for August 25, 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.
KHP flies urgent coronavirus medicine to Kansas hospitals
Kansas Highway State Patrol Troopers are helping fight coronavirus from the air by flying medicine to local hospitals. Morris County Hospital began treating its first COVID-19 patient last week, and they needed medicine fast. “The remdesivir, which is the preferred medicine for this stage, is tightly-controlled at the state,” said Morris County Hospital Administrator, Kevin Leeper. “They issue it to hospitals that have the need.” That’s where the Kansas Highway Patrol stepped in Friday, Aug. 21.
Source: KAKE – News
Two new Arkansas City Police Department officers, but shortage remains
The Arkansas City Police Department has two new officers and is now at full-staff, but getting enough cops on the street is still an issue. Chief Dan Ward said he is still critically understaffed for full-fledged patrol officers. “Out of the four shifts that we run, two are at the minimum of three officers,” he said. Ward said he was given permission to fill the open slots after presenting the situation to the city manager and city commission in June.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
City of Wellington unveils official ‘Strategic plan’
The community-based Strategic Plan for the city of Wellington was presented to the City Council on August 18 by LaShnoa Garnes, Community Development Manager for the public policy and management center for Wichita State University. In developing the plan, the city worked with a steering committee members, city staff, focus group participants, and all members of the Wellington community who provided feedback for the Plan. The Plan identifies four goal areas with objectives and strategies for each. The four goals are Marketing and Communication, Economic Diversity and Growth, Restoration and Revitalization, and Quality of Life.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Many small districts are back to “school as normal”
School is back in session for many districts across the state posing the question of what does that look like for students returning to the classroom? After nearly five months away, the Ashland school district welcomed their students back on the busses and into the hallways and classrooms without any issues. The district has nearly 200 students K-12 and has been back to ‘school as normal’ since Aug. 17. Every day upon walking through the doors, students and staff have their temperature checked and are required to wear masks when social distancing cannot take place. Students’ seats are spaced out, lunches are taken in shifts, and several rooms have plexiglass partitions installed.
Source: KSN-TV
Spring Hill offering Internet for students throughout school year
Mayor Steven Ellis and the City Council are happy to announce the City of Spring Hill is offering workspace and WiFi access for up to 15 students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Civic Center, 401 N. Madison St. Social distancing will be provided between work spaces and masks will be required. The City encourages those that participate to bring fully-charged devices as outlet space is limited.
Source: City of Spring Hill news
Crowd gathers in downtown Topeka for ‘Back the Blue’ rally
People drove from Gardner, Lenexa, Leavenworth, Rossville and from as far away as Wichita to attend a “Back the Blue” rally Tuesday afternoon in downtown Topeka. A few hundred people, some from the capital city, gathered outside the Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 S.E. 8th Ave., in the hours leading up to a special session meeting of the Topeka City Council to voice their support for Topeka’s police officers. By 4 p.m. Tuesday, the street in front of the arts center, where the city council meeting was set to be held, had been blocked off.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Mission approves new logo as part of rebranding efforts, communications plan
The Mission City Council Wednesday evening approved a rebranding design that the city will use in its signage and website as part of an ongoing communications plan. The Mission City Council approved the above logo as part of the city’s rebranding efforts. The logo will begin to be used in the city’s communications including its website. Mission city staff worked with marketing agency Crux KC to narrow down the dozen or so options to two to present to the city council and the public.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Shawnee planning to purchase new police K-9 training materials
Shawnee is seeking federal grant funding to support the purchase of K-9 training materials for the city’s police department. The Shawnee City Council on Aug. 10 voted 7-0 to enter a cooperative agreement with Overland Park and Olathe to jointly apply for federal funds through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Councilmember Mike Kemmling was absent. Funding from the federal program supports state and local programs in law enforcement, courts, corrections and drug treatment.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Ottawa district divides students into groups
As students in Ottawa schools go back to class for the 2020-21 school year, starting Sept. 9 through May 28, 2021, they will be divided into two groups and attend school in three-hour blocks to allow for COVID-19 precautions. A groups will meet in the morning and B groups in the afternoon. Ottawa superintendent Ryan Cobbs said the main goal is to return the students back safely into a learning environment. “I appreciate parents’ patience and support as we continue to work through these difficult times,” Cobbs said. “We look forward to getting our students back into school and back to learning.”
Municipal Bond Trends for August 24, 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.
Southwest Chief, others to see frequency cut
There is only one passenger rail train that serves the state of Kansas, a train that has seen multiple threats to its operation over the past decade — most of them funding fights over rail improvements and positive train control. It appears that in 2020, COVID-19 has done what no other threat could do in the nearly 50 years of operation of the Southwest Chief — reduce the frequency of service. According to a memo to staff from Amtrak and posted to social media, all but one long-distance train in the Amtrak network will be cut to three times a week in October.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
One of the most relaxing road trips you’ll ever take is just 20 minutes from Wichita
Go through the small gate of a fence off North Line Street in Belle Plaine, Kansas, and you’ll find yourself in one of the oldest arboretums between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The historic nonprofit Bartlett Arboretum, founded in 1910, has already survived one pandemic, notes a two-part short film about its history that can be found on its website — and it can be a welcome respite for those looking for a socially distanced activity during the current COVID-19 pandemic. “People walk in here and their blood pressure drops, they breathe easier and they breathe better,” said Arb steward Robin Macy about the effects of wandering around the arb. She encourages picnics and leisurely exploring of the tree museum’s grounds.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Shawnee Mission parents, teachers clash on district decision to start year online
Two conflicting groups appealed to the Shawnee Mission school board Monday afternoon — one celebrating the district’s decision to start the school year online, the other demanding in-person classes and fall sports. In addition, hundreds of parents and students protested outside the district administrative building before Monday evening’s board meeting, with signs that read “open schools” and “let them play.” Many parents in the group worry that students’ mental and physical health will suffer at home. The other group said the district’s decision will protect teachers and students from contracting coronavirus in the classroom and then bringing it back to their families — especially as community spread of the virus remains high. Many wore T-shirts that read “Support SMSD teachers” and held signs thanking the school board.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita schools to get devices to students despite global laptop shortage
Wichita Public Schools are still waiting for a huge shipment of laptops, as the first day of school approaches. Despite delayed shipments, the district says they plan to get every student access to virtual learning by the first day of the semester. The district sent out a survey asking parents and students if they already have internet access and a device to access virtual learning. If the student does not have a device, the district plans to re-purpose laptops, iPads and Chromebooks it already has. USD 259 Chief Information Officer, Rob Dickson, said students who need to access virtual learning will be able to.
Source: KAKE – News
‘Let us take the risk’ — Some parents urge in-person learning in Shawnee Mission, while others praise district for decision to start remotely
More than 30 people took to the mic Monday afternoon in a sometimes-emotional public listening session regarding the Shawnee Mission Schools’ decision to open the 2020-21 academic year with all of the district’s roughly 27,000 students learning remotely. The district’s choice to start with remote learning — and to also suspend all sports and extracurricular activities — came after county health officials advised public school districts last week that some key COVID-19 trends are increasing and that community spread is continuing in Johnson County, making in-person learning potentially unsafe.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Mission approves new logo as part of rebranding efforts, communications plan
The Mission City Council Wednesday evening approved a rebranding design that the city will use in its signage and website as part of an ongoing communications plan. The Mission City Council approved the above logo as part of the city’s rebranding efforts. The logo will begin to be used in the city’s communications including its website. Mission city staff worked with marketing agency Crux KC to narrow down the dozen or so options to two to present to the city council and the public. The city council Wednesday was asked to choose between the two options. The public’s feedback on the two designs was nearly split, with 105 preferring option one and 107 voting for option two.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee County to let schools make own decisions regarding COVID-19
Shawnee County will let schools make their own decisions on how to safely open and conduct activities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioners, Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays voted 3-0 to adopt a resolution spelling out that policy and affirming a health order issued Friday by health officer Gianfranco Pezzino. Riphahn said the measure’s approval “clears the air” regarding the county’s involvement with schools. “Yes, we’ll help the schools and they can listen to us,” he said. “But we’re letting the schools make their owns decisions and set their own course as far as sports and how they conduct their classrooms and things like that, and this resolution spells that out. I want parents to be able to go to the school – not to us – to answer those questions.”
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal