Kansas Municipal News
KSHSAA executive board votes to proceed with fall activities
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) has announced that fall activities and athletics will proceed as planned. A motion to push back the start date was rejected by the executive board. The vote failed 5-4. All fall activities and athletics will now be able to proceed as scheduled on Monday, Aug. 17. Additional safety protocols, including fan participation, will still come. KSHSAA did say that those decisions will be made by local health officials.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Dodge City Public Schools set to start school at the end of August
Dodge City Public Schools will have nearly 7,000 students returning to school in less than a month. The Board of Education voted 6-1 Monday to start school on August 25 with teachers reporting on August 17. USD 443 reached out to their teachers through a survey asking if teachers would be able to conduct face-to-face instruction, 78% of the teachers responded to the survey with nearly 95% percent responding ‘yes’ saying they want to get back into the classroom. Those who responded ‘no’ due to health concerns may have the option to teach online.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
‘We are flexing up and flexing back’: Local hospitals talk about ICU capacity
Local hospitals have seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases over the last several weeks and an increase in ICU patients. This second wave that we are dealing with now, its doubled and tripled than the first wave,” said Ascension Via Christi Medical ICU Manager, Jenifer Phelps. “We are having a lot more traffic coming through and the traffic we are having the patients are a lot sicker and they’re staying here a lot longer in the ICU.” Sedgwick County Manager, Tom Stolz said the public hospital system in Wichita has a total of nearly 200 ICU beds. The county met with Wesley, Via Christi, the VA and McConnell Air Force base on Monday to discuss what they’re seeing and to get an understanding of how much space is available for COVID patients.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
City of Wichita fights back against the Save Century II petition
Almost three weeks after the City of Wichita was presented with a petition to “Save Century II,” the City has responded with legal action challenging the validity of the petition. The Save Century II group delivered the petition with 17,000 signatures to Mayor Brandon Whipple on July 10. Today, the City of Wichita filed a petition in the 18th Judicial District Court seeking declaratory judgment challenging the validity of the petition. In a news release, the City says it supports the petition process and the right of citizens to express their opinion. But the City believes the petition is legally invalid and does not serve the citizens’ best interests.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Columbus launches new trash program
The city of Columbus has a new program to tackle trash and provide some uniformity in the community. Starting August 3rd, the city will begin taking requests for 95-gallon trash carts. Carts will be available upon request at no cost to residents. There is a limit of 200 carts as the city pilots the trash cart program, so you’ll want to get your name on the list early. Residents will receive the brochure for the trash cart program with your August water bill. The city says they will go to complete cart system by 2022.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE)
Lenexa discusses Climate Action Playbook, citywide approaches to combating climate change
While Lenexa already supports portions of a regional playbook on mitigating climate change, the city has room for improvement. That was a summary of a discussion Tuesday evening among Lenexa city leaders at a committee meeting to discuss the Climate Action Playbook, a compilation of approaches and resources for cities in the Kansas City metro area to consider in efforts to reduce or reverse the effects of climate change. In a presentation to the Lenexa City Council, Community Development Director Scott McCullough said the playbook would act as a guide, similar to Lenexa’s Complete Streets policy, to inform decision-making across a range of areas of city government.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Municipal Bond Trends for July 29, 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.
Fed holds rates steady, says economic growth is ‘well below’ pre-pandemic level
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision announced Wednesday that came along with a tepid outlook on the coronavirus-plagued economy. In a move widely expected, the central bank kept its benchmark overnight lending rate anchored near zero, where it has been since March 15 in the early days of the pandemic. Along with keeping rates low, the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets monetary policy, expressed its commitment to maintain its bond purchases and the array of lending and liquidity programs also associated with the virus response.
Read more: CNBC.
Fight over demolishing Century II goes to court as city files to overturn petition
The city of Wichita has gone to court to try to get a citizens’ petition declared invalid and preserve the city’s right to demolish the publicly owned Century II Convention and Performing Arts Center and the nearby former central library building. The citizen’s petition, if ruled valid, would require the City Council to hold a public vote on destroying either of the two buildings or other city-owned structures deemed to have historical or architectural significance. The city’s filing questions whether voters are qualified to make such decisions.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)
Merriam sales taxes down less than expected during COVID-19 shelter-in-place order
The Merriam City Council on Monday evening heard the latest sales and use tax update for the month of May, when COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were still in place. Merriam’s report showed May sales taxes were down 20% overall, Finance Director Donna Oliver said. Despite being down 20%, Oliver said she thought it “was very good news” since city staff forecasted sales taxes to be down by 80% due to the shelter-in-place order. “That was quite a bit of a swing, that was good news,” Oliver said. “That disbursement made about a $500,000 difference on our ending fund balance.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Classroom ‘gating criteria’ still unknown as Shawnee Mission families face decision about in-person vs. remote learning models
The Shawnee Mission School District will ask parents this week to choose an in-person or fully remote learning model for individual students for the fall semester. But district officials don’t yet have the final “gating criteria” from the county health department on when and how in-person instruction would be permitted. At a board of education meeting Monday, Superintendent Mike Fulton said that administrators were waiting on guidance from county public health officials before they could make a determination about what class might look like on day one for students who choose the in-person option.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Full measure of mask impact still weeks out
Reno County commissioners and the county’s health officer agreed on Tuesday that individual school districts in the county should each draft their own reopening plan for the coming school year — rather than have a countywide plan — and have the county health officer review it for recommendations. Reno County Health Department director Nick Baldetti, meanwhile, advised it will probably be at least another two weeks — and possibly three to five — before the county sees the effects of a mandatory mask order imposed in the county two weeks ago. That estimate is based on data from Douglas County, which he said has developed a good model for measuring the success of interventions in reducing the spread of the virus, he said. Contributing to the data lag in measuring success are continuing delays in getting test results back promptly, with results now taking 10 days and longer, Baldetti said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Riley County health officer issues new health order
New coronavirus-related rules are coming to Riley County. Beginning 12:01 a.m. Thursday, large gatherings of up to 2,000 people will be allowed. But you’ll need to get a permit at least 14 days in advance. You can fill out a request form here. Strict safety measures would have to be put in place for a gathering to be approved. According to the order, regularly held church services aren’t considered to be events and are exempt. Also under this new order, people must be seated at restaurants and bars. No standing is allowed at bar counter-tops. Dancing also isn’t allowed. Bars and restaurants are still required to stop service by midnight and customers must leave by 12:30 a.m. County health leaders said they will start inspecting restaurants and bars to make sure they’re following the rules.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Lawrence schools to begin online classes after Labor Day
The Lawrence school district has decided to start its school year after Labor Day with at least six weeks of online learning because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The Lawrence Journal-world reports school board members voted Monday to begin with fully remote learning and consider later in the year whether to adopt a hybrid model that would allow for students to spend some school days in classrooms and others at home with remote learning. Three of Kansas’ largest school districts voted last week not to resume their classes until after the holiday.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Governor announces relief from online driver’s license renewal age restrictions
Governor Laura Kelly today announced she signed an Executive Order that will extend Executive Order #20-46, which helps make renewing driver’s licenses easier for people across the state. Executive Order #20-60 offers temporary relief from age restrictions that prohibit applicants 50 years of age or older from applying to renew their driver’s license online. Under the new order, all drivers under the age of 65 are permitted to use the online renewal system.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)
Loose animals have towns’ police running wild
Police around Marion County have had an adventurous month of animal-control incidents. Marion and Hillsboro police are dog-catchers by necessity. Their communities have no official positions for the job. Peabody has a part-time dog-catcher, but if the dog-catcher is not working, it falls to police to handle issues like loose dogs, police chief Bruce Burke said.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
Kansas can’t close businesses, limit crowds to fight coronavirus for seven more weeks
Even as coronavirus cases mount and hospitalizations rise in Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly will be unable to impose statewide restrictions on businesses or mass gatherings until Sept. 15 under a new state law. Because of a single paragraph in a measure hastily passed during a special session last month, neither Kelly, a Democrat, nor her Republican rivals in the Legislature can do much to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 cases when it comes to businesses and gatherings — even if they could agree on a course of action. A provision in House Bill 2016 appears to render the entire state government largely powerless to order changes in business practices or limit crowd sizes for seven more weeks.
(Read more: Politics & Government News |)
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Department of Commerce’s Third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair
Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair will be held today, Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30. “We need to maintain a strong, healthy workforce in our state, and getting Kansans back to work safely is one of my top priorities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The KANSASWORKS virtual job fair has proven to be a creative and effective way to connect Kansans with jobs opportunities, and will be important as our economy recovers from the challenges of COVID-19.” The virtual fair will allow job seekers to easily live chat with employers from across the state through computers and mobile devices. This is the third KANSASWORKS virtual job fair so far in 2020, with four more planned later this year.
(Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce)
Two large school systems in western Kansas will reopen with safety precautions, one going hybrid
The majority of western Kansas schools look to reopen at their original start dates in August. In Garden City, the school board met Monday to discuss their plans. Garden City Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in southwest Kansas with nearly 7,300 students. Their schools will welcome students back into the classrooms officially on September 1 for a full day of class. However, students that are entering elementary, fifth, seventh, ninth, and tenth grades as well as students new to the district will start school on August 31 with a half-day orientation. In order to keep their students safe, the district is taking several precautions.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Salina, Saline County reach agreement on Expo Center
A lease on the Expo Center property has been officially approved by both the city of Salina and Saline County. After unanimous votes by both the city and county commissions, the lease, which is for 30 years and will begin on Jan. 1, 2021, was approved. The general terms of the lease allow the county to use the city’s property in Kenwood Park for the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center. In exchange for this, the county has agreed to make a number of upgrades…
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)