Kansas Municipal News
Michael Utz, Chief of Police Announces Retirement
After a 36-year career, Garden City Police Chief Mike Utz has announced his retirement effective March 2021. “I have been truly blessed to be a part of the Garden City Police Department (GCPD) family, working for the City of Garden City, and engaging in our community. I grew from a young patrol officer to have the blessing and support of the City Manager to serve as your Chief of Police for the past five years,” remarked Utz.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Winfield employees are back at work
The two City of Winfield employees who tested positive for coronavirus on July 23 are back at work, while a third employee has tested positive in the past week, Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said Friday. Wall said city officials work with the City-Cowley County Health Department to determine if an employee needs to be tested or not.
(Read more: Cowley CourierTraveler)
Baxter Springs has more than 150 Hot Rods visit
More than 150 Hot Rods and refurbished vehicles are set to make their way to Baxter Springs on Saturday. The fourth annual Rat-Town Days Ratrod and Kustom Car Show and Cruise took place at the Baxter Springs campgrounds Saturday. Old and new cars filled the lot, joined by plenty of vendors selling souvenirs, food and drinks. A portion of entry fees for vehicles will be donated to a charitable cause, and organizers say with the days turnout, it looks like it will be a good sized donation.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE)
City of Manhattan allows for businesses to use sidewalks for more space
To help local businesses that are hurting because of the coronavirus, the city of Manhattan passed an ordinance that allows stores to expand to the sidewalk. They are able to sell items in the space in front of their store to help with social distancing. This is just a temporary change and stores must apply for a permit before they can do this. … Right now the ordinance is limited to just food and retail, so stores can’t sell alcohol outside but the city commission is considering meeting to discuss the possibility of allowing that as well.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Dodge City artist paints Boot Hill Museum murals
Included with the several additions coming to Boot Hill Museum thanks to the STAR Bonds expansion project, guests will notice the murals covering the walls, painted by local and veteran artist Dave Wetmore. Wetmore was approached by Boot Hill Museum in November 2019, during the early stages of the expansion project. “They said they were doing something and asked if I was interested in working on it and at that point they didn’t have all the walls up yet, so at that point I wasn’t sure what I was saying yes to,” Wetmore said. “But I told them I’d be happy to work on it.” Once the walls to the new exhibits were built, Wetmore began painting the murals in the middle of January.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Overland Park councilmembers consider changing approval policy for chickens
Getting permission to keep chickens has for years been a tough sell to the Overland Park City Council. For people with fewer than three acres, it involved a presentation to the planning commission and then to the full council. Most of the time, the council shot the applications down. But councilmembers are beginning to rethink the process, which has favored homeowners in the southern part of the city who typically have larger lots. On Wednesday the council’s Community Development Committee asked staff to look at alternatives to the way chicken permits are handled.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Sabetha sees increased sales tax distributions
Sabetha’s sales tax distributions are above last year’s distributions for July. This is according to the July County/City Local Sales Tax Distribution Report released by the Kansas Department of Revenue. The state issues these distributions two months after collection, so the July distribution is a reflection of May sales. Sabetha saw increased sales tax distributions in the month of July alone — with distributions of $39,598.14, a 4.7 percent increase from the $37,836.05 distributed in July 2019. Sabetha’s local sales tax rate is 1 percent.
(Read more: Sabetha Herald)
Overland Park delays decision on contentious Westlinks golf course fence after neighbors reject one option
There was disappointment all around earlier this week as a decision was once again delayed on how to resolve a six-year impasse between Overland Park and neighbors abutting the Westlinks golf course who want a new fence. This time the issue was the wording of a neighborhood association opinion poll. A deteriorating iron fence originally installed in 1991 on the city-owned course has pitted the Nottingham by the Green neighborhood against the city since 2013.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Bank of America Sees Dwindling Muni Yields Nearing Major Test
The largest underwriter in the $3.9 trillion municipal-bond market says the rally is about to face a crucial hurdle. Bank of America Corp. analysts Yingchen Li and Ian Rogow said they’re watching to see what happens if 10-year benchmark yields hit 0.5% — a threshold that may mark a test of whether investors continue stampeding into the market. Such pricing milestones are often watched in other markets, from stocks to mortgages, as a sort of psychological test of whether investors will shift gear if prices seem to heady or payouts too low.
Read more: Yahoo Finance.
Baldwin City recognizes female 19th-century political leader with park bench mural
A recently opened park named in honor of 19th-century Baldwin City mayor Lucy Sullivan now has a new piece of public art to pay tribute to her life and legacy. About 30 people gathered Saturday morning for the unveiling of a bench with a mural depicting Sullivan and scenes associated with her term as mayor and life in Baldwin City. … “Lucy Sullivan was the third woman elected mayor in this county,” said Jeannette Blackmar, executive director of the Lumberyard Arts Center in Baldwin City. “She was elected with an all-women city council.” Sullivan and the four-woman city council were elected in 1889, two years after Kansas first allowed women to vote in municipal elections and stand for city offices. One of the women’s campaign promises was to build a bridge over Tauy Creek, which separates the city’s railroad depot from its downtown. Crossing the creek muddied the long dresses and coats women of the day wore.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Reaping the benefits of the hyperconnected city
A virtuous circle exists in hyperconnected cities where economic prosperity, business growth and social well-being combine to become increasingly efficient and effective. Many of the factors that feed into this iterative growth, such as social, health, environmental and business advantages, are difficult to calculate. However, the statistics that prove qualitative benefits – creating new business opportunities, filling talent gaps, improving public health, reducing crime, boosting productivity and addressing income inequality – are more measurable. The ability to establish a measurable framework through which to accelerate transformation is critical in order to justify the time and resources required to take a smart city to the next level. This framework, which includes defined ROI, benefits to citizens and businesses, and any learnings from those who have trod the path already, will ultimately speed up the arrival of truly hyperconnected cities.
(Read more: Smart Cities Dive – Latest News)
Gove County implements COVID-19 regulations
Gove County is yet another community to put mask mandates in place. However, they are taking it one step further and implementing added restrictions. Since the start of the pandemic, Gove County has had six positive COVID-19 cases. Three that are currently active. “We’ve not had any right here in our local small town,” said said Gove resident Deloris Steinike. However, even with the low infection rate, after consulting with local health officials and law enforcement, the county is now under COVID-19 regulations. As of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, the county has enacted three different orders to prevent the spread of the virus. The first order is a mask mandate requiring every person in Gove County to wear a mask when social distancing can not take place. The second, a limit on mass gatherings. Gatherings must be less than 75 people or under 50% of the State Fire Marshal’s official capacity.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
City approves incentive compliance agreement with S&S Quality Meats, Smoots Enterprises
Emporia City Commissioners approved an incentive compliance agreement between the City of Emporia and S&S Quality Meats and Smoots Enterprises during a Wednesday afternoon action session. The agreement is related to plans to expand the Fanestil Meats facility at 4200 W. Highway 50. Owner Dan Smoots said the company plans to invest $8.42 million into the expansion, which will move all of its production from its current facility on S. Highway 99. “It’s been a long time getting here and we’re pretty excited about it,” he said, adding that once construction begins he was looking at a 12 month timeline. Mayor Danny Giefer said it was exciting to see the expansion coming to light. The flooding issues at the S.Highway 99 facility have been a longtime issue, he said, and this is a project he has been working on since he joined the city commission.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
City of Lawrence to create economic development plan to respond to pandemic, address other issues
As the COVID-19 pandemic causes financial hardships for both local governments and the general public, the City of Lawrence will soon create its first economic development strategic plan aimed at helping the city respond to the pandemic and improve the economy. The economic development plan, which will be developed with assistance from an outside consultant, will guide the city’s actions in cooperation with businesses and community partners, with the goal of responding to the negative effects of the pandemic and developing an action plan for increasing economic growth and prosperity, according to a city news release. Economic Development Administrator Britt Crum-Cano told the Journal-World that the city has been thinking of creating such a plan for the past couple of years, but that the pandemic necessitated a plan for now and for the future.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence dog park users voice opposition to city’s plan to build road along park
A group of Lawrence residents has come out against the city’s plan to build a road adjacent to the local dog park that would connect the Youth Sports Complex to the Clinton Lake spillway.
The project would install an approximately 1-mile paved roadway connecting existing segments of West 27th Street on both the east and west sides of the spillway, creating a continuous roadway from the Kansas Highway 10 and 27th Street intersection to East 902 Road at the city’s Mutt Run Off-Leash Dog Park. A group of 30 residents sent a letter to city commissioners and staff asking the city to delay the project and address their concerns.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for August 6, 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.
Closed hospital to become ER in Wellington
The city of Wellington’s recent agreement with Ascension Via Christi to place an emergency room in the vacated Sumner Community Hospital will make it possible to treat patients locally who would otherwise be transported, Wellington Fire/EMS Chief Tim Hay said. “There’s quite a few patients that could be treated and evaluated locally that wouldn’t have to be taken to Wichita, Winfield or Derby,” Hay said. “They get to choose what hospital they go to within reason.” The City of Wellington, which owns the approximately 50-year-old hospital facility, has approved $700K in the capital improvements needed to renovate the space that will house the ER and associated services.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)
Interns bring collaboration benefits to St. John
Waking up before dawn and biking 80 miles in the summer heat may sound extreme to some, but doing so is just a normal day for participants of Bike and Build, an affordable housing nonprofit that bikes cross country annually. In years past, Bike and Build teams have stopped in Stafford County, spending two nights in St. John to work with Stafford County Economic Development (Eco Devo). Due to COVID-19, the summer of 2020 is the first time in its 17-year history that Bike and Build has not sent riders across the country. Eco Devo and Bike and Build adapted quickly to this change of plans in the spring, and the two organizations collaborated to create a summer internship in St. John.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Destination Kansas: The OZ Museum in Wamego
Kansas is known for many things – being the Sunflower State, its role in the Civil War, the large agriculture industry. But for those outside the state, its perhaps best known as the home to Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz.” A trip to the OZ Museum, 511 Lincoln, Wamego, will put you right into the world L. Frank Baum created when he wrote “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” “We cover over 120 plus years,” said Chris Glasgow, curator, OZ Museum. “Everything from the birth of the author in 1856 to today.” A visit to the museum includes interesting tidbits about the classic Wizard of Oz books.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
City pursues outside study to inform ‘transformation’ of Lawrence police department
City leaders are pursuing an outside study to help inform potentially fundamental changes to the role of the Lawrence Police Department, including proposals to move some funding and duties from police to social services. All of the specific issues the study will tackle aren’t determined right now, but city leaders are expecting it to be broad in scope. In a recent request for proposals for a consultant to conduct the study, the city states that it wants a comprehensive report that will aid in the “transformation” of the police department in response to changing operational needs, community expectations and the national narrative around policing and race relations.
Read more: LJWorld.com.