Kansas Municipal News
Local Leaders Racing Against the Economic Impact of COVID
Like Mayor Panto’s municipality, 74% of municipalities in the United States have already been forced to make unavoidable cuts and adjustments. It has been more than six months since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our country. With the economy at risk, the National League of Cities (NLC) reached out to its members with an opportunity to share how the pandemic impacted the fiscal budgets of cities, towns, and villages. Many cities, towns, and villages’ fiscal budgets rely on tax revenues. But with closing businesses and social life adjusting to a new reality, local leaders face unprecedented challenges to protect the future of their local economies.
(Read more: CitiesSpeak)
Shawnee County sees uptick in advance ballots, hopes to recruit more election workers
With less than three weeks until the Aug. 4 primary election in Kansas, Shawnee County is seeing an uptick in the number of advanced ballots being requested locally. According to Shawnee County election commissioner Andrew Howell, his office had received more than 11,000 advance ballot requests as of Wednesday. He said that number is close to exceeding the volume of requests fielded by his office during the entire election season of 2018. “It’s early in the process, but it’s definitely up,” Howell said. He hasn’t yet heard many county residents voice concerns about in-person voting this year but said a few people have told him they requested advance ballots because they preferred not to go to the polls with COVID-19 cases on the rise.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)
Storm cleanup in Oswego could take a month
Oswego city crews and others continued the cleanup Monday in Oswego from Saturday’s storm that brought large hail and high, sustained winds that toppled trees and snapped others 20 feet in the air. No injuries were reported, but four to 10 homes may have been destroyed. That assessment is still in progress, according to Oswego Mayor Daniel Chapman. The high wind, estimated between 70 mph and 100 mph, came from a possible microburst, which is a large column of sinking air (a downdraft) from a thunderstorm.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
County officials want better information on hospital capacity as part of COVID-19 reporting
As Johnson County’s cases of COVID-19 continue to increase, county commissioners expressed alarm that information on hospital bed capacity is inaccurate. Commissioners have been asking about a change in hospital data reporting procedures for weeks, but that took on a new urgency Thursday as Public Health Director Sanmi Areola, PhD, reported the positive test results have been increasing exponentially. The county had 920 new cases in the first ten days of July, compared with 848 for the entire month of June, Areola said. That increase cannot be attributed to more tests conducted, he said, noting that the percentage of tests that were positive is now 5.9%, compared with 2% during the shelter-in-place.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Following council’s review of Lenexa police use-of-force policy, city staff to draft joint statement on racial justice
Following a review of the Lenexa Police Department’s use of force policy, the Lenexa City Council expressed interest in a city staff-drafted racial justice statement. As Johnson County cities have begun conversations about racism, City Manager Beccy Yocham asked the city council if it was interested in a joint statement on racial justice. Cities in northeast Johnson County — such as Fairway, Prairie Village, Mission and Roeland Park — have either passed or are in the middle of conversations about similar statements and actions. Councilmember Courtney Eiterich said as a mother to a black son, she wanted to discuss a potential statement and how the city council can include equity in all of its policy considerations. She asked the city council to commit to conversations about race, to stand up for injustices and to listen to people of color without making judgements.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
County ups ante in wind farm road dispute
Who’s responsible for the weather is a key element of what’s likely to be a major lawsuit between the county and its northern wind farm. County commissioners contend Diamond Vista is obligated to make $473,020 worth of road repairs. The wind farm contends some of the damage was caused by weather and not their responsibility. Commissioners consider storm damage to be an expected part of Kansas weather and the wind farm’s responsibility. After nearly an hour in executive session with lawyers, commissioners voted unanimously Monday to have staff prepare documents seeking to collect road repair money from Diamond Vista wind farm.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)
Municipal Bond Trends for July 16, 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.
Sheriff Brian Hill receives Administrator of the Year award
Sheriff Brian Hill walked into the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office lobby Thursday morning surprised to see the room filled with friends and family who were all there to celebrate him becoming Administrator of the Year. Hill was chosen by the Kansas State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police as the recipient of this year’s award, and to say he was surprised would be an understatement. “I’m really at a loss for words,” Hill said. “I wasn’t expecting this.” Even as Hill received his award, he gave credit to the members of his staff, both civilian and law enforcement.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)
Governor Kelly Announces More Than $6 Million in Federal Funding to Respond to Coronavirus
Governor Laura Kelly has announced $6,202,603 in grant awards to state and local jurisdictions in preventing, preparing for and responding to the coronavirus, as well as funds to support families impacted by domestic violence. “My administration continues to work to ensure Kansans and the communities impacted by COVID-19 have the resources they need to fight the spread of the virus,” Governor Kelly said. “These grants are thorough and purposeful examples of how we can direct funds across the state, especially to some of our possibly overlooked areas in need. We know domestic violence is an issue that has been amplified by the pandemic, and this funding will provide support services to those who need them the most.”
(Read more: KRSL Russell Radio)
Three possible learning options for Wichita students come Fall
The Wichita School Board said today nothing is final, but revealed more about their current learning opportunities available for students and parents. Each family will get to decide what works best for them. There are three options. On-site learning: this is in-person classes, but with a few changes…like social distancing, and mask-wearing. My SCHOOL remote: students will take the same hour to hour classes but online. Board officials said some classes may require in-person attendance. Education Imagine Academy: a fully virtual school that provides flexibility in school hours. Depending on what you choose, you likely won’t get the chance to switch until the semester ends. After speaking with parents, they said they are concerned about the teachers who will be in the front lines
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Layoffs confirmed at Kansas Star Casino
The Kansas Star Casino confirmed Tuesday it is moving forward with permanent layoffs. Boyd gaming would not say how many employees are affected, but in May it issued a Warn Act saying it could range from 25-percent to 60-percent of staff. Kansas Star Casino files plans for possible layoffs The company said the layoffs are at the lower end of the range they announced in May. In an email Tuesday, Boyd Gaming stated, “Given these ongoing challenges and continued uncertainty, we are moving forward with permanent layoffs of team members who were still on furlough and had not been recalled to work. These layoffs are at the lower end of the range outlined in the WARN Act letters issued in May. We are notifying affected team members as expeditiously as we can.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Cities to receive $18.5 million for road improvement projects
Thirty-six projects that will improve intersections and roads in Kansas cities have been selected for funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP), which funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities. The cities will receive a combined total of approximately $18.5 million in funding under the CCLIP for these 36 projects. This total includes $8.9 million in state fiscal year 2022 and $9.6 million in state fiscal year 2023. Under the CCLIP, a city is required to contribute up to 25 percent of the project cost based on its population, though some cities contribute significantly more. Cities under 2,500 in population aren’t required to provide a match. Projects in this program may fall into one of three different categories including Surface Preservation (SP), Pavement Restoration (PR) or Geometric Improvement (GI).
(Read more: Western Kansas News)
Here’s what it takes to make this city a bright spot in the Johnson County
People joke about “tract mansions” and “Johnson County beige,” which have come to symbolize the sometimes unwelcome uniformity of suburban Kansas City. Roadways promote monotony, too. Four-lane thoroughfares are everywhere in Johnson County — punctuated by medians, turn lanes, fast-food joints and big box stores. “Where am I, again?” a motorist might ask. Not so in Merriam, a short drive from Olathe, Overland Park or just about anywhere in JoCo.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Amid COVID pandemic, no raises for Sedgwick County workers, spending remains flat
Sedgwick County is planning to freeze employee pay next year as it attempts to climb out of the economic hole brought on by the COVD-19 pandemic. “As we look at what’s going on with our community, with our economy, we know that we have to be exceptionally lean,” Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz said before presenting his budget recommendations to county commissioners Wednesday. A big part of that leanness is that there will be “no raise in compensation package for any employees,” Stolz’ report said.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)
Gov. Kelly to sign executive order to delay reopening of schools
Gov. Laura Kelly will sign an executive order Monday that will delay the start of school until after Labor Day. Kelly made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference and said the delay will give school districts the time to finalize their own reopening plans. School will be delayed until Sept. 9. Each individual school district’s reopening plan will be based off recommendations and mandates set forth by the Kansas State Department of Education. … The State Board of Education’s guidelines call for teachers and staff to wear masks inside and suggests all students be told to wear them if they’re in middle or high school. It recommends hourly hand-washing, daily temperature checks for all staff, and limiting visitors and the movement of students. The guidelines also say all students should be observed daily for signs of illness.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Kelly: Executive order will mandate masks, temperature checks in schools
Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order that she will sign Monday regarding the delay of reopening schools will make it mandatory that school districts use masks, practice proper hygiene and perform daily temperature checks. Kelly made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference she will delay the reopening of schools and said the three-week delay will give school districts and their respective county to gather supplies including masks, thermometers and hand sanitizer. School will be delayed until at least September 9 but COVID-19 data will continue to be monitored to determine if schools can then be reopened.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Municipal Bond Trends for July 15, 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.
Andover City Council opts against mandating face masks
The Andover City Council voted 1-5 against enacting an ordinance mandating the wearing of facemasks in public during their last meeting on Tuesday, July 14. The ordinance mirrored what the Wichita City Council passed on Friday, July 3. Council Member Shelby Carselowey was the only one who voted in favor of the ordinance. “I don’t feel like we are, in our city, in such a state that we should require [a mask mandate],” Council Member Troy Tabor, who voted against the ordinance, said at the meeting. “I really have confidence in our business owners, we don’t have nearly as many businesses as Wichita, or East Wichita or even a single street in Wichita. We don’t, and the businesses I’ve been to, most of them require masks anyway. And therefore I feel like our citizens and to trust our business owners. I don’t think it’s okay for a mandate at this point.”
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Kingman County Places Limits on Mass Gatherings
Kingman County Health Department director Mary Schwartz cited the growing number of cases of COVID-19 in Kingman and surrounding counties on Monday when she issued an order to limit mass gatherings to 45 until Aug. 1 The order was passed by the Kingman County Commissioners with a unanimous vote, 3-0. Schwartz also talked about a potential shortage of capacity in Wichita hospitals, as well as staff shortages. She said she was concerned if Kingman County had an outbreak and needed to transfer patients to Wichita and whether there would be room or not.
(Read more: Kingman County News)
A number of Wichita restaurants reconsider plans in light of rising COVID-19 cases
Wichita restaurants started reopening in early May when all the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were lifted. But since then, cases have surged locally, and many restaurateurs are rethinking their plans. Over the past week or so — as several restaurants have closed after COVID-19 exposure among staff members — others have been making adjustments and discontinuing dine-in, delaying reopening plans or re-closing the doors. Here’s a roundup of the latest: CLOSING AGAIN Side Pockets, 600 S. Tyler: Owners of this popular west side pool hall, bar and restaurant decided late last week to close again “until further notice.” The rise of COVID-19 cases in Wichita, plus the fact that “our team has been placed in the difficult position of having to enforce the wearing of masks in our establishment,” are the main reasons, according to a Facebook post.
(Read more: Dining With Denise Neil |)