Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick County traffic court being held in tents
Traffic court is back in session for Sedgwick County, but in a new way. The traffic court room is usually packed, bringing up to 100 people into one room, making social distancing nearly impossible. So, the county went to the drawing board on how to resume court while remaining safe. It’ll be business as usual, but held in tents right outside of the county courthouse.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
New medical examiner’s office will put Johnson County on cutting edge of autopsies
In 2016, voters of Johnson County passed a Law Enforcement Sales Tax that’s paying for a new courthouse and a medical examiner’s office. It’s a one-of-a-kind facility that will serve not only Johnson County, but eventually, the region. Johnson County Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Peterson has been working to build, staff and develop policies for this state of the art medical examiner’s office for a year and a half. Slated to begin operation at the end of July, it will be the first time in the county’s history it hasn’t relied on a private coroner for autopsies. It’s one of few facilities in the country to have a C.T. scanner and the only facility in Kansas or Missouri to have Lodox full body x-ray technology.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Congress approves $356M to expand federal penitentiary in Leavenworth
The federal penitentiary in Leavenworth is set to receive $356 million to construct a new Federal Correctional Institute and a satellite Federal Prison Camp. According to a Monday release from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s office, Congress appropriated $175 million for the project in fiscal year 2019 and another $181 million in fiscal year 2020, which is set to end on Sept. 30.
(Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals)
Kansas police chief who stopped Excel mass shooter helps save another life
A man who nearly drowned at Harvey County East Lake on May 31 is recovering after the swift action of Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, his wife, Vanessa Schroeder, and a bystander. After spending time in the intensive care unit, Larry Etheridge was listed as being in fair condition this week, according to staff at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. Schroeder said he helped rescue Etheridge from under a dock at the lake after Etheridge hit his head and fell in the water while he was on a boat headed back to shore. Doug Schroeder has a history of saving lives.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Southwest Kansas counties record low census response rates
Census organizers in Kansas plan to ramp up efforts to get people counted, particularly in southwestern counties where response rates are low. Morton, Stanton, Haskell and Lane counties are showing that 15% to 30% of residents have responded to census forms delivered to their homes. Kansas has a 64.8% self-response rate, on par with most other states. Many in the counties don’t get mail at home, using a P.O. Box, for example, and a planned effort to hand-deliver forms in March was delayed by emergence of coronavirus infections. Census workers resumed the effort in mid-May and ended it last week.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 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.
Putting a pool in your backyard this summer? Lenexa reminds residents that permits are required
Backyard pool sales have made a big splash this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And, while many can’t wait to jump in, Lenexa wants to make sure residents are safe. The City of Lenexa requires permits for all above ground and in-ground pools, except for prefabricated pools less than 30 inches deep. Specific code requirements can be found in the Lenexa pool requirements guide, based on the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
(Read more: City of Lenexa)
It’s been a quiet spring at this OP farmstead, due to pandemic. That’s about to change
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is one of the top visitor destinations in Johnson County, drawing more than 439,000 people from April through October. Normally at this time of year, the farmstead would have about 2,000 visitors a day streaming through the gates rushing to see the resident bison and longhorn cattle, chat with the groundhogs, ride the ponies, fish in the pond and feed the baby goats. So far this year, it’s been quiet at the farmstead. Like everything else, the attraction has been closed due to the coronavirus. Farmstead Superintendent Virgil Miles has been leading a skeleton crew to keep the place in good shape and all the animals fed. “Right now, it’s only animal care staff and construction and maintenance crews — about 10 of us on site,” Miles said. “That’s greatly reduced from the normal seasonal high of 70…and that doesn’t include all the volunteers we count on.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
‘Layers of protection’: Strataca adapts, enhances for visitors in post-pandemic world
After three months of shutdown, Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Mine is resurfacing as one of the area’s top annual summer vacation stops. There are plenty of changes, said Reno County Historical Society executive director Michael Ables, who oversees Strataca, but most are just enhancements of the mine’s previous procedures. “We want to create extra layers of protection for guests, as well as our staff,” Ables said. “No pun intended. ”The museum opened to the public on June 2. Updates include plexiglass at ticket booths, masks are recommended, spacing is marked out on trams and waiting areas, and disinfecting protocols are bolstered to meet health recommendations.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Name chosen for Garden City’s new aquatics center
The new Garden City aquatics center won’t be open for a 2020 summer season, but it now has a name — Garden Rapids, with the tag line, the Big Pool. Last month the Garden City commissioners voted to keep the new facility closed this summer because of the coronavirus, but at a recent meeting they reviewed online survey results where community members voted on one of four name possibilities. The name choices were Garden Rapids, Thunder Basin, Garden Oasis and World of Water.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Sharrows expanding in Newton
A new marking appeared on Old Main Street this week: a bicycle under two chevrons in the roadway’s driving lanes. Social media posts about the new markings expressed concern — those who do not understand what the markings mean, and, wondering why bicyclists would not instead use the sidewalk on a street that some say sees regular breaking of speed limits by drivers. Lori Kessler, with the Harvey County Health Department and the Healthy Harvey Coalition, can answer those questions — starting with what those markings are. They are called “sharrows.” “The best way to describe it is that is to remind cars that bikes can be using the full lane of traffic, that you need to share the road with the bike,” Kessler said.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Riley County commissioners eyeing salary decrease for 2021 budget
Riley County commissioners are looking into a 5% decrease for their salaries. During a previous meeting, Commissioner Ron Wells brought up the idea to help save money for the budget. Both Commissioners Marvin Rodriguez and John Ford agreed with the idea. Ford says if they need to make any cuts to the budget, he would want their salaries to be cut first. “I think that’s it important as we go through next year, that if we get in a pinch we already incorporated this before we go straight to personnel,” says Ford.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Sen. Moran helps secure transit grant for Wichita
On June 11, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) announced a $14 million Department of Transportation grant for Wichita Transit to help fund transit operations and the purchase of protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Provided by the CARES Act, this grant will help keep Wichita’s public transportation operating and supply protective equipment to Wichita transit employees,” said Sen. Moran. “As Kansas moves towards safely reopening, this funding will help to ensure the protection of the employees and support public transit in the Wichita area after considerable financial losses.”
(Read more: Derby Informer | Area)
WSU receives grant for equipment manufacturing
Wichita State University’s Office of Tech Transfer and Commercialization has received a $37,000 grant that will go toward making more personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers with low supply caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The grant is from NetWork Kansas, with funding provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS). The grants are being awarded to colleges and small businesses in Kansas that are making PPE for the health care industry during this time.
(Read more: Derby Informer | Area)
FAA funds Hays airport improvements
Hays Regional Airport, Hays Aircraft LLC general manager Chris Springer is aware of the $2.2 million in upgrades the city of Hays has planned in the next year for the airport. The construction, financed by the Federal Aviation Administration through the Phase III Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will have minimal affect on operations, according to city officials. Hays Aircraft, the fixed base operator that fuels and repairs aircraft and offers flight lessons, will see a difference when work begins on an asphalt overlay to rehabilitate Airport Fuel Road on the east side of the airport. “That’s how we get our fuel trucks to the airport, all the deliveries come on that road,” Springer said. “So we’ll be re-routing the trucks to another road.”
(Read more: News – PrattTribune – Pratt, KS)
University of Kansas shortens its in-person fall semester
The University of Kansas announced Monday that it will shorten the time students are on campus for the fall semester as it seeks to block a coronavirus wave. Under the plan, classes would begin in person as scheduled on Aug. 24 and in-person instruction would end just before the Thanksgiving holiday, with students encouraged to leave campus, the Lawrence Journal-World reported. After Thanksgiving, there will be a week to study for finals, which will be done remotely like they were for the spring semester.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 12, 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.
Former Wichita mayor and gubernatorial candidate Carl Brewer has died, official says
Former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who oversaw much of the revitalization of downtown and was a key figure in the development of Wichita Eisenhower National Airport, died Friday morning after a long illness. He was 63. Brewer, the city’s first elected African-American mayor, served on the City Council or as mayor from 2001 to 2015, the maximum terms that Wichita law allows its city officials. He ran unsuccessfully for Kansas governor in 2018.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Officials seek to nab alligator spotted in Kansas creek
Authorities in Kansas have closed a trail around a creek as they try to catch an alligator spotted there. The 5-foot alligator is believed to be one of two stolen from a pet store in the northeastern Kansas city of Manhattan last weekend, the Mercury reported. A man called 911 to report seeing an alligator while he was walking along Linear Park Trail on Wednesday. Animal control officers who responded saw the animal lounging on log in Wildcat Creek.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Former Wichita Mayor, Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Brewer Dies
Carl Brewer, the first African-American to be elected mayor of Wichita, has died. A statement from his family said he passed away Friday morning. He was 63. His family said there are no details yet for a memorial service. “The family appreciates the support they have received from the community,” the statement said. “They ask for privacy at this time.” Brewer was elected to the Wichita City Council in 2001 and 2005 before defeating incumbent Carlos Mayans in the 2007 race for mayor. Brewer easily won a second and final term in 2011.
(Read more: KMUW/a>)