Kansas Municipal News
Topeka business owners thank law enforcement for keeping community safe
Business owners in downtown Topeka presented the Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and Kansas Highway Patrol with a banner of appreciation. Edie Smith, the owner of a business downtown, said the banner is to thank them for how they handled the protests that happened in downtown Topeka over a week ago, but also for the work they do in protecting the community year round. “We’re just very proud of them and wanted to show that appreciation so they had something positive to focus on from the community than having to hear just the negativity all the time,” Smith said. Chief Bill Cochran with the Topeka Police Department said the scrutiny has been hard for Topeka Police Officers, but he’s grateful for the show of support from businesses downtown.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Sidewalk cafes, outdoor retail space now can open in Wyandotte County
Because of COVID-19, some of the rules governing restaurants and retail stores have been loosened to allow sidewalk cafes and retail space. The Unified Government Commission approved the rules on June 4 and they went into effect on June 11, after publication. The ordinance and resolution allows some businesses to use public rights-of-way as additional space to do business.
(Read more: Wyandotte Daily)
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: Newton Kansan)
Parsons to consider microchipping vicious dogs
Recent dog bites in Parsons may lead to approval of an ordinance requiring the owners of vicious dogs to pay for an identification microchip. The ordinance city commissioners will consider on Monday would require the city to impound any animal that bites a person and have it implanted with a microchip to help identify the animal in the future. The cost would be assessed to the owner if the animal is ultimately declared viscous. The dog could later be impounded in violation of the ordinance requiring vicious animals to be removed from the city. The city would have the option to euthanize the dog if the court deems it necessary. During a Thursday afternoon work session, City Manager Debbie Lamb said the proposed ordinance is a result of several dog bites in the last few weeks. She said it is fairly certain that one of the dogs had been declared vicious and the owners ordered to remove it from town.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Public pool patron in Ark City confirmed to have virus, free testing Monday
A teenager girl who tested positive for the coronavirus was at the Arkansas City public pool on Wednesday and also attended a sleep over in Ark City, possibly exposing others to the virus, according to a press release from the public health department. The girl, 14, experienced symptoms June 5 and was tested in Sedgwick County, where she splits residence with custodial parents there and in Cowley County. The girl’s mother took the child to a local private care clinic, which contracted a private lab for the test. She came to Cowley County this week and Wednesday night the test result came back positive, the City-Cowley County Health Department stated.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)
Brew tourism boosting small-town economies, farmers
Nationwide, consumers are making micro-breweries a destination. As more and more people want to support local businesses, they’re heading to micro-breweries – sometimes supporting a farmer in addition to the brewery. Breweries are bringing customers into small towns and cities across Kansas. “It’s not just visiting Sonoma anymore,“ said Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association. “People are willing to travel to visit a brewery. Brew tours of micro-breweries are big now.” Although dozens of breweries in Wichita and Kansas City garner followers, cities off the beaten path, like Garden City and Scott City, attract “beer tourists,“ as well
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Support for law enforcement shown at Pratt rally
The sun was hot, the Kansas wind blowing and the gathered crowd small in numbers, but the support felt by Pratt county and city police officers was overwhelming, and they were grateful a community prayer support service Thursday evening in Pratt. “I wanted to do this because I just felt we need unity and peace in our country,” said prayer support service organizer Donna Rawlings. “We are so thankful here, for all of our law enforcement, police, fire, EMS workers. It never hurts to offer prayers for their safety and to let them know, publicly, that we appreciate all that they do on a daily basis.” Pratt Ascension Lutheran Church pastor Dan Chrismer led a group of more than 25 in a prayer of thanks and support, mentioning special protection for all those willing to give their lives for friends known and unknown, every day on the job.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Hutch Municipal Band celebrating 145th season
The Hutchinson Municipal Band is pleased to announce their 2020 Summer Concert Series beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. In light of the threat of COVID-19, performances will move from the Reno County Farmer’s Market to Carey Park next to the Hutchinson Zoo to facilitate social distancing and give patrons with pre-existing conditions and other high-risk categories the opportunity to enjoy concerts from the safety of their cars. “It was so important to perform that even if our season was abbreviated, it was important to provide some normalcy to our community. But we wanted to be smart about it,” said Randy Johnston, the band’s president. Now its 145th year, the Hutchinson Municipal Band continues its longtime service to the community of Hutchinson and Reno County by presenting its free annual Summer Concerts Series featuring the Salt City Jazz Band and the Hutchinson Municipal Band’s Concert Band.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Wheat harvest 2020 is a go, some fields going at 60 bushels an acre
There’s finally some good news for 2020. The wheat harvest is getting started in Sumner County and it looks good so far. Obviously, the Coronavirus did not affect the wheat and the weather cooperated, and that should make for a good crop this year. Sumner County Extension Agent Randy Hein said the weather provided a good fill period, and it seems dry enough for farmers to get in the fields and begin harvesting. Some have already started in the Caldwell area, as well as Wellington. There are some areas of the county that still have some maturing to do. The extension service cut a plot they had planted for research, it looked good. Hein said he did not have any data yet, but what he saw looked good. “I have heard of some 60 bushels per acre yields and it would not surprise me if there were some fields that had 80 bushels per acre,” he said.
(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)
Protestors in downtown Ark City call for racial justice
The “Black Lives Matter” chant being shouted across the globe reached Arkansas City, Kansas on Saturday afternoon as protestors against racial injustice packed the corners of a busy downtown intersection. At 1 p.m., Summit Street and Central Avenue began to fill up with residents holding all manner of signs and occasionally shouting “Black Lives Matter” as cars drove by, many of which honked their horns in support. The event was staged near Ben Givens City Center Park, which offered some shade for protester throughout the hot afternoon. Notably, the park is named after a former Ark City mayor and police officer who was African American.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Winfield Public Library begins curbside service
Winfield Public Library will begin curbside service the week of June 14 for those in the 67156 zip code. Patrons can pick up requested books, Grab & Go Crafts, book club books, Summer Reading Program packets and more. Board games and DVDs are not available for check out at this time. During curbside, patrons can either request items online using WPL’s catalog (found at wpl.org) or can call the library during call hours. For those who are book browsers or aren’t sure exactly which books they want, can call and library personnel will make recommendations. Once ordered books are pulled, patrons will be contacted to schedule a time to drive through and pick up the items.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Gardner faces revenue shortfall, makes cuts
Gardner’s general fund is projected to have a $1.2 million revenue shortfall, according to Matthew Wolff, Gardner finance director. Councilmember’s discussed the city’s budget at their May 18 meeting. The shortfall is partly due to the impact of COVD 19, community growth and staffing needs, increased operational costs with the new Justice Center and special assessments moved from the bond and interest fund. Revenue sources impacted include city and county sales tax, programming revenues for parks and recreation, municipal court fines and fees. To maintain a general fund balance of 25 percent , the finance staff implemented budget cuts of $1.4 million to departments. Cuts include pushing back purchase of eight police cars, not budgeting merit increases in 2021 and not filling a requested 15.5 positions.
(Read more: Gardner News)
Defund police? Here’s how much Kansas City area spends as debate rages across U.S.
Erase the thin blue line. Dissolve local police forces and create something new to enforce the laws and help people in a more humane, cost-effective and less violent way. That’s the demand from some across the country in the wake of the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd. The Minneapolis City Council plans on doing just that. The death of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, not only sparked worldwide protests of police brutality, but also rekindled a movement that’s been smoldering since racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, six years ago stirred calls for radical reform of law enforcement.
(Read more: KC Star Local News)
Sedgwick County commissioners looking at policy for townships
After hearing complaints and concerns about some rural road conditions in southern Sedgwick County, there are discussions on a policy that would allow the county to step in and resolve problems and issues inside townships. County commissioner Jim Howell says there are some cases where townships have been unable to keep the roads passable. He and other commissioners are looking at a policy that would be in line with state statutes, where the county would fix a problem road and then bill the township for the costs. Howell said “Overall, I think townships do great work, but there are some times where there is an issue that seems to be unsolvable.” He said the statute allows county commissioners to solve the problem, and he’s calling for a policy to provide a framework that will guide the county in situations like this.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Sedgwick County extends partnership for proposed Northwest K-96 Bypass
Sedgwick County commissioners have agreed to extend a partnership with the Kansas Department of Transportation for a proposed future highway project. The county has been buying right-of-way for a proposed Northwest Bypass that would connect K-96 near Maize with Highway 54 near Goddard. The partnership will be extended another five years, starting in 2021. The county has budgeted $1 million for right-of-way purchases in 2021 and the state has agreed to match that. The county has been buying right-of-way since 2006. Commissioner David Dennis said about one third of the needed property has been purchased. He said the project represents a huge economic development opportunity for Maize, Goddard and west Wichita.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Tax-backed Sports Complex In Garden City Is On Hold Over Developers’ Lawsuit
A legal dispute between two business partners has stalled the construction of a sports complex partially funded by $25.4 million in sales tax money. That fight over finances, and the pending lawsuit it spawned, could jeopardize the completion of Sports of the World. The project is financed by Kansas Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, and championed as a regional tourist draw for western Kansas. “It’s currently on hold pending the kind of resolution of some litigation between the two … partners that are involved in the Sports of the World project,” said Bob North, the chief counsel for the Kansas Department of Commerce.
(Read more: HPPR)
Local communities nominated for Space Command headquarters
Communities in Leavenworth County are being nominated in the search for the headquarters of the new U.S. Space Command. “We all know it’s a long shot,” Steve Jack said. Jack, the executive director of the Leavenworth County Development Corporation, spoke Thursday during a meeting of the LCDC Board of Directors. Despite being a long shot, Jack said it does not hurt to get the name of local communities in front of developers or the federal government.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Kansas launches statewide COVID-19 testing strategy with goal of testing 60,000 per month through December
Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Kansas has finally secured the necessary infrastructure and testing supplies to launch a statewide strategy to test at least 60,000 Kansans — or 2% of the state population — for the respiratory virus per month over the next six months, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday. The strategy will focus on more rapid deployment of testing in areas with higher concentrations of the virus, a closer monitoring of the state’s testing supplies, and the use of four types of testing facilities to distribute COVID-19 tests: KDHE labs, mobile labs, commercial labs, and local reference labs.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 11, 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.
Revenue losses coming into focus for cities, states, transit systems
State and local governments that rely on sales tax to maintain services are beginning to get a clearer picture of how deeply they must cut after the two worst months of revenue losses in 2020.
“As the coronavirus outbreak slows the national economy, local governments that depend on income and sales taxes are seeing immediate revenue losses,” said Moody’s Investors Service analyst Frank Mamo. “Cash will be critical in managing budget gaps over the next year, while localities with weak reserves will likely need to cut their budgets or rely on external support.” Kroll Bond Ratings Agency anticipates losses of $690 billion for state and local governments and agencies through June 30, 2021. States are expected to lose $370 billion, while cities see $117 billion of losses. Counties will miss out on $114 billion while transit agencies lose $24 billion.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)