Kansas Municipal News
Shawnee Mission expects to have plans in place for educating students amid pandemic this fall by next month
The Shawnee Mission School District has tasked a group of staff members with devising a range of plans to accommodate students this coming fall — either in person or virtually — as schools across the state wade through the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report to the board of education Monday, Superintendent Mike Fulton said the district will be relying on guidance from the state, which is expected to be released no later than July 10, before finalizing its approach for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Fulton noted that district parents and teachers had provided ample feedback about their experiences with remote learning after buildings closed in March, and that “there are some things if we’re in a virtual world that we need to do better.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Proposal to address teacher workload issues would require property tax increase for Shawnee Mission patrons
The Shawnee Mission Board of Education will need to decide by next month whether to put a new bond issue before area voters this fall — a move that, if approved, would allow the reallocation of some expenses and open up funding to hire dozens of additional secondary teachers, a key step to addressing the workload issues that dominated this year’s contentious contract negotiations. But the move would require a tax increase for district patrons, and wouldn’t lead to substantial workload reductions for a couple of years. Superintendent Mike Fulton on Monday presented the board with the results of a study by the group tasked with addressing the strategic plan goals of reducing secondary teachers’ daily class load from six sections to five, as is standard in neighboring districts. To achieve that goal, the district would need to hire 39 new high school teachers at a projected cost of $2.9 million and 22 new middle school teachers at a projected cost of $1.7 million.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Social media challenge aimed at keeping summer interns in Wichita’s talent pipeline
Since 2018, the Greater Wichita Partnership and W/A Community of Young Professionals have partnered to host a kickoff event during Riverfest to welcome interns working in Wichita for the summer. The gathering would typically attract about 300 interns, and give them a chance to network and participate in an iconic Wichita tradition. But with Riverfest canceled and the threat of Covid-19 still lingering this summer, the two organizations decided to pivot. On Thursday, they will launch a six-week social media challenge encouraging interns to experience the region’s locations and landmarks.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Tribal casino may be build on land near Wichita. It could cost Kansas millions in taxes.
Federal officials have cleared the path for a tribal casino to be built on land just north of Wichita, setting up a potential showdown between the state of Kansas, Sedgwick County and the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. The Wyandotte and others — including casino magnate Phil Ruffin and former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight — have been fighting to open a casino in Park City for decades, but legal challenges and voters have thwarted legal gambling in Sedgwick County. The proposed casino would open just south of the Kansas Coliseum and the Greyhound Park race track, both now closed, in the area that was previously Wild West World, a failed amusement park that filed for bankruptcy two months after opening in 2007. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office has repeatedly warned that opening a casino in Sedgwick County is illegal.
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 8, 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.
Lawrence City Commission to consider agreement to power city buildings with wind energy
City leaders will soon consider an agreement that would allow nearly all of the energy that powers city buildings to come from renewable sources. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider entering into a 20-year agreement with Evergy Energy, formerly Westar Energy, for 8 megawatts of renewable energy annually. The energy would be generated from the Ponderosa Wind Farm in Beaver County, Okla., and is projected to save the city about $100,000 per year.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
After 3 decades, Douglas County Public Works director to retire; he ‘really cared about the safety of the traveling public’
A longtime Douglas County public servant who has overseen some of the county’s unsung improvements will soon retire. Public Works Director Keith Browning, 66, will leave the position later this month after having served the county for 31 years over two stints, where he has overseen the maintenance and improvement of the county’s hundreds of miles of rural roads and related infrastructure. Browning, who has been the director for the department’s last 22 years, has also overseen much larger projects, including the reconstruction of the Lone Star Lake spillway and rehabilitation of the bridge over the Kansas River in Lecompton, he told the Journal-World in a recent interview.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence City Commission to discuss changes to controversial sidewalk repair program
City leaders will soon discuss some new ideas for sidewalk repair, including the creation of a sidewalk insurance program and a potential city takeover of maintenance responsibilities. The Lawrence City Commission requested to reconsider the city’s sidewalk maintenance program earlier this year, and the commission will discuss the potential changes as part of its work session Tuesday. Some residents have voiced strong opposition to the program, which generally requires homeowners and other property owners to pay to repair city sidewalks that border their property.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Topeka ordering non-union workers to take 5 unpaid days off
The City of Topeka is requiring its 285 non-union employees to take five unpaid days off to help cut the city’s costs in the wake of financial struggles tied to the coronavirus pandemic. City spokeswoman Molly Hadfield told the Topeka Capital-Journal that the employees must take the five days between June 13 and Sept. 18. City Manager Brent Trout last month eliminated the jobs held by the deputy city manager, neighborhood relations director and emergency management coordinator. Trout, the mayor and city council members also cut their own pay by 6%. The city is also considering changes in healthcare coverage for union employees.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Wichita plans to double emergency fund as COVID-19 expenses near million-dollar mark
Having already spent almost all of the $1 million set aside for Wichita’s response to coronavirus COVID-19, the city is poised to double its emergency fund to fight the disease. A request to put an additional $1 million into the fund will come before the Wichita City Council on Tuesday and Mayor Brandon Whipple said he doesn’t expect any opposition. “The thought moving forward is we’re going to be able to be reimbursed for this money,” Whipple said. “Our staff are conservative enough with their interpretations (of what’s reimbursable) to where we can feel confident about it.
(Read more: Local News |)
Sedgwick County Expands COVID-19 Testing To Better Gauge Community Health
Sedgwick County is using three strategies for COVID-19 testing to get a better sense of disease spread in the community. The county opened up its free testing to people who don’t have any COVID-19 symptoms, began a random testing program and created a mobile testing unit to reach vulnerable populations. Until now, the county health department, working under guidelines set by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), used strict criteria to determine who was eligible for an appointment for testing.
(Read more: RSS Feed)
Kansas Governor Poised To Trade Some Emergency Powers To Keep Her COVID Orders
A deal forged by the governor and legislative leaders extends the Kansas disaster declaration in response to the coronavirus through September, for now ending what’s become a partisan conflict. The bill lets Gov. Laura Kelly keep some of her powers to respond to the coronavirus, like delaying deadlines for things such as filing taxes or renewing drivers licenses. The plan gives legislators more control over extending the disaster declaration and reviewing new orders. “A compromise position. A position that still allows the governor to operate,” Republican Rep. Fred Patton told the House this week.
(Read more: RSS Feed)
Butler community reacts to EduCare Center shuttering
The announcement that Butler Community College is terminating its EduCare Center program has been a source of shock and sadness throughout the community. The college announced the closure of the program earlier this month citing unpredictability of service because of COVID-19 and budget difficulties. “This business decision was made with a very heavy heart, but with looming budget cuts and the unpredictability of COVID-19 outbreaks, it was necessary,” Dean of Health, Education and Public Services Christy Streeter said in an email to parents on Monday, June 1. “We realize EduCare has had a positive impact at Butler and on the families and communities we have served over the years and that its closure is a loss for all.”
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Amidst budget concerns, advocates push for medical marijuana legalization
According to the Kansas Division of Budget, the state is expecting to face a $653 million shortfall in fiscal year 2021, this includes a projected $1.3 billion loss in tax revenue. Proponents of legalizing marijuana in the state say marijuana sales tax revenue could help. “With a budget that’s just absolutely destroyed in the state of Kansas, it would be something that would very much help with multiple different things,” said J. Andrew Ericson Sr., President of the Kansas Cannabis Business Association. Ericson points to Oklahoma as a state that the KCBA is looking to emulate with medical marijuana legislation. According to the Oklahoma state government website, the state brought in more than $39 million in medical marijuana revenue so far in June 2020. Colorado, which has legal medicinal and recreational marijuana, brought in more than $300 million in revenue in 2019. The KCBA estimates that Kansas could bring in approximately $200 million in revenue over 5 years.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Mulvane City Council votes to reopen community venues, reevaluates pool opening
Mulvane City Council’s meeting last week included plans for reopening two community venues and reevaluation of opening the city pool, which the council decided for the second time to keep closed for the year. The council voted to allow the Mulvane Senior Center to open as early as June 8, with reopening plans and dates left up to the director of the senior center. The council said the center should follow “food service industry best practices” and comply with “the Ad Astra Plan guidelines for distancing and serving food” while also taking into account the health safety of volunteers, workers and patrons.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
Pittsburg gives update on facility restrictions, event cancellations including July 4 fireworks
Although Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order and phased reopening plan are no longer in effect statewide, and Crawford County has not issued a countywide order to replace them, local municipalities have the authority to implement their own coronavirus safety measures. The City of Pittsburg released an update Monday on its current plans.
While many public spaces are reopening, the City of Pittsburg is suspending access to some city facilities and cancelling large-scale events, including the city fireworks display and July 4th Celebration in Lincoln Park.
“The City of Pittsburg has and will continue to operate regardless of the circumstances,” according to the release. “All closures and cancellations, while inconvenient, are intended to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and keep our employees and community safe.”
(Read more: Community – Morning Sun)
Sedgwick County looking at antibody testing for coronavirus
Sedgwick County commissioners have delayed a decision on whether to provide antibody testing for the coronavirus.
The county’s health officer, Dr. Garold Minns, told commissioners that he has talked with other health officials in Wichita and Kansas City and they have no confidence in the testing. He said it’s not known how they would be used, and the tests cannot determine if someone has immunity from COVID-19. Dr. Minns said the tests have not been validated by independent labs, and it would not be a good use of taxpayer money to fund a test where doctors would not know what the results mean.
County commissioners plan more discussions at their June 17th meeting. The county is calling residents at random this week to set up appointments for nasal swab testing. This program is intended to get an idea of the spread of coronavirus across the county.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Counties still following Ad Astra Plan move into Phase 3 Monday
Governor Laura Kelly said those still following the state’s Ad Astra Plan for reopening can move into Phase 3 tomorrow – meaning gathering limits can increase to 45. This comes as reopening decisions have been placed on individual counties and many, including Sedgwick, have only issued guidance and not hard rules. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is keeping track on each county’s reopening plan with a website. The website shows that 42 counties are still following the governor’s plan.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Local bars reopen as Shawnee County enters phase 3 of reopening plan
On Monday, phase three of the reopening plan will begin in Shawnee County and local bars can once again allow customers to come back through their doors for a cold one. Topeka’s Speck’s has been closed since March 18th, a tough challenge to take on for any small business but they’ve made it through and now will start getting things back to normal. Shawnee county is keeping the restriction on people, up to 50% capacity or 45 people total, and the owners say that masks will be work by employees at all times as well as temperature checks before their works come inside. In the end, they’re more excited to just get back and see their customers that feel more like friends.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Superintendent says goodbye to Goessel community
Most people who live in Goessel and those who have attended the Goessel Unified School District 411 in the last 24 years know who John Fast is. The soft-spoken man who clearly loves all things education as well as the town of Goessel, has spent most of his career teaching and being an administrator in the small town. Fast worked in education for 38 years. He started his career teaching fourth-grade science in Wichita and taught there for two years. Fast then went to Halstead for 12 years teaching elementary and middle school science and working as a curriculum director. In the fall of 1996, Fast made the move to Goessel where he started as the elementary principal. He added the role of superintendent in the fall of 2004. Fast speaks fondly of his 24 years working at Goessel.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)