Kansas Municipal News
JoCo health department reports ‘some spikes’ in COVID-19 cases after reopening
Johnson County is experiencing an expected spike in COVID-19 cases following phased reopening plans, said Sanmi Areola, PhD, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. “But in terms of the trend, on the average, we’re still doing pretty well,” Areola said Monday.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Kansas task force shapes plan allocating $400 million in federal aid to counties
The coronavirus task force appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly adopted a plan Tuesday during its first meeting for distribution of $400 million in federal disaster aid to county governments for economic and health costs of the lingering pandemic. The executive committee of SPARK, otherwise known as Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas, carved a chunk from $1 billion in CARES Act assistance sent to Kansas. The cash can’t be used to fill city or county tax revenue shortfalls, but must be applied to expenses incurred during the pandemic and spent by end of the year. “We need to provide local governments with all the resources we can to mitigate the virus and revitalize our economy,” Kelly said. “We want to make these funds available, so communities can address current challenges and jump start our economic recovery.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wichita police get $875,000 grant to hire seven officers for three years
Wichita police are getting a federal grant for $875,000 to hire seven officers. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister announced the Justice Department grant on Tuesday. Wichita is one of 15 law enforcement agencies in Kansas to receive grant money. “These grants put the money where it is needed — on the streets,” McAllister said in a news release. “Kansans will be safer because of this federal spending.”
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 2, 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.
Changing traffic ticket rules in Wichita
Kansas demonstrators are demanding change in how police treat African Americans. Wichita Police say they have programs already in the works to do just that. At least one of those programs could also help reduce Kansas’ problems with suspended driver’s licenses. From Minnesota to New York to right here in Kansas, demonstrators want change. On Saturday, Chief Gordon Ramsay hinted at a change he says the Wichita Police have been working on for months now. Instead of giving drivers a ticket with a fine for having a problem with their car, like a busted taillight, officers will give them a voucher to get it fixed.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
‘SPARK’ task force works to distribute $1 billion to Kansas counties
Governor Kelly’s ‘Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas’ (SPARK) Task Force met for the first time on Tuesday to determine the best way to distribute more than one billion dollars in federal funding.The committee is made up of local and state leaders from across Kansas. The federal money will be passed out based on population size and need, depending on the number of coronavirus cases and the economic impact in each county. The committee chose to distribute the money in phases. “This fair, impactful and timely distribution of funds to county governments will strengthen our health, speed the reopening of our economy and help our state remain open for business,” said Cheryl Harrison-Lee, Executive Director of the Recovery Office.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Roundabout done near St. John
The safety factor when traveling on U.S. 281 and U.S. 50 has increased where those highways intersect in Stafford County three miles south of St. John. After months of work starting in 2019, a new $5.2 million roundabout is completed and traffic is flowing through this intersection that had a history of injury and fatal accidents.The roundabout features an inner circle for regular traffic and a permanent detour outer diamond shape to accommodate oversize loads.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
Ark City, Winfield announce resumption of recycling program
The City of Arkansas City and City of Winfield implemented new changes to the recycling programs in each community which began Monday as recycling service resumed. As has been publicized, Ark City and Winfield recently agreed to changes in the way the two cities provide recycling efforts. In response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, both cities recently put a pause on their recycling collection efforts until the new program that began Monday. For both communities, the shared Arkansas City/Winfield Recycling Center, at Seventh Avenue and D Street in Strother Field, will be open for community drive-through drop-off from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays and Saturdays, starting Friday.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
After 15-year delay, Mission Gateway in Johnson County on hold again due to financing
After 15 years of delays, it seemed that progress was finally being made on the long-vacant site of the former Mission Mall in Johnson County. But just as the Mission Gateway development was taking shape, the coronavirus pandemic brought it to yet another halt. Now leaders in Mission expect to see construction equipment leaving the site, as developers continue to face financial challenges. Construction on the $225 million project, highly visible for commuters along Shawnee Mission Parkway, will not resume as planned this summer. “The development team has been transparent about their challenges with the project,” Mission Mayor Ron Appletoft said in a news release. “This is not where we hoped to be, but we have to respond to the realities in front of us. The city team is committed to exploring options, while continuing to protect the city’s financial interest in the project.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Which Wichita area pools are open this summer?
Want to go swimming this summer but not sure what pools are open? Here’s your guide to what pools are and aren’t planning on opening. Rock River Rapids plans to open June 8. The park will be limited to 750 guests per day – a third of its normal maximum capacity. Tickets are only available for purchase online. Lounge chairs won’t be available, concession stands are closed, and there will be no complimentary tubes or lifejackets throughout the park. Some slides will be closed. There will be no shower curtains in bathrooms, so guests are asked to come dressed in their swimsuit. Staff members will have their temperatures taken.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
Derby STAR bond goals readdressed with new amendment
If you build it, will they come? That seemed to be a prevailing question among the Derby City Council at a special meeting May 28 focused on further expansion of the city’s STAR bond project. Primarily, the council questioned if a new project phase (including construction of a proposed rock climbing gym) would bring Derby closer to meeting the original goal of expanding regional tourism numbers and additional business development. “For Derby, it was more about trying to get attractions here that are family fun so our residents can enjoy them, and it adds to the quality of life for people who are thinking about the metro area,” said city manager Kathy Sexton.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Cooped up by COVID-19, residents of this Johnson County city want backyard chickens
Prairie Village could become the latest city in the Kansas City metro to let residents keep backyard chickens. “In the current environment that we find ourselves in right now, there’s a growing feel for people wanting to be more self-sufficient,” said Councilwoman Inga Selders, who proposed the idea, she said, after receiving about 100 messages from residents wanting their own chickens. “This year, we’ve seen a renaissance of people planting their victory gardens, keeping bees, composting their food waste and wanting the ability to raise hens for fresh eggs.”
(Read more: KC Star Local News)
Circle USD 375 partners with Farms to Families to provide boxes of food to communities
Circle USD 375 has partnered with Farms to Families to provide boxes of food to communities. The distribution will be Wednesday, June 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Circle High School located at 905 Main Street in Towanta. There will be a drive-through pickup, and it is free for anyone who needs it. Food boxes will be first come, first serve.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Police in riot gear clash with demonstrators overnight in north Wichita
The Wichita Police Department says two people were arrested and three officers suffered minor injuries after a protest turned violent Monday night. Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay says when the disruption occurred Monday night near 21st Street and Arkansas, people were told to clear the area, but 50 to 70 people refused to leave and began throwing rocks, cinder blocks, water bottles and other debris. Police say people began to gather for a demonstration near 21st and Arkansas at about 7 p.m. Monday. At about 11:30 p.m., the front glass of the Metro PCS store in the 700 block of West 21st Street was vandalized after police say “random shots began to occur.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
Baldwin City, Eudora collecting more in local sales taxes during pandemic
Residents of Baldwin City and Eudora appear to have done more of their shopping close to home since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the latest sales tax figures from the Kansas Department of Revenue suggest. Both communities collected more revenue from their local sales taxes in March of this year than in March 2019. And Baldwin City Administrator Glenn Rodden and Eudora City Manager Barack Matite say that’s because many people were staying put in the bedroom communities during the pandemic. Many Baldwin City and Eudora residents who work in larger urban areas like Lawrence and Johnson County either lost their jobs or started working from home in March, the two city leaders said. That and safety concerns provided an incentive to shop at the local businesses that traditionally provide the city governments with most of their sales tax revenue.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Unlike Lawrence, two Douglas County towns plan to open their outdoor swimming pools for the summer
In contrast to the city of Lawrence, Baldwin City and Eudora are planning to open their municipal swimming pools this month with modifications designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Although the two cities are taking different approaches to opening their pools, officials in Baldwin City and Eudora said safety was the foremost planning consideration. “We know everybody is itching to get out, but at the end of the day everything we have planned is for the overall good health of the people and families of Eudora” said Eudora Parks and Recreation Department Director Sally Pennington. “We know with our square footage, we can’t have more than 90 people at the pool at a time.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.
‘We are ready to listen:’ Wichita mayor announces new civil rights advisory council
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said he is forming a new advisory council on civil rights after a weekend of peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota. “I want to thank you for keeping the protests this weekend both peaceful and productive,” Whipple said in a video posted to Twitter. “At City Hall, we are ready to listen and to work with the community towards a better Wichita. And that’s why tomorrow I plan to appoint an advisory council to the mayor that is focused on inclusion, diversity and civil rights so that we can have more people at the table and more voices as we move our city forward.”
(Read more: Local News |)
Great Bend moves to 800 MHz radios
The City of Great Bend took the next step towards improved communications for its first responders as the City Council approved the purchase of 800 MHz radio for the police and fire departments, the costs of which was over $550,000. “As we dove into this project, we knew it would take a few years to set the money aside,” said Fire Chief Luke McCormick. The project itself has been a few years in the make as well.
(Read more: Great Bend Tribune)
Overland Park proposed budget calls for city to spend into reserves as leaders brace for revenue drop
The Overland Park City Council will have major decisions ahead to keep spending in line with big drops in revenues. But City Manager Bill Ebel believes it can be done without increasing the tax rate. Ebel proposed keeping the mill levy steady at 13.557 and no increase in the stormwater utility fee for the 2021 budget. But the budget he proposed to a council committee Monday called for the city to spend down its reserve funds to meet operating expenses – something it hasn’t done since the last recession.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Roeland Park becomes first city in Kansas with conversion therapy ban
The Roeland Park City Council Monday evening became the first city in the state to approve an ordinance banning conversion therapy. Roeland Park was at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights in the state in 2014 when it passed a non-discrimination ordinance. In the years that followed, more than a dozen Johnson County cities followed suit. Councilmember Benjamin Dickens, one of the ordinance’s three sponsors, said the conversion therapy ban has this same potential.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)