Kansas Municipal News
Rebuilding America: Local tourism spots see winds of change
Boot Hill Museum planned to hold a grand reopening after the completion of its initial expansion project, but with the interruptions caused by COVID-19, it was pushed back to fall in line with Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for a phased reopening of the state. Boot Hill Museum’s Laura Tawater said the museum was then set to reopen sometime in mid-May, but that again was delayed by institution of a new Phase 1.5. Despite these postponements, Boot Hill Museum continues to work on its reopening plan.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Ford County gives businesses OK to open at own discretion
On Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly issued a declaration regarding the statewide plan for reopening, making the phases more of a guideline than a requirement for all 105 counties. Individual counties would be the ones setting gathering limits, business opening guidelines and other attempts at jump-starting local economies. On Wednesday, Ford County commissioners met in a special meeting to set adjustments for the county based on the governor’s changes.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Salina playgrounds, equipment reopened
The City of Salina has reopened playgrounds and equipment for use in city parks. This reopening is set to align with the Saline County health officer’s order that make Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Reopening Plan a local order. Salina Parks and Recreation said picnic shelters will remain closed until further notice.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Kansas news deserts leave increasingly fewer reporters to cover the COVID-19 outbreak
During a pandemic, local news coverage means more than keeping tabs on the city council or high school sports. The stories published in a newspaper, broadcast on a network TV affiliate or aired on the radio bring critical information about the public health crisis to communities. People count on reporters in their town or region to let them know about the latest spread of disease, about what’s safe and what’s not — especially in small meatpacking towns that have become coronavirus hot spots. “They’re doing the best they can,” said Angela Labrier, who turns to the Fox News Channel and The Garden City Telegram to stay on top of what’s happening with the coronavirus.But it’s getting harder for local news outlets, just about everywhere.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Mission extends due date for business license fees to Sept. 1 amid COVID-19
Businesses throughout the city, like Sandhills Brewing in downtown, will have until Sept. 1 to pay business license fees. The Mission city council on Wednesday evening approved a resolution to extend the due date for business license fees from July 1 to Sept. 1, in an effort to help businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. City staff has been working on business license renewals with a focus on creating an online form and payment methods to reduce human interactions, City Administrator Laura Smith said. As staff worked on this, Smith said an extension seemed to be a reasonable way to offer businesses — who might be impacted by the pandemic themselves — a couple of extra months.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Many bars staying closed despite dropped restrictions, but Old Town clubs ready to party
Sedgwick County commissioners decided on Wednesday to allow all businesses in Wichita to reopen, meaning that Wichita bars and nightclubs — among the close-quarter businesses that had so far been ordered to stay closed amid coronavirus concerns — are no longer bound by those restrictions. In Wichita, many Old Town night clubs, which have been shut down since the start of coronavirus restrictions in March, are preparing to welcome party crowds back this weekend and are now trumpeting drink specials and cover charge lifting on social media. One even reopened for party-seekers on Wednesday, just hours the commissioners decided no restrictions on businesses or social distancing were necessary. Meanwhile, many popular bar and brewery owners say they’re not quite ready to go yet, and they’re not sure how long it will be until they are.
(Read more: Dining With Denise Neil |)
Essential hearings only in the courthouse in Kiowa County
Even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the the Kiowa County courthouse is a hub for county department activity and for legal cases. But the courthouse, like everything else, has had to reorganize its operations to confirm with the most current mandates from the state and judicial system. Legal cases in Kiowa County have been delayed. The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered that no jury trials take place in Kansas for now and when that will change is unknown, said Chief Judge Leigh Hood of the 16th Judicial District. Kiowa County has not had a docket day but are conducting hearings as necessary. The situation changes day to day but plans are to hear cases on a regular basis starting the second week in June, Hood said.
(Read more: Kiowa County Signal)
Municipal Bond Trends for May 27, 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.
Sedgwick County’s new coronavirus plan: advice but no rules, everything can open
A day after Gov. Laura Kelly shifted responsibility for coronavirus prevention to the counties, Sedgwick County shifted it to the business community and individual residents. The county commissioners opted Wednesday not to place any rules or restrictions on business or personal activity to control the spread of COVID-19. “I think it’s time to trust our citizens,” said Commissioner Jim Howell.
(Read more: Local News |)
City leaders plead for COVID-19 regulation after Johnson County makes it voluntary
More than 20 city council members from across Johnson County have signed a letter urging county leaders to adopt coronavirus restrictions that can be enforced. After Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced she has shifted responsibility for COVID-19 prevention to counties, Johnson County health officials said they would not impose their own restrictions. Instead, the county is leaving it up to businesses and residents to follow recommendations laid out in Kelly’s phased approach to reopening the economy.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Cowley County keeping state limits in place
Cowley County will follow the state’s reopening plan after Gov. Laura Kelly this week rescinded her statewide order and let local officials determine their own coronavirus restrictions. Public Health Officer Thomas Langer issued a press release late Wednesday afternoon announcing the decision. The order he issued, effective at 12 a.m. Wednesday, essentially holds in place the current limitations people were being asked follow until a special session of the Legislature starting June 3 that could provide more clarity on how things will move forward, the release states.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
Park City officers honored for stopping man who was going to jump off bridge
Two Park City officers were recognized this week for preventing a man from jumping off a bridge. Officers Gary Palmer and Jordan Whitfield received the Life Saving Medal during Tuesday’s Park City Council meeting for their efforts to save a 45-year-old man from jumping off the 61st bridge above Chisholm Creek on Jan. 25. The officers responded to a welfare check of the man at around 8:15 p.m. and found him standing on the sidewalk in the middle of the bridge.
(Read more: Local News |)
KDHE anxious about ’experimentation’ as counties take charge of COVID-19 response
The state’s top health officer urged county officials Wednesday to follow Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for gradual reopening of the economy — downsized from mandatory to advisory — to minimize opportunities for resurgence in spread of COVID-19. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said placing ownership of coronavirus decisions with the state’s 105 county commissions and health officers wasn’t without risk. He predicted some counties would fare well in terms of infection management, while others would fare poorly.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Shawnee County nearing ‘slow trickle’ reopening plan
Shawnee County’s COVID-19 response team has released a five-tier working document it will use to reopen Shawnee County. The guidelines were released Thursday afternoon and will begin as soon as the state’s stay-at-home order lifts. The working document is based off a best-case scenario and is subject to change. Tiers will be broken down into 14-, 20- and 30-day increments, Shawnee County Emergency Management director Dusty Nichols said Thursday morning at the Shawnee County commission meeting.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Sales tax numbers up as of April, but city preparing for drop
As of April, sales tax revenues for Newton remain ahead of last year, but the city is preparing for a decrease in revenue in the coming months. “Boy, they were sure shopping in March,” Newton Finance Director Donna Pickman said, explaining that it wouldn’t be till May or June when the city would have a better idea of how the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak would affect the city budget. “It’s kind of hard to know right yet,” she said. “We’re just holding the line.” As a whole, compared to 2019, total revenues for the first four months of the year totaled $1,762,000. That’s $44,000 higher when compared to the past year.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
A difficult decision from the Hillsboro City Council
Today, the City Council voted to close the municipal swimming pool for the 2020 summer season. “This was not an easy decision” said Mayor Lou Thurston. “My heart says one thing, my head says another. In the end, it doesn’t appear that we can keep the pool open and keep social distancing and the CDC/Kansas Parks & Recreation Association cleaning guidelines to keep pool employees and the public safe. Safety of our children and their families is more important than the risk of opening the pool.” We realize this may not be a popular decision and regret it had to be made. We recognize since the closing of the school session in mid-March, kids have been adhering to shelter in place guidelines to protect their heath. Marci Cain, pool manager and teacher, said “the decision to close schools was made because social distancing was not practical in the school setting. Social distancing is no better in the swimming pool setting.”
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Rock River Rapids in Derby opens on June 8 with safety measures
The Rock River Rapids Aquatic Park in Derby is slated to open on Monday, June 8. City and recreation officials made the announcement in a joint news release Wednesday. “Given the risks of COVID-19, a great deal of preparation has occurred to ensure the park is as safe as possible and meets or exceeds all CDC guidelines, state orders, and Kansas Recreation and Parks Association (KRPA) recommendations,” the release said.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Anonymous donor helps 41 residents in Kansas town pay their water bills
Residents in a small Kansas town don’t have to worry about their past due water bills after someone anonymously paid all of their balances. Julie Roller Weeks with the Abilene Convention & Visitor’s Bureau said Friday’s donation was for $2,000. The donor told her that he and his wife did not need the coronavirus stimulus money they received and wanted to do good with it. “The act of kindness is something very positive that has come from something very unsettling in this pandemic,” Weeks said. The donation helped 41 local residents to become current on their water bills, nearly one third of the total of past due bills in Abilene.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Counties respond to governor’s action on coronavirus response
Sedgwick County commissioners plan a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to decide on next steps after actions taken by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday. The governor vetoed a bill from the legislature to limit the governor’s powers on disaster and emergency declarations. She has transitioned the state reopening plan to guidance only, leaving decisions up to counties on the coronavirus response. The governor also called a special session of the legislature for June 3rd to work on a new emergency management bill. Reno County’s health officer was planning an announcement on next steps after the governor’s decision. Harvey County commissioners have voted to remain in Phase Two of the governor’s plan, and limits on mass gatherings will be increased from 15 to 30. Harvey County commissioners will decide on further steps at their next meeting June 2nd.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Harvey County commissioners vote to keep county in phase 2
The Harvey County Commission voted Tuesday at a special meeting to remain in the second phase of the Harvey County Health Reopening Plan regarding COVID-19 response through June 2. The plan generally follows the guidance included in Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas” outline. The commission agreed to increase mass gathering limits in Harvey County from 15 to 30 people and unanimously approved the decision to revise and adopt the Harvey County Health Reopening Plan. All restrictions previously outlined in the state’s reopening plan remain in place in Harvey County’s local plan. Additionally, Harvey County’s plan restricts in-person visits at long-term care facilities through its first three phases.
(Read more: KSN-TV)