Kansas Municipal News
AG Derek Schmidt to Congress: Protect rural broadband access as part of any additional COVID-19 relief legislation
Congress should ensure that all Americans have the home internet connectivity necessary to participate in telemedicine, teleschooling and telework as part of any additional COVID-19 relief legislation, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt told U.S. Senate and House leadership in a letter sent last week. “Large portions of rural America, including here in Kansas, currently lack broadband access at a time when many of our critical needs are being fulfilled online,” Schmidt said. “It’s essential that Congress take action to prevent government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic from worsening the existing digital divide and ensure access to work, school and healthcare for all Americans.”
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General News Releases)
Nearly 75% of COVID-19 patients in Sedgwick County have recovered
Sedgwick County reports that out of the 559 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, nearly 75% of them have recovered. The county’s website says that as of 4 p.m. Monday, 409 patients have recovered and 21 of them have died. That leaves 129 cases that are still active. The first case in Sedgwick County was reported on March 16. Across the state, data compiled by the Reno County Health Department shows 9,133 total cases with 3,867 recoveries and 207 deaths. However, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports 9,218 total cases and 188 deaths.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes pandemic bill, hands counties more power and calls special legislative session
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed Tuesday a bill passed by the Kansas Legislature to snatch from the Kansas governor direct control of $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief aid and alter state law to weaken the executive branch’s emergency power during the pandemic. Kelly, a Democrat working with a Republican-led House and Senate, said she would sign a revised, 15-day state of emergency declaration to provide legal footing for a streamlined set of executive orders issued during a pandemic that has killed at least 188 and infected more than 9,200 in Kansas. Officials in all 105 counties will be granted the right to set health, business and mass gathering limits, she said. Her plan to continue with phasing in reopening of economic activity will become advisory to counties, she said.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Sedgwick County health officer encouraged, but would like to see more wearing masks
Medical experts at every level say we are far from out of the woods when it comes to risks associated with COVID-19 and dangers the virus poses. At least locally, there are positive indicators that most are following guidelines to safeguard against COVID-19, but many out in public choose not to wear masks as health professionals at every level recommend. Eyewitness News went out Tuesday and spoke with people about their decisions to either wear a mask or go without. At least Tuesday, the majority of people who spoke with Eyewitness News did so through a mask. This is a positive sign to Sedgwick County Chief Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns, although he says he would like to see more people wearing masks in public. “Now we’ve had another week and again,we haven’t seen any peak, or even significant rise in cases, so it’s reassuring to me,” Dr. Minns says. “Again, I want to hope that’s because of everybody being so obedient about those things we’re asking.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
Wichita workforce center reopens to public
Unemployment in Kansas hit 11.2% for the month of April. Anthony Newman was one of those that were laid off from their job, in part, due to COVID-19. He is now trying to find a new job with help from the Wichita Workforce Center. Newman said he wants help from the center to get his CDL license. “I came here to not only have a job, but give me a career,” Newman said. The Workforce Center opened its doors Tuesday morning for the first time since the end of March. Workforce Center CEO Keith Lawing said having the ability to meet face-to-face with job-seekers will be a big benefit.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Wichita officials weigh options for opening pools while demand for home pools increases
Will public pools in Wichita open this year? It’s a possibility, but city officials are also weighing the benefits of not opening pools until next year. “There are still cities still struggling just for health reasons on whether or not they’re going to open,” said Robert Layton, Wichita city manager. Public pools in Wichita sit empty and could remain that way depending on the city’s decision. “The problem isn’t just the people in the pool,” said Layton. “How do you social distance also outside of the pool?”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
McPherson Water Park proposes plan to city
Members of the McPherson High Swim Team and McPherson Water Park director Kyle Roberts proposed a plan to open the water park to the McPherson City Commission Tuesday morning. Roberts proposed an opening of the water park to occur on June 15, during Phase 3 of Gov. Laura Kelly’s Ad Astra Plan to reopen Kansas. Phase 3 of Gov. Kelly’s reopening plan is expected to start on June 8. Roberts said a poll was created on the water park’s Facebook page and has nearly 2,000 votes, with the majority voting yes to open the water park.
(Read more: McPherson Sentinel)
Newton Rec Commission eyes June 15 opening of municipal pool
The hopes of swimming in the municipal pool this summer are treading water — delayed, it seems, by each new announcement from Gov. Laura Kelly as she has signed executive orders moving the state through a phased reopening plan in attempts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, published in black and white on a revised reopening plan, there is a date for the pool to reopen. The plan given to the Newton Recreation Commission by Rec Commission staff lists June 15 as the day to get into the water. If the plan stands, the pool will be open for four hours a day, with likely two evening swims a week for families. It will not be available for group rentals, though local swim teams will be able to use the pool.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
Wyandotte County to continue following Kansas Phase 2 reopening plan
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the Ad Astra Reopening plan has transitioned away from being a statewide requirement and into a statewide guidance document. Gov. Kelly further announced that county health officers remain empowered to issue local orders adopting the Ad Astra Reopening plan if they choose. The health order signed by the Unified Government’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Greiner, on May 20, adopting Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Reopening plan, remains in effect in Wyandotte County, according to a UG spokesman. The county will not need to issue another order on following the plan this week.
(Read more: Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!)
Keeping Lawrence outdoor pools and rec centers closed ‘first of many difficult decisions,’ leaders say
As businesses across the city begin to open their doors, the City of Lawrence recreation centers and outdoor pools will remain closed to public. Those facilities are allowed to open with restrictions under state health guidelines, but as city leaders keep a wary eye on the budget, the calculus of when to reopen is more complicated. The city has released a reopening plan for the Parks and Recreation Department, and the plan calls for the city’s outdoor pool and wading pools to remain closed all summer. Recreation centers will also remain closed to the general public until all health orders and restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic lift. Parks and rec officials say those decisions were based in part on direction from elected leaders.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 22, 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.
Smaller Lyon County communities share life during pandemic
The smaller Lyon County communities are also enduring the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Gazette spoke with the mayors and city clerks of these communities to glean insight into how the small city, rural life is continuing. 2020 marks Reading’s sesquicentennial, and its birthday party has been postponed until gatherings are safer. Mayor Todd Hensley said Reading has seen a lot of things in its 150 years, “but I don’t believe we’ve ever seen anything like this,” he said. The community is resilient, though that is apparent whether or not the world is enduring a pandemic. The local Miracle Cafe is offering curbside service, and the bank and elevator are still doing business. The local beauty shop and park are still closed, and “it’s kind of sad not to see the kids down there playing,” Hensley said. “We spent a lot of time and effort putting all of that stuff up, and now it’s closed off to them, but it will open back up, and kids will be able to go down and play again.” Otherwise, “Reading doesn’t have a lot to reopen,” he said.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Sedgwick County correcting speed limit conflict on 159th Street East
Sedgwick County is correcting a problem with conflicting speed limits on a section of roadway that borders Butler County. Sedgwick County commissioner Jim Howell called attention to safety concerns with 159th Street East, between Harry and Pawnee. The west side of the roadway is under the jurisdiction of Sedgwick County, and Howell said no speed limit was posted there for southbound traffic. By default, that would mean that cars could travel up to 55 miles an hour under state statutes. On the east side of the road, controlled by Butler County, the speed limit is 40 miles an hour for northbound traffic. Howell there has been construction in the area along with an increase in traffic, and that creates a safety issue. County commissioners have approved a change to post a speed limit of 40 miles an hour for southbound traffic.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Projects chosen for new Kansas highway program
Preliminary engineering work is getting started for 40 major highway projects across the state of Kansas. The projects are the first ones to move forward under the Eisenhower Transportation Legacy Program, also known as IKE, which was created in March. Major modernization and expansion projects will be selected every two years rather than once a decade under previous highway programs. The change allows the state to address the most pressing needs and adjust to changes in state revenue.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Kansas Cosmosphere reopens
The Kansas Cosmosphere has reopened in time for Memorial Day weekend. The space and science center in Hutchinson has taken steps to help keep visitors and staff safe and prevent possible exposure to Covid-19. All staff will be wearing masks and visitors are encouraged to as well. Disposable masks will be available for visitors and temporary Plexiglas shields have been installed at all points of sale. There are markers on the floor at 6 feet intervals to allow visitors to maintain social distancing and hand sanitizing stations have been set up across the facility. Seating inside the Digital Dome Theater, Dr. Goddard’s Lab, and the Planetarium is limited and every other row will remain unoccupied. Visitors are also being encouraged to purchase all tickets online rather than in person. To see all the precautions the Cosmosphere is taking, click here. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
US communities face tough choices on opening public pools
Public pools will look very different this summer if they open at all with the coronavirus threat still looming, as teenage lifeguards will be tasked with maintaining social distancing and spotting COVID-19 symptoms in addition to their primary responsibility of preventing drownings. Pools that do plan to open will take precautions, including screening temperatures on entry, requiring lifeguards to wear masks and significantly reducing the number of swimmers allowed in the water and locker rooms, said Dr. Justin Sempsrott, the medical director for the lifeguard certification program Starguard Elite and executive director of Lifeguards Without Borders, which works to reduce drownings worldwide. “It’s definitely not going to be business as usual this season,” he said.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
‘We’ve got to know who they are’: Contact tracing vital as county reopens
Who were you with on Mother’s Day? Did you go to a restaurant? Did you carpool to work with someone? These questions may seem personal, ones that you would most likely discuss with a friend or family member. But for contact tracing nurses to accomplish their job, these are inquiries they must make to determine who is a potential contact for a positive COVID-19 case. Contact tracing nurses have to be nosy. To successfully slow the spread of COVID-19, nurses must learn how to be a detective and dig into every minute of someone’s life. It is not a cutting-edge method of tracking down people who have been in contact with a positive case, but instead one that historically has been used in Shawnee County to identify those who are a contact for someone who has measles and chicken pox.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Merriam police officers save owl stuck in soccer net
Merriam police officers demonstrated their ability to adapt to any situation last weekend and saved an owl stuck in a soccer net at Waterfall Park, 5191 Merriam Drive. After a concerned citizen alerted the police department about the owl, four officers responded to the scene as there were no animal control officers on duty at the time, Captain Chris Brokaw said. The officers took it upon themselves to free the owl, although saving wild animals isn’t a regular occurrence for police, he said. “Nothing in our day is routine, you just never know what you’re going to get,” Brokaw said. “I’m sure they never thought in a million years that they were going to have to come across something like this. You kind of roll with the punches and adapt to it, and try to handle it as best you can.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Newton Rec Commission eyes June 15 opening of municipal pool
The hopes of swimming in the municipal pool this summer are treading water — delayed, it seems, by each new announcement from Gov. Laura Kelly as she has signed executive orders moving the state through a phased reopening plan in attempts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, published in black and white on a revised reopening plan, there is a date for the pool to reopen. The plan given to the Newton Recreation Commission by Rec Commission staff lists June 15 as the day to get into the water. If the plan stands, the pool will be open for four hours a day, with likely two evening swims a week for families. It will not be available for group rentals, though local swim teams will be able to use the pool.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
Neosho County to assist Erie 101 district
Neosho County Commissioners voted Thursday evening to assist the Erie school district with improperly-installed air conditioning at the high school. Erie’s USD 101 Superintendent Troy Damman requested assistance from the funds Apex Clean Energy, developer of the Neosho Ridge Wind electric generation project, is paying in lieu of property taxes (PILOT funds). Commissioners voted to provide $200,000 to correct improper installation of Erie High School’s ground-source heat pump. The funds will also assist with curriculum and textbook updates and safety at the Galesburg Middle School, which is part of USD 101.
(Read more: www.chanute.com)