Kansas Municipal News
Topeka council increases its oversight of high-dollar street projects
Topeka’s mayor and city council late Tuesday gave themselves increased oversight of high-dollar street projects financed by a city-wide, half-cent sales tax. Before voting 10-0 to adopt a resolution approving the city’s 2021-2023 capital improvement budget and 2021-30 capital improvement plan, the mayor and council voted 10-0 to adopt an amendment to that resolution proposed by Councilman Neil Dobler. That amendment takes steps that include requiring council approval for all street project budgets of $250,000 or more for work financed totally or in part by revenue from the citywide, half-cent sales tax.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Sedgwick County works to bolster coronavirus testing after sluggish start
Sedgwick County commissioners are pushing for more COVID-19 testing in the Wichita area as businesses reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, citing concerns that testing should be available to people as they return to work. The commission approved spending $250,000 for mobile COVID-19 testing Wednesday. That roving site will be available only to people who have coronavirus symptoms, the same as the health department’s testing site st 2716 W. Central in west Wichita. Commissioner David Dennis said it’s unfair for the county to expect businesses to open back up without employers knowing whether workers are carriers of the virus.
(Read more: Local News |)
Rural hospital saw peak of coronavirus cases higher than Wichita healthcare system
Officials at one of the hardest-hit rural hospitals in Kansas during the COVID-19 pandemic have started to catch their breath after hitting a peak of cases earlier in the month. Southwest Medical Center in Seward County had prepared for as many as 22 patients. It hit that number between May 3-4, necessitating a Blackhawk helicopter to deliver an emergency shipment of ventilators to the hospital. The number of cases was the maximum the hospital had resources to treat and was a couple more cases than the much larger Ascension Via Christi in Wichita saw at its peak in the middle of April. Besides a significant cluster of cases at a meatpacking facility in its own town of Liberal, the hospital also took patients from a cluster at a meatpacking operation 45 minutes away in Oklahoma. The 101-bed facility also had COVID-19 patients from Texas, according to Robin Allaman, Southwest’s vice president of patient care services.
(Read more: Local News |)
Kansas movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys can reopen Friday, but will they?
Kansas will take the next step in its reopening on Friday, when movie theaters, museums, non-tribal casinos and other indoor entertainment venues will be permitted to reopen. Bars and night clubs, along with swimming pools, will stay closed. Gov. Laura Kelly unveiled the changes Tuesday — the latest rollback of restrictions after weeks of lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for May 19, 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.
Gov. Laura Kelly allowing state to enter Phase 2 of reopening plan Friday
Gov. Laura Kelly said the Kansas economy would be allowed Friday to enter the second phase of a recovery strategy from the pandemic that includes resumption of business by casinos, theaters, bowling alleys, museums and permits return to organized sports activities. Kelly said during a briefing at the Capitol on Tuesday that bars, nightclubs, swimming pools, venues seating more than 2,000, fairs, festivals, parades and summer camps would remain shut down. It’s possible the grip on those activities could loosen by June 8. Under Phase 2, she said, the statewide mass gathering limit would be moved on Friday to 15 people, up from the current cap of 10. “Right now,” Kelly said, “the data tell us it is time for another step forward in opening as quickly as possible but still doing it as safely as possible. I’m encouraged by our progress.”
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Crawford County may back hemp-processing business
Industrial hemp has seen rapid growth in Kansas since becoming legal in recent years, but could soon be given an even greater boost in the southeast corner of the state. The Pittsburg City Commission weighed the pros and cons last week of providing support to a new business that is looking to bring cannabidiol (CBD) processing to town, before ultimately holding off on making a decision about whether to help finance the operation.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Federal government is bringing back a bond from the 1980s to help pay off a record deficit
“I think the 20-year should do fine. Obviously, we haven’t seen one in a little bit of time. There’s always is a little bit of uncertainty around the unknown in general,” said Gregory Faranello, head of U.S. rates at AmeriVet Securities. On a when-issued basis, the 20-year was yielding 1.21% Tuesday. Yields move opposite price, and its yield is about 50 basis points above the 10-year, at 0.70% Tuesday. The 30-year bond was at 1.42% Tuesday. “If you look at it from a macro perspective, relative to a lot of the G7 rates around the world, even if you look at the 30-year, it is still offering a very attractive yield level,” said Faranello. “Relative to the 10-year it looks attractive as a yield pickup.” Michael Schumacher, director rates at Wells Fargo said he expects the new issue will be met with good demand. The 20-year should appeal to foreign investors and also to pension funds and insurers, who look for longer duration holdings to match their liabilities.
(Read more: CNBC – Bonds)
Municipal short-end rates continue to fall
The municipal market continued its short-end rally Tuesday with yields falling by as much as seven basis points, amid a well-functioning new-issue market that saw deals re-priced to lower yields. Amid an otherwise quiet tone that was characterized by some firmness and strong demand for a large Connecticut pricing and a steepening yield curve, there was support for the front end of the municipal market, according to traders. The front of the municipal yield curve is “astounding” and traders said dealers are uncharacteristically accepting the levels, likely due to the historically attractive ratios, he noted. “Guys are buying the front end even though yields have gone through 1%, which usually holds them up,” he explained. “But, they don’t seem to be adverse to it as they had been.” For instance, on Monday, the three-year triple-A municipal bond yielding .49% was offering 205.9% of the comparable Treasury counterpart, which yielded 0.22%, the trader noted.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Wichita City Council approves coronavirus grant application for fire and police
The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday to approve a grant application for Coronavirus Emergency (ER) Supplemental Funding Program Solicitation. It is administered by the Department of Justice and will be $1,250,185. No local match is required. The funding will provide a new full-time emergency manager for two years and a software program for the Wichita Fire Department. Lastly, supplies and other defined program expenses will be allotted.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Pittsburg State announces plans for disbursing CARES Act funds to their students
Pittsburg State announces plans for disbursing CARES Act funds to their students. The university will recieve about $2.6 million from the higher education emergency relief fund. This federal assistance will go directly towards students who qualify. Full-time students who meet the qualifications can receive up to $800 and part-time students can get up to $400. Doug Ball, Chief Financial Officer, PSU, said, “Our hope is that this really helps students as their navigating challenges that they may be experiencing related to COVID. And we hope this would be one step in assisting them in continuing their education and making progress towards their degree.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
City of Topeka cuts three upper-level jobs in wake of COVID-19 pandemic
In an effort to cut costs, Topeka’s city government has eliminated the jobs held by deputy city manager Doug Gerber, neighborhood relations director Sasha Haehn and emergency management coordinator Jim Green. The termination of those employees and elimination of their positions became necessary as a result of city budget challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, city media relations coordinator Molly Hadfield indicated in a news release Monday. “These individuals are not being dismissed due to any conduct or performance issues,” she said. “However, the effect the pandemic is anticipated to have on the city budget is likely to be severe. This requires that steps be taken to responsibly navigate through this unprecedented event, including the elimination of positions.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Peabody council worried about lack of lifeguards
Peabody city councilmen were unsure at Monday’s regular meeting if the city’s pool would open this year, but agreed they needed to hire enough lifeguards just in case. “Even if we can open it in the future, we have to have staff to be able to open the pool,” councilman Jay Gfeller said. “I don’t know how much thought has gone into that so far.” Last year’s pool manager, Rachel Wattson, was unsure if the pool’s most experienced lifeguards would be returning, councilman Lindsay Hutchison said.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Overland Park joins list of Kansas City area cities closing pools due to COVID-19
With the approach of Memorial Day weekend, the traditional time public pools open for the season in Johnson County, Overland Park has joined the growing list of cities that will keep them closed this year. Concerned about the spread of COVID-19 among visitors and the logistics of social distancing restrictions, the Overland Park City Council voted Monday to keep its five outdoor pools closed. “This is a really hard decision because we are a pool family, but this is a bigger decision than just my family,” Councilwoman Holly Grummert said. “It’s for the safety of our community, for feasibility and for timing issues for our community and what is the best decision considering all of those elements.” Also on Monday, the Leawood City Council voted to open the city’s aquatic center in June, with restrictions. Elsewhere in Johnson County, both Lenexa and Shawnee are considering opening only one pool each.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Governor Kelly announces new economic recovery taskforce, ‘SPARK’
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced the state has created a new taskforce to lead the state’s economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic. “As part of her commitment to rebuilding Kansas and the economy, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce to lead the state’s economic recovery,” the governor’s office stated Tuesday. A press release explains the task force will be responsible for “statewide distribution of significant CARES Act Funding,” and says a five-member executive committee will oversee the process. Subcommittees will focus on communication, money, policy, and accountability.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Kansas set to move into phase 2 of reopening plan, allowing slightly larger group gatherings
Starting Friday, Kansans can gather in slightly larger groups, take in a movie, go to an art museum and bowl a few frames. But concerts, festivals, summer camps and parades will remain shut down. And you still won’t be able to get a drink at a bar. At a news conference Tuesday a day before a meeting with President Donald Trump in the White House, Gov. Laura Kelly announced another round of gradually eased restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19. “We may be transitioning to Phase 2,” the governor told reporters, “but we still have a long ways to go before arriving at anything bordering on normal.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Roeland Park sets 2025 deadline to reduce carbon emissions by 28%, approves solar-ready ordinance
The Roeland Park city council Monday evening approved a resolution setting a 2025 goal to reduce the city’s carbon emissions by 28%, in addition to a solar-ready ordinance. Roeland Park’s 28% reduction goal and date complies with Paris Climate Agreement recommendations, and the city intends to achieve its goal by implementing suggested strategies from Dynamhex — the company tracking the city’s carbon emissions — and the Climate Action KC Playbook. Mayor Mike Kelly, Climate Action KC leader, said he appreciated the council’s unanimous approval of the resolution. “I’m excited for all the great co-benefits that will come with [lowering the city’s emissions], public health, economic prosperity and better quality of life for our residents,” Kelly said.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Leawood plans to open its aquatic center for summer season
The Leawood City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to open the city’s aquatic center in June. The target date for opening the center, at 10601 Lee Blvd., is June 8, but that could be pushed back to June 15 based on necessary time to train lifeguards, Parks and Recreation Director Chris Claxton told the council. Councilmembers and staff discussed several logistics details without making final plans — including how many people at a time to allow in the pools, restrictions on people entering and leaving the facility, social distancing enforcement, the use of masks by lifeguards, schedules for swimming lessons and other training. City Administrator Scott Lambers asked the council to allow only Leawood residents with reservations to use the center, saying that would be easier to administer. If a non-resident has a complaint, “they need to go to their city council.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Commissioners question whether Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste program should continue in present form
With less than two weeks to go before its contract runs out, the Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste program has hit a snag at the county commission. Discussion of a contract with a new provider – Heritage Environmental Services – was delayed to May 21 after some commissioners questioned whether the county should investigate making it a metro-wide program to become more efficient and save money. “I’m not advocating we get out of this business but I’m questioning whether or not there’s some better way of doing it,” said Commissioner Steve Klika, who noted that he had been “bombarded” with emails about the program since the commission brought it up as part of an agenda review session May 7.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Overland Park will keep municipal pools closed this summer
Overland Park Pools will not open this summer, the city council has decided. Councilmembers discussed an option of opening just one of its five pools – Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center – with a list of attendance and distancing restrictions. But in the end, a majority decided risking the safety of the pool staff and possibly spreading the coronavirus was not worth it. “Unfortunately until we defeat the coronavirus this is one year I think we’ve just got to bite the bullet and go through this, I’m sorry to say,” said Councilmember Faris Farassati. Councilmember Logan Heley agreed, noting the distancing measures in Johnson County have prevented a higher death toll.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)