Kansas Municipal News
Three Crawford County museums to receive $25,000 in funding
Three local museums are receiving $25,000 in funding. The Crawford County Commission approved continuing funding for the Crawford County Museum Fund. The fund was established to assist local museums with operations, funding, and programming. Between the Crawford County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and county funds set aside, Crawford County Historical Museum, Miners Hall Museum, and Girard History Museum will receive $25,000 each. Devin Gorman, Executive Director, Crawford Co. Convention And Visitors Bureau, said, “As everybody’s out and ready to do things again, certainly would encourage you to check out local museums if you’re looking for something to do. It should be a good opportunities to still space yourself and learn something maybe about history here locally and as you’re not looking to travel long distances.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
GCCC applies for tax credit grant
The Garden City Community College Board of Trustees approved the submission of an application to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a tax credit grant at Tuesday’s board meeting. If approved, the program would allow GCCC to sell tax credits toward the purchase of up to three Anatomage tables that can be shared with 10 to 12 rural high schools with populations under 15,000, said GCCC president Ryan Ruda. Anatomage tables provide 3D, high-resolution mapping of the human body and are generally more precise than traditional cadaver labs.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Tax revenues will be affected by pandemic
Taxing entities in Marshall County are taking a look at their long-term financial planning as the pandemic affects local economies and tax revenue sources. “If the restrictions of the pandemic stretch out for several more months, we are going to see the bubble effect come into play for some of our businesses,” said Blue Rapids Mayor Jerry Zayas. “Orders placed with businesses a couple of months ago will not be placed during the months of rest, causing no work for people in June through August. Couple this with no summer camps, schools and little activities for children, and we are going to have to think of innovative ways to keep people busy and somehow employed.” The five-year, half-cent sales tax approved by Marshall County voters in November to benefit Community Memorial Healthcare went into effect in April. CMH chief financial officer Dan Fehr said the tax revenue could not be arriving at a “more opportune time.”
(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)
SCCC to continue emergency remote instruction for summer term
Summer classes at Seward County Community College will continue in the emergency remote instruction format, announced dean of arts and sciences Luke Dowell. The college’s academic affairs team made the decision as COVID-19 positive test results continue to increase in Seward County. “After speaking with our instructors, we have concluded this is wisest for our community,” Dowell said. “Everyone is eager for life to go back to what is more familiar, but it’s more important to protect the health of our students, staff and faculty.” “In Seward County, we are a bit behind the progression seen in other regions of the state, and that isn’t something to take lightly,” said SCCC President, Dr. Ken Trzaska. “At this point, our first concern is health and wellbeing of all our Saints family.”
(Read more: Western Kansas News)
Fed expects muni lending program up in few weeks, while issuers forge ahead
Federal Reserve leadership said their municipal short-term lending program will be up and running in a matter of weeks, not months, while municipalities forge ahead and price deals to a mostly receptive muni market. In a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing Tuesday, Fed Vice Chair of Supervision Randal Quarles said he expects the Fed’s Municipal Liquidity Facility as well as its Main Street Lending Program to be open in a matter of weeks. Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, told Quarles he was concerned on how quickly the Fed could get those programs operating. “I don’t think we’re looking at months, but it would be premature for me to say exactly how many weeks it would be before they will be operational,” Quarles said. “But it is the highest priority of what we’re working on.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Kansas lawmakers look to prevent lawsuits over coronavirus
Republican legislators in Kansas are joining a broader effort to shield doctors, hospitals and businesses from lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus, with business and medical groups pushing them to act quickly. The effort faces strong opposition from labor unions, trial lawyers and some Democrats. They fear that such measures could be too broad and keep patients, consumers and employees from using the court system to hold businesses and medical providers accountable for negligence or misconduct.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
GCCC Receives USDA Grant to Supplement New Carpentry Program
Garden City Community College is the recipient of a $16,000 Rural Business Development Grant for its new fall carpentry program. This news was presented by GCCC administration during a regularly scheduled meeting of the GCCC Board of Trustees, which met Tuesday. The grant, awarded by the Rural Development division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will assist GCCC with the purchase of classroom tools and equipment for a new carpentry program which commences Fall 2020.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Hiawatha Community Hospital easing back into elective surgery procedures
Hiawatha Community Hospital announced Wednesday that the hospital is easing back into elective surgery procedures. Hospital CEO John Broberg provided information on a news release that stated the hospital is following the roadmap to safely resume elective surgery after the COVID-19 pandemic, which was developed by the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and American Hospital Association as well as collaborating with other regional hospitals such as Stormont Vail and Mosaic.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)
Sedgwick County Fair canceled amid coronavirus concerns
The Sedgwick County Fair has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, fair officials announced Wednesday. A post on the Sedgwick County Fair’s Facebook page says restrictions on mass gatherings and public health protocols have presented challenges that fair officials count not overcome. The fair was scheduled to run from July 8 through 11 in Cheney. “We take public health and safety seriously and so after much discussion we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Sedgwick County Fair,” the post says. “We are truly sorry for the inconvenience and for the disappointment.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Johnsonville meat packing plant in NE Kansas shuts down due to Covid-19
A Kansas meatpacking plant has shut down after five employees tested positive for the coronavirus amid continued problems at packing plants in the state and across the country. The shutdown at the Johnsonville plant in Holton took effect Wednesday. Jackson County Health Officer Angie Reith says it was a “tough decision.“ Johnsonville said all employees will continue to get paid, and downtime will be used to implement even more aggressive safety protocols before reopening. Some new safety protocols include placing additional barriers between workstations where social distancing is not possible.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
McPherson County Food Drive a huge success
When the McPherson County Food Bank let it be known they were in need of food donations, the community took them seriously, donating food by the trolley full. The city of McPherson hosted a food drive last week to help fill the food bank. Over the course of three days, the McPherson Trolley was manned at Dillons and Walmart. Community members shopped and dropped off food and monetary donations at the trolley. Donations exceeded all expectations. “It was a huge success,” Joni Regnier, CVB Director for the City of McPherson said. “We couldn’t have done it without the McPherson Police Department, city of McPherson employees and the city of McPherson residents were amazing. They donated food, the trolley was full and we collected $3,966.25 in monetary donations.”
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
Ford County receives food, shelter funds
As part of Phase 37 of CARES Act funding, Ford County has received $21,290 in total to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. According to Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, the selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide. The local board — made up of Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, The Salvation Army, Western Kansas Mexican American Ministries (Genesis Family Health), Friendship Feast, The Manna House, The Crisis Center of Dodge City, Compass Behavioral Health and United Way of Dodge City — was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Pratt library opens, Kiowa County offers curbside service
Libraries around Kansas opened to the public this week. Pratt Public Library at 401 South Jackson reopened its doors on Friday, May 8, ending an almost eight-week C0VID-19-mandated shutdown. Several library locations in Kiowa County began offering curbside service on May 11, an exciting option for patrons in Greensburg, Mullinville and Haviland. “We’re not experiencing a lot of foot traffic yet and our public areas provided for reading newspapers are closed, but books and materials are available for checkout as usual,” said Head Librarian Eric Killough. “But the coffee pot’s not on—that’s a bummer.”
(Read more: News – PrattTribune – Pratt, KS)
Cosmosphere plans safe reopen, camp season
The Cosmosphere anticipates reopening safely to the public beginning May 22 following more than a month of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. This plan is contingent on the reopening phasing as directed by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
City of Topeka plans to open buildings to public Monday
Topeka city manager Brent Trout plans to reopen city government buildings, including Topeka Municipal Court, to the public for business on Monday, he said Tuesday. Trout made that announcement near the end of that evening’s city council meeting. That gathering was closed to the public in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, though citizens could submit comments by email in advance.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Will Wichita pools open? Shutdown among cost-saving proposals to ease COVID-19 impact
Wichita could shutter municipal swimming pools and splash pads for the season to help shore up a nearly $10 million budget deficit caused by the coronavirus pandemic. City Park and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said Monday that under at least one cost-cutting plan he floated to city manager Robert Layton, the popular summertime gathering spots would stay closed until next year. The result would be $450,000 to $475,000 in savings — about half of the roughly $900,000 Houtman said he’s been asked to cut from his department’s budget to help ease COVID-19’s immediate toll.
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for May 12, 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.
Johnson County’s reopening comes with confusion, caution
With their dining rooms dark for weeks during the COVID-19 crisis, Johnson County restaurants were primed to welcome customers back Monday. Employees donned masks, sanitizers were at hand, disposable menus were available, and some tables and chairs had been removed to make for social distancing. But where were the customers?
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Firefighter of the Year says expect the unexpected
Firefighters are known for their job description – fighting fire. But firefighting is much more than that one element. Just ask Kyle Gasaway. Gasaway, who has been a firefighter for a decade, recently won Derby Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year award. One of the reasons he won that award was because of his work during a water rescue call last year. At the time, Gasaway was off duty and was helping out Mulvane’s volunteer fire team. Torrential rain had flooded the area, and a woman stuck in her car got swept off the road.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Shawnee County Health Department responds to employers requiring negative coronavirus test
The Shawnee County Health Department responded Tuesday after being notified that some employers are requiring all employees to have a negative coronavirus test result before returning to work. SCHD said it’s not recommended for asymptomatic people to be tested for the coronavirus. The health department also said testing and other related resources are currently focused on people with symptoms and other high risk groups identified by he health department.
(Read more: KSNT News)