Kansas Municipal News
Reopening starts with small steps for city of Derby
As of May 4, Gov. Laura Kelly’s phased reopening plan for Kansas is officially in effect. Over the course of the next month, businesses across the state will slowly start to return to normal operations. During its most recent meeting on April 28, the Derby City Council discussed how that reopening would look for city services and amenities. Given that all city departments stayed busy (some more than others) while the stay-at-home orders were in effect, City Manager Kathy Sexton said staff saw no rush to reopen the doors to city hall – as that would actually bring on more work in terms of preventative measures. Given that city staff are still balancing what work can be ongoing and what can be delayed in the face of COVID-19, and the ability to get a majority of work done while closed, they are in favor of keeping the doors locked for the time being.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Modified Operations Continue for Garden City Facilities
Through at least May 15th, City facilities will operate predominantly in the same manner they have been operating since prior to the Governor’s Stay‐At‐Home Order. Doing so allows us to continue delivering virtually all the critical public services requested of us by the community while building resiliency through modified work environments and staffing schedules. As we’ve been doing since mid‐March, each department may make some adjustments to work environments and staffing strategies, but the basic description of operations at each worksite will be as follows…
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Sedgwick businesses are responsible for new sales tax whether they collect it or not
On April 1, Sedgwick’s 8.5 percent sales tax increased to 9.0 percent, but it seems that local business hadn’t received notice from the state and were thus still charging to lower 8.5 percent.
City Administrator Joe Turner told the city council last week that he had visited several businesses and only one—Dollar General—charged the correct sales tax amount. In an e-mail exchange with Amy Kramer of the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR), she explained to Turner how KDOR notifies business of tax increases. Quarterly sales tax rate changes are published at least 60 days prior to the tax being imposed, notice is included under the “Current News” section of the Customer Service Center home page, and the Department of Revenue updates the splash screen text for the sales and use tax accounts to advise users of every quarterly tax change.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
Municipal Bond Trends for May 1, 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.
$400 million in aid offered to Kansas hospitals
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Friday announced $400 million to Kansas hospitals financially impacted by COVID-19. The assistance comes from the Department of Health and Human Services, delivered through the Provider Relief Fund,established in Phase III of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act…. Moran says the first grant for $18 million “will be distributed to a high-impact hospital in Kansas that has treated a large number of COVID-19 cases. The additional $382 million will be distributed among 201 rural healthcare providers impacted by COVID-19.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Finney County extending stay-at-home order 7 days
Finney County added 99 more positive confirmed COVID-19 case, bringing the total to 503 as of 7 p.m. on Friday. The second and third deaths were confirmed by the Finney County Health Department on Friday. …At the inception of the FCHD’s drive thru testing site, there was a capability of testing 50 individuals in a day. Since then, testing supplies have increased and now allow 140-160 individuals to be tested each day. FCHD has issued an emergency public health order for Finney County, extending the governor’s stay at home order, through May 10.
(Read more: GC Telegram)
COVID-19-related restrictions challenging for rural KS counties with few or no cases
Some communities across Kansas haven’t seen any confirmed cases of COVID-19, but still feel the impact of the statewide stay-at-home order. In Russell County, among several rural counties that hasn’t seen its first COVID-19 case, county commissioners are eager to start reopening. When Phase One of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s reopening plan starting Monday (May 4), counties in the state decide if they want to incorporate additional restrictions. Russell County Commissioner Steve Reinhardt says having zero cases in the county made it difficult for some to follow the stay-at-home order.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Shawnee County announces reopening plan
Shawnee County officials are using the governor’s plan for reopening Kansas as a model for local efforts to begin opening businesses as the coronavirus pandemic wears on. In a news conference Friday afternoon, Shawnee County health officials, local leaders and emergency management personnel revealed “A Guide to Re-opening Shawnee County, Kansas,” which will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, May 4. At that time, the county’s stay-at-home order, which went into effect March 26, will be rescinded by Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino. That will allow phase one of the local reopening plan to begin. Phase one of the county’s plan mimics phase one of Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide reopening initiative, which she revealed Thursday evening in a televised address to Kansans.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Reno County produces local reopening plan
Over the last two weeks, the Reno County Health Department has been working with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and the Reno County Economic Recovery Taskforce, or RCERT, to present recommendations for reopening Reno County. On Thursday evening, Gov. Laura Kelly outlined the first phase of the reopening plan for Kansas local governments. This framework allows Kansas counties to retain the ability to enact more restrictive orders, but not less restrictive. Reno County, at this time, does not plan to place any further restrictions over and above that which is outlined in the Governor’s phased plan timeline. Those phases and timelines are summarized in the attached spreadsheet and the full plan can be found at covid.ks.gov.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
After shutting for COVID-19, University of Kansas will reopen campus for fall
The University of Kansas will open its campuses for in-person classes “in some capacity” for the fall semester, university officials announced Friday. “Reconnecting with each other in person and rebuilding our community is what we’ve looked forward to for months,” KU Chancellor Douglas Girod and Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said in a note to the campus community. “It is important that we orchestrate the revival of our Lawrence and Edwards campuses in a way that preserves and protects the safety of our people,” the note said.
(Read more: Local News |)
Sedgwick County shuns doctor’s coronavirus advice to keep buffets, playgrounds closed
Sedgwick County ignored its top doctor’s advice Friday to close Wichita-area buffets, self-service fountain drinks and playgrounds while the county gradually reopens some businesses and activities that were shuttered under Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order set to expire Monday. Garold Minns, the county’s health officer and dean of the KU School of Medicine in Wichita, said he largely agrees with Kelly, who announced that her statewide stay-at-home order would end but suggested Friday that the Sedgwick County Commission adopt further restrictions to help keep the spread of the virus contained. “We do feel like there should be two additional things we would place on the governor’s order (that are) more restrictive,” Minns told the commission during a special meeting Friday to go over the reopening plan.
(Read more: Local News |)
Derby making budget adjustments amidst pandemic
Given the specifics of the current situation, the first measures taken by the city of Derby staff to address COVID-19 focused on safety and security. After addressing the immediate needs, though, attention soon turned to finances – with city staff reporting on the current budget situation to the Derby City Council at its April 28 meeting. Derby has a history of being conservative, City Manager Kathy Sexton noted, so it remains in a good financial position even as staff are projecting a $1.6 million revenue shortfall (on an annual budget typically around $40 million) due to the coronavirus.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Lyon County adds provisions, restrictions to statewide reopening plan
Lyon County Public Health announced the addition of several provisions and restrictions to the local implementation of a statewide reopening plan Friday. “We spent the day talking with partners about what this looks like for our community, and what this looks like in our own community,” Emergency Manager Jarrod Fell said. “We encourage everyone to follow the state plan — that is the foundation moving forward — however, we do have some added restrictions in our public health order dated May 1, 2020.” In addition, all dine-in services at restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food are prohibited. Food may be served for consumption off-premises, through such means as in-house delivery, third-party delivery, drive through, carryout and curbside pick-up. Self-service food and beverage services are prohibited.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Johnson County leaders debating when, how to safely reopen businesses
Johnson County is debating when and how it will reopen. With declining new positive COVID-19 test results and fewer hospitalizations, some county leaders think reopening should go on as scheduled May 4. “The goal was to prevent the surge. We’ve accomplished the task. There is hospital capacity should there be a dust up of this again,” Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown said. But one of the county’s top doctors insists with neighboring areas like Kansas City, Missouri, holding off on reopening a few extra days, reopening across the state line too soon could lead to a wave of new cases, possibly even worse than what’s happened so far.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Edgerton, Gardner cities tentatively plan reopening in May
Currently the COVID-19 statewide quarantine is scheduled to be lifted May 3, unless Governor Kelly extends it. Due to the March 17 “stay at home” order, only businesses deemed essential have remained open, with others struggling to adapt to a flailing economy. School buildings have been closed, and classroom education has been replaced with virtual meetings and lessons. Locally Johnson County government has furloughed more than 250 employees, and Olathe and Overland Park have announced layoffs. At this point, neither Edgerton or Gardner has furloughed employees, although Edgerton has postponed filling existing vacancies.
(Read more: Gardner News)
Jackson County reopening strategy mirrors governor’s plan
Jackson County’s plan for reopening its economy closely mirrors the plan issued on Thursday by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly for the state. But the county plan, issued on Friday by Jackson Health Officer Angela Reith, adds two specifics for businesses that serve “prepared food or drink,” including restaurants, bars and convenience stores. The state plan allows for most businesses to reopen on Monday, May 4 – when Gov. Kelly’s statewide “stay at home” order expires – following guidance by the state of Kansas, with businesses prohibited from opening listed in the state’s guidance document.
(Read more: Holton Recorder)
Roeland Park residents start petition to get additional protections for essential store workers
A group of Roeland Park residents — who say they are frustrated with limited response from city, county and state leaders — have started a petition to secure protections for grocery store and big box store workers during the coronavirus pandemic. These residents decided to fight for essential worker protections after members of a Roeland Park neighborhood group on Facebook began sharing reports of conditions at essential stores, group member and resident Stephanie Iser said. Iser said while the group has noticed condition improvements since initially reaching out to city, county and state leaders, the lack of a protective order from the county and state puts essential store workers in unsafe conditions daily.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Essential employees keep city services running smoothly in Pratt
Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, Pratt city employees are continuing to provide all essential services Pratt City Manager Bruce Pinkall assured Pratt City commissioners at their regular meeting Monday, April 20. The meeting was conducted via Zoom video conferencing session. “I’m very proud of how they’re working. They’re setting a good example,” Pinkall said. “Without them, things would come to a screeching halt.” Pinkall said that, despite playgrounds and restrooms being shut down, city parks were being used.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Arkansas City commission reviews opening plans
The Arkansas City Commission met in a special study session Friday to discuss Governor Laura Kelly’s four-phase plan and the city’s effort to return to normal operation. City Manager Nick Hernandez said that under Phase I, everything would continue much the same, with only a few changes. He said that some businesses will be allowed to reopen, but will have to comply with several restrictions. “Ten individuals or less in a group, six feet apart for restaurants, plus cleanliness and the ability to have face masks and hand sanitizer,” he said.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Neosho County cautious, urges residents to be responsibile
Neosho County Commissioners took steps Friday to lift restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Gov. Laura Kelly announced a three-phase plan Thursday to reopen the state economically, and Neosho commissioners followed Friday morning by rescinding a stricter county order and opening the Erie courthouse on Monday, May 4. The governor’s action also takes effect Monday and lifts statewide stay-at-home orders while keeping some restrictions in place until at least May 18.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)