Kansas Municipal News
Mayors, the other first responders
Around here, some mayors have shown strong leadership while others have struggled. Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla won national recognition for her response. De la Isla assembled a rapid-response team that meets every morning to assess the latest developments, including one member whose entire focus is to combat false rumors, which mostly spread online. These include one baseless allegation that she was about to place the city under martial law. De la Isla’s task force also monitors supplies of medical equipment, state and national developments, and the latest figures on how the virus is impacting Topekans.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)
Ark City Dollar General closing
Dollar General, a Tennessee based company, has announced its plan to permanently close the store at 2411 N. Summit St., in Arkansas City. Angela Petkovic, public relations for Dollar General, said that the company is constantly evaluating their store locations in order to find the best way to serve their customers. “We have made the decision to close this location,” she said. Petkovic would not comment on the reason for that decision.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)
‘People are ready to get out’: Kansans fill Cheney Lake
Campers, jet skis, and boats are out in full force at Cheney Lake this weekend. Park officials say it almost felt like a holiday weekend. Vicki Huff and her family are very familiar with the park. They come out every year during this time. Now they are seeing some new faces, “I think people are ready to get out. They’ve been cooped up,” said Huff. While many businesses are closed from coronavirus, Cheney Lake is using it as a way to recover. “The flooding last year we lost a lot of revenue during that time and last weekend we started out we were 100% full in our utility sites,” said Shayne Coppes, Cheney State Park Manager.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Kansas passes 5,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, coronavirus-related deaths number 134
Public health officials report that more than 5,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s coronavirus pandemic report on Sunday listed 5,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 134 deaths statewide. The KDHE reported 399 cases in Sedgwick County. The Sedgwick County Health Department reported 426 cases and 13 deaths. Discrepancies between county and state numbers can be due to confirmed cases from one health department not yet being finalized with the other, officials have said.
(Read more: Local News |)
‘A Mission treasure’: After 20 years of service, Mission city clerk Martha Sumrall retires
Martha Sumrall always had an interest in local government, but didn’t begin her journey with the city of Mission until 2000: The Countryside native and now Mission resident became an administrative assistant to the city clerk and former Mayor Sylvester Powell Jr. She became the city clerk five years later, and hasn’t looked back since. After 20 years of being an integral piece of Mission, Sumrall’s journey has come to an end as she retires. She served under four Mission mayors and several city councilmembers, and sat through numerous evening meetings to fulfill her duty as city clerk. Her dedication to the city comes from her love of Mission, but she’ll miss the people more than anything, she said.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2020-5: Tax lid application to hospital maintenance funding
K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c allows a city or county to maintain a consistent level of funding in constant or real dollars. Any increase above that level, however, is subject to approval by the electorate, unless the increase falls within the provisions of subsection (b) of K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c. …
As the Board of Commissioners of Decatur County, you request our opinion regarding whether a county commission must conduct an election pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c before raising the mill levy for hospital maintenance to the level authorized by electors in 2016. … To determine whether Decatur County must conduct an election in order to increase the hospital maintenance tax levy to 13 mills, the County will need to determine whether the increased budget exceeds the previous budget adjusted by the CPI and whether any of the provisions of K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c(b) are applicable.
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions)
Lenexa city attorney reflects on 31-year career
City Attorney Cindy Harmison will retire May 8 after 31 years of service with the City of Lenexa. In this Q & A, she reflects on ways Lenexa has changed over the years, her most memorable experiences and the rewards of public service.
(Read more: City of Lenexa)
Counties could get a separate piece of $1 trillion in federal aid
Congressional Democrats are negotiating with Republicans for up to $1 trillion in state, county and local government aid in a CARES Act 2 bill that would include some infrastructure spending such as broadband. County governments would receive their own separate allocations of federal aid. “So we may have three tranches, state, county, because many counties deliver health services and the rest and then the municipalities,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at her weekly news conference Thursday. Pelosi also for the first time said that the aid for state and local governments might approach $1 trillion.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Raising city chickens about more than eggs
Chickens are typically a farm animal, but having four hens in town provides the experience of raising animals, Peabody resident Stephanie Hurst said. “Even just having four a day is plenty for us,” she said. “There’s that, and just having the experience for sure. I wouldn’t say I got them specifically for eggs. I got them basically as pets.” Paige Ensey’s family originally bought their 10 chickens because they were eating a lot of eggs. Now, the 13-year-old also sees the chickens as more than just a way to get eggs.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Kansas coronavirus update: Gov. Laura Kelly reveals detail of six-week plan for restoring state’s economic life
Gov. Laura Kelly unveiled Thursday night her framework for reopening the state by phasing out restrictions for businesses and social activities over the next six weeks while ramping up efforts to test and trace the spread of a deadly virus that left residents isolated and put the state’s economy in a tailspin. Kelly announced her plans, which begin with the expiration Monday of her statewide stay-at-home order, in a live address to the people of Kansas. She said the blueprint of her exit strategy from the dark cloud created by COVID-19 was a painstaking, intensive exercise in finding a balance. “It’s an effort to balance non-negotiable public health considerations with jaw-dropping, unsustainable economic realities,” the governor said. “It’s an effort to balance state obligations to keep Kansas communities safe with the need for returning flexibility to local leaders. And it’s an attempt to balance the need for stability in the future with agility as we continue to adapt to a rapidly evolving, lethal threat.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
SW KS counties look toward reopening as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
Even though confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise in southwest Kansas, area businesses could reopen in a few days. When Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order expires Sunday, individual counties get to decide whether or not they’ll extend it. Finney County made its decision Wednesday. County commissioners voted 4-1 to allow businesses to reopen at their own discretion,as long as they follow new guidelines from the governor when it comes to social distancing, safety measures and limits on the number of people that can be inside a business at one time.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Under governor’s plan, Kansas will allow many businesses to reopen next week
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing and said she hopes to lift all coronavirus-inspired state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15. Kelly said in a televised speech that she is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday and moving to gradually reopen the state’s battered economy. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18. Also, local officials will be allowed to impose their own, stricter rules.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 30, 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.
Walmart providing testing in rural Kansas
WalmToday, a mobile COVID-19 testing initiative launched in Kansas to set-up drive-thru sites in certain communities to support access to testing.
Mobile units will travel to Reno, Butler, Scott, Rooks and Saline counties on a rotating basis each week to test those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms, per CDC guidelines.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Reno County COVID-19 patient ignores self-isolation guidelines, infects others
“When it comes to dealing with cases of COVID-19 in Reno County, the approach by health officials has been relying on people to use common sense and asking them to follow self-quarantine guidelines. But thanks to one person who didn’t listen, that’s all about to change. “If somebody wants to be selfish and avoid formal quarantine or isolation orders, and risk the infection of other people within the community, we will lock them up,” said Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder. Residents were in disbelief Wednesday when Schroeder announced someone who tested positive for COVID-19 didn’t follow isolation requests by the health department and infected at least four others in the community.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Dodge City meatpacking plants beef up protocols; Ford County maintains high recovery rate
With two national meatpacking plants in the county’s jurisdiction, Ford County is increasing its testing and the plants are beefing up COVID-19 protocols.
The numbers for Ford County have increased to 544 individuals who have had or still have the coronavirus as of April 28. This amounts to 1.6% of the county’s population.
But, according to J.D. Gilbert, a spokesman for the county, 90% of those infected have recovered. No deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Ford County. Statewide, the deaths from the virus are at 124, or four deaths per 100,000 individuals.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Over some officials’ objections, Johnson County extends COVID-19 shutdown till May 11
Over objections of some elected officials, Johnson County Public Health Officer Joseph LeMaster on Thursday announced he will extend the local stay-at-home order through May 10, a week longer than earlier planned. On May 11, businesses can begin to slowly reopen. Wyandotte County announced similar measures on Thursday as well.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
From a farm to the library, plenty of services keep minds, bodies active in Olathe
For places that are normally all about hands-on activities, like the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, it’s a big adjustment but not an impossible one.
One thing staff members are encouraging children to do is write letters to the Farm’s many animals. Alexis Radil, events coordinator at Mahaffie, said not only does that encourage a creative outlet but it can help strengthen kids’ penmanship as well.
Staff members are facilitating the animals’ responses. So far, the animals receiving mail include Smoothie the sheep, Ashley the rooster and multiple horses. The idea is to send back handwritten responses using cursive, as the Mahaffie family would have done, but it also depends on the volume of mail they receive.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Sedgwick County will begin to reopen once Kansas stay-home order is lifted, commissioner says
A Sedgwick County leader says if Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order is over at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, local businesses will have the choice to open or not.
Commissioner Pete Meitzner joined Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple for a news conference Thursday morning. He said the county will not mandate that businesses have to open.
“There might be some steps where businesses are not allowed to open in maybe the first phase or two, whatever, depending on the industry,” he said.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
With rural Kansas looking to reopen, doctor remains nervous
Dr. Beth Oller would like Kansas to remain under a stay-at-home order a while longer, even as some neighbors in her rural northwest county are restless to see businesses return to normal. Oller and her husband are family physicians in their late 30s in Stockton, a town of 1,300 people roughly halfway between Kansas City to the east and Denver to the west. They watched as the coronavirus pandemic crept ever closer from those two metropolitan areas, each some 300 miles away. The first positive case in Rooks County was one of Oller’s patients, confirmed on Palm Sunday, April 5. A few days after Easter, the doctor’s husband displayed mild symptoms. He later tested negative. Now, as Gov. Laura Kelly prepares to start reopening Kansas businesses next week, Oller worries that the restrictions are being abandoned too soon, with potentially deadly consequences. Meanwhile, neighbors worry that tight restrictions in a rural county with few coronavirus cases will kill their livelihoods.
(Read more: KSN-TV)