Kansas Municipal News
Reno County Emergency Management offering mobile drive-through COVID-19 testing
The Reno County Emergency Management said starting Thursday this week, a mobile drive-through COVID-19 testing site will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 200 State Fair Road. This testing site is for anyone exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 per the CDC guidelines. In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether they are exhibiting symptoms or not. All appointments will be drive-through observed, self-collection.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Sedgwick County Election Commissioner shares contingency plan for this year’s election cycle
Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman on Wednesday provided three goals for a contingency plan for this year’s election cycle — including protecting workers from the spread of COVID-19, protecting voters from being disenfranchised, and protecting the integrity of the election. When asked if the upcoming election can be switched to ‘all by mail’ — Lehman said, “The answer right now is Kansas law restricts any election that has a candidate on the ballot from being conducted solely by mail, so the answer is no.” Lehman explained they normally send out an advance mail flyer in September to encourage people to vote by mail and give them early voting options, but this year they are planning on sending those out in May instead of September.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Covid-19 presenting recruitment challenges for PSU
Covid-19 has brought some challenges for Pittsburg State when it comes to recruitment. Scott Donaldson, Director of Admission, PSU, said, “We’ve talked to kids constantly and the very first thing they tell us is that campus visit really sealed it for us.” While it may be too soon to say if enrollment numbers at Pittsburg State are down for the upcoming Fall semester, students not being able to tour campus is having an impact. “In fact, when we ask students, what’s the number one reason you chose to come to Pitt State or really any college, most of them will tell you it’s when I visited. It’s when I met the faculty, it’s when I ran across a few friends that we’re going there and they told me about it. So the visit is very important.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Local meat markets busy as ever during pandemic
Many meat packing companies have closed across the United States due to the coronavirus and customers are noticing a resultant meat shortage in grocery stores. It’s all about farm to table these days. So, Coal Valley Marketplace is keeping its supply stocked, so residents can have meat at the dinner table. Dale Helwig, Cherokee County Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, said, “Last part of March, first part of April when the Coronavirus hit the packing plants and it slowed down production, prices have dropped about 20% in the livestock industry.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Saving Main Street: Why State and Local Governments Are Vital for Its Survival
The storefront signs read, “Closed.” Nobody is walking by on the sidewalks. And profits have plummeted or are nonexistent. This is the new norm for Main Street businesses in the era of Covid-19. Since the first stay-at-home orders went into effect, independent small businesses have borne the brunt of the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic.
The nearly 31 million small businesses in the United States are the backbone of the U.S. economy. They make up approximately 44% of economic activity, create almost two-thirds of new jobs and employ almost half of the U.S. workforce, according to the Small Business Administration.
(Read more: Route Fifty)
Municipal Bond Trends for April 29, 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.
Riley County Clerk encourages voting by mail, sees a decrease in poll worker numbers
Riley County will still hold in-person polling this election season, but officials encourage residents to vote by mail in anticipation of congestion.
Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo says he has no authority to run the 2020 primary and general elections entirely by mail amid public gathering concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the State of Kansas has not made any exceptions to the laws requiring them to open polling places. Even so, Vargo says the county will be “proactive” in sending out personalized vote by mail applications to all registered voters to encourage them to participate in the upcoming elections that way.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Tyson remains largest cluster for COVID-19 in Lyon County
Emporia’s Tyson facility continues to remain a focal point of the local outbreak of COVID-19 according to the latest cluster data released by Lyon County Public Health Tuesday evening.
Of the 215 local reported cases, there are 95 cases associated with the meat packing plant. Six of those cases are listed as recovered.
“We have been, and continue to, follow CDC guidelines throughout this situation,” Tyson Communications Manager Liz Croston said in an email. “We are working closely with our local health officials.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Marion Historical Museum director remembered for enthusiasm, caring
Teresa Mills, who died Saturday, didn’t necessarily match what the board of Marion Historical Museum was looking for when choosing a new director two years ago.
The board was hoping for someone from the community who had a few computer skills and grant writing experience.
Mills was a registered nurse from Washington State who answered a newspaper ad for what she thought would be an interesting job.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Johnson County hair salons, gyms, shops, restaurants might open as early as next week
Worried about reopening businesses ahead of neighboring counties, a Johnson County health official on Wednesday recommended extending the coronavirus stay-at-home order another week, through May 10. After that, the county could begin a phased reopening of the economy, starting with hair salons, gyms, shops and restaurants — with social distancing restrictions. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote later this week on the order extension as well as a four-phase reopening plan recommended by a task force studying how the county should emerge from coronavirus shutdowns.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Hutchinson extends suspension of utility disconnections to June 1
Disconnections for city utilities have been suspended since late March due to the coronavirus. That suspension was set to expire on May 15, but the city announced this week it is extending that grace period to June 1. Those who prefer paying with a check can use the drop box on the west side of City Hall, 125 East Ave. B, or mail their payment to the same address. There has been an understandable spike in delinquent accounts, but the city hopes that residents will communicate with them to work out a payment plan before falling too far behind. To apply for a pay agreement, go to hutchgov.com/pay-agreement to download an application. You can talk with a customer service representative at 620-694-2621 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Commissioners mull how to reopen Marion County
With Kansas’ “stay at home” order set to expire May 3, county commissioners are turning their attention to how to relax county health department regulations put in place to combat COVID-19. County health nurse Diedre Serene told commissioners she doesn’t expect a new stay-home order to be issued unless something happens during the next week. However, Marion County might look very different from other counties in the state.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)
Firm hired to help Moundridge find new administrator
A consulting firm has been hired to assist the Moundridge City Council in finding a replacement for City Administrator Randy Frazer, who resigned to take a similar post for the City of Arkansas City. Council members formally approved a contract with Osenbaugh Consulting, from Derby, during a special meeting on Tuesday, April 28, at city hall. “I think the extras we’ll be getting is worth the cost,” Councilman Kirk Stucky said.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
Utah company moving to Moundridge
Scott and Angie Hagerman like the idea of moving into a smaller community like Moundridge. They plan to move here in early May. Currently residing in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah—with a population of 30,000 people—Scott Hagerman said he was looking forward to moving his family and business to south central Kansas. The couple own Black Canyon Home and Body, which manufactures and sells (wholesale and retail) beauty products, such as body lotions, hand sanitizer, perfumes, bath salts, shampoo and other hair products.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
Committee Chairman says muni provisions will be included with state, local aid
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal reaffirmed Wednesday his support for reinstating Build America Bonds and the use of private activity bonds as part of a larger package of aid to state and local governments. Neal, D-Mass., assured members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors that he is working closely with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to include major infrastructure provisions in what members of Congress are calling CARES Act 2. “You are likely to see the details of what we propose in the next few days and certainly within the next week,” Neal said.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Junction City transitions back to utility disconnections
On March 17th Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order No. 2005 that temporarily prohibited utility and internet disconnects until May 1st. As this order expires, the City of Junction City will allow a transition period before disconnections of water service is done. For those in Cycle 1, accounts located south of Sixth Street or having an account number beginning with digits of 01-12, will be disconnected if the account is not paid in full by 4:30 P.M. on Monday, June 15th. For those in Cycle 2, accounts located north of Sixth Street of having an account number beginning with digits 14-30, will be disconnected if the account is not paid in full by 4:30 P.M. on Monday, June 29th.
(Read more: Junction City, KS – News Flash)
Chanute strategic in providing essential services
Even with officials in these tricky times spread out at individual tables in the Memorial Building Alliance Room, updated reports and recommendations were made at Chanute’s City Commission meeting on Monday night. This included a suggestion to not open the city pool this summer. In a landscape that has presented varying outcomes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, City Manager Jeff Cantrell addressed city employees in his report to the commission. “Operationally, we’re kind of a tricky animal as you guys well know. We can’t just send people home, we have very essential operations, we have to be kind of strategic as to how we do that, if we do that,” Cantrell said. “In the weeks to come, I’m sure management is going to have barometers to move forward as you go forward for recommendations that will follow that. …”
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
‘I need a haircut.’ Sedgwick County moves to give business control over reopening
Sedgwick County took steps Wednesday to encourage a quick end to coronavirus control orders with an eye toward letting businesses make most of their own decisions on how to reopen the economy.
“It’s time for us to move back toward freedom and I need a haircut,“ said Commissioner Jim Howell. “We all need haircuts at this point. It’s time for us to get the businesses back open and if they can do this in a way that mitigates risk, then we ought to let them speak to that and if it makes sense, we ought to let that be our next step.”
Acting as the Board of Health, the County Commission passed a motion by Howell urging Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly not to extend her stay-at-home order — which shuttered thousands of businesses — past its current scheduled expiration date of May 3. Kelly is scheduled to announce details of her plan at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
(Read more: Local News |)
JCCC asking faculty to prepare for primarily online instruction this fall, though hands-on training will be conducted in person
JCCC began informing faculty this week that the college is preparing for a fall semester where instruction will be delivered primarily online, though campus will be open and many hands-on classes will be delivered in person. Johnson County Community College administrators this week began informing faculty that they are planning for a fall semester where instruction will be delivered primarily online, though campus will be open and several hands-on classes will be taught in person. Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications Chris Gray said plans for delivering courses while reducing unnecessary in-person contact were still in their formative stages, but that the college was keeping safety as a top priority.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
JoCo health officer recommends putting off reopening of non-essential businesses until May 11
Johnson County should put off reopening non-essential businesses for a week to protect the county from a possible wave of new infections caused by people traveling from other metro counties with continuing outbreaks, county health officer Joseph LeMaster, MD, MPH, said today. LeMaster told county commissioners Wednesday that although the county has shown a downward trend in cases and hospitals are not overwhelmed, the commission should consider delaying a phased reopening until May 11. That would bring it closer to the May 15 date Kansas City, Mo., has planned.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)