Kansas Municipal News
Merriam Visitor’s Bureau compiles virtual tours, local take-out options during stay-at-home orders
The Merriam Visitors Bureau list of online activities and tours includes a livestream of penguins from the Kansas City Zoo. Photo courtesy of Kansas City Zoo. Physical travel may be off limits during the coronavirus stay-at-home orders, but that doesn’t mean a trip to a United States National Park is out of the question. The Merriam Visitors Bureau over the last few weeks has been compiling virtual tours for residents to view from the comfort of their own homes. Executive Director Karen Crane said although there are many negative impacts stemming from the global pandemic, there are also “glimmers of hope” while communities come together to exchange and create online experiences.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
City of Russell Extends Utility Disconnection Moratorium to May 31, 2020
The City of Russell suspended utility disconnects for non-payment until May 1, 2020, as customers and the community faced potential hardship from coronavirus.
With the uncertainty of the coronavirus and the financial difficulties some customers may face during this time, the suspension of utility disconnects for non-payment is extended to May 31, 2020. This temporary moratorium ensures that the City of Russell’s utility customers will not be disconnected for non-payment.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 28, 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.
JoCo Recovery Planning Task Force approves four-phase approach to reopening local economy
The special committee on reopening Johnson County ended its work Tuesday with a fanfare of self doubt about whether people will follow its recommendations but few major changes to the rough draft on how business should phase back in from the stay-at-home order in place since March 24. The 14-member committee ended an hour-and-a-half session in a somewhat contentious disagreement over what authority government should have in policing business during a major public health crisis, with members saying the rules were either too vague or too restrictive. It was the end of about fifteen hours of discussion over the course of a week.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Jim Schmidt was trailblazer in Kansas emergency management
Mr. Schmidt, 71, who as a Rose Hill paramedic was one of the first to arrive at the devastation in Andover left behind by a massive tornado on April 26, 1991, is being remembered as a trailblazer in Kansas emergency management. He died of cancer on April 14. Services are pending. Mr. Schmidt earned a reputation as a “magnet” for his knack of being close to major events when they happened, and he was on the ground floor of many milestones in Wichita-area emergency services.
(Read more: Local News |)
Economic developers pitch Elon Musk on Wichita area for Tesla Cybertruck Gigafactory
Economic developers and business recruiters in Kansas are pitching billionaire businessman Elon Musk on locating Tesla’s new Cybertruck Gigafactory in the Wichita area.
The Greater Wichita Partnership tagged Tesla and Musk, the company’s CEO, in a tweet on Monday marketing the Wichita area for the electric pickup factory. Musk had announced in a tweet last month that he was scouting locations for the Cybertruck Gigafactory, which he said will be in the central United States. “The most geocentric metro in the nation, 800-acre site with access to two Class I railways and the #1 manufacturing-skilled workforce in the nation. A @Tesla Cybertruck Gigafactory location can’t get any better than this, @Elonmusk. http://CybertruckDreamSite.com #TeslaInWichita”
(Read more: Local News |)
Reno County discusses taskforce’s reopening draft
On Tuesday, the Reno County Commission read over an initial draft of the local plan for a phased reopening of the county. The Economic Recovery Taskforce and the commission will approve a final draft of the plan in coming days. Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order expires May 3 with no plans to renew, so the county is approaching how to reopen businesses safely during the novel coronavirus pandemic starting Monday.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson 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: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Bourbon County delays county tax sale
Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday decided the time is not right following the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak to hold a tax sale in 2020.
Commissioners were to discuss opening bids for title work for a tax sale sometime this year, but elected to delay a tax sale after talking with Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks. The meeting took place in the emergency operations center in the basement of the Bourbon County Courthouse, and was open to the public through the county’s website and Facebook page.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
The $3.8 trillion municipal bond market, rocked by the coronavirus, looks to Washington for help
The $3.8 trillion market for funding state and local governments, airports, schools and hospitals faces a test this week as New York City’s transit agency offers bonds to the market for the first time since the coronavirus emptied its subways, trains and buses.
Investing in the roughly $900 million offering from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be a leap of faith on the part of investors who will will have to imagine a healthier, post-shutdown New York economy, where commuters return to work, students go back to school and tourists come to see Broadway shows again.
That’s the same story for many issuers, as states and cities grapple with how to fill a sudden budget hole and move forward, in an environment of uncertainty about what the economic rebound will look like and how it will impact future revenues.
(Read more: Bonds)
With rates near zero, what to expect from Fed meeting
The Federal Open Market Committee meeting that began Wednesday, and concludes with a statement and a press conference from Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell, will be unique because rates remain at the zero lower bound and the Fed has taken many actions to ensure smooth markets since the economic shutdown to contain the coronavirus.
…Tom Garretson, senior portfolio strategist fixed-income strategies for RBC Wealth Management’s Portfolio Advisory Group … expects the Fed to announce “a more-flexible monthly purchase program [for Treasuries] north of $100 billion. While we expect the composition of Treasury purchases to eventually shift toward longer-duration as part of a concerted effort to provide stimulus via lower yields similar to the QE2 program — as opposed to recent purchases across the curve in the name of market liquidity — the Fed may wait until the June meeting when they will have more economic data, and an update to their economic projections and interest rate forecasts. A monthly program will give them more flexibility to go where any market stresses might necessitate them to.”
(Read more: The Latest)
Manhattan Mayor Announces Creation of Regional Recovery Task Force
Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi announced today the formation of the Manhattan Area Recovery Task Force to help guide the City and surrounding area as we emerge from the effects of the COVID 19 virus in all areas of daily life and commerce.
The charge to the Task Force is to “develop a measured and phased path forward for our community and begin implementation as soon as next week, in some areas.” Jason Smith, President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and Bob Copple, CEO, Ascension Via Christi Hospital have been appointed to co-chair the Task Force.
In organizing the Task Force, Mayor Reddi stated, “I am proud of how our community has come together to tackle the virus head on by following guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Fortunately, Manhattan and the Flint Hills Region has an abundance of talent, resources, and motivation to work within the unique parameters in place due to the pandemic, as we begin the journey toward a new sense of normalcy.”
(Read more: Manhattan – News Flash)
Municipal Bond Trends for April 27, 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.
Fed expands muni-debt program to cover “smaller” cities, counties (at least 500,000 population for counties and 250,000 for cities)
The Federal Reserve expanded the scope and duration of the Municipal Liquidity Facility, a $500 billion emergency lending program aimed at providing short-term credit to state and local governments as they endure the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The U.S. central bank lowered the population thresholds under which counties and cities would be eligible to sell short-term debt to the facility. The new levels are at least 500,000 for counties and 250,000 for cities, down from 2 million and 1 million.
“The new population thresholds allow substantially more entities to borrow directly from the MLF than the initial plan announced on April 9,” the Fed said in a statement Monday.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
The Fed won’t move on rates this week, but here are some other things it could do
FAfter unleashing the most aggressive programs to support markets and the economy in its history, the Federal Reserve is likely to pause any additional initiatives until it has more information about how those moves are working and what lies ahead.
That does not mean, however, that central bank officials won’t have some news in store when they meet this week.
In the months since the coronavirus has ripped through the nation and the world, the Fed has slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero and launched a variety of programs that also look to get money to households and businesses in need.
(Read more: Bonds)
As coronavirus cuts into budget, Olathe furloughs nearly all city staff for two weeks
Facing deep budget cuts because of the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Olathe will furlough nearly all employees for two weeks.
Like all other municipalities in Johnson County, Olathe is bracing for the long-term economic impacts of businesses, hotels and shopping centers remaining closed during the stay-at-home order. Officials expect the coronavirus shutdown to cut into sales and property tax revenues, as well as franchise fees and court fine collections.
“The budget challenge the city is facing is more significant than faced in decades,” city officials said in a statement. “It will likely not only impact the 2020 approved budget, but revenue estimates show it will carry over into the budget process for 2021.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Shawnee Mission closes all school fields after repeated COVID-19 rule violations
Even after the Shawnee Mission school district threatened to issue citations to people who violate social distancing rules on its athletic fields, large groups continued to congregate and play sports, officials said. Now, the district has closed all of its fields.
“Several attempts were made to find a compromise to allow use of the fields while also strictly following personal distancing and other health guidelines,” district officials said in a news release. “Unfortunately, the district continued to experience repeated violations of those guidelines, as well as attempts to circumvent the spirit of the guidelines by organized groups.”
The district’s fields and stadiums had been open, even though schools are closed, to let the community exercise during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. But the district and local police departments have received several complaints about groups ignoring social distancing rules.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
University of Kansas announces pay cuts among top officials
The University of Kansas is temporarily slashing the pay of high-ranking administrators and athletic staff in anticipation of the coronavirus causing tens of millions of dollars in financial losses. Chancellor Douglas Girod announced Monday that the school will save $853,000 by cutting the salaries of nearly 40 university leaders by 10% for six months. The salaries of men’s basketball coach Bill Self, football coach Les Miles, and Athletic Director Jeff Long also will also be slashed by the same percentage, generating $500,000.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Will students show up for college in fall 2020? Community colleges offer a hint. It isn’t pretty.
Ask a community college president about what school will look like in the fall and be prepared for an eye roll, lots of shrugging and even a baffled look or two.
They’ve got no clue, really. That’s not their fault. In the coronavirus era of rapidly changing information and restrictions, the presidents have no idea what they’ll be allowed to do, much less how they are going to instruct students. “That will be the million-dollar question. I’m not sure we know yet,” said Martha Parham, the senior vice president for public relations for the American Association of Community Colleges. “A lot depends on how the economy bounces back.”
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Gov. Laura Kelly to unveil recovery plan Thursday as Kansas surpasses 3,000 COVID-19 cases, up to 120 deaths
Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday Kansas should expect more guidance on Thursday on how the state will emerge from a stay-at-home order. The governor said she’s been in talks with industry leaders and neighboring states to develop a recovery plan for Kansas. “We’re working with everybody across the state of Kansas that we can, so when we put the plans out, they would have provided us input, but they’ll also know what to anticipate, and can work accordingly,” said the governor.
(Read more: KWCH News)