Kansas Municipal News
Pandemic not expected to delay property tax deadline
The coronavirus pandemic does not appear to be delaying the quickly approaching May 10 deadline for Kansas property taxes.
Kansas believes delaying property tax deadlines is more of a local government decision, said Zach Fletcher, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Revenue.
“Property taxes collected at the local and county level help fund critical functions like public safety and schools,” Fletcher told the Lawrence Journal-World. “The governor cannot unilaterally change property tax structures or payments in general, and would not be inclined to cut critical funding sources during a prolonged public health emergency.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Dodge City commissioners give up salaries to help with budget shortfall
The city commissioners in Dodge City say they are facing an estimated loss of nearly $3 million from the 2020 budget because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The city says they expect a shortfall in sales tax, property tax, interest, transient guest tax and franchise fees. The commissioners say substantial cuts will be needed to make up for the lost revenue.
During their meeting Monday night, the commissioners said the first priority should be eliminating their salaries for 2020.
“We didn’t get in this for the pay,” said Commissioner Kent Smoll. “We got into this because we really appreciate the City. There’s not going to be much savings, I understand. But it’s partly the principle. We are asking employees to give things up; I want to give up that.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
’Perfect positive storm’: Studies show Topeka well-positioned to recover from recession
Topeka’s metropolitan area is among the least vulnerable in the nation to the economic damage wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to two recent studies.
Meanwhile, the WalletHub personal finance website says Kansas is likely to suffer less economically from the pandemic than all other states but one.
Those findings reinforce Matt Pivarnik’s optimism that Topeka will quickly regain the momentum it had gained prior to COVID-19, he said in a telephone interview Friday.
“Quite frankly, I look forward to recovery,” said Pivarnik, president and CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “I think that Topeka’s going to be able to have a resilient recovery, and potentially even leapfrog other communities as we return to our new normal.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Cruising Main will return
For Scott Becker of McPherson, climbing into his Ford Mustang and cruising down main street on a Saturday night brings back days gone by.
“I used to drag main here in the ’80s and ’90s. My boys are 17 and 20 and over the summer hang out at Lakeside park. They never knew what cruising main was. I believe it’s a generation gap and was lost throughout the years,” Becker said.
And, he believed it was a tradition that should be rekindled. A year ago, he started posting to Facebook, creating a page for photos that he called “Old Farts Drag Main.”
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)
Hays: No plans for layoffs, cutting services
Despite the COVID-19 hit to the economy, there are no plans to lay off City of Hays employees or to cut city services to the community, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty.
“We’re not there yet, and it’s really not something I’ve considered right now,” Dougherty said of employee layoffs or furloughs. “It would be a rationary measure that comes later on. I can’t see enough of a revenue decline that we couldn’t absorb and move forward … worse-case scenario we’d have to put a hiring freeze in place.”
Speaking to the Hays City Commission at its regular meeting Thursday in City Hall, 1507 Main, Dougherty said it’s possible the city might not fill positions that come open when people retire or quit to downsize by turnover.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
DRC, DAC looking to spread positivity through art
At the moment, with the Derby Recreation Center shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of DRC Art Director Aimee Geist’s focus has been on preparations for summer programs at the new Hubbard Arts Center.
While not many DRC art programs have gone virtual yet, Geist has been working on a new project with the Derby Arts Council – to launch in May – that is seeking to engage the community and spread an important message.
“One of the things we’ve been working on is a sidewalk chalk project called the Positivity Art Project,” Geist said
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Scenic byways lets you see Kansas’ best landscape from the safety of your car
Kathy Artzer knows people can abide by social distancing requirements while still feeding their need for adventure. Annually she leaves her Topeka home and drives several of Kansas’ scenic byways.
“(The byways) have taken me to some places I didn’t even know we had in Kansas,” Artzer said. “They’ve taken me to some really beautiful places. I think they’re a great way to explore the state.”
Sue Stringer, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism byways manager, said Kansas has 12 recognized byways.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Financial challenges ahead for Pratt Community College
Financial challenges lie ahead for all educational institutions including Pratt Community College. Kent Adams, PCC vice president of finance and operations, shared some numbers with the PCC Trustees at their April 13 meeting.
“We’re going to have financial challenges,” Adams said.
College finances are already in place through June 30 but beyond that, there are many questions.
First of all, the county is going to lose $3 million in valuation for oil and gas. Other valuations went up but the overall loss is $3 million.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Crawford County makes plans for input on new coronavirus rules
Though it remains unclear whether the statewide stay-at-home order will expire by the end of next week, Crawford County officials continue to make plans for what kind of policy the county will implement if it does. Since announcing it would hear input from area businesses and the public on that decision earlier in the week, the county commission on Friday made changes to the schedule of when that input session will take place, and said it will be done via radio on Pittsburg State University-affiliated KRPS (89.9 FM) next Thursday, with the opportunity for businesses to submit questions beforehand. “We had talked about next Wednesday doing some sort of a call with the businesses in the county but it’s been pushed to Thursday, which will give us a little more time if the governor puts something out,” County Health Officer Rebecca Adamson said Friday. “We still don’t know how long that might take.”
(Read more: State News – Morning Sun)
Reno County Economic Recovery Task Force begins discussion on reopening
The Reno County Economic Recovery Task Force on Friday (April 24) outlined goals detailed efforts underway toward reopening the local economy.
The statewide stay-at-home order currently is in effect until May 3. While that could extend, the task force in Reno County shares a goal to “establish guidelines for reopening our local economy with the aim to have a skeleton framework to present to the county commission on the event that the statewide stay-at-home order is lifted.”
The task force says it expects to roll out some “wins” on May 4 (following the current May 3 expiration date on the statewide stay-at-home order. What these “wins” might include isn’t yet clear, but the task force says “there is great hope that we can begin to at least (do) a few things on May 4 that we can’t do now. The goal is to formulate that this next week.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
Cluster testing continues in Ford County
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced this week two private businesses in Dodge City that showed a cluster of COVID-19 cases.
As described by KDHE, a cluster “is two or more confirmed cases associated to one known exposure.”
With cluster testing rising, confirmed cases come with it as Ford County cases reached 350 on Friday, topping Sedgwick County’s 323 and putting Ford County third highest in the state behind Wyandotte and Johnson County.
Seward County also reached a case of total of 232 with Finney County reaching 107.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Pratt County Clerk plans retirement after 39 years
On April 22, Pratt County Clerk Sherry Kruse took notes at her final Pratt County Commission meeting after working in that office since August 1981.
Kruse started out handling payroll and accounts receivable under then County Clerk Alma Walker. In the 1990s, Walker appointed Kruse to Deputy Clerk but she still processed payroll and accounts receivable.
“There wasn’t a lot more to do then,” Kruse said.
(Read more: News – PrattTribune – Pratt, KS)
Amid pandemic, Baldwin City sesquicentennial planners looking at creative ways to engage residents
With the COVID-19 pandemic ending community gatherings for the foreseeable future, organizers of Baldwin City’s sesquicentennial events say they are exploring creative ways to engage residents in the celebration.
As originally conceived, Baldwin City’s sesquicentennial celebration was going to tie into a number of regular community events held throughout the year, culminating in a special event on the 150th anniversary of the city’s official incorporation on Sept. 22, 1870.
Baldwin City Councilman Brian Cramer, the City Council’s liason to the sesquicentennial advisory committee appointed by Mayor Casey Simoneau, said it was too early to cancel the Sept. 22 event or the planned sesquicentennial Fourth of July happenings, but the city was staying flexible to ensure public safety.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
For essential Lawrence city employees, reporting to work includes face masks and daily temperature checks
As the employer of hundreds of essential employees still physically reporting to work, the City of Lawrence may be able to provide an example to employers contemplating how to bring employees back to work safely once stay-at-home orders lift.
For the city, precautions include daily temperature checks, staggered shifts and face masks in circumstances when job responsibilities don’t allow employees to maintain a 6-foot distance. City spokesman Porter Arneill said in an email to the Journal-World that the city began taking employees’ temperatures daily the week of April 12 to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 for the city’s essential staff.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Salina approves COVID-19 staffing plan
While there will be no layoffs or other reductions in personnel, around 50% of City of Salina staff could see hours cut because of the coronavirus pandemic. This change comes after the Salina City Commission voted to authorize the city manager to make adjustments to staff. A resolution that the commission passed by a 4-1 vote at a special meeting of the commission Wednesday evening said this was done to address budget shortfalls expected for the city during the COVID-19 …
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
NLC President Joe Buscaino Statement on Need for COVID-19 Aid to Local Governments
Today, the House passed an interim package to provide $484 billion to small businesses and hospitals. It passed the Senate on Tuesday, and the President is expected to sign swiftly. Unfortunately, state and local governments are being asked to wait until the next bill to get financial relief from the federal government.
The following is a statement from Joe Buscaino, Council President Pro Tempore, Los Angeles and President, National League of Cities.
“The National League of Cities applauds Congress and the Administration for persevering through difficult circumstances to advance bipartisan emergency Coronavirus packages. Unfortunately, none of the funding established by Congress to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect the economy is guaranteed to reach local governments directly.
(Read more: nlc.org/contents/rss-feed)
Hutchinson Regional Airport feeling the pinch of COVID-19
The stay-at-home order is halting travel and grounding flights but it’s not just the big airports feeling the pinch. Regional airports are seeing revenues take a dive.
It’s normal to see the sights and sounds of planes landing and taking off at the Hutchinson Regional Airport. But since the pandemic, things have changed quite a bit.
“It’s been pretty quiet to be honest with you,” said Pieter Miller, Airport Manager.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Municipal Bond Trends for April 23, 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.
Largest solar farm in Kansas starts commercial operation, near Johnson City in SW Kansas
Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and Lightsource BP have announced that the Johnson Corner Solar Project entered commercial operation on April 7. The $37 million project, which was financed and constructed by Lightsource BP, is located approximately two miles southwest of Johnson City in Stanton County, Kansas.
Lightsource BP, a global leader in the development, financing and management of utility-scale solar energy projects, is the project owner and operator. All the energy from the project is being sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to Sunflower, a not-for-profit electric utility providing wholesale generation and transmission services to six member-owners serving in central and western Kansas.
(Read more: Sunflower Electric)
Kansas recognized for wind power generation
Kansas is being recognized for being a leader in wind-generated renewable energy.
Kansas ranks second in the nation for wind energy production as a share of total electricity generation.
The sunflower state is one of only two states with more than 40% of the state’s total electricity produced by wind power in 2019.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)