Kansas Municipal News
Neosho County Community College to receive as much as $800,000 in aid
Neosho County Community College is receiving federal aid totaling more than $800,000.
Students who registered for in-person courses can expect to receive a refund soon.
The college received more than $806,000 from the coronavirus aid relief and economic security, or cares act.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Finney County identifies community spread of coronavirus among Tyson plant employees
Health officials have confirmed multiple positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) among employees at the Tyson Foods plant in Finney County.
On Wednesday, the Finney County Health Department said there is evidence of community spread of the disease. Community spread is defined as “five or more positive cases where the source is unable to be traced.”
“This has been determined due to the number of positive cases not related to in or out-of-state travel and evidence of the disease being spread from person-to-person in Finney County,” said Maggie Unruh, Community Health Educator.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Leavenworth County discusses next steps for COVID-19 response
When they met Wednesday, Leavenworth County commissioners were briefed on a process that will be followed as county officials look to begin lifting or modifying restrictions related to the coronavirus. County Administrator Mark Loughry said there will be a slow reopening. But before that can begin, there needs to be adequate testing for the coronavirus. There also needs to be 14 days of a decline in new cases, he said. “I believe our numbers are starting to trend down,” Loughry said.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Lenexa cancels 39th Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, citing health concerns during COVID-19 pandemic
Lenexa this week decided to cancel the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle due to health and safety concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally planned for June 26-27 at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, the event attracts thousands of barbecue enthusiasts with more than 185 pitmasters, chefs and teams from the region, as well as more than 250 volunteers.
“Unfortunately, we’ve reached the determination that it is necessary at this time to cancel the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle,” said City Manager Beccy Yocham to the city council Tuesday evening. “With so many of the decisions that we make, there’s no way to know what the state of the world is going to be when late June rolls around, but I think as long as we keep public health and safety in the forefront and… err on the side of caution in that regard, that’s the right decision.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
With many unknowns still lingering, Johnson County task force begins difficult process of sketching out reopening plans
The Johnson County COVID-19 Recovery Planning Task Force on Wednesday took the first steps toward developing an outline for a phased reopening of parts of the local economy, though county leaders noted that much uncertainty lingered about when and how stay-at-home orders impacting the county could safely be lifted.
The 14-member group, which includes representatives from the health care sector, the business community, city government, law enforcement and public health officials, convened for the first time via a Zoom meeting. The group discussed the state of community spread, what containment strategies will need to be in place for the economy to reopen, and how the local business community is faring under the restrictions that have been in place for a month now.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Governor signs two Executive Orders as part of her administration’s ongoing COVID-19 response
Governor Laura Kelly signed two executive orders to help the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday.
Executive Order No. 20-26 temporarily waives physician supervision or collaboration requirements for certain medical licensees, including advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and licensed practical nurses.
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Executive Order No. 20-27 allows the sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout consumption and permits the sale of liquor in a container that is not the original container for any establishment holding a class A club license, class B club license or drinking establishment license.
“I understand how many Kansas restaurants rely on the sale of alcoholic beverages,” Kelly said. “My administration is doing all it can to ease the burden on Kansas employees and their families who have lost income due to this crisis.”
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Louisburg council extends resolutions to aid local commerce
The Louisburg City Council has unanimously approved extending temporary moratoriums to assist the city in managing the stay-at-home orders issued by federal, state and local authorities in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to ease the burden on local commerce affected by the coronavirus.
During a meeting broadcast on Zoom to maintain social distancing on Monday, April 20, council members extended the temporary moratorium on granting permits for solicitors, canvassers and peddlers (including food trucks) to temporarily prevent these activities and services from taking place inside the city limits.
The council also extended temporary moratorium on the restrictions for temporary signs at commercial locations to help businesses let the public know if they are open and what services they are providing, like drive-thru, while maintaining social distancing.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Olathe plans 2-week furloughs for nearly all city employees to supplement budget deficit
The city of Olathe is planning widespread two-week furloughs for hundreds of employees over the next few months.
It’s the same move other metro governments across the metro face with tax revenues falling.
About half of Olathe’s revenue comes from sales tax. With restaurants, shopping centers and hotels closed, Olathe is looking at an $18 million deficit for 2020.
The multi-million dollar question is: How does the city meet that financial challenge during this pandemic?
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Health officials open up more testing options in KCK as virus devastates Wyandotte County
Statistics show Wyandotte County is Kansas’ most vulnerable region to coronavirus’ relentless spread.
Free walkup COVID-19 testing is being offered at the Wyandotte County Health Department office on Ann Avenue in KCK. Testing is available every weekday from 1-5 p.m. Health officials at that office told FOX4 they’re even welcoming clients who have no health insurance. Walk-up testing began on Monday morning, while drive-thru testing is still available as well.
More testing options are meant to make testing available to more people. The virus’ spread is devastating in Wyandotte County, when compared to neighboring areas.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Shawnee County releases five-tier reopening plan
Shawnee County’s COVID-19 response team has released a five-tier working document it will use to reopen Shawnee County.
The guidelines were released Thursday afternoon and will begin as soon as the state’s stay-at-home order lifts. The working document is based off a best-case scenario and is subject to change.
Tiers will be broken down into 14-, 20- and 30-day increments, Shawnee County Emergency Management director Dusty Nichols said Thursday morning at the Shawnee County commission meeting.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
EPA awards $460K to Kansas schools to replace old diesel buses and reduce pollution
Several Kansas school districts, including six in the Wichita area, are receiving federal funding to replace aging buses.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in a Thursday news release that 18 school districts in Kansas will get $460,000 to replace 24 older diesel school buses. The new buses will lower diesel emissions and reduce pollutants linked to health problems, such as asthma and lung damage, EPA officials said.
“We believe protecting the health of our children and youth is one of our primary missions,” said Jim Gulliford, EPA Region 7 administrator, in a statement. “Removing old diesel-engines from our roads and replacing them with reduced-emission engines will provide further protection.”
(Read more: Local News |)
In court filing, attorney says 1994 referendum shouldn’t give county ‘carte blanche’ on financing projects
An attorney for a local activist group is arguing that Douglas County’s use of a 1994 sales tax referendum to expand the county jail without a public vote would give the county the ability to debt-finance projects whenever it wants.
William Skepnek, an attorney for Justice Matters, said in a court filing Tuesday that the county’s belief in that authority is “frankly fantastical.”
Skepnek made the argument in his response to the county’s request to have the group’s lawsuit against the jail expansion dismissed. The county’s argument for dismissal is that the 1994 vote provides the county legal grounds to issue bonds to fund part of the $31.1 million jail project.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for April 22, 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.
GCCC approves use of housing for quarantine
Garden City Community College Board of Trustees approved a contract with the state for the use of its resident life facilities.
Beth Tedrow, GCCC Board of Trustees member, said through an agreement with the state, the Kansas Department of Emergency Management and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment the college’s apartment housing, Broncbuster Suites and Broncbuster Housing, will serve as quarantine locations for Finney County residents only.
Blake Wasinger, Board of Trustees chair, affirmed that the resident life facilities are not a holding area, they are not bringing in people from outside of the county, and it’s only for Finney County residents.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
1976 Hays revisited
This Saturday and Sunday, the Hays Arts Council will reprise on cable television its 2017 authorized showing of the 1976 Swiss-made documentary “A Quiet America.”
The made-for-TV film is about small-town USA as seen through life in Hays. The documentary, shown for the first time here in 2017, was a hit, especially its raucous weekend night scenes of Hays kids dragging Main Street.
“Those were some of the most enjoyed scenes in ‘A Quiet America,’ ” said Meder, recalling the Oct. 14 showing nearly three years ago at the Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays campus.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
County discusses plan for businesses reopening after stay-home order expires
With Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order set to expire at midnight on May 3, Crawford County officials are trying to come up with a plan to allow businesses to reopen, while still ensuring public safety as the coronavirus crisis continues.
County commissioners decided Tuesday that they will meet with County Health Officer Rebecca Adamson next week for a work session to come up with a draft plan for new county guidelines to put in place following the expiration of Gov. Kelly’s stay-at-home order. County officials will then seek input from community stakeholders, potentially including city and Pittsburg State University officials as well as business owners and others, before approving a new policy.
(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)
Area government future finances look bleak amid pandemic
Local governments are preparing for a financial hit due to the COVID-19 virus, although the extent of the financial impact will not be known for months.
Andrew Lawson, spokesperson for the City of Arkansas City, said officials there anticipate lost revenue due to COVID-19 but will likely not see the hit until May because it takes a couple of months for the city to receive funds generated through its sales tax. Lawson said city officials are already seeing delinquent payments and have frozen all non-essential spending. The city has no upcoming projects that require funding because they are in the process of hiring a new city manager, Lawson said.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)
Frazer ready for challenge of bigger city
Randy Frazer, city administrator of Moundridge, will step into his new role as city manager of Arkansas City next month.
Frazer signed a contract last week to become the new city manager in late May. He said this week he is excited about the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge.
Ark City is more than six times larger than Moundridge, but Frazer said he doesn’t see that as a problem.
All cities deal with the same basic problems, he added. The big change will be dealing with a larger budget.
“But there is also a larger staff, and some staff that is more specialized in some of the areas where I have had to wear those hats,” he said. “There will be a learning curve, I’m sure.”
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)
CARES Act update may extend loans to public hospital districts
Pending federal legislation to pump more money into the depleted loan program created to help small businesses weather the economic shock of the coronavirus will give public hospital districts a bite at the apple. Language in the bill to provide new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, passed by the U.S. Senate Tuesday and slated to be approved by the House Thursday, should solve the eligibility problem for smaller hospitals that were created as political subdivisions.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Officials develop draft plan for reopening Sedgwick County after stay-at-home order ends
Sedgwick County health officials and county commissioners are working on a draft Health Recovery Plan for guidelines for reopening the county after the stay-at-home order ends.
The question on many people’s minds is when will things return to a new normal and businesses open back up in Sedgwick County?
Officials have broken it down into four phases. Adrienne Byrne, director of the Sedgwick County Health Department said we are still in phase one of slowing the spread of coronavirus.
(Read more: KSN-TV)