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Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2018-08-05T16:28:50-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

Hazard Pay Decisions Challenge City Leaders

Cities have employees in many high-risk positions. Police, firefighters, paramedics, and EMT’s are typical examples. Private and public employers alike are considering additional compensation, or “hazard pay,” for employees working on the frontlines in midst of the COVID-19 crisis. For those cities that implement such a policy, there exists a labyrinth of rules and regulations from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that make this issue very complex.
…The OSHA Hazard Recognition provides guidance to employers on which types of jobs are at greater risk for COVID-19 exposure. Some workers have similar exposure risks as the general public, while others have a higher risk. Those occupations with potentially greater exposure risk levels may include several different health care positions, emergency medical services, correctional facility operations, solid waste and wastewater management, and janitorial services.
(Read more: CitiesSpeak)

Flint Hills Rodeo canceled for first time in 83-year history

Another popular local event fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday night.
The Flint Hills Rodeo Association announced on social media that this year’s PRCA rodeo — the longest-running in Kansas — is canceled. The decision was made by a unanimous, 11-0 vote, at an emergency meeting Wednesday evening.
Started in 1937, this is the first time the Flint Hills Rodeo has been canceled. Even during World War II, when many of the cowboys were fighting overseas, the rodeo was held, with some of the ladies stepping in to compete.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Wamego Strong program helps to support local businesses amidst pandemic

Help is being given to struggling Wamego businesses. Wamego strong raises money for struggling businesses in the community. How the program works, is customers buy gift cards on https://wamegostrong.org/.
Wamego strong committee member Casie Hartwich explains how it works and how much they have raised so far.  “Right now I think we’re up to $33,000. So for every gift card purchase to a local business and will may go a match is made in that equal amount and those funds are given to Community Care Ministries to provide assistance to those that are just suffering a financial shortfall right now,” says Hartwich.
Hartwich also says how many gift cards were sold in the first week. “I think in our first week we sold 11,000 gift cards to local businesses. So it’s just been phenomenal to see everybody step up despite what’s going on and support the people that that make downtown Wamego a great place”, says Hartwich.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Pair of small town restaurants turn to selling groceries

When the novel coronavirus shut down dining at the Pretty Prairie Steakhouse, it didn’t take long for the owners to figure out that offering carryout was not going to sustain them.
“That lasted about a week and we knew we couldn’t do it because of the overhead,” said Liz Shepherd, a daughter of owners Ed and Judy Markel.
Then their Sysco food delivery representative, Kerrie Kaufman-Molitor, originally a Pretty Prairie native, suggested another idea – groceries.
Now, instead of steaming plates, tables in the restaurant in the small town about 25 miles south of Hutchinson are piled with produce, flour, loaves of bread, spices and various condiments.
They are also offering bundles with a variety of meats, Shepherd said.
“We tried to get as many things as people might need in a week,” she said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Gov. Laura Kelly, legislators earmark $17 million for struggling hospitals

Gov. Laura Kelly and House and Senate legislative leaders Wednesday agreed to allocate $17.3 million to cash-starved hospitals and to dedicate $10 million to the state’s emergency management system in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kansas Hospital Association proposed the emergency aid to bolster the bottom line of hospitals statewide until federal stimulus dollars arrived. The plan adopted by the State Finance Council would spread money across 124 hospitals with maximum amounts ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.
“Hospitals are most in need of a very quick shot in the arm as many hospitals are operating on a sub-optimal level of days cash on hand,” said Adam Proffitt, director of Medicaid services at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

COVID-19’s financial toll on Kansas and Missouri colleges: ‘It will be significant’

At college campuses across Kansas and Missouri, moving classes online and sending students home may have been wise moves to protect public health as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
But the decisions resulted in a financial body blow to universities that will cost them millions in the short term and deliver unknown consequences in the months and years ahead.
“What is clear, however, is that we will be losing tens of millions of dollars of revenue through the end of this semester and the summer,” said Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokeswoman at the University of Kansas.
(Read more: Local News |)

First round of results from JoCo random sample finds 9 positives among 330 tests processed

Early results from the first round of random sample COVID-19 testing administered by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment last week has found nine positives among 330 tests processed, an infection rate of 2.7%.
Sanmi Areola, PhD, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, characterized those results as evidence that residents have done a good job of helping mitigate community spread of the virus through adherence of stay-at-home orders and hygiene guidelines. However, he said, the apparent success of efforts to bend the curve doesn’t mean the county can lift restrictions immediately.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Gov. Laura Kelly extends statewide stay-at-home order until May 3

Earlier Wednesday, Kelly announced her statewide stay-at-home order will remain in effect until May 3 and suggested a slow, cautious transition must follow.
Kelly said it was important to see a reduction in COVID-19 infections for a two-week period before easing restrictions. The crisis is expected to peak in Kansas in late April.
The governor said it has become clear no state will be safe from the pandemic until a vaccine is available, an indication the crisis could drag on for another year. Broader testing will help guide decisions in the coming weeks.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Newman named interim Chanute city manager

Chanute city commissioners appointed the Parks Director Monday evening to serve as interim city manager.
Parks Director Todd Newman will replace current City Manager Jeff Cantrell in May when Cantrell leaves to take the city manager position in Hutchinson.
Newman has worked for the city for nine years and has been parks director since 2014. For about a year, he has also been director of the Chanute Recreation Commission.
(Read more: www.chanute.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article)

Sedgwick County commissioners debate property tax relief amid coronavirus pandemic

Sedgwick County commissioners are debating how to provide property tax relief amid the coronavirus pandemic, but found out Wednesday what they can do is pretty limited — if they can do anything at all.
Citing concerns over how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the general economy and individuals’ financial solvency, commissioners considered multiple proposals for tax relief at their meeting Wednesday.
Ideas included rolling back property valuations to 2019 levels, pushing back the deadline for property owners to pay their taxes, and/or giving people more time to appeal their tax valuations.
(Read more: Local News |)

GCCC to Continue Online for Summer 2020

Garden City Community College will maintain its transition to online and remote course delivery through Summer 2020 and will offer all students a discounted tuition rate during this term.
Like many colleges and universities across the nation, the decision to continue online through GCCC’s summer term – May 26 through August 7, 2020 – is in direct response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Normally, GCCC students pay $150 per credit hour for online courses, which includes tuition, fees, and online textbooks.
The GCCC Board of Trustees, which met for a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, approved the discounted Summer 2020 rate for all students at $108 per credit hour.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)

Shawnee Mission district fights state decision voiding 3-year teacher union contract

The Shawnee Mission school district is appealing a decision from the Kansas Department of Labor, which ruled the district committed a “prohibited practice” when it imposed a rare three-year unilateral contract on the teachers union.
In filing the appeal in Johnson County District Court, the district argued the labor department “committed numerous, highly problematic errors” in reaching its decision, calling its procedure unconstitutional.
District spokesman David Smith said the appeal will not impact this year’s teacher contract or upcoming negotiations this spring — which will likely take place remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic and metrowide stay at home order. But the court could clear the district of the prohibited practice charge.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Wizard of Oz mural created in downtown Topeka

If you’ve driven in the area the past couple of days, you might have noticed a new mural in downtown Topeka.
The Kansas Ballet Company partnered with Capitol Federal to create the community mural project at 723 SE Quincy. The project features local NOTO artist Jennifer Bohlander. She created a masterpiece with the characters from “The Wizard of Oz”.
“With this whole coronavirus going on and people stuck in their homes, we’re excited for something to do once the pandemic has ended,” Tom Hagen, with Capitol Federal corporate communications, said. “People can get out, enjoy, interact once again and that’s what this mural is about…bringing people together and giving them an opportunity to have some fun and to enjoy and be proud of the state they’re from.”
(Read more: KSNT News)

Small, inflatable unicorn dubbed the “Coronacorn” travels around Moundridge

News from Moundridge…
“Last week, just to help brighten spirits in our community, we created a mascot of sorts. A small, inflatable unicorn we dubbed the Coronacorn! As a project for the Moundridge Chamber, I placed the Coronacorn in the front yard of a house on our main street and posted a picture on the Chamber’s Facebook page declaring the Coronacorn was here to chase away our blues and spread cheer throughout the community. Within a few hours we had request from people all over town, asking for us to put the Coronacorn in their yard for a day. Those requests filled the calendar nearly every day for three weeks.”
Read more and see pictures on LinkedIn.

States, cities asking for $750 billion in emergency federal grants

States and local governments are escalating their requests for federal aid to offset revenue losses from the coronavirus emergency with combined requests for $750 billion in additional funding.
The National Governors Association is asking for a separate allocation of $500 billion apart from the $250 billion being requested by the National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors.
NLC President Joe Buscaino, a member of the Los Angeles City Council, told reporters in a conference call Tuesday that although “our ask is $250 billion,” local governments really don’t know what their eventual revenue loss will be.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Johnson County health official: Early test results ‘good news’ in coronavirus fight

Early results from Johnson County’s random community testing program show mitigation strategies appear to be working to reduce the spread of coronavirus, officials said Tuesday.
But Sanmi Areola, public health director, said it is still too early — and data is still too limited — to draw any definitive conclusions. He warned that residents must continue following social distancing requirements and abiding by the stay at home order — which leaders have said could be extended past next week.
“I will say that our tactics appear to have worked pretty well. But it is way too early to definitively say that. And it’s definitely way too early to roll back. We don’t want to lose the gains we have made,” Areola said.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

‘It’s warmed my heart.’ Mayors in Johnson County see kindness throughout their cities

The view from a mayor’s desk in Johnson County — which is brimming with agendas, budgets, ordinances and regulations — could be considered daunting and even disheartening.
But several Johnson County mayors have said they are seeing special deeds and actions in their communities changed by COVID-19.
They see acts of kindness in the form of fresh flowers anonymously sent to seniors, teddy bears in home windows for children to count and warm greetings from those on walking trails.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

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