Kansas Municipal News
Gov. Laura Kelly orders all K-12 schools closed to in-person education for remainder of school year
Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced the mandatory closure of all K-12 school buildings to in-person instruction through the rest of the 2019-20 school year, a move she said was necessary to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus here and “flatten the curve” in an effort to avoid overwhelming the health care system.
“The reality of this pandemic is that it cannot be controlled statewide if school buildings return to normal operations, or if they respond inconsistently in local communities,” Kelly said. “Unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day, and we must respond accordingly.”
Kelly said that state has assembled a task force that will release recommendations on a continuous learning plan for schools in Kansas tomorrow afternoon.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Johnson County doctors have had limited access to COVID-19 tests so far. State officials say that should change soon
With limited access to test kits in Kansas and Missouri, physicians in Johnson County say they’ve been operating under strict guidelines about who can get screened for coronavirus infection. But state health officials suggest the expansion of testing could be in the offing in the coming days.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said at a press conference Monday afternoon that Kansas is now conducting 150 to 200 COVID-19 tests per day, describing the number of kits available in the state as “enough for now.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Overland Park council advances idea of toll lanes on U.S. Highway 69 for further study
A proposal to build toll lanes down the middle of a part of U.S. Highway 69 will move forward for a deeper study, the Overland Park City Council has decided.
The council, meeting as a committee of the whole, learned Monday that an initial study shows that the pay lanes would reap enough for the toll equipment. In one scenario, toll lanes would also pay for some of the construction cost.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Leawood says resident who prompted closure of city hall has tested positive for COVID-19
A resident suspected of having contracted the coronavirus who visited Leawood City Hall last week has tested positive for the disease, the city confirmed this afternoon.
Leawood announced on Friday it was closing city hall until further notice “after the city learned of a possible COVID-19/coronavirus exposure.” The administration said today that the facility would remain closed tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, as work continues to disinfect the site.
“The residents and city employees who were in direct contact with the subject are being notified by county and state health officials. City employees are following every recommendation of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” reads a statement from the city. “The Mayor and City Council want to express their deep appreciation to our residents for their display of patience and calmness during this extraordinary period.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly freezes home and business evictions during coronavirus threat
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has quietly signed a sweeping executive order freezing mortgage foreclosures and rent evictions in Kansas during the global coronavirus pandemic.
“This administration will do whatever it can to assist Kansans in these challenging times, and that includes allowing Kansans to retain their homes and businesses to avoid immediate danger to their health, safety and welfare,” the order reads.
“In order to mitigate the economic effects of the spread of COVID-19, I hereby direct and order all financial institutions operating in Kansas to temporarily suspend the initiation of any mortgage foreclosure efforts or judicial proceedings and any commercial or residential eviction efforts until May 1, 2020,” the order continued.
(Read more: Local News |)
Health department director: Obeying quarantine order is ’patriotic duty’
Saying it’s a "patriotic duty," Shawnee County’s health department director encouraged residents Tuesday to obey an order issued by the county health officer requiring anyone meeting any of five specific criteria to self-quarantine for 14 days in an effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus."I’m appealing to everyone’s sense of community and duty to follow these rules and do the right thing," said health department director Linda Ochs.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Kansas orders all K-12 schools to close for the rest of the school year
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered all of the state’s K-12 schools to close for the remainder of the school year, moving instruction online as the state responds to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Kelly and the state Department of Education held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss developments and recommendations related to COVID-19.
“This difficult decision comes comes after close consultation with the education professionals here today who represent local school boards, school administrators and local teachers,” the governor said.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Talking about The Thing
Yes, The Thing touches everything.
COVID-19 affects the muni bond world in some fairly obvious ways. The general mandate is “everybody do less.” Decreasing activity in general translates to decreased business revenues and decreased tax revenues, which means less money available to repay bonds. This has set the disclosure world ablaze, as securities lawyers ponder what to say to the market about the pandemic. That very practical question is far beyond the bounds of this blog and will be dealt with ad nauseum elsewhere, such as this piece in The Bond Buyer.
(Read more: The Public Finance Tax Blog)
Dealing with the School Shutdown: What do parents do now?
It’s a new reality–one we really couldn’t see coming. Concerns over the spread of COVID-19 prompted Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to order the closure of schools statewide for the remainder of the school year. It’s the first order of its kind in a nation scrambling to stop the spread.Online learning will be taking place statewide, but kids won’t be in classrooms. What is a parent to do?
(Read more: KMBC)
Can Local Governments Enforce Quarantines? Should They?
As states confirm more cases of the new coronavirus disease, local health officials are requesting that people who have tested positive and those who’ve come in close contact with them isolate themselves at home for 14 days. Many states have laws that give health department directors the authority to enforce a quarantine on individuals who pose a threat to public health. And if people defy a court-ordered quarantine, they could face fines and criminal charges. Health officials rarely need a court order to require people to remain at home. But after learning that the father of a 20-year-old woman who tested positive for COVID-19 took his younger daughter to a high school dance, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said the county could seek one.
(Read more: KCUR)
Gov. Kelly imposes CDC limit of 50 people at gatherings, Kansas documents 11 cases
Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order Monday to immediately ban gatherings of 50 or more people in Kansas churches, restaurants, concerts, recreational facilities and other venues for eight weeks to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statewide mandate aligned with recommendations Sunday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid large crowds.
“This is an essential step to further encourage social distancing and to stem the spread of the virus,” Kelly said at the Capitol. “When we slow the spread of the virus, we are flattening the curve. The steps we are taking are designed to flatten that curve and keep communities safe.”
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Johnson County, WYCO/KCK and neighboring metro governments mandate closure of restaurants, bars, movie theaters due to coronavirus risk
The governments of Johnson County, Kan; Jackson County, Mo.; Kansas City, Mo., and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan. on Monday evening collectively agreed to implement measures to close restaurants, bars, taverns, clubs and movie theaters in their jurisdictions for 15 days. The closures begin effective at 12:01 a.m. on March 17. Exceptions are delivery, pickup and drive-through service.
The jurisdictions agreed to revisit the decision on April 1 with an evaluation of conditions at that time.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Municipal Bond Trends for March 16, 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.
AG Derek Schmidt: KOMA requirements remain in effect amid COVID-19 response
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is offering guidance to state and local governments on how to comply with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) if in-person meetings of any public body are replaced with remote meetings by telephone or other communications equipment amid the developing federal, state and local response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Nothing in state law allows for the suspension of the KOMA or its open government requirements,” Schmidt said. “In fact, in times like these, it’s more important than ever to ensure government remains open and accessible so Kansans are able to observe and understand how responses to an emergency situation are being developed.”
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General News Releases)
Finney County Health Department setting up mobile coronavirus testing center
The Finney County Health Department is working to set up a mobile coronavirus testing center.
The center isn’t operating yet and when it does, will only be used if needed, and if more testing resources become available. The idea with the center is for it to serve the same function as the health department.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Parsons Municipal Building closed to public
The Parsons Municipal Building is one of the many facilities that has been either closed to the public or restricted because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Parsons Recreation Commission also is closed, and the Parsons Public Library has suspended its activities. The Labette County Sheriff’s Office is considering changes for inmate visitations.
While workers will still report for their jobs, the city of Parsons blocked the public’s access to the Municipal Building following the close of business on Monday.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Round 2: Pittsburg, KS vs. Watertown, SD
Welcome to the second round of the fifth annual Strongest Town Competition! This contest is our annual celebration of the towns and cities across North America (and even the world) who are building stronger communities, even in times of uncertainty and change.
We’re down to our top eight contestants, and for this round, we asked them to cut back on the text and instead send us five photos, with a caption for each explaining how it illustrates the strength of their city.
Check out the photo submissions from two of our elite eight contenders below, and cast your vote at the bottom of the page!
(Read more: Strong Towns Blog)
City of Emporia issues restrictions for municipal buildings
The city of Emporia released a coronavirus (COVID-19) schedule and operations of City Buildings on Monday afternoon.
City Offices are highly recommending the public have limited access to the building and departments. In conjunction with the recommendation of health officials these schedules will remain in effect until further notice.
The City of Emporia is working toward keeping employees and the public safe by discouraging crowds and encouraging distances of at least 6 feet of each other for a period less than 10 minutes in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Louisburg City Hall to close to combat coronavirus
City Hall will close to the public beginning March 17, 2020, to follow the White House directive of “15 Days to Slow the Spread” of the coronavirus.
If you need to make a utility payment, please drop your payment in the drop box located next to the doors on the west side of the building. You may also pay online and those instructions are in the next News & Announcement brief.
(Read more: Louisburg, KS-Newsflash)