Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

10-year Treasury yield briefly hits all-time low under 0.7% as flight to bonds continues

The global flight to the safety government debt continued on Friday as investors piled into U.S. Treasurys and sent the yield on the 10-year note to record lows.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note sank to 0.695% around 4:45 a.m. ET, breaking below 0.7% for the first time ever, according to Tradeweb data. As of the latest reading, however, the 10-year yield had moved off those lows to 0.72%.
…
The plunge in yields came amid an exodus from stocks as disruptions to businesses around the world on the back of the coronavirus outbreak heighten fears of a global slowdown.
“It’s a brave new world of 0-handles and we’ve now taken to referencing 10-year yields in basis point terms. 1.0%, thanks for the memories,” wrote Ian Lyngen, head of rates strategy at BMO Capital Markets.
Read more: CNBC.

Bond rates hit fresh lows on coronavirus fears

Market upheaval intensified Friday, as investors sheltered in the safest assets they could find, pushing the yield on long-term U.S. government bonds to unprecedented levels and setting gold up for its best week in over a decade.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury sank below 0.8% for the first time. …
The continued market jitters — even after the Federal Reserve unexpectedly cut rates and U.S. lawmakers approved roughly $8 billion in emergency spending — is focusing attention now on potential government measures to counteract the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
Read more: Wall Street Journal.

Municipal Bond Trends for March 5, 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.

Cowley County heath official coordinating virus plans just in case

Kansas health officials are monitoring up to a dozen people a day for the possibility that they have the new coronavirus, and the state health department now can do its own testing, the department’s top official said Wednesday.
None of those monitoring cases are in Cowley County, but the top health official here says preparations already are being discussed with local partners such as hospitals, doctors and schools.
In fact a conference call was scheduled for Thursday afternoon to discuss the virus threat.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Miami County health officials stress calmness amid virus concerns

Ever since news of the coronavirus (COVID-19) began making headlines throughout the world, Christena Beer has been busy answering questions at the Miami County Health Department.
As a disease investigator, emergency preparedness official and community outreach nurse, she’s fielded queries from a variety of people, ranging from concerned residents to local government officials offering their services.
“There’s a lot of hype and concern right now, but the best option is to stay calm and monitor the situation,” Beer said.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Sedgwick County commissioner explains spike in property tax valuations

Property values in Sedgwick County are going up, and that usually means a higher tax bill.
After hearing from hundreds of people that were upset about those valuation increases, we spoke with a Sedgwick County commissioner. He told us about eight out of ten owners did see a jump… But there’s more to the story.

“It’s not rocket science. It’s just a reflection of what’s really going on in the local economy,” said Jim Howell, a Sedgwick County Commissioner. …
… the state realized that in years past, Sedgwick County had been undervaluing properties by more than 10%, so the state issued a mandate requiring county appraisers to intentionally increase home values. This, on top of higher demand, made it a double-whammy for many residents.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Sedgwick County seeks new power to handle nuisance properties

James Howell knows of nuisance properties outside city limits in Sedgwick County that are beyond reach of existing state law.
Howell, a member of the Sedgwick County Commission, urged a Kansas Senate committee Thursday to adopt a bill granting the county authority to order unsafe properties cleaned up and require the property owners to pay the cost.
“It is my belief that a property owner’s right to enjoy their property should not endanger their neighbors’ health, safety or enjoyment of their own property,” he said.
Before senators objected to potential impact of such a law on farmers, Howell confirmed buildings and equipment with agricultural applications would be exempt from Senate Bill 423. That tired 1944 John Deere B tractor and the vintage McCormick-Deering thresher combine behind the barn won’t have to go.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Howard, Kansas: Population 600. Museums 7.

Shrinking populations in some rural areas of Kansas can mean a downtown full of empty buildings. But not in Howard, Kansas — where history is part of why this town of population 600 thrives.
There are currently seven museums in Howard, where most of the displayed artifacts are donated by locals and residents.
“Almost once a month or even sometimes weekly, I get artifacts from people cleaning up their home or their kids don’t want them,” said Marcia Taylor, curator with the Benson Museum in Howard. “People don’t want to throw away their heirlooms, but they don’t really want to keep them in their homes either,” she said.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Kansas looking to change Sunday alcohol sales

Currently in Kansas, alcohol of any kind is not allowed to be sold until noon on Sundays. Now, after push-back from some store owners and Kansans, lawmakers are considering a time change.
Under a new proposed bill, stores would be able to sell alcohol beginning at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
However, after hearing testimony on the bill, lawmakers are considering changing that to 10 a.m. on Sundays, two hours prior to the current start time.
Store owners in support of the bill say it will help create equality with neighboring states that have earlier alcohol sale times.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Local Leaders Are Reshaping America One Small Town at a Time

I’ve spent the last two years traveling across the country working with small to mid-sized towns on their revitalization efforts. And what I find is they’re getting lots of things right.
Civic-minded entrepreneurs and private citizens have taken the bull by the horns and are working hard to make their communities the best they can be. They’re finding ways to reinvent themselves, attract the right kinds of business, and transform into great places to work, live, and play.
Here are a few strategies community leaders are embracing as they work to create vibrancy…
(Read more: Strong Towns Blog)

Shawnee Mission district, teachers finally agree on contract, but it won’t last long

It took nearly one year of negotiations, a ruling from the Kansas secretary of labor and a federal mediator — but the Shawnee Mission district and teachers union have finally agreed to a contract for the current school year.
The district and National Education Association-Shawnee Mission on Thursday reached a tentative 2019-20 contract agreement. Members of the bargaining unit will vote on whether to ratify the agreement March 9-11.
“Today’s process is an important step forward in the district and the association working together on behalf of our students, our staff and our community,” union president Linda Sieck said in a news release.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ark City eyes alleyway improvement

Deteriorated streets often are a source of aggravation, but for some downtown business owners in Arkansas City, the alleyways that run behind their buildings are a greater concern.

Mylissa Call, owner of Mylissa’s Garden Antiques, said the alley behind her business has been a major aggravation.

She has owned the buildings at 307 and 309 S. Summit St., for 28 years and said the alley has been a problem for more than 15 of them.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Sedgwick County seeks new power to handle nuisance properties

Wichita officials talking about parking issues for new baseball stadium

Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple says there are discussions on parking for the new baseball stadium when the Wind Surge baseball team begins its season in April.
The Wind Surge begins its first home series on April 14th with three games against Memphis and then four games with Nashville.
At his weekly news conference Thursday at city hall, Mayor Whipple said there have been discussions about parking, and a goal is to provide parking for the stadium while protecting businesses in the Delano neighborhood.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

State and county to host REAL ID event in Wichita

The Kansas Department of Revenue has partnered with Sedgwick County Government to help county employees and residents get their REAL ID.
Beginning October 1, 2020, anyone 18 years and older will need a REAL ID-compliant identification, which could be either the license or identification card with the REAL ID inscription, passport, or military identification card.
It is not a required credential but will ease the check-in process when flying or entering a federally protected facility.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Treasury Yields Fall Further As Investors Expect More Rate Cuts

U.S. government bond yields continued to fall to new lows Wednesday, reflecting bets that the Federal Reserve could slash interest rates further at its March 17-18 meeting after its emergency rate cut on Tuesday.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note settled at 0.994%, according to Tradeweb. That was down from Tuesday’s then-record low close of 1.005%, though up from the record intraday low of 0.914% set earlier that day.
Read more: Wall Street Journal.

Roeland Park adopts 6-week paid parental leave policy for city employees

The Roeland Park city council on Monday evening unanimously adopted a six-week paid parental leave policy for birth and adoptive mothers as well as spouses and partners.
It’s the first policy in northeast Johnson County to offer spouses and partners the same level, Assistant City Administrator Jennifer Jones-Lacy said. Neighboring cities such as Lenexa, Merriam and Mission have expressed interest in such a policy, Jones-Lacy said.
Shawnee adopted a paid parental leave policy in January 2019 that provides 240 hours of leave to the parent who gives birth and 120 hour of leave to the parent who does not.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

SEK Area Agency on Aging struggling to provide meals

An agency that helps feed people in nine counties in Southeast Kansas is struggling to put meals on the table.

The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging isn’t accepting new participants for its meals on wheels program.

Their service area includes: Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette Counties.

Around 50% of the cost for the meal program is provided by federal funds, 25% is provided by the state of Kansas.

Bourbon County taking strides to combat coronavirus

County leaders across Southeast Kansas aren’t taking any chances when it comes to the coronavirus.

William Wallis, Emergency Manager, Bourbon County, said, coronavirus is, even though it’s not in our state, It’s something, it’s really tearing up the news.”

As the coronavirus continues to make its way across the U.S., Bourbon County leaders aren’t taking any chances.

“So I basically decided that I need to make this public service announcement not to alarm or to frighten anybody, you know, but to just basically tell them what we’re doing.”

The PSA has tips on proper hygiene and information about the county based task force to develop a coronavirus action plan.