Kansas Municipal News
Understanding Electric Franchise Agreements
Join the National League of Cities and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to learn more about what franchise agreements are, how to prepare for a new agreement, and how they can be used to help meet your energy objectives.
And stay tuned for part two of this series, where we will investigate how cities have integrated renewable energy objectives into their agreements with lessons learned for other cities with similar goals.
(Read more: nlc.org/contents/rss-feed)
Riley County commissioners begin process for new planning and development director
The Riley County Commission has started the process to find a new planning and development director, after learning Monday that current director Monty Wedel plans to retire in September.
Human Resources Manager Cindy Volanti says a summary was used in the past for previous department head hiring processes. They will advertise the position on various websites, which Volanti says won’t cost too much. The price ranges from around $1,000 to $1,500.
As for the timeline to fill the position, Volanti says the job posting will be online for a whole month from April 1 to May 1, conducting primary interviews in May before moving onto secondary interviews. If those candidates do not meet their requirements, they will post the listing again for another month.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Manhattan working on updated bike, pedestrian system plan
Manhattan planners are envisioning a future with improved bicycle and pedestrian routes, including additional bikeways and protected cycletracks alongside city streets.
City commissioners Tuesday discussed an update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Systems Plan, which lays out potential future projects to improve biking and walking around Manhattan. The previous plan was adopted in 1998.
City administration created the plan, with input from Kansas State University, USD 383, RCPD, the Chamber and area developers. Feedback was also sought from stakeholders such as Downtown Manhattan, Inc. and the Aggieville Business Association as well as the Rotary Club. Manhattan paid $40,000 to formulate the plan, leveraging a nearly $150,000 KDOT grant to assist as well. Funds for various projects will be sourced from the 2017 voter-approved Parks and Recreation sales tax, the City-University fund and an assortment of federal and state grants. In recent years, Manhattan has been able to leverage $1.6 million from $270,000 of city investment for trail projects.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Public Hearing Set for El Dorado CID
During Monday night’s City of El Dorado Commission meeting, the Commission decided to set a public hearing for the establishment of a Community Improvement District (CID) Sales Tax in the amount of 2% for the Super 8 by Wyndham located at 2530 W Central Avenue in El Dorado.
The purpose of the CID is to finance the costs of refurbishing the motel.
The estimated costs to acquire, improve, remove, renovate, reconstruct, maintain and/or extend the proposed project is $1,850,000. The City will retain an on-going administrative service fee from the proceeds of the Sales Tax, in an amount equal to 5% of the total eligible costs of the Project, as the administrator of the district.
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Sunflower Electric abandons proposed Kansas coal power plant
Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has abandoned its proposed coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas after nearly 15 years of pushing for the project, handing a huge victory to environmentalists who opposed the plan from the start.
The utility said in a news release Wednesday that it will allow the air permit for the Holcomb expansion project to expire on March 27.
Sunflower Electric already operates one plant near Holcomb and had proposed building an adjacent $2.2 billion, 895-megawatt facility.
Sunflower Electric and development partner, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, together invested more than $100 million in the now-abandoned project.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Kansas park system absorbing $11M hit from 2019 flooding
The top Kansas parks administrator said Wednesday torrential rains that produced sustained flooding lat year had an estimated $11 million cumulative impact on budgets of the agency responsible for oversight of the state’s recreational parks system.
Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, said the agency would proceed with repairs in 2020 and continue the application process for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster reimbursements. The state experienced flooding conditions for more than 250 days, especially in eastern Kansas, that limited visitor access and usage at the two dozen parks scattered across Kansas, he said.
“Cumulatively, we estimated the impact to be about $11 million on our budget,” Loveless said. “The great majority is in repairs.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Kansas won’t be ready to implement voting freedom law for 2020 elections
Secretary of State Scott Schwab predicted Tuesday regulations necessary to implement a state law allowing Kansans to vote at the polling station of their choice won’t be completed in time for the August or November elections in 2020.
Schwab told members of the Senate’s election committee that technical considerations, including cellphone coverage problems, in the state’s 105 counties made the process of drafting rules complex. The program won’t be finalized until 2021, he said.
The voting reform bill signed last year by Gov. Laura Kelly was inspired by a proposal from Sedgwick County officials.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Newton petitioned to file anti-discrimination ordinance
Newton resident Christina Murphy asked the Newton City Commission to consider passing an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Christina Murphy, who is transgendered, said she has never been discriminated against but knows others who have been.
“It’s more about discrimination, whether it be housing or jobs or going into a restaurant,” she said. “Equality is about individuals and being proud; the individuals having pride of being who they are; whether they be cis gender transgender, male, female, LGBT, it makes no difference. Everyone is a human being, and they all deserve to be treated equally.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
City raises sanitation fees
Visual inspection of loads of recycling brought to the Harvey County sorting facility have been rejected after changes to the contract between Waste Connections and Harvey County — and that has affected Newton sanitation services.
The contractual change went into effect Jan. 1, allowing Waste Connections to reject loads with more than 10% contamination, issue fines to haulers and suspend dumping privileges for 30 days when loads are rejected.
According to Harvey County, all the loads from Newton on Monday were rejected. Found in the recycling containers were shoes, extension cords, an office chair and soiled diapers.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
City to see optional recycling, possible senior housing
The City of Newton will move forward in offering optional recycling with a slight rate increase.
As has been reported in the recent months, following the collapse of the U.S. recycling market and requirements from China to have less contaminated recycling, the county changed its ordinance and contract with its recycling service provider.
Recycling is no longer mandatory in Harvey County. Recycling loads turned into Waste Connections, which provides recycling services, must have 10 percent or fewer of contaminants. More contaminated loads are rejected, fined, and the recycling truck will be blocked from dumping recyclables for a month.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
Hillsboro City Council discusses special vehicles again
The Hillsboro City Council again met with a packed room thanks to the special purpose vehicle ordinance being on the agenda for the Jan. 7 meeting.
Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning spoke about his concerns with the council allowing golf carts to not have safety lights.
“I firmly believe there should be minimal light requirements during the day, such as brake lights and turn signals. As one of those responsible for the overall safety of the community, I believe this could be a serious safety issue. Allowing these vehicles to be operated, even during daylight hours, without basic safety equipment would create a safety hazard. It makes it difficult to determine whether a vehicle is stopping or to determine which direction they plan to travel at an intersection. My concern is not only for those operating the carts but for those sharing the roadway with them. I have done some research on lighting costs. There are several options available. They begin at around $50 for an aftermarket kit,” said Kinning.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Sunflower Electric’s Holcomb expansion project canceled
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announced Wednesday that the utility will no longer pursue the Holcomb Expansion Project. The corporation will allow the project’s air permit to expire on March 27.
Sunflower and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which provides wholesale generation and transmission services to its member distribution electric cooperatives, began working together in 2005 to add coal-based units to Sunflower’s Holcomb Station. Both utilities had a need for additional capacity.
“Fifteen years ago, the price of natural gas was high, and wind generation was in its infancy,” Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Sunflower, said in a news release. “At that time, the expansion of Holcomb Station emerged as the best way to meet our members’ long-term needs for generating reliable, affordable energy.”
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Bond data back to the Black Death shows lower and even negative rates could be here to stay
More than 700 years of history show that the times as they are now, at least in regard to interest rates, aren’t quite so different as we’re led to believe, according to research that goes back to the Black Death plague of the 14th century.
In fact, the low interest rate climate has been more rule than exception and indicative that even negative interest rates shouldn’t be considered a major aberration, and may stay there — permanently.
Read more: CNBC.
‘Mysterious’ drones pass through Washington County
The mysterious drones that have made headlines in Nebraska and Colorado since mid-December finally made their way through Washington County, according to reports. Washington County Sheriff Justin Cordry said the drones were reported the night of Jan. 7 in the Morrowville area. The department issued a press release the next day.
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Cordry said reports of the drones have been similar throughout the sightings, and the drones have “unique characteristics.” He said the drones, which fly at night, have six-foot wingspans, stay in the air for long periods of time and are often spotted in groups of 6 to 20. The drones were reported in the Jefferson County, Neb., area a few days before being spotted in the Morrowville area.
Read more: Washington News.
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2020-1: County sales taxes; apportionment of revenue between cities and county
Synopsis: If a county imposes a countywide retailers’ sales tax to finance designated health care services, and a city within the county has not previously exercised its authority to impose a city retailers’ sales tax to finance health care services, no statutory provision authorizes remitting to a city that portion of the countywide tax revenue collected by retailers within such city. A county shall not use the sales tax revenues for any purpose other than the purpose specifically stated in the ballot proposition. Cited herein: K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-187; 12-192; L. 2007, Ch. 158, Sec. 6.
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions)
Prairie Village Environmental Committee set to put forth proposal to ban single-use plastic bags
After a six-year gap, the Prairie Village Environmental Committee is again considering the idea of eliminating single-use plastic bags from stores throughout the city.
A proposal outlined by two members of the city council calls for a ban on single-use plastic bags and to require vendors to charge a fee for paper and reusable bags.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Municipal Bond Trends for January 14, 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 Advisors.
Kansas gives senior care company $12 million to create 600-plus jobs in Overland Park
A Place for Mom, which helps families connect with nursing homes and other senior care facilities, plans to hire more than 600 employees in a new Overland Park office.
The company said the new office will include employees who work in management, finance, human resources and information technology. It will also house local advisers, customer service associates and other support staffers, according to a Tuesday news release. Hiring is already underway.
“We are committed to creating a world-class operation in the Kansas City area as we continue to transform our business to best serve our customers,” CEO Larry Kutscher said in the news release. “Overland Park will be home to several key areas of our business that will have a direct impact on our company’s mission to empower families to make informed and confident senior housing decisions that best fit their unique needs.”
(Read more: KC Star Local News)
Improvement district approved for Wichita’s East Douglas corridor
Wichita city council members have given first-round approval to an ordinance establishing a funding district to support the continued activities of the Douglas Design District, which runs from Washington to Oliver.
A Business Improvement District would provide financing and administration for more services to businesses within the district. It would be funded through a mandatory annual fee for the businesses within the district, and that would range from $100 to $550 depending on the size of the business.
The Douglas Design District has been a voluntary organization, and members told the council that it is showing signs of strain. The members want to create a financially self-sustaining organization that won’t have to rely on a volunteer staff. Some business owners told the council that the yearly fee would be a hardship for them, and they urged the council to deny the BID.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Wichita’s downtown riverfront completely transformed in $1 billion plan
The Riverfront Legacy Master Plan coalition doubled down on its plan to raze most of the buildings — including Century II — near the Hyatt Regency hotel and start fresh.
Under the plan, Wichita’s downtown could get new parks, a new performing arts center and a new convention center, parking garages and a boardwalk. Downtown Wichita riverfront designers say Wichita could be the next Oklahoma City if its city leaders can convince taxpayers to pay for it.
The total price tag on the project is estimated at $1 billion-$1.2 billion. Design consultants recommend about half of the funding should come from a city- or county-wide sales tax. A new sales tax would require a public vote.
(Read more: Local News |)