Lenexa can’t fill entry-level maintenance jobs. Shawnee watched as firefighter applications fell by nearly half in two years. Kansas City, Kan., closed its only public swimming pool for the summer after struggling to staff it and lingering concerns about the pandemic. In Lawrence, city officials this spring began hunting for dozens of lifeguards, traditionally the domain of teens and college students. The applicants this time weren’t always who you’d expect. Marilyn Hull, a 64-year-old former program and communications officer at a local non-profit, applied for and accepted a position. Starting pay is listed at $10 an hour. “I felt bad for folks, especially kids, who might lose out on some pool time for the second year in a row,” Hull said. “I asked myself how I could help.” Across Kansas and Missouri, governments are straining to hire workers for an array of positions. Cities, counties, school districts and state agencies are all experiencing trouble filling openings. Low-paid and seasonal jobs— the often unglamorous but vital work that keeps roads repaired, lawns mowed and pools open — have been especially challenging.
Source: KC Star.

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.

Communities across Kansas are embracing mural movements and sharing their unique history in artistic ways. One north-central Kansas community is painting its way as a top mural destination in the Great Plains. A Mural Movement of Clay Center, Kan., is elevating public art to new heights. “Bucolic America,” on a Key Feeds grain elevator, is Clay Center’s newest and largest mural, paying tribute to farmers and rural America. In the mural, a bright red barn stands proudly in the background and a windmill stands tall in a big blue sky, while a calf stands close to its mother in a lush green field. The Key Feeds mural stands out in Clay Center’s skyline and draws in visitors and passersby alike. In the last year, A Mural Movement of Clay Center has supported 12 works of art, bringing the total number of murals to 14 and counting. Each colorful mural tells a different story, showcasing the talent and dedication of the 13 artists who have contributed to the movement: from the iconic “Greetings from Clay Center” mural, to the heartfelt depiction of Joe Rosenthal’s famous photo of the flag being raised during the battle of Iwo Jima on Clay Center’s Veteran’s Mural.
Source: Farm Progress.