17 Friday, March 17

Municipal Bond Trends for March 16, 2023

2023-03-17T09:18:15-05:00March 17th, 2023|

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, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

16 Thursday, March 16

Emporia gets a bit more magical

2023-03-16T12:37:45-05:00March 16th, 2023|

Emporia Main Street, along with several local businesses, have become the new homes for a collection of Fairy Doors. The community is invited to come downtown starting this week and look high and low (well mostly low) around local businesses for some new and colorful installations. Emporia Main Street launched this concept to provide the community and visitors a fun, free activity to do while visiting downtown and surrounding businesses. “We had such a great response to our interactive murals, and we wanted to produce another initiative that would draw people downtown,” explains Jessica Buchholz, Community Development Coordinator for Emporia Main [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

Burrton considering request for Sunday liquor sales

2023-03-16T12:37:12-05:00March 16th, 2023|

Lisa Cokeley, owner of The Wet Spot, asked the Burrton City Council to consider making Sunday sales legal at its March 7 meeting. She later explained that the fact that other little towns in the region already allowed Sunday sales meant that it could be a good opportunity for the business she and her husband purchased about a month ago. She said she didn’t know what legal hoops she or the city would have to jump through to make it a reality. “I’ve talked to others who are doing very well on Sunday sales around here,” she said. Source: Harvey County [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

Commissioners open to changes in how back taxes are collected

2023-03-16T12:36:23-05:00March 16th, 2023|

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners appeared willing to consider County Treasurer Becky Fields’s request to change how tax foreclosure actions are handled for people who are behind in their property taxes. Fields asked commissioners three times, including the past two weeks, to repeal the charter amendment the county enacted in May 2019 because she said any taxes paid get applied to the most recent tax bill owed. “That doesn’t help them, because it puts them in a tax sale,” she said. Fields said she wanted the county to follow the state statute whereby someone behind on property taxes could pay [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

North Newton considering breaking away from planning and zoning, historic preservation commissions

2023-03-16T12:34:55-05:00March 16th, 2023|

North Newton Mayor Ron Braun said during the regular city council meeting Monday that allowing North Newton and Newton to have their own planning and zoning and historic preservation commissions is a matter of positivity. Currently, both towns have representatives on each of those commissions. He said the matter was formally brought up last year, and it’s just meant for each entity to deal with matters regarding their own towns. Newton takes up about 98 percent of the agendas anyway, he said. “Now the conversation focuses really not encumbering one city with another city’s agenda,” he said during the meeting. Source: [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

Find the economic impact of the Kansas airport nearest you

2023-03-16T12:32:45-05:00March 16th, 2023|

If you have ever wondered how vital an airport can be to a Kansas town, no matter how big or small, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has the answer. For example, Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport supports 20,583 jobs and has an economic output of $6.1 billion. Other Airports Jobs Supported Economic Output Topeka Regional 1,774 $199.9 million Salina Regional 640 $31.9 million Garden City Regional 232 $44.5 million Great Bend Municipal 137 $22.2 million Hays Regional 170 $22 million Goodland Municipal 128 $29.8 million Courtesy KDOT Division of Aviation “Every airport serves a unique and important role for [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

KS House passes expansive voucher-like program, ties it with Kelly’s top education priority

2023-03-16T12:34:01-05:00March 16th, 2023|

The Kansas House narrowly passed the largest school choice program in state history while tying it to special education funding long sought by public school advocates and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. ... The House fell far short of a veto proof majority setting up a major uphill battle if the policy reaches Kelly’s desk. But supporters are hoping the inclusion of one of Kelly’s top education priorities will earn her signature. Last week Republicans tied together the controversial voucher-like program to special education funding, essentially daring Kelly to either approve a program she has long opposed or veto additional funding for [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

Assessing the state of the city, county and school board

2023-03-16T09:56:31-05:00March 16th, 2023|

Growth and development were two common themes during the annual State of the City Breakfast in Paola. About 50 people attended the breakfast, which was organized by the Paola Chamber of Commerce and took place at the Paola Country Club on Tuesday, March 7. Jeremy Smail of First Option Bank served as the moderator. Attendees listened to officials from the city of Paola, Paola USD 368 and Miami County give updates. Source: Local News | republic-online.com

16 Thursday, March 16

Parsons: Food truck rules vital for health, safety

2023-03-16T10:11:24-05:00March 16th, 2023|

The city of Parsons enacted a new food vendor ordinance earlier this week, and it’s elicited feedback from residents on social media who wonder why it is necessary. City officials say it is necessary for the health and safety of food truck owners and patrons who eat at them. “It makes legislative sense; it makes safety sense,” said Jim Zaleski, economic development director for the city of Parsons. ... Zaleski said this ordinance is needed no matter what. He said it is positive for business with keeping the health and safety of everyone intact. “It’s not about doing what’s popular. It’s [...]

16 Thursday, March 16

This river that starts in Johnson County is in trouble, but people are trying to help it

2023-03-16T09:53:34-05:00March 16th, 2023|

On a warm morning last April, several hundred people fanned out along a waterway in Kansas City. In the span of a few hours, they collected about 30 tons of garbage along the Blue River. The annual effort takes on the visible scars of overdevelopment and neglect, removing nearly 2,000 tons of litter and illegally dumped trash over the past three decades. Volunteers will again roll up their sleeves this year — on April 1 — for Project Blue River Rescue, a tradition that began with the Friends of Lakeside Nature Center and a local chapter of the Missouri Stream Team [...]

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