Resource costs lead Wichita public golf courses to consider membership fee increases

The City of Wichita Golf Board of Governors met on Tuesday to discuss an increase in membership prices for city courses. The decision is still pending an official vote. The plan is to raise adult individual membership costs by $12 and couples by $18. Another change would be increasing the annual equipment replacement fee from $37 to $50. “There’s not been money in the golf division to spend on the improvements that need to be made, so it’s really across the board,” said City of Wichita Golf Director Jesse Coffman. “We’re trying to improve all of the golf courses and all the facilities for all of our members.”
Source: KSN-TV

2023-04-06T08:54:48-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Wheat crop struggling with drought and high winds

This will be the second year in a row that some wheat farmers in Kansas will not have a crop. “You look out there, and it’s just a fog of dust across there,” said Brian Mitchell with Mitfarms. “It’s awful.” Mitfarms is in western Kansas and is not alone in seeing very dry conditions affecting the wheat crop. KSN Agriculture analyst John Jenkinson says the topsoil across the state is not good this year.
Source: KSN-TV

2023-04-06T08:53:20-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Wyandotte’s online tax auction may be hurting residents without internet

For some Wyandotte County residents, the area’s online auctions of property with delinquent taxes, otherwise known as virtual tax sales, have become an unwelcome tradition. The most recent sale was held online through a third party platform on March 28. Homes at least three years behind on taxes were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Commercial properties delinquent on taxes for at least two years and vacant lots delinquent for at least one year were also tax sale eligible. Critics say that holding the auction virtually instead of in person has hurt access for both elderly constituents and those with poor internet.
Source: KC Star Local News

2023-04-06T10:49:37-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Fed’s Mester Says Rates Should Rise Above 5%, Stay for Some Time

ederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said policymakers should move their benchmark rate above 5% this year and hold it at restrictive levels for some time to quell inflation, with the exact level depending on how quickly price pressures ease. To put inflation on a steady path down to 2%, monetary policy needs to move “somewhat further into restrictive territory this year, with the fed funds rate moving above 5% and the real fed funds rate staying in positive territory for some time,” Mester said at an event Tuesday in New York with the Money Marketeers of New York University.
Source: Bloomberg

2023-04-05T10:50:50-05:00April 5, 2023|News|

A food desert oasis: Grocery store in central Topeka still in very early planning

Planning continues as a local Topeka non-profit works to return a grocery store to central Topeka. Although the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis group last month signed a lease with GraceMed Capitol Health Clinic for one acre north of the clinic at S.W. 12th and Washburn, efforts to launch a grocery store in neighborhood are still in very preliminary stages. CTGO chair, Marge Ahrens said the group was grateful to GraceMed Health and those who have helped in the quest for a grocery store.
Source: CJonline

2023-04-05T10:49:41-05:00April 5, 2023|News|

Buhler school’s $8 million bond falls in defeat

Buhler district voters rejected an $8 million bond that would build a new district office building, which included classrooms for the district’s Ad Astra Academy, a large community/board room and an indoor sports complex. The bond also included $800,000 going toward elementary school playgrounds. With 15.76% of voters weighing in, the unofficial total of all 26 precincts was 578 voting for the bond and 954 voting against it. With 1,532 votes submitted, the yes votes came in at 38% of the total cast, with the no votes totaling 62%.
Source: Hutch News

2023-04-05T10:48:09-05:00April 5, 2023|News|

Downtown Pittsburg mural grants now available

The City of Pittsburg Downtown Advisory Board (DAB) has announced grant funding to bring more art to Pittsburg’s downtown district. The DAB is offering up to 50/50 matching funds, not to exceed $1,000, for murals in the downtown district and has allocated $2,500 for this year’s grant cycle. “The Downtown Advisory Board is excited to continue its commitment to arts in the downtown district,” says DAB Chair Sydney Anselmi. “Public art enriches the experience of both our residents and visitors to our community. Each little area we can brighten with public art easily brightens the areas surrounding it, and the goal is one day we have a colorful, vibrant, downtown corridor filled with art, businesses, and enriching experiences.” Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 2023 or until funds run out. Applications will be considered at the regularly-scheduled Downtown Advisory Board meetings, held on the third Monday of each month at City Hall.
Source: City of Pittsburg

2023-04-05T10:40:03-05:00April 5, 2023|News|

Fitch Ratings: Debt for utilities would increase under proposed PFAS rules

According to Fitch Ratings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently proposed rule setting limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water would increase public water utilities’ debt burden as a result of the added costs of compliance. A recent press release from Fitch says the strong rate flexibility and capacity for additional debt exhibited by water systems is expected to limit the impact on credit quality, but will depend on the final scope of rule. EPA expects to finalize the rule by the end of 2023.
Source: Water Finance & Management

2023-04-05T10:14:21-05:00April 5, 2023|News|

The Water Pipe Market Shifts to Sustainable PVC in Times of Growth & Drought

Cities across the United States are struggling with maintaining existing infrastructure with supply chain disruptions and rising costs of equipment, manpower and supplies. Likewise, developers are faced with many challenges to plan, finance and build basic infrastructure and housing units to allow for cities to continue to grow. If there is existing capacity in source water and treatment facilities, then underground pipe networks for water and sewer services need to be built before the streets, sidewalks and new homes.
Source: Water Finance & Management

2023-04-05T10:13:19-05:00April 5, 2023|News|
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