67 Counties, Including Sedgwick, Updated to Drought Emergency Status

6 Thursday, October 6

67 Counties, Including Sedgwick, Updated to Drought Emergency Status

info2022-10-06T23:55:34-05:00October 6th, 2022|

Governor Kelly has approved updated drought declarations for Kansas counties with Executive Order #22-08. This drought declaration continues to keep all 105 Kansas counties either in watch, warning or emergency status. The drought declaration placed 67 counties into an emergency status, 11 counties in a warning status and 27 into a watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Much of Kansas has experienced above normal temperatures, with precipitation averaging well below normal for many of those same locations over that same timeframe. In some parts [...]

6 Thursday, October 6

Daily resigns as Sedgwick’s police chief and interim city administrator; hired as Medicine Lodge city administrator

info2022-10-07T06:44:15-05:00October 6th, 2022|

Sedgwick police chief and interim city manager Brian Daily announced that he had accepted a position with Medicine Lodge as their full-time city administrator at Monday’s city council meeting. The start date for his new position will be Nov. 14. After two executive sessions totaling thirty minutes, Daily told the council he would submit an official resignation letter as well as what his last day would be soon. “I had a great opportunity here,” Daily said. “I’ve loved everything about Sedgwick. I’ve enjoyed it and I’m excited about this next opportunity.” Mayor Bryan Chapman told Daily that he has done a [...]

6 Thursday, October 6

Wichita’s emergency rental assistance program ends after federal funds run out

info2022-10-06T23:47:58-05:00October 6th, 2022|

$29 million spent and 3,300 families helped. That was what the Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance program accomplished in the 18 months it was active. City Housing Director Sally Stang sums up the response to WERAP pretty simply, "There was tremendous demand." However, the program is ending. Stang says the city is no longer accepting any new applications and will be paying out its final few months of rent checks through the end of the year. The reason for such a popular program getting shut down? It ran out of funding. Source: KAKE - News

6 Thursday, October 6

Topeka creates first of its kind position to focus on development, equity

info2022-10-06T23:45:31-05:00October 6th, 2022|

The City of Topeka has hired a new Director of Development and Economic Growth, a position that is the first of its kind in the capital city. Filling this position is Rhiannon Friedman who previously has been serving as the President of Downtown Topeka, Inc. She will be transitioning to her new role later this year on an as yet undetermined date. The position will be housed within the City's Planning and Development Department. It will aim to make Topeka more development efficient with equity at the core. Friedman will focus on affordable housing expansion, incentive packages available to builders and [...]

6 Thursday, October 6

Merriam weighs $1M fund to help city’s struggling hotels

info2022-10-07T06:45:07-05:00October 6th, 2022|

In an effort to help the city’s flagging hotel industry, Merriam is considering setting aside up to $1 million that would pay for grants the city’s four hotels could use to refurbish their properties. The move, city officials say, would have the double impact of reducing blight at the four prominent hotel properties along Interstate 35 and also, ultimately, lead to more tax revenue for the city if hotel usage picks up as a result. City staff last month laid out a proposal to offer the hotels reimbursable grants with a 50% required match by the hotel, and a minimum $10,000 [...]

6 Thursday, October 6

‘The buzz is amazing’: KU football hype is energizing Lawrence, boosting business

info2022-10-07T06:45:28-05:00October 6th, 2022|

The Kansas Jayhawks football team is 5-0, ranked 19th in the Associated Press poll and angling for its first postseason bowl game appearance since 2008. And the team’s surprising success on the field is rippling through the community. From stadium ticket sellouts to packed bars, restaurants and parking lots, KU’s winning season is boosting the local economy in tangible ways. Just ask Willie Johnson, who has rented game-day parking spaces to KU football fans on his property in the 900 block of Mississippi Street for six years. In past seasons, Johnson offered parking for $10 per car and hoped to fill [...]

5 Wednesday, October 5

Municipal Bond Trends for October 4, 2022

info2022-10-05T07:09:36-05:00October 5th, 2022|

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.

4 Tuesday, October 4

Governor Laura Kelly Joins Pratt Industries For Grand Opening of Park City Plant

info2022-10-05T07:02:00-05:00October 4th, 2022|

Today Governor Laura Kelly joined officials from Pratt Industries as they opened their new state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing corrugated box plant in Park City. The plant represents a $200 million investment that will create 58 new high-paying, quality jobs in Sedgwick County over the next five years. This announcement comes during Governor Kelly’s ‘Prosperity On The Plains’ tour promoting economic development. The Governor took a tour of the plant and gave remarks celebrating the company’s investment. “Pratt’s continued investment in our state shows that when we support workers and businesses, Kansas thrives,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Now, 58 more Kansans will have [...]

4 Tuesday, October 4

Catalpa Park is going to the dogs

info2022-10-05T07:02:22-05:00October 4th, 2022|

Catalpa Park... in Arkansas City, will soon become a safe place for dog owners to take their pets and allow them to get some exercise. The city’s Municipal Project Manager Nick Rizzio said the cost will be minimal and the renovation is expected to be completed before the end of the year. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

4 Tuesday, October 4

Overland Park approves $49.3 million in STAR bonds for Bluhawk’s first phase

info2022-10-05T07:03:05-05:00October 4th, 2022|

Vertical construction can begin on the $1 billion, 300-acre Bluhawk development now that it has won a key financing approval. On Monday evening, the Overland Park City Council approved Overland Park-based Price Brothers Management Co.'s request for $49.3 million in sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds for vertical construction on the multisport complex’s $72.7 million first phase. The development is located at 159th Street and U.S. Highway 69. The City Council also approved the issuance of economic development revenue bonds (EDRBs) that will not exceed $113.6 million to build the entire complex in multiple phases. Source: Kansas City Business Journal