Kansas Municipal News
Manhattan to consider predevelopment agreement with MHA for a city-owned parking lot
The Manhattan City Commission will consider final development plans for a $40 million commercial and residential Aggieville project. The city commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall on Tuesday. The meeting is a legislative meeting, meaning the commission will take action. Back 9 Development is behind the project — formerly called “Fuze,” now called “Midtown Development.” The concept consists of a proposed $40 million, five-story commercial and residential building to replace the parking lot on 12th and Laramie behind Kite’s Bar and Grill. In addition to the development agreement, the commission also will consider transferring the city-owned parking lot to Back 9 for the project.
Source: themercury.com
Paving Dodge City’s Future 2023 Street Sales Tax passes
On Nov. 8, voters passed a citywide halfa- percent sales tax for street repair/maintenance and property tax relief. Sixty percent of voters were in favor of the proposal. The new sales tax is estimated to bring $3.5 million in revenue annually. “The people decided they didn’t like the roads in the shape they are in and that they needed this tax to fund streets and roads,” City Commissioner and sales tax supporter Joseph Nuci said Nov. 9. Commissioner Rick Sowers said he also supported the measure and sees the need for street repair in Dodge City but had some reservations about it because, “there is no sunset clause. It goes into perpetuity. I would have preferred it had a sunset clause where it would have to be put back before the people after a designated period of time.”
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Fed officials see grounds for soon slowing rate-hike pace
The Federal Reserve looked closer to moderating aggressive interest-rate increases after welcome news on inflation, with three officials backing a downshift even as they stressed that policy needs to stay tight. “While I believe it may soon be appropriate to slow the pace of rate increases so we can better assess how financial and economic conditions are evolving, I also believe a slower pace should not be taken to represent easier policy,” Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan told a conference hosted by her bank in Houston on Thursday. Data released earlier on Thursday showed consumer prices cooling by more than expected in October, with the consumer price index rising 7.7% from a year earlier versus 8.2% the month before.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Wichita is getting ready for winter street operations
The City of Wichita is getting ready for winter operations to clear the major streets during snow and ice storms. Mayor Brandon Whipple said during his weekly news briefing that the city is above minimum staffing with 156 drivers, but the city is looking for people with commercial driver’s licenses who would be interested in helping with the snow response efforts. He said the city has eight brine trucks for pre-treatment of the streets, 60 plow trucks, and three dispatch locations. The mayor said the city has 6,000 tons of salt and sand mix that is ready for use, but there is also a supply of 17,500 tons of salt that can be used to create an additional supply of 35,000 tons of salt and sand mix. He said the city prepares for winter by stocking up on salt and sand, training employees and providing regular maintenance for the plow trucks.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Overland Park Police could soon start carrying anti-opioid overdose Narcan spray
Overland Park police officers may soon begin carrying Narcan, a life-saving medicine meant to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted to recommend approval of an agreement with the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners that would allow Overland Park police officers to carry Narcan. With the agreement, the department would partner with the Johnson County EMS division to establish a protocol for officers to obtain, carry and administer Narcan nasal spray.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Voters reject USD 329 Wabaunsee bond proposal that would close Maple Hill Elementary
Residents in USD 329 Wabaunsee rejected the district’s $17.9 million bond proposal in Tuesday’s election. With all 13 precincts reporting, the final vote tally indicated a close race with only 67 votes separating the decision. Ultimately, 944 of the 1,821 total votes counted had “No” marked for advancing the district bond issue. First-year USD 329 Superintendent Troy Pitsch sent a letter to district families Wednesday morning informing them that the bond issue failed, and that emotions are “likely mixed” among those who supported the proposal and those who didn’t. In the letter, he wrote in part that the district is a “family of families” united in the common cause of educating students.
Source: themercury.com
Roeland Park looks to move public public works department to KCK
The city of Roeland Park has agreed to look at potentially acquiring property for a new public works site in neighboring Wyandotte County, as the proposed redevelopment of The Rocks site — where the city’s public works department is currently housed — moves forward. The prospective new public works site is at 1800 Merriam Lane, in Kansas City, Kan., across Interstate 35, about a five-minute drive from Roeland Park City Hall. At its meeting Nov.1, the city council agreed to move forward on a proposed land purchase agreement for the new public works site at a cost of $1.7 million, according to city documents.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Cowley County hires new emergency manager
Oct. 24 was the first day on the job for new Cowley County Emergency Management Director Candi Baross, and she said she’s been on the go since then getting to know the people and the area she will serve. Baross, 41, is originally from Jackson, Miss. She grew up knowing whatever she did in her life, she always wanted to serve the public. A 21-year career on active duty in the U.S. Army focused on preparedness training for different units. Preparedness training “is really important to me,” Baross said. Training groups to collaborate with other entities makes for successful missions, she said.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Public Input Being Sought on Wildfire Prevention and Response
Governor Kelly is calling on residents to share their thoughts on how to better prevent, respond to, and recover from wildfires. The Governor’s Wildfire Task Force (established in July) is seeking public input as it takes a comprehensive look at mitigating wildfire threats, reviews how local and state officials respond to these emergencies and considers how to better support communities impacted by wildfires.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Ford County fire fighters complete leadership apprenticeship program
Ten Ford County firefighters completed a two-semester leadership class though the Kansas Apprenticeship Training Program of Hutchinson Community College (HCC). The program is designed for company officers, or the emergency response personnel who stands on the engine en route to a fire.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Longtime leader in JoCo’s economic development scene announces plan to retire
Blake Schreck, a longtime fixture in Johnson County’s economic development scene, says he will retire in February 2023. Schreck has been CEO and director of economic development at the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce since 1999, but previously led the Olathe chamber for three years and worked a decade at the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. “I was fortunate to bring Blake into the chamber and economic development world in the mid-’80s,” Mary Birch, former Overland Park chamber president, said in a news release. “He became one of the best economic development leaders in the country and leaves a legacy of major capital investment and thousands of new jobs that will continue to have a positive impact on Lenexa, Johnson County, the Kansas City region and the state for many years to come.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita launching community feedback survey
The city of Wichita say they are looking to source community feedback through a survey. The survey is asking residents their opinions about local government services as well as resident priorities. The city says they plan to begin distributing community surveys on a more frequent basis, changing from biannual to annual. Another change to this survey is asking residents to rank their top priorities in addition to rating service delivery.
Source: KAKE – News
Parsons voters deny sales tax hike
In Tuesday’s election, Parsons voters weighed against a half-cent sales tax increase that would have helped fund the Parsons police and fire departments. The vote was 881 in favor and 1,333 against. The increase would have raised the sales tax from 9.25% to 9.75% and generated an estimated $900,000 a year. Department heads said the funds would be used for a new public safety center as well as routine public services and capital improvements. In 2013, voters approved a similar tax which sunsets in 10 years. The new tax would have taken effect in 2024.
Source: The Iola Register
Lawrence says homeless camp with 80 tents isn’t a campground; if it said otherwise, it could be violating its own zoning code
As a city-operated campground for the homeless has grown on the edge of downtown, business owners in recent weeks have begun protesting that the central business district is no place for such a campground…. they may have a powerful document on their side: the city’s own zoning code… the city’s director of planning acknowledged that a campground is not a permitted use in what’s known as the “CD downtown commercial district.” The zoning code — which has the force of law — allows for campgrounds in several types of commercial business districts, but the busy central business district is not one of them. Now, the question becomes whether the city is violating its own law by erecting a campground housing more than 80 people on city-owned property near the Kansas River levee next to Johnny’s Tavern. The city says … [it] isn’t actually a campground.
Source: LJWorld
Municipal Bond Trends for November 10, 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.
Kansas board urges schools to eliminate Native American mascots
Saying it hurts students, the Kansas State Board of Education is calling on the state’s public schools to eliminate Native American-themed mascots within five years. The board endorsed a recommendation from an advisory group on Thursday that included representatives from all four federally recognized tribes in Kansas. … “We’re just asking them to start the conversation, do the research,” said board member Ann Mah. “When we say we don’t want bullying, we want equity, we want the best education for every child, then this absolutely fits with our mandates.” More than 20 Kansas schools still use mascots with names like Indians, Braves or Red Raiders.
Source: LJWorld
With 108 Airbnbs and other short-term rentals now licensed, Lawrence code enforcement thinks process to ID unlicensed rentals is working
With more than 100 short-term rentals now licensed in Lawrence, city code enforcement believes its tactics are working for identifying people renting properties by the night without the required license. After falling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of short-term rental listings in Lawrence is on the rise again, with a little more than 150 properties listed on the popular site Airbnb. Code Enforcement Manager Brian Jimenez said there are currently 108 licensed properties in Lawrence, and because his office has found several properties listed more than once, he believes the city does not have many unlicensed rentals. He said he thinks the reviews conducted by code enforcement staff are catching those who try to operate without a license.
Source: LJWorld
Treasury yields tumble after October CPI comes in weaker than expected
The latest CPI report gave investors hope that inflation is now past its peak, lending confidence that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes are slowly working to tame high price increases. Stock futures rallied on the news. “This confirms the Fed’s own view they need more measured rate hikes now but this doesn’t stop them,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG. ” It just affirms their plan.” Swonk added that, from the Fed’s perspective, the dip in inflation is welcome news but still not enough to stop further tightening. In November, the Fed raised rates by a another 75 basis points, its fourth consecutive three-quarter point increase, putting rates at their highest level since 2008.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Pitt’s fowl ordinance
Chickens seem to be on people’s minds in southeast Kansas lately. Just this past Monday, the Arma City Council discussed regulations for keeping chickens inside city limits. Then on Tuesday, our flightless fowl friends found their way into the Pittsburg City Commission meeting. While Arma decided to table the discussion, Pittsburg dove right in. Pamela Hudson recently petitioned the city’s Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals to keep a small flock of chickens on her property. What is unusual is that Hudson actually contacted the city to see if she was allowed to keep the birds — a gesture that Mayor Cheryl Brooks commended her for. Hudson’s petition was recommended for approval and she only attended the city commission meeting to find out if her request would be approved.
Source: Morning Sun
Voters reject Winfield school bond projects
Winfield voters on Tuesday soundly defeated two school bond propositions, putting USD 465 officials back to the drawing board to figure out how to update aging and outdated infrastructure. Question 1 would have closed some schools, removed some buildings, built others and reconfigured others Question 2 asked voters to build a new football/soccer stadium at the high school and erect several new tennis courts at the Vaughan Tennis Center. Estimated cost of the two projects was about $54.7 million to be funded by about a 14 mill property tax increase from current levels, an estimated $159 on a $100,000 home. In the unofficial final count from the Cowley County Election Office, the first lost 3,188 (71.54%) to 1,268 (28.46%). The second, for the high school sports arena, lost 3,303 (73.03%) to 1,220 (26.97%).
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler