Kansas Municipal News
Recycling future at risk: Shawnee County eyes rising costs in weighing program’s fate
Shawnee County would greatly extend the lifespan of its Rolling Meadows Landfill by offering curbside recycling, county commissioners were told in 2012 as they prepared to establish that program. But nearly a decade later, that landfill’s life expectancy has risen by only four months, commissioners learned last month from Bill Sutton, director of the county’s solid waste department. Meanwhile, the cost of offering curbside recycling has risen to the point where it is increasingly impractical for government entities.
Source: CJonline
Hutchinson City Council OKs new hotel and hires city manager
Hutchinson City Council approved both a new city manager and a new hotel during Tuesday’s meeting. Kendal Francis, who is currently the city administrator of Great Bend, will begin work in Hutchinson in January. Francis started in Great Bend in mid-2018. Francis also served as city manager in Coffeyville. He is a graduate of Kansas State University, having a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the school. … “We’re going to roll up our sleeves and we’ll get to work soon,” Francis, a Kansas native told the commissioners.
Source: Hutch News
City Council approves new contract for Wichita firefighters
Wichita City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new three-year contract for the city’s firefighters. The contract will provide for a general pay increase of 9 percent along with merit-based step increases. There will also be pay increases for medical certification, among a number of other provisions. Ted Bush, president of Local 135 of the International Association of Firefighters, said the contract will provide a much-needed sense of security and stability to the union members. He said it will be life-changing for firefighters and their families and it will make Wichita one of the best cities in the country for future firefighters. Bush thanked the people of Wichita for their support and said “we will continue to serve each one of you with pride, professionalism and gratitude.”
Source: 101.3 KFDI
City input session planned regarding future Aggieville projects
A public input session is planned by Manhattan city officials next week regarding the upcoming Aggieville streetscape projects. City officials are working with design consultants on plans for the next infrastructure phases to improve streets, sidewalks, landscaping and amenities in Aggieville, along with lighting and other underground utilities. Upcoming projects include 12th Street improvements from Laramie to Moro Streets, Laramie Street from 11th to North Manhattan Ave. and the pedestrian path between Rally House and Goodcents, north of the parking garage.
Source: 1350 KMAN
People Are Leaving Kansas in Droves
Across the country, hundreds of thousands of companies have established remote work policies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. No longer bound to an office, millions of Americans are now free to relocate without having to consider proximity to their employer – and some clear trends are emerging. A recent study from moving services company United Van Lines showed that in some parts of the country, far more people are leaving than are moving in. According to the United Van Lines study, there were 2,741 moves to or from Kansas in 2021. Of those moves, 56% were outbound – the 11th highest share among states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Search to begin for new Great Bend city administrator
Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis officially announced his resignation before the City Council Monday night. Reading from a prepared statement, an emotional Francis praised the city staff and governing body and urged them to rely on this expertise as the search for his replacement gets underway. “It’s not been easy on anybody” Mayor Cody Schmidt said. “We have quite a process in front of us,” Schmidt said. “But I have big hopes big dreams and a lot of faith in this group up here with me. We will do everything in our power to make sure the city continues to move in the right direction.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Halstead Hospital doesn’t receive any bids in auction
According to the online auction site, three of the four properties for sale by Azzy Reckess of New York received bids. The largest bid came in at $340,000 for the apartment complex at 308 Chestnut, across the street from the Halstead Hospital. The residence at 311 Chestnut, which is at the edge of the parking lot of the hospital, brought a high bid of $55,000. The Townsman Motel received a bid of $16,500. The Halstead Hospital was listed at a starting bid of $500,000 and did not receive any bids, according to Weigand’s auction website.
Source: Harvey County Now
City of Wichita launches landlord incentive program to help with housing voucher backlog
On Tuesday the Wichita city council passed a new incentive program to try to address the issue. Stang says the program will pay out “$1,000 in a one-time payment to any new landlord who’s never participated in the program before, a $500 incentive for a landlord that participated in the past, but hasn’t in the last six months and comes back, those are available with our first lease up and then it’s a $250 bonus signing bonus for each tenancy.“
Source: KAKE – News
‘Every second counted’: Leawood honors rescuers who pulled woman from burning car
Three weeks ago, 51-year-old Caroline Kill was pulled from a fiery crash in Leawood by first responders, a dramatic rescue that was caught on a police officers body camera. At a City Council meeting on Monday, Leawood leaders honored her rescuers for their bravery and saving Kill’s life. “They are heroes,” said Martha Gage Elton, Kill’s mother. The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Tomahawk Creek trailhead parking lot at 117th Street and Tomahawk Creek Parkway, near the Leawood Police Department.
Source: KC Star Local News
Prairie Village is getting heated over a plan to expand affordable housing
An ad hoc committee appointed by the mayor of Prairie Village has submitted recommendations meant to diversify the city’s housing stock and affordability. The plan, among other things, would change zoning rules to allow more multi-unit buildings in zones designated for multi-family housing. Dan Schoepf, a member of Prairie Village United — a group organized in opposition to the recommendations — questioned the city’s ability to mandate diversity and rent costs. And he raised concerns about expanding the use of accessory dwelling units.
Source: KCUR
Prairie Village may expand home improvement funds
More Prairie Village residents could become eligible for two city grant programs aimed at helping homeowners make exterior improvements to their homes. City staff recommended city council approve several changes to the city’s exterior grant and sustainability grant programs. Both programs reimburse qualifying residents for portions of either exterior or sustainability-related improvements to their homes.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Merriam approves $1M fund to help revive hotels
The Merriam City Council has approved a $1 million fund to help revive its four hotels, a key part of the city’s tax base. The fund, approved by an unanimous vote at the council’s Nov. 28 meeting, is an attempt to help the city’s hotels, all of which are located along Interstate 35, refurbish their properties and increase their revenues. City staff told the city council the goal is to decrease blight and increase the average daily room rates at the four hotels, which include the Extended Stay America, Hampton Inn Suites, Hotel Lotus and Quality Inn clustered around I-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Panel at Lawrence library to address housing problems and solutions
Local housing experts will discuss rental problems and the shortage of affordable housing options during a panel Thursday at the Lawrence Public Library. Panelists will “share their expertise about feasible policy solutions including inclusive screening practices, banning housing discrimination based on source of income, and tenants’ rights to counsel,” according to a news release from the library. “In 2020, our community identified affordable housing as one of our top three issues,” Marc Veloz, community resources specialist at LPL, said in the release. “It hasn’t gone away and folks are eager to find a solution to this crisis.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas to receive part of $981M federal investment in rural communities
More than $980 million has been sent to numerous states and two territories to help create new and better market opportunities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Tuesday that a total of $981 million would be sent to 47 states along with Guam and the Virgin Islands. Part of this cash disbursement will also be sent to the state of Kansas. “Rural people provide the everyday essentials our country depends on,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is dedicated to helping people through job creation and expansion of entrepreneurial opportunities in the rural places they live. The partnerships we’re announcing today demonstrate USDA’s commitment to advocating for rural business owners and building brighter futures for everyone in rural America.”
Source: KSN-TV
Flags are to fly at half-staff Wednesday and Thursday
Flags will be flying at half-staff Wednesday through Thursday. Wednesday is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. It was 81 years ago when a sneak attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy struck America’s naval base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 American service members and civilians and wounded over 1,000. In addition, the bombing raid destroyed nearly 20 American naval vessels and over 300 aircraft. It was the final catalyst that brought the United States into World War II. The following day, Dec. 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Imperial Japan.
Source: KSN-TV
Drought forces more coyotes into Kansas towns
Kansas Game Wardens are warning residents of the Sunflower State to keep an eye out for increasing numbers of coyotes in residential areas. Coyotes are being found more often in towns this year in Kansas, according to game wardens. This is due to extreme drought conditions as the coyotes search for food and water. Game wardens say that you should stay calm if you spot a coyote in your neighborhood. Many coyotes avoid people and seeing one during the day and seeing them is not a cause for alarm as they are mostly looking for a place to rest. Coyotes are usually fearful of people.
Source: KSNF/KODE
USD 383 board to vote on superintendent succession Wednesday
The Manhattan-Ogden school board will vote to make USD 383 assistant superintendent Eric Reid the next district superintendent at its meeting Wednesday. The regular meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Robinson Education Center. The final business item listed in the meeting’s agenda is the superintendent succession plan that calls for Reid to succeed superintendent Marvin Wade upon Wade’s retirement in June. If approved, Reid will replace Wade, who will leave June 30 after the board accepted his retirement last month. Reid previously served as superintendent at USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo for four years before joining USD 383 in 2015. Reid replaced Robert Seymour, who retired from the assistant superintendent position.
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article
Fed to Weigh Higher Interest Rates Next Year While Slowing Rises This Month
Federal Reserve officials have signaled plans to raise their benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage point at their meeting next week, but elevated wage pressures could lead them to continue lifting it to higher levels than investors currently expect. They have raised rates this year at the fastest pace since the early 1980s, including by 0.75 point at each of their past four meetings to combat inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated last week that the central bank was prepared to downshift the size of rate increases at its coming meeting on Dec. 13-14. A smaller 0.5-point increase would mark a new phase of policy tightening as they calibrate how much higher to lift rates. Policy makers expect price pressures to ease meaningfully next year, but brisk wage growth or higher inflation in labor-intensive service sectors of the economy could lead more of them to support raising their benchmark rate next year above the 5% currently anticipated by investors.
Source: WSJ.com
Municipal Bond Trends for December 5, 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.
Following redistricting town hall, Douglas County is pulling together new data based on public feedback
“The only way that you could ensure that a district has rural representation is that the district only has precincts that are not in the City of Lawrence,” [Douglas County Clerk Jami] Shew told the Journal-World Friday. “That’s why that map was presented, some people said they wanted to make sure that there was a rural commissioner. Well, that’s the only way you can get it, because both the U.S. and Kansas Constitutions state that if you reside in a district, you have a right to file for and serve in any office that is within that district.” Because the districts are required by state statute to be contiguous and as equal in population as possible, doing much more than that is impossible based on the percentage of the population that lives in Lawrence, Shew said.
Source: LJWorld