Kansas Municipal News
Affordable housing complex in Baldwin can modernize nearly 40-year-old units; without ARPA aid, it would’ve taken another decade
Baldwin Retirement Apartment Complex Inc. … received $733,711, which will help the nonprofit modernize Jersey Street Apartment Suites, a 24-unit complex of one-bedroom apartments spread across four buildings. It will also allow for two of those units to be converted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it will allow a maintenance update that BRAC staff described to the Journal-World as crucial. It’s a project that definitely wouldn’t be happening if not for ARPA aid. In fact, it would be a 10-year project without it….
Source: LJWorld
Derby seeks to expand tools in addressing current housing market needs
Following completion of a housing study specific to Derby, presented to both the planning commission and City Council in the past month, two major needs were outlined in the community. The study showed a rather unique market need for homes targeted to households making more than $75,000 annually – as well as a more common demand for availability of units for households with an annual income below $25,000. In conjunction with the city’s comprehensive plan and eligibility for new programs, the housing study was completed to help the city determine ways to address both of those needs. City Planner Scott Knebel noted that a number of subsidy programs exist to help develop housing for lower income households, outlining those opportunities in a recent report to the council – while also pointing out their underutilization in Derby.
Source: Derby Informer | News
‘World class’ justice center sure to be inviting to public breaks ground in Lenexa
Lenexa leaders held a groundbreaking on Sept. 13, the ceremonial start of construction on the city’s new Justice Center at Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street. Completion is expected in the spring of 2024. “Our organization has needed a new facility for a significant amount of time. Setting aside the obvious deteriorating necessities such as air conditioning and plumbing, we need a space that will better allow our personnel to complete their work efficiently,” Police Sgt. Curtis Weber said. “On top of that, the police department needs to be a facility that is inviting and engaging for the community. Our current facility does not allow for that type of environment. The new Justice Center will allow our facility to reflect the standard our staff is expected to strive for: world-class.”
Source: KC Star
2-year Treasury tops 4.2%, a 15-year high as Fed continues to jolt short-term rates higher
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury fell on Friday as markets adjusted to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike and attention turned toward flash PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) data for September that is due to be released later in the day. … The policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury continued to hover around 4.1% after having risen off the back of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike. On Thursday, it had soared as high as 4.163% — a level not seen since October 2007… September flash PMI data is set to be released on Friday, giving markets preliminary insight into the economic state of the manufacturing and services industries for the month. PMI data is used as a key indicator for inflation and recession concerns as it reflects whether industries are growing or shrinking, as well as supply and demand.
Source: CNBC
Baldwin City to ask voters for additional half-cent sales tax to rehab brick streets
The Baldwin City government will ask city residents to approve on the November ballot an additional half cent of sales tax authority to be used to rehabilitate brick streets in its historic district. Baldwin City Mayor Casey Simoneau said that the City Council in June approved placing the sales tax referendum before voters. If approved, the additional half cent in sales tax, which would be permanent, would be added to the existing 1.25-cent sales tax the city collects on retail sales in Baldwin City to help pay for various infrastructure needs. With county and state sales taxes, approval of the measure would increase the total amount of sales tax charged in Baldwin City to 9.5 cents on $1 of retail sales.
Source: LJWorld
Scott City finally has leverage with problem trees
Individuals who are worried that a neighboring tree is a potential hazard for their property finally have a remedy. The Scott City Council has adopted an ordinance that offers a legal option to trim tree branches or remove dead or diseased trees from private property if they are a hazard to life or property, or if they harbor insects or disease that put other trees at risk.
Source: Scott County Record
Municipal Bond Trends for September 22, 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.
Garden City launches new customer service tool
The City of Garden City has launched a new customer service tool, My GCKS, a text messaging service that lets residents quickly and easily connect with the City 24/7 without the need to download an app. Launced in partnership with Citibot, the leading provider of interactive chat solutions for local government, My GCKS grew from feedback from public surveys in August of 2021 in which residents indicated support for using a texting option if it were available. With that information, Staff moved forward with the best text messaging options to fit the needs of the residents and the City.
Source: Greater Garden City
Wamego poverty simulation shines light on difficulties families face
The K-State Research and Extension Office recently hosted a poverty simulation at Wamego High School. Tuesday’s event, Living on the Edge – The Realities of Living Paycheck to Paycheck in Today’s World, was attended by about forty community members. Pottawatomie County Family Consumer Science Agent Erin Tynon explains. The decisions involved housing and utilities, clothing and laundry, meals, transportation, childcare, communications, personal care, recreation, and insurance. Each decision created decisions in other areas of the budget. If the family owned a used car, they had to use some of their budget for auto insurance. If they chose work-sponsored health insurance, they first had to obtain full-time childcare for the three-year-old.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Newton City Commissioner Vogts leaves a legacy of helping others, entrepreneurship
Newton City Commissioner Rod Kreie and Al Vogts used to dream out loud to each other about how to make Newton a better place to live. “Our relationship evolved to where we really liked being around each other,” Kreie said. “We looked at buildings and spaces together to see how they might fit into an overall master plan, talked about how to get people on board and his patent dream was to make Main Street an angle parking street.” Parallel parking had to change for things to work, Kreie said. Vogts died on Sept. 12 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita at the age of 62. Vogts, with a business degree under his belt, followed his brother’s and father’s paths to become an entrepreneur, according to his obituary. For the past 40 years, Vogts used his business plans for construction companies, an event center, real estate companies and developments, and an athletic training club, as well as other ideas for which he wanted to impact his community.
Source: Harvey County Now
Southeast Kansas steps up its resources for students
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced a five-year nine-million dollar grant to improve student behavioral health in southeast Kansas. The grant aims to address the behavioral health needs of nearly 40 thousand students. Officials with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas say the grant will impact children without resources. “If someone is struggling to come to school, unready to learn because they don’t have food, we want to help,” said Leah Gagnon, Director of Patient Engagement at the CHC of SEK. “Our community health workers can really step in and be that bridge between the resources and support that we have in the schools and the resources and support that families and students need at home.”
Source: KOAMKOAM
Dog rescued by Geary County Sheriff’s Office becomes national narcotics detector dog
A dog rescued by the Geary County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) has become a national narcotics detector dog. According to the GCSO, Nova was dumped near Interstate 70, and in 2018, she became a K-9 partner to Captain Justin Stopper. On Thursday, Sept. 22, she became certified through the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) for meth, heroin, cocaine and marijuana. She also gained certification for articles, such as clothing.
Source: KSN-TV
Sales tax increase could add extra $1M for Parsons
If Parsons voters in November approve increasing the public safety sales tax up 0.5% to 1%, it will generate approximately an additional $1,000,000 for a total of $2,000,000 for the city, according to City Manager Debbie Lamb. The current 0.5% sales tax in Parsons generates about $1,000,000, Lamb told the Sun on Wednesday. The added money from the tax would go toward the construction of a new public safety center for the Parsons Police Department.
Source: Parsons Sun
Overland Park Farmers Market named ‘America’s favorite’ in new nationwide vote
The Overland Park Farmers’ Market is the best in the country, according to a new online poll of thousands of farmers’ markets from around the U.S. The 60-year-old market in downtown Overland Park took home the title of America’s “favorite farmers market” in the 14th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration put on, in part, by the American Farmland Trust. The contest, which lasted throughout the summer before ending on Sept. 19., had farmers markets across the country participate by asking shoppers, farmers, vendors, volunteers and others to vote for their favorite markets.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Text-to-911 service enhancements look to save more lives
The Garden City Police Department, in conjunction with the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council, announces the enhancements made to the Text-to-911 service in Kansas. Text- to-911 has been available to citizens of Finney County since November 2017, for individuals who cannot safely make a voice call to 911 in an emergency. Texting 911 can be done by typing “911” in the field for a phone number. No other numbers need to be used. Texting should be done through your wireless phones text messaging service and not from a third-party texting application. Text-to-911 does require an active telephone service plan with data, or it will not work.
Source: Western Kansas News
Having a rambunctious party in Overland Park could now cost you up to $500
The Overland Park City Council unanimously passed a policy to regulate partying, particularly at short-term rentals, following a fatal shooting in March at an Overland Park property. Council members voted unanimously in favor of the nuisance party ordinance, which regulates gatherings of five or more people that leads to noise complaints, unlawful alcohol or drug use, assault or battery, property damage and littering among other factors. The ordinance would allow officers to cite individuals for criminal conduct and for failing to leave a party once instructed.
Source: KC Star Local News
TPD holds public session on training methods
Thursday night, members of the Topeka Police Department hosted an event to better educate the public about how officers are trained to handle the emergencies they experience on a daily basis. During the session, police instructors outlined the current procedures for training new recruits, and what continued education looks like to veteran officers. The goal of meetings is to open a dialog with the community about the rigorous training Topeka Police officers must complete before they interact with the public. This was the second of two educational presentations about police procedure.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Notice of Public Meetings in Central and Eastern Kansas for Public Water Supply Lead and Copper Rule Implementation
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is holding public meetings to help communities and public water supply systems learn about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Lead and Cooper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Under the LCRR, public water supply systems are required to prepare and maintain and inventory of service line materials. This inventory is to be submitted to KDHE by October 16, 2024.
Public water supply system decision-makers, operators, and the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the inventory requirements and actions that can be taken to reduce lead exposure risks in drinking water. Piping containing lead can become a potential health risk in drinking water. Some homes (typically built before 1988) may have lead service lines that connect to the public water supply system. Young children, infants and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead in drinking water and water used for formula because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children.
KDHE staff will review the following topics:
- Development of Lead Service Line Inventories
- Public Water Supply System Responsibilities
- Water System Customer Cooperation
- Lead Exposure Health Risks from Drinking Water
- Funding information for lead service line replacement
The meetings will be held:
| October 3, 2022 | October 4, 2022 |
| 1 – 3 p.m. | 1 – 3 p.m. |
| Courtyard by Marriott | Drury Plaza Hotel |
| 3020 Riffell Drive | 400 W. Douglas Ave. |
| Salina, Kansas 67401 | Wichita, Kansas 67202 |
| October 11, 2022 | October 12, 2022 |
| 1 – 3 p.m. | 1 – 3 p.m. |
| Capital Plaza Hotel, Emerald Ballroom | Chanute Memorial Auditorium |
| 1717 SW Topeka Blvd | 101 S. Lincoln Ave. |
| Topeka, Kansas 66612 | Chanute, Kansas 66720 |
Individuals needing accommodations should contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at least five business days before the hearing by phone at (785) 296-5514, fax (785) 559-4258 or TTY 711.
Meetings for other regions of the state will be announced once they are scheduled.
For more information about KDHE’s Lead Service Line Inventory requirements please visit KDHE.KS.gov/LCRR.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 21, 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.
USDA Rural Development Announces $6.3 Million for High-Speed Internet in Rural Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas State Director for Rural Development Christy Davis today announced $6,319,640 in funding for high-speed internet access for rural residents and businesses in eight counties in Kansas and Nebraska. USDA is making the investments through the third funding round of the ReConnect Program. … The specifics of this Kansas grant are: A $6,319,640 grant will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. This network will connect 704 people, 17 businesses, and 225 farms to high-speed internet in Jackson, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Republic, Washington, and Riley counties in Kansas as well as Jefferson and Thayer counties in Nebraska. … To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.