info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Legislative auditors skeptical Prairiefire development can pay off $64.8M in bond debt

info2022-01-24T07:19:51-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The Overland Park retail, office, hotel and residential development attached to the Prairiefire museum struggles to attract out-of-state tourists and could default on $64.8 million in bond debt issued through a state economic development program under scrutiny by the Legislature. Auditors with the Legislature said their analysis of the PrairieFire project built with capital raised through issuance in 2012 of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, indicated the project wasn’t generating enough sales tax revenue to repay debts in the required 20-year period. Originally, $64.9 million in bonds were issued for the project. Debt remaining to be paid: $64.8 million. [...]

Wyandotte County residents turn out in support of proposal to establish a public defender’s office

info2022-01-24T01:42:48-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The Kansas State Board of Public Indigents’ Services held a public hearing Saturday at Kansas City, Kansas Community College on a proposal to establish a public defender’s office in Wyandotte County which currently does not have one. The hearing was attended by close to 200 community members. In her Governor’s Commission for Racial Equity and Justice Initial Report, Gov. Laura Kelly recommends that counties with more than 100,000 residents have a public defender’s office. Wyandotte County has more than 165,000 residents. Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree told the board he thinks a public defender’s office is necessary. “I was a [...]

Northeast USD 246 working outside the box to fill staff vacancies due to COVID

info2022-01-24T07:21:07-06:00January 24th, 2022|

As Omicron surges and schools close due to staffing shortages, new plans are needed to keep kids in class. We paid a visit to one local district working outside the box to fill open positions. Elementary Principal Kerstin Womble says Northeast USD 246 has been struggling with staffing issues like every other district in our area. “It’s been a little difficult for us as a small town because we share subs with every district in the area.” But you wouldn’t know it if you paid a visit to one of their schools, like we did. That’s because, everyone is stepping up. [...]

Biden’s Infrastructure Czar Offers Tips for Cities Seeking Grants

info2022-01-25T01:17:22-06:00January 24th, 2022|

The senior White House advisor tasked with overseeing the recently approved $1.2 trillion infrastructure package says there are immediate steps cities can take that could help them compete for grants federal agencies will award under the law. "You don't have to wait," Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New Orleans, told members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Friday. For instance, he said city leaders should make sure proposed road and bridge projects are part of their regional planning organization's transportation improvement plan. Additionally, he said, they could determine where they'd like to install electric vehicle chargers, map and inventory lead [...]

Company seeks Iola’s help with fiber optics

info2022-01-24T07:22:15-06:00January 24th, 2022|

Iola City Council members will hear a request Monday from KwiKom Communications to help the company expand its fiber-optic service in Iola. KwiKom already provides such service to portions of Iola, primarily north of U.S. 54. It would cost roughly $640,000 to cover much of the rest of Iola, the company noted. It is hoping the city would pay up to half — $320,000 — to extend the private company’s reach to an additional 1,700 residences and 100 businesses The funds would be repaid through a franchise fee payment of $37,500 annually, plus another $7,000 to $10,000 for pole rental to [...]

Company provides fiber internet for Garden Plain

info2022-01-24T01:00:02-06:00January 24th, 2022|

Like many technological advances in modern society, several local rural communities owe their ability to access the internet to high school kids with a passion for making technology accessible. IdeaTek has recently made a deal with the city of Garden Plain to bring fiber internet to the residents of the town. The company also provides fiber technology in Goddard and high-speed wireless internet, called AirLight, in Cheney. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed

Candidates attend meet and greet for Atchison City Manager

info2022-01-24T07:23:06-06:00January 24th, 2022|

Thursday evening the city hosted a meet and greet for two candidates seeking the office of City Manager. Joe Warren the current Assistant City Manager for Atchison and Amy Finch, City Manager from Cookston, Minnesota were on hand to greet members of the public. Joe Warren is well known to most citizens for his role at the Atchison Globe and has a newspaper background. Warren comes from New Mexico but is a transplant to the Midwest. He earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Kansas University. While in Atchison he was an Adjunct Professor. In 2018 he became Director of [...]

New York Times: For Small Towns With Small Work Forces, Omicron Means Small Margins for Error

info2022-01-24T07:30:12-06:00January 23rd, 2022|

“Small as we are, if we get one phone call, that can cause a ripple,” said Sean Pederson, the city manager of Bonner Springs, Kan., a community of about 7,800 residents some 20 miles west of Kansas City. Mr. Pederson said he has found himself mopping floors during the pandemic when city hall janitors were out with the virus. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, a snowstorm blanketed the region. With multiple employees out on the city’s public works staff, other departments scrambled to find workers to plow the streets. ... It’s a familiar story in small towns across [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 21, 2022

info2022-01-23T19:47:34-06:00January 21st, 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.

Topeka to consider setting aside at least $35M in ARPA money for infrastructure work

info2022-01-23T19:35:35-06:00January 21st, 2022|

Topeka's mayor and city council will consider setting aside at least $35 million to be used to finance infrastructure projects out of the federal COVID relief funding the city will receive. That body on Feb. 1 will take up a proposal that would take that step while directing the council's policy and finance committee to create a process to distribute the rest of the $45,676,831 the city has been awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act. "Once developed, this process will be brought back to the full body for its consideration," says the proposed resolution, which is sponsored by interim city [...]

About info