info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Topeka not intending to tap former Police Chief Bill Cochran for permanent City Manager role

info2021-12-22T00:15:47-06:00December 22nd, 2021|

Former Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran is not eligible for the permanent City Manager position, according to a city spokesperson. Cochran is set to take over as Interim City Manager on December 31, 2021. Director of Communications Gretchen Spiker told KSNT News that the Topeka City Council "does not intend for the Interim City Manager to be eligible for the position permanently." Spiker said the council will discuss how to conduct the search for City Manager Brent Trout's replacement early next year. She said the process has not yet been determined. Source: KSNT News

Incoming Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla to receive help from Harvard students next year

info2021-12-22T00:12:13-06:00December 22nd, 2021|

A group of students from Harvard Kennedy School's Taubman Center for State and Local Government will be visiting Topeka early next year as part of a program that pair students HKS students with newly elected government officials. Expected to arrive in January of 2022, three Harvard students will take part in the Transition Term program which embeds HKS students in the offices of newly elected mayors, county executives and governors to provide students with a unique learning opportunity while also helping officials shift from campaigning to governing. Source: KSNT News

Topeka city manager heads to North Carolina to be county manager

info2021-12-22T00:09:50-06:00December 22nd, 2021|

Topeka City Manager Brent Trout announced he is leaving Topeka to be closer to his grandchildren. Trout sat down with KSNT's David George Monday morning saying he will be assuming the role of a county manager in North Carolina. Trout was hired on October 30, 2017. Trout told KSNT he is, "most proud of the relationships he and the city have built." "We've been able to work on projects and see good things happen along the way," Trout said. Source: KSNT News

Supreme Court urged to sidestep ‘dark store’ debate

info2021-12-22T07:58:57-06:00December 22nd, 2021|

The Kansas Supreme Court is being asked not to take to take up the “dark store” debate and review whether Johnson County overvalued 11 big-box retail stores. Retailers Walmart and Sam’s Clubs say the county hasn’t advanced any credible argument for why the court should review a Court of Appeals decision that found the county incorrectly appraised the properties. “Appellants petition for review is the final effort in a years-long attempt to cause the judiciary to overturn longstanding Kansas law,” the retailers argue in their brief to the Kansas Supreme Court. The Kansas Court of Appeals recently upheld a decision by [...]

Junction City residents without water for days because of water plant mishap

info2021-12-22T07:59:33-06:00December 22nd, 2021|

Residents across Junction City didn’t have water for days after the storm Wednesday because an employee at the city’s water plant forgot to turn off the values, flooding the basement with 600,000 gallons of water, Junction City’s city manager said. Allen Dinkel, city manager, said the city government contracts with Veolia Water, a corporate firm that has worked with the city for 30 or more years. The city government owns the plant, and Veolia Water operates the plant. Dinkel said the water plant on North Jackson Street lost power Wednesday night, and the generator at the plant was operating well. Around [...]

Cities get in line for opioid funds

info2021-12-21T07:38:51-06:00December 21st, 2021|

Kansas is one of at least 40 states that will be eligible to receive money from a settlement targeting the producers and distributors of prescription drugs as early as 2022. The idea behind the settlement is that government entities have been forced to spend money dealing with the opioid crisis. Many of those costs have been incurred by local EMS police and fire departments responding to overdoses or opioid-related situations. This settlement will provide some reimbursement for such costs. Bel Aire, Park City and Kechi have signed up to receive a portion of the settlement. Source: Ark Valley News

Parsons pit bull ban to expire Jan. 20

info2021-12-21T07:36:33-06:00December 21st, 2021|

Parsons will do away with its pit bull ban on Jan. 20. City commissioners Monday voted 3-1 to approve nixing the ordinance that bans pit bulls in the city limits of Parsons. ... In November, the commission unanimously approved removing the section of the city’s animal ordinance that states pit bull dogs are prohibited. Under the current ordinance, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers or a combination of these breeds are considered pit bulls. The city banned pit bulls in 1997. Source: Parsons Sun

Cities eye downtown housing

info2021-12-21T04:22:40-06:00December 21st, 2021|

A tax incentive meant to encourage downtown housing is before Arkansas City commissioners today and is also on the minds of city officials in Winfield. Principal Planner Josh White said the city is looking into Rural Housing Incentive District, which would assist developers with the cost of making building renovations to creating upper floor housing. A RHID is a special taxing district that allows tax revenue generated inside that district to be earmarked for improvements. Building owners could apply for those funds to help bankroll renovations toward housing. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Wichitans react to USPS telling them to install mailboxes

info2021-12-21T04:21:39-06:00December 21st, 2021|

Some Wichitans have recently received white flags in their yard and letters from the U.S. Postal Service. The letters say they need to install a mailbox or sign up for a P.O. Box in order to keep receiving their mail. USPS says the reason is that loose dogs put USPS employees in danger. Source: KSN-TV

Municipal Bond Trends for December 20, 2021

info2021-12-21T04:15:07-06:00December 21st, 2021|

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.

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