info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Municipal bonds remain attractive to investors

info2021-08-12T07:05:16-05:00August 12th, 2021|

Municipals remain attractive as an asset class ... In the near term, summer technicals have generated very visible net negative supply conditions, according to Jeff Lipton, managing director and head of municipal credit and market strategy and municipal capital markets at Oppenheimer & Co. ... “If the outlook for the future tax bite stays muted for a while longer and we continue to receive heavier doses of hawkish Fed speak and higher inflation data points, yields may experience continued upward pressure,” he added. ... Even without a rise in federal tax rates, municipals should continue to offer “very desirable credit quality [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 11, 2021

info2021-08-12T06:42:44-05:00August 12th, 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.

USD 308 Hutchinson scrambles to recover live stream of BOE meeting after Facebook takes it down

info2021-08-12T00:23:54-05:00August 12th, 2021|

Facebook took down USD 308's Board of Education meeting from Monday, a meeting where the board voted to mandate masks for all schools in the district. The school district says because they have no control over the social media platform -- there isn't much they can do. Now, USD 308 is just hoping they will be able to get access to the video again so the public can rewatch the meeting. Michael Folks, USD 308's superintendent said, "I can tell you that it's disappointing because we pride ourselves on being transparent." "We believe in our community's right to share their opinions [...]

South Hutchinson agrees in principle to county offer on bridge project

info2021-08-12T00:16:04-05:00August 12th, 2021|

The City of South Hutchinson City Council unanimously agreed in principle Tuesday night to accept an offer by Reno County to assist in the replacement of the Scott Boulevard bridge. Reno County Public Works Director Don Brittain consulted with an engineer that the county works with regularly for their own projects and it is believed that a bridge can be built for about half the price of the original $700,000 estimate by using a different type of design and construction. “With the help of Reno County, we’re hoping to save our taxpayers about $350,000,” Mayor Matt Nisly said after the meeting. [...]

Humboldt competes by raising pay

info2021-08-12T00:14:00-05:00August 12th, 2021|

Humboldt council members raised the base pay for city employees from $11.84 an hour to $15 an hour at their meeting Monday evening. The increase “puts us back into a place where the city is a viable option to earn a living wage,” said Paul Cloutier, council member. Increasingly, the city has been losing employees to better-paying jobs, said Cole Herder, city administrator, “for which I can’t blame them. I can’t blame anybody looking for work elsewhere to earn more money.” The city currently has five openings on its maintenance crew. Cloutier said the significant increase makes Humboldt competitive against not [...]

After years-long legal battle, Shawnee to buy 20 acres off Johnson Drive for new city parks and rec HQ

info2021-08-12T00:12:29-05:00August 12th, 2021|

After months of negotiations, the city of Shawnee has agreed to purchase a piece of property near the Johnson County landfill to use as a new hub for the city’s parks and recreation department. The Shawnee City Council on Monday voted 7-0 to approve a real estate agreement and purchase the property for $3 million from Wayne Developers LLC. The 20 acres of property are located at 18750 Johnson Drive, just west of I-435. Councilmember Mike Kemmling was absent for the discussion and vote. There was no public comment. The unused site includes a 30,000-square-foot-warehouse and shares a driveway with the [...]

American Solar Challenge stops in McPherson on Santa Fe Trail route

info2021-08-12T00:07:14-05:00August 12th, 2021|

The American Solar Challenge race made an overnight stop in McPherson last Tuesday on its five-day trek from Independence, Mo. to Las Vegas, Nevada. The race followed the route of the Santa Fe Trail in honor of the trail’s 200th anniversary. The American Solar Challenge is a multi-day, cross-country endurance rally across North America that is open to collegiate-level teams. The first race took place in 1990 and the competition is held every other year, but was postponed in 2020. This year’s Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) winner was the MIT team, which finished with an official time of 32:01:46 with an [...]

Wichita police chief Gordon Ramsay tells the department he won’t be headed to Texas

info2021-08-12T00:03:06-05:00August 12th, 2021|

Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay will not be taking over the troubled Austin Police Department in Texas, city officials said Wednesday. Mayor Brandon Whipple said he was informed by City Manager Robert Layton that Ramsay will be staying in his current job for the foreseeable future. Whipple said he was delighted by the news and that Ramsay’s community policing initiatives have “really brought us closer to the goals of what other cities are trying to do as well. Chief Ramsay has done a really good job of setting that standard.” Ramsay emailed the department Wednesday that he was no longer in [...]

$433,720 sought from wind farm

info2021-08-12T06:41:49-05:00August 11th, 2021|

A new offer approved Monday seeks to resolve months of dispute over road damage in and around the Diamond Vista wind farm in northern Marion County. After a 15-minute closed-door session with counselor Brad Jantz, county commissioners voted to send the wind farm’s owner, Enel Green Power of North America, a letter demanding payment of $433,720 to settle all claims relative to the wind farm’s road maintenance agreement. Nearly two years ago, independent engineers estimated it would cost $473,020 to repair damage to 340th, 350th, 360th, Chisholm Trail, Diamond, Indigo, Limestone, and Pawnee Rds. Source: Marion County RECORD

Issue of flag with profanity heads to Blue Rapids court

info2021-08-12T06:48:17-05:00August 11th, 2021|

Blue Rapids resident David Sain recently flew a flag with a profane statement in his front yard for three months before a neighbor complained to the city. Soon a petition to remove the flag was circulated and signed by 21 neighbors. City officials told Sain to remove the flag. Sain complied, taking it down. Then he placed it in a window in his home. The flag includes profanity against President Joe Biden and against those who voted for him. When Sain re-posted the sign in his window, police cited him and a trial before Judge Gerri Wybo was set for Sept. [...]

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