info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lawrence Task Force to recommend consideration of directly elected mayor; discussion of districts ongoing

info2021-04-30T07:27:38-05:00April 30th, 2021|

A task force of Lawrence residents that has been reconsidering the city’s form of government has come out in favor of having a directly elected mayor. As part of its meeting Thursday evening, the City Government Study Task Force voted 7-0, with a few members absent, to recommend that the city consider changing to a directly elected mayor who serves a four-year term. Currently, the City Commission chooses one of its own members to serve a one-year term as mayor each year — by tradition, commissioners choose based on whoever received the most votes in the most recent election, though there [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 29, 2021

info2021-04-30T06:56:43-05:00April 30th, 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.

Johnson County ends mask mandate but strongly urges residents to continue wearing them

info2021-04-30T06:50:48-05:00April 29th, 2021|

Johnson County is dropping its mask mandate, officials decided Thursday, and instead is strongly recommending that residents get vaccinated, continue wearing masks and social distance to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 to pass a resolution stating that officials strongly encourage residents to follow pandemic-related safety protocols. The county mask mandate will expire after Friday. Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara, who has routinely said she is against COVID-19 mandates, voted against the resolution. Earlier this week, Kansas City loosened its pandemic-related emergency order, but said that masks are still required in most indoor settings where [...]

Shawnee County housing market becoming more competitive as home inventory drops

info2021-04-30T06:50:55-05:00April 29th, 2021|

The Sunflower Association of Realtors is seeing a huge drop in available homes in Shawnee County. According to the March 2021 Housing Report, there were 92 active listings in the county. That's a drop of 62 percent compared to the year before. CEO Linda Briden said they currently have only a two-week supply of homes for sale. She said the lack of inventory is causing the market to move quickly. "There will be very little time for a buyer to make a decision on a property that they really like," Briden said. "It could go on the MLS in the morning [...]

Allen County residents tackle housing

info2021-04-30T06:51:12-05:00April 29th, 2021|

Allen County residents gathered to discuss issues related to housing. Several key areas of need were identified, including the availability of financing and recruiting builders. Housing was the talk of the town in Allen County yesterday. Specifically, how to get more. In the morning, Atlas Community Studios and McClure Company hosted an online “visioning session” to collect data on housing needs. And in the evening, the Renaissance Design Group (RDG) and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) facilitated a public meeting at the North Community Building in Iola. Quite a few residents were in attendance, with over 30 tuning in online [...]

Trisha Purdon named director of the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity

info2021-04-30T06:53:13-05:00April 29th, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Trisha Purdon will lead the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP). Purdon currently serves as the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Action Council, working hands on with communities in Southeast Kansas to grow and strengthen local economies. “When I took office, my administration took steps right away to give rural Kansans – who had gone unheard for far too long – a voice here in Topeka, resulting in the Office of Rural Prosperity,” Governor Kelly said. “The Office’s goals of tackling pressing issues like child care, broadband, housing, preserving main street businesses, and creating [...]

Sedgwick County staffing shortages could lead to raised taxes or a reduction in services

info2021-04-30T06:53:41-05:00April 29th, 2021|

The pandemic has drained the county’s bank account, just like those of many other Kansans. This has been due, in part, to increased healthcare costs to construction prices, to utility raises and commodity shortages. This leaves the county with one of two choices: raise taxes or cut services. “I don’t think there’s any appetite to raise taxes,” Stolz said. “So then, the other end of that is the services provided.” What services could be cut? Stolz said that any county services that’s not required by the state will be on the table. Source: KAKE - News

Shortage of EMTs leads to worries about slower response times

info2021-04-30T06:53:53-05:00April 29th, 2021|

Problems within Sedgwick County’s EMS Department has EMTs leaving and the county trying to find a solution. Currently, there are 20 openings for EMTs at Sedgwick County EMS. EMTs say that the shortage endangers their ability to respond to people’s calls for help. Former Sedgwick County paramedic Jake Masterson said, “It got to the point, before I left, that we were shutting down three to four trucks per shift, which is insane.” Some say that the problem began with the EMS medical director. “Yes, there are concerns about that workforce,” admits Tom Stolz, Sedgwick County Manager. “We are also aware that [...]

Gov. Kelly celebrates power-pole transparency law: ‘This is what good government looks like’

info2021-04-30T06:54:01-05:00April 29th, 2021|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly visited a northeast Wichita neighborhood Thursday to promote a law she signed earlier this month requiring more transparency from utility companies before they run powerlines through urban areas. “This is what good government looks like,” Kelly said. “It’s the public and private sector and private citizens working together to find solutions to problems.” The law — formerly House Bill 2321 — was passed in response to a 2018 Evergy project in northeast Wichita. Evergy built 105-foot-tall steel poles in front lawns throughout a predominantly low-income, historically Black neighborhood in Wichita to support high-voltage lines connecting three substations [...]

Inman Car Show brings together community for first spring outing

info2021-04-30T06:54:31-05:00April 29th, 2021|

Larry Rufener has missed only one Inman car show in the last 31 years, foregoing only the 2020 show. “I keep coming back because of the fried chicken buffet, for one,” he joked. Rufener has owned his now prize-winning 1966 Corvette for five years. “I traded in a couple of my other cars for it, and it got me down. And it made my wife happy; now there’s another space in the garage for her junk. And it’s nicer than what I traded for it,” he said. The Corvette has been partially restored, however, it still has the original engine and [...]

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