info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Water park short on job candidates

info2021-04-26T07:47:31-05:00April 25th, 2021|

McPherson Water Park needs about 15 employees if the facility is going to resume a normal operating schedule this summer. Aquatics Director Kyle Roberts said he’d worked hard over the years to recruit lifeguards and support staff with his motto of “professional fun.” Even so, finding adequate staffing has become more difficult in recent years as perhaps teenagers are looking for more lucrative employment. He said the trend of having a smaller pool of available employees was affecting water parks across the state. “You really have to love aquatics, but there is a higher expectation now that is falling on these [...]

Diversity task force says it wants Manhattan city government to consider health in all policy decisions

info2021-04-26T07:48:07-05:00April 25th, 2021|

Members of the city government’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force want Manhattan city commissioners to consider health in every policy decision they make. During the task force’s fourth meeting, which took place in person at the K-State Student Union, members broke into subcommittee groups: public safety, livability, economic opportunity, health and wellness, and individual and family support. Each group Thursday identified issues it wants to focus on. About 20 members attended the first in-person meeting of the task force. Jurdene Coleman, who represents Pawnee Mental Health on the task force, spoke on behalf of the health and wellness subcommittee with [...]

City of Salina Community Relations Division awarded nearly $3.1 Million to Assist Salinans in Preventing Eviction or Regain Housing

info2021-04-23T08:12:48-05:00April 23rd, 2021|

The City of Salina Community Relations Division, in partnership with Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas, announced today that it has been awarded a total of nearly $3.1 million in assistance from Kansas Housing Corporation to assist eligible Salinans who are at imminent risk of eviction and individuals who have lost housing to quickly regain housing stability. The funds are made available through the Emergency Solutions Grant program through the federal CARES Act. Salinans struggling to cover rent and utility payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic could qualify for up to six months of emergency assistance. Salina residents can apply for assistance [...]

Hutchinson awards $50k for LEC statue

info2021-04-23T08:14:55-05:00April 23rd, 2021|

A bronze statue of a policeman in an HPD uniform will be added to the redesigned lobby of the Law Enforcement Center this fall. Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper presented a proposed contract for the artwork to the Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday, which unanimously approved awarding a contract to Thomas Jay Warren, of Rogue River, Oregon, for $50,000. Proposed to the council was an artist's rendering of a kneeling officer, which would be placed on a pedestal to put the figure at eye level for the viewer, Hooper said. Source: Hutch News.

Municipal Bond Trends for April 22, 2021

info2021-04-23T07:36:31-05:00April 23rd, 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.

Riding waves of a successful 2020, Wichita plans to find private operator of public courses

info2021-04-23T07:35:39-05:00April 23rd, 2021|

For about a decade, though, the city has been exploring the option of finding a private operator to try and reverse declining revenues, a trend that's happening nationally. Those conversations have been reignited in the last year. More recently, the city had been exploring one possible vendor. Participants in an April 1 joint meeting with the park board and golf advisory committee heard from representatives from the Illinois-based KemperSports and First Tee, which already partners with the city to operate youth golf programs at Consolver and MacDonald. Source: WBJ.

Thousands of jobs open in Kansas, some owners say it’s hard to fill vacant positions

info2021-04-23T07:00:32-05:00April 22nd, 2021|

"Everybody seemed to return to restaurants, almost all at the same time," said Timirie Shibley, Co-Owner of Doo-Dah Diner. A return of customers means a need for more staff. Shibley says while that is a good problem to have, filling the demand has been a struggle. "We can get interviews scheduled, we were having a hard time getting people showing up for their interviews and if we did have somebody show up for their interview and hired for the job," Shibley said. "They didn't show up for the day of the job." Shibley says this is an issue seen beyond Doo-Dah [...]

Galena seeking donations for Route 66 Brick Campaign

info2021-04-23T07:05:54-05:00April 22nd, 2021|

Leaving a mark on a stretch of Americana, it's what Galena city officials are hoping people will do. They're accepting donations for their Route 66 Brick Campaign. The bricks will be placed on the sidewalks of Main Street - and can commemorate events, and-or feature business logos, quotes or even names. It's the third year for the campaign. Officials want to use this to take advantage of the beginning of tourism season for Route 66. Renee Charles, Galena City Clerk, said, "April's the start, end of March early April is the start of tourism for 66, spring break people come through [...]

Hesston’s Ridge Pointe: From trailer park to city’s clean slate for mixed use development

info2021-04-23T07:02:30-05:00April 22nd, 2021|

Today the City of Hesston moves toward developing a city owned property it calls Ridge Pointe. But it’s been an eight year journey with plenty of bumps and tax payer investment along the way to get there. In late spring of 2013, the idea of the City of Hesston purchasing Country Village Mobile Home Park was first proposed. With a price tag of $150,000 to purchase half of the park floated by Mayor Dave Kauffman, the initial rollout of a potential purchase was met with community resistance and hesitancy on the part of city council members. By 2015, talks were underway [...]

City of Mulberry Kansas files lawsuit against British Petroleum

info2021-04-23T07:02:53-05:00April 22nd, 2021|

Natural gas prices surged during February's winter storm - leaving many people worried about their financial future. But one community is fighting back. It's a local version of David vs. Goliath. This one - Mulberry, Kansas vs. British Petroleum or BP. The community has filed a lawsuit against the British multinational oil and gas company. The reason - profiting off of rural areas, like Mulberry, during a statewide disaster. Darvin Weaver, Mulberry Resident, said, "We pretty much all banded together to fight this, we don't know the outcome but we're hoping for the best." February's low temperatures caused gas bills to [...]

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