info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Republic and Washington Counties still being considered for wind farm

info2021-01-14T07:31:31-06:00January 13th, 2021|

NextEra Energy Resources is still considering a wind farm project in Washington County, but the wind farm company is still gathering information. “We are in the early stages of developing a wind project in the area,” said senior communication specialist Conlan Kennedy. “We are evaluating both Republic and Washington Counties for this project, but we have not finalized an exact location at this time. We are currently assessing the land and wind resources in the area and speaking with community leaders about the potential project. We intend to reach out to landowners with more information soon. Source: www.backroadsnews.com/rss.xml

Utilities installing solar power operations in Missouri, Kansas

info2021-01-14T07:31:53-06:00January 13th, 2021|

Two area utilities are adding solar power to their portfolios of electrical generation to meet the needs of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas. The first of solar electrical generation operation will come online in the next two weeks when Liberty Utilities completes its first 2.2-megawatt solar farm near Prosperity, east of Webb City and south of Carterville in Jasper County. In Kansas, Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative is building two 1-megawatt solar arrays in two locations in Crawford and Neosho counties, including one next to the Greenbush Education Service Center on Highway 47 between Girard and St. Paul. Source: www.joplinglobe.com

Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy honored for courage, bravery

info2021-01-13T07:20:34-06:00January 13th, 2021|

A Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy was the recipient of a Medal of Valor for his courage and bravery. Sgt. Travis Spiker was given the honor Monday. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Spiker was helping officers in Holton at a domestic incident. The victim, a woman, was in his patrol car waiting for the situation to resolve. Suddenly, the suspect started shooting at law enforcement at the scene. The sheriff's office said in the hail of bullets, Sgt. Spiker was able to get into his car and drive the woman to safety. Source: KSNT News

Municipal Bond Trends for January 12, 2021

info2021-01-13T07:11:19-06:00January 13th, 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.

Goddard STAR bond project expanding

info2021-01-13T07:01:35-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Following the success of the new ballfields opened in Goddard as part of a STAR bond project, the city is expanding on those efforts with the STAR bond phase two addition. In phase two, approved at the end of December, developer Goddard Sports LLC will introduce five additional competitive synthetic turf baseball/softball fields – geared toward younger athletes – as well as an outdoor sand sports complex (including three sand soccer fields) southwest of the current baseball fields. Completion of phase two is expected in late 2021 and is estimated to cost $12,587,792. It is also projected to attract between 351,000 [...]

Kansas lawmakers resume debate on property tax restrictions

info2021-01-13T07:08:18-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Under this bill, modeled on longstanding Utah law, municipalities would be forced to set a property tax rate that is “revenue neutral.” If they wish to exceed this rate, they must provide notice and hold a hearing before voting on the increase. The proposed bill also repeals the local property tax lid. Eric Stafford, director of government affairs for the Kansas Chamber, argued the bill itself would accomplish what the tax lid was meant to accomplish by forcing the budget to remain neutral. Source: Kansas Reflector

Wichita schools will bring elementary students back, send middle and high to hybrid

info2021-01-13T07:08:25-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Most elementary school children in Wichita will return to in-person classes this week while the majority of secondary students are set to start hybrid classes in two weeks. The Board of Education on Monday adopted the in-person classes proposal made by Wichita Public Schools administrators, citing educational equality concerns for students as suburban districts hold in-person classes. The decision does not affect the approximately 40% of students whose parents opted for remote learning. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

USD 232 in De Soto becomes first JoCo district to bring older students back to school full-time this semester

info2021-01-13T07:08:46-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Middle and high school students at USD 232 in De Soto are going back to full-time, on-site learning Feb. 1. Citing the benefits of in-person over remote learning, the rising numbers of D and F grades, the detriment to students’ mental health, and growing evidence that the risk of COVID-19 spread within school buildings remains low, the USD 232 school board on Monday unanimously agreed to bring middle and high schoolers back to the classroom in a few weeks. USD 232 secondary students were in remote learning since Nov. 30. Board members stressed that their decision is evidence of their abundance of [...]

HIllsboro reviews FD compensation

info2021-01-13T07:09:58-06:00January 12th, 2021|

City Administrator Matt Stiles presented a proposal to increase firefighter pay at the Tuesday city council meeting. Currently, the department pays $12.50 per run for firefighters and $17.34 to the chief and assistant chief. The requested increase was to $15 per run for firefighters and $20 per run for the chief and assistant chief. Stiles said the department members are paid semi-annually, for runs from December through May and June to November. Stiles said, in researching how other departments in the state function, most are volunteer and employee hybrid. However, other departments’ volunteer compensation runs from totally volunteer with no payment, [...]

Lawrence City Commission to discuss option of directly elected mayor, other possible changes to city’s form of government

info2021-01-12T08:04:45-06:00January 12th, 2021|

Lawrence city leaders will soon discuss the possibility of changing the city’s form of government, including having a directly elected mayor or election by districts. As part of its study session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will discuss alternative structures to the city’s current form of government, as well as potential procedures for making those changes. To inform the discussion, city legal staff will present a summary of all forms of city government, including the possibility of combining elements from multiple forms, and present options for how changes could be made. Source: LJWorld.com.

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