info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Hays to offer discounted admission to swimming pool for Ellis residents

info2019-08-04T20:15:03-05:00August 4th, 2019|

The city of Hays plans to offer an admission discount at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) to Ellis residents after the Ellis swimming pool was unexpectedly closed Wednesday morning. Henry Schwaller, Hays mayor, made the suggestion during Thursday’s city commission work session. The Ellis municipal pool was losing almost 30,000 gallons of water every 2 to 3 days according to Mayor Dave McDaniel and city officials decided to shut it down ahead of the season closing date. (Read more: Hays Post)

Some Kansas Workers Are Going To Class Without Having To Punch Out Of Work

info2019-08-04T20:11:23-05:00August 4th, 2019|

Adult education programs offered by Kansas’ colleges and school districts are increasingly bringing classes to workers where they already are: at work. Washburn University will soon offer conflict resolution to staffers at the Ramada Hotel in Topeka. Dodge City Community College will provide customer service lessons at Boot Hill Casino. And several schools are providing English classes, one of the most sought-after skills. “There’s a major shift taking place in education,” said Karen Ulanski, the director for Paola USD 368’s adult education center. (Read more: Rural Messenger)

This Bill Could Save Rural Governments Millions in Infrastructure Financing

info2019-08-04T20:07:30-05:00August 4th, 2019|

A new proposal in Congress could make financing infrastructure projects in rural America far more affordable. Called the Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2019, the bill would modernize a restriction on so-called bank-qualified municipal bonds that effectively limits small governments’ access to cheaper borrowing rates in the municipal market. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) estimates that the proposed bill could save as much as $1.1 million in financing costs on a 15-year, $30 million bond issued by a small government. That translates into hundreds of millions of dollars in savings each year for small governments, nonprofits and [...]

Waste intake increases for Pratt County Recycling

info2019-08-04T20:04:34-05:00August 4th, 2019|

An increase in the amount of household hazardous waste coming to the Pratt County Recycle center has also increased the money the center has to pay to have the HHW removed. Jason Winkel, landfill and recycle center manager, updated the Pratt County Commissioners on the HHW issue on July 29 at the regular weekly Commission meeting. Winkel is working on options for handling HHW because of those increases. Clean Harbors, out of Wichita, provides the hazardous waste removal and their last bill to the county was $8,600. A chemist comes from Kansas City to identify acids among HHW. (Read more: Pratt, [...]

Johnson County judge orders Shawnee to drop eminent domain claim against Wayne Developers’ property

info2019-08-04T20:02:40-05:00August 4th, 2019|

A district judge has prohibited the city of Shawnee from moving forward with an eminent domain claim on property owned by Wayne Developers LLC. Judge Kevin Moriarty, district judge presiding over Division 14 in Johnson County District Court, entered his memorandum decision Wednesday, July 31. His decision granted a permanent injunction requested by Wayne Developers, which owns 20 acres of land at 18570 Johnson Drive in western Shawnee. The city of Shawnee had filed a claim of eminent domain in March over the property with plans to condemn and acquire it in order to build a centralized facility for the city’s [...]

Interest Rates Plunge After FOMC Cuts Interest Rate

info2019-08-02T07:11:50-05:00August 2nd, 2019|

Both the municipal and Treasury markets rallied one day after the Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points and after President Trump’s declared more tariffs on China — all of which caused the 10-year Treasury to dip below 1.90%. Financial markets continue to price in greater odds of another 25 basis point Fed rate cut later this year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, odds a 25 BP rate cut when the FOMC meets on Sept 17-18 increased 70.4% from 51.9% following Trump’s tweets of additional tariffs. “The 10-year hit its lowest level since Nov. 2016 and munis followed right [...]

Downtown Olathe can be ‘the knot’ connecting trails, bicycle paths, says proposed plan

info2019-08-02T06:45:30-05:00August 2nd, 2019|

“Connection” was the buzzword Tuesday afternoon during an open house about a proposal to make downtown Olathe’s streets friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists. Both the city and the Mid-America Regional Council were seeking citizen feedback. One key point of the plan uses the downtown area to connect the various paths, trails and bicycle lanes scattered throughout the city. “If you look at a trail map, there are trails are all around, but they never touch downtown,” said Martin Shukert, principal of RDG Planning and Design, which is working with the city on the project. “Downtown is the knot that can connect [...]

Gardner police have created Safe Exchange zones for internet, child custody exchanges

info2019-08-02T06:43:11-05:00August 2nd, 2019|

The Gardner Police Department has created a safe place outside its headquarters for child custody exchanges and internet commerce transactions. The Safe Exchange Zone is defined by signs and blue lines painted around several stalls in the main parking lot at the new Gardner Justice Center, 16540 Moonlight Road. It’s in full view of Moonlight Road, well-lighted and covered by 24-hour video surveillance cameras. (Read more: Joco 913 News)

Neighbors by Ring app comes to Lenexa, Prairie Village

info2019-08-02T06:42:54-05:00August 2nd, 2019|

Lenexa and Prairie Village have joined a number of neighboring cities in the use of the Neighbors by Ring app to help reduce crime. The app allows police departments to issue crime and safety alerts in a timely way and permits citizens to upload videos that might be helpful to police in solving crimes. Those interested can download the free Neighbors by Ring app from the appropriate store on their smart phones. Then they can customize the geographic area they would like to see alerts from. (Read more: Joco 913 News)

Loan forgiveness tops $160,000 through Scott County local ROZ

info2019-08-02T07:19:21-05:00August 2nd, 2019|

Young people returning to Scott County may be eligible for assistance in repaying student loans through an initiative known as a Rural Opportunity Zone. Scott County has been declared a ROZ for eight years, during which time six individuals have completed the five year program. Consequently, they have earned about $15,000 each ($3,000 per year) in loan forgiveness. Since 2011, participants in the program have seen their student loan debt erased by more than $160,000. “We are one of the top counties in the state in terms of utilizing this program,” says Katie Eisenhour, director of the Scott County Development Committee. [...]

About info