info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Pratt announces solar farm will become major local power source

info2018-06-11T07:46:29-05:00June 11th, 2018|

Pratt city officials this week announced plans for the construction of a 6-megawatt solar farm in the northeast corner of town intended to provide most of the cities electricity for at least the next 15 years. The city, which operates a municipal power company, has entered into a long-term contract with Inovateus Solar and Kenyon Energy for the project. Inovateus, of South Bend, Indiana, will construct the farm and Kenyon Energy, headquartered in Safety Harbor, Florida, with an office in Colorado, will manage it. At the end of 15 years, the city will have an option to buy the solar farm [...]

Valley Center Community center coming to life

info2018-06-11T07:44:26-05:00June 11th, 2018|

Their bosses called it a team-building exercise, a way to bond while performing a task that was a bit out of the box. Some Valley Center city employees put aside what they normally do on a Tuesday this week to assemble tables, chairs, desks and racks in the new Community Center & Library. “It was a great team-building experience," Neal Owings, director of parks and public buildings, said during a city council meeting June 5. “I was really taken back by how much effort was given by the staff. It was great. It's looking good over there." This week's work is [...]

City manager’s recommended budget calls for holding Lawrence tax rate flat, increases in utility rates

info2018-06-11T07:40:12-05:00June 11th, 2018|

As part of his recommended budget for next year, City Manager Tom Markus is proposing the city’s mill levy rate remain flat. The recommended operating budget totals about $206 million and will be presented to the City Commission for initial input at its work session Tuesday. As proposed, next year’s budget would see $14.6 million of unfunded capital improvement projects, personnel requests and equipment purchases. A memo to the commission notes that many tough decisions had to be made about priorities, and Markus said that for him, the capital improvement projects are the most difficult. (Read more: LJWorld.com stories: Local news)

Great Bend hoping for the best with “Opportunity Zones” designation

info2018-06-11T07:38:33-05:00June 11th, 2018|

It is just the beginning for the Opportunity Zones in Great Bend and what sort of boost they could provide to the economy and the landscape of the town. As Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer visited Great Bend last Wednesday, business and community leaders learned more about the two census tracts or zones that were designated in Great Bend. Investors will be able to receive capital gains incentives for investing in construction, renovation, or real estate within the zones. Great Bend business consultant Mark Mingenback felt the Opportunity Zones open the City to new possibilities of receiving private investments from near and [...]

Butler County discusses community college funding

info2018-06-11T07:37:12-05:00June 11th, 2018|

Rep. Kristey Williams visited the Butler County Board of Commissioners Tuesday and discussed funding options for Butler Community College. Williams said she would like to see the college’s mil levy reduced by five mils. She also said that 60 percent of Butler Community College employees live outside of Butler County, enrollment is dropping and expenses are going up. In the state of Kansas there are 19 counties that have community colleges. Of those 19 counties, 55 of the 125 members of the House of Representative have those counties as part of their district. That is a challenge when trying to get [...]

Junction City Trying to Recruit New Company

info2018-06-11T07:36:09-05:00June 11th, 2018|

The Junction City Commission will hold a public hearing on June 19th on whether to issue up to $40 million in industrial revenue bonds to help renovate and equip a facility for a possible new company in the I-70 Industrial Park. Chamber of Commerce CEO Mickey Fornaro-Dean said they are “working with an industry to locate in Junction City. We’re very excited about our opportunities. We’re very excited about our opportunities, and we’re honored to have them seriously considering us. And We’re looking forward to discussions on the 19th of June.” (Read more: Junction City Post)

Chanute negotiating with pontoon boat builder

info2018-06-11T07:33:49-05:00June 11th, 2018|

A development agreement with a pontoon boat manufacturer could bring 50 to 55 jobs to Chanute if it receives approval at Monday’s city commission meeting. In exchange for the jobs, the city could provide a vacant building for as little as $9,000 and three residential lots. Denali Marine Group, doing business as Coach Marine Group, is the parent company of two pontoon boat companies, Coach and Xcursion. Both companies’ products are manufactured in Fort Dodge, Iowa, by a third-party builder, the Misty Harbor company. By moving to Chanute, Xcursion will take over its own manufacturing, Chanute Regional Development Authority Director Matt [...]

From dilapidated hotels to mixed use: OP council gives Metcalf Crossing the OK

info2018-06-11T07:31:19-05:00June 11th, 2018|

The Overland Park City Council on Monday voted to approve almost $6 million in incentives for a mixed-use project designed to replace two dilapidated hotels at a key intersection on Shawnee Mission Parkway. Council members voted unanimously to adopt a redevelopment plan for Metcalf Crossing, proposed on 5 acres at the northwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Metcalf Avenue. The plan includes almost $3 million in development reimbursement through tax increment financing, or TIF, and $3 million in funds raised through a 1 percent community improvement district sales tax levied on the site. The TIF would last 20 years while [...]

JoCo takes control of fire district

info2018-06-11T07:29:11-05:00June 11th, 2018|

In an unprecedented move, the Johnson County Commission will take control of an embattled rural fire district to try to ensure stable fire protection for an affluent, growing part of the county. The commission voted 7-0 on Thursday to immediately assume governance of Johnson County Fire District No. 2, which provides fire and ambulance services to about 21,000 people in south Overland Park, Spring Hill, and part of unincorporated Johnson County and north central Miami County. The county commission had become concerned about the long-term financial viability of the district, which was governed by a five-member volunteer board that critics said [...]

Haysville: Study calls for sizable increase in utility rates

info2018-06-11T07:25:54-05:00June 11th, 2018|

A utility rate study prepared by the city of Haysville and released last week recommends a substantial increase in water and stormwater rates. The study recommends increasing the monthly water fee to $3.50 per 1,000 gallons – up 24 percent over the current $2.82 rate, which was set in 2009. It also recommends adding a $7 flat monthly fee to fund capital projects, and recommends increasing the monthly stormwater utility fee from $1.75 to $2.50. The study proposes leaving wastewater rates unchanged. For more information on utility rate reviews, please contact Beth Warren with Ranson Citycode Financial at ewarren@ransonfinancial.com or call [...]

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