Ranson Financial, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Survey work begins for next phase of East Kellogg expansion

The Kansas Department of Transportation says a geological field survey has started for the next phase of the East Kellogg expansion project in Wichita. The survey is focused on the section of Kellogg from the K-96 interchange to 159th Street East (Andover Road), and it should be completed by August. Survey activities will include coring the roadway and base material for analysis. Traffic control measures will be taken while crews are drilling for the assessment. Drivers should expect temporary single lane and shoulder lane closures, and they’re advised to stay alert and watch for survey workers and expect delays.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:26:58-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $4M Awarded through Broadband ADOPT Program

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that seven organizations will receive a combined $3.9 million in grants through the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. ADOPT supports the Kelly administration’s work to connect more Kansans to high-speed internet by making public Wi-Fi accessible and distributing devices in underserved areas. “Kansans rely on technology for work, school, health care, and connecting to each other,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The ADOPT grants support community organizations in our shared mission to connect more people to the internet and critical digital skills.” The program helps organizations serving Kansans move forward by ensuring that communities can access public Wi-Fi and the devices needed to participate in today’s technology-driven world. “As internet access continues to play a more prevalent part in our day-to-day lives, high-speed internet can no longer be considered a luxury,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Providing access to devices and accessible Wi-Fi means that we are investing in the future of Kansans and in the future of our great state as a whole.” To continue connecting Kansans to devices and internet access across the state, an additional round of funding will open later this year with $10.4 million available.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:21:06-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

Sedgwick County expects report soon on solar regulations

Sedgwick County Commissioners heard an update Wednesday on the process of adopting regulations governing large-scale solar energy projects, and they voted to delay action until early August. The county has hired a consulting team with expertise on solar power issues to work with staff and gather insights and perspectives on proposed changes to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Zoning Code. Justin Constantino with the Metropolitan Area Planning Department said a draft document is expected from the Berkley Group later this month or in July. Commissioners approved a moratorium on utility or commercial solar projects until September 13th. Constantino said it’s expected that staff will have recommendations for the county commission before that time. The commissioners voted to defer action until their August 7th meeting. County officials have been looking at definitions, standards and land use requirements for stand-alone commercial solar systems. This does not affect home solar projects or accessory projects that are part of a larger development, such as a solar project for a school or public facility. Commissioner Jim Howell said the process is almost complete, and it’s the smart thing to do to allow the consultants to complete their work and present their recommendations.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:20:02-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

City Commission establishes new downtown parking program

The Manhattan City Commission approved a resolution Tuesday night that establishes the Downtown Convention Parking Program for this year. Starting August 1st, the city will begin charging parking fees for the downtown garage. The action Tuesday will allocate transient guest tax, TGT, money to annually cover parking for conventions held in downtown Manhattan through the end of 2028. The approved resolution will allocate $115,000 to the Chamber’s Convention and Visitors Bureau and the commission has authority to change that amount every year. Although the resolution passed unanimously, some noted they want to meet with Chamber officials next month to possibly amend the program in the future. In order to qualify for TGT funds, conventions must be a minimum of two consecutive days in duration and booked a minimum of 30 rooms for at least one night at a Manhattan hotel. If a convention meets those requirements, then transient guest tax funds will be granted to Parking Services to pay for the parking costs.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:18:21-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

Overland Park plans to make all of its operations sustainable — but how?

Overland Park is among a small group of cities selected to be in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program 2024 cohort. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating standard that’s been used on thousands of structures in the U.S. in the public and private sectors, though some reports suggest the standard is imperfect. The building council also offers a certification program for judging jurisdictional sustainability beyond just physical structures, which is what Overland Park is currently undergoing this year. Previously, the LEED for Cities program was called the STAR Community Rating System. Lara Isch, sustainability manager for the city, said she expects the LEED for Cities program process to be a big focus of her division’s work over the next 12 or so months. Still, she said she’s “super excited” to see the city getting “this certification done.” The rating will help establish a “baseline assessment” for Overland Park’s current sustainability efforts across the community compared to peer communities, Isch said last month during a presentation to the Community Development Committee. It will also develop something of a “roadmap” to help the city stay on track with its goals in that area, Isch said.
Source: Johnson County Post

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:17:15-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

What is a STAR Bond, and could it really convince Chiefs to move to Kansas?

A big debate sparked in Wichita on Wednesday after Kansas legislatures sent a letter to the Kansas City Chiefs trying to convince the team to build a new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line. This comes after Jackson County, Missouri rejected a sales tax extension to help fix up Arrowhead Stadium. Marty Yeager and Jim Farthing are lifelong Chiefs fans, so it’s hard to find something about the team they disagree on, until now. “I think it’s a great idea. It’d be a huge benefit to the state,” said Yeager. “I really think they’re probably better served staying where they are,” said Farthing. They’re talking about a letter Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and Speaker San Hawkins sent to Chiefs owner Clark Hunt trying to sell him on Kansas, saying the state would help pay for a brand new stadium with STAR Bonds. “I think it would be better if they did it on their own dime. The NFL and all of the owners have plenty of money,” said Farthing. “STAR Bonds are really good as long as they’re administered correctly. STAR Bonds are a great format to build a lot of finance, a lot of construction,” said Yeager. So, what is a STAR Bond? Emporia State University Political Science Professor Michael Smith says it’s important to understand that a STAR Bond isn’t a tax increase, it’s simply a loan. “The idea is then that the tax revenue collected at the site, so when people buy their tickets, and they pay taxes on them, or they buy their merchandise, or they buy a beer or whatever, and they pay taxes on it, those go to pay off the bonds,” said Smith.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:16:11-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

With EMS response times lagging in west Wichita, county plans to build a new Post 1

After combining two EMS crews at one post, Sedgwick County saw emergency response times increase by roughly 7% in west Wichita. Now, the County Commission has approved the construction of a new EMS post to serve the area. The site of the new Post 1 has not yet been selected, but the commission approved $1,838,995 for land acquisition, design and construction at Wednesday’s meeting. Between 1975 and May 2023, Post 1 was located at 2622 W. Central, the site of the former Riverside Hospital complex, where the county was allowed to station ambulances without paying rent. The Post 1 crew is responsible for west Wichita and the near northwest side of the city, serving 33,500 residents and responding to more than 5,000 emergency calls annually. “Around May of 2023, utilities were partially working or not at all, which included water and partial electricity,” Assistant County Manager Tania Cole told commissioners. As a temporary solution, that crew was relocated to Post 20, south of Kellogg at Stillwell and Seneca. But that facility wasn’t built to support two crews, and it placed Post 1 outside of its service territory. As a result, emergency response times suffered.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T15:14:24-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

Lawrence city commissioners vote to no longer broadcast public comment because of ‘performative’ public

The Lawrence City Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to no longer broadcast the general public comment period and to move it to the very end of each meeting because of how some people have chosen to use the time. “I guess my concern is when people are using public comment to be performative, not to actually talk to us. And that’s what I think the purpose of public comment is, is to talk to us,” Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said. The commission last month approved several changes to procedures, including moving the general public comment period to the second-to-last agenda item and not broadcasting it live, but maintaining a recording. However, live broadcasts of public comment have continued. City staff members determined that they were unable to meet all three objectives — to stop broadcasting public comment, maintain a recording of it and hold it near the end of meetings but not at the very end. City Clerk Sherri Riedemann on Tuesday explained the technological challenges that prevented the city from doing all three. Commissioner Lisa Larsen said she thought the commission should keep public comment where it was, near the end of meetings, and continue broadcasting it. Four members of the public spoke to the commission about the issue.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2024-06-07T14:53:18-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

Inspired to come to Topeka

New Topeka Zoo CEO Christina Castellano says her being a mother of two small children played a ‘huge’ role in her decision to move here and take that job. ”Speaking with staff and people in the community, I heard over and over again what a wonderful place this was to raise kids,” Castellano said Wednesday during her first news conference at the zoo, where she started Monday.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2024-06-10T12:29:46-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

Kansas’ smallest school district prepares to close in warning sign for rural communities

Healy is an extreme example — one that caught lawmakers’ attention at the end of the legislation session — but it foreshadows the challenges that rural districts and state officials will have to confront in the near future as student populations dwindle. Eight other K-12 Kansas public school districts have fewer than 100 students. Another 28 districts have fewer than 200 students. The state has no blueprint for dealing with the declining student enrollment.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2024-06-05T05:15:58-05:00June 5, 2024|News|

About Ranson Financial

Survey work begins for next phase of East Kellogg expansion

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $4M Awarded through Broadband ADOPT Program

Sedgwick County expects report soon on solar regulations

City Commission establishes new downtown parking program

Overland Park plans to make all of its operations sustainable — but how?

What is a STAR Bond, and could it really convince Chiefs to move to Kansas?

With EMS response times lagging in west Wichita, county plans to build a new Post 1

Lawrence city commissioners vote to no longer broadcast public comment because of ‘performative’ public

Inspired to come to Topeka

Kansas’ smallest school district prepares to close in warning sign for rural communities

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