Ranson Financial, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

New guide documents historic structures in unincorporated areas of Douglas County — barns, farmsteads, cabins, outhouses and more

The guide is the product of a 12-year study by the county’s Heritage Conservation Council, and it documents around 2,400 historic resources in the unincorporated areas of the county. That includes the grain bin, buggy shed, stone fences and farmhouse on Coffman’s land — but also a diverse mix of other structures throughout the county, from a turn-of-the-century Victorian-style house in Marion Township to a potato barn in Grant Township to a cabin at Lone Star Lake. It’s all part of an effort to bring more attention to these old buildings, keep them in good condition and highlight structures that property owners might not have even known had historic value.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2023-12-31T09:02:55-06:00December 31, 2023|News|

Goessel Council honors long-time council member

The Goessel city council met on Dec. 12, a week earlier than usual, because of a school concert on the regular meeting date. This was the last meeting for long-time council member Dean Snelling. Mayor Evan Esau presented a plaque to Snelling and thanked him for his 10 years on the council. Esau talked about Snelling’s expertise and said, “We’re going to miss you.” No other current council members have been on the council as long as Snelling has been. He has served with the leadership of several different mayors. Turning their attention to another matter, the council welcomed new part-time police officer James Bowlin to the meeting. “I’m excited about being here,” he said, “excited to serve the community.” The council talked with him about a school presence and the need to have police in town at different times. Bowlin said he is willing to do that. He also works in Moundridge, 12-hour shifts. Bowlin is scheduled for a challenge exam in December and then can start his work at Goessel.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T12:06:51-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

City approves continued reduced rates for licensed daycares

A continuation of the reduced electrical demand charge program for licensed daycare facilities was approved by the Garden City Commission at their regular meeting on Dec. 19. Mike Muirhead, Garden City Public Utilities Director, said the program was initially approved on Sept. 20, 2022 for licensed childcare facilities within the city that are on the Church and School rate, but the minutes of that meeting did not specify if the program was to be a one-year credit or if it would be an ongoing program and if it was, when the commission would reevaluate its continuance. The program works by reducing $1 from the total electric monthly demand charge for the number of authorized childcare positions per licensed facility, Muirhead said. For example, Little Leaders of GCK Early Learning Center is authorized by the state of Kansas to have 97 childcare positions, so, they receive a $97 credit for each month they were open in 2023. It’s a reduction off of that demand charge. Muirhead said he checked in with the state on Dec. 7 and there were some changes in the number of childcare centers in Garden City and the number of authorized childcare positions for each center this year. This year there were three new facilities, Muirhead said. Dreamz Child Care Center, which has 75 childcare positions; Garden Academy Early Learning Center, which has 97 childcare positions; and the Kansas Childrens Service League, which has 66 childcare positions.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T12:05:48-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

Kansas Tops Nation in Economic Growth Over Fall 2023

Governor Laura Kelly today celebrated that, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Kansas economy grew by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter of 2023 — the fastest rate in the nation. This improves on an already impressive record of economic growth; in the 2nd quarter of 2023, Kansas’ economy grew at the second-fastest rate in the nation at 7.4%. “This data shows that our efforts to support businesses, create a stable economy, and grow our workforce are paying off,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Now, Kansas is outstripping the entire nation in economic growth and attracting business investment. Last week, I announced Kansas surpassed $18 billion in business investment since I took office in 2019. It’s clear we have the momentum to continue this trajectory of economic success into 2024 and beyond.” The Kelly Administration’s work to support the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries helped drive this economic growth. While those industries decreased nationally and in 33 other states, they were leading contributors to growth in Kansas. Kansas also ranked third in the nation for growth in personal income, with personal income growing at 4.9% over the 3rd quarter of 2023. Farming, which decreased nationally and in 41 other states, was the leading contributor to the increased earnings in Kansas. Kansas’ economic growth is measured by the change in its real gross domestic product (GDP), or the market value of goods and services produced in the state. The second quarter of 2023 included April through June; the third quarter included July through September.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T12:04:52-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

New Downton Pavilion Is In the Works For Fort Scott

The Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is located between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue and construction is slated for completion in mid-January. A new 70-foot by 150-foot pavilion is in the works for downtown Fort Scott between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue. The Fort Scott Farmers Market Pavilion, or Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is part of many additions in “The Gathering Square” in Fort Scott’s vibrant downtown district, according to Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells. ‘The farmers market pavilion would aim to be a dynamic community hub,” according to a press release from Wells. “This outdoor pavilion stands in the original location of the first farmer’s market in the community’s history and champions access to fresh produce by hosting the Farmers Market every Tuesday and Saturday from May to October. Beyond the market, the pavilion transforms into a cultural stage.” “The current plan is to make it available to rent, like Riverfront Park, or the (Gunn Park) shelter houses,” Wells said. “The city has first right-of-refusal on any use other than the set times guaranteed to the farmers market.” This gathering space offers Bourbon County’s farmers a direct link to the community, fostering healthier lifestyles with the offering of fresh produce and enhancing local commerce, he said. The pavilion is constructed with sustainability and adaptability in mind, and the design aligns with the International Building Code of 2015, according to the press release. The pavilion committee also envisions music, theater, and community gatherings coming alive in the space. It is adjacent to the newly constructed splash pad and sensory park that was constructed last summer. Also on the horizon is a much-needed public restroom near the site.
Source: Fort Scott Biz

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T12:03:33-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

E-scooters to cease operations in Manhattan after company announces U.S. shutdown

E-scooters will no longer be a mode of transportation in Manhattan in the new year. City officials announced this week that effective Sunday, the LINK/Superpedestrian e-scooters will no longer be available throughout the community or on the Kansas State University campus. The company that oversees those e-scooters, Superpedestrian, will cease operations after the new year, due to financial challenges as reported by Tech Crunch earlier this month. E-scooters were introduced in Manhattan in August 2020 after the city contracted with Superpedestrian (formerly LINK) for a pilot program, deploying about 150 scooters into the city, at the request of Kansas State University. That fleet of scooters eventually expanded to 450. Since that time, officials say more than 412,000 trips have been taken throughout the community. City and university officials are planning to discuss other opportunities in 2024 to bring e-scooters back to the community.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T12:01:42-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

One of the two water tanks complete in Newton

The City of Newton recently announced the completion of its First Street water tank. The city has been working since 2016 to replace a 3.1 million gallon water tank located nearby with two concrete 1.9 million gallon tanks. In 2021, the city purchased property to build the new tanks on from BNSF, due to the closeness of the location to existing infrastructure that serves the old tank. The project began in May of 2022 and then was put on hold for 10 months by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment due to new pollution being discovered on the property. Over that time period, costs of the project increased, and the city estimated it would pay $1.57 million extra to complete the project when it discussed the issue in May. The total estimate of the project was $8.3 million. The city took work back up and in a recent release reported the first tank to be ready for the chlorination process to begin in January. In the coming months, work will begin on demolishing the old water tank as well as installing the second water tank. The exterior of the old water tank has turned a mostly green, black color due to the City choosing not to clean or repaint it since it was slated for demolition.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T11:50:49-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

Hillsboro moves forward with housing plans

Housing was once again the main topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Hillsboro City Council meeting. In a follow-up from the Dec. 6 meeting, the group voted and agreed to transfer six acres of land to Mennonite Housing for a workforce housing project. Mennonite Housing will be applying for tax credits to pay for a 24-unit project that will be located near Dollar General and Carquest. The plan is for the housing to be made up of 12 Duplex buildings and would include a clubhouse maintenance garage. Duplexes would be two and three-bedroom units—each with a garage unit to fit within the requirements of the program. The units will be constructed in an energy-efficient manner and include a range, refrigerator, space saver microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer. The furnace and tankless water heater will be gas. The air conditioner and appliances will be electric. Residents will be responsible for all utilities except trash. The clubhouse will have a manager’s office, community room, kitchen, restrooms, computer room and a covered rear patio. Free WIFI will be available in the clubhouse. Outdoor amenities include a playground and basketball court. The requirement for applicants to be able to be residents and live in the tax credit property is that their gross household income needs to be below 80% of area medium income (AMI). The annual gross household income amounts would be based on the number of people that are in the household. A limited number of units are available at lower monthly rent amounts for households with annual gross household income below 30% or 50% of AMI. There are also a limited number of units available for households with annual gross household income between 60% and 80% of AMI.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T11:48:27-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

UG approves new funding source for affordable housing, childcare

Wyandotte County leaders will start 2024 with a new plan for funding community programs. Earlier this month, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, approved an ordinance creating a Community Benefits Fund. Beginning in January, half of all administrative and issuance fees paid by developers receiving tax incentives through tools like industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) or tax increment financing (TIF) will be placed into the fund and used for community programs. The fund aims to leverage fees from developments in the western part of the county to support historically underserved or underdeveloped portions of the county. Funds will support the senior home repair program, affordable housing trust fund and licensed childcare programs. The Mayor’s Business and Economic Development Taskforce, which is chaired by former Fourth District Commissioner Harold Johnson, spurred the idea. “The Community Benefits Ordinance makes good on the promise made decades ago that development on the west side of Kansas City, Kansas, would be leveraged in order to improve all areas of KCK, specifically east of I-635,” Johnson said in a news release. In the coming weeks, Mayor Tyrone Garner and UG commissioners will work to appoint 11 people to a the Community Benefits Advisory Board, which will make recommendations to the UG for the use of the funds. The advisory board will be comprised exclusively of county residents and business owners in the county.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T11:39:05-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

Overland Park development defaults on bonds meant to help attract commerce to Kansas

The Prairiefire development has defaulted on close to $65 million in outstanding bond debt, further substantiating concerns among Kansas lawmakers that the Overland Park project hasn’t generated enough sales to make payments in a timely manner. Bondholders recently were notified that Prairiefire missed the Dec. 15 maturity date for $14.9 million in sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds, the balance of a $15 million tranche. That tranche was the first of three Overland Park issued in 2012, totaling $65 million, to build the 56-acre retail and entertainment complex south of 135th Street, between Lamar and Nall avenues. STAR bonds are a state program designed to attract more tourism and revenue to Kansas by helping municipalities finance commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. Trustee UMB Bank had not received sufficient funds to make $14.9 million in principal and $1.75 million in interest payments due for Prairiefire’s STAR bonds as of a Dec. 18 event notice. The bank said it had transferred the $3.8 million balance of the bonds’ reserve fund to help cover debt service. “The Trustee is currently evaluating certain provisions of the Indenture which provide conflicting guidance on how to apply funds in this scenario,” UMB Bank wrote in the notice. “The Trustee will provide additional updates to Bondowners as they become available.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2023-12-29T11:37:56-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

About Ranson Financial

New guide documents historic structures in unincorporated areas of Douglas County — barns, farmsteads, cabins, outhouses and more

Goessel Council honors long-time council member

City approves continued reduced rates for licensed daycares

Kansas Tops Nation in Economic Growth Over Fall 2023

New Downton Pavilion Is In the Works For Fort Scott

E-scooters to cease operations in Manhattan after company announces U.S. shutdown

One of the two water tanks complete in Newton

Hillsboro moves forward with housing plans

UG approves new funding source for affordable housing, childcare

Overland Park development defaults on bonds meant to help attract commerce to Kansas

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