info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Derby’s council expresses concerns with scooter program

info2022-10-07T06:48:09-05:00October 7th, 2022|

The City of Derby’s electric scooter program may be gone at the end of this year after the initial 17-month pilot program with Bird Scooters is set to expire. City Council members heard a one-year update from Sarah Gooding, assistant to the city manager at the Sept. 27 meeting. Scooter ridership peaked shortly after the program was introduced in August 2021 with 1,796 rides in September 2021. Ridership dropped over the winter months and picked up again to a high of 1,049 rides in June 2022. Compared to similar electric scooter programs, Derby’s has a longer average ride time of 12.8 [...]

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $28.5M for 32 Pedestrian and Bike Transportation Projects

info2022-10-07T06:43:00-05:00October 7th, 2022|

Governor Laura Kelly announced $28.5 million has been awarded for 32 Transportation Alternatives (TA) program projects across Kansas for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The competitive grant program, administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), provides funding for a variety of projects, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure for non-driver access to public transportation, and overall safety and mobility improvements. View the 32 Kansas TA projects selected to receive an award.

Safe crossing: Crossing Guards needed in McPherson

info2022-10-07T06:36:13-05:00October 7th, 2022|

Every Wednesday morning and afternoon Jerry Montagne can be found working as a crossing guard, escorting children safely to and from school at Washington Elementary. Serving as a crossing guard isn’t part of his duties as McPherson County Sheriff, rather he does it because he enjoys it. “About three years ago they had a shortage of crossing guards and officers were having to fill in,” Montagne said. “I offered to do it and I love it. I look forward to seeing all the kids each week.” Montagne is one of many crossing guards employed by the city and supervised through the [...]

When will the housing market cool down? WSU releases annual forecast

info2022-10-07T00:15:46-05:00October 7th, 2022|

Will the hot housing market stay hot? Wichita State University's (WSU) Center for Real Estate released its annual housing forecast. The verdict? The market may be cooling off but by how much? It has been a very unusual year — coming off the pandemic when stimulus checks and low-interest rates set the housing market on fire. This year those interest rates skyrocketed, bringing down housing affordability. So the big question this year is when will the market balance out? Source: KSN-TV

Overland Park infrastructure group says sales tax increase could reduce chip seal work

info2022-10-07T00:10:46-05:00October 7th, 2022|

An Overland Park infrastructure advisory group says renewing and increasing a special sales tax could be one way in which the city could fund improvements to the city’s aging infrastructure while reducing its reliance on the controversial chip seal method of road resurfacing. Overall, the group says the city needs nearly $30 million more annually in order to maintain its infrastructure, primarily roads, at a “good” level. Any decision to increase the city’s current 1/8-cent special sales tax dedicated to infrastructure would ultimately have to be approved by voters, and the suggestion was one of several revenue-raising possibilities the group offered [...]

Arkansas City gives land to college for tech center

info2022-10-07T06:37:18-05:00October 7th, 2022|

Arkansas City commissioners unanimously approved donating the city-owned property at the corner of West Washington Avenue and South Fifth Street to Cowley College for its new career and technical training center. The location is the site of the city’s old water treatment plant. The commission on Tuesday considered whether to sell the property to the college. Commissioner Jay Warren argued that donating it would benefit both the college and the city. Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Allen County looks at options for 911 backup

info2022-10-07T06:38:07-05:00October 7th, 2022|

A county commissioner wants to explore more options to develop an emergency backup plan for the 911 system. Commissioner David Lee suggested Chelsie Angleton, 911 director, look at alternatives to a proposal she’s working on that would set up a backup system in the event the dispatch center in Iola was wiped out by a disaster such as a tornado or flood. If the Iola communications center were heavily damaged, dispatchers could move to a temporary location. She proposed setting up a backup station in the basement of Humboldt’s City Hall, which could allow dispatchers to operate there during the emergency. [...]

Kansas ditches debt as it strives for rating upgrades

info2022-10-07T06:39:01-05:00October 7th, 2022|

With a stabilized budget and amid stronger-than-expected revenue growth, Kansas paid off a chunk of debt and will fund some projects with cash, saving $754 million in interest costs as it builds a case for rating upgrades. The state tapped its surplus to pay down $1.6 billion of debt mostly owed to its pension system, redeemed callable bonds, and will cash fund $203 million of capital projects instead of issuing bonds, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday. "By prioritizing fiscal responsibility, we have put Kansas back on track and ready for the road ahead," she said in a statement. Source: The Bond [...]

Fed’s Bostic would raise rates as high as 4.5% by end of 2022

info2022-10-06T23:58:24-05:00October 6th, 2022|

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said he favors lifting interest rates to between 4% and 4.5% by the end of this year, and then keeping the tightening in place to reduce inflation that remains near a four-decade high. "I would like to reach a point where policy is moderately restrictive — between 4 and 4 1/2 percent by the end of this year — and then hold at that level and see how the economy and prices react," Bostic said in prepared remarks Wednesday to Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research. Source: The Bond Buyer

67 Counties, Including Sedgwick, Updated to Drought Emergency Status

info2022-10-06T23:55:34-05:00October 6th, 2022|

Governor Kelly has approved updated drought declarations for Kansas counties with Executive Order #22-08. This drought declaration continues to keep all 105 Kansas counties either in watch, warning or emergency status. The drought declaration placed 67 counties into an emergency status, 11 counties in a warning status and 27 into a watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Much of Kansas has experienced above normal temperatures, with precipitation averaging well below normal for many of those same locations over that same timeframe. In some parts [...]

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