News – Page 1438 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas Legislature wraps 2021 session with late-night property tax deal

info2021-05-10T07:09:54-05:00May 9th, 2021|

After months filled with long days of prickly debate, Senate President Ty Masterson brought the legislative session to a close late Friday night by thanking his colleagues for working diligently and patiently through a jam-packed schedule of bills. In the final day, the House and Senate came together to tie up loose ends to school finance after negotiations with the governor’s office, and finalized the state budget by injecting cash into Kansas universities, increasing pay for judges and restricting the use of vaccine passports. Legislators also sent bills to Gov. Laura Kelly creating a COVID-19 small business relief act, and amended [...]

Cattle drive marks Caldwell, Kansas’s 150th birthday

info2021-05-10T07:12:00-05:00May 9th, 2021|

The city of Caldwell celebrated its 150th birthday this weekend, and what better way to do that than to pay respect to the city's history with a cattle drive? The drive began on Monday in Oklahoma, following along the historic Chisholm Trail. The journey is part of a celebration for those in Caldwell and Sumner counties. Those who participated in the event were tired coming into Caldwell, but happy with the experience. Source: KAKE - News

Cowley County businesses have 100+ vacant jobs, find out how to apply

info2021-05-10T07:12:19-05:00May 9th, 2021|

In Kansas, some small communities said they're having problems finding people to fill vacant positions. In Cowley county, there are more than 150 job openings and employers said there is just not enough interest. "It's crisis mode we really really need people to fill jobs," said Kerri Falletti, the Economic and Community Director of Cowley County. Falletti said businesses all over have a growing list of available jobs. "That's from all sectors health care education manufacturing, retail food service, everything there's just a demand in every sector," he said. Source: KSN-TV

Hutchinson talks reducing historic designations

info2021-05-08T07:37:45-05:00May 8th, 2021|

As the Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday considered adopting updates to a “Historic Preservation Action Plan” drafted by the city’s Landmarks Commission, the discussion took an unexpected turn. The proposed three-year plan includes applying for a Historic Preservation Fund Grant to survey “all modern/ mid-century modern structures that have become historic,” said Hutchinson Planning Director Ryan Hvitlok. ... Rather than add more properties to historic designation lists, Vice Mayor Sara Bagwell suggested, can’t the city remove some. “From a personal perspective, I don’t see any benefit to being a historic building that outweighs the nuisance of red tape you have to [...]

Effort to save aquifer divides region

info2021-05-07T07:14:37-05:00May 7th, 2021|

The LEMA’s irrigation restrictions represent a lastditch effort to save the region’s most critical water source: the Ogallala Aquifer. And in a place where agriculture is king and rainfall is scarce, the path to any kind of curb on irrigation took more than 100 years. Source: Salina Journal.

Municipal Bond Trends for May 6, 2021

info2021-05-07T07:12:00-05:00May 7th, 2021|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Thanks to a ‘great outpouring of support,’ JoCo sports more than 200 new trees

info2021-05-07T07:09:01-05:00May 6th, 2021|

A service project masterminded by two Shawnee Mission South students has resulted in new trees planted in eight Johnson County cities, as well as at 37 school district buildings. Fittingly, the project took place between Earth Day and Arbor Day. Eighteen-year-old seniors Chase Horner and Harley Witbrod were brainstorming ideas for a National Honor Society volunteer project, when they asked random people in a local park what kind of project they would financially support. The overwhelming answer? One with an environmental focus. The two decided to do their tree-planting project last year, but the pandemic forced them to push it back [...]

Chetopa takes down 2 buildings after wall falls

info2021-05-07T07:09:11-05:00May 6th, 2021|

City officials in Chetopa acted quickly to demolish two structures last month that posed a danger to the public. The Chetopa City Council met in a special session on April 26 to discuss an emergency condemnation of a structure at 422 Maple St., where the front brick wall had collapsed. The city staff and council deemed the structure to be an immediate hazard, which meant that by city ordinance the building could be taken down without notice to the owners. Source: Parsons Sun

Sedgwick City Administrator resigns

info2021-05-07T07:09:25-05:00May 6th, 2021|

Sedgwick City Administrator Joe Turner officially resigned from his position on Wednesday in order to pursue an opportunity as the City Administrator with South Hutchinson. During their meeting Wednesday evening, Turner thanked Mayor Bryan Chapman and the city council for having faith in selecting him for the position back in July, 2019. “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you mayor and the council,” Turner said. “I’ve enjoyed my time and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and I will always look back at this period of time fondly. I am deeply indebted to you, Mayor. I thank you [...]

Fred Harvey Building coming down

info2021-05-07T07:09:33-05:00May 6th, 2021|

After looking over First Street for more than 100 years, the Fred Harvey Building is coming down. Bulldozers could be seen Wednesday morning, beginning demolition work on the remaining multistory building on the property that once served as a carbonation and bottling plant. The building was part of the larger Fred Harvey Farm Complex, which Fred Harvey moved to Newton and used to supply his famous Harvey Houses up and down the rail line that passes nearby. The City of Newton stated the owner of the property took out a demolition permit on Monday for the property and has begun razing the [...]