News – Page 1530 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Fort Scott names Jeremy Frazier as new City Manager

info2021-01-26T08:01:02-06:00January 25th, 2021|

A Southeast Kansas community announces a new city manager. Jeremy Frazier has been named City Manager for the city of Fort Scott. City commissioners say Frazier brings over a decade of public sector experience, most recently as Assistant City Manager of El Reno, Oklahoma. Frazier has a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Oklahoma, and a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. He will begin his new post February 1st. Source: KSNF/KODE

Officials discuss general fund, budget at 2021 City of Manhattan retreat

info2021-01-26T08:03:38-06:00January 25th, 2021|

Jason Hilgers, City of Manhattan deputy city manager, suggested to the Manhattan City Commission at a retreat last Friday that they consider a five-year plan for the general fund. The general fund, which is around $31 million this year, has stayed about the same the past five years. Hilgers says increasing it by a few percent each year could help the city keep up with operating expenses. “Those two, three, four percent increases allow us to keep doing our jobs – what’s expected of us,” Hilgers said. “When we go zeros or we’re expected to just use what we had last [...]

Gov. Kelly signs bill extending disaster declaration

info2021-01-26T08:04:03-06:00January 25th, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly today signed Senate Bill 14 into law, extending the State of Disaster Emergency Declaration to March 31, 2021, and allowing for the continuation of certain resources, support, and regulations critical to Kansas’ COVID-19 response efforts. “Extending the current disaster declaration is essential for our state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, allowing us to keep Kansans safe and healthy, keep our economy open, and get our kids back in school as quickly as possible,” Governor Laura Kelly said. Among other resources and support, the disaster declaration allows Kansas to provide community-based COVID-19 testing, provide support to food banks and pantries, and [...]

Wichita City Council to discuss ethics policy

info2021-01-26T08:05:11-06:00January 25th, 2021|

Wichita city council members will talk about a proposed ethics policy during a workshop meeting Tuesday. Mayor Brandon Whipple said a policy has been one of his top goals since taking office. Mayor Whipple said the policy would set up an independent board to investigate allegations of unethical behavior against an elected official, and it would set up due process to allow an official to provide a defense. He said a chairman would be appointed by the mayor and vetted by the city council, and this person would be someone from the fields of law or academics. A six-person board would be made [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 22, 2021

info2021-01-25T07:06:02-06:00January 25th, 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.

Barton County: 300 vaccines administered in 2 hours

info2021-01-25T06:58:00-06:00January 25th, 2021|

In Barton County, it took health care staff only two hours to administer their 300 doses of the vaccine. Previously, the county has held two drive-thru vaccine clinics, but this time, it was first come, first serve. It was also the first time with no appointments needed. The staff had to turn residents away two hours before the drive-thru opened. Don Harrison was the first person to line up, at 7 am. He said he waited 8 and a half hours to get the vaccine. “It is so I can get back to work,” said Don Harrison. “I feel better now [...]

Thousands preregistered, doses on the way as Ellis County sets up mass vaccination clinic

info2021-01-25T06:58:10-06:00January 25th, 2021|

As phase two vaccinations roll out, Ellis County announced it will be taking steps toward vaccinating the masses both efficiently and effectively. The first phase of vaccines brought struggles of staffing, space, flow, and parking to many in the Ellis County medical community. “It was having a negative impact on staffing our clinic and as well as trying to administer doses, and so we knew that wasn’t sustainable,” said Bryan Brady, CEO of First Care Clinic. To overcome those obstacles in phase two, the local medical community — Ellis County Health Department, First Care Clinic, HaysMed, part of the University of [...]

Survey reveals rural economic gains

info2021-01-25T06:58:41-06:00January 25th, 2021|

The rural economy in parts of 10 Plains and Western states continues to grow, but rural bank CEOs say their biggest fears for the 2021 economy are excessive inflation and higher long-term interest rates, according to a new survey of bankers. The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet Survey improved to 52.0 in January from December’s 51.6 — the highest reading since before the onset last year of the coronavirus pandemic. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy. Source: The Iola Register

KS teachers: hybrid classes are no better than all-virtual

info2021-01-25T06:58:54-06:00January 25th, 2021|

Hybrid learning has become the go-to compromise for Kansas’ largest school districts to get students back in classrooms. Districts in Lawrence, Topeka, Olathe and elsewhere rotate students between in-person and online lessons. Kids get physical time in front of a teacher without risking crowded classrooms during the pandemic. But some Kansas teachers say the hybrid model isn’t much better than keeping students online full-time. The constant shift from the classroom to the screen disrupts learning. Teachers say they have twice the workload while splitting their focus between online and in-person students, giving neither the attention they deserve. Source: The Iola Register

AG: Chautauqua County Commission violated state transparency law

info2021-01-25T06:59:34-06:00January 25th, 2021|

The Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners was ordered to take Kansas Open Meetings Act training after the Kansas Attorney General’s Office last year determined the board had violated KOMA by not holding public votes on whether to terminate three former county employees. The attorney general’s office declined to pursue formal enforcement action against the board, though, saying it thinks the board acted in a good faith. In a complaint filed Aug. 14, 2019, a Cedar Vale resident alleged the board took action in executive sessions held during meetings on July 15, 2019, and July 22, 2019, to fire two road and [...]