News – Page 19 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Pratt is the latest Kansas town facing nitrate pollution. One-quarter of its water supply is off

info2024-10-25T09:56:44-05:00October 25th, 2024|

Nitrate pollution has forced a central Kansas town to shut off two wells that make up nearly one-quarter of its total permissible water supply. The state of Kansas will help Pratt afford the cost of drilling a new well in a different location with cleaner groundwater. But ultimately this town of 6,500 people, like so many others in the middle of the country, will need to find a way to cover the steep price tag of removing an increasingly widespread contaminant from its drinking water. “The reality is that we have to supply quality, healthy drinking water to our citizens,” city [...]

Wichita looking at options for current water treatment plant

info2024-10-25T09:55:19-05:00October 25th, 2024|

Wichita officials are considering options for the city’s current water treatment plant, when the new plant goes online next year. Options for the current plant were presented to City Council members in a workshop meeting Tuesday. Laura Quick with the city’s Public Works Department said most of the options deal with having the plant on standby for emergency use, but there are some maintenance issues that need to be addressed. Some other factors to consider are the treatment capacity, the time it would take to start up the plant, and whether it would be using water from Cheney Lake or the [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for October 24, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-10-25T09:55:10-05:00October 25th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Commission split on protection from income discrimination for renters

info2024-10-25T09:54:16-05:00October 25th, 2024|

City commissioners discussed expanding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance to bar landlords, property owners and real estate brokers from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who want to pay with legal income other than job wages. If passed, the ordinance would allow tenants to be able to pay for housing using vouchers, disability payments, rent relief programs and other sources of income. Source: 1350 KMAN

Methane flares from JoCo landfill remain a problem in Shawnee. What can city do?

info2024-10-25T09:52:06-05:00October 25th, 2024|

Continued concerns over methane flaring at the Johnson County Landfill prompted the Shawnee Planning Commission this week to take the rare step of issuing a revised special use permit with a shorter timeframe than such permits normally get. Source: Johnson County Post

Leawood hires Leavenworth official to lead planning, development efforts

info2024-10-25T09:49:51-05:00October 25th, 2024|

One of Johnson County's wealthiest cities has tapped a longtime development executive to oversee its strategic planning efforts. Leawood appointed Julie Hurley as its next planning director. She will begin her new role on Dec. 2. Hurley has spent the past decade working for Leavenworth, where she most recently was the director of planning and community development. She comes to the new role with more than 20 years of experience in municipal government, including time spent as a city planner in Shawnee, Overland Park and Olathe. Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Johnson County study will consider how to develop De Soto roads

info2024-10-25T09:48:57-05:00October 25th, 2024|

New roads in De Soto could drive future development at Astra Enterprise Park, where Panasonic is building a $4 billion battery plant. For about 80 years, thousands of acres of undeveloped land in northwest Johnson County have been cut off from the surrounding region. Johnson County now is partnering with De Soto, Edgerton, Olathe, Gardner, Douglas County and the Kansas Department of Transportation on a $250,000 study to evaluate ways to reconnect the business park with surrounding roadways. Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Firefighters battle grass fire in northeast Wichita

info2024-10-25T09:48:07-05:00October 25th, 2024|

Firefighters brought the grass fire in northeast Wichita under control around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Sedgwick County crews remained on the scene throughout the night and into Friday morning, putting out hot spots. At last check, around 300 acres burned. However, crews expect to get a better look at the damage on Friday morning. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. KSN has learned the fire is not close to containment, and crews will be out in the area for several hours. There is no immediate danger to people at the moment, but people are leaving the area on [...]

New roundabouts in the works for Topeka, Shawnee County

info2024-10-25T09:46:47-05:00October 25th, 2024|

New roundabouts are coming to Topeka and Shawnee County in the years to come as local officials look to increase safety for drivers and pedestrians. Working for you, 27 News reached out to the Shawnee County government and City of Topeka to learn more about local roundabouts and where people might expect to see new ones appear. Two are currently in the works, with another two possible roundabouts still in the planning stages. Shawnee County spokeswoman Amanda Monhollon, responding to a 27 News information request, said two roundabouts are under construction at two different places in the county. The completion of [...]

City proposes changes to stop parking fund depletion by 2027

info2024-10-25T09:45:36-05:00October 25th, 2024|

The Topeka City Council Policy & Finance Committee says the parking reserve fund could be depleted by 2027 unless changes are made. The City of Topeka is spending $22.2 million over the next three-and-a-half years to improve eight parking garages. The funding was approved in fall of 2022. Included in the renovations are updated security cameras, pigeon-proof netting, waterproofing, façade facelifts and structural improvements. In the most recent Policy & Finance meeting on Oct. 22, the city heard there is an estimated loss of $415,965 for 2024 and a budgeted loss of $454,775 in 2025. The city is now considering subsidizing [...]