News – Page 308 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Water restriction update: Violation notices being given

info2024-08-12T10:06:56-05:00August 12th, 2024|

The City of Wichita is on the fourth day of water restrictions and is already issuing violation notices. Public Works Director Gary Janzen was not specific about the number of violations reported, but he said some of the people who received notices plan to appeal. “We’re not proactively going out looking for people who are running irrigation systems when they’re not supposed to,” he said. “It’s not meant to be punitive, so we’re not actively trying to go after people. Our goal here is education of the community and the value we have with conservation community-wide.” After people get a violation [...]

Garden City approves grant agreement with EPA for water reuse project

info2024-08-12T10:02:42-05:00August 12th, 2024|

The Garden City Commission approved a grant agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to construct a Water Reclamation and Reuse project at the commission’s regular meeting Tuesday. Fred Jones, Garden City Water Resource Manager, said the city has worked continually since 2016 to develop strategies to utilize reclaimed water treated by the city’s Wastewater Utility which would otherwise be discharged into the Arkansas River. Multiple projects and studies have been pursued by the city, including three federal grants which were awarded to the city from the Bureau of Reclamation, Jones said. The grants will assist staff in “developing a [...]

Hutchinson City Council buys land to fight housing crisis

info2024-08-12T09:59:18-05:00August 12th, 2024|

The City of Hutchinson is getting creative to solve the housing crisis. The Hutchinson City Council approved the purchasing of land on the west side of town, and will partner with a developer to build somewhere between 24 and 33 new homes. Hutchinson City Manager Enrico Villegas told KSN it’s a unique approach, but it’s what they decided. “So this is gonna be unique for the city, and it’s probably a little unorthodox in general,” Villegas said. “But that is going to be the approach that we’re taking to at least help get us out of the housing crisis that we’re [...]

Osawatomie’s newest mural pays tribute to Teddy Roosevelt

info2024-08-12T09:57:54-05:00August 12th, 2024|

Artist Lynnsey Fletcher recently completed her third mural in Osawatomie, and the image highlights Teddy Roosevelt’s iconic visit to Osawatomie in 1910. In the fall of 2023, Fletcher painted a mural of the Big Boy steam engine on a wall near the Osawatomie History Museum and MoPac Railroad Depot Museum at 628 Main St., and earlier this year she was commissioned to add another mural to the wall. Osawatomie Museum Foundation Board member John Fletcher said the museum used a grant from the Allen W. and Gladys Hawkins Charitable Foundation to commission Fletcher to paint the mural, which she did over [...]

Paola commissions artist for downtown mural

info2024-08-12T09:56:42-05:00August 12th, 2024|

Downtown Paola is about to get a colorful new mural just in time for the annual Roots Festival. Paola City Council members, during their May 14 meeting, approved the proposed final mural design submitted by Missouri artist Lynnsey Fletcher. The 25 X 13 foot design will say “Welcome to Paola est. 1855,” and it will feature bright flowers and a butterfly. The mural will be painted on the side of a building owned by Rusty Walters at 11 S. Pearl St. The alley next to the building connects Paola’s Park Square with its government offices at City Hall. In March, the [...]

Edgerton looks to renovate historic city lake and park area

info2024-08-12T09:47:24-05:00August 12th, 2024|

A major project to renovate Edgerton City Lake and its accompanying dam and spillway could cost the city nearly $7 million. It’s a potentially steep price tag, city officials say, but one that may need to be borne to improve one of the southern Johnson County city’s most popular public amenities. It would also be the first time the lake and dam would be renovated since they were first created in the 1890s to accommodate passing steam engine trains. Source: Prairie Village Post

Kansas community colleges seeing spike in students this fall

info2024-08-12T09:41:54-05:00August 12th, 2024|

As students are preparing to return to campus in the coming weeks, college enrollment across the country is rising, recovering from the drop it took in 2020. In the 2024 spring semester, undergraduate enrollment grew 2.5%. That means over 300,000 more students enrolled compared to 2023. More than half of the increase is at community colleges. Community colleges across Kansas are also seeing a spike in students this fall. The official count will come later this fall, but according to the Kansas Community College Association, schools with increases have seen enrollment increases of 2-3% to as much as 20%. “What we [...]

Local leaders are working to help reduce serious vehicle crashes in Douglas County with the Vision Zero initiative

info2024-08-11T09:16:57-05:00August 11th, 2024|

The initiative that’s aiming to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injury accidents in Douglas County might be called “Vision Zero,” but make no mistake: it’s really about seeing things more clearly. It’s certainly about helping drivers see things around them — like with pedestrian islands that make it easier to see people who are walking or biking. Source: LJWorld

Douglas County welcomes Sean Pederson as new Deputy County Administrator

info2024-08-11T09:15:21-05:00August 11th, 2024|

Douglas County welcomes Sean Pederson as new Deputy County Administrator. He has spent the past nine years as City Manager in Bonner Springs and has 13 years of experience in local government. He will lead the Public Works and Zoning and Codes departments and the Sustainability division of Administration. Source: Douglas County

Municipal Bond Trends for August 8, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-09T11:09:41-05:00August 9th, 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.