Municipal Bond Trends for June 21, 2024

2024-06-24T12:48:01-05:00June 24th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

100 years on, the Shawnee Fire Department continues to evolve

2024-06-24T08:14:00-05:00June 24th, 2024|

Since beginning as a one-truck, volunteer-run department in 1924, the Shawnee Fire Department has lived by the philosophy of always evolving and adapting — whether it’s during an escalating emergency or expanding to meet the needs of a growing city. “To look at where we came, from an all-volunteer (group) to a combination department…I mean, (it’s) leaps and bounds,” said Deputy Chief Corey Sands, a 27-year veteran of the department. “I can’t imagine where we’re going to go in that much time moving forward.” Source: Johnson County Post

Prairie Village to increase police pay to keep up with other JoCo departments

2024-06-24T08:12:04-05:00June 24th, 2024|

The city of Prairie Village is poised to increase police officer salaries in two phases over the next 18 months in an effort aimed at retaining, recruiting and competing more with other Johnson County police departments. At Monday’s city council meeting, City Administrator Wes Jordan said the Prairie Village Police Department is at “a critical crossroads,” with 12 vacant positions, including three traffic and three patrol officers. Source: Johnson County Post

Panasonic’s battery plant is already transforming De Soto, Kansas. It’s only halfway built

2024-06-24T08:11:33-05:00June 24th, 2024|

Once completed, the $4 billion, 4.7-million-square-foot facility will be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the world, said Jeff van Heel, who runs construction on the site. Van Heel, Panasonic Energy of North America president Allan Swan and other executives hosted a media tour Thursday of the construction site. When production equipment installation is included, the facility is a little less than 50% built out, van Heel said. But officials plan to start production gradually in the parts that are fully ready, so that the company can start making the batteries in the first quarter of 2025. Source: KCUR News

Governor Kelly Announces $57M to Secure Water Supply for Dodge City, Support the Ogallala Aquifer

2024-06-23T15:49:11-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that $57 million is being invested in Dodge City to upgrade its existing water treatment process and infrastructure. The project advances the Kelly administration’s work to address the state’s water quality and quantity needs. “By exploring every avenue for investment into our water infrastructure, we are making progress to address Kansas’ water crisis,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “When we work together – pooling resources across federal, state, and local government – we can significantly impact the future of water for the region.” The project will strengthen the city’s process of discharging treated wastewater into the Arkansas River streambed. [...]

Saucers and aliens revive Geneseo

2024-06-23T15:48:03-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

There is something strange going on in a small town smack dab in the middle of Kansas. The unusual activity hinges on a little-known collection that the town had kept secret for over forty years. On July 6, the third annual Kansas UFO Day celebrates flying saucers, aliens, and all things outer space at the Geneseo City Museum in Rice County. The legendary images of Gort and Klaatu from the 1951 movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” are coming to the museum. Gort will be installed on the grounds at a full height of 8 feet, accompanied by “photo op” statue [...]

This area of Olathe has seen 200% spike in fire calls. A new firehouse is planned there.

2024-06-23T15:46:17-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Olathe plans to spend about $14.5 million on its future Firehouse No. 9 planned northwest of College Boulevard and Woodland Road. On Tuesday, city staff and contracted architects from Finkle + Williams gave a presentation to the Olathe City Council focused primarily on the design of the future firehouse. This particular property was donated to Olathe from the historic Hoff Family Farm along with land for a future city park, dubbed Pioneer Park. In an email to the Post, Olathe Fire Public Information Officer Capt. Mike Hall reiterated the location’s importance for the fire department, pointing out that northern-central Olathe has seen steady growth [...]

Objections to wind farm expansion growing

2024-06-23T15:41:25-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Several residents of the southwest portion of the county are objecting to a proposed expansion of Sunflower Wind farm. Quentin Guhr, who lives east of Goessel, spoke to county commissioners Monday about his concerns. “Our current decommissioning regulations say enough of the turbine’s base is to be removed so 18 inches of soil can be placed over it and reseeded with native grass,” Guhr said. “As some of you may know, and any farmer will tell you, 18 inches is not enough soil over concrete to grow a crop.” Regulations say that any more than 18 inches is to be negotiated [...]

Prairie Village has fined Republic Services $28K for recent rash of missed trash pickups

2024-06-23T15:38:00-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

After fining Republic Services $28,000 over the past six months for missed trash pickups, Prairie Village city leaders are asking its solid waste provider for better communication. Mayor Eric Mikkelson and the Prairie Village City Council on Monday asked Phoenix-based Republic Services to proactively communicate with the city about missed pickups. City leaders also asked Republic representatives to prioritize picking up trash at missed routes for the following day. This comes after several issues with Republic missing trash pickups in the past two years in Prairie Village and neighboring Johnson County cities. In Prairie Village, Republic is the primary solid waste hauler citywide. The city is more [...]

City of Wichita to hold further discussion on possible reparation panel

2024-06-23T15:36:28-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

A local activist is pleading with the Wichita City Council to look into the issue of reparations for the African-American community in the city. Kansas Justice Advocate President Mary Dean is pointing at other cities across the country that have put together panels of experts to address how the African-American community can be compensated for historic racial discrimination and displacement. "East Coast, West Coast, everybody was doing it, and I'm like, 'Wow, I think Wichita should join in and, you know, try to figure out how to repair the harm that had been done to Black people, over decades and centuries, [...]

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