News – Page 447 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick County new home construction fell in 2023. Will that make housing shortage worse?

info2024-05-06T07:42:04-05:00May 6th, 2024|

Despite the need, new home construction in Sedgwick County went down last year. The county appraiser estimated a dip in new construction of almost 12%, an estimate that included single-family homes, duplexes and quadplexes. Single-family building permits fell by 9% in the Wichita area, according to the Wichita Area Builders Association. Why? “Inflation, and how fast and high it went up and stayed up — and also interest rates...” Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Has Kansas’ relocation incentive program successfully attracted residents to rural areas?

info2024-05-06T07:41:20-05:00May 6th, 2024|

Between 2012 and 2022, 1,670 people have participated in the student loan payment program, receiving a total of about $13.3 million. According to a program audit reviewed by The Wichita Eagle, 600 people had completed the program and received five years of student loan assistance, 560 had either withdrawn or been disqualified, 260 were involved in the program at the time of the audit, 160 withdrew before receiving any payment and 90 were on the wait list. Source: Wichita Eagle

Gardner’s past a linchpin to future

info2024-05-06T07:40:27-05:00May 6th, 2024|

Rep. Fred Gardner grew up near Burlington and remembers the days before Wolf Creek nuclear power plant came to town. Community development skyrocketed. A new computer chip manufacturing plant is likely to have the same effect. Source: The Iola Register

Big changes proposed for Lawrence City Commission’s public comment policy

info2024-05-06T07:40:04-05:00May 6th, 2024|

Proposed changes to Lawrence City Commission procedures would move the general public comment period to the end of meetings, make it untelevised, and require signup in advance. Commissioners hear public comment on specific agenda items they’re considering, but people may also address the commission about any topics “germane” to city business that aren’t on the agenda during the general public comment period — which is currently near the beginning of meetings. Source: The Lawrence Times

Kansas wheat crop deteriorates due to lack of moisture

info2024-05-06T07:36:15-05:00May 6th, 2024|

The condition of the crop has been deteriorating rapidly, especially over the past few weeks, going from 57 percent good to excellent on February 25 to only 31 percent good to excellent by April 28, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. It has suffered from lack of moisture for much of the growing season, especially during the spring green-up. The Kansas wheat crop is also ahead of schedule, with one-third already headed, well ahead of 9 percent last year and 6 percent average. A March 26-27 freeze event took a toll on it, as there was not enough snow cover, [...]

Experience at Camp Courage led young Topeka woman to pursue a career in firefighting

info2024-05-05T14:52:59-05:00May 5th, 2024|

BreAnna Droge — the newest Topeka Fire Department recruit — said she is thankful for the women who came before her and excited for those who will follow. Droge is the first woman to be recruited to the fire department after spending time at Camp Courage, a camp designed to encourage young women ages 16 to 20 years old to learn more about firefighting. Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for May 3, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-05-04T14:04:55-05:00May 4th, 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.

Inside JCPRD – Provence Village: A short-lived Johnson County city

info2024-05-03T10:39:22-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

Pop quiz: How many cities in Johnson County begin with the letter “P”? The answer may surprise you. Of course, we all know Prairie Village, but what about Provence Village? The city, which was an independent third-class city, existed southwest of Olathe for less than a decade. In the postwar era, northeastern Johnson County was rapidly suburbanizing. As master-planned subdivisions grew into communities, many became large enough to incorporate as state-recognized cities. Third-class cities, the smallest in Kansas, had less than 2,000 residents. Between 1948 and 1951, a whopping 11 suburban developments were incorporated as new third-class cities in Johnson County. [...]

Douglas County Commission approves revised wind energy regulations

info2024-05-03T10:37:40-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

Douglas County commissioners voted Wednesday to approve revisions to local wind energy regulations. Alternative energy has drawn a great deal of public interest, particularly from rural residents who would be more directly impacted by large wind farms and solar farms — such as the one for which commissioners recently approved a permit. After marathon meetings in October and January, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted 6-3 to advance draft wind energy regulations with one key modification: increasing required setbacks from property lines to 2,500 feet from 1,500. The three commissioners who voted against the regulations wanted to require smaller setbacks that [...]

Kansas to get $28 million for safe drinking water project

info2024-05-03T10:35:55-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Kansas will receive $28.6 million under a federal project to identify and replace lead water service lines, preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. Health officials have said that lead can cause a range of serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. The EPA will be working to make sure that 40% of overall benefits from certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families. The total funding announced through this program to [...]