News – Page 475 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Petition filed seeking to keep city of Topeka from raising taxes without public vote

info2024-06-25T09:42:26-05:00June 25th, 2024|

Petition drive organizer Earl McIntosh said he submitted 2,445 more signatures than required Monday on a petition seeking to ban Topeka's city government from raising property taxes without a public vote. McIntosh said 5,386 people signed the petition he turned in to county election commissioner Andrew Howell. ... The petition seeks to ban Topeka's city government, without a public vote, from assessing more property taxes in any given year than it collected the previous year. Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for June 24, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-06-25T00:19:03-05:00June 25th, 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.

Municipal Bond Trends for June 21, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-06-24T12:48:01-05:00June 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

info2024-06-24T08:14:00-05:00June 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

info2024-06-24T08:12:04-05:00June 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

info2024-06-24T08:11:33-05:00June 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

info2024-06-23T15:49:11-05:00June 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

info2024-06-23T15:48:03-05:00June 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.

info2024-06-23T15:46:17-05:00June 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

info2024-06-23T15:41:25-05:00June 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 [...]