News – Page 494 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

City and County join forces to track overdose deaths within Wichita

info2024-03-01T13:19:18-06:00March 1st, 2024|

An increase in overdose deaths has resulted in the Sedgwick County Health Department working with the City of Wichita on wastewater surveillance. Everything you can imagine comes through this Wichita wastewater plant but the city and county are hoping to identify five high-risk drugs. "From here on in, we'll be able to begin analyzing that data to show where there might be where there are spikes in the community," said Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne. Through wastewater surveillance, the city hopes to track cocaine, methamphetamines, nicotine, fentanyl and xylazine. Byrne said these samples from the wastewater are sent to the [...]

Wichita will now pay residents up to $100 to buy electric lawn equipment

info2024-03-01T13:17:43-06:00March 1st, 2024|

For the third year, the City of Wichita has allocated funds to provide rebates for the replacement of lawn care devices for new, non-combustion equipment. In a news release on Thursday, the city said up to $100 rebates are available for residents of Wichita and surrounding counties who purchase new non-combustion lawn equipment and recycle their old combustion equipment. Up to a $30 rebate is available for mulch blades, no recycling required. "Clean air is an important part of staying healthy," the city said in a release. "Gas- and diesel-powered lawn equipment produces emissions that impact our air quality. A typical [...]

City of Pittsburg breaks ground on new mini golf course

info2024-03-01T13:16:24-06:00March 1st, 2024|

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the City of Pittsburg held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate breaking ground on a new mini golf facility at the Four Oaks Golf Course, 910 Memorial Drive, Pittsburg. City officials, key stakeholders, and donors attended the ceremony and shared details about the future of the grounds. According to the City of Pittsburg, the brand-new mini golf facility is made possible through private donations and grant funding from the Skubitz Foundation, Pritchett Trust, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks Land and Water Conservation Fund. The new mini golf facility is expected to open by summer [...]

Wichita residents, housing experts discuss city housing issues

info2024-03-01T13:15:03-06:00March 1st, 2024|

Wichita residents and housing experts spoke about housing issues in the city Monday night. The Wichita Journalism Collaborative, which KSN is part of, hosted the event. A panel took questions from the audience and discussed the need for more homes in the community. The panel consisted of: Danielle Johnson, Executive Director of Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Dr. Stanley Longhofer, Professor and Director of Wichita State University Center for Real Estate, Pete Najera, President and CEO of United Way of the Plains, and Sally Stang, Director of Housing and Community Services for the city of Wichita. The housing inventory in Wichita dominated the discussion at the community listening session. [...]

Haysville to vote May 7 on sales tax renewal

info2024-03-01T13:12:30-06:00March 1st, 2024|

A special election will be happening in Haysville. A renewal of the 1% city sales tax will be voted on. The money would be used to improve streets as well as parks and recreational amenities in the city. Residents voted down a similar measure in November. The mayor says the key difference is that this one would return 10% of the sales tax to residents as a "property tax reduction." Voting will take place on May 7. "Without a sales tax continuation, street repairs and upgrades will take longer, and we won't be able to make all the enhancements to parks and recreational facilities that [...]

Financing options reviewed for potential courthouse repairs

info2024-03-01T13:11:20-06:00March 1st, 2024|

Miami County commissioners are reviewing funding options, including financing, to pay for needed repairs to the Miami County Courthouse. Last fall, voters chose not to support a proposed quarter-cent sales tax to renovate and expand the Miami County Courthouse. Proposed plans involved renovating the existing courthouse and constructing an extension where the old sheriff’s office is located next door. The extension would have provided sufficient space for two additional courtrooms and secured parking, and the estimated cost of the project was between $21 million and $25 million, according to county documents. Commissioners are now focused on just making needed repairs to [...]

Commerce renews effort to win incentives for electric, hydrogen vehicle assembly plant

info2024-03-01T12:49:30-06:00March 1st, 2024|

The Commerce Department is making another run at a major piece of economic development legislation that would help the state attract an electric vehicle or hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturing plant. Bob North, legal counsel for the department, appeared before the House Commerce Committee on Thursday to pitch the legislation that's intended to build on the tax incentives provided to Panasonic two years ago. The bill also could be used to bring a national headquarters for an electric battery plant as well as a manufacturer of electric or hydrogen-powered motor vehicles. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Council lifts pit bull ban, adds ‘reckless owner’ penalty

info2024-03-01T12:47:57-06:00March 1st, 2024|

Last week, the Clay Center City Council approved removing the breed-specific ban that includes pit bulls from its vicious dog ordinance and added that language that leads to a stiffer penalty for repeat offenders. The measures passed with one council member, Daton Hess, voting against. The new language, which City Attorney Dusty Mullin described as pertaining to “reckless animal owners” calls for a measure that can lead to the owner being banned from owning animals for five years if they have three separate offenses within a certain period. He explained this process isn’t a criminal one, but rather an administrative one [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for February 29, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-03-01T09:40:55-06:00March 1st, 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.

Local association educating public on importance of controlled burns

info2024-03-01T07:34:26-06:00March 1st, 2024|

In prairielands like Kansas, if there's a lot of smoke in the air, there's a good chance that a fire has started, but one organization wants the public to know that not all of these fires are wild. The Smoky Hills Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) has grown to around 45 members in its three years of existence in north central Kansas. Its main purpose is the promotion, assistance and education on the safe and responsible use of fire as a management tool and to be a resource to assist landowners and land managers with the necessary means to organize and conduct [...]