News – Page 526 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Etzanoa annexation comes back to Ark City commission

info2024-03-06T12:27:52-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Arkansas City commissioners will consider an ordinance today to approve an annexation petition filed by the Etzanoa Conservancy for its property on 28379 81st Road. Since the property does not adjoin the city, Cowley County Commissioners were first required to determine whether that annexation would interfere with the growth or development of that area or in any other incorporated city within the county. The county approved that request in February. The location is home of the future Etzanoa Cultural and Immersion Center, based on the ancient Native American community here that is expected to benefit the surrounding area with economic development [...]

Westwood kicks off planning for new park after legal dispute over other green space nearby

info2024-03-06T12:26:49-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The city of Westwood’s park planning steering committee is meeting for the first time on March 4. The committee is charged with guiding city officials on development of the new 3.8-acre park that is part of the Karbank Real Estate Company’s office-park project headed to West 50th Street and Rainbow Boulevard. Karbank plans to build six office-retail buildings along Rainbow Boulevard on the sites of Joe D. Dennis Park and the former Westwood Christian Church. In exchange for building on Joe D. Dennis Park, Karbank is giving the city of Westwood money to purchase the original Westwood View Elementary building and [...]

Homebody: The good and the bad of home associations

info2024-03-06T12:22:15-06:00March 6th, 2024|

A homeowner association (HOA) is typically a nonprofit corporation within a community of housing. Most HOAs exist in planned multi-unit community projects such as condominiums and townhomes or in newer developments filled with new construction. Membership is mandatory and the association is governed by a board of directors made up of elected community residents once control is passed off from the developer. Practically all incorporated HOAs are subjected to state laws in addition to unique governing restrictive covenants and bylaws. These restrictive covenants and bylaws define community standards so as to protect property values. It’s this intention that is the good [...]

New Johnson County coffee shop inspired by nature opens in an old fire station

info2024-03-06T12:20:35-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Birds chirping overhead, horses galloping in the distance — and in the middle of the rural scene, a coffee shop. The building’s mural, depicting a field of sunflowers and rolling hills, matches its serene backdrop. Owner Courtney Nelson said Station 3 Coffee has quickly become a hit with bicyclists and walkers on the winding trails nearby. Over the weekend, a group of cyclists were racing down the trails to try their first cup of Station 3 coffee before it closed for the day, Nelson said. Station 3 opened Friday near Shawnee Mission Park at 19115 Midland Drive in Shawnee. It features [...]

Lawsuit against Dodge City’s voting districts could affect other Kansas communities

info2024-03-06T12:18:22-06:00March 6th, 2024|

More than half of the population in Dodge City, Kansas, is Latino. But in the past 20 years members of the community argue they have never had the power to elect city officials of their choice. A federal judge heard arguments last week in a lawsuit that aims to change this, with critics of Dodge City’s current local government structure arguing it denies representation and voting rights to its Hispanic and Latino residents. The outcome of the case holds major consequences for the Southwest Kansas city. And if Dodge City loses, other Kansas cities may face their own legal challenges or [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for March 5, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-03-06T09:25:18-06:00March 6th, 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 March 4, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-03-05T10:22:34-06:00March 5th, 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.

After a 5-day trial, federal judge to decide whether Dodge City’s at-large elections discriminate against the Latino vote

info2024-03-04T14:43:00-06:00March 4th, 2024|

Voting rights lawyers offered a passionate rebuke of Dodge City’s at-large election system, arguing that the city’s current system deprives Latino voters of sufficient representation on the city commission. ... Attorneys for the city counter that a lack of Latino representation on the commission is the result of factors beyond local government’s control. In December 2022, ACLU Kansas and other voting rights groups filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that Latinos would overwhelmingly back other Latinos for seats on the City Commission but are restrained by an at-large system that favors white voters. ... The five-day trial went into recess [...]

110 new jobs coming to Wellington

info2024-03-04T14:39:55-06:00March 4th, 2024|

A company is investing $14 million in Wellington and creating 110 new jobs for the area. Elite Harness plans to refurbish an existing facility at 1515 North A Street on the north side of town. The goal is to make it into a 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing plant. “We have a sister company that is located in Tulsa, so we considered building there, but the State of Kansas and Sumner County really stepped up to the plate and made Wellington a wise choice for us,” Elite Harness President Nathan Smith said in a news release. Source: KSN-TV

How running with pancakes in southwest Kansas boosts community spirit and the economy

info2024-03-04T13:04:37-06:00March 4th, 2024|

This year marks the 75th anniversary of what’s known as the Pancake Day Race in the southwest Kansas town of Liberal. It’s an oddity, but these types of community festivals offer economic and less tangible benefits to smaller towns. Women dressed in aprons, skirts and headscarves line up in the middle of main street. They’re dressed in a traditional English kitchen outfit, but instead of cooking they are about to race. As the women get on their marks they prepare their other race essentials, frying pans and pancakes. This is the annual Pancake Day Race, a tradition in Liberal, Kansas, for 75 [...]