News – Page 655 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2023-5: Designating city website as “official city newspaper”; exceptions

info2023-08-08T07:33:43-05:00August 8th, 2023|

K.S.A. 12-1651(a) requires second and third class cities to designate an official city newspaper for the publishing of official city business, provided the newspaper meets the qualifications set forth in K.S.A. 12-1651(b). However, under the home rule provisions of the Kansas Constitution, Kan. Const. Art. 12, § 5, which allows cities to exempt themselves from nonuniform acts of the legislature, a city may exempt itself by charter ordinance from the requirements set forth in K.S.A. 12-1651 because the statute is not uniformly applicable as it applies only to second- and third-class cities. ... As to the question of whether a city [...]

Sedgwick County, Wichita address opioid crisis

info2023-08-08T00:32:42-05:00August 8th, 2023|

The city of Wichita and Sedgwick County are pooling money they’ll receive from opioid settlement funds in order to strategically distribute them throughout the area. In a request for proposal, the local governments are looking for an agency that will create a strategic plan for how to distribute an estimated $15.5 million from the settlements over the next 13 years. “Our goal with this RFP is to be able to inform the commission and the council, the best way to spend that money to have the biggest, greatest impact on the opioid problem,” Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman said. Source: Derby [...]

Valley Center schools busting at the seams: bond issue could fix problem

info2023-08-08T00:31:10-05:00August 8th, 2023|

Middle school teachers gear up for the upcoming school year as they engage in team building exercises on Monday at Valley Center Middle School. As they prepare, they also have concerns about overcrowding within Valley Center schools. According to Valley Center School District Superintendent Greg Lehr, passing the $73.9 million bond issue will allow the district to make necessary changes. "Part of that will be a new elementary school so we'll have four elementary schools in the district. We'll add twenty classrooms up at the high school and then we have a bunch of little additions to our middle school," said [...]

City of Wichita cracking down on illegal slot machines

info2023-08-08T00:29:19-05:00August 8th, 2023|

There is an evidence section for Wichita police that has nearly one thousand illegal slots. More are likely on the way as the WPD continues to confiscate the machines. "For probably close to ten years in Wichita, we have seen an increase in gambling, illegal gambling," said WPD Captain Travis Rakestraw. City Council Member Jeff Blubaugh said the city will take up tougher penalties and a way to get tough on business license holders on Tuesday. "It's time to do something," said Blubaugh. "They're a real problem throughout the city, specifically in my district. And they really prey on people that [...]

Winfield storm cleanup still weeks away from completion

info2023-08-08T00:27:52-05:00August 8th, 2023|

The City of Winfield is working to clean up damage from Saturday's storms. Many neighborhoods still have large amounts of debris. City Manager Taggart Wall says completing the process will likely take many weeks. Lots of residents have joined in on the efforts. "In a town like Winfield, I'm never surprised to see neighbors come together and help neighbors. We've got folks from the rural areas that have come into town to help people pull together and try to get back on their feet," explained Wall. For some, Saturday's storms left them devastated. The Cowley County Fair had multiple trailers destroyed [...]

110 mph wind causes damage in Kansas town of Almena

info2023-08-08T07:35:46-05:00August 8th, 2023|

The National Weather Service in Goodland said a high-end supercell thunderstorm produced straight-line wind of 110 mph in the town of Almena in northwest Kansas. The storm moved over the town in Norton County around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday. As it moved into town, the storm intensified. The storm also had hail ranging from golf ball to tennis ball-sized hail. The wind caused damage to trees ranging from limbs being blown down to tree trunks being snapped. Source: KSN-TV

Kansas sees smallest wheat crop in half a century

info2023-08-08T00:25:08-05:00August 8th, 2023|

This summer's wheat harvest is finally coming to a close in Kansas after weeks of delays, and it's the smallest crop for the state since 1966. Farmers were up against weather-related challenges this year. Wheat needs a lot of moisture when it's planted in the fall and actively growing in the spring. However, in the summer, it needs to be dry for harvesting. This year, the weather did the opposite of what was needed. The fall and spring were dry, which made some crops so stunted farmers gave up on them entirely. About 15% of crops were abandoned, compared to the [...]

KDHE announces recipients of $333k in waste reduction grants

info2023-08-08T07:39:48-05:00August 8th, 2023|

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is pleased to announce the recipients of the solid waste reduction grants. Grants totaled $333,037.56 and were awarded to 14 different cities, counties and organizations. The solid waste tire reduction grant is used to support projects related to the development and operation of recycling, source reduction, waste minimization and solid waste management public education programs. The grants are funded by revenue collected through the solid waste tonnage fee; a $1.00/per ton of solid waste disposed at any solid waste disposal area in the state. A list of the map of awards is available here. [...]

As water dries up, SE Kansas communities enact mandatory water conservation

info2023-08-07T14:33:49-05:00August 7th, 2023|

In parts of southeast Kansas heat and parched conditions are drying up the water supply for several Kansas communities. This week, people living in Chautauqua County and parts of Montogmery and Elk Counties are under mandatory water conservation measures. That means no watering lawns, washing cars or filling pools. Kathi Barlow has seen the impact of the drought drying up the land. “People just say they haven’t seen it at this point ever. It’s hard. Yeah, it’s bad,” said Barlow. Source: KWCH

Municipal Bond Trends for August 4, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-08-07T09:52:24-05:00August 7th, 2023|

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.