News – Page 818 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Consultants recommend City of Lawrence allocate $1.4M in grant funds to affordable housing

info2023-03-08T00:27:32-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Statistics and survey responses made clear that affordable housing is Lawrence’s most pressing need in order to alleviate and prevent homelessness, consultants told the city commission on Tuesday. The city has been allocated about $1.64 million in federal HOME-ARP funds, but it must provide a plan for how it’s going to spend those dollars by March 31. Consultants received survey responses from 918 Lawrence and Douglas County residents. Of those responses, 38.5% identified construction of new affordable rental housing units as their highest priority for the HOME-ARP funds. Source: The Lawrence Times

Overland Park to hold special sales tax election for street upgrades

info2023-03-08T00:26:53-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Overland Park is now set to hold a special mail-in election this June asking voters to approve a dedicated sales tax that would go towards improving aspects of the city’s aging infrastructure. Notably, city officials say funds raised by the tax would also allow the city to reduce its reliance on chip seal, the controversial road resurfacing method. The Overland Park City Council Monday night unanimously approved putting the proposed 3/8-cent special sales tax up for a vote. If approved, the new tax would be an increase from the city’s current 1/8-cent sales tax, which is set to expire in March [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for March 6, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-03-07T07:24:22-06:00March 7th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

Wichita’s historic former Firehouse No. 7 in Riverside to be auctioned

info2023-03-07T01:24:02-06:00March 7th, 2023|

An unusual building is up for auction in Riverside this month. The 2,112-square-foot property at 901 N. Porter Ave., which is at the northwest corner of Franklin and Porter, was built as Wichita’s Firehouse No. 7 in 1922. “That’s really got a lot of history to it,” said auctioneer Rick Brock of McCurdy Real Estate & Auction. According to the Kansas Firefighters Museum archives, the $25,000 station initially had four firefighters assigned there. Source: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |

Century II switching to digital payment system for parking

info2023-03-07T01:20:54-06:00March 7th, 2023|

Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center is partnering with ParkMobile to offer daily and event parking payments through the mobile app. The center says that visitors can now pay for on-demand parking digitally at the Century II parking lots east of the venue and south of the former library. “Being located in Downtown Wichita, our venue is at the heart of a high-traffic area,” said Chris Whitney, General Manager of Century II. “By integrating ParkMobile’s digital parking payment system, our guests can now park at our events in a more seamless and efficient manner. Visitors will use ParkMobile for daily [...]

Gary Janzen, new Wichita Director of Public Works and Utilities

info2023-03-07T01:19:25-06:00March 7th, 2023|

“From water infrastructure, to road maintenance, to snow and ice removal, Public Works touches every facet of our community. Mr. Janzen has helped our Public Works Department make enormous progress on the City’s infrastructure during his tenure. We look forward to Gary’s continuing service to the community,” said City Manager Robert Layton. Source: KAKE - News

New Sedgwick County Election Commissioner shares plans

info2023-03-07T01:18:07-06:00March 7th, 2023|

Changes are coming to the Sedgwick County Election Office. The Kansas Secretary of State, Scott Schwab, has appointed Laura Rainwater as the county's new election commissioner. Rainwater is the third Sedgwick County Election Commissioner since 2021. Angela Caudillo resigned in December 2022, and Tabitha Lehman was not re-appointed in 2021. Rainwater is hoping to use her skills from working elections to help her in this new position. "14 to 15 hours days every time there is an election, but it gives me a sense of pride to serve in that way," said Rainwater. Source: KSN-TV

Dodge City airport receives $7.3 million for terminal improvements

info2023-03-07T01:16:25-06:00March 7th, 2023|

Dodge City Regional Airport has received $7.3 million from Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Terminal Fund. The funding will be used for the first phase of the airport's expansion plan. The funds will be used to update the previous design, remove and expand the south portion, and remodel the rest of the terminal building. The airfield vault in the basement of the terminal will also be moved to an enclosure outside. "We are genuinely excited and honored to be awarded the 7.3 Million Dollars from the FAA to help renovate the Dodge City Regional Airport Terminal," says City Manager Nick Hernandez. Source: [...]

City expected to pay $200,000 in settlement for 2019 Wichita police shooting

info2023-03-07T01:14:46-06:00March 7th, 2023|

The Wichita City Council is being asked to approve a $200,000 settlement with a man shot by police on July 14, 2019. On the agenda for the council’s Tuesday’s meeting is a recommendation from the law department to settle because of the “uncertainty and risk of an adverse judgment at trial,” according to the council’s agenda. The agreed-upon settlement covers the city and officer Drake Kreifels, who shot Christian Joel Washington after a domestic disturbance. Kreifels shot three times, hitting then-26-year-old Washington once in the abdomen. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Sedgwick County adds new services for those in jail with mental illness

info2023-03-07T01:13:40-06:00March 7th, 2023|

Sedgwick County has taken several steps to make mental health services more accessible for inmates in the county jail. Last March, the Sedgwick County Commission joined a national effort — the Stepping Up initiative — to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail. Sheriff Jeff Easter has estimated that about one-third of people in the approximately-1,500 person jail have mental illness. Since then, the county jail has put a number of steps in motion. That includes no longer charging people in jail a $5 co-pay for mental health medication. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle