Hesston voters say yes, Rose Hill voters say no to school bond issues

Voters in Hesston have narrowly approved a school bond issue for over $33.4 million, while voters in Rose Hill defeated a $19 million bond issue. In Tuesday’s election, the Hesston bond issue was approved with 790 yes votes to 780 no votes. The bond issue is intended to make improvements to the middle school and high school, with new classrooms and other improvements in USD 460. The Rose Hill bond issue had 724 no votes and 471 yes votes. It would have provided improvements for the high school and middle school along with an expansion of day care services in USD 394.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T00:41:20-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Girard receives grant to make city more accessible

The City of Girard is about to make its community more accessible. It’s received a $75,000 Pathways Grant from Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. The money will be used to help cover the design costs for a new sidewalk construction project. It will focus on increasing accessibility across the city for the disabled or economically disadvantaged — and could include walkways towards medical services, educational, and-or recreational facilities. “We’ve been working on this for a while. Actually our old city clerk, Debbie Smith, kind of started the ball rolling like five years ago and we’ve done two pretty big sidewalk projects since then and this third one will be pretty well set as far as the connectivity piece,” said Johanna O’Brien, Girard City Administrator.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T00:38:44-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Firms seek grants to expand broadband service in county

Proposed broadband expansions in Miami County accounted for nine of the 118 grant applications the state received for the second phase of its capital projects grant fund for broadband infrastructure expansion statewide. Gov. Laura Kelly announced in mid-July that more than 21,000 Kansas homes and businesses are set to receive high-speed internet access for the first time thanks to an $83.5 million grant program through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Broadband Development. A priority of the program is to support broadband expansion to facilitate work, education, and healthcare in areas that lack access to internet speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T00:37:38-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Rebuild of tornado-ravaged Andover YMCA targeted to finish in 2024

Closed since it was struck by a destructive EF-3 tornado on April 29, the Andover YMCA branch will be rebuilt “better than ever,” said Ron McMahon, CEO of the Greater Wichita YMCA. “The whole thing will be redone — every floor, every finish, every wall will be completely redone,” McMahon said Wednesday in an interview with the WBJ. It was the first time the YMCA has announced its next steps in Andover since the tornado tore a 13-mile path through portions of Sedgwick and Butler counties three months ago. One of 10 branch locations in the Wichita area, the YMCA was one of the worst-hit businesses in the storm, which wrecked the outdoor waterpark, tore back portions of the roof and launched vehicles from the parking lot into the front lobby.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T00:36:06-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Tax relief program for small Kansas businesses

The state is launching the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief program in October and small business owners should prepare now. House Bill 2136 passed back in June invests $50 million to help small Kansas businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded through the American Rescue Plan… Information detailing the application process and dates for the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program is expected from the Kansas Department of Revenue. People will have until April 15, 2023, to file an application for this financial assistance.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T06:57:47-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Federal grant to help plug abandoned wells

The Kansas Corporation Commission received a $25 million federal grant to help plug 2,352 abandoned oil and gas wells in the state, most of them in eastern Kansas counties. The initial grant is part of $1.15 billion earmarked under the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help states remediate abandoned oil and gas wells. Over the next eight years, $4.7 billion has been allocated to plug abandoned wells in the U.S. The KCC is eligible to receive another $33.6 million in future formula grant funding, according to a KCC release on the grant award. “These federal grants provide Kansas with a one-time opportunity to help address the issue of abandoned wells in Kansas while helping the economy by providing good paying jobs for several years,” said Ryan A. Hoffman, KCC Conservation Division director.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T00:32:58-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

$1.4 Million in Grants for Amelia Earhart Airport in Atchison

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) and Congressman Jake LaTurner (KS-02) today announced two grants totaling $1,454,770 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Amelia Earhart Airport in Atchison. These resources – the combined total of a $1,167,300 grant and $287,470 grant – will be for design and land acquisition reimbursement associated with the planned Runway 9/27 (non-construction phases). Runway 16/34 is the existing runway, which will be abandoned. Runway 9/27 will be 4,000 ft. in length.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T06:58:34-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Valley Heights voters turn down school bond

Voters in Valley Heights USD 498 turned down an $18.54 million proposal Tuesday to issue bonds for school improvements, including building an addition at the junior-senior high school complex and moving elementary students there. The first question, which asked voters to build a new elementary school at the junior-senior high campus, failed 475-230 in Tuesday’s special election. A second question on whether to make improvements to other district buildings also went down, 442-244.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

Ranson Financial2022-09-01T00:27:56-05:00September 1, 2022|News|

Saline County commissioners discuss innovation, examining failure & progress

Saline County commissioners and other staff met in the basement of the Salina Masonic Temple for a special workshop meeting focused on innovation in government. On Tuesday, 11 members of county staff attended the plenary study-session-style presentation by Andi Mirviss with the Centre for Public Impact. The goal of the session was not to leave with immediate solutions but to become inspired with potential ideas to overcome challenges in local government.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-08-31T07:49:44-05:00August 31, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 30, 2022

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 and Beth Warren.

Ranson Financial2022-08-31T07:38:15-05:00August 31, 2022|News|