Independence introduces online budget resource accessible to citizens

City introduces online budget resource accessible to citizens the City of Independence is working through its annual budget process and is offering a new tool to aid citizens in budget understanding. In furtherance of its goal to continually improve operational transparency and communications with residents, the City is introducing a new online platform with complete information on the 2023 Municipal Budget. The site provides insight into budget processes, explanations of line-item allocations and how the budget is divided among City departments, as well as tax calculations for residents.
Source: Independence, KS – News

Ranson Financial2022-08-26T07:23:15-05:00August 26, 2022|News|

Pittsburg business receives Economic Development Grant

A Pittsburg business is hoping to breathe new life into an old building. Owners of the White Elephant Emporium have started renovating their new home at 804 North Broadway. The project is expected to cost more than $100,000 with the city covering roughly 10%. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the home decor business received a non-repayable loan made possible by Pittsburg’s Economic Development sales tax. “It kind of takes a village to get some of these projects done and to purchase a building like this, for us it’s definitely taken the help of Pittsburg, Kansas,” said Stephanie Watts, White Elephant Emporium Co-Owner.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-08-26T07:23:42-05:00August 26, 2022|News|

Local museum re-enacts Newton Massacre

Audie Heller portrayed Hugh Anderson in the Hide Park shootout re-enactment on Saturday night, strolling into a “saloon” and blasting away at one man at point blank range. As he shot during the two performances, which took place on about the same spot the actual shooting did 150 years ago, a loud bang rang out from the gun, as did a flash of orange and yellow glow. The gun was real but only had black powder to light it up. Heller is an experienced re-enactor, so he knew how to use it. Another actor, Tristin England, portrayed another shooter, Riley, who shot many of the other men in the “saloon” with a prop gun. England said his gun couldn’t fire more than six, so he didn’t shoot more than six guys. One of those guys was the actual Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay, who was one of the actors, and he didn’t portray a law enforcement official. He was just a man sitting at a table who ended up slumped over.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-08-26T07:24:36-05:00August 26, 2022|News|

Scott City takes steps to adopt tree ordinance

City Administrator Brad Pendergast said the city has an ordinance to deal with diseased trees, but not trees that are dead or are a risk to surrounding property. At the risk of “opening a can of worms” with respect to tree removal, Mayor Green and the council advised Pendergast to prepare an ordinance that gives the city the ability to remove trees. Pendergast said the ordinance will be written so that trees can be removed if a qualified individual determines they are a risk to public safety or property.
Source: Scott County Record

Ranson Financial2022-08-25T20:18:16-05:00August 25, 2022|News|

Johnson County leaders debate truck traffic enforcement on rural roads

As Johnson County leaders continue to debate how to best manage truck traffic on rural roads, people that live in the unincorporated part of the county say the traffic is putting their safety at risk. During the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting Thursday, Public Works Director Brian Pietig provided an update on plans for 199th Street. Pietig said the county will begin making some improvements on 199th Street between Clare Road and U.S. 169 Highway next spring, but larger upgrades will likely be needed as the area becomes more developed.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-08-25T18:55:13-05:00August 25, 2022|News|

Barton County backs water district improvements

A half century ago, Barton County Rural Water District 1 was formed to serve a small territory just north of Hoisington. Now, it wants to join forces with the sprawling Russell County Rural Water District 3 in a multi-million plan allowing Hoisington to sell water to Bunker Hill, replace aging infrastructure and eventually allowing the districts to merge.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-08-26T07:26:48-05:00August 25, 2022|News|

De Soto planners eye rezoning to help facilitate Panasonic battery-making megaproject

In late September, De Soto planners will consider rezoning more than 1,300 acres of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, including a portion of land where Panasonic Corp. plans to build a $4 billion megaproject. The change would ease the permitting process for the company’s electric-vehicle battery manufacturing facility.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-08-26T07:28:06-05:00August 25, 2022|News|

Evergy, FreeState considering solar array in Osage County

A solar array may be coming to Osage County relatively soon. On Wednesday, Evergy announced it had broken ground on a solar array near Auburn as part of a collaboration with FreeState Electric Cooperative. Two other sites are part of the overall plan, with one array to be installed near Silver Lake and another possibly to be installed at a currently-unspecified location in Osage County. Evergy will build and operate the solar arrays through a power purchase agreement with FreeState. The solar arrays help FreeState manage its peak demand on the hottest summer days when solar energy is at its highest, a similar approach to 4 Rivers Electric Cooperative’s partnership with Today’s Power out of Arkansas for its solar arrays near Americus and Fredonia.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Ranson Financial2022-08-26T07:29:18-05:00August 25, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 24, 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 Financial2022-08-25T07:08:46-05:00August 25, 2022|News|

Kansas Department of Commerce Announces New Grant Opportunity to Support Economic Development in Smaller Communities

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced a new grant opportunity today that will help support economic development and revitalization efforts in smaller communities across Kansas through investments in quality-of-life initiatives. The brand-new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) program will make grants between $5,000 and $50,000 available to communities in 78 designated counties with a population of 5,000 or less. Grants will be available in the following categories: Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment; Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals and signage; Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion; and Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture and building improvements.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2022-08-24T23:58:39-05:00August 24, 2022|News|