Despite dark national homebuilder report, Wichita market not seeing as much gloom

… while Wichita’s homebuilders and residential real-estate market are not immune to inflation and supply chain headwinds — the local market is not in dire shape, according to Wess Galyon, Wichita Area Builders Association president and CEO. “We don’t see a sharp downturn coming anytime soon,” he said. According to the latest data from South Central Kansas MLS, in July, Sedgwick County experienced a 19.9% year-over-year drop in closed listings (713 for the month). That followed a 10.6% year-over-year drop in closed listings the prior month. But even with that move, Galyon said a slowdown in Wichita would not be to the degree seen in much larger markets in the U.S.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:16:42-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Ark City citizens weigh in on small vehicle use

The first draft of an ordinance that would allow the use of golf carts, utility vehicles, micro-utility trucks and all-terrain vehicles on public streets in Arkansas City drew a lot of comments from local citizens during the Tuesday commission meeting. The ordinance permits those vehicles to operate on residential streets but restricts them from Summit Street. Among the commenters, those with more advanced vehicles agreed with the restriction on golf carts but argued that the utility-terrain vehicles, also known as UTV’s, should not be excluded from the city’s main commercial corridor.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:11:43-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Derby takes first step toward updating economic development incentives

The updated policy was presented by staff and spurred on by recent action both in and outside the city limits. Both the city of Wichita and Sedgwick County jointly adopted new incentive policies in 2020, and BG Products presented an incentive request to the Derby advisory board in 2021 that would have been in line with those policies – but not with Derby’s. An exception was made to approve the industrial revenue bond incentives and keep BG Products in Derby, which also started the gears turning on the updated incentive policy. Derby’s policy was last changed in 2011.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:10:19-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Fed’s Daly pushes back against bets on rate cuts next year

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said the central bank should raise interest rates “a little” above 3% by the end of the year to cool inflation, pushing back against investor bets that officials would then reverse course. “We need to get the rate up, up to neutral at least, which is around 3%, but likely to restrictive territory — a little bit above 3% this year and a little bit more above 3% next year,” she told CNN International in an interview on Thursday. “I really think of the raise-and-hold strategy as one that has historically paid off for us.”
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:09:15-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Sports betting to begin in Kansas on September 1st

Sportsbooks at the four state-owned casinos in Kansas will begin accepting wagers in person and on mobile platforms starting September 1st, and the sportsbooks will officially open on September 8th. Sports wagering, like all gaming in Kansas, is owned by the state and will be operated by the Kansas Lottery. The Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, the Boot Hill Casino and Resort near Dodge City, the Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel in Pittsburg will be starting sports betting in time for the first professional football game on September 8th.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:03:46-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Wichita To Vote on Third Party Evaluation of WPD

The Wichita City Council will vote on Tuesday whether or not to approve a third-party agency evaluation of the Wichita Police Department. If the measure is approved, Jensen Hughes will be contracted to provide a thorough review of the department’s culture, administrative processes, procedures, and standards of conduct. This stems from the investigation into “racist, homophobic, and sexist” messages shared between some Wichita Police Officers and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the disciplinary actions taken.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:02:58-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Evergy, City of Wichita hold meeting to discuss installing huge steel power poles in Wichita neighborhood

Evergy is upgrading a transmission line in north Wichita, and to do so, the company will have to install some steel power poles. Westar Energy, which merged with another company to form Evergy, installed those poles near 9th and Green a few years ago in Wichita, leaving some neighbors furious. The City of Wichita and Evergy hosted a meeting Thursday to discuss this new project with neighbors in hopes of preventing future problems. “This is trying to get all of the questions answered up front before they even get started,” Wichita City Councilmember Brandon Johnson, who represents the neighborhood in question, said.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:02:29-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Johnson County home developer to pay $51,690 for allegedly violating Clean Water Act

A Johnson County development company tied to home builder Tom French will pay a $51,690 penalty for allegedly failing to adequately control storm water runoff at two housing developments in Olathe, according to a news release from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heartland Development LP has agreed to pay the penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act at the Covington Creek and Covington Court housing developments near 115th Street and Lone Elm Road. In the consent agreement, Heartland Development neither admitted nor denied the allegations and legal conclusions in the settlement with the EPA.
Source: KC Star Local News

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T07:00:19-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Parsons OKs noise ordinance

Following weeks of discussion and review, Parsons city commissioners unanimously approved a new noise ordinance Monday. The commission gave its approval at setting residential levels to not exceed 65 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. At night, it moves to 55 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. For commercial and industrial entities, the noise ordinance sets the level at 75 dB(A) for the day and 60 for the night.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-08-19T06:59:49-05:00August 19, 2022|News|

Jeff Porter named Wellington City Manager

The Wellington City Council voted 5-1 to approve Jeff Porter as the new city manager at Tuesday night’s meeting. Porter has been the City Manager at Medicine Lodge.
Source: Sumner NewsCow

Ranson Financial2022-08-18T07:49:54-05:00August 18, 2022|News|