Spring Hill district debuts new solar project aimed to help cut energy costs

One local school district is harnessing the power of the sun to power up its classrooms. Wednesday morning, the Spring Hill School District unveiled its newly constructed solar array. The school district partnered with Evergy and EnergyLink to install a solar array directly behind Spring Hill High School. The ground-mount solar field stretches across roughly 4 acres of land behind the school. Jeff Martin, vice president of customer operations for Evergy, said the high school’s land availability and proximity to the grid made it a perfect fit for the project.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-08-04T00:32:10-05:00August 4, 2022|News|

Olathe approves incentives supporting Garmin’s massive expansion

Garmin Ltd. won two tranches of incentives from Olathe for its $240 million-plus headquarters expansion’s second phase, which will add 1,500 new jobs. On Tuesday evening, the City Council unanimously approved the tech manufacturer’s request for a 10-year, 75% property tax abatement, along with the issuance of $145.9 million in industrial revenue bonds for a component of its second-phase expansion. The company will remodel and repurpose a 580,580-square-foot facility at 1200 E. 151st St. for office and research uses in the northwest corner of 151st Street and Ridgeview Road.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-08-04T09:18:30-05:00August 4, 2022|News|

Political signs must come down, City of Topeka says

With the end of the Kansas Primary Election all political signs be taken down, according to the City of Topeka. Two days after an election ends, all political signs must be removed from the public right of way. A temporary sign ordinance will be enforced starting Friday, Aug. 5. Those who violate the ordinance may have to pay a $50 penalty. Each day that the violation repeats will be treated as a separate and distinct offense. The fines go into effect following the third day after Election Day. Removal of each sign is $30.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-08-04T00:29:28-05:00August 4, 2022|News|

County’s solar facility moratorium will not delay Osawatomie project

Miami County’s six-month moratorium on solar facility construction will not delay Osawatomie’s partnership with Evergy to build up to five megawatts of solar power — nearly double the originally proposed footprint — to serve the community, a city official said. Deputy City Manager Bret Glendening confirmed in an email Monday, Aug. 1, the county moratorium only applies to unincorporated areas of the county, not properties that have been annexed into a city. The Osawatomie-Evergy solar array project would be built on city-owned acreage directly north of the Osawatomie State Hospital on the northwest corner of the intersection of Old KC Road and 335th Street.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-08-04T00:27:48-05:00August 4, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 2, 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 Financial2022-08-03T10:47:00-05:00August 3, 2022|News|

Great Bend working with business owner on downtown parking

Downtown business owner Joe Andrasek envisions developing the empty lot north of his Charlie’s Place on Main Street into a multi-use gathering space. However, this would mean it would no longer be available as parking for his or other nearby establishments. That is why he appeared before the Great Bend City Council Monday night. He was seeking some form of purchase or lease agreement with the city so the city-owned lot on Williams Street behind Charlie’s would remain open to parking.
Source: GB Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-08-03T10:37:53-05:00August 3, 2022|News|

Prairie Village won’t have electric scooters on its street after August

Bird scooters are leaving Prairie Village at the end of the month when the one-year pilot program expires. The city council committee of the whole on Monday rejected a proposal to extend the pilot another year. Photo credit Juliana Garcia. Prairie Villagers will have until the end of this month to enjoy puttering around the city on Bird electric scooters. The city council’s committee of the whole on Monday decided against renewing the city’s one-year pilot program with Bird Rides, Inc., which would have kept the dockless, pay-as-you-go vehicles on city streets for another year.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2022-08-03T10:32:38-05:00August 3, 2022|News|

Snapping turtle tangled in fishing line rescued from Meadowbrook Park pond

Two animal control officers from different Johnson County cities recently teamed up to rescue a snapping turtle tangled in a fishing line in the pond at Meadowbrook Park. Courtney Sievers, a community service and animal control officer for Prairie Village Police, told the Post she received a request last week from animal welfare group Operation Wildlife to help a turtle — potentially tangled in fishing line — in the Meadowbrook Park pond.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2022-08-03T10:30:23-05:00August 3, 2022|News|

Leawood considers several options for conducting citywide survey on pit bull ban

This week, the Leawood City Council discussed the possibility of allowing residents to weigh in on its dangerous animal ordinance — the last one in Johnson County that bans pit bulls. Leawood is considering whether to send out a community survey about its pit bull ban, the last ban of its kind on the books in Johnson County. The Leawood City Council on Monday heard an overview of potential options for sending out a citywide survey asking what residents think of the city’s current rules around owning pit bulls.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2022-08-03T10:30:59-05:00August 3, 2022|News|

Winfield Public Library goes fine-free

To ensure equitable access for all, Winfield Public Library has become a fine-free library, adopting recommendations from the American Library Association. While fees for lost or damaged books remain, existing fines have been waived. Studies show that going fine-free has positive effects for the entire community. Due to quarantine periods during COVID, WPL stopped charging for late materials in March 2020. Post-quarantine, WPL did not reinstate fines as research was gathered regarding the effect fines had on library usage. Based on data gathered, in July of 2022, the library board of directors voted to waive all existing fines and discontinue them on almost all materials. Fines will still be charged for inter-library loan items and technology (such as eReaders). Fees for lost or damaged materials remain on accounts and will continue to be charged.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2022-08-03T01:11:58-05:00August 3, 2022|News|