New Fed Infrastructure Law Will Aid KS Bridge Improvements

Kansas cities and counties needing to replace or repair locally owned bridges have a supportive partner in the Kansas Department of Transportation. The agency is improving programs and collaborating with partners to take advantage of new revenue streams generated by the federally approved Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). KDOT has reshaped two local bridge improvement programs which focus on city and county bridges to include approximately $137.5 million in BIL funds over the next five years. The increase will more than double and triple local bridge impvement funds currently available in these programs under the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).
Source: Fort Scott Biz

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T17:58:26-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

Sedgwick’s city park is getting several new additions soon

The Sedgwick city maintenance crew laid the foundation last week at the city park for what will be the new playground equipment recently purchased by the city. The playground is called the flying alpine by Actively Play and includes two straight slides, a double straight slide, a sectional left turn slide, a sectional right turn slide, a honeycomb climber, net climber, upright snake climber, tic tac toe panel, gear panel, storefront panel, drum, and a rain wheel. “We’re not lacking for slides,” Mayor Bryan Chapman joked about the new playset.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T17:56:28-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

Sedgwick County jail critically understaffed, sheriff says as he seeks to boost deputy pay

The Sedgwick County Jail is experiencing critical staffing levels, with the deputy to inmate ratio more than double the national jail standard recommended average of one deputy to 30 inmates, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says. The jail now is staffing one deputy for about 69 to 75 inmates, according to Easter, who plans to ask the Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday to increase starting pay for detention deputies by more than $4 an hour, from $19.34 to $23.50. The jail is budgeted to have 228 detention deputies but currently has 113 unfilled positions, according to Easter.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T05:55:19-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

It’s proving increasingly hard to hire cops in Kansas — and to avoid losing them to other jobs

The Dodge City Police Department struggles to keep officers. Stress, in an era where police complain they’ve become pariahs, only makes it harder to hire and keep officers on patrol. All that turnover means more work for the officers that remain, which could bring on more burnout. “We asked these people to do so much more with less staff,” said Deputy Police Chief Jerad Goertzen. “When we’re putting so much more on them and asking them to do more, (it) seems like burnout is hitting a little bit earlier.” A week after making that observation, two more people had put in their resignation letters. Law enforcement agencies across the country are straining to hire. Job postings that used to get hundreds of applicants now have a fraction of the interest. Officers are logging more overtime, morale is low and jails are struggling. Sedgwick County, for instance, is spending $2.3 million to install cameras in its jail to compensate for the people it can’t hire.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T05:54:55-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 1, 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 Financial2022-08-02T05:47:16-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

Free land? How about a free house? Kansas town tries a little of everything to grow

If you’re looking for evidence of rural decay and postindustrial decline in this dusty north-central Kansas town, you can find it. The last remaining manufacturing employer, US Tower, closed its facility during the pandemic, putting about 25 local workers out of a job. On the edge of town lies a subdivision without any houses, a barren reminder of a free land program that has failed to attract much interest. In the middle of the day, the shutting of a car door echoes for blocks, bouncing between the aging two-story buildings that bracket Lincoln Avenue downtown. Many are vacant.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T05:42:53-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

Damaged Andover elementary school ready for new semester

Students are set to return to Prairie Creek Elementary School on August 11. The Andover school was damaged in the April 29 tornado, and workers have been making repairs since then. The school has been closed since the tornado, and students had to finish the semester elsewhere. Work is not expected to be completely done by the first day of school, but the building will be usable.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T00:22:39-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

New medical school opens in downtown Wichita

A new medical school is opening in downtown Wichita with its first class of 91 students. The Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in the former State Office Building at Broadway and William. It has 116,000 square feet with classrooms, labs, and workshops as well as examination rooms that will allow students to simulate experiences working with patients. Students went through orientation on Friday and classes will begin Monday. There are 18 students from Wichita and Kansas. The school is planning for 127 students next year, and 170 students each year after that.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T00:21:09-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

Mission city planners approve apartment project at former JCPenney call center site

The former JCPenney call center in Mission has sat vacant nearly two decades, but city planners and Block Real Estate Services LLC are working to change that. The Mission Planning Commission recently gave unanimous approval for the developer’s preliminary plan and final plat to construct a four- to five-story, 307-apartment building on a 5-acre site at 5665 Foxridge Drive. The site includes the former one-story, 39,825-square-foot call center, which was built in 1970. With an average unit size of 974 square feet, the building will include 185 one-bedrooms, 112 two-bedrooms and 10 three-bedroom options. Amenities include an outdoor pool and courtyard, fitness facility, bocce ball court, putting green and a pickleball court, according to city documents.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T05:43:43-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

City to consider supporting new historic district in historically-Black area

Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday will consider signing a letter to support creating a historic district in an important area for the Black community. …The letter would support the nomination of the 900 block of Yuma Street for the state and national Register for Historic Places. The buildings in the proposed district include the Douglass Community Center (former site of United Service Organization built in 1939), Douglass Center Annex (Douglass School in 1939), Pilgrim Baptist Church (Second Baptist Church in 1911) and the Kaw Blue Masonic Lodge (Shepard’s Chapel in 1916).
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-08-02T05:44:14-05:00August 2, 2022|News|

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