Governor approves drought declarations for Kansas counties

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has approved an update to drought declarations for all 105 counties in the state. The new declaration places all of the counties in a watch, warning or emergency status. The declaration places 34 western Kansas counties into an emergency status, while 8 counties have been placed in a warning, including Stafford, Pawnee, Pratt and Barber counties in southern Kansas. Sedgwick County and the surrounding counties in south central and central Kansas are among 63 counties that are under a watch.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:33:57-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

Unincorporated Johnson County speed limit increases

On June 23, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners voted to increase speed limits on 13 segments of roads in unincorporated Johnson County, upon the recommendation of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Public Works Department. An engineering study was conducted to determine the 85th percentile speeds as well as a review of safety and sight distance issues at intersections and entrances. The 85th percentile is simply the speed that 85% of the drivers will operate and is an important component considered when posting speed limits. The 13 segments that met the criteria for safe increases in speed limits to either 40 or 45 MPH …
Source: Johnson County Kansas |

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:33:12-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

McPherson looks to add improvements with renewing second half-cent sales tax

The second half-cent sales tax is expected to end next year in McPherson, and after finishing many projects these past 10 years, the City wants to keep moving forward. If approved, this would keep the 9% sales tax in the city. The half-cent sales tax generates about $1.6 million each year over the course of 10 years. It has funded the renovation of the community building and the reconstruction of 1^st Street. If approved for the next 10 years, 70% will go to street projects, and 20% will be for public lands like the golf course and parks.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:32:04-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

Sedgwick County firefighters to receive $2m in funding

The Kansas Insurance Department (KID) has made a $2 million distribution to local Sedgwick County Firefighter Relief Associations (FRAs). The funds are being distributed to eight local FRAs in Sedgwick County, pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act. A total of $2,054,954.93 has been distributed. The funds are generated by a 2% tax paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning insurance premiums written in Kansas. The FRAs primarily use these funds for insurance premiums and safety enhancements. Some FRAs may use these for the health, accident, disability and life insurance premiums of local firefighters.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:30:40-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

“Grow Pittsburg” CDC hopes to continue city’s development

The Pittsburg community is hoping to start a new program to help with the ever-growing needs of the area. During Tuesday night’s commission meeting, members of Imagine Pittsburg will request $150,000 from the city to establish a new community development corporation called Grow Pittsburg. It would allow Imagine Pittsburg to set up a 501 (c)(3) and better look at ways to improve the community. That could include anything from housing to entertainment to education. Grow Pittsburg would be made up of members from Imagine Pittsburg, the city, school district, chamber and business community.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:30:00-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

Over $1M in funds now available for part-time, volunteer Kansas fire departments

The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced that over $1.2 million have been made available to their office due to a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), on Tuesday. In 2022, $1.2 million was given to the OSFM through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant (KFRSG), along with $100,000 from the OSFM’s budget, for the OSFM to disburse by June 30, 2023. “This increase in funding will go a long way in providing much needed equipment for our volunteer fire departments across the state,” said Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal. “In many rural areas of our state, the smaller departments are the sole providers of fire and rescue response. So, it is vital that they have the proper safety gear and recruitment tools to ensure their community’s safety.”
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:29:24-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

Iola leader wants boost for economic development

Iola City Administrator Matt Rehder said Allen County and its cities should invest more in economic development. He suggested Iola, Humboldt and the county each invest the equivalent of 1 mill into the fund. Iola and Allen County should be investing more in economic development, City Administrator Matt Rehder said Monday. Rehder proposed to Iola City Council members the city increase its annual economic development investment from $20,000 to about $50,000, utilizing a tax increase for the funding. … Iola wouldn’t be the only local entity to pay more for economic development, Rehder offered, suggesting Allen County and Humboldt do the same.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2022-06-29T07:27:48-05:00June 29, 2022|News|

Charging Forward: Bringing Electric Vehicles to Rural America

Register for this event on Thursday, July 7 at 2:00 p.m. ET. USDA Rural Development (RD) invites rural partners and stakeholders to join a webinar on Thursday, July 7 from 2-4 p.m. ET to learn about federal funding opportunities and programs to help develop electric infrastructure. Webinar participants will learn about funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will be administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop electric vehicle infrastructure.

The Act provided $7.5 billion to DOE and DOT to build a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the country. The Act also provided $5 billion for a bus replacement program. This includes $2.5 billion for electric buses and $2.5 billion for low-emission combustion engine buses. Webinar participants will also learn about RD programs that can help develop electric vehicle infrastructure and support related community economic development opportunities.

RD wants to ensure people in rural communities are able to take advantage of these opportunities to expand their electric vehicle infrastructure as part of their broader economic development strategies.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Visit the Department of Transportation website for additional information on the IIJA.

Ranson Financial2022-06-28T21:21:47-05:00June 28, 2022|News|

Serving his city

Despite not being born or raised in Salina, Dr. Trent Davis has done as much as he can to make the city better for the people and citizens he calls neighbors in this place he’s made home for the past 23 years. Davis spent his early life on the East Coast, being raised in Washington, D.C., going to undergraduate at Hobart College in New York and returning to Washington for medical school at Howard University. His career as a neurologist took him to California before he settled in Salina in 1999, the city he has called home since then. Even before being appointed to the Salina City Commission in 2014, to fill a vacancy at that time, Davis was already getting involved in making changes in the city that was relatively new to him “The organization I’ve probably worked the most with over the years (in Salina) has been the NAACP,” Davis said.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-06-28T07:33:21-05:00June 28, 2022|News|

Number of people driving far above speed limit remains high

A sharp surge in people driving far above the speed limit accompanied the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas and surrounding states. Thousands were ticketed for going more than 100 mph. One driver doubled up, topping 200 mph. That person drove an Audi A7 sports car that was clocked in July 2021 going 202 mph in a 65 mph construction zone on the Kansas Turnpike, Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones told a Kansas legislative committee last February.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2022-06-28T07:32:06-05:00June 28, 2022|News|