Newton resident makes a case to quiet trains

Zelly Walker asked the Newton City Commission to do something about train noise. That something she suggested would be to put in a partial quiet zone during the evening in Newton. To do so, the city of Newton would need to apply for a variance with the Federal Railroad Administration. She mentioned multiple communities in Kansas, such as Dodge City, Parsons, Fort Scott Overland Park, Lenexa, Edgerton and Belle Plaine had all been successful in establishing quiet zones – places where trains don’t have to blare their horns going through intersections.
Walker said Newton is having more trains and they seem to be sounding their horns longer.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-06-16T08:03:45-05:00June 16, 2022|News|

Pottawatomie County employees to receive mid-year pay raise of 3.5 percent

Pottawatomie County employees will get a slight mid-year pay increase following commission action Monday morning in Westmoreland. Commissioners unanimously settled on a 3.5 percent increase, effective July 1 to help assist employees struggling to stay afloat amid rising inflation. The increase was agreed upon after an initial proposal Monday from County Administrator Chad Kinsley, seeking a 10 percent pay increase for employees, rivaling a 10.5 percent increase Riley County approved last month.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T19:38:17-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

Kansas universities get $24 million to research disaster response tools

A new research initiative is providing universities and colleges in Kansas with $24 million to research how the state can better support residents before and after disaster emergencies. The Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures Driven by Social Equity, or ARISE, project is a federally funded program through the National Science Foundation. The five-year initiative will partner 17 institutions ranging from universities to business leaders, health professionals and other community stakeholders to advance the resiliency of the state infrastructure. The project involves $20 million in federal funding, and an additional $4 million from the state.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T19:36:43-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

NOTO bike ordinance changed by Topeka City Council

The Topeka City Council is changing the rules on a recently-passed ordinance that bans bikes from sidewalks in North Topeka. On Tuesday, the Topek City Council voted to continue to allow bicycles, scooters, skateboards and roller skates on sidewalks on Northeast Morse Street and the bridge from Oakland to North Topeka. Starting next month, riders will no longer be allowed on the rest of the sidewalks in the North Topeka Arts District. Shop owners and people who frequent NOTO might be aware of the small sidewalks. This is the main reason for this new city ordinance. Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala says to her, this seems like a common sense solution and a win-win.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-06-16T08:08:22-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

It could cost more to rent a golf cart, buy a membership at Wichita golf courses

Wichita golfers could pay 15% more for memberships and $1.50 more for golf carts if park board-approved increases receive City Hall’s OK. The Board of Park Commissioners will propose the price increases to the City Council sometime next month. The park board agreed on the proposal during a meeting June 13. The plan to raise prices comes roughly three months after the council voted not to privatize the city’s four golf courses. Annual golf memberships vary in price, with the most expensive one $114.44 for a couples’ membership. That means the biggest dollar increase for memberships would be around $17. Director of Parks and Recreation Troy Houtman said the increase would still be affordable and is needed to continue to make a profit.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T18:43:08-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

ReConnect Program Webinars FY2022

Preparing for ReConnect Round 4

Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this webinar will provide information about the ReConnect Program, and help prepare applicants ahead of the next Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

Staff from RUS will conduct two webinars that provide a brief overview of the ReConnect Program and helpful tips about assembling portions of the application ahead of time. Both webinars will cover the same information:

What applicants can do now to prepare for the next FOA
System registration and applicant identification requirements
A high-level look at eligibility requirements
Tips on the application system
An opportunity to ask questions about how to prepare

Slides, a transcript, and a recording of the webinar will be posted on the ReConnect website after the session.

Please note: RUS is also planning a series of ReConnect webinars and workshops which will focus on the upcoming FOA, key portions of the application requirements, and the entire application system.

Webinar Dates and Times

Both webinars will cover the same information; no new information will be added to the second webinar. Please register for the session that’s most convenient for you:

Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 1:00PM to 3:00PM Eastern

Register here!

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 from 1:00PM to 3:00PM Eastern

Register here!

You can also find registration links at the events page on the ReConnect website.

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T10:52:49-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

Here’s everything the Fed is expected to announce, including the biggest rate hike in 28 years

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to do something it hasn’t done in 28 years — increase interest rates by three quarters of a percentage point. In response to soaring inflation and volatile financial markets, the central bank will hike the rate that banks charge each other for overnight borrowing to a range of 1.5%-1.75%, where it hasn’t been since before the pandemic crisis began. … Goldman Sachs said new language in the statement could indicate that the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee “anticipates that raising the target range expeditiously will be appropriate until it sees clear and convincing evidence that inflation is moderating,” implying a high bar for reverting to [25 basis point] hikes.”
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T07:55:56-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

Lack of affordable and other housing options in Lawrence highlighted in homeless needs report

City leaders on Tuesday heard some of the findings of a study that examined homelessness in the area as well as factors that affect the community’s ability to address the issue, including the shortage of affordable housing options and a lack of permanent supportive housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation from the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research on the 2021-2022 Douglas County Homelessness Interim Needs Assessment. Some of the key early findings of the study are that the current housing options in the community are not enough to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness or those at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T07:41:39-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

Douglas County leaders hold hearing about proposal for new city

The County Commission will have the final say in deciding whether Clearfield may incorporate as a new city, and Wednesday night’s hearing is a requirement in the process for doing so. During the hearing, commissioners will hear testimony from people who reside within the 18-square-mile territory that petitioners are proposing as the new city’s boundaries. There are more than a dozen factors that will ultimately inform the commissioners’ decision, including the likelihood of significant growth there or in adjacent areas within the next 10 years and the new city’s proximity to other cities nearby.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2022-06-15T07:39:48-05:00June 15, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 14, 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 Financial2022-06-15T07:34:18-05:00June 15, 2022|News|