Residents of unincorporated community in Douglas County file petition to be incorporated as a city

Residents of the unincorporated community of Clearfield in Douglas County have filed a petition in hope of being incorporated as a city, Douglas County commissioners heard at their meeting Wednesday. Clearfield is an existing unincorporated community in Douglas County located 9 miles northeast of Baldwin City within Palmyra Township. The proposed incorporated city limits, however, would be within five miles of Baldwin City, Edgerton and Eudora and encompass 18.2 square miles of land in roughly the shape of a backward letter P.
Source: LJWorld.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T08:50:49-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

County leaders are interested in using land for both solar energy and agriculture, but some worry about technical challenges

Douglas County leaders indicated Wednesday that they’d like to continue to consider how land in the county could be used for solar power generation and agriculture simultaneously, but they had some concerns about the technical challenges that could arise in such a system. At a study session on Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission heard from a panel of guests who explained how that concept, called agrivoltaics, could be implemented in the area with proposed solar farm regulations that the commissioners will consider at a future meeting. Agrivoltaics can include land uses like growing crops, grazing livestock or planting pollinator plants.
Source: LJWorld.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T08:49:57-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 30, 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 Financial2022-03-31T08:40:25-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

New superintendent chosen for Garden City Schools

Dr. Mike Dominguez has been hired as the new superintendent of Garden City Public Schools, following action by the USD 457 Board of Education on Tuesday night. Dominguez will take the reins on June 1 after the retirement of Dr. Steve Karlin at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Dominguez has broad education experience and is in his fifth year as superintendent of schools for the Stratford Independent School District, Stratford, Texas. Previously, Dominguez served as Assistant Superintendent of Premier Charter High Schools in Lewisville, Texas for two years and principal at Vernon High School for two years and assistant principal role for 10 years. He has 32 years of experience in education. USD 457 Board President Jennifer Standley said Dominguez emerged from a very thorough search process as the right candidate to lead Garden City Public Schools.
Source: Greater Garden City

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T08:39:57-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

Kansas is on path to make it easier to get your seized property back from police

Police can keep seized property “as long as necessary,” state statute says, if they believe it could be evidence in a trial. A proposed change to state law would require police to give items back. Police hold the power to seize property believed to be used in a crime. Some cases stall or charges don’t move forward and critics of existing state law said getting back property even when it doesn’t link to criminal activity is too hard. “Many (people) opt not to fight the forfeiture and reluctantly give up their property, rather than rack up legal bills exceeding the property’s value,” Alieen Berquist, community engagement manager for the ACLU of Kansas, wrote in testimony to lawmakers.
Source: Andover American

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T01:21:27-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

The ‘greatest self-feeder in the world’ was invented in Halstead

One Halstead man’s innovation played an important role in the evolution of threshing equipment more than a hundred years ago. The Ruth Self-Feeder, invented and patented by Halstead resident D.C. Ruth to regulate the speed at which wheat bundles were carried into a thresher, was manufactured in Halstead from 1900-1905. At that time, Ruth Self-Feeder Manufacturing Company was the biggest business in Halstead, according to Carolyn Williams, who’s done extensive research on the company for the Halstead Historical Society. “It grew and grew and really became big,” Williams said.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T01:16:32-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

Cottages to address housing needs in McPherson County

Three of 10 planned Oak Harbor Cottages were completed Monday, with two families ready to move in. The cottages are a joint effort between McPherson Housing Coalition, area churches, the city, and many community businesses. “The community has really stepped up. It’s been amazing,” said Executive Director Chris Goodson…. These cottages are a big step in helping McPherson County families in crisis. The program is aimed at keeping families together in a home while working through whatever their situation may be. Source: McPherson Weekly News

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T08:45:17-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

County hears taxation ruling on ATVs

The Kansas Board of Tax Appeals ruled in recent cases that side-by-sides and ATVs that carry more than one passenger and are used for farming or ranching should not be exempt from taxation. Labette County commissioners heard this news from County Counselor Brian Johnson and County Appraiser DeLinda White on Monday. Commissioners and White expect a huge outcry from taxpayers because generally farm equipment is exempt from taxation. Under BOTA’s ruling, if it stands, ATVs that can carry more than one passenger, side-by-sides and even golf carts used on farm operations should be taxed at market value on a 30% assessment. This is because they are considered passenger vehicles and not farm equipment, according to BOTA. One-passenger ATVs are not considered passenger vehicles.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T01:10:43-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

Some JoCo pools plan to reduce hours this summer due to lifeguard shortages

It hasn’t felt like it at times this March, but we’re getting closer to summer. That means pool season is nearer to kicking off in Johnson County. Following limited operations in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some cities have adjusted their summer pool hours due to ongoing shortages of lifeguards and other pandemic-related limitations. Most city pools in Johnson County open on Memorial Day weekend but days and hours could be impacted beyond that.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T08:36:49-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

Sunflower, Russell County Commission agree on PILOT for solar project

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and the Russell County Commission came to agreement on a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for the first ten years of the Sunflower @ Russell Solar Project on March 21. Since current Kansas law provides a 10-year property tax exemption for renewable energy projects, Sunflower offered a PILOT to the county. The payment illustrates Sunflower’s appreciation for the ability to site the project in Russell County and helps to support the county’s infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, that will be used during the construction of the solar facility.
Source: Sunflower Electric

Ranson Financial2022-03-31T01:04:49-05:00March 31, 2022|News|

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