Atchison Considers Pet Protection Ordinance

City Commissioners discussed and heard a first reading of a potential ordinance that would eliminate the ability for property owners to keep pets on vacant lots within the City during Monday’s regular meeting. The Protect Our Pets Ordinance would require that habitable structures with active utility service be present on a lot for pets to be kept on the property. If property owners had multiple lots and wanted to keep pets on a lot separate from the residence, they would have to have the lots legally combined first. The ordinance was presented as a first reading without action to allow time for public feedback, with the issue to likely be considered for potential adoption during the next regular commission meeting in April. “This pet ordinance is the first step in a potential multi-step process to help clean up vacant lots in the city,” Assistant City Manager Joe Warren said. “It just so happens that we can also help address pet safety at the same time, and that gives this specific ordinance added urgency.”
Source: City of Atchison

Ranson Financial2022-03-23T08:51:49-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Sedgwick approves design for murals in city park

Within the next couple of weeks Sedgwick residents should see painting on the new storm shelter at the city park. City Council approved a deposit payment of $2,500, half the total cost of the project, so work would begin in about two weeks. Randi Tolin, Sedgwick Connect President, said she thought the murals would be complete in about a week. Sedgwick resident Mickey Maddox will oversee the project. When done, all four sides of the shelter will contain murals, which were also approved by the council last week. Tolin said the city didn’t need to do anything to prepare for the painting. During its workshop portion of the meeting, the council discussed two items—their proposed downtown revitalization policy and a possible alcohol special permit for use in the pocket park.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-22T22:59:12-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Fire and County leaders meet to discuss ways to mitigate fires, purchase requests

A passionate Fire Chief stood before the Reno County Commission asking for help after weeks of destructive and deadly wildfires torched the community. “It’s not the average homeowner just going out and starting one brush pile. We had one individual start 75 brush piles in one day… 75…,” Fire Chief Steven Beer with the Hutchinson Fire Department said. “A person can not manage that. It’s right in your ordinance they have to manage that burn pile and be on site to contain those issues.” Even though this study session was scheduled months in advance of the weeks of deadly and destructive wildfires Reno County has had, it was just as important as ever. Leaders are working to find ways to keep them from starting and spreading.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-03-23T08:53:29-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Wind and ice created power problems in Kansas

Thousands of customers lost electricity Tuesday morning due to strong wind and ice. As of noon, Midwest Energy said about 7,500 customers were still without power. Mike Morley, a spokesperson for Midwest Energy, said crews are dealing with 255 downed power poles and more than 100 broken cross arms. He said some of the power lines have two to three inches of ice on them are are “galloping” in 30-40 mph winds. Morley shared video of some ice-covered lines being hit with strong winds. The line at the bottom has shed its ice, and is largely unaffected.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-03-23T08:53:43-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Clay Center woman helps others from behind the scenes

Dana Rickley has been Clay County’s Health Administrator for nearly 25 years. Although she is the boss at the health department, that’s not the way she likes to think about it. “They tell me things that they want to do and then I find a way to make it happen and when we work together I become their employee,” Rickley said. Whether it’s checking in patients at a family planning clinic or doing COVID testing during the pandemic, Rickley was there for it all. “I’ve been out there doing the testing when it is snowing,” Rickley said. “I’ve been out there when you have to get the samples outside and then bring them inside because it’s too cold to do the controls.”
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2022-03-22T22:45:33-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Parsons: Dogs must have microchip when licensed

When registering a dog for a license with the city of Parsons, an owner must provide proof of a microchip in the canine. Parsons city commissioners Monday approved an ordinance requiring that dogs be microchipped for identification purposes. Commissioners said this was a good action to implement. City Attorney Ross Albertini explained to commissioners he has heard both positive and negative views about requiring microchips at the time of a license issuance, but he said he’s heard mostly positive things.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-03-23T08:54:21-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Lawrence Mayor Courtney Shipley: ‘We know what we value’

Lawrence will always persevere, and we know what we value, Mayor Courtney Shipley said during her State of the City address on Tuesday. Reflecting on the past year, she spoke of lessons learned throughout the pandemic. “We hope COVID is waning, but the experience of the Unified Command has really taught us how to keep our relationships with our partners stronger in a way I don’t think that we ever have before,” she said. “So as unfortunate as it was, we learned some valuable lessons. We’re working smarter, not harder, with our partners.” Shipley noted the city’s multimodal transfer hub coming soon to Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive, grants the city has received to purchase electronic buses, and unique bus stops. But there could be more transit updates still to come.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-03-23T08:54:44-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

10-year Treasury yield hits the highest since 2019 after Powell’s remarks

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield topped 2.34% on Tuesday morning, following hawkish comments made by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in the previous session. … Powell said in a speech on Monday that “inflation is much too high.” He said the Fed would continue to raise interest rates until inflation is under control, and that hikes could get even more aggressive than last week’s 25 basis point increase.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-03-22T08:37:06-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 21, 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 Financial2022-03-22T08:28:24-05:00March 22, 2022|News|

Powell says ‘inflation is much too high’ and the Fed will take ‘necessary steps’ to address

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Monday vowed tough action on inflation, which he said jeopardizes an otherwise strong economic recovery. “The labor market is very strong, and inflation is much too high,” the central bank leader said in prepared remarks for the National Association for Business Economics. The speech comes less than a week after the Fed raised interest rates for the first time in more than three years in an attempt to battle inflation that is running at its highest level in 40 years. Reiterating a position the Federal Open Market Committee made in its post-meeting statement, Powell said interest rate hikes would continue until inflation is under control. He said the increases could be even higher if necessary than the quarter-percentage-point move approved last Wednesday.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2022-03-22T08:25:37-05:00March 21, 2022|News|