Sedgwick County officials concerned about bill on home-based businesses

A bill has been introduced in the Kansas Senate to limit restrictions on home-based businesses, and some city and county leaders across the state are raising concerns that it will hurt their ability to deal with any nuisance issues in neighborhoods. Sedgwick County commissioners had a briefing on the bill this week. Senate Bill 505 would prohibit cities and counties from enacting or enforcing zoning regulations that would be considered as barriers to home-based work. Assistant County Counselor Justin Waggoner told commissioners that the bill would wipe out county zoning regulations on home-based businesses. He said there would be no restrictions on the number of employees, or the number of company vehicles that are parked on a property, and a home business could build an accessory building.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-03-18T08:57:16-05:00March 18, 2022|News|

Johnson County discusses stormwater management

Johnson County Government plays a large role working with cities to manage stormwater projects, to alleviate flooding and improve water quality. March 10, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners authorized term and supply contracts with nine vendors for stormwater management services. Johnson County’s Stormwater Management Program has used a term and supply contract for multiple years as a way to expand the program to address specialized needs without having to hire more staff. Examples of past efforts executed with term and supply contract vendors include watershed master planning, floodplain mapping updates, water quality sampling and system management support. “Having contracts with multiple vendors provides flexibility and options for the Stormwater Management Program when specialized expertise is required,” said Madison Crowl, Johnson County Stormwater Management Project engineer. “Through these contracts, we, along with any other jurisdiction in Johnson County, have access to a team of specialists and can benefit from locked-in billing rates.”
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2022-03-18T08:58:02-05:00March 18, 2022|News|

What’s summer without a splash? Johnson County needs lifeguards for various pools

Overland Park will be forced to curtail its outdoor swimming program unless it can hire more lifeguards, which are in short supply there and elsewhere. “Right now we have enough lifeguards to open one outdoor pool this summer with full staffing,” Aquatics Supervisor Renee Reis said in a news release. “Aquatics is an incredibly fun operation, but safety has to remain our top priority. It’s simply not safe to operate pools without a full staff of lifeguards.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-03-18T08:58:35-05:00March 18, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 16, 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 Financial2022-03-17T22:09:31-05:00March 17, 2022|News|

10-year Treasury yield jumps to highest level since 2019 after Fed raises rates

The 10-year Treasury yield topped 2.17% at one point Wednesday, with the Federal Reserve expected to announce an interest rate hike in the afternoon. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note last rose 1 basis point to 2.171%. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell 2 basis points to 2.476%. Yields move inversely to prices and 1 basis point is equal to 0.01%. The 10-year rate has surged since the beginning of the week, ahead of the Fed’s latest policy decision. The Fed is expected announce that it will raise interest rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, the first hike since 2018. Watchers also anticipate that the Fed will offer a new quarterly forecast that could indicate five or six more hikes this year.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:36:15-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Municipals take back seat as Fed hikes rates

After the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the first time since 2018 and said it would raise them six more times this year, U.S. Treasury yields continued to rise, while munis were relatively stable and equities rallied to close the session. Municipal to UST ratios showed the five-year at 76%, 90% in 10-years and 97% in 30, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. read. ICE Data Services had the five at 78%, the 10 at 95% and the 30 at 99% at a 4 p.m. read. Trading was mixed ahead of the Fed’s announcement but a few blocks traded post-FOMC. Howard County, Maryland 5s of 2030 at 1.96% and 5s of 2031 at 2.01%. Their original levels were 1.48% and 1.52%, respectively, when it priced the first week of March.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:34:25-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Why the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to combat inflation

The Federal Reserve is poised to announce its first interest rate hike since 2018 on Wednesday. The central bank is likely to raise its target federal funds rate by 25 basis points to address the worst inflation in more than 40 years, partially brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. A basis point is equal to 0.01%. Yet consumers who are already grappling with higher prices putting a strain on their wallets may be wondering how increasing borrowing costs will help tamp down inflation. Its main tool to battle inflation is interest rates. It does that by setting the short-term borrowing rate for commercial banks, and then those banks pass rates along to consumers and businesses, said Yiming Ma, an assistant finance professor at Columbia University Business School.
Source: Economy

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:32:32-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Manhattan finalizes STAR district expansion, looks to April public hearing on redevelopment plan

The location of a proposed Art and Light Museum in Downtown Manhattan, KS (Courtesy of the City of Manhattan). The blue line indicates the old border of the STAR bond district and the red-dotted line is the approved expansion which includes the new museum location. Manhattan City Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved the expansion of the Downtown STAR bond district, with a public hearing scheduled to update the redevelopment plan on April 5. The expansion is related to a $43.6 million Art and Light Museum being planned by the DeBruyn’s, owners of The Master Teacher in Manhattan. By expanding the lot to include the proposed development site in the lot north of Pierre and west of 3rd Street, the project is opened up to potentially $23 million in sales tax revenue projected to be generated in the district through 2026.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:30:47-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Burrton students learn importance of civic engagement

Students in Burrton are learning about the importance of being involved in their community. Several high school students attended last week’s USD-369 Board of Education meeting to fulfill a civic engagement requirement for their history class. Social studies teacher Kara Sorenson explained that she asks students to participate in three different civic engagement events each semester. “There are two categories to choose from, community service (volunteering) and government participation,” she said. “Each of my students is required to complete one activity from each category, plus an additional activity of their choice. For example, they can attend a city council meeting, a board meeting and complete one community service, or they can complete two different community services and attend one board or council meeting.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:27:34-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Halstead Council asks residents if they’d pay more to keep recycling service

The Halstead City Council has their ear to the ground, listening for citizen support for routine recycling pickup. The local waste management contractor, Nisly, is wondering where they should take recyclables after next month, when they will no longer be accepted at the Harvey County Transfer Station. That’s according to City Manager Ethan Reimer, who told the council at Monday night’s meeting that it could cost citizens $2 to $4 more “to continue to collect recycling and take it to a drop point other than Harvey County.” Nisly should be contacting him soon with a plan and a price point for maintaining the service, he said.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-17T22:04:46-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

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