NLC First Vice President Testifies Before Congress on Success of Local COVID Relief Funds

National League of Cities (NLC) Vice President Mayor Victoria Woodards of Tacoma, Washington, testified on behalf of NLC before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in a hearing on the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). In March of 2021, President Biden signed ARPA into law, providing $350 billion to intergovernmental partners, including $45.57 billion worth of assistance for metropolitan cities like the City of Tacoma. This critical investment helped cities manage the public health emergency, address urgent community needs, anticipate long-term impacts of the pandemic, and pave the way for a more equitable long-term recovery.
Source: NLC

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T07:14:41-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

El Dorado PD’s Project Good Morning offers daily check-ins

The safety of our community’s citizens is a top priority for the El Dorado Police Department. One of the ways in which the Department strives to achieve this is through Project Good Morning. Project Good Morning is a service provided by the Department to check on those who need extra assistance in assuring their security and independence. Through the program, residents who sign up for the service are offered daily check-ins to be sure they are safe. “If they do not call in by the given time, we try calling them,” explained Police Chief Curt Zieman. “If contact is not made, a police officer will go to their address and check on them.”
Source: Andover American

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T07:14:54-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Olathe school voters overwhelmingly OK $298M bond issue

Johnson County voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the Olathe school district’s request to issue $298.3 million in bonds to replace a middle school building and fund several facility, technology and safety improvements. Unofficial results from the special mail ballot election show the bond initiative passing with 67.7%, or 15,936 votes, in favor, according to the Johnson County election office, while 32.3% voted against it. In total, 22.6% of eligible voters, or 23,542, cast ballots. Ballots were due by noon on Tuesday. The final results will not be determined until after the canvass and after the official vote count is certified by the Board of Canvassers.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T07:15:27-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

House eager to overhaul loan program earmarking veterinary graduates for rural counties

Veterinarian Anna Hickert found a home in central Kansas under a program at Kansas State University allowing graduates to work off college loans in exchange for serving in a rural community starved for big-animal vets. Hickert, a 2020 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine, landed at a mixed practice caring for livestock such as cattle and horses as well as small animals that include dogs, cats and other pets. Under terms of her loan-repayment program, she can wipe out $20,000 of debt for each year she sticks with a vet practice far, far away from metropolitan areas where salaries exploded beyond $120,000 a year in a bid to meet demand. “As I continue into my career and work to build my business skills with my medical knowledge, I can confidently state that this program has an incredible return on investment,” she said.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T07:16:08-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Rent prices in Wichita have risen over 14%, study finds

A local realtor who says the driving factor behind rising rent prices is a low supply and high demand. Ryan Smith is a managing partner with At Home Wichita Property Management. He claims homes for rent are not staying on the market very long before a new tenant gets the keys. “They moved out Wednesday. I got it on the market on Friday and I had an open house on Sunday and I’m probably going to move somebody in tomorrow,” said Smith. According to a rent report from Apartmentlist.com, since the pandemic began in march of 2020, rent prices in Wichita have risen over 14 percent. Smith said it’s likely more.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T00:36:18-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Many Kansas school districts remove mask mandates for buses

As of February 25, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not requiring masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs. The change comes as the CDC is going to align with the updated guidance that no longer recommends universal indoor mask-wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in areas with a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level. At a school’s discretion, they may still choose to require that people wear masks on buses or vans.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T00:34:38-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Shawnee Co. Commission bumps pay for difficult to fill positions

Shawnee County will pay Department of Corrections workers more after the Shawnee County Commission approved a series of “significant pay adjustments” on Monday. According to the commission, the need to keep and hire “quality” officers required the commission to take steps to approve higher wages. The multi-level base and differential pay program can bring wages for current and new corrections officers up by $6.00 an hour on top of an enhanced base pay rate. In addition to the starting wage for a Corrections Specialist increasing to $20.24 an hour, the Commission also approved: A $1.50 hourly pay differential for all hourly staff working within the detention facilities. A $2.00 hourly pay differential for all department uniformed security staff within the detention facilities. $2.50 hour pay differential for all 24/7 security staff working within a detention facility with a vacancy rate of 25% or higher, which is considered a “crisis staffing level”.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T00:29:04-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Wichita golf courses to remain publicly run after City Council rejects privatization

Wichita’s public golf courses will remain publicly run. The City Council on Tuesday rejected a contract with KemperSports that would have privatized operations of the city’s four municipal golf courses. The proposal failed 5-2, with council members Becky Tuttle and Bryan Frye voting for privatization. KemperSports, based in Illinois, is a national golf company that runs 120 courses, a quarter of which are publicly owned. It was chosen by a selection committee and the park board to take over the city’s system that includes Sim Park, Consolver, Auburn Hills and McDonald courses. The system had five courses until the closure of south Wichita’s Clapp Golf Course in 2019.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T07:16:41-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Labette County mulls leasing fleet vehicles

Labette County commissioners are considering leasing fleet vehicles for law enforcement and Public Works from Enterprise Fleet Management as a way to save money on maintenance costs. Commissioners discussed the matter with Sheriff Darren Eichinger, sheriff’s Cpl. Dusty Conrad and Public Works Director Sandy Krider Monday. Kenneth Olsen attended the meeting representing Enterprise. The sheriff’s office has the newest fleet of vehicles but mileage adds up quickly on deputies’ patrol vehicles, up to 35,000 miles a year.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-03-02T07:17:07-06:00March 2, 2022|News|

Pickleball in Lenexa keeps gaining popularity, and the city is reminding players how to properly reserve courts

With the overwhelming demand for pickleball court time and new players joining the sport every day, Lenexa city officials are highlighting a system for allowing teams and individuals to reserve courts. It’s affectionately called the “paddle saddle,” a curved plastic device with ten numbered slots hanging on the exterior fencing of pickleball courts around the city. It works like this: put your paddle in a slot in order of your arrival, denoting who’s next in line for the next available court.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-03-03T08:13:00-06:00March 2, 2022|News|