Change of command begins for Wichita Police Department

Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay steps down this week after six years of service to the community. He told KFDI News it has been an honor to serve Wichita and he has made lifelong friends. Chief Ramsay has worked to improve relations between the police department and the community and he has put innovative methods in place to reduce crime. He said the community policing effort has made great progress and the Crime Stoppers has been a good measure of that with a record number of tips to help solve crimes. He said Wichita has been way ahead of other cities in the U.S. with regard to community policing, use of force, and how crimes are solved, and he is proud of the men and women of the department.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-03-01T00:30:00-06:00March 1, 2022|News|

Nearly 90% of Sedgwick County residents can expect their property values to increase

Most homeowners is Sedgwick County can expect to see an increase in their property values after the Sedgwick County appraiser estimates nearly 90% will. Mark Clark, Sedgwick County appraiser, cites COVID-19 and supply chain issues as the other main reasons for the increase. Clark said Sedgwick County is nowhere close to a normal housing market because of how much demand there is and not enough supply. The high cost to build is contributing to that. He said 88% of Sedgwick County residents will see their property value increase. During a typical year, that number is around 7%. Many of the Sedgwick County Commissioners said they receive the most feedback from residents about this conversation and property taxes.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-03-01T00:28:27-06:00March 1, 2022|News|

Kansas broadband developers seek applicants for $5 million in grant funding

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) opened a public comment period for the state’s Broadband Acceleration Grant Program. The open comment period is part of an extensive review of the 36 applications competing for $5 million in available grant funding. Interested stakeholders can participate by reviewing proposed service areas and expressing either support or specific concerns about the proposed grant projects. “The intense demand for this program across Kansas reflects the widespread need for more robust broadband access in unserved areas of Kansas,” said Commerce Secretary David Toland. “We are committed to being transparent and making the best possible investment decisions for Kansas broadband infrastructure, and we invite the public to comment on these highly competitive investment decisions.”
Source: KOAMKOAM

Ranson Financial2022-03-01T00:26:44-06:00March 1, 2022|News|

Junction City citizens raise concerns over proposed slaughterhouse

Residents of Junction City are concerned about a proposed slaughterhouse to be built near residential housing areas. Not only would the slaughterhouse process nearly 1,000 cattle per day, but it would be two miles away from the Spring Valley Elementary School. Kelsey Mann and Susan Kamm are third and fourth-generation Junction City residents. Mann is in the process of building a house within a mile away from the proposed space. “It has taken a majority of joy away from building our house,” Mann said. “We were very excited this was going to be our forever home. Now we’re wondering if this will be forever.”
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2022-03-01T00:24:54-06:00March 1, 2022|News|

Shawnee County homeowners may see 13.5% property value increase

Topeka homeowners could see residential market values increase by as much as 13.5%, according to Steve Bauman, Shawnee County Appraiser. During the meeting Monday morning, Feb. 28, it was announced that 2022 value notices will be mailed on March 1. According to authorities mailing the notices saved the county money. This year about 80,000 notices will be mailed, and approximately 89% of property owners will see an increase in the value of their property. Notices will only be mailed if the property owner is seeing an increase in the value of their property.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2022-03-01T00:23:44-06:00March 1, 2022|News|

Johnson County appraisals go out this week, and nearly all homeowners can expect another increase

Homes and apartments are still hot commodities in Johnson County this year, and that heated market is going to mean property value increases for the vast majority of homeowners, according to the revaluation report given last week by County Appraiser Beau Boisvert to the county commission. Some 97.5% of homeowners are going to see an increase in the value the county sets for property tax purposes when notices come in the mail this week. The increases will vary but the overall average for the county is 11%, he said. Only 2.4% of properties will decrease in value.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-03-01T00:20:03-06:00March 1, 2022|News|

Remote work might boost rural Kansas

Darin Miller has been involved in remote work since before it was cool. A longtime engineer, Miller saw the evolution of the modern office space first hand, with more and more individuals electing to work-from-home. Coworking spaces were popping up everywhere, where employees from different companies share a common office environment. Everywhere, that is, except Kansas. “I see this and I’m like, ‘This is a huge opportunity,’” Miller said. “It’s also a huge issue if you have a great job, and you just decide to live someplace else. Because now remote work is possible. So you can have a great job located in Kansas, but that doesn’t mean people are going to be located here.” When his engineering career stalled, in 2016, Miller started Iron Clad Coworking in Wamego, which relies on remote workers as one of its core revenue streams.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-02-28T13:47:34-06:00February 28, 2022|News|

Mulvane school board approves land purchase for future district use

After an initial search started five years ago, the Mulvane school district took action on a perceived need recently – with the school board approving a real estate purchase of 92 acres for future expansion at its Feb. 14 meeting. The land purchased sits just east of Mulvane High School (1900 N. Rock Rd.), on the other side of Country Walk Estates, comprising 92 acres of farm ground currently. USD 263 Superintendent Dr. Jay Ensley said the land acquisition would serve for “future development of schools,” with no immediate construction plans on the horizon. While previous reports stated the site would be used for a new high school, Ensley admitted “there has been no determination on what facilities the land will be used for” at this time.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2022-02-28T01:20:21-06:00February 28, 2022|News|

Development amendment adjusts cap to $17.2 million

Council members passed the second amended and restated development agreement with the Grata Development February 21 at their council meeting. Grata Development received rezoning approval from the Gardner City Council for a $200 million mixed-use development located at the southeast corner of 175th St. and I-35 in Gardner in October, 2019. The first amendment to the agreement was passed Oct. 19, 2020. The second amendment changes include removing the developer’s de-annexation remedy, removing the issuance of CID bonds and the payment associated with the interest, increasing the common CID Cap to allow reimbursable expense in lieu of interest and clarifying the infrastructure milestones with phasing. Tyler Ellsworth, city bond counsel, said they wanted to emphasize the development agreement wouldn’t have a financial impact to the city, and they had just increased the principal and taken the interest away.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2022-02-28T01:16:04-06:00February 28, 2022|News|

$5,000,000 going into Kansas infrastructure

New efforts are underway to improve Kansas infrastructure. Governor Laura Kelly recently announced more than five million dollars will be going towards improving locally owned bridges across the state. This will be part of the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program. 29 projects have been announced, including two in Southeast Kansas. In Cherokee County this will involve the bridge over Brush Creek on East Maple Street outside Columbus.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-02-28T01:14:18-06:00February 28, 2022|News|