Minutes show Fed ready to raise rates, shrink balance sheet soon

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released the minutes from its Jan. 25-26 meeting. Following the meeting, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee said it would not raise interest rates yet but strongly indicated a hike is on the way as soon as March. In addition, the committee set out procedures for how it will start unwinding its nearly $9 trillion balance sheet, which consists largely of bonds it has purchased in an effort to drive down rates and stimulate growth. Since the meeting, fresh inflation readings have shown prices rising at the fastest pace in 40 years. The Fed targets inflation to average around 2%, and officials have conceded that policy needs to get tighter to bring prices down.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T00:04:40-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

City Council taking steps to address vacant properties in Topeka

City officials are moving forward with taking action over those vacant properties around the city. With Tuesday’s vote, the City of Topeka is adopting updated standards for building code enforcement. It is now in line with two sets of standards called the “International Energy Conservation Code” and the “International Existing Building Code”. The vote comes as city officials are looking to address the number of vacant house fires in Topeka. Monday, a fire broke out at an abandoned home near 16th and Clay in Central Topeka. That fire marks 690 vacant or under renovated house fires in 20 years, according to a Topeka Fire Department Official.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T00:02:46-06:00February 17, 2022|News|

Bill seeks to reduce excessive record fees

A Kansas Senate panel considered Monday how best to proceed with amending the state’s open records act to increase transparency without triggering unintended consequences and placing an undue burden on municipalities. Senate Bill 386 would limit fees for copying and providing records, including the cost of staff time, under the Kansas Open Records Act to the lowest hourly rate of the person qualified to provide the records. The bill would also ensure no fee is charged if a search determines the record does not exist. It would also give the record custodian the discretion to waive any fee should it be in the public interest to do so. Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, pointed to a 2020 incident following a series of personnel firings in Frontenac where the city attorney wanted to charge $3,500 for records without explanation of how he arrived at that figure.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2022-02-16T23:57:57-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Community health needs discussed

A meeting was held Tuesday to discuss tactics and available resources for implementing the Community Health Improvement Plan, which is a list of the Cowley County’s most pressing needs paired with potential resources to address them. “We want to take all the insights, information and feedback and put it to use in the community,” said William Newton Hospital marketing director Sarah Johnson, who facilitated the Zoom discussion. The top community health needs, identified in earlier planning meetings, include behavioral/mental health, drug/substance abuse, suicide, poverty, affordable housing, child care, awareness of healthcare services, lack of health resources, obesity, preventative health and wellness, lack of “owning health” and lack of health insurance.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2022-02-16T23:43:52-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Chanute to expand fiber through three new areas

Chanute city commissioners authorized the next expansion phase of the city’s fiber optic broadband utility at Monday evening’s meeting. But the project won’t begin until Oct. 1 because of the anticipated waiting time for materials and supplies. If City Manager Todd Newman had waited until the fall to authorize the work during the winter of 2022-23, he said, the expansion might not have begun until the fall of 2023. City officials have ordered transformers and expect it will take 70 weeks for them to arrive. The project will expand fiber through three areas … Officials expect the project to cost $600,000 and to sign up 840 customers, which would bring in an anticipated $189,000 in revenue annually. The construction costs will be paid from the fiber utility’s revenues.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T10:17:42-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Man explains desire to expend Pottawatomie County Commission

“I wanted you to hear from me why I’m doing that,” Doug Kern said. If Kern’s petition is successful, the expansion would be added to the November ballot. Kern said expanding the board will allow board members to have conversations outside a formal meeting without violating open meeting law. He said expanding the board to five would remedy that. “I think there are times and issues that might need some discussion outside the scope of the public ear. And that’s my motivation,” he said. “I have no desire to be a county commissioner, so I’m not trying to expand it to five so I can run or some crazy thing. It’s not a referendum on whether I think you’re doing a good job. It’s simply that I would like our commissioners to be able to call another commissioner on the phone or go to lunch and talk.”
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T10:18:20-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

County commits $125,000 to dam project

The Chase County Commission committed $125,000 for the Cottonwood Falls dam repair project Monday morning, after a discussion with Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants and Pat Larkin, representing the city of Cottonwood Falls. The dam has been a cause of concern since 2013 when deterioration became visible on the outside walls. It has been monitored over the past nine years. The dam, which was originally constructed of wood in the 1860s, and later replaced with limestone and concrete in 1906.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T10:18:43-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Townships frustrated with drivers blowing donuts at rural intersections

Township officials in Harvey County have seen an increased amount of reckless driving causing damage to rural roads, and they say it’s time for it to stop. “It’s like every time you grade the roads, somebody comes and does donuts in the intersection and makes it almost impossible for people to go through safely,” Jeff Stein, grader operator for Sedgwick Township, said. “So then you’ve got to go back out and grade it again. It ends up not being a cheap deal.” Stein said the problem with donuts in intersections has gotten worse in the past six months.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T10:22:13-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Sedgwick’s new superintendent will focus on student and community relationships

Sedgwick’s board of education made it official Monday evening by naming Greg Lehr as the next superintendent for USD 439. Lehr is a Valley Center graduate where he now serves as the Valley Center Intermediate School Principal. He’s in his twelfth year as principal. He began his education career as a high school history teacher after earning his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Kansas State University in 2001. Lehr said he earned his master’s degree in school leadership from Baker University to become a better teacher but while taking the classes he became interested in becoming a principal.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-02-17T10:18:58-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Hutchinson Fire Chief calls for updated fire mitigation plan

After several fires swept through parts of Hutchinson Tuesday, Hutchinson Fire Department Chief Steven Beer says the department will work with the Reno County Commission to adopt, or update policies as needed. “When a burn ban goes in effect, or a burn day, instead of being used during a declaration, an emergency declaration, it needs to be used for the whole entire month,” Chief Beer said. Although Chief Beer says he does not wish to preclude farmers and ranchers from burning their pastures as needed, he says Reno County is in desperate need of stricter zoning requirements and control burn requirements.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-02-16T23:27:23-06:00February 16, 2022|News|