Small voter turnout imposes 1/2 cent countywide sales tax to build new Osage County jail

Osage County voters approved a countywide 1/2 cent sales tax in Tuesday’s election, which is proposed to pay for design, construction, and furnishing costs, and the first years’ payments on a 35-year bond, for a $20 million detention center and law enforcement center. With a vote of 1,149 yes votes to 505 no votes, the sales tax will go into effect July 1, 2022, to pay for the construction and startup costs of the proposed $20,295,000 facility.
Source: Osage County News

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T06:32:48-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 8, 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 Financial2022-02-09T06:23:59-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Amy Finch is Atchison’s Next City Manager

The City Commission is pleased to announce Amy Finch as Atchison’s next City Manager. The one-year contract hiring Ms. Finch was approved at the February 7th City Commission meeting and she is expected to begin her duties on April 4, 2022. Finch, originally from Ottawa, Kansas, is coming to Atchison from her current position as City Administrator for Crookston, Minnesota. Finch is a graduate of Ottawa University and has a Master’s in Public Administration from Wichita State University. “It is my honor to serve as Atchison’s next City Manager and be part of the team that has achieved so much success and continued momentum,” said Finch. “I am happy to get back home to Kansas after spending some time in Minnesota. We will work hard to achieve a smooth transition and keep moving forward. I look forward to meeting the citizens of Atchison over the next few months.“
Source: City of Atchison

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T02:45:54-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Sensory overload: Overstimulated people can check out room in OP Convention Center

Going to a trade show or convention can be fun and exciting, but for many people, the environment can also be overwhelming. That’s why the Overland Park Convention Center recently installed a sensory room to help. The room opened Jan. 21. A sensory room usually is more quiet and has different lighting, along with various fidget activities that can help stem issues people have when their senses are overstimulated. People with autism, PTSD, attention deficit disorder, dementia and other conditions can experience this in places that are crowded, noisy and have bright lighting.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T02:43:49-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Ark City Downtown Visioning

More than 50 people showed up at the Burford Theatre on Saturday to voice ideas for the revitalization of downtown Arkansas City. The brainstorming session was conducted by students and instructors from Kansas State University and the South Dakota State University. After a brief introduction, the participants broke up into several small group sessions to exchange ideas. The students, who are majoring in landscape architecture, interior and graphic design, served as facilitators and will use those suggestions and their own observations to create visual renderings that illustrate future possibilities.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T06:22:03-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Local hospitals say capacity crisis has eased

Officials at both local hospitals in Cowley County said their capacity issues have improved since late January, when they appealed to the public for help alleviating packed emergency and ICU departments. Sarah Johnson, spokesperson for William Newton Hospital in Winfield, said officials have seen a drop in COVID activity and the facility’s capacity problems had diminished, at least for this week. “We are seeing significant improvements,” Johnson said. As of Monday, the hospital had no COVID-positive inpatients. There was one COVID-related death last week, Johnson said, and a patient is recovering in the hospital after a COVID infection.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T02:35:03-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Scooter and e-bike company Bird will flock to Overland Park this spring

A flock of electric scooters and bicycles will offer Overland Park residents a new way to fly around town starting as soon as early March. The popular scooter and bikeshare company Bird inked a two-year deal with the city this week to offer a fleet of its small, electric shared vehicles across Overland Park as a trendy alternative for residents hoping to zip around town without a car. The scooters and electric bikes are fun to ride, but city officials also hope they can offer residents or students without a car the opportunity to get around town more easily and cheaply, while also reducing at least some traffic and its associated pollution.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T06:22:35-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

USD 232 school board may urge county to lift mask mandate for K-6 schools

As COVID-19 cases trend downward in Johnson County, USD 232 school board members in De Soto may ask the county to lift a public health order mandating masks be worn in all school buildings serving students up to and including 6th grade. At the school board’s meeting Monday night, most board members expressed interest in each writing letters to the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners asking them to remove the school mask requirement for younger grades. The board of county commissioners is set to revisit the mask order at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T02:22:06-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Douglas County Considering New Mask Mandate

The Douglas County Commission will consider a new emergency public health order during its meeting Wednesday. The new order would require individuals to wear face coverings at indoor gatherings in which 500 or more individuals are in attendance in a single space. That would include concerts, sporting events, trade shows, or conventions. Local health officers are recommending the new order specific to large crowds to help prevent spread of COVID-19 in Douglas County where cases and hospitalizations continue to be high, putting a strain on staffing in schools and the healthcare system. If approved, the public health order would start Thursday, and remain in effect until March 9th unless otherwise rescinded or modified by County Commissioners.
Source: WIBW News Now

Ranson Financial2022-02-09T02:16:46-06:00February 9, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 7, 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 Financial2022-02-08T06:48:09-06:00February 8, 2022|News|