Single-Family Homes Big in Kansas

Early on in the pandemic, many families in densely populated urban areas set out for more spacious homes in rural or suburban areas. As more workplaces adopted permanent work-from-home possibilities, some workers made the move permanent, preferring space and affordability over proximity to the workplace…and Kansas is in a good place for those folks. The website Construction Coverage notes that at ages 25 to 40, Millennials are currently in their peak years for starting or growing a family and are seeking more spacious homes to accommodate that. However, apartments and multi-family construction have been presented as more efficient, affordable, and sustainable options. As a result, the share of new single-family building permits dropped from nearly 80% in 2005 to less than 60% ten years later.
Source: WIBW News Now

Ranson Financial2021-12-15T02:20:55-06:00December 15, 2021|News|

Fed Meets for First Time Since Powell Signaled Policy Shift

Federal Reserve officials meet Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time since Chairman Jerome Powell said last month that the central bank needed to shift its focus toward preventing higher inflation from becoming entrenched and away from fostering a rapid rebound in hiring from the pandemic. … parts of the Fed’s statement or Mr. Powell’s postmeeting press conference could provide clues on how officials see the prospect for rate increases next year. … Fed officials’ economic projections to be released Wednesday could shed additional light on changes to their policy outlook. In September, they were evenly divided between whether they would likely start lifting interest rates in 2022 or in 2023. The new projections could show most now expect multiple rate rises next year.
Source: Wall Street Journal

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T07:18:35-06:00December 14, 2021|News|

Winfield’s Fox Theatre hopes to make historical register

The Winfield Fox Theatre at 1007 Main Street in Winfield, currently known as the Marquee Performing Arts Center, has been recognized by the Kansas Historical Society for nomination to the Register of Historic Kansas Places. On Nov. 13, the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review met to consider the nomination of the Winfield Fox, unanimously approved the nomination without question, and forwarded the nomination to the office of the Keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C. There the nomination is being evaluated by the national professional staff, and if they concur with the findings of the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review, the property will be included in the national Register of Historic Places. Marquee, Inc. will be notified about the decision when the national review is completed.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T07:16:40-06:00December 14, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for December 13, 2021

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 Financial2021-12-14T07:01:33-06:00December 14, 2021|News|

Olathe planners will weigh first phase of BlueScope’s proposed $77M industrial park

A $77 million industrial park in Olathe may be on its way to its first phase of development. Developer BlueScope Properties Group proposes building a $23.4 million, 236,160-square-foot speculative office/warehouse building on almost 19 acres at the Great Plains Commerce Center, northeast of 159^th Street and Lone Elm Road, south of Interstate 35. The proposal goes before the Olathe Planning Commission on Monday. … This first project is anticipated to generate $170,318 in annual property tax revenues during the abatement period, up from $965 each year now coming from the vacant acreage.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T06:52:34-06:00December 13, 2021|News|

26 Johnson County elected officials sign letter urging county to ‘end the mask mandate for all children’

A letter signed by 26 elected leaders in Johnson County urges the Board of County Commissioners to end the county’s current public health order requiring masks in schools serving younger students. The letter, which bears the title “Locally Elected Working Together Advocating for Johnson County Children and Families,” was sent to commissioners last week. Its signatories include several Republican state lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Thompson of Shawnee and Sen. Kellie Warren of Leawood, along with Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T06:54:06-06:00December 13, 2021|News|

Abandoned building fires causing concern for Topeka Fire Department

Early Monday morning the Topeka Fire Department responded to a building fire believed to have been set intentionally. The estimated damage? $0. That’s because this isn’t the first, second, or third time this building has caught fire this year. According to the TFD, the abandoned house at 1600 SW Clay Street has caught fire four times since July. This time of year is already rough for fire departments. “I don’t want to say when winter hits we get more arsons involving vacant structures, but we do get more fires involving structures in general house fires, commercial fires, everything,” Topeka Fire Public Education Officer Alan Stahl said.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T06:54:27-06:00December 13, 2021|News|

Masks required for visitors at City of Topeka buildings effective Dec. 14

If you are going to visit a city of Topeka building beginning Tuesday, Dec. 14 you will be required to wear a mask. According to a city official, “this decision was made as a result of the increased community spread of COVID-19 in Shawnee County.” The mask requirement will include those visiting Municipal Court. The Shawnee County Health Department reported, as of Friday, Dec. 9, there are 986 people in isolation and 70 Shawnee County residents currently hospitalized. There is currently only one cluster in Shawnee County: Rossville School district 321 is reporting 17 cases in the last 14 days. The requirement to wear a mask will be in effect until at least Jan. 7, 2022, then the policy will be reviewed.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-12-13T23:11:03-06:00December 13, 2021|News|

As Johnson County solar farm plan faces opposition, proposed regulations get more restrictive

Because solar utilities are new to the area, Johnson County currently has no regulations on the books governing solar farms. That includes rules for things like setbacks, landscaping, size and decommissioning of the panels once their useful life is over. After the West Gardner Solar Project emerged, what followed were weeks of meetings with a consultant poring over how other counties have done it, plus more time hearing from landowners, officials of nearby cities and the developer.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T06:55:38-06:00December 13, 2021|News|

City manager wants to privatize Wichita’s golf courses with Illinois management company, parks board puts it on hold

It’s no secret that Wichita is a big golfing community. “I play 200 rounds of golf a year in the public courses,” said Dale Goter. But now, the future of our public courses is now hanging in the balance. “The bottom line is we want to improve the golf experience for our golfers. And so we want to do, we want to have the best courses that we can have,” said City Manager Robert Layton.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-12-14T06:56:06-06:00December 13, 2021|News|