Air quality in Wichita rated unhealthy for second day

The city of Wichita said the air quality index is 152 as of 8:30 a.m. and is rated unhealthy again. The air is due to western wildfires and smoke being transported into Kansas by the wind. Smoke can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals. Common health problems include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. Individuals with respiratory issues, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children and the elderly may experience worse symptoms.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T15:53:43-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Overland Park City Manager Bill Ebel announces retirement, effective March 2022

Overland Park City Manager Bill Ebel has decided to retire next spring, ending an 11-year stint at the helm of city administration. Ebel served a total of 21 years with Overland Park, including time at the city’s public works department and as director of planning and development services. “After 43 years of public service to my country and my community I’ve decided it’s time to retire,” he told the City Council Monday, referencing his career in the U.S. Army before moving into city administration. His employment is set to end March 1, 2022, and his last day of work will be Feb. 25, he said. “Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to the next six months where I don’t expect the pace to slow down at all around here,” he said.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T15:52:07-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Prairie Village to consider citywide mask mandate

The city of Prairie Village is looking into issuing its own citywide mask mandate and could vote on a draft order in two weeks at the city council’s next regular meeting. While Johnson County continues to strongly encourage residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces, there hasn’t been a countywide mask mandate in place since the county lifted its last emergency order in late April. At Monday night’s city council meeting, Councilmember Jori Nelson unexpectedly made a motion to reinstitute a citywide mask mandate in Prairie Village. In making the motion, Nelson noted Johnson County has reported more than 1,700 new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks and said a mask mandate is the way to protect Prairie Village residents. “We simply can’t wait for the county, other municipalities or the state legislature to do the right thing,” Nelson said. “It is our responsibility to keep our residents and our workforce safe, we can do it.”
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T22:33:48-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

As national eviction ban expired, Wichita’s rental aid program picked up the pace

Wichita’s emergency rental assistance program paid out $3.1 million in aid in July alone, an increase in payments that could help some struggling or unemployed tenants stay in their homes after a federal eviction ban expired over the weekend. The national eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expired on Saturday at the end of the month, officially ending the patchwork of bans on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. It was the only remaining moratorium that covered Kansas renters after top state lawmakers allowed the statewide eviction and foreclosure ban to expire in late May. The CDC’s ban had initially been set to expire at the end of June, but the Biden administration extended that deadline and signaled it would be the last postponement. The one-month delay was intended to allow state and local rental assistance programs more time to distribute federal aid and halt evictions.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T22:34:04-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Survey examines future of rural Kansas

A statewide survey of ideas for making rural Kansas a more compelling place for young adults to put down roots revealed the need for government investment in expansion of child care options and strengthening of entrepreneurial business pipelines. The state’s Office of Rural Prosperity worked with the Kansas Sampler Foundation to examine what Kansans aged 21 to 39 thought about recruiting and retaining them in small towns and remote counties suffering depopulation. The foundation drew upon 460 survey responses from all 105 counties and 175 follow-up interviews to identify why people chose to live in rural areas and why it might have been difficult to make that choice. The report acknowledged significant lack of affordable housing and access to broadband as determinants of the future in rural regions of Kansas. The document recommended local government leaders accept the necessity of forming a “culture of open minds and positivity.” That includes valuing diversity of culture, age, gender and thought, the report said. In addition, the state ought to craft a program reaching students in K-12 classes that speaks to the idea of harnessing skills, interests and passions of young rural Kansans useful in building sustainable rural communities. The objective is to convince the youngest Kansans they have a bright future no matter the size of their city or town.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T15:47:20-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Pott. County approves motion to post full salary range for public works administrator vacancy

Seven months after the Pottawatomie County Public Works Administrator job became vacant, the county commission is still struggling to find the right fit. The commission voted 2-1 Monday to advertise a full salary range for the position. In the past, the county administrator only had authority to offer pay at the starting wage ($70,000) and up to 25 percent above that ($88,000). Commission Chair Greg Riat says that has handicapped the county’s ability to find the right fit. Commissioner Pat Weixelman opposed the motion, preferring the county take a different approach. By comparison, Riley County’s assistant public works director position was advertised at a salary range of $92,000 to $110,000, which is well above what Pottawatomie County had been advertising. Riat says he’s fielded a number of concerns from Pottawatomie County residents over some of the county’s infrastructure. He says the county nearly got sued over issues with the Shannon Creek Road bridge near Olsburg.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T15:46:50-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Voters casting ballots in city council primary elections for Wichita, Park City

Voters are going to the polls to narrow the list of candidates for city council races in Wichita and Park City. Wichita has two council races. In District 3, incumbent Jared Cerullo has six challengers: Jerome Crawford, Ian Demory, Jason Carmichael, Mike Hoheisel, Cindy Miles and Tevin Smith. District 6 has incumbent Cindy Claycomb and five challengers: Maggie Ballard, Martin Garcia, Loren Hermrick, Jr, Dereck Reynolds and Andy Speck. Park City has a Ward 1 council race, with incumbent John Lehnherr challenged by Angie Carter and Charley Davidson. Polls are open until 7 p.m. The top two candidates in each race will advance to the November 2nd general election.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T15:46:10-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

92nd annual edition of Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo to open in Phillipsburg

When the chutes open for the 92nd annual Kansas Biggest Rodeo, more than 525 cowboys and cowgirls will be ready to rope, run and ride. Out of the fourteen champions from last year’s Phillipsburg Rodeo, eight return to defend their titles. One of them is Kansas cowboy Jesse Pope. The Waverly, Kansas bareback rider is ranked seventh in the world standings and is having one of the best years of his young career.
Source: Salina Journal.

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T07:47:52-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 2, 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 Financial2021-08-03T07:46:00-05:00August 3, 2021|News|

Customers of Kansas’ largest natural gas utility could pay cold snap costs for 10 years

Customers of Kansas’ largest natural gas utility could be paying off costs from February’s deep freeze for the next 10 years, the company revealed Friday. The Kansas Gas Service, which serves more than 640,000 Kansas customers, filed plans with regulators to issue securitized bonds for approximately $390 million in extraordinary costs from the cold snap — plus carrying costs — and recoup the sum from customers over five, seven or 10 years, increasing residential bills by anywhere from about $5 to $11 per month. If the Kansas Corporation Commission doesn’t approve the arrangement, KGS said it would request to recover the costs over three years “to minimize the carrying costs” of the debt. Its plans come after Black Hills Energy announced in June that its customers bills would increase by an average of $12.23 per month for five years to recover what amounted to a year’s worth of gas charges in one month.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2021-08-02T20:27:34-05:00August 2, 2021|News|