Galena seeking donations for Route 66 Brick Campaign

Leaving a mark on a stretch of Americana, it’s what Galena city officials are hoping people will do. They’re accepting donations for their Route 66 Brick Campaign. The bricks will be placed on the sidewalks of Main Street – and can commemorate events, and-or feature business logos, quotes or even names. It’s the third year for the campaign. Officials want to use this to take advantage of the beginning of tourism season for Route 66. Renee Charles, Galena City Clerk, said, “April’s the start, end of March early April is the start of tourism for 66, spring break people come through here to travel, so yeah I believe this is a really good time to start.”
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:05:54-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

Hesston’s Ridge Pointe: From trailer park to city’s clean slate for mixed use development

Today the City of Hesston moves toward developing a city owned property it calls Ridge Pointe. But it’s been an eight year journey with plenty of bumps and tax payer investment along the way to get there. In late spring of 2013, the idea of the City of Hesston purchasing Country Village Mobile Home Park was first proposed. With a price tag of $150,000 to purchase half of the park floated by Mayor Dave Kauffman, the initial rollout of a potential purchase was met with community resistance and hesitancy on the part of city council members. By 2015, talks were underway for the potential purchase of Country Village Mobile Home Park property, between City Administrator Gary Emry and owner Bob Tonge. In July of 2016, the city purchased the park for $440,000.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:02:30-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

City of Mulberry Kansas files lawsuit against British Petroleum

Natural gas prices surged during February’s winter storm – leaving many people worried about their financial future. But one community is fighting back. It’s a local version of David vs. Goliath. This one – Mulberry, Kansas vs. British Petroleum or BP. The community has filed a lawsuit against the British multinational oil and gas company. The reason – profiting off of rural areas, like Mulberry, during a statewide disaster. Darvin Weaver, Mulberry Resident, said, “We pretty much all banded together to fight this, we don’t know the outcome but we’re hoping for the best.” February’s low temperatures caused gas bills to reach record heights. The city of Mulberry saw unit prices increase more than 11,000%. Timothy Fielder, Mulberry City Attorney, said, “The city of Mulberry normally for February would have between a $7,000 to $7,500 bill, we received a bill for $51,000.”
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:02:53-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

Small Town Family Fun Night to make its return, packed with activities in Halstead

If you’re looking for a fun reason to get out of the house without having to travel far, the Small Town Family Fun Night on Saturday, May 1 is everything you could ask for. The event—back for its fourth year after last year’s pandemic-induced hiatus—will be from 3-6 p.m. at Halstead Middle School. The afternoon will be jam packed with free, fun activities, plus food and a silent auction. “I want this to be a community event to kick off from having to be in our houses when we were in quarantine and nothing happened,” organizer Mary Wilson said. “I want people to relax, have fun, bring their kids and their family and just get out. Even if you don’t have children, come enjoy the food trucks and silent auction gifts.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:03:29-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

Emporia takes first steps toward new RHID housing development

The Emporia City Commission passed a resolution to set aside a tract of land for the development of new housing within city limits during its action session on Wednesday night. The land, known as the Kretsinger Tract, was designated as a Rural Housing Incentive District and has proposed building 60 single-family units for either renter or owner occupation. Passage of the resolution is the first step in the process of RHID designation. The resolution will now be reviewed and further authorized by the Kansas Department of Commerce before further official steps can be taken. “I doubt very seriously that anybody will be turned down unless there’s a flood plain issue, etc.,” said Jim Witt, special projects coordinator.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:04:25-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

USDA Invests more than $1.3 million in Rural Water Infrastructure in Herington, Kansas

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director for Kansas Dan Fischer today announced that USDA is investing $1,387,000 to modernize the critical drinking water infrastructure in Herington, Kansas. This specific Rural Development investment will be used to provide additional financing to construct a building for new a water treatment plant and equipment, and replace the existing failing water clarifiers. Once the project is completed, the city will have safe and reliable drinking water, facilities for citizens in their community.
Source: USDA.
For assistance with USDA loans or grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:59:53-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

USDA Invests $413,000 in Rural Water Infrastructure in Kiowa, Kansas

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director for Kansas Dan Fischer today announced that USDA is investing $413,000 to modernize the critical drinking water infrastructure in Kiowa, Kansas…. This specific Rural Development investment will be used to provide additional financing for the replacement of the existing water distribution system, which will consist of approximately 12,280 feet of 6-inch waterline, 18,500 feet of 4-inch waterline, 13,650 feet of 2-inch waterline, 113 valves, 21 fire hydrants and 386 service assemblies. This funding will adequately finance Phase 2 of this two-phased water system improvements project. Initial funds from Rural Development were awarded in 2018. Once this project is completed, the residents will have safe and reliable water.
Source: USDA.
For assistance with USDA loans or grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T08:00:02-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

USDA Invests $615,000 in four Kansas towns to Increase American Biofuel Availability

USDA is investing $374 million in 20 states through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to build infrastructure to help expand the availability of higher-blend renewable fuels. The HBIIP program helps give consumers more environmentally-friendly fuel choices when they fill-up at the pump. This specific USDA grant will be used to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project will add and replace 33 dispensers and 4 storage tanks at four Triplett fueling stations located in Colby, Russell, Hays, and Goodland. This project will increase the amount of ethanol sold by over 7 million gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biofuel.
Source: USDA.
For assistance with USDA loans or grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

Ranson Financial2021-04-23T07:59:46-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

Oakley’s Brad Pendergast gets council approval as Scott City city administrator

With unanimous support of the Scott City Council, Brad Pendergast has been hired as the new city administrator. Within an hour of the council’s vote on Monday evening, Pendergast had returned an electronic copy of his contract making the appointment. Pendergast, 33, who has been the city administrator at Oakley since 2018 … emerged from a field of four finalists interviewed by the council. “He immediately struck us as having a clear understanding of issues and challenges facing a town of our size, specific to our geographic location,” says Mayor Everett Green. “He talked to us about issues he assumed we’ve been facing and he hit them dead-on. That was impressive.” Even with only three years in city administration, Green and the council felt that Pendergast offered a clear understanding of the position. “It wasn’t just his grasp of the daily workings of municipal government, but we also felt good about his ability to relate well with our department heads, the staff and the public,” Green says.
Source: Scott County Record.

Ranson Financial2021-04-22T22:12:21-05:00April 22, 2021|News|

21 year career as city clerk coming to an end for Scott City city clerk

Perhaps it was only fitting that Brenda Davis’ final act as the city clerk for Scott City would be swearing in her successor during Monday’s council meeting. It was just over 21 years earlier, in November of 1999, that Davis was taking the oath of office – only seven months after she had begun working in City Hall. “That wasn’t part of the plan,” says Davis about the sudden transition from assistant clerk to city clerk following the unexpected announcement by City Clerk Sharon Ricker that she would be resigning. “At the time, city government was a whole different world to me,” she notes. “My background was in education, so I was learning something every day. And I still am.”
Source: Scott County Record.

Ranson Financial2021-04-22T22:08:24-05:00April 22, 2021|News|