Project to fix one of Wichita area’s biggest traffic concerns moves forward

The project to help mitigate traffic concerns and wrecks at one of the worst bottlenecks in the Wichita area has taken another step forward after the Wichita City Council approved roughly $3.77 million in funding on Tuesday. The junction of I-135 and I-235 in north Wichita causes one of the worst traffic jams in the city during morning and evenings on workdays. The Sedgwick County Commission had previously approved its half of roughly $7.55 million. The Kansas Department of Transportation will pay 75% of the roughly $30.22 million project. The junction was built roughly 50 years ago.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2020-11-04T06:59:33-06:00November 4, 2020|News|

With COVID quarantines rising, Wamego High may be forced to shift instruction mode

Wamego High School may be forced to switch its mode of teaching and learning if it can’t slow the spread of COVID-19 in its building. In a letter to USD 320 families Monday, Superintendent Tim Winter said the district has reached a COVID-19 crossroad after the number of quarantined students at the high school grew from 13 to 62 from Friday to Monday. The increase in quarantines is a direct result of just three positive students cases within the high school. Winter says approximately two dozen students were reportedly feeling ill Monday. The current number of quarantined students (62) is 14 percent of the onsite enrollment at the high school. The high school is the only building experiencing high numbers.

Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2020-11-04T00:29:30-06:00November 4, 2020|News|

Johnson County voters overwhelmingly repeal liquor law requiring food sales

With three-fourths of the vote, Johnson County residents have voted to repeal what many called an “outdated” liquor law. The Johnson County ballot question asked voters if they wanted to get rid of a law that requires establishments serving alcohol to have food make up 30% of their sales. According to unofficial Johnson County election results, 253,808 voters, or 75.52%, voted “yes” on the ballot question, compared to the 72,581 who voted “no.” Local businesses like bars and breweries have said complying with the law has been a challenge.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2020-11-04T07:00:27-06:00November 4, 2020|News|

City approves $267M state loan agreement to help finance new water treatment facility

The city put into motion Tuesday a $267-million loan agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to fund nearly half the cost of the new water treatment facility planned for northwest Wichita. The loan, through the State of Kansas Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, is expected to finance 48% of the plant’s construction costs, while a federal loan from the Environmental Protection Agency will cover 49%. Revenue bonds and earnings from a 5% water and sewer rate increase approved in December will cover the remaining 3%. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the loan agreement, which technically won’t close until after Nov. 20.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2020-11-04T07:01:15-06:00November 4, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for November 2, 2020

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 Financial2020-11-03T07:05:46-06:00November 3, 2020|News|

Rural towns seeing a decline in population, local community seeks to keep their ‘own at home’ through offering future career opportunities

The USDA found that rural communities have seen declining populations over the past decade. In southwest Kansas, every county has seen a decrease in population. Some counties have seen up to a 20% population loss. However, one group is looking to change those statistics by offering a future for the younger generations of their communities. “We love southwest Kansas and we know people will if they are exposed to it,” said Joe Coles, Independent Education Consultant. It’s an initiative that started out focused on Gray County students alone. First referred to as the Gray County Consortium, it has now expanded its reach beyond the Gray County schools of Cimarron, Ingalls, and South Gray and has set its sights on southwest Kansas as a whole.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2020-11-03T07:04:07-06:00November 2, 2020|News|

Landfill increase vote delayed after community concerns

County commissioners delayed a vote to increase the Rolling Meadows landfill after homeowners in the area voice their concern about increasing the height. “I’m not sure I feel comfortable making a decision on this today,” Commissioner Aaron Mays said at the meeting… The proposal would add 25 total feet split between two “towers” of garbage, or an average of 12.5 feet per tower. A waterway would be added between the two piles to comply with FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Ranson Financial2020-11-03T07:01:19-06:00November 2, 2020|News|

Augusta downtown park plan revealed

The Augusta City Council will be asked to make a decision more than a decade-and-a-half in the making on Nov. 2 — a new master plan that will make changes to the city’s downtown business district. Specifically, plans for new park space that will coincide with a new pedestrian trail that follows old railroad rights of way. “I think it will be an amazing addition to the downtown. It has been a long time coming,” said Josh Shaw, city manager for Augusta.
Source: Pittsburg Morning Sun

Ranson Financial2020-11-03T07:01:47-06:00November 2, 2020|News|

Shawnee balances need with neighbors’ concerns in proposed homeless shelter code

The Shawnee Planning Commission will meet again to continue discussions on where and how homeless shelters could operate in the city. Planning commissioners on Oct. 19 discussed proposed changes and after raising concerns about the various needs of people without shelter as well as neighboring property owners, agreed to continue the public hearing to Monday, Nov. 16.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-11-03T07:02:08-06:00November 2, 2020|News|

Survey: 25% of Kansans say they’ve faced economic hardships during COVID-19 pandemic

One-fourth of Kansas households have experienced serious problems during the COVID-19 pandemic covering essential costs like food, utility and medical bills and dealing with obligations of loans and credit card debt. That was among findings of a sweeping statewide survey by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University conducted annually to check the pulse of Kansans on economic, political and social issues. Amid the coronavirus crisis factoring in the death of more than 1,000 Kansans, the survey was adjusted to include examination of the financial stability of individual households and to drill down on public attitudes about vaccines, masks and political leadership.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2020-11-03T07:02:33-06:00November 2, 2020|News|