Lawrence City Commission finalizes ordinance that provides protections for undocumented immigrants, requires notification of certain ICE activity

City leaders have finalized a nondiscrimination ordinance regarding undocumented immigrants, including the addition of two provisions meant to create transparency regarding how police interact with those populations. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance on second reading with two additions. The additions require public notification when the police department is aware of certain federal immigration activities in Lawrence as well as notification should the department make changes to its policy that generally limits police cooperation with federal immigration agents for noncriminal matters.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:24:25-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Hutchinson looks to part-time patrols to address park issues

A majority of the Hutchinson City Council agreed Tuesday to have part-time police service aides begin to patrol the city’s parks at night, particularly focusing on Orchard Park, to address concerns from the public about vandalism and loud after-hour activities in the park. Police Chief Jeff Hooper said the effort would cost about $20,000 to $25,000 a year if it were year-round, but he could manage it in his current budget with money from unfilled officer positions.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:06:49-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Water services set for Derby with new agreement

For the past couple of years, Derby has been in negotiations with the city of Wichita for a new wholesale water services agreement – with the original contract (set in 2001) coming up on its expiration. While there have been holdups along the way – stemming from Wichita’s focus on its own facility upgrades, the current pandemic, etc. – City Manager Kathy Sexton presented the Derby City Council with a new proposed agreement at its most recent meeting on Sept. 8. The renewed agreement would look very similar to the original agreement, according to Sexton, and include no immediate changes for Derby customers. One large caveat of the new agreement, though, would allow for Derby to take on some of its water services (as the city looks into constructing its own water treatment facility).
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:10:12-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Lyon County adjusts gathering limits with new public health order

Lyon County commissioners approved an updated public health order prioritizing “flexibility” and “individual responsibility” Thursday after weeks of community input and discussion with local leaders. Set to begin Friday and run through Nov. 12, the new order maintains the same language on recommendations for travelers, high-risk individuals, long-term care centers and area businesses, again “highly encouraging” the use of masks in favor of mandating them. The majority of changes come in the category of mass gathering limits, which will be raised significantly moving forward.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:09:33-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

City of Emporia extends mask mandate through Oct. 21

A citywide mask mandate will remain in effect through Oct. 21 following a decision by Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday night. City Attorney Christina Montgomery said no changes had been made to the language of the mandate, other than its expiration date. The mandate, which was passed unanimously, requires a mask or other face covering that covers both the nose and mouth to be worn in indoor and outdoor public spaces when social distancing is not possible. It applies to all businesses, organizations and non-profits located within city limits, including all employees, visitors, customers, members and non-members.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:09:01-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

City of Emporia sees increase in sales tax revenue amid pandemic

Like other cities around the state, Emporia saw a surprising increase in sales tax revenues for June and started the 2021 fiscal year with a 2.9% increase over the previous year, despite the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue’s August report, which reflects mostly revenues from June, the City of Emporia brought in $395,463.23 in August — a 9.3% increase over Aug. 2019. The city ended the 2020 fiscal year, which ran from July 2018 – Aug. 2019, with $746,474.57. The 2021 fiscal year ended with $768,258.48 — 2.9% increase over 2019. So far, the city is seeing an overall increase in sales tax revenues for the year, with numbers comparatively higher in most business sectors than 2019 — $1,567,767.68 in Aug. 2020 compared to $1,561,657.32 in Aug. 2019.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:08:37-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Eudora lands deal for new railway manufacturer

Modern Manufacturing announced Thursday that it had indeed selected Eudora for the project. Leaders from the city of Eudora, Douglas County and the Kansas Department of Commerce all gathered in downtown Eudora to celebrate the announcement, and the ceremony even included one unexpected visitor — a noisy freight train rumbling through the north edge of downtown, interrupting the speech of Modern Manufacturing’s president. “Ah, there is the sound of money,” Russ Taylor, president of Modern Manufacturing, told the crowd. “That’s great.” Indeed, Eudora leaders are hopeful trains end up equating to big money for the town of about 6,300 people just east of Lawrence. Modern Manufacturing makes a variety of products for the railway industry. Those include the light systems used at crossings, while a big product is the steel “bungalows” that are located alongside the tracks to house electronic equipment for railways.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:25:42-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 16, 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 Financial2020-09-17T07:53:51-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Survey says build new library for Newton

Things have been quiet at the Newton Public Library. While that is expected on a literal level, at this time it isn’t really expected on the figurative level. The community is in the middle of a multi-phase plan to build a new facility. Already complete are site selection — the new facility will be in Military Park, to the east of the current library location — and a feasibility review by WDM architects. The library project is now wrapping up Phase 3, public campaign. And that’s what has been relatively quiet, although that has been by design.
Source: News – Butler County Times Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:52:57-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Learning hubs for virtual education grow in popularity in northern Johnson County, but traditional childcare providers raise concerns

With the start of an unprecedented school year that has tens of thousands of students across Johnson County learning remotely for at least a few days each week, many working families have started to look for educational alternatives for their children. Shawnee Mission’s roughly 27,000 students are all learning remotely for the time being, while other public school districts in Johnson County have many students in hybrid learning mode, splitting time between home and school. As a result, some parents have begun forming “learning pods” with other parents to have their children learn in small groups at home. Meanwhile, some nonprofits, churches, entertainment companies and Johnson County itself, have all launched their own learning hubs in recent weeks to support kids and families still enrolled in traditional schools.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:52:34-05:00September 17, 2020|News|