Kansas Department of Commerce now accepting Online Community Development Block Grant applications for Housing, Sewer and Water

The Kansas Department of Commerce is announcing today that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program applications for Housing and Water and Sewer are now available online at kansascommerce.gov/cdbg. The move to online-only applications is intended to simplify the process for applicant communities, as well as streamline the review and approval process for added efficiency. Applications for Housing and Water and Sewer are due September 25 and Community Facilities are due October 30.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Need assistance with grant application and administration? Contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T08:03:20-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 1, 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 Financial2020-09-02T07:41:30-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Survey finds Johnson County’s need for affordable housing is growing, but ‘NIMBY’ opposition remains

Increasing affordable housing stock, access to public transportation and access to jobs and investment opportunities are all areas of growth in Johnson County. But although the number of cost-burdened households in Johnson County is on the rise, there remains a pushback from single-family homeowners resisting denser housing solutions that would support those goals. That is one takeaway from the 2020 Human Services Summit last week, when members of United Community Services of Johnson County revealed some initial findings of a countywide study on housing. Led by UCS, Johnson County and local municipalities, the Johnson County Municipalities Housing Study is currently underway. Preliminary findings already reveal some notable trends, particularly regarding teardown-rebuilds and homeowner opposition to multifamily housing.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:40:03-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Reno County working to enable more widespread COVID-19 testing

Reno County health officials hope by early October to have both a system and funding in place to allow testing of residents who are not showing any symptoms of COVID-19 for the novel coronavirus. The goal, interim health officer Karen Hammersmith explained, is to have at least 3.6% of the population tested monthly, which is about 500 to 600 people per week. That would provide a more accurate picture of what’s going on in the community and allow officials to use a “gating criteria” recommended by both state and federal health officials for keeping local schools open and potentially reopening nursing homes to the public.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:39:30-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Drug dog makes a big difference in St. John

Just seven months on the job and the statistics for criminal activity stopped by St. John’s K-9 officer Glenn, a Belgian Malinois dog certified in narcotics, suspect apprehension, tracking, evidence recovery and patrol work, are worth noting. In the small, rural town of St. John, Glenn, assisted by his handler Police Chief Allen Adams and fellow St. John officers, conducted another car stop in August, bringing the SJPD’s total number of 2020 narcotics cases to 11, which includes three distribution cases.
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:38:06-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Attorney general awards local grants in Dodge City

Recently the Kansas Attorney General’s office awarded $51,000 in grants to three Dodge City organizations. Of those organizations were ones providing services for victims of crime. According to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the following grants went to CASA – Children Worth Saving, Inc., in the amount of $8,771. The non-profit organization serves the 16th Judicial District counties of Ford, Clark, Comanche, Gray, Kiowa and Meade.
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:37:18-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

The Life of William Inge

He was known as the “Playwright of the Midwest,” and being a Kansas native, he something to say about Dodge City. In March 1967, the “New York Times”, quoted William M. Inge; “The fact is, Dodge City and the other rip-roaring towns of the Old West were the Las Vegases of their day in employing the best talent of the East at fabulous salaries.” The “Times” article was about Inge working on his first musical screenplay, “The Lady Gay,” a fiction based on facts about Dora Hand, who was murdered while sleeping in Dodge City Mayor James Kelley’s home.
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:36:40-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Just days into semester, Silver Lake USD 372 closes after COVID-19 cases

Four school days into the fall semester, Silver Lake USD 372 is closing for in-person learning again after several classified staff tested positive for COVID-19, superintendent Tim Hallacy announced Monday evening. “This small outbreak will impact our ability to properly clean and prepare each of the buildings for students and staff,” Hallacy said in a social media post. “We need some time to work with our partners at the SNCO Health Department and work with contact tracers to ensure that we have a grasp of those who may be impacted.” Hallacy said the district does not know of any cases among teachers or students.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:30:54-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

Shawnee library temporarily closes after potential termite found in materials

Johnson County Library temporarily closed its Shawnee branch Tuesday, after potentially finding a termite in returned materials. The book return is still open. “Termites love cellulose, whether in wood or paper, so they are a concern for libraries,” says Adam Wathen, Associate Director of System-Wide Services. “The last thing we want to do is send termites home with one of our patrons, so we’re taking an abundance of precaution in this situation.” The branch, located at 13811 Johnson Dr, will undergo an insect inspection and Library materials will be heat-treated. Pending the inspection’s results, the library plans to reopen Wednesday.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-09-02T07:40:32-05:00September 2, 2020|News|

The Fed could be locked into zero rates for five years, or even longer

Interest rates near zero likely will stay in place not for months but instead years as the Federal Reserve seeks to re-engineer an economy characterized by low inflation and an uneven labor market. Wall Street is prepping for a return to the post-financial crisis days, when rock-bottom short-term rates prevailed for seven years before the Fed even tried moving them higher. Fed officials have outlined a revised policy in which it now will target “average inflation,” meaning a higher tolerance for inflation above 2% before hiking interest rates from current levels. In the past, the Fed would look to rate cuts when unemployment began to fall as a sign that inflation would not be far behind. In the present circumstances, then, the remaining question will be how deep the Fed’s commitment to inflation will run, what will be considered full unemployment, and how many years that will mean for zero interest rates.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2020-09-01T08:25:22-05:00September 1, 2020|News|

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