Page 1737 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Prairie Village takes steps toward allowing residents to keep hens — though home owners associations still have their own prohibitions

Prairie Village took a step this week toward allowing residents to keep chickens — though individual homes associations may have their own restrictions that would prevent people from taking advantage of the city relaxing its regulations. The City Council, meeting as a committee of the whole, voted 9 to 3 Monday night to approve amending the city’s animal control regulations to allow residents to keep hens but not roosters. … The city’s zoning code also prohibits residents from keeping chickens.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:24:24-05:00June 17, 2020|News|

New Kansas court record system could expand access to hard-to-reach documents

For anyone who’s not a lawyer, accessing court records in Kansas is a headache. Depending on the type of court, successfully obtaining records can involve an endless list of obstacles — from fees and outdated systems to having to physically go to the courthouse. To solve the constant runaround, the Kansas Judicial Branch is developing a new, centralized computer filing system with the hopes of streamlining what many currently see as a confusing and cumbersome process.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:23:43-05:00June 17, 2020|News|

Wichita approves ‘eye in the sky’ over riverfront to prevent crime, police brutality

Soon, police will be watching over you when you stroll or bike down the pathways along the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. The Wichita City Council approved a project to bring full camera coverage over the riverfront, despite some privacy concerns and suspicions that the system might be used to shoo the homeless away from the business districts planned around the new downtown baseball stadium. “Between the riverfront development going on on the east bank — or potential riverfront development — and the development on the west bank, these cameras were brought to our attention to make sure the area was safe,” said council member Brandon Johnson. “As we plan to see 200 events from baseball, other developments going on, this is an opportunity to keep everyone safe.”
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:23:28-05:00June 17, 2020|News|

New library will go into former South Wichita tire store, City Council decides

Wichita’s Linwood Branch Library will be moving into a larger space that was formerly a tire store at the Wichita Mall, the City Council decided Tuesday. The move will nearly double the size of the library, from 3,752 square feet to 6,904, said Library Director Cynthia Berner. It will also more than double the number of public computers from seven to 16, Berner said.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:23:09-05:00June 17, 2020|News|

Why the 2020 Census is Essential to Municipalities

While the decennial census is always important for its allocation of over $1.5 trillion (with a ‘T’!) in federal funding across 316 federal programs, the 2020 census is perhaps the most consequential in generations. Getting the count wrong right now will have impacts for the next 10 years on how well-resourced cities, towns and villages are to recover from COVID-19 and in shaping the systems that respond to and rectify institutional and structural racism. The events of 2020 mean that the implications of a fair and accurate 2020 Census have gone from important, to urgent, to emergency levels for municipalities’ abilities to address their communities’ needs in the coming decade.
(Read more: CitiesSpeak)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:22:23-05:00June 17, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 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 Financial2020-06-17T08:12:27-05:00June 17, 2020|News|

‘Unbelievably dark’: Merriam officials say inner-workings of 60-year-old Merriam Drainage District aren’t transparent

Flooding issues may have gotten more pronounced in the Shawnee Mission area in recent years, but they’re nothing new. More than six decades ago, flooding concerns along a stretch of Turkey Creek that runs through Merriam, Shawnee and Overland Park prompted the creation of an organization called the Merriam Drainage District. The body has the authority to levy property taxes, just like a city or other public entity, and currently takes in about $200,000 per year from property owners. Its charge is to use those funds on upkeep of Turkey Creek — things like channel maintenance, erosion control and mowing along the banks.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:03:36-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Shawnee announces it won’t open municipal pools for the 2020 season

The city of Shawnee this morning announced it would not be opening any of its public pools in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement posted by the city on its website and social media platforms says that with the Centers for Disease Control’s social distancing guidelines still in place, the city could not have staff complete the needed preseason certifications. Moreover, they would not be able to participate in in-service training during the pool season. “As a result, we are disappointed to announce the City of Shawnee will not be opening its Aquatic Centers for the 2020 season,” reads the city’s statement. ‘This decision did not come lightly. The safety of our employees and community will always be our utmost priority. Shawnee Parks and Recreation will continue to focus on providing safe, fun and quality recreational opportunities as we all adapt to the changing conditions.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:03:54-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Pott. County jobs expert talks impact of COVID-19 on local businesses

Jack Allston, executive director of the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, presented to the Pottawatomie County Commission Monday the results of a survey showing how COVID-19 has impacted local businesses. Of the businesses that responded to the survey, about 15 percent closed and are now open, about 4 percent closed and are still closed and the rest have remained open. As for how job numbers have changed, Allston says there is good news. According to Allston, event-based companies have been negatively impacted the most while those involved in food service and childcare are also seeing cash-flow problems. Pottawatomie County has a 7.6 percent unemployment rate while Riley County currently sits at 8.6 percent, which Allston says came as a surprise.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:04:15-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County Commission considers township road maintenance policy

While Sedgwick County Commissioners agreed local township roads are generally well maintained, discussion at a June 3 staff meeting and June 10 commission meeting addressed what could be done in the rare scenarios where that is not the case. Typically, townships are responsible for their own road maintenance, but a statute does exist (K.S.A. 68-124) that allows counties to take over maintenance work – to be billed to the township in question – if those roads are not being maintained. As it stands, the county can get involved if a township board neglects, refuses or fails to comply with the provisions of the statute to repair, place and keep in “condition for travel” any public roads or highways under the township’s jurisdiction.
(Read more: Derby Informer | Area)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:06:51-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Prairie Village takes steps toward allowing residents to keep hens — though home owners associations still have their own prohibitions

New Kansas court record system could expand access to hard-to-reach documents

Wichita approves ‘eye in the sky’ over riverfront to prevent crime, police brutality

New library will go into former South Wichita tire store, City Council decides

Why the 2020 Census is Essential to Municipalities

Municipal Bond Trends for June 16, 2020

‘Unbelievably dark’: Merriam officials say inner-workings of 60-year-old Merriam Drainage District aren’t transparent

Shawnee announces it won’t open municipal pools for the 2020 season

Pott. County jobs expert talks impact of COVID-19 on local businesses

Sedgwick County Commission considers township road maintenance policy

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