County, NextEra finalize haul route

After approving the term sheet and site plan for the Soldier Creek Wind Farm in August 2019, the Nemaha County Commissioners announced Monday, Jan. 13 — following a 1-1/2 hour executive session — that they have finalized the haul route for the project.

The commissioners – Tim Burdiek, Gary Scoby and Dennis Henry – have been in negotiations with NextEra Energy Resources, through the county’s hired wind farm attorney James Neeld, on the definitive agreements since the term sheet and site were approved last year. While the haul route has been finalized, the road use agreement is still being negotiated.

Burdiek said township officials met with the commissioners on Friday, Jan. 10, at the Pioneer Building in Seneca. The township officials received maps of the haul route for their township. Burdiek said he encouraged the township officials to drive the roads.

(Read more: Sabetha Herald)

Ranson Financial2020-01-20T19:11:11-06:00January 20, 2020|News|

Riley County losing out on $661,000 in revenue since mortgage tax phase out

Riley County lost out on $661,000 in tax revenue in 2019 mortgage registration fees after the Kansas legislature voted in 2014 to begin a five-year phase out of fees, said Debbie Regester, the county’s register of deeds.

“I guess I’m the only register of deeds in the state of Kansas that still continues to gripe about this or bring it to the board,” Regester said. “In counties that are much larger than ours, I can’t even imagine how much revenue they’ve lost.”

In 2018, the last year of the tax’s phaseout, the county collected $200,792 in mortgage registration tax fees. No tax was collected in 2019, but Regester said that if the 0.026% mortgage registration tax were still in place, the county would have collected $661,000.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Ranson Financial2020-01-20T19:08:29-06:00January 20, 2020|News|

WSU Innovation Campus developer seeks up to $33 million in IRBs for new NetApp site

Six years after first announcing it would partner with Wichita State University and move onto its Innovation Campus, NetApp is finally doing it.

Innovation Campus developer MWCB LLC is seeking up to $33 million in industrial revenue bonds to build a 168,000-square-foot Wichita headquarters for the global data storage and cloud management company.

NetApp would move from its current location at 37th and Rock Road — which MWCB is buying with plans for redeveloping it — to the northwest corner of 17th and Oliver.

Ranson Financial2020-01-20T19:07:18-06:00January 20, 2020|News|

Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget calls for refinancing KPERS, pay raise for state workers

Gov. Laura Kelly revealed her proposed blueprint Thursday for $7.8 billion in government spending on state services next year, including social service investments, aid for higher education and a pay raise for state employees.

The Democratic governor again asked lawmakers to lower state contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System by extending payments for 10 years and adding $4.4 billion in interest payments, a proposal met with swift condemnation by her Republican adversaries.

Republicans also scoffed at Kelly’s ideas for providing $53.2 million in credits to low-income families for sales tax assessed on food and placing $54 million in a defunct program that lessens the burden of local property taxes.

Ranson Financial2020-01-20T19:06:00-06:00January 20, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 17, 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 Advisors.

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:29:43-05:00January 20, 2020|Finance|

Spirit layoffs could stress Wichita, Sedgwick County finances, Moody’s cautions

One of the world’s top credit rating agencies has issued a report expressing concern about potential stress on Wichita-area governments if Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner doesn’t get back in the sky sooner rather than later.

The Moody’s investment firm report identifies the 2,800 recently announced layoffs at Spirit AeroSystems as a potential catalyst that could cause future financial issues for local government.

“The (Spirit) layoffs are credit negative for the city of Wichita, Sedgwick County and surrounding communities because the workforce reduction threatens to result in weaker retail sales, lowering sales tax revenues that support local government budgets,” the report said. “The reduced work orders and layoffs at Spirit are likely to ripple out to smaller aerospace suppliers in the Wichita area, increasing layoffs in the region.”

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-01-19T18:35:18-06:00January 19, 2020|News|

Commerce study critical of incentives offered in Rural Opportunity Zones

A new report from the Kansas Department of Commerce concludes a state program that provides cash incentives for those who move to rural areas failed to influence relocations or curb systemic population declines across the state.

Commerce secretary David Toland told lawmakers in hearings this week that rural communities would be better served by offering a menu of region-specific incentives that have yet to be identified.

Kansas between 2012 and 2018 spent about $12 million on the Rural Opportunity Zones program. More than 2,000 individuals received either income tax credits or student loan assistance.

Ranson Financial2020-01-19T18:21:00-06:00January 19, 2020|News|

Wichita street projects for 2020 total $215M, mayor says

The city of Wichita has 16 street and bridge projects — either underway or planned — for the coming year that total more than $215 million.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple highlighted some of the projects during his first briefing for media.

He showed slides of the Kellogg and Webb bridge with new aesthetic lighting. The LED lights will include different colors for each season, he said, as well as designs for holidays such as an American flag for Memorial Day. The same lighting will be installed for the Greenwich bridge, he said.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-01-19T18:02:40-06:00January 19, 2020|News|

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple talks about street projects for 2020

The inauguration of Brandon Whipple as Wichita’s 102nd mayor marks a new era in local politics.

A lot of questions are on the table as the 37-year-old Democrat assumes the “non-partisan” position at the helm of City Hall.

But one big question stands out: How the hell did this relatively unknown, brash, outspoken, non-traditional politician displace an incumbent mayor who was backed by all the traditional power centers in local politics?

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-01-19T17:58:39-06:00January 19, 2020|News|

Gardner’s plans to annex Hillsdale Water Plant in Miami County stalls

Last September, the Gardner City Council adopted a Consent for Annexation for the Hillsdale Water Treatment plant, located at 22705 South Moonlight Rd., in Miami County.
The Gardner City Council voted to start the process of annexing the city’s water treatment plant during a Sept. 3 meeting. At that time, Ryan Denk, city attorney, told council members that because the property was owned by the city, it did not have to go before the Miami County Commissioners and could be approved by the city council at the next meeting.

Miami County commissioners apparently disagreed, and the property has yet to be annexed by the City of Gardner. It will next be considered Jan. 15.
According to posted minutes from the Gardner Sept. 16 meeting, “Attorney Denk said no, the initial communication with Miami County was that an island annexation has to go before the county commissioners, except on city-owned land. If it’s city-owned property, we approve a consent or petition to ourselves. At the next meeting, you’ll approve an ordinance, and per Kansas Statute KSA 12 5282, an ordinance is all that’s needed, not county commission approval.”

Miami County Commissioners had a different interpretation.
According to an article in the Miami County Republic, Rob Roberts, Miami County commission chair, asked Denk, “How do you folks explain the fact that you began building your project prior to even receiving any oversight from the county and prior to us even having your annexation request?” Roberts asked. “Is it because you just simply don’t want to be under the county’s jurisdiction?”
Denk replied that the annexation petition was filed before the work began

(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-19T17:54:51-06:00January 19, 2020|News|