Stability of border war truce in question

The governors in Kansas and Missouri have moved to end an economic “border war” that has gained their states unwanted national attention for using millions of dollars in incentives to entice companies into shifting jobs close to the Kansas City-area border.

Their truce appears shaky. An executive order that Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed Friday showed that officials in both states have yet to fully resolve a final sticking point: the ability of cities, counties and other local governments in Missouri to offer more lucrative local tax breaks than their counterparts in Kansas.

If Missouri officials don’t stop their generous local tax breaks, Kelly in her order threatens to call off the two states’ big, bipartisan deal, even with Friday’s declarations that the border war is over.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:31:50-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

Wichita civilian volunteers to monitor Old Town surveillance cameras for police

A new batch of civilian volunteers is monitoring surveillance cameras for Wichita police — to help improve safety in Old Town, not to issue traffic tickets, police say.

“These cameras were put in with the intent to keep Old Town safe. They weren’t put in with the intent for traffic enforcement,” Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said Friday.

The volunteers are graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy, a program that teaches civilians about policing.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-08-04T20:19:47-05:00August 4, 2019|News|

Hays to offer discounted admission to swimming pool for Ellis residents

The city of Hays plans to offer an admission discount at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) to Ellis residents after the Ellis swimming pool was unexpectedly closed Wednesday morning.

Henry Schwaller, Hays mayor, made the suggestion during Thursday’s city commission work session.

The Ellis municipal pool was losing almost 30,000 gallons of water every 2 to 3 days according to Mayor Dave McDaniel and city officials decided to shut it down ahead of the season closing date.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-04T20:15:03-05:00August 4, 2019|News|

Some Kansas Workers Are Going To Class Without Having To Punch Out Of Work

Adult education programs offered by Kansas’ colleges and school districts are increasingly bringing classes to workers where they already are: at work.

Washburn University will soon offer conflict resolution to staffers at the Ramada Hotel in Topeka. Dodge City Community College will provide customer service lessons at Boot Hill Casino. And several schools are providing English classes, one of the most sought-after skills.

“There’s a major shift taking place in education,” said Karen Ulanski, the director for Paola USD 368’s adult education center.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Ranson Financial2019-08-04T20:11:23-05:00August 4, 2019|News|

This Bill Could Save Rural Governments Millions in Infrastructure Financing

A new proposal in Congress could make financing infrastructure projects in rural America far more affordable.

Called the Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2019, the bill would modernize a restriction on so-called bank-qualified municipal bonds that effectively limits small governments’ access to cheaper borrowing rates in the municipal market.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) estimates that the proposed bill could save as much as $1.1 million in financing costs on a 15-year, $30 million bond issued by a small government. That translates into hundreds of millions of dollars in savings each year for small governments, nonprofits and districts across the country.

“Expanding the availability of bank-qualified bonds will help local governments and nonprofits afford critical construction projects and stimulate their economies, all while providing significant savings,” Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell said after introducing the bill.

(Read more: GOVERNING)

Ranson Financial2019-08-04T20:07:30-05:00August 4, 2019|News|

Waste intake increases for Pratt County Recycling

An increase in the amount of household hazardous waste coming to the Pratt County Recycle center has also increased the money the center has to pay to have the HHW removed.

Jason Winkel, landfill and recycle center manager, updated the Pratt County Commissioners on the HHW issue on July 29 at the regular weekly Commission meeting.

Winkel is working on options for handling HHW because of those increases.
Clean Harbors, out of Wichita, provides the hazardous waste removal and their last bill to the county was $8,600. A chemist comes from Kansas City to identify acids among HHW.

(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)

Ranson Financial2019-08-04T20:04:34-05:00August 4, 2019|News|

Johnson County judge orders Shawnee to drop eminent domain claim against Wayne Developers’ property

A district judge has prohibited the city of Shawnee from moving forward with an eminent domain claim on property owned by Wayne Developers LLC.

Judge Kevin Moriarty, district judge presiding over Division 14 in Johnson County District Court, entered his memorandum decision Wednesday, July 31. His decision granted a permanent injunction requested by Wayne Developers, which owns 20 acres of land at 18570 Johnson Drive in western Shawnee.

The city of Shawnee had filed a claim of eminent domain in March over the property with plans to condemn and acquire it in order to build a centralized facility for the city’s parks and recreation department. The property is located just east of the city’s public works facility on Johnson Drive and shares a driveway access with the city.

Ranson Financial2019-08-04T20:02:40-05:00August 4, 2019|News|

Interest Rates Plunge After FOMC Cuts Interest Rate

Both the municipal and Treasury markets rallied one day after the Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points and after President Trump’s declared more tariffs on China — all of which caused the 10-year Treasury to dip below 1.90%.
Financial markets continue to price in greater odds of another 25 basis point Fed rate cut later this year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, odds a 25 BP rate cut when the FOMC meets on Sept 17-18 increased 70.4% from 51.9% following Trump’s tweets of additional tariffs.
“The 10-year hit its lowest level since Nov. 2016 and munis followed right along,” said one New York trader. “Yields keep going lower and we are looking at one of the big-gest volume weeks we have had in a while next week – it should be very interesting, to say the least.”

Downtown Olathe can be ‘the knot’ connecting trails, bicycle paths, says proposed plan

“Connection” was the buzzword Tuesday afternoon during an open house about a proposal to make downtown Olathe’s streets friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists. Both the city and the Mid-America Regional Council were seeking citizen feedback.

One key point of the plan uses the downtown area to connect the various paths, trails and bicycle lanes scattered throughout the city.

“If you look at a trail map, there are trails are all around, but they never touch downtown,” said Martin Shukert, principal of RDG Planning and Design, which is working with the city on the project. “Downtown is the knot that can connect them.”

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-02T06:45:30-05:00August 2, 2019|News|

Gardner police have created Safe Exchange zones for internet, child custody exchanges

The Gardner Police Department has created a safe place outside its headquarters for child custody exchanges and internet commerce transactions.

The Safe Exchange Zone is defined by signs and blue lines painted around several stalls in the main parking lot at the new Gardner Justice Center, 16540 Moonlight Road. It’s in full view of Moonlight Road, well-lighted and covered by 24-hour video surveillance cameras.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-02T06:43:11-05:00August 2, 2019|News|

Stability of border war truce in question

Wichita civilian volunteers to monitor Old Town surveillance cameras for police

Hays to offer discounted admission to swimming pool for Ellis residents

Some Kansas Workers Are Going To Class Without Having To Punch Out Of Work

This Bill Could Save Rural Governments Millions in Infrastructure Financing

Waste intake increases for Pratt County Recycling

Johnson County judge orders Shawnee to drop eminent domain claim against Wayne Developers’ property

Interest Rates Plunge After FOMC Cuts Interest Rate

Downtown Olathe can be ‘the knot’ connecting trails, bicycle paths, says proposed plan

Gardner police have created Safe Exchange zones for internet, child custody exchanges

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