Here’s how a possible $450 million bond issue could reshape Wichita school district

The Wichita school board heard a plan Monday for a $450 million bond issue proposal that would support the complete rebuilding of eight schools over the next five to six years. The district would reduce its overall footprint by 11 buildings, consolidating programs into new and existing facilities and closing four elementary schools, five special schools and two administrative buildings. The draft proposal, presented by Ohio-based consultant Woolpert, comes three months after the school board voted to permanently close six schools as a cost-saving measure. The board took no binding action Monday night, but intends to revisit the facilities master plan proposal on June 27 after community feedback on the recommendations has been collected. The board will also hold a workshop on the master plan before voting on it. Officials say the new bond proposal would not raise property taxes. Instead, it would maintain the existing elevated tax rate associated with the 2008 bond issue for however long it takes to pay off $450 million in new debt.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

info2024-06-12T11:55:31-05:00June 12, 2024|News|

Chetopa avoids potential water crisis

Chetopa averted a potential crisis this week by creating a work-around after a waterline broke that transports water from the Neosho River to the city’s water treatment plant. The temporary fix, which was in place Tuesday, used a large pump to pull water from the river, deposit it in a portable pool used by firefighters to store water for fire suppression and then pump that out of the pool and into the intake pipe upstream from the break. The broken pipe was repaired by early Thursday afternoon. Scott Feagan, who is the city’s police chief and superintendent, said that the city had enough water stored in its tower to keep the system pressurized to avoid a state boil order. But the city staff still asked residents to conserve water while city crews tried to resolve the situation. Feagan said the 6-inch waterline that comes out of the well house broke. One of the city’s water treatment plant operators noticed on Monday that no water was coming into the plant and contacted Feagan. He drove to the river to look at the intake system and saw water boiling out at the river. Water is pumped uphill from the well house that sits on the river bank. The buried line comes uphill from the river at an angle and then levels out on top of the river bank at Veterans Park. The water plant is about two blocks to the west.
Source: Parsons Sun

info2024-06-12T11:54:51-05:00June 12, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 11, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-06-12T10:12:04-05:00June 12, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 10, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-06-12T10:11:21-05:00June 11, 2024|News|

Boeing’s woes mean rising anxiety in Wichita, Kansas, the ‘Air Capital of the World’

Not everyone in the self-proclaimed “Air Capital of the World” works in the aviation industry, though it seems like everybody here knows someone who does. That’s why the entire city has a stake in what happens to Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier that builds the fuselage for the 737 at a sprawling factory on the southern edge of town.
Source: NPR

info2024-06-11T09:23:10-05:00June 11, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 7, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-06-10T12:41:23-05:00June 10, 2024|News|

USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Fund Community and Economic Development Projects in Rural Communities

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development … today invited applications for grants to help organizations improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas. USDA is making up to $5 million in grants available under the Rural Community Development Initiative program. The program provides funding to organizations that provide financial and technical assistance for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects. Eligible applicants include public (including Tribal) organizations, nonprofit organizations and qualified private organizations.
For assistance with application for, or administration of, grants, contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.

info2024-06-10T12:27:58-05:00June 10, 2024|News|

Attorney shortage in rural Kansas

In December 2022, Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued an order establishing a Rural Justice Initiative Committee … The committee is to study the issue, gather data, and make recommendations by fall 2024. Statewide surveys and listening sessions have been conducted along with interviews of law school students. “(The shortage of attorneys) is becoming a constitutional crisis…”
Source: Hays Daily News

info2024-06-09T10:55:55-05:00June 9, 2024|News|

Immigrants help rural Kansas flourish, but they often face challenges once they’re here

With the diversification of the population there are starting to be cultural shifts. Both Garden City and Liberal now have two people of color on their respective city commissions. Kathleen Alonso is a civic engagement coordinator for the nonprofit New Frontiers. She was encouraged to run for local office after seeing the community embrace the majority minority, electing two Hispanic people to the city commission. Her campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, but she said the trend continues. “I’ve seen a lot more people that look and speak like me in more positions of power,” she said. Alonso knows all too well the struggles of an immigrant in rural Kansas. She grew up in a place lacking resources for children that looked like her, despite most of the children looking like her by 2010. “I had to translate for my parents, documents with my teachers and all that stuff,” Alonso said. “My mom was deported when I was 16, so immigration issues are really dear to my heart.” Immigrants not only support the economy through meatpacking, but now they provide essential services, like health care, education and grocery stores. And major organizations like schools and churches are starting to adapt. Jonathan Zamora is a pastor for Crosspoint, an English-speaking Christian church in Liberal. His parents came to southwest Kansas from Nicaragua to seek work and education opportunities in the late 1980s. Zamora has used his parents’ experiences to guide how he leads his church, reaching out to the Latino community and offering them leadership positions within the church. “As our community changes, organizations have to change, too, and our church needed to change,” Zamora said.
Source: KAKE – News

info2024-06-07T15:43:53-05:00June 7, 2024|News|

New $14 million emergency room facility planned for this south-central Kansas city

A new Wesley emergency room will soon be under construction in Andover. The $14 million facility is planned for 126 West Cloud Avenue just west of Andover Road on U.S. 54. It will have 12 beds. Lee Mangus, Andover’s director of community development, said the site’s location will make it easier for people coming from outside the city to access an emergency room. “It’s always good to have redundancy in facilities,” Mangus said. “I know Kansas Medical Center sometimes gets overwhelmed in their emergency room, and this location is closer to the southern end of our city.” According to a Wesley press release, the site will provide “full CT scanning and diagnostic x-ray services,” with a 26-person staff. The emergency room location was first proposed in June 2023. The site’s groundbreaking occurred on Wednesday, and the project is scheduled for completion in January 2025. The emergency room will sit across from Flint Hills Medical Clinic and to the west of an Auto Zone, Spangles and Flint Hills Wine & Spirits.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

info2024-06-07T15:40:40-05:00June 7, 2024|News|