Halstead expands funding to revitalize downtown

After seeing some businesses struggling to maintain their buildings downtown, the City of Halstead started a grant program for these businesses. The grants, known as “DRAGON Grants,” provide businesses with between $1,000 and $10,000. Reimer said that, in the past, the city allotted $40,000 for grants each year, but the city council voted to expand that to $50,000 for 2024. City Manager Ethan Reimer said these grants are a way for the city to provide some support to businesses in the community that they don’t get elsewhere. “It’s a recognition of the fact that some of our larger businesses qualify for tax reductions from the state, but smaller businesses that are anchors on Main Street don’t have that,” Reimer said. “This was started to help them and give them access to funding.” Funding comes from the city’s General Fund Expenditure, which also funds the Community Foundation and the Old Settlers Festival. Reimer said the city prefers grants being used to fix exterior facade issues and to bring buildings up to code. The grants are flexible, however. Reimer said they could be used for everything from fixing structural issues to buying new machinery. Startup costs, like buying new machinery, do require a business plan.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:47:49-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

Lawrence city commissioners express support for updates to land development code, hope to implement it this year

City commissioners on Tuesday received an update on the city’s new land development code, which aims to update zoning regulations to allow for more sustainability, affordable housing and equity. Elizabeth Garvin of Clarion, a national land-use consulting firm, gave a presentation to commissioners outlining the work of city staff, planning commissioners and a steering committee for the updated code. The city began work to update the land development code in 2022 and is hoping to implement the new one this year. Currently, the project is in its third of four stages, which is drafting the new land development code. One of the major goals of the new code is to encourage density and affordable housing in Lawrence. A lack of affordable housing has been a major focus in Lawrence and has prompted the approval of new developments and millions in funding. Tuesday’s presentation outlined a variety of changes to help abate Lawrence’s affordable housing shortage. The plan encourages smaller lots and more residential density as well as a flurry of other items aimed to increase flexibility for residential developments, including the addition of density minimums for residential lots. One major change in the code allows for up to four units to be built on one single-family lot.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:46:12-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

Johnson County application window opens for Senior and Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief program

Johnson County residents who are 65 or older or are a disabled veteran and who meet income and other requirements may now apply for up to $200 in property tax relief. Residents can now apply to participate in the new program online by completing the application form and submitting it, along with proof of income and/or disability status. The form can be submitted in person, by email or by postal mail. Those interested in participating in the program should submit the application before the April 15 deadline. Residents must be at or below income limits and have a home with a maximum appraised value of $384,600. A complete list of Income and other program requirements is available on the county’s website. In 2023, the Board of County Commissioners authorized $500,000 in funding for the county to provide this new pilot program to offer property tax relief to low-income seniors and disabled veterans. “As property values continue to increase, we know that property taxes can be a particular hardship for some members of our population, particularly those on a fixed income,” said Mike Kelly, chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. “We hope this initiative will help provide some relief to as many seniors and disabled veterans as possible.” While this program covers only the county’s portion of a resident’s property tax bill, other property tax programs are also available through the state.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:44:34-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

AGCO’s Hesston facility welcoming back furloughed employees

AGCO said in a news release Friday facility the critical updates to the facility in Hesston went live on Jan. 1, and the company is welcoming back furloughed employees. The news release says the upgrades required all production areas to be shut down and that employee furloughs were not demand-related. “During this time, AGCO has worked to provide impacted eligible employees with supplemental pay and retention bonuses,” AGCO said in the release. The employees’ return will happen in waves The first group returned to work the first week of January, an additional wave returned the following week, and the rest of the employees will return over the course of the first quarter as production ramps up.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:43:23-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

Newton Fire/EMS practicing ice rescues on frozen Spring Lake Pond

Newton Fire/EMS is practicing ice rescues on Spring Lake Pond, which has frozen over. “We don’t often get weather like this that we can afford as a training and the real-world experience with the ice, so we’re taking advantage of it,” said Newton Fire/EMS Division Chief Zane Hansen. Hansen says they cut a hole in the ice to simulate a rescue and then have a crew go out in ice suits to rescue a “victim.” “They’re gonna have the ice suits, and we’re gonna tether them to rescuers on the shore. So they’re gonna move out to the ice, trying to disperse their body weight, get out to the victim, get into the water and get them out of the water as quickly as possible,” said Hansen. He says they have to practice ice rescues as people are on the ice pretty often because they don’t understand the dangers of it. “I believe several years ago, I can’t recall, I know we went out on an ice rescue where we rescued four victims out of the ice, three that passed away,” said Hansen. Hansen says people don’t know how thick the ice is. “So what’s out in the middle could be a lot thinner than what’s on the edges. Right at the edge, you think the ice can hold you, but you get 10 feet out, and it doesn’t support your weight. And then you’re in big trouble. Big trouble pretty quickly,” said Hansen. If you fall on the ice, he says you only have minutes to survive.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:42:39-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

Commission discusses wind project moratorium

The Labette County Commission may consider extending the current moratorium on the construction of wind harvesting projects in the county. The current moratorium ends in April, commissioners were told, and discussed if voting on the issue in March would provide enough time for legal publications to notify the public about the decision. The board attorney said that would provide enough time. The commission enacted the 15-month moratorium by resolution in late November 2022. The purpose is to allow the county planning committee to get zoning regulations in place. Foster and Associates, hired to assist with the process, is still working on the zoning regulations, and that’s one step in the process to get the regulations approved and in place. Commission Chairman Terry Weidert said the planning committee may not be ready with zoning regulations for the commission to consider before the moratorium expires. He just didn’t want the commission to run out of time to extend the moratorium if it needed it. After discussion, commissioners agreed to reconsider the matter in March to see how much progress the planning committee makes toward zoning regulations.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:41:19-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

Halstead fire crews battle large fire in bitter cold

Harvey County fire crews battled a large fire in bitterly cold temperatures early Tuesday around 12:20 a.m. at an automotive repair shop. Halstead Fire/EMS said the fire happened on Halstead Road just south of U.S. Highway 50. Upon arrival, crews discovered the building had flames throughout and through the roof. Pictures from Halstead Fire/EMS show flames engulfing a metal-framed building. Several fire crews, including Newton Fire/EMS, were called to help battle the fire. Halstead Fire/EMS said the state fire marshal was on scene. There is no word on what started the blaze. The investigation is ongoing. No injuries were reported.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:40:03-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

Is Wichita affordable for single renters? This report says it’s the top city in the US

If you’re a single renter looking for more affordable cities to live in, you may want to take a close look at Kansas. According to a report by apartment rental company RentHop, Wichita was ranked the most affordable city for a single renter in the U.S. The company conducted the December report by measuring median nonfamily household incomes, city population counts, advertised prices for studio apartments and year-over-year changes to studio prices. The median cost of a studio apartment in the Air Capital is $565 a month, Renthop says in the report, meaning the average person would have to spend 17.65% of their annual income on rent every year. For comparison, New York City is the most expensive place for single renters, according to Renthop, with residents having to spend about 71% of their annual income on rent in the city. According to a separate report from GoBankingRates, the average single person in Kansas needs to make $47,379 annually to live comfortably, which would make the state sixth in the country for lowest living wage. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the median household income in Wichita (in 2022 dollars) is $60,712. The poverty rate in the city sits at 15.5%. While Wichita may have been named the most affordable city by RentHop, the cost of rent is rising across the U.S., including locally. A report from late 2022 from NAI Martens indicates rent prices in Wichita rose 1.8% in 2022 and 9.4% in 2021.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:39:13-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

‘We care about each other’: Topekans weigh in on city’s homeless initiative

Community leaders are moving into the next phase of addressing the city’s homeless population. On Tuesday, the ‘Homeless Initiative,’ partially led by design chair Brianna Sylver, held an ideation session to brainstorm solutions to Topeka’s homeless problem. “The goal is to come up with seven to 10 different solutions,” Sylver said. “Typically, those will range in terms of short-term versus long-term solutions.” The City of Topeka brought Sylver in to help manage the entire process. The best way, in Sylver’s opinion to approach this, is by involving as many people as possible. Topeka residents and community leaders spent for several hours offering input and sharing ideas. Members from organizations like the Topeka Rescue Mission (TRM) , Topeka City Council and the Boys’ and Girls’ club were in attendance. Attendees brainstormed in small groups by writing their ideas out on tables covered in butcher paper. “I saw a tremendous amount of passion, hope, excitement,” Brian Cole, the director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections said. “I saw a lot of energy of wanting to solve this problem to serve those that need these valuable resources.” Then, representatives from each small shared those ideas with the whole, and everyone eventually voted on the best ones. “Kudos to the city for bringing folks together from all walks of life to come and talk about solutions and to really again, helping human beings,” Derik Flerlage, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) director of family health said. Sylver’s team will test out some of the brainstormed solutions in the near future. She also said there will be more chances for Topekans to share their voices throughout this process.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:37:48-06:00January 17, 2024|News|

City Council votes for more input on overturning LLC contribution ban

The expected City Council overturn of a 2-week-old ban on contributions to city of Wichita election candidates from limited liability companies and corporations took a detour Tuesday. The Council voted 5-2 to refer the ordinance change to members’ district advisory boards, which offer advice and recommendations to each of the six members representing specific areas of the city. Mayor Lily Wu and Council member Becky Tuttle voted to ask for the DAB input, along with the three remaining members who voted for the initial ban Jan. 2 — Maggie Ballard, Mike Hoheisel and Brandon Johnson. New members Dalton Glasscock, who asked last week to reassess the ordinance, and J.V. Johnston voted against. Wu and Tuttle still seem likely to join Glasscock and Johnston as a majority overturning the LLC contributions ban. Wu had more than 100 LLC and corporate donations in winning November’s general election, and Tuttle voted against the ban during the last Council meeting with a Democratic majority. But the ordinance took on new language Tuesday that Glasscock said will increase transparency, if overturned.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2024-01-17T10:36:34-06:00January 17, 2024|News|