Prairie Village formulates plan to reach zero carbon pledge by 2050

Prairie Village recently took a first step towards achieving its commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Prairie Village City Council last month approved a municipal operation climate action plan, the first citywide plan aimed at helping Prairie Village achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions — per its Cities Race to Zero commitment first approved in 2021. The commitment calls for the city to reach net zero emissions in its municipal operations — including emissions from public buildings and city vehicles — by the 2040s or sooner. The city worked with Indiana-based sustainability consultant Keramida to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and craft a city-specific climate action plan. Two big potential construction project could be opportunities for lowering municipal emissions, Keramida officials told the city council at its Oct. 16 meeting. Nick McCreary, a senior sustainability analyst with Keramida, said the firm recommends that a prospective new city hall be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Platinum standards.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-11-29T12:03:11-06:00November 29, 2023|News|

Walkability Enhancement: Pittsburg’s plan for school route sidewalk

The City of Pittsburg is looking to install a sidewalk near Meadowlark Elementary School. Pittsburg city staff applied for a “Safe Routes to School Grant” to install a sidewalk on the south side of East 20th Street from Meadowlark Elementary School to Rouse Street. The city’s Active Transportation Advisory Group identified the need for a sidewalk through parents and students. The Kansas Department of Transportation has a Safe Routes to School program to help support connectivity to schools and walkability. “This sidewalk helps identify a need for a safe route if you will for walkability from Meadowlark Elementary to our one of the city’s fire stations, which is a meeting point in case of emergency,” said Matt Bacon, Director of Public Works & Utilities, City of Pittsburg. Bacon adds the grant is a planning grant that will help the city start the design work and engineering to submit for construction at a later date.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2023-11-29T11:57:00-06:00November 29, 2023|News|

Shawnee Airbnb owners push back against banning rentals

After months of discussion, the Shawnee City Council remains in a holding pattern on whether to regulate short-term rental properties or ban them outright. At a Shawnee City Council committee meeting on Monday, councilmembers asked city staff to explore the idea of issuing special use permits for short-term rentals, like Airbnb and VRBOs. Since the meeting was only meant to gather feedback from the community, no vote or motion was taken by the council. While previous committee meetings about short-term rentals have mostly centered on feedback from neighbors who say they have been negatively affected by Airbnbs in Shawnee, Monday’s meeting drew more short-term rental owners defending their properties. Shannon Doser, a real estate agent who runs an Airbnb with her husband in Shawnee, said banning short-term rentals would be a mistake. “If you ban these, what you’re saying is, ‘We don’t want you here. We’re not going to have tourism. We’re going to simply send those tourists to Lenexa and over to Overland Park,’” she said.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-11-30T10:05:07-06:00November 29, 2023|News|

Jolene Graham selected as City of Andover Assistant City Administrator

Jolene Graham became the new Assistant City Administrator for the City of Andover as of Monday, November 27, 2023. She was chosen after interviews conducted by City Council members and City of Andover department heads. Graham served the City of Maize since 2014, most recently as the Deputy City Administrator for the past four years. During her time at Maize, she coordinated economic development for Maize Industrial Park, managed competitive grant & federal transportation awards to over $4.4 million, led multiple cross-departmental teams for policy and infrastructure planning, development and implementation and oversaw seven staff members. “We are thrilled to have Jolene join the City of Andover family,” said Jennifer McCausland, City Administrator. “She is coming onboard at a great time and has already offered fresh ideas as we look ahead to 2024 and beyond.” Graham is a Certified Public Manager from the University of Kansas, has a master’s degree in theological studies from Newman University, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kansas State University. “I am very excited to have this opportunity to serve the City of Andover and work alongside the amazing staff,” said Graham. She is the proud mom of Chloe, Hannah and Vincent and enjoys working out, long walks, and good food with great conversation.
Source: City of Andover

Ranson Financial2023-11-29T09:55:26-06:00November 29, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for November 28, 2023

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 Schmidt2023-11-29T09:21:31-06:00November 29, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for November 27, 2023

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 Schmidt2023-11-28T09:46:16-06:00November 28, 2023|News|

With zoning change, this car lot would sell 5 at a time

A proposed Topeka car dealership would give new meaning to the term “small business.” The most vehicles that dealership would have for sale at any one time would be five. DreamMakers LLC would operate the business in a 12-space parking lot just north of the building it owns at 2900 S.E. Kentucky Ave, which is the site of businesses that include a real estate office. The Topeka Planning Commission voted 9-0 late Monday to recommend Topeka’s mayor and city council approve a zoning change that would enable the dealership to operate there. … DreamMaker’s application included an image showing how five available cars for purchase could be displayed in the lot, leaving its seven other spaces available for use by customers and people working at its office.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2023-11-27T15:51:45-06:00November 27, 2023|News|

Pawnee County adopts commercial solar farm regs

The Pawnee County Commissioners, as part of agenda business Monday, adopted zoning regulations for privately developed solar farms in Pawnee County. The regulations were developed by the Pawnee County Joint Planning Commission, which conducted a public hearing on Nov. 9 to discuss changes and submit the recommended final result to the Commissioners for approval. As approved, Resolution 2023-R-10 provides a “regulatory scheme for the construction and operation of Commercial Solar Energy Conversion Systems (CSECS) and/or Commercial Solar Energy Facilities (CSEF) in Pawnee County,” subject to reasonable restrictions which will preserve the public health and safety. Both operations will be subject to the conditional use permit process.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2023-11-27T14:57:26-06:00November 27, 2023|News|

Great Bend wayfinding signs progressing

The final hurdles for the installation of new wayfinding signage around Great Bend has been cleared, said Christina Hayes, community coordinator and CVB director, addressing the City Council Monday night. The project has been in the works since earlier this year. “The permits from the state were just approved so we’re hoping to have all those wayfinding signs installed by spring,” she said. They had hoped to have them in place by year’s end, but the licensing took longer than anticipated. The CVB will work with Mark’s Custom Signs and the Street Department. Before things can get started, though, they had to secure permitting and licensing from the Kansas Department of Transportation, necessary since some of the installations will be on state highways. There will be 15 at first (replacing the current ones which she said desperately need replaced) in different areas of the community promoting different attractions and points of interest. Thematically, the new signs will match the new large entrance signs on North Main and near Railroad Avenue and U.S. 56.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2023-11-27T14:32:06-06:00November 27, 2023|News|

New Marion County treasurer brings nearly a decade of experience

Tina Groening stepped to a lectern Friday morning, raised her hand, and swore an oath of office to serve as county treasurer. She comes to her position with 9½ years of experience in the treasurer’s office. She was appointed to serve out the unfinished term of Susan Berg, who died Oct. 4 of cancer after two years as treasurer. Groening had been deputy treasurer since February. More than 50 people came to watch the swearing-in, including family, friends, county commissioners, county employees, and former treasurer Jeannine Bateman, who retired in October 2021 after nearly 38 years in the office. “The dynamic T and T,” commission chairman David Mueller said. “Tina the treasurer and Tina (Spencer) the clerk.”
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Ranson Financial2023-11-27T14:33:49-06:00November 27, 2023|News|