Leawood is still debating how tall buildings can be in the city

The Leawood City Council insists that capping building heights at four stories is best for the city. The city council on Monday remanded a proposed ordinance lowering the maximum height for office buildings and mixed-use projects to the Leawood Planning Commission for further review. The commission has already recommended the city council deny the ordinance, citing concerns that it would hamper development and growth in southern Leawood. The proposed city code caps building heights at four stories. The change would lower the maximum height for buildings zoned for planned office or mixed use from 90 feet to 55 feet. This would generally mean capping buildings at four stories, instead of Leawood’s current maximum of six stories. Under the new ordinance, the city would make exceptions for a “signature building” with a unique design or for sites that already have tall trees.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-08-23T11:07:24-05:00August 23, 2023|News|

More express toll lanes in Johnson County? Kansas talks of adding them to crowded K-10

As Kansas’ first-ever express toll lanes are under construction on U.S. 69 in Overland Park, the state is now considering adding more to ease congestion on another highway in Johnson County: Kansas 10. The Kansas Department of Transportation is studying how to address traffic and safety issues on the 17-mile stretch from the interchange with Interstates 435 and 35 in Lenexa, west through Olathe and De Soto to the Douglas County line. And officials said one option could be widening the highway with one express toll lane in each direction. The other lanes would remain free. “Expanding K-10 with express lanes is one option being considered,” Steven Cross, KDOT project manager, told the Star in an email. “This can be a good solution for addressing long term congestion especially on corridors like K-10 which are anticipated to experience continued growth in traffic.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2023-08-23T11:05:17-05:00August 23, 2023|News|

Lawrence may become first city in Kansas to protect Black residents from hair discrimination

According to a CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study, approximately two-thirds of Black women change their hair for a job interview, and 41% change their hair from curly to straight. “We know that the traditional white standard of beauty is one that is centered in professional settings, and that is something that Black women and men have had to conform to, and that takes them out of their identity of who they are,” Lawrence City Commissioner Amber Sellers told KCUR’s Up To Date. Sellers was one of the commissioners who voted to adopt the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” at a city meeting last week. The commission will cast a final vote to pass the ordinance on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
Source: KCUR

Ranson Financial2023-08-23T11:01:09-05:00August 23, 2023|News|

SEED Grants Available to Invest in Rural Quality-of-Life Initiatives

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today that $275,000 will be available through a second round of Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grants. The SEED program supports economic development and revitalization efforts in smaller counties across Kansas through investments in quality-of-life initiatives. “SEED grants help improve community appeal and have already been game-changing for more than 60 cities across the state,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “The Kelly Administration is committed to developing community assets and investing in new opportunities that will support growth in rural areas throughout Kansas.” The grants will be administered through the Kansas Department of Commerce to communities in 78 designated counties with a population of 5,000 or less.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-08-23T10:59:13-05:00August 23, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 22, 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 Schmidt2023-08-23T09:06:07-05:00August 23, 2023|News|

Hollywood studio comes to Kansas: Pure Imagination will set up a $40M site at K-State Salina campus

Officials from across the state were in Salina on Tuesday morning as a $40 million partnership was announced between Kansas State University and an independent Hollywood studio. Kansas Lt. Gov. and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said Pure Imagination Studios is partnering with K-State to bring a 58,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, advanced spatial computing and learning studio to the university’s Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus. … Named the Kansas Advanced Immersive Research for Emerging Systems (K-AIRES) facility, Toland said the studio is set to employ more than 100 people in “high-wage, highly-skilled positions.”
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2023-08-23T07:49:32-05:00August 23, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 21, 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 Schmidt2023-08-22T07:20:32-05:00August 22, 2023|News|

Landlords’ lawsuit against City of Lawrence over source of income, immigration status will continue, judge rules

A lawsuit arguing that changes to the City of Lawrence’s nondiscrimination ordinance, which now prohibits landlords from refusing to accept rental applications based on source of income, are unconstitutional is set to continue following a ruling Monday in Douglas County District Court. Along with preventing landlords from refusing applications from tenants who receive rental assistance such as Section 8 housing vouchers, the amended nondiscrimination ordinance approved by the Lawrence City Commission in February also makes it unlawful to discriminate based on someone’s status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking, and based on someone’s immigration status.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2023-08-22T08:15:06-05:00August 21, 2023|News|

Property taxes could be fully refunded for some Wichitans next year

The City of Wichita is considering a temporary program to knock property taxes down to zero for seniors, lower-income families and disabled veterans who qualify. The City wants to piggyback on a state program that offers a 75% property tax refund. People already receiving the state refund would be able to apply for an extra 25% refund from the City of Wichita, which would fully cover property taxes. The 25% refund was added in an amendment to the proposed budget for 2024 this week, but it won’t be set in stone until the City holds a final public hearing Tuesday and then votes on whether to approve the program.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-08-21T00:38:34-05:00August 21, 2023|News|

Public Transit: Countywide Transportation Program in Bourbon County

In the coming weeks, folks in Bourbon County will have a source of public transportation. “Right now currently there’s only one option for public transportation and that’s through a taxi service here in Fort Scott,” said Rachel Carpenter, HBCAT Director for the Center of Economic Growth. On August 28th, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team will partner with the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program to bring a county-wide public transportation service to Bourbon County. “Transportation has always been an issue, especially wheelchair-accessible transportation. We’ve been serving Crawford County, Pittsburg, Neosho County for several years and we’ve been looking to get back into Bourbon County,” said Scott Christiansen, SEK-CAP Director of Transportation.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2023-08-21T00:37:39-05:00August 21, 2023|News|