McPherson fire department working to install first newborn safety device in state

The McPherson fire department is in the process of installing the first new born safety device in the state, a new initiative brought by the passing of House Bill 2024 earlier this year. The box will be installed on the outside of the McPherson fire department’s station. The purpose of this is so struggling parents can safely give up their newborn in private. McPherson fire chief TJ Wyssmann says this law is near and dear to his heart because he thinks the previous process parents had to follow under Kansas law was inhumane. Everybody had to come and bring that child and physically look us in the face and give it to a first responder which is pretty cruel,” Wysmann explained. Wyssmann was also a key figure in getting the legislation passed.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-07-21T11:06:53-05:00July 21, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for July 20, 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 Schmidt2023-07-21T09:23:54-05:00July 21, 2023|News|

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2023-4: City reimbursing another city for police training

Synopsis: K.S.A. 74-5609a(b) requires that a city which employs a law enforcement officer within one year after the completion of that officer’s training reimburse the city that paid for the officer’s training.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Ranson Financial2023-07-21T07:53:14-05:00July 21, 2023|News|

New way for SW Kansas students to get their college degrees in Garden City

A partnership between Garden City Community College and Newman University will allow southwest Kansas students to get their college degrees without leaving southwest Kansas. With the partnership, students can get an associate degree from GCCC and a bachelor’s degree with in-person classes through the new Newman location in Garden City. Beginning this fall, students can work on completing degrees in business administration and agribusiness. And soon, Newman plans to accept applications for its nursing program. “This partnership is vital for retaining talent in Southwest Kansas and the region,” GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda said in a news release.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-07-20T08:47:45-05:00July 20, 2023|News|

Prairie Village to start designing new community center concept

The concept for a new city-owned community center and relocated library branch in Prairie Village could get more concrete in coming weeks. In separate votes Monday, the Prairie Village City Council agreed to enter into separate memorandums of understanding with the YMCA and Johnson County Library to explore the idea of hosting a new community center and Corinth Library branch on the same site on the city’s civic campus off Mission Road. The idea has been discussed in some form for the better part of four years and comes a decade after the city council scuttled a previous bid for a new community center.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-07-20T08:45:17-05:00July 20, 2023|News|

911 center faced chaos in wake of Friday’s storm

In just one hour after Friday’s storm passed, Allen County’s dispatchers handled nearly twice as many calls compared to the total of an average day. Between 6 and 7 p.m. on Friday, the dispatch center handled 235 calls, not including responding to radio traffic for law enforcement, fire and ambulance crews. An average day in June brought a total of 134 calls. To illustrate just how many calls that is, 911 Director Chelsie Angleton compiled a list of statistics about calls in June, the day of the storm and the days preceding and following. She presented the information to commissioners on Tuesday as part of a post-storm analysis with other county leaders. Each reviewed their department’s response, current status on cleanup and how they might improve in future events. Friday’s storm brought winds as high as 85 mph and 1.41 inches of rain in a short period of time, causing widespread power outages and damage throughout the county.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2023-07-20T08:43:59-05:00July 20, 2023|News|

Kansas wooed mega employers like Panasonic with mega tax breaks. But that may end

As construction crews build Panasonic’s new $4 billion factory here, the Kansas tax subsidy law that helped bring the electric vehicle battery plant to the state is set to evaporate. Kansas officials no longer have the power to underwrite mega-deal projects with hundreds of millions of dollars in state incentives. The law, known as APEX, only let the state ink one deal each year in 2022 and 2023. Those tax giveaways for those two years went to Panasonic and Integra’s planned $1.8 billion semiconductor plant in the Wichita area. Paul Hughes, the state’s deputy secretary for business development, asked lawmakers to extend the law into 2024 and beyond to keep open the possibility of bartering in tax breaks that might tempt other large employers to Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration touts the law as a way for the state to take an active role in boosting the economy.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2023-07-20T08:42:34-05:00July 20, 2023|News|

Overland Park in early stages of discussing 2 tax rebate ideas

The Overland Park City Council is in the early stage of discussing two separate tax relief proposals that would rebate a portion of food sales tax and property tax payments to vulnerable residents. Members of the council’s Finance Administration and Economic Development committee took a first look Wednesday at the proposals: one, a property tax rebate put forward by Councilmembers Melissa Cheatham and Logan Heley, and the other, a food sales tax rebate offered by Councilmember Faris Farassati. The proposals were offered more as concepts with details to be worked out later.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2023-07-20T08:41:02-05:00July 20, 2023|News|

Sedgwick County Commission approves 2.5 million dollars for Exploration Place project

Exploration Place received 2.5 million dollars from Sedgwick County Commission today. “Wichita, this county, and this region deserves projects like this,” said Jason Gregory, representing Greater Wichita Partnership. The money will go towards a massive upcoming project Exploration Place calls EP 2. “The first 23 years has been largely focused on what happens inside the building but this next vision for us focuses on what happens on the outside of the building,” said Laura Roddy, VP for Advancement at Exploration Place. This project, which is set to roll out in three phases, will break ground later this year.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-07-20T08:38:11-05:00July 20, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for July 19, 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 Schmidt2023-07-20T07:53:05-05:00July 20, 2023|News|