USPS changes slow water sample deliveries to KDHE

For Jackson County water customers, whether they get their water through a rural water district or a city water supplier, knowing that the water they get from their kitchen faucets is safe to drink is of high importance – and the people who provide that water to them feel the same way. Just ask Dennis Ashcraft, who oversees water treatment and distribution for Public Wholesale Water Supply District 18 and the city of Holton, who collects several water samples every month and sends them to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lab in Topeka.
Source: Holton Recorder

Ranson Financial2023-06-22T10:02:10-05:00June 22, 2023|News|

‘Dollar Store onslaught’: Topeka group fighting against new Dollar Store city responds

A community group is taking a stand against dollar stores by bringing a petition to Topeka city leaders. Fighting the Onslaught of Dollar Stores (FOODS) is a local group that seeks to bring awareness to Topekans regarding the number of dollar stores, such as Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree, in the city. Specifically, the group has its sights set on the planned installment of a new Dollar Tree in the 1400 block of SW 17th St., which FOODS claims the city approved without proper notification to local neighborhoods.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2023-06-22T09:58:59-05:00June 22, 2023|News|

Topeka’s new ordinance could hold landlords accountable

Local leaders are taking action to hold corporate and individual landlords across the city accountable. On Wednesday, members of Topeka’s Public Safety and Health Committee voted to move forward on action they hope will better protect Topeka tenants. The proposed ordinance would prevent a tenant, in good standing, from being evicted for alerting a landlord or government agency about health and safety complaints. It would give tenants the option to fight their landlords without fear of eviction. Topeka has roughly 560,000 housing units, and 40% of those units are rentals.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2023-06-22T09:56:22-05:00June 22, 2023|News|

Prairie Village hosts first housing forum

Prairie Village residents will get a chance to weigh in this evening on the city’s much-discussed housing recommendations. The city, along with design firm MultiStudio, is hosting the first of two forums today from 4-7 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse. It’s billed as an “open house-style event” where residents can visit different stations to learn about the current recommendations. According to the city, the topics to be covered include “the current state of zoning districts, what could change, and what people want.” The recommendations, which were first released last summer by a specially appointed committee, are aimed at addressing housing affordability in the increasingly expensive suburb.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-06-23T14:06:03-05:00June 22, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 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 Schmidt2023-06-22T08:09:31-05:00June 22, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 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 Schmidt2023-06-21T08:36:10-05:00June 21, 2023|News|

Law Board agrees to 6.5% COLA for RCPD with contingent on cuts elsewhere

The Riley County Law Board ended its meeting Tuesday without a finalized budget as board members worked through how to fund cost of living adjustments requested by the Riley County Police Department. The initial proposal by RCPD in April was for an 8% COLA, with a realized budget increase of almost 9%. Over the past two months, the board has scaled that back to a 6.5% COLA and 7.4% overall increase, totaling $26.9 million. The city’s delegation on the board favored pushing the COLA down to 4%, with an overall realized budget increase of 6%, but were swayed by RCPD leadership and County Attorney Barry Wilkerson, who advocated that further cuts to the COLA could jeopardize RCPD’s ability to recruit staff.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-06-20T23:58:10-05:00June 20, 2023|News|

Pottawatomie County projecting a mill levy decrease in 2024 budget

Pottawatomie County officials got their first look at the proposed 2024 budget at a Monday work session. County administration is proposing an approximate half mill levy decrease, with an estimated valuation increase of over $22 million, over $229,000 in additional ad-valorem taxes and a $1.6 million increase in budgeted expenditures. Commission Chair Pat Weixelman explains where much of the added expenses are coming from. The proposal includes for a 5% cost of living adjustment for employees, as well as anniversary increases paid out at a half a percent annually and 4% every five years. County administrators are also requesting to double the deferred compensation match, which equates to about a 36 percent increase year-over-year, according to Assistant County Administrator Heather Gladbach.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-06-20T23:56:43-05:00June 20, 2023|News|

County finds temporary home for Meals on Wheels

After some concern over who would provide food for the Meals on Wheels program in north and south Brown County after this month, the Brown County Commission agreed to have Lentz Express in Horton prepare the Hot Meal Program for the remainder of the year. There was a discussion about bidding the position, and Services for the Elderly Director Wanda Davis shared issues she had been encountering in the process. Tim Lentz, owner of Lentz Express, shared his opinion that bidding for a hot meal program could be problematic. The Commission voted to select Lentz’s business for the rest of 2023, but still plan to open the hot meals for bid, with some reconfigured guidelines, at the end of the year.
Source: County Government | hiawathaworldonline.com

Ranson Financial2023-06-20T23:55:18-05:00June 20, 2023|News|

Hutchinson City Council votes to allow aerial fireworks on private property

On Tuesday, the Hutchinson City Council voted unanimously to amend its fireworks ordinance this year, allowing aerial fireworks in the city on private property. Fire Marshall Mike Cain told The Hutch Post that the only change in the new ordinance is it is now against the ordinance to discharge fireworks on public property without a special use permit. In addition, adults will now be held responsible for any juvenile offenses of the new regulations. “If you want to let your kids out and shoot, great,” Cain told the Post. “If they are doing something illegal with them, then the adult is now responsible and is assumed to have given them consent or permission to do that illegal activity.” Violating the Hutchinson fireworks ordinance is a misdemeanor. A person who is convicted of it could have to pay $250 or perform 50 hours of community service or both, plus court costs.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-06-20T23:54:08-05:00June 20, 2023|News|

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