Kansas Day Campaign Pays Homage to 150 Years of ‘Home on the Range’

On Sunday, January 29, Kansas celebrated its 162nd birthday. To commemorate the day, Kansas Tourism released a video that pays tribute to the poem turned song, Home on the Range, originally penned 150 years ago near Athol. The lyrics of the world-renowned melody echo the aspirations, values and essence of Kansans past and present. The Kansas Day video, set to the famous song, highlights the uniqueness of Kansas. From scenic prairies and big night skies to urban delights and vibrant moments, the video showcases how the lyrics wrote many moons ago still ring true today.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T23:26:37-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

Department of Commerce announces $40 Million in New Housing and Tourism Grant Programs

The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced $40 million will be made available under the ARPA Building Opportunities for the Disabled and Elderly (ABODE) and State Park Revitalization and Investment in Notable Tourism (SPRINT) grant programs. The ABODE program will provide $10 million in funding for new construction projects and renovation of affordable multi-dwelling housing units for persons with disabilities and the elderly. The SPRINT program will distribute $30 million for investments in regional tourism assets and state parks. The funds were designated by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and approved by the State Finance Council in December.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-01-31T07:23:40-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

STAR bond zone change raises questions

Following recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission, a zone change request within the STAR bond district came before the Derby City Council for final action at its Jan. 24 meeting. The request was to change the site of the STAR bond project’s final phase – northeast of the Tall Tree/Rock Road intersection – from R-1 (single-family residential) to B-3 (general business). The council voted unanimously to approve the request. With the zone change, final phase development of the lagoon, hotel, glamping site and more will be allowed to proceed. City Planner Scott Knebel also pointed out that certain special uses (glamping, aerial park, etc.) will require exceptions and site plans – allowing further review in the development process.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T23:22:14-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

Pillars of light rise from Goodland, other Kansas towns

The bitterly cold temperatures that grabbed ahold of Kansas this weekend created an interesting phenomenon — pillars of light. But you had to brave the cold to see it. Brandon Vincent with the U.S. National Weather Service office in Goodland got some video of the pillars rising from Goodland early Sunday. An NWS Goodland Facebook post says the video was shot at 3:45 a.m. MST when the air temperature was 1 degree, the wind was from the north-northeast at 15 mph, and the wind chill was 18 below.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-31T07:26:05-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

De Soto calls in nonprofit — and well-known area leader — to monitor $4B Panasonic project

De Soto officials will turn to a nonprofit to help it monitor planning and construction of the new $4 billion Panasonic EV battery plant. And while the nonprofit is based in Virginia, its team includes someone very acquainted with the Kansas City area — Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. De Soto contracted with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety to provide plan review and inspection services during construction of the 5.5 million-square-foot battery plant being built for Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd., according to a release. Construction of the project, which broke ground in November, is set to be completed in March 2025.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2023-01-31T07:27:01-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

“A Practical Solution to Aid in the Effort to Lower Property Taxes” by Russell City Manager Jon Quinday

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about property taxes and quoted author Adora Svitak who said, “The first thing anyone can do about any issue is get informed.” I chose this quote for two reasons: Property tax is the most criticized and misunderstood source of local government revenue, and in the past ten years, I’ve seen very little public participation during the budget process. I can only speak to the City of Russell’s process, which begins in April and ends in August. April begins with a look back at how we’ve performed in the past, where we can improve, and begin discussing priorities for the next year’s budget. Then we begin reviewing and discussing different budget segments at each meeting, which concludes in August with the final budget recommendations. You can attend in person or virtually, or you are welcome to come to the city building and discuss the budget proposals. Remember, you can access the city council agenda and all supporting documents the week before the meeting by visiting the city website at www.russellcity.org

Property taxes are an issue and challenge to many folks in our community, and my parents taught me a long time ago to stay informed and provide solutions. I have a solution that may help with property taxes. The solution is not a novel idea or a stroke of genius; rather, it is part of an agreement between the state and local governments. The agreements involved the loss of local revenue sources in exchange for establishing the Local Ad Valorem Property Tax Reduction fund (LAVTR), County City Revenue Sharing (CCRS), and Special City-County Highway fund (SCCHF). Revenue sharing in this manner dates back to the 1930s, with the current LAVTR statutory framework established in 1965 and the CCRS established in 1978.

According to the December 2022 issue of the Kansas Government Journal, cities and counties in Kansas have lost at least $3,470,603,394 as the result of the State’s decision not to fund demand transfers. Some state officials refer to the LAVTR, CCRS, and SCCHF as “state aid,” yet the history of these funds does not support that classification. (more…)

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T16:36:24-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

Why Hutchinson will see more fires in February

The Hutchinson Fire Department plans to set a bunch of fires in February north and east of the town. But it plans to put those fires out, too. The burning is part of the fire department’s wildfire mitigation plan — by torching dead grass and weeds, there won’t be as much fuel for any wildfires that start later in the year. Doug Hanen, HFD division chief of operations, says that when new grass grows in the burned areas, the vegetation will have moisture in it and be less likely to burn.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T10:59:08-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

With Panasonic aboard, what’s next for the rest of De Soto’s former Sunflower plant?

The buildout of De Soto’s Astra Enterprise Park, formerly Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, won’t begin and end with Panasonic’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery factory. Here’s a look at what the 9,035-acre site, which the partnership has owned since 2005 and in the fall renamed Astra Enterprise Park. No Wizard of Oz theme park is in the cards this time, but the vast swaths of land Sunflower has set aside for projects — and preservation — nevertheless promise significant new vitality for the former World War II powder and propellant plant site’s longtime owners have envisioned.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T12:26:49-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

Hixson retiring as Mulvane city administrator

At its Jan. 16 meeting, during an executive session, Kent Hixson announced to the Mulvane City Council his plans to officially retire from his position as Mulvane City Administrator in 2023. Hixson has served as the city administrator in Mulvane since 1994, holding a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University. He has been an ICMA credentialed manager since 2002. While the city will start the search for his replacement shortly, in his announcement the 67-year-old Hixson noted he plans to stay on in his role through Oct. 6.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T12:26:59-06:00January 30, 2023|News|

New RCPD director settling in to new position

In the first month since taking over as the sixth director of the Riley County Police Department, Brian Peete has done a lot of visiting with members of the public. A well-attended meet and greet was held Thursday at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. A day later, Peete visited with KMAN, calling the ceremony both heartwarming and emotional. “It’s extraordinarily refreshing and blessed to be part of a community that has high expectations, but also understands that it takes everyone to move public safety and to move just the general vibe of a community forward,” he said. Peete was hired by the Riley County Law Board in late October, but finds himself in a unique position, now that four of the seven members who hired him based on a more progressive approach to law enforcement, have since transitioned off the board, swinging the political pendulum from a liberal entity to a more conservative one. Peete says he’s been reassured by the new board, who have expressed support for him and RCPD.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-01-30T12:27:15-06:00January 30, 2023|News|