Labette County employees to receive pay raises

Labette County hourly employees will get a 17% raise and salaried employees will get a 25% bump effective the first pay period in January. Labette County commissioners decided on the wage increases after a discussion Monday prompted by a motion by Commissioner Lonie Addis for pay increases. Addis motioned for all hourly employees to get a pay increase equal to three ranges on the county pay scale. In each department, up to 33% of these employees could be considered by the department head for a four-range increase. All salaried employees would receive a 25% increase under Addis’ motion. The motion excluded the county attorney’s office, which got a bump in wages based on the action by former County Attorney Stephen Jones before he left office, and the county Juvenile Justice Authority.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2022-12-14T07:53:32-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

Shawnee Mission boosts sub teacher pay — again

Shawnee Mission substitute teachers are getting another pay increase. The district says it is still struggling to fill daily teacher absences, and the amended substitute agreement approved by the school board Monday night aims to get more subs to fill in for full-time teachers. All daily substitutes will receive an extra $20 on Fridays, a move expected to cost the district up to $140,000, according to board documents. In addition, special education substitute pay will increase to $155 daily, which comes with an expected price tag of up to a $92,000.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-12-14T07:54:22-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

Humboldt girl asks city to allow poultry in city limits

If charm were the deciding factor, then there’s little doubt 8-year-old Tessa Lou Francis would have convinced Humboldt council members that she should be allowed to raise chickens at her home at 620 Sycamore. With a bow in her hair and a demeanor as sweet as candy, Miss Francis, the daughter of Tim and Kelly Francis, pleaded her case. “One benefit of chickens is that they provide healthy food, and with food being so expensive, this can save money,” Tessa Lou said. “When you go to Walmart, eggs cost $5 a dozen. But if you have chickens, you’re lucky, because you get them for free.” … Clearly captivated, council members began discussing the possibility of changing city codes to accommodate Miss Francis when City Attorney Fred Works brought them back to Earth.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2022-12-14T07:56:09-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

10-year Treasury yield drops below 3.5% after inflation reading comes in lighter than expected

Treasury yields slid on Tuesday after data showed inflation rose less than expected for November. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped 7 basis points to 3.55%. The 2-year Treasury was last down by 12 basis points to 4.27%…. The consumer price index, which measures a wide basket of goods and services, rose just 0.1% from the previous month, and increased 7.1% from a year ago, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting a 0.3% monthly increase and a 7.3% 12-month rate. … Many investors are expecting the central bank to implement a 50 basis point rate hike when its meeting ends on Wednesday. They will also be looking to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference on Wednesday for insights into the central bank’s economic expectations and policy plans.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-12-13T13:36:21-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2022-9: City regulation of propane or natural gas tanks

Synopsis: The Kansas Energy Choice Act prohibits city ordinances that restrict where propane or natural gas tanks may be used but does not prohibit the regulation of the size and placement of these tanks in all instances. Cities cannot directly enforce federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Ranson Financial2022-12-13T13:32:38-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2022-8: Incompatibility of offices doctrine

Synopsis: Sheridan County has established a hospital and provided for its governance by an elected board pursuant to K.S.A. 19-4601 et seq. K.S.A. 19-205 does not preclude a person employed in the hospital as a clinic director from serving as a county commissioner. The common law doctrine of incompatibility of offices does not preclude a person from concurrently serving as Sheridan County commissioner and clinic director.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Ranson Financial2022-12-13T13:31:17-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for December 12, 2022

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2022-12-13T09:11:51-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

Lawrence city leaders to consider barring landlords from discriminating against tenants with housing vouchers

City leaders will soon consider prohibiting landlords from denying prospective tenants based solely off their use of a government housing voucher or other forms of rental assistance, as well as other statuses. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider amending city code to “provide equal opportunity to obtain housing regardless of source of income or status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking,” according to a city staff memo. The commission will also receive a presentation from the Human Relations Commission regarding additional policy recommendations.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2022-12-13T07:32:46-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

JoCo Sheriff’s Office sees uptick in applicants after pay hike

Johnson County officials say the Sheriff’s Office has seen a noticeable increase in new applicants following a pay raise for deputies in September. Tom Dugan, the finance director for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, updated the Board of County Commissioners last week on the department’s staffing levels, saying they were seeing “many” more qualified applicants than before the pay raise.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-12-13T07:06:42-06:00December 13, 2022|News|

City clearing residents out of North Lawrence homeless camp

The City of Lawrence has begun issuing notices to people to clear their campsites in preparation for closing a city-managed campsite in North Lawrence for those experiencing homelessness. Originally, the city estimated that the camp… would be in place until March 12, at which time the city anticipates opening a longer-term campsite in another, yet-to-be-determined location. However, the city also recently said it would be following its camping ordinance that allows camping in the downtown district only when there are no available shelter beds. The city opened the Winter Emergency Shelter in the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., on Dec. 1 ….
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2022-12-13T07:31:39-06:00December 13, 2022|News|