Manhattan to consider predevelopment agreement with MHA for a city-owned parking lot

The Manhattan City Commission will consider final development plans for a $40 million commercial and residential Aggieville project. The city commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall on Tuesday. The meeting is a legislative meeting, meaning the commission will take action. Back 9 Development is behind the project — formerly called “Fuze,” now called “Midtown Development.” The concept consists of a proposed $40 million, five-story commercial and residential building to replace the parking lot on 12th and Laramie behind Kite’s Bar and Grill. In addition to the development agreement, the commission also will consider transferring the city-owned parking lot to Back 9 for the project.
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-11-15T07:50:36-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Paving Dodge City’s Future 2023 Street Sales Tax passes

On Nov. 8, voters passed a citywide halfa- percent sales tax for street repair/maintenance and property tax relief. Sixty percent of voters were in favor of the proposal. The new sales tax is estimated to bring $3.5 million in revenue annually. “The people decided they didn’t like the roads in the shape they are in and that they needed this tax to fund streets and roads,” City Commissioner and sales tax supporter Joseph Nuci said Nov. 9. Commissioner Rick Sowers said he also supported the measure and sees the need for street repair in Dodge City but had some reservations about it because, “there is no sunset clause. It goes into perpetuity. I would have preferred it had a sunset clause where it would have to be put back before the people after a designated period of time.”
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T10:21:17-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Fed officials see grounds for soon slowing rate-hike pace

The Federal Reserve looked closer to moderating aggressive interest-rate increases after welcome news on inflation, with three officials backing a downshift even as they stressed that policy needs to stay tight. “While I believe it may soon be appropriate to slow the pace of rate increases so we can better assess how financial and economic conditions are evolving, I also believe a slower pace should not be taken to represent easier policy,” Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan told a conference hosted by her bank in Houston on Thursday. Data released earlier on Thursday showed consumer prices cooling by more than expected in October, with the consumer price index rising 7.7% from a year earlier versus 8.2% the month before.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T00:44:23-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Wichita is getting ready for winter street operations

The City of Wichita is getting ready for winter operations to clear the major streets during snow and ice storms. Mayor Brandon Whipple said during his weekly news briefing that the city is above minimum staffing with 156 drivers, but the city is looking for people with commercial driver’s licenses who would be interested in helping with the snow response efforts. He said the city has eight brine trucks for pre-treatment of the streets, 60 plow trucks, and three dispatch locations. The mayor said the city has 6,000 tons of salt and sand mix that is ready for use, but there is also a supply of 17,500 tons of salt that can be used to create an additional supply of 35,000 tons of salt and sand mix. He said the city prepares for winter by stocking up on salt and sand, training employees and providing regular maintenance for the plow trucks.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T00:43:09-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Overland Park Police could soon start carrying anti-opioid overdose Narcan spray

Overland Park police officers may soon begin carrying Narcan, a life-saving medicine meant to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted to recommend approval of an agreement with the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners that would allow Overland Park police officers to carry Narcan. With the agreement, the department would partner with the Johnson County EMS division to establish a protocol for officers to obtain, carry and administer Narcan nasal spray.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T07:00:45-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Voters reject USD 329 Wabaunsee bond proposal that would close Maple Hill Elementary

Residents in USD 329 Wabaunsee rejected the district’s $17.9 million bond proposal in Tuesday’s election. With all 13 precincts reporting, the final vote tally indicated a close race with only 67 votes separating the decision. Ultimately, 944 of the 1,821 total votes counted had “No” marked for advancing the district bond issue. First-year USD 329 Superintendent Troy Pitsch sent a letter to district families Wednesday morning informing them that the bond issue failed, and that emotions are “likely mixed” among those who supported the proposal and those who didn’t. In the letter, he wrote in part that the district is a “family of families” united in the common cause of educating students.
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T07:01:46-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Roeland Park looks to move public public works department to KCK

The city of Roeland Park has agreed to look at potentially acquiring property for a new public works site in neighboring Wyandotte County, as the proposed redevelopment of The Rocks site — where the city’s public works department is currently housed — moves forward. The prospective new public works site is at 1800 Merriam Lane, in Kansas City, Kan., across Interstate 35, about a five-minute drive from Roeland Park City Hall. At its meeting Nov.1, the city council agreed to move forward on a proposed land purchase agreement for the new public works site at a cost of $1.7 million, according to city documents.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T07:02:26-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Cowley County hires new emergency manager

Oct. 24 was the first day on the job for new Cowley County Emergency Management Director Candi Baross, and she said she’s been on the go since then getting to know the people and the area she will serve. Baross, 41, is originally from Jackson, Miss. She grew up knowing whatever she did in her life, she always wanted to serve the public. A 21-year career on active duty in the U.S. Army focused on preparedness training for different units. Preparedness training “is really important to me,” Baross said. Training groups to collaborate with other entities makes for successful missions, she said.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T07:04:29-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Public Input Being Sought on Wildfire Prevention and Response

Governor Kelly is calling on residents to share their thoughts on how to better prevent, respond to, and recover from wildfires. The Governor’s Wildfire Task Force (established in July) is seeking public input as it takes a comprehensive look at mitigating wildfire threats, reviews how local and state officials respond to these emergencies and considers how to better support communities impacted by wildfires.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T00:26:42-06:00November 14, 2022|News|

Ford County fire fighters complete leadership apprenticeship program

Ten Ford County firefighters completed a two-semester leadership class though the Kansas Apprenticeship Training Program of Hutchinson Community College (HCC). The program is designed for company officers, or the emergency response personnel who stands on the engine en route to a fire.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Ranson Financial2022-11-14T00:25:13-06:00November 14, 2022|News|