Emporia Main Street looking to increase resources for local “maker businesses” following two day seminar in Emporia

Already an organization known for its support of entrepreneurial success, Emporia Main Street is looking to grow the city’s reputation for housing several successful “maker businesses.” This past week, Emporia welcomed representatives of National Main Street for a two-day training where the focus was on “maker businesses,” businesses in which the majority of products are made in-house. While speaking with KVOE News, Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods listed just a few of the community’s most successful makers. Woods says having these types of businesses in the local community helps to cut out supply chains, and thus reduce the level of impact supply chain shortages may have and helps to keep “the wealth” in the local community.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T07:11:13-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for October 18, 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 and Beth Warren.

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T07:09:28-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Governor Laura Kelly Announces 12 “Rural Champions” Leading Local Community Efforts

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the 12 grant recipients of the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions) that launched earlier this year in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation. The selected Rural Champions will be a part of a statewide network of grassroots individuals tackling critical projects in their respective communities. “I created the Office of Rural Prosperity in 2019 to bring attention to the needs of rural communities across Kansas,” Governor Kelly said. “By finding local solutions to local challenges, the Rural Champions program exemplifies the mission of the Office and all that rural Kansas can achieve.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T02:28:02-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Wichita names its next police chief, a former leader in Philadelphia department

Wichita’s next police chief will be Joseph P. Sullivan, a former leader in the Philadelphia Police Department. City Manager Robert Layton announced the decision Tuesday afternoon in a written statement. Sullivan’s start date is early December. “Joe Sullivan has a proven ability to successfully lead and manage a world-class police department,” Layton said in the news release. “I have every confidence that he is the right person at the right time to take on the challenging task of ensuring Wichita residents have trust in the integrity and transparency of our police department.”
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T06:54:27-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Plan calls for Wichita to spend $31 million paving dirt roads over the next 10 years

The city of Wichita will spend $1 million paving dirt roads around schools in 2023. The City Council on Tuesday approved year one of a 10-year capital improvement plan to fund $31 million of paving projects near schools and in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Public Works and Utilities Director Alan King said 160 of the 5,100 lane miles managed by his department are dirt roads. “We have these islands within the city, within neighborhoods, of unpaved roads,” King told council members. “The historical approach to this has been to have petitions circulated and then the cost of those streets are borne by the people on that street.”
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T06:54:48-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

New hi-tech body cameras in use by Arkansas City Police Department

The $25,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice helps to pay for the first year of a five-year lease of the cameras at a total cost of $150,000, according to information provided by the city. Made by a company called Utility, Inc., the cameras offer several benefits the older ones didn’t. They are embedded into uniforms and can’t fall off, and the video can be uploaded remotely. They also can turn on automatically under certain circumstances, such as anytime an officer draws their handgun from its holster, begins to run, jostles or shakes, such as during a fight; activates lights or sirens in the car and unlocks the shotgun/rifle rack.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T06:56:08-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Emporia to discuss residential chickens Wednesday

Emporia City Commissioners will discuss keeping chickens within city limits during its Wednesday study session. Chickens have not been allowed outside of agricultural zoned areas since 2012. A number of citizens have expressed interest in keeping chickens over the years. The commission’s agenda shows staff have prepared a comparison chart of regulations from the 10 largest cities in Kansas that allow chickens, as well as the previous chicken regulations in the city of Emporia. Staff have recommended a $50 permit fee, a required inspection, written permission from a landlord and a maximum of four chickens allowed per property. Roosters are not being recommended.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T06:56:30-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

KDOT New Online Tool for Planning

Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz today announced the release of an online interactive tool to enable Kansas counties to analyze county-owned roads and bridges and help determine priorities to meet the future needs of local road systems. Referred to as “KLIP,” the Kansas Local Infrastructure Planning Tool leverages counties’ existing road and bridge data and provides insights on local infrastructure conditions through an interactive viewer. County officials will be better able to prioritize and plan investments, including for critical connections among agricultural, rural and urban communities across Kansas. Secretary Lorenz announced the release of the KLIP Tool at the 47th Annual Kansas Association of Counties (KAC) Conference. The online tool was developed by the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Local Projects in coordination with the KAC and the Kansas County Highway Association (KCHA).
Source: Fort Scott Biz

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T06:57:22-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Use of RVs as dwellings restricted in Great Bend

Someone wanting to live long-term in a recreational vehicle within Great Bend will have to do so at a campground, RV park or mobile home park after the City Council Monday night approved an ordinance establishing this requirement. Existing ordinances and regulations could be interpreted to prohibit the use of an RV parked on a lot as a residence. However, they do not clearly do so, City Attorney Allen Glendenning said. A complaint was made to the Code Enforcement Office about a trailer in the side yard of a residence being used as a residence for a family member. When the city code enforcement officer contacted the owner, he came before the council a few weeks ago and argued that the existing ordinances and regulation do not prohibit the use of on RV as a residence.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T07:05:46-05:00October 19, 2022|News|

Wichita City Council approves catalytic converter ordinance WPD hopes will help slow thefts

It’s becoming a bigger issue in Wichita, catalytic converter thefts. Data provided by the Wichita Police Department shows just 187 reporter thefts in 2019 but 1,360 in 2021. “I know that the muffler shops and auto repair facilities are being contacted daily to have cars repaired and this has become a quality-of-life issue for everyone. This can influence anyone” WPD Sgt. Brian Safris told KAKE news Tuesday. He presented an ordinance to the Wichita City Council Tuesday that allows officers to confiscate any cut off converter that they believe might be stolen or that someone cannot prove is theirs.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-10-19T02:06:49-05:00October 19, 2022|News|