info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita officials looking at steps to protect, replace trees in the community

info2022-04-26T23:34:35-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Wichita City Council members are looking over a proposed new policy to promote tree planting and protect existing trees in the community. The proposal was presented during a workshop meeting Tuesday. The city’s park and recreation director, Troy Houtman, said the city is in a situation where it is having a net loss of trees. He said a number of trees are dying because of disease or because they have reached the end of their life span. He said the proposed policy will protect trees that are in good health. It would set up a review process to avoid tree loss [...]

Co-living rentals banned in Shawnee after unanimous council vote

info2022-04-27T07:00:41-05:00April 26th, 2022|

On Monday, a Johnson County city unanimously voted to ban a living arrangement aimed at helping tenants decrease the amount of rent they pay. The Shawnee City Council voted 8-0 to ban co-living, becoming among the first Kansas City area municipalities to prevent the practice, which has gained popularity in recent years as rent and home prices have soared. The new ordinance defines a co-living group as a group of at least four unrelated adults living together in a dwelling unit. The ordinance stated that if one adult is unrelated to another adult, then the entire group will be classified as [...]

Voting begins for $143.5 million Hays school bond

info2022-04-26T23:26:30-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Early voting began Monday on a school bond in Hays. The bond totals $143.5 million. With it, USD 489 hopes to renovate two elementary schools, renovate the current middle school into a new elementary, construct a new high school and move the middle school to the high school. One older elementary school and administration center would be closed. "I'm expecting a big turnout and that is just because there's been a lot of push for this bond issue. There's been a lot of things in the news, signs all over our town so you know I'm expecting a big turnout," said [...]

Dodge City named Most Charming Small Town in Kansas

info2022-04-26T23:20:06-05:00April 26th, 2022|

In its 150th year since it was established, the city of Dodge City was named the Most Charming Small Town in Kansas by the travel website Trips to Discover. "Once considered to be the wildest town in the Wild West, with a cast of colorful characters, including gamblers, cowboys, and prostitutes, Dodge City offers plenty of historic charms," author K.C. Dermody wrote about the small community in southwest Kansas. "Boot Hill Museum focuses on its heritage with entertaining historical exhibits, and there are trolley tours of historic sites, along with mock gunfights complete with costumed cowboys. Grabbing a drink in one [...]

Wichita’s City Council: Leave TIF district policy as is for transparency sake

info2022-04-26T23:17:45-05:00April 26th, 2022|

During a workshop meeting Tuesday, Wichita's City Council explored potential changes to the criteria for tax increment financing districts — an economic development tool that captures the incremental increases in property taxes within a district's boundaries to cover certain costs of private development. The strongest message delivered Tuesday by three members of the Council, though, was to leave it be. I like the TIF language as is," Council member Brandon Johnson said during the meeting. "... The proposed one I get, but I just know that other taxpayers really want to see final effort and everything's been exhausted." Source: Wichita Business Journal

Does the ‘Future of Work’ Open a New Growth Horizon for Small Towns?

info2022-04-27T07:03:31-05:00April 26th, 2022|

With the changing shape of remote and hybrid workplaces, and the continuing spread of high-speed internet access in rural areas, new options are opening up for bringing small-scale jobs and companies to towns all over the map. More specifically, with $65 billion for improvements to rural high-speed internet access in President Biden’s infrastructure plan, the potential for a renaissance and reinvention of small towns looms large. Leveraging that potential in a way that creates sustainable growth, will take a multi-dimensional approach. Source: KLC Journal

Overland Park city workers rescue 11 ducklings caught in spillway at South Lake Park

info2022-04-27T07:05:39-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Friday afternoon rescuing a troop of ducklings that had gotten into some trouble during a swim lesson at South Lake Park. A total of 11 of the fluffy little creatures accidentally swam into an overflow spillway in the park’s lake, basically a 20-foot hole. “The spillway has a kind of gate cover so that obviously no one can fall in there, but the ducks were able to swim through there,” said Mike Burton, Overland Park parks project coordinator. Source: Prairie Village Post

Accessibility updates to Pittsburg City Hall

info2022-04-26T23:05:47-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Much needed change is coming to Pittsburg City Hall. Construction will be soon underway to improve the accessibility of City Hall. These changes include new steps and a new ramp in front of the building. The main entrance to City Hall is closed. Residents can use the east and west entrances to enter City Hall as needed. "All the departments, you can still get up to the front desk in City Hall to do any business you need to conduct as regular through either the west side or the east side of the building," said Matt Bacon, Director of Public Works [...]

Johnson County public transit may fall under county control once again

info2022-04-26T23:02:16-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Four months after committing to several major changes that will expand public transit, Johnson County commissioners are now considering dropping out of a management agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to run its services. Background: The interlocal agreement, in which KCATA manages contracts of the entities that run the county transit system, has been in place for seven years. The change was proposed so the county can keep a closer eye on several pilot projects that will begin to be phased in next month, according to a staff memo. But the county system will remain a part of KCATA’s RideKC brand [...]

Kansas school districts anticipate growing shortfalls in special education funding

info2022-04-26T22:58:21-05:00April 26th, 2022|

A creeping budget shortfall, that's the situation described for Kansas school districts trying to figure out how to make up state funding shortfalls for special education. The issue has been in conflict for more than a decade and has been brought up once again as lawmakers mull over the matter in Topeka, Kansas. The situation, however, is also being talked about locally as local school districts look at their budgets and try to figure out the ebb and flow of finances for the next few years. At a recent meeting of the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education, district officials [...]

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