info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas first responders seek to normalize, provide relief for job-induced mental trauma

info2022-03-01T00:38:32-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister says first responders carry a lifetime of scars, mental and physical, from experiences in the field that require years of healing. It is the mental traumas from the day-to-day sights that are most hazardous and difficult to overcome, he said. Armbrister testified in support of Senate Bill 491 last week, which would secure workers’ compensation for first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and shared his traumas. He shared how the emotional damage of seeing the body of a dead child dwarfs the physical injury suffered after smashing a window in a submerged vehicle. He shared [...]

Lieutenant Governor Toland Announces Public Comment Period for the Broadband Acceleration Grants

info2022-03-01T07:58:16-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced the opening of a public comment period for the Broadband Acceleration Grants. The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD), a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, has opened a public comment period for the state’s Broadband Acceleration Grant Program. The open comment period is part of an extensive review of the 36 applications submitted to KOBD that are competing for $5 million in available grant funding. The public and other interested stakeholders can participate by reviewing proposed service areas and expressing either support or specific concerns about the proposed grant projects. The [...]

Pott County to cover $26,000 gap to St. Marys Fire after state error on valuations

info2022-03-01T07:58:49-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Pottawatomie County commissioners have agreed to cover a nearly $26,000 gap in funding to the St. Marys Fire Department, caused by a change up at the state level for assessed utilities. The result, which county officials say the state plans to correct in fiscal year 2023, led to a $6 million drop in valuations for properties around the Jeffrey Energy Center, in what is now the former Fire District No. 1. The county has an annual agreement with the city fire department to provide service to the rural area surrounding St. Marys. County Clerk Dawn Henry says the county received utilities [...]

Change of command begins for Wichita Police Department

info2022-03-01T00:30:00-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay steps down this week after six years of service to the community. He told KFDI News it has been an honor to serve Wichita and he has made lifelong friends. Chief Ramsay has worked to improve relations between the police department and the community and he has put innovative methods in place to reduce crime. He said the community policing effort has made great progress and the Crime Stoppers has been a good measure of that with a record number of tips to help solve crimes. He said Wichita has been way ahead of other cities [...]

Nearly 90% of Sedgwick County residents can expect their property values to increase

info2022-03-01T00:28:27-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Most homeowners is Sedgwick County can expect to see an increase in their property values after the Sedgwick County appraiser estimates nearly 90% will. Mark Clark, Sedgwick County appraiser, cites COVID-19 and supply chain issues as the other main reasons for the increase. Clark said Sedgwick County is nowhere close to a normal housing market because of how much demand there is and not enough supply. The high cost to build is contributing to that. He said 88% of Sedgwick County residents will see their property value increase. During a typical year, that number is around 7%. Many of the Sedgwick [...]

Kansas broadband developers seek applicants for $5 million in grant funding

info2022-03-01T00:26:44-06:00March 1st, 2022|

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) opened a public comment period for the state’s Broadband Acceleration Grant Program. The open comment period is part of an extensive review of the 36 applications competing for $5 million in available grant funding. Interested stakeholders can participate by reviewing proposed service areas and expressing either support or specific concerns about the proposed grant projects. “The intense demand for this program across Kansas reflects the widespread need for more robust broadband access in unserved areas of Kansas,” said Commerce Secretary David Toland. “We are committed to being transparent and making the best possible investment [...]

Junction City citizens raise concerns over proposed slaughterhouse

info2022-03-01T00:24:54-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Residents of Junction City are concerned about a proposed slaughterhouse to be built near residential housing areas. Not only would the slaughterhouse process nearly 1,000 cattle per day, but it would be two miles away from the Spring Valley Elementary School. Kelsey Mann and Susan Kamm are third and fourth-generation Junction City residents. Mann is in the process of building a house within a mile away from the proposed space. “It has taken a majority of joy away from building our house," Mann said. "We were very excited this was going to be our forever home. Now we’re wondering if this [...]

Shawnee County homeowners may see 13.5% property value increase

info2022-03-01T00:23:44-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Topeka homeowners could see residential market values increase by as much as 13.5%, according to Steve Bauman, Shawnee County Appraiser. During the meeting Monday morning, Feb. 28, it was announced that 2022 value notices will be mailed on March 1. According to authorities mailing the notices saved the county money. This year about 80,000 notices will be mailed, and approximately 89% of property owners will see an increase in the value of their property. Notices will only be mailed if the property owner is seeing an increase in the value of their property. Source: KSNT News

Johnson County appraisals go out this week, and nearly all homeowners can expect another increase

info2022-03-01T00:20:03-06:00March 1st, 2022|

Homes and apartments are still hot commodities in Johnson County this year, and that heated market is going to mean property value increases for the vast majority of homeowners, according to the revaluation report given last week by County Appraiser Beau Boisvert to the county commission. Some 97.5% of homeowners are going to see an increase in the value the county sets for property tax purposes when notices come in the mail this week. The increases will vary but the overall average for the county is 11%, he said. Only 2.4% of properties will decrease in value. Source: Prairie Village Post

Remote work might boost rural Kansas

info2022-02-28T13:47:34-06:00February 28th, 2022|

Darin Miller has been involved in remote work since before it was cool. A longtime engineer, Miller saw the evolution of the modern office space first hand, with more and more individuals electing to work-from-home. Coworking spaces were popping up everywhere, where employees from different companies share a common office environment. Everywhere, that is, except Kansas. “I see this and I’m like, ‘This is a huge opportunity,’” Miller said. “It’s also a huge issue if you have a great job, and you just decide to live someplace else. Because now remote work is possible. So you can have a great job [...]

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