info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee County plans $5 million-plus in pay increases to try to keep up with competition for workers

info2022-01-21T09:04:31-06:00January 21st, 2022|

Shawnee County gave its employees wage hikes totaling about $5 million after a study it had conducted in 2015 said they were generally underpaid. A similar but less comprehensive study conducted last year on the county's behalf showed that once again, its employees on average were making less than the competitive market level. ... The county remains in the early stages of implementing those recommendations, which were sought in an effort to ensure the wages the county pays are competitive with those offered by similar employers. Source: CJonline

Lawrence moving forward with long-delayed project to reconstruct Queens Road

info2022-01-21T09:00:15-06:00January 21st, 2022|

This spring could finally see construction begin on a long-delayed city road project that has been tied up in litigation for years. The Lawrence City Commission approved two special taxing districts in December 2018 to fund the reconstruction of Queens Road and the installation of a stoplight, and a lawsuit was subsequently filed in January 2019. Two courts have now dismissed the lawsuit, and while the individual who filed the lawsuit has again appealed, the city is moving forward with preparations for the project and tentatively plans to begin construction later this year. Source: LJWorld.com

Emporia approves housing opportunity overlay district

info2022-01-21T08:58:58-06:00January 21st, 2022|

The Emporia City Commission approved the creation of a housing opportunity overlay district to allow for the potential development of smaller residential properties Wednesday night. The housing opportunity overlay district — which was created in a 16.8-acre vacant lot directly east of the intersection of Soden’s Road and South Exchange Street — decreases the minimum lot sizes in a certain area from the 9,000 square feet mandated in city codes to 5,800 square feet. This would consequently increase the number of residential units that could be built within the identified area and could be a more cost-effective means of developing housing. [...]

Madison council moves to stop leak

info2022-01-21T08:58:31-06:00January 21st, 2022|

There’s a leak at Madison City Hall. Not the political kind, but a real leak. “There is rain leaking in from outside, and it drips down a wall onto the floor,” City Clerk Victoria Stewart said during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The Council voted to have Quality Masonry of Emporia repair the leak on the south side of the building. It was the only business Stewart found that would offer a bid, at about $3,700. “This is a wall we had waterproofed by a mason years ago,” Mayor Paul Dean said. The mayor was satisfied with the proposal. Source: Emporia [...]

Fire crews rescue several cats from house fire in Overland Park

info2022-01-21T08:57:15-06:00January 21st, 2022|

Fire crews responded to a house fire in Overland Park and saved three cats and reunited them with their owners early Monday morning. The Overland Park and Leawood Fire Departments responded to a house fire call just after 2:30 a.m. Monday morning in the 9900 block of Horton Street. When crews arrived on scene, they saw flames coming from the single-story home and a resident was reportedly out safe. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Kansas officials want legislature’s help in wooing massive, $4 billion secret factory

info2022-01-21T08:56:34-06:00January 21st, 2022|

Kansas is pushing lawmakers to fast-track legislation creating the state’s largest business incentive program ever as officials say a $4 billion factory could be on the line. Details about that project, however, are scarce. According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, the state is a finalist in what development officials call a mega project. It is anticipated to produce 4,000 jobs paying about $50,000 per year as well as temporary construction employment for 6,000. Source: Wichita Eagle

Amazon Air begins daily cargo flights to Wichita’s Eisenhower Airport

info2022-01-21T08:55:45-06:00January 21st, 2022|

E-commerce giant Amazon is launching daily cargo services at Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport, the city announced Thursday. Amazon Air’s inaugural flight arrived at the airport shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday. Daily flights from Fort Worth Alliance Airport will be operated by Silver Airlines. “We are proud to welcome Amazon Air to Wichita Eisenhower Airport,” said Jesse Romo, Wichita’s director of airports. “This location is uniquely positioned with convenient access to Hwy 54/400 and Interstate 235 to support Amazon’s delivers to customers in Kansas and surrounding areas.” Source: Wichita Eagle

COVID cases remain very high in Wyandotte County

info2022-01-21T08:55:17-06:00January 21st, 2022|

COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County are about as high as they have been. Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer for Wyandotte County, said that the seven-day average was about 483 cases on Wednesday in Wyandotte County. He spoke during the Thursday morning media update from the University of Kansas Health System. “We can’t keep up with contact tracing,” Dr. Greiner said. The state health agency also can’t keep up. They are trying to do education other ways, he said. Source: Wyandotte Daily

Container houses draw criticism, support in Hillsboro

info2022-01-21T08:54:54-06:00January 21st, 2022|

For the first time since he retired in June, former city administrator Larry Paine came to a meeting to advise Hillsboro city council members Tuesday. “It’s strange to be on this side of the table,” Paine said. Paine was there to join an open discussion about proposed development of container houses in Hillsboro. Paine said he was concerned about the aesthetics and what people would think when they drove into the community. Paine said when he researched container homes, he noticed names of shipping companies on the sides of the containers. “If you want to proceed with this, you want to [...]

Johnson County wants you to report your at home COVID test results to gauge the spread

info2022-01-21T08:52:45-06:00January 21st, 2022|

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is asking Johnson County residents to voluntarily report at-home COVID-19 test results. Whether it’s positive or negative, the results will aim to give JCDHE a better understanding of the spread of COVID-19 in Johnson County. As of Jan. 17, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Johnson County was nearly 30%, which local health officials categorize as high community risk. It’s hard to get a full sense of the spread and positivity rate when the reported data only includes results from test sites, and not the results from at home tests people take on their [...]

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