info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Mask mandate extended to May 16 in Riley County

info2021-03-26T09:54:09-05:00March 26th, 2021|

The Riley County Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday to extend the mask mandate. The extended mandate falls under the latest health order, which expires at 11:59 p.m. on May 16. The county said this is when the school year for area K-12 schools will be ending and K-State will have completed its graduation ceremonies. The order requires people to wear a face mask or covering in the public spaces of Riley County, but only outside the boundary of the city of Manhattan. If you're within city limits of Manhattan, you have to follow the city's ordinance. Source: KSNT News

Wichita Mayor is pushing for citywide mask mandate

info2021-03-26T09:53:48-05:00March 26th, 2021|

Wichita’s Mayor, Brandon Whipple, is pushing for a city wide mask mandate. It comes just one day after the county lifted it’s restrictions. Per Governor Kelly's Executive Order 20-68, a mask mandate is still in effect in Sedgwick County public places which will expire at the end of the month. This means, the City will have the State's mask mandate to follow for now, but if the Governor does not enact a new executive order, the restrictions for the City will no longer be applicable. This will give Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple time to discuss with council members as the conversations [...]

Johnson County requires masks, social distancing through April as more are vaccinated

info2021-03-26T09:53:13-05:00March 26th, 2021|

Johnson County has ended several COVID-19 restrictions, but officials decided Thursday to continue mandating mask-wearing and six feet of social distancing in public through the end of April. The move comes as Kansas Republican lawmakers pledge to end the state’s mask mandate as early as next week, and new state policies make it unclear whether counties will have the power to enforce their own mandates. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve the public health order while removing limits on gatherings and some other mandates in the previous order, which was set to expire at the end of [...]

Shawnee County’s solid waste employees have a new contract after impasse

info2021-03-26T09:59:34-05:00March 26th, 2021|

Shawnee County's solid waste employees will lose an incentive program that the union said was a key recruiting tool but will get additional protections against sick-leave-misuse discipline. The American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents solid waste employees, and the county couldn't agree to the terms of their contract. The two sides appealed to the commissioners. Source: CJonline.com.

Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp first to complete Sunflower’s site certification process

info2021-03-26T09:52:28-05:00March 25th, 2021|

Stamped for approval! The Dodge City Business Park became a certified site, which verifies that the 245-acre business park meets necessary criteria for industrial development. On March 11, the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation was the first organization to complete the site certification process through the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Certified Sites Program. “I am excited to have the Dodge City Business Park certified as an approved, developable site under the Sunflower program. The thoroughness of their process brings great credibility to our site and community,” said Joann Knight, executive director for the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. Source: Sunflower Electric

Riley County to pay $150K in Home Depot tax appeal case

info2021-03-26T09:52:15-05:00March 25th, 2021|

Riley County will have to refund just over $151,000 after the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals ruled in favor of the local Home Depot on a 2018 appraisal of the store. The decision could have effects beyond the loss of revenue to the local government. The county government received the board’s summary judgement earlier this week. The state tax board has the authority to review appeals on property tax disputes. Home Depot’s case is based on the “dark story theory,” which argues that big box stores should be valued as vacant — meaning they’re valued based on their hypothetical future lease [...]

‘Dark store’ theory tops discussion for local intergovernmental meeting

info2021-03-26T09:52:01-05:00March 25th, 2021|

Riley County’s counselor and appraiser both say officials should continue to pay attention a pair of bills floating in the Kansas Statehouse related to “dark store theory.” During a meeting with local officials from various agencies Monday, county counselor Clancy Holeman and appraiser Greg McHenry gave a virtual presentation on dark store theory, legally referred to as hypothetical leased fee valuation. Under this theory, real estate owners — big box retailers in particular — have appealed their property valuations by arguing their stores should be valued in comparison to vacant, or dark, stores in the area, instead of having a traditional [...]

Emergency department now open in Sumner County

info2021-03-26T09:51:36-05:00March 25th, 2021|

On Wednesday Kansas Governor Laura Kelly toured the new emergency department in Sumner County. The hospital doors were closed for nearly a year. Now, part of the building is back open for business. “It’s a God send. We’re a small community, and we have a lot of old people and it’s all about health, safety and welfare, that’s what it’s about, making it work,” says Jim Valentine, Wellington mayor. The hospital in Wellington closed several months ago, leaving people in the community worried about immediate medical care. So the city partnered with Ascension Via Christi to bring an emergency room back [...]

Plan to limit turbines riles growing Kansas wind industry

info2021-03-26T09:51:24-05:00March 25th, 2021|

A Kansas legislative committee’s leader lit a political prairie fire with a proposal that critics say would end investments in wind energy. State Senate Utilities Committee Chairman Mike Thompson said Wednesday that he is trying to protect landowners who fear that a proliferation of large turbines in their rural areas will drop property values and lessen their quality of life. The Shawnee Republican is pursuing a bill that would impose statewide regulations on wind turbines. His proposal has split fellow Republicans and inspired a strong backlash from both environmentalists and economic development officials who see wind energy as a job creator. [...]

Should Sedgwick County need Johnson County’s OK to amend county charter? They say no

info2021-03-25T07:31:01-05:00March 25th, 2021|

Under current state law, Sedgwick County could create a commission to examine the efficiency of its governmental operations — but all the members would would have to be from Johnson County. A bill to fix that anomaly is making its way through the Legislature right now and took a key step forward Wednesday when it was voted out of committee and sent to the full House for a floor vote. Senate Bill 53 would allow Sedgwick County to establish a Charter Commission that would actually have Sedgwick County residents on it. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

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