info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Overland Park council approves new finance package for Metcalf Crossing contingent on demolition of derelict hotels

info2019-10-08T19:30:32-05:00October 8th, 2019|

Two derelict hotels that became an eyesore and crime magnet near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Metcalf Avenue are back on track to be torn down, this time with a hard deadline of Nov. 30. Actions by the Overland Park City Council put the Metcalf Crossing project – which will bring a self storage building, car wash and office space to the site – back on track Monday. The developer, Wes Grammer, also has until Feb. 1, 2020 to begin construction. Council members were excited about the development and the prospect of bulldozing the hotels when the development was first brought forward [...]

School board approves use of grant funds for bicycle fleet to teach bicycle safety training

info2019-10-08T19:25:50-05:00October 8th, 2019|

A Pathways Grant will be used to purchase 40 bicycles for bicycle safety and education in USD 475 grades five and six, and PE One at Junction City High School. The Board of Education authorized the use of the grant funds, totaling $30,000 for the acquisition of the bicycles. This Blast curriculum is designed to teach the skills for safe and effective riding. The curriculum has been developed by bicycle advocates and reviewed by educators and parents. The bikes will spend about two-and-a-half to three weeks at each school beginning with modules which emphasize safety including helmets, bikes and rules of [...]

Shawnee approves site plan for Stag’s Spring downtown apartment project amid mixed support, concerns from neighbors

info2019-10-08T19:24:30-05:00October 8th, 2019|

After more than two hours of public comment and discussion with the developer, the Shawnee planning commission on Monday approved a rezoning and site plan for Stag’s Spring, a multi-family residential project downtown. The proposed plan includes a three- to four-story U-shaped building of 67 luxury apartments on about 2.7 acres just east of Old Shawnee Pizza between Roger Road and Ballentine Avenue. Shawnee developer Kevin Tubbesing, who led the Stag’s Creek development down the street, has proposed the $16.1 million multi-family luxury apartment complex. (Read more: Prairie Village Post - Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)

USD 409 superintendent coffee sip and sit set for Friday

info2019-10-08T19:22:11-05:00October 8th, 2019|

Atchison Public Schools stakeholders are invited to stop by and start their day with coffee and conversation in the company of Superintendent Renee Scott. Scott officially came on board to serve as the superintendent of USD 409 on July 1 in time for the start of the new schoolyear. Since her hire and relocation from Garden City, Scott has made concerted efforts to get acquainted with staff in the buildings and students in the classrooms in the 409 district. “I have met a few people informally in passing,” Scott said. “But I just wanted to give people a chance to come [...]

City leaders divide on plan consultant

info2019-10-08T20:49:07-05:00October 8th, 2019|

The City of Atchison governing body saw a rare divided vote on Monday afternoon on the matter of bringing in an outside consultant to assist with the government’s long term plan for city infrastructure and improvements. ... Commissioners agree that a consultant is necessary for several reasons, chiefly to market public engagement with the strategic plan process and ensure that enough residents participate for city leaders to have a good idea of the public’s governing priorities. (Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Have an idea to activate the Arkansas River? Let the city know by Friday

info2019-10-08T20:49:29-05:00October 8th, 2019|

Lots of people say they wish Wichita would utilize the Arkansas River better, and the city agrees. “We’ve been wanting to activate the river,” says Troy Houtman, director of the Park and Recreation Department. The question, he says, is, “What kind of things could we do?” That might be some sort of barge service with a floating restaurant or bar, a dinner cruise, a water taxi or a tourist ride with fun facts about the city from downtown to Delano. Houtman says the city is open to ideas, so it put out a request for qualifications several months ago. (Read more: Carrie Rengers: [...]

Overland Park becomes largest city in Kansas to add LGBTQ protections

info2019-10-08T20:54:05-05:00October 8th, 2019|

Despite lingering skepticism about the strength of a city-level nondiscrimination ordinance, Overland Park officials on Monday agreed to prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ community. The vote came on the eve of the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday hearing arguments over whether federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ people from job discrimination. A ruling is expected by next summer, in which the justices will determine whether it is legal to fire employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Overland Park leaders warned that the city’s ordinance could become moot depending on the outcome of the closely watched federal cases. Officials [...]

City manager: ‘Quivira water impairment claim should have little effect on R9’

info2019-10-07T21:38:19-05:00October 7th, 2019|

The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources (KDA-DWR) will host two public meetings on Monday, October 21, 2019, to share information related to upcoming action responding to the impairment complaint by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Water rights owners in the area were sent notice this week of the KDA-DWR plan to regulate water rights. The meetings will review the anticipated regulation and the ongoing work with local stakeholders to develop a Water Conservation Area (WCA) that will provide flexibility in use for those regulated water rights. Groundwater Management District 5 [...]

City of Phillipsburg names new Community Development Director

info2019-10-07T20:10:46-05:00October 7th, 2019|

The Phillipsburg City Council recently hired Phillipsburg native Scott Aust as the city’s new Community Development Director. A 1985 graduate of Phillipsburg High School, Aust earned a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University. For more than 20 years Aust worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota covering government, growth and development, business and community issues. Most recently, he served as the Director of Communications for Finney County Economic Development Corporation in Garden City, Kan., and also oversaw the operation of the Greater Garden City community information website and social media platforms. (Read more: [...]

Kansas governor launches design of economic development strategy

info2019-10-07T20:02:51-05:00October 7th, 2019|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says she’s launching the state’s first formal strategy in 30 years to strengthen economic development. Kelly pledged Monday to work with industries and economic development specialists to write a comprehensive plan to speed economic growth. A report is expected by March 2020. The project will be coordinated by the Kansas Department of Commerce and the McKinsey consulting firm. Secretary of Commerce David Toland says the state has lagged in key economic indicators such as GDP growth, population growth and labor participation. (Read more: Hays Post)

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