info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Does Your City Have a Delivery-Truck Policy?

info2019-08-01T21:23:18-05:00August 1st, 2019|

The Great Blizzard of 1888 dumped more than 20 inches of snow on New York City, blowing down the thick web of power lines that were strung overhead. The city was plunged into darkness, and communications were disrupted for days while the dangerous live wires lay in the snow. The outage resulted in a city regulation to bury all cables in New York, a measure that was soon adopted in many other big cities. Although the analogy certainly isn’t exact, I wonder if something similar may happen as cities deal with the explosion of delivery vehicles weaving a tangled web in [...]

Bridge at Ark City being named for soldier with local ties

info2019-08-01T19:29:17-05:00August 1st, 2019|

A ceremony dedicating the Sgt. Kevin A. Gilbertson Memorial Bridge will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Arkansas City – honoring a U.S. Army soldier who died in the Iraq War. A sign with his name will be unveiled. The ceremony is open to the public. WHO: Sgt. Kevin A. Gilbertson. WHAT: Ceremony naming bridge for Sgt. Gilbertson. The Kansas Department of Transportation will later be placing northbound and southbound signs with Sgt. Gilbertson’s name near the bridge. WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m. WHERE: Southeast corner of the South Summit bridge, on U.S. 77 over the Arkansas River, south side of Arkansas City. [...]

Consultants call for bold vision on east bank of Arkansas River; C-II may not fit

info2019-08-01T19:25:42-05:00August 1st, 2019|

Architects and planners hired to redesign the riverbank area that now holds the Century II convention center and the WaterWalk in downtown Wichita told a standing-room-only crowd of about 300 that now is the time to show bold vision and create a new waterfront for decades to come. “Every time we have an opportunity to do a master plan we realize that we are setting the foundation for probably the next 30 to 50 years,” said Todd Voth of Populous, an international consulting group hired to replan the east bank of the Arkansas River south of Douglas downtown. (Read more: Wichita [...]

Who pays the bill when a minor vandalizes?

info2019-08-01T19:24:31-05:00August 1st, 2019|

Thanks to a loophole in Kansas law, if a minor vandalizes your property, you might be left footing the bill. Ron Paschal, deputy district attorney in Sedgwick County, said in some cases, judges do not order restitution for the crime and even if payment is court-ordered, minors aren’t legally required to pay it in full, or at all. “The way the law’s written now, they can get by without paying it,” Paschal said. (Read more: Local News |)

Belle Plaine moves forward on quiet zone

info2019-08-01T21:25:12-05:00August 1st, 2019|

Belle Plaine is now one step closer to having a quiet zone within city limits, the Belle Plaine News reports. The Belle Plaine City Council passed Ordinance No. 1677 at its July 18 meeting. It states the city will close the railroad crossing at 10th Avenue and North Line Street. (Read more: DerbyInformer.com - news,news/)

More than 10 inches of rain brings flooding in eastern Kansas, with threat of more

info2019-08-01T19:03:57-05:00August 1st, 2019|

Several rounds of overnight thunderstorms inundated parts of eastern Kansas with heavy rains early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka. Ten inches of rain or more fell along a line that stretched from southern Jefferson County through Douglas County, Franklin County and into Anderson County, weather radar indicated. The National Weather Service in Topeka issued a flash flood warning for those counties, saying radar and rain gauges indicated that the storms have dumped as much as 10 inches of rain across the area. (Read more: KC Breaking News, Sports & Crime |)

Potential loss of millions in property tax revenue hangs over Johnson County budget deliberations

info2019-08-01T21:35:40-05:00August 1st, 2019|

A dark shadow of angst loomed over public discussion of the county budget Monday night as residents and commissioners considered the possible impact of appeals made by big box retailers on their property values that could cost local governments millions. “What are we going to do when we lose that tax appeal and now we’re short by hundreds of millions, probably, per year?” asked winery owner Kirk Berggren, during a public hearing on the county’s $1.26 billion 2020 budget. (Read more: Prairie Village Post - Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)

Lawrence and firefighters union to begin mediated contract negotiations

info2019-07-31T20:36:23-05:00July 31st, 2019|

Representatives for the City of Lawrence and the local firefighters union will soon begin mediated negotiations in an attempt to resolve disagreements regarding pay increases and other changes to the union’s contract. The first meeting with a mediator from the United States Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service will be Thursday and is scheduled to last all day. Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay said the city and the union, Local 1596, have tentatively scheduled additional mediated meetings through Aug. 7. “We look forward to having the assistance of a mediator and hope to reach agreement,” Toomay said. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Months After A Tornado Tore Up Linwood, Kansas, Residents Find Different Paths Forward

info2019-07-31T20:34:33-05:00July 31st, 2019|

Dena Duffin, 53, pulls her teenage son close as she looks into the trailer stuffed with tables, tubs of housewares and whatever else they were able to salvage when the tornado ripped their home off its foundation the night of May 28. “I gave that to my dad,” she says, pointing to a dented copper tub. “And there’s a stepstool and shelf my dad made for us. You can’t replace those kinds of things.” Clothes, furniture and appliances will be replaced when the Duffins leave this rural corner at Highway 32 and 206th Street just outside of the tiny town of [...]

This Johnson County neighborhood ranked one of the ‘hottest ZIP codes’ in nation

info2019-07-31T20:34:08-05:00July 31st, 2019|

Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler often has viewed her city’s attractive homes, walkable downtown and abundant green space as a well-kept secret. But now the secret’s out. For the first time, a piece of this Johnson County suburb is ranked as one of the country’s “hottest ZIP codes” by realtor.com, a national real estate website. The neighborhood along Nieman Road and Johnson Drive — and its accompanying 66203 ZIP code — came in fourth in the nation. (Read more: KC Star Local News)

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