info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Restaurant corridor values drop, homeowners to cover more tax burden

info2019-07-30T17:13:18-05:00July 30th, 2019|

Hutchinson taxpayers will experience a shift in the local tax burden next fiscal year as leases on several commercial properties along the 17th Avenue corridor start to show their age. Following reappraisals by the Reno County Appraiser’s office, commercial property values within the city dropped this year by nearly $15 million, or about 3.3%, according to data from that office. Residential values, in contrast, went up. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Attorney files to move wind-project suit to federal court

info2019-07-30T17:12:20-05:00July 30th, 2019|

The attorney for a wind-project developer has filed to move a lawsuit to federal court. The attorney for the Neosho Ridge Wind project filed a notice late Friday afternoon seeking to move a lawsuit against the project from the 31st Judicial District Court in Neosho County to US District Court. The suit, filed by 45 plaintiffs against Neosho Ridge Wind, seeks an injunction against construction of the project, which would build 139 windmills on 44,000 acres in southwest Neosho County to generate 300 megawatts of electricity. The suit was filed July 9. (Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

City to crack down on nuisance vehicles

info2019-07-30T17:11:08-05:00July 30th, 2019|

The city of Osawatomie is mobilizing this fall to rid the community of inoperable vehicles that are violating city nuisance regulations. On Sept. 1, city officials will begin notifying persons or property owners found to have a motor vehicle deemed to be a nuisance, according to a city news release. The stepped-up enforcement campaign will run through October. The city’s current ordinance states that a motor vehicle is considered a nuisance if it is untagged, unregistered, inoperable or wrecked, according to the release. (Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Newton Police: Look out for door-to-door solicitors claiming to raise funds for department

info2019-07-30T21:44:04-05:00July 30th, 2019|

The Newton Police Department warns of a door-to-door fundraising effort that might be a scam. Even if this isn't a scam and they mean well, police say the solicitor isn't doing this legally and does not represent the Newton PD. "Although we appreciate the generosity of well-meaning citizens, we also have not been informed directly of any current fundraising activities for the Newton Police Department," the department says. (Read more: KWCH News)

Topeka Metro to share facts at meetings about cuts in service

info2019-07-30T21:44:36-05:00July 30th, 2019|

The Topeka Metro bus service on Thursday will hold the first of three meetings in which it will share information and accept public input about reductions in service it plans to make beginning later this year. ... Topeka Metro announced July 15 it would hold meetings in August to receive public input and provide information on its plans to raise fares, reduce services, eliminate jobs and discontinue its bicycle sharing program. Topeka Metro then announced July 24 it was creating a community task force to review the bike program and its viability. (Read more: Local Government - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

‘I’m glad I stayed’: Three generations of family work in Pittsburg salon

info2019-07-29T22:02:47-05:00July 29th, 2019|

When Brian Hendrickson first peeked inside what had been Beasley Tire, an historical building on the southeast corner of Ninth and Broadway in Downtown Pittsburg, it looked about as far removed from a beauty salon as anything could be. That was 2002, when his wife, Kelli, was pregnant with their second daughter, Ella — a full seven years before the City of Pittsburg completed a $3 million downtown streetscape project, and long before anyone could imagine the downtown being a destination, let alone a thriving one. “I could see the potential in the shop and in the town,” Brian recalled. “But [...]

Tax base from machinary and equipment also continues to disappear

info2019-07-29T22:01:31-05:00July 29th, 2019|

Besides the loss in appraised commercial property values for Hutchinson, the exemption on business equipment and machinery adopted by the state in 2006 continues to cut into taxes for the city and county. The value of machinery and equipment still being assessed by Reno County fell some $5.5 million, or more than 16 percent from 2018 to 2019. That brought it down to about $27.9 million, data from the Reno County Appraiser’s office showed. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

A look at what Lawrence’s new city manager has learned so far, and a peek at a possible debate to come

info2019-07-29T21:57:10-05:00July 29th, 2019|

With about one month on the job, City Manager Craig Owens already has made some observations about his new community. For one thing, we have plenty to say in public meetings. Owens has been to three City Commission meetings, and booked about 12 hours as part of them. The long meetings haven’t scared him away. “You care and you should,” said Owens, who previously served as city manager for Clayton, Mo., just outside St. Louis. Such a process may not always produce a quick consensus, but Owens said he’s OK with that. “It is hard and it takes time, but it [...]

Eudora entices new parks and rec director from city twice as large

info2019-07-29T21:58:03-05:00July 29th, 2019|

The newly named Eudora parks and recreation director said she is stepping down from a similar position in a much larger community because of the greater opportunities Eudora offers. Sally Pennington is wrapping up her duties as parks and recreation director at Neosho, Mo. She has had the job in the city of about 13,000 people 15 miles south of her hometown of Joplin for 2 1/2 years. “The size of a city has nothing to do with the recreational amenities available,” she said. “Neosha doesn’t have a rec center, aquatic center or ballfields.” Read more: LJWorld.com.

Kansas auditors predict Cabinet-agency IT consolidation to raise costs

info2019-07-29T18:43:11-05:00July 29th, 2019|

The cost to Kansas taxpayers of consolidating information technology services in the executive branch of state government could increase by millions of dollars depending on the level of IT staff retained and the replacement of outdated infrastructure, auditors said Monday. The Kansas Legislature’s auditing division estimated that continuing with existing consolidation plans for state Cabinet agencies could increase annual costs $2.6 million to $38 million, depending on how many of 230 targeted IT personnel were eliminated because of efficiencies and the unavoidable expense of addressing the “poor condition” of Kansas’ IT infrastructure. “Their plan will likely increase state costs instead of [...]

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