info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Chanute hears plans about solar-voltaic project

info2019-04-24T06:49:01-05:00April 24th, 2019|

Chanute city commissioners discussed solar energy with energy officials and the neighbor of a proposed project Monday evening. The commission met with Brandon Sack of Westar Clean Energy Development and Scott Shreve of consultants Energy Management Group about a proposed solar-voltaic project to be built near the city’s south energy plant on south Plummer. The commission also heard from neighboring resident Kathy Wicker. Commissioners said after the discussion that they wanted to talk about it more, and Mayor Sam Budreau said the consensus seemed to be to bring it back to the table. Westar has proposed working with the city on [...]

Schlitterbahn Water Park, part of $80 million Star Bond district in KC, has uncertain future

info2019-04-24T06:47:52-05:00April 24th, 2019|

The future of Schlitterbahn Water Park is uncertain as summer approaches. There are questions about whether the park will open for the 2019 season. The water park tore down the Verruckt waterslide after the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab, 10. The rest of the park's rides remain. Schlitterbahn's corporate website still lists the KCK location, but there is no place to apply for 2019 jobs at the park. Mayor David Alvey believes the facility will come back as a water park. "It's a good site. It's a good working park. I believe it will come back -- not sure when or [...]

Hays looks at draft Parks Improvement Plan

info2019-04-24T09:10:17-05:00April 24th, 2019|

At the suggestion of Hays city commissioners, a policy has been drafted for determining priorities in park improvements as well as how matching funds from outside entities are considered. The draft includes a new park amenities schedule created with the assistance of Jeff Boyle, director of parks. The total cost is approximately $3.35 million. “We would anticipate updating that every year with high, medium and low priority projects,” City Manager Toby Dougherty told the commission last week. It would be adopted as part of the annual budget of the Parks Department after review by the commission. (Read more: Hays Post)

McPherson superintendent addresses backlash with new online curriculum

info2019-04-24T06:40:46-05:00April 24th, 2019|

A Kansas superintendent makes efforts to clear things up about a learning program which has received backlash from some parents and students. This comes after The New York Times released an article about several Kansas districts using it. The new curriculum, called Summit Learning, is centered around an online program in which students complete assignments online and then demonstrate what they've learned in the classroom. McPherson school district superintendent Gordon Mohn explains the curriculum is designed for students to learn and progress at their own speed. A piece in the New York Times highlighted multiple parents against the Summit Learning program, [...]

Some cities stop chalking tires after court rules practice unconstitutional in 4 states

info2019-04-24T09:08:48-05:00April 24th, 2019|

Marking tires to enforce parking rules is like entering property without a search warrant, a federal court said Monday as it declared the practice unconstitutional in Michigan and three other states. Alison Taylor had received more than a dozen $15 tickets for exceeding the two-hour parking limit in Saginaw. The city marks tires with chalk to keep track of how long a vehicle is parked. Her lawyer argued that a parking patrol officer violated the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches. A three-judge panel of the appeals court agreed. The purpose of marking tires was to “raise revenue,” not to protect [...]

Lawrence City Commission selects Craig Owens as city manager

info2019-04-23T09:26:31-05:00April 23rd, 2019|

The current city manager of Clayton, Mo., will soon take over as Lawrence’s top nonelected official. At a special meeting Monday, the Lawrence City Commission announced that Craig Owens had been selected as the city’s next city manager. Reading a prepared statement, Mayor Lisa Larsen said that the commission was impressed with Owens’ 25 years of progressive experience in city management, which includes serving in several states and other community involvement. “Craig will be a great asset to our community, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to work toward creating a better city for all of [...]

Greenwood County Commissioners approve junk property code to prevent junk properties in previously incorporated towns

info2019-04-23T08:47:51-05:00April 23rd, 2019|

Monday, Greenwood County commissioners approved the health and welfare code aimed at preventing junk-properties from cluttering previously incorporated towns. After discussing the idea of this code multiple times over the years, it was brought back to the attention of the commissioners several weeks ago when residents of Neal filled the room to ask them to revisit the code once again. Frank McCollum explained, “I think you should have more than one person that can file a complaint against somebody. Everybody has enemies out there.” Chuck Spradlin commented on the complaint and review process, as at least one commissioner will be responsible [...]

Kansas cracks down on nursing home operators with shaky finances

info2019-04-23T08:32:38-05:00April 23rd, 2019|

The state of Kansas had to take over 22 financially struggling nursing homes last year — the most anyone connected to the industry could remember. Officials with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said they had no choice. Nursing home managers — most of them from out of state — had fallen behind on bills for basics like food and utilities, putting residents’ health and safety at risk. Now the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly have come together on a plan to keep it from happening again. Lawmakers this month passed a bill requested by the Kelly [...]

Neighborhood group in Emporia hosts annual fish fry to fund community improvements

info2019-04-23T08:31:35-05:00April 23rd, 2019|

The sounds of laughter and the tell-tale sizzle of fried fish could be heard during the Emporia Eastside Community Group’s annual fish fry fundraiser Saturday at the Emporia Recreation Center. The group raised $900. Founded in 1998, members of the Emporia Eastside Community Group have dedicated their time to making sure their neighborhoods are friendly, safe and enjoyable. Members range from lifelong Emporians to those who came to the area from Pennsylvania, New York, California and more. The group uses the money raised to fund its scholarship programs, the Memorial Day Community barbecue, purchasing equipment for the Eastside Memorial Park and [...]

Commissioners OK issuing $13 million in industrial revenue bonds for retail development

info2019-04-23T06:59:17-05:00April 23rd, 2019|

Shawnee County commissioners on Monday morning approved by a 3-0 vote a resolution to issue about $13 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for a shopping development in west Topeka. The industrial revenue bonds would be used by Equity Investment Group Wanamaker LLC for its proposed $31.4 million project to redevelop retail properties it owns at the southeast corner of S.W. 17th and Wanamaker Road. A building formerly occupied by a Kmart store is located on the property. Bob Perry, the county’s bond counsel, told commissioners the issuance of the industrial revenue bonds would generate “substantial” ad valorem taxes for the [...]

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