info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Voting light in Pretty Prairie sales tax election

info2019-03-27T06:33:12-05:00March 27th, 2019|

Nine people voted during the first two hours of voting Tuesday morning in Pretty Prairie, where a proposed city sales tax is on the ballot. The polling place at the Pretty Prairie Senior Center will close at 7 p.m. “We have not had a line,” said Reno County Deputy Election Officer Jenna Fager. Because lunch will be served at the senior center, poll workers expected voting would rise at noon. Also, voters are expected to cast ballots after work. Pretty Prairie has about 425 eligible voters for this election. The city does not have a local sales tax, and the proposed [...]

Should Wichita projects include public art?

info2019-03-27T06:32:16-05:00March 27th, 2019|

Wichita could get more colorful in the future -- that's the goal of art advocates around town. "We have a lovely legacy of public art in Wichita, and we'd like to formalize it," said Wichita Arts Museum director Patricia McDonnell. She, along with other art advocates, will present an ordinance recommendation at Wichita City Council's workshop today. The group is pushing for more public art in the city. The proposed ordinance, called the "percent-for-art ordinance," sets aside one-percent of the city's capital improvement project budget for public art projects. "It's to add design consideration, beauty to the buildings and projects we [...]

Andover City Council set to vote on pit bull ordinance for annexed area

info2019-03-27T06:29:23-05:00March 27th, 2019|

When we first met Gary and Diana Mccan last month, they had just found out their neighborhood was set to be annexed into Andover. They also found out their dog, Bailey, was no longer welcome. "Once we started sharing our concerns, two or three of the councilmen started agreeing with us," says Gary Mccan. In Andover, it's against the law to own a pit bull. "Our mayor is very very dead set against pit bulls. I don't know why. As he's even stated, they will not be in the city as long as he's there," says Diana Mccan. After the Mcann's [...]

Throughout harsh winter, Lawrence city crews have patched more than 10,000 potholes

info2019-03-27T08:36:41-05:00March 27th, 2019|

If Lawrence motorists feel like they’re hitting more potholes — or swerving to avoid more of them — they may be right. So far this year, city road crews have had to patch more than 10,000 potholes. City officials say that because of the amount of snowfall this winter, the city has patched almost as many potholes in the first three months of the year as it did in all of 2018. Municipal Services and Operations Deputy Director Mike Lawless said the harsher-than-usual winter, particularly compared with recent years, has been hard on the roads. “We’ve had more snow this year [...]

90,000-square-foot retailer is the latest business to help transform Kellogg and Webb

info2019-03-26T06:55:33-05:00March 26th, 2019|

The southeast corner of Kellogg and Webb Road is undergoing a major transformation, and another big piece is now a done deal. Floor & Decor is expected to open this fall in the 90,000-square-foot one-time Builders Square space at 9609 E. Kellogg across from Costco. The national chain, which is expected to be a regional draw, will join the planned three-story, 102,000-square-foot Extra Space Storage and the new 15,000-square-foot Groves Retail Liquor. There are three other pad sites on the 14 acres that Clark Investment Group and Johnny Stevens own at the corner, one of which is spoken for by a [...]

Danny Smith named new Crawford Co. Sheriff

info2019-03-26T06:49:41-05:00March 26th, 2019|

There’s a new sheriff in Crawford County. Following the retirement of Sheriff Dan Peak, the Crawford County Democratic Party unanimously approved the appointment of CRSO Captain Danny Smith by precinct vote unanimously on Sunday. The vote has been sent to Topeka where if the selection is approved, Smith will officially become the new Crawford County Sheriff. The approval is expected within two weeks. Smith will replace Peak, who nominated Smith for the position. (Read more: Pittsburg, KS - Morning Sun)

Paid family leave, economic development, bike cops among 2020 priorities for Roeland Park council

info2019-03-26T06:48:44-05:00March 26th, 2019|

Establishing a policy that allows 12 weeks of paid family leave for city employees, creating an economic development association, and adding a bicycle patrol unit to the police department were among the 2020 objectives recently discussed by Roeland Park councilmembers. The family leave policy, introduced by councilmember Erin Thompson, would qualify city employees for up to 12 weeks of paid time off when they or their spouse give birth, adopt, or foster a child. Only employees who have worked for the city for at least one year would be eligible. The objective would allow parents “to bond with children without any [...]

Labette County gets more details about Great Plains Industrial Park fire

info2019-03-26T06:45:07-05:00March 26th, 2019|

Labette County commissioners on Monday heard a brief update on the March 4 fire at Great Plains Industrial Park. The fire destroyed Building 920, which Parsons Fertilizer LLC was remodeling to produce an organic fertilizer product. A worker was pouring fuel in a generator and spilled it, which caught fire and destroyed the older building. Parsons Fertilizer leased 48,539 square feet of space in areas 903, 904 and 920 at Great Plains and was to make an initial $1.2 million investment. Starting off, the company would produce 5-pound and 40-pound bags of fertilizer and then within a year and a half [...]

Wichita art advocates want public arts ordinance

info2019-03-26T06:43:22-05:00March 26th, 2019|

Arts advocates in Wichita are pushing an ordinance that would fund more public art projects. The Wichita Eagle reports an ordinance that will be presented Tuesday at a city council workshop would set aside a percent of the city’s capital-improvement project budget for public art. If the council approves the ordinance, Wichita would join more than 350 other cities that have similar ordinances. Patricia McDonnell, director of the Wichita Art Museum, said a large group of local artists and designers wrote the proposal based on what other cities have passed. The ordinance would ensure that public projects factor art and design [...]

Shawnee County Commissioners approve road project with city, county funding

info2019-03-26T06:41:26-05:00March 26th, 2019|

Shawnee County commissioners voted Monday to approve a project that will make repairs to a road that receives heavy traffic from both cars and large trucks in the southern part of the county. Commissioners Bob Archer, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn voted 3-0 to award a bid to Bettis Asphalt and Construction for reconstruction of S.W. Gary Ormsby Drive from the northwest on-ramp of US-75 highway to S.W. Innovation Parkway. The project cost of $611,099.45 is to be shared 50-50 between Shawnee County and the city of Topeka. However, the motion stated Shawnee County would pay $500,813 and the city would [...]

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