info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Company hasn’t submitted financial info for tax abatement in leased federal building in Parsons

info2019-03-20T06:58:47-05:00March 20th, 2019|

Parsons Fertilizer LLC has yet to provide financial information needed to continue its property tax abatement with the State Board of Tax Appeals, Labette County commissioners heard Monday. The company wants to manufacture a premium-grade fertilizer at the Great Plains Industrial Park east of Parsons and was in the process of renovating Building 920 at the park when fire destroyed half of the leased building on March 4. 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 [...]

Great Bend and public library work out how future maintenance issues will be handled

info2019-03-20T06:54:03-05:00March 20th, 2019|

A heating and air conditioning system that came with a somewhat unexpected price tag north of $900,000 in 2015, left some uneasiness with the Great Bend Public Library’s spending the past few years. A new director and increased communication has improved the relationship between the library and City of Great Bend. Another public display of that occurred Monday night as the Great Bend City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the library concerning maintenance of the facility. Library Director Gail Santy felt like the new memorandum brings clarity of who is responsible for tasks. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

Commissioners OK Sunday alcohol sales

info2019-03-20T06:52:35-05:00March 20th, 2019|

Parsons city commissioners approved an ordinance Monday evening that will make the sale of alcoholic beverages legal on Sundays. The commission approved the ordinance on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Tom Shaw dissenting. The sale of packaged alcoholic beverages has been legal in Kansas since 2005, but individual cities and counties must approve measures to make it legal or voters must approve it at the polls. Neither has happened in Parsons, although the commission has discussed the issue twice over the last several years. Other towns such as Erie and St. Paul have allowed Sunday sales for several years. Kevin Cruse [...]

Do Corporate Tax Incentives Work? 20 States, and Most Cities, Don’t Know.

info2019-03-20T06:51:15-05:00March 20th, 2019|

The aircraft manufacturer Boeing has received roughly $1 billion in tax incentives and credits from Washington state over the past four years. That includes tens of millions of dollars for activities in 2017 related to production equipment for the 737 MAX jets, all of which have been grounded in the past week after two fatal crashes. That information is known because Washington state has one of the more well-established tax incentive evaluation programs in the country. As corporate tax breaks -- like the ones used to lure Amazon’s HQ2 -- have come under increasing scrutiny, more states are tracking them and [...]

Overland Park council resets deadlines, tax incentives for Market Lofts project

info2019-03-20T10:53:10-05:00March 20th, 2019|

Saying it was better than having unfinished building in the heart of downtown, the Overland Park City Council approved a new set of deadlines that would partially restore some tax incentives to the Market Lofts project at 80th Street and Marty Street. One after another, the 12 council members said they weren’t wild about a compromise that was worked out last month in committee. And they warned that if the new deadlines requiring the exterior work be done before the Farmers Market begins are not met, the city should call a default on the tax increment financing deal with developer Paul [...]

Drone helps Park City police find, catch burglary suspects

info2019-03-19T07:52:04-05:00March 19th, 2019|

Security cameras and a drone were deployed to help stop two suspects who were allegedly breaking into Insurance Auto Auctions in Park City early March 8. ... Bel Aire, Kechi, Park City, Valley Center, Maize and Colwich police as well as the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office sent officers to assist in the search for the suspects. The suspects exited the lot through the fence when a K-9 unit showed up. The sheriff's office deployed a drone, equipped with night vision, to search for the suspects. It spotted the two hiding in tall grass in a field near the facility. The drone [...]

Former Park City city hall to be senior housing

info2019-03-19T07:51:08-05:00March 19th, 2019|

The Park City council unanimously approved the rezoning of property at 6110 N. Hydraulic from business district to multi-family residential March 12, making way for a senior-focused living facility. The building is the former location of City Hall. The building was recently sold for the express purpose of senior housing. Assistant city administrator Dana Walden said the location's proximity to the Park City Senior Center was important to the developer. Read more: Ark Valley News.

Baby Cakes owner pitches baseball dream, says this is Wichita’s ‘moment in time’

info2019-03-19T07:49:25-05:00March 19th, 2019|

With a New England accent and penchant for colorful detail delivered without taking a breath — at least when he’s in sales-pitch mode — Baby Cakes owner Lou Schwechheimer is in Wichita to sell a dream. Whether Wichita’s buying is yet to be seen. In Schwechheimer’s telling, the return of affiliated Minor League Baseball to Wichita means the return of the simple joys of a “magical” ballpark serving a slice of “Americana.” He weaves his own “only-in-America” narrative into the story. “I remember as a kid growing up in the projects,” several of his stories begin. He talks about playing baseball [...]

Lawrence City Commission to consider lowering fines for marijuana possession

info2019-03-19T07:48:38-05:00March 19th, 2019|

Lawrence city leaders will soon consider whether to move forward with changes that would decrease the city’s penalties for possessing marijuana, which currently amount to hundreds of dollars. Last month, Lawrence city commissioners expressed support for lowering the fine for the possession of small amounts of marijuana to $1 for first and second convictions. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission will consider amending the city ordinance that lays out the penalties for marijuana possession. Mayor Lisa Larsen told the Journal-World that for her, lowering the fines for marijuana possession is about criminal justice. Larsen noted that studies have shown [...]

Lawrence City Commission will discuss budgeting $250K for study to improve city’s stoplight timing

info2019-03-19T07:47:53-05:00March 19th, 2019|

Those frustrated that their commute across Lawrence includes significant time spent behind a stoplight could soon see some relief. At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will discuss amending the 2019 budget to include $250,000 for a city-wide traffic signal coordination and timing study that aims to improve travel in the city. In a memo to the commission, city staff state that the city’s current systems are inadequate and outdated, and that staff believes they do not meet community expectations. Specifically, staff notes that the time it takes to drive across the city and the frequent stops required have been [...]

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