info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Reno County Commission eyes disallowing public comment when considering planning recommendations

info2019-03-08T10:30:32-06:00March 8th, 2019|

The Reno County Commission spent nearly an hour Tuesday discussing how it would approach receiving recommendations on NextEra Energy’s application for a permit for the Pretty Prairie Wind Farm. A majority of the commission indicated support for taking no further public comment on the issue, relying solely on the recommendation of the Reno County Planning Commission and any evidence submitted to that board during the April 4 public hearing, now set to begin at 3 p.m. at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center. The commission, however, pressed by Commissioner Ron Hirst, left the door open to potentially considering “new information” not [...]

Starting a Youth Council

info2019-03-08T10:29:21-06:00March 8th, 2019|

Youth councils or youth advisory boards can provide an effective way to engage youth in city government. Youth councils provide a conduit for youth voice to city leadership, help promote civic engagement and community service, and foster an understanding of how municipal government works. This strategy guide offers the basics for forming a youth council in your city, as well as examples of the way different cities have configured their councils. (Read more: www.nlc.org/contents/rss-feed)

Wichita could have disclosed development deal with baseball team sooner, mayor says

info2019-03-08T10:27:29-06:00March 8th, 2019|

Wichita city officials could have told the public sooner about a side deal to help bring a Minor League Baseball team to town, Mayor Jeff Longwell said Thursday. Earlier in the week he said he couldn’t because of league rules. Over the course of 18 months, the owners of the New Orleans Baby Cakes, led by Lou Schwechheimer, negotiated a deal with city leaders to move to Wichita, but the city had to build a stadium and offer it land to develop around the stadium. That the move was contingent on the development deal was not made public until Monday, months [...]

Public invited to meet Gardner administrator finalists

info2019-03-07T12:06:49-06:00March 7th, 2019|

Public can meet Gardner administrator finalists Gardner’s search for a new city administrator has reached a milestone now that the list of applicants has been winnowed to three finalists. Community members are invited to meet the candidates from 5 to 6 p.m. March 11 at City Hall. They are: Nicholas Edwards, assistant city manager in Lee’s Summit. James Pruetting, Gardner’s police chief. Brian Wilson, village administrator of Belleville, Wis. (Read more: Joco 913 News)

Commission discusses goals during day-long retreat

info2019-03-07T11:53:58-06:00March 7th, 2019|

On Wednesday, the Garden City Commission spent the day in their annual goal-setting retreat at the Finnup Center, discussing a myriad of issues and progress on previous goals with an eye toward fining tuning the whole thing into what will eventually be shaped into the city’s roadmap for the next 18 months. The city uses the retreat and goal setting session to assist the commission in its work on the annual budget. Work on the 2020 budget will take place now through the spring and early summer before being finalized. A preliminary draft of goals will be prepared by administration and [...]

Cowley commissioners: Let wind farms spin in flint hills

info2019-03-07T11:51:10-06:00March 7th, 2019|

The Cowley County Commission has written a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly asking her to reverse the moratorium on wind farms in the Flint Hills imposed by former governor Sam Brownback. Cowley County is considered a “gateway to the Flint Hills,” which is why it was affected by the moratorium, county appraiser Lucas Goff said. Commissioner Wayne Wilt said the county should go after the wind farms as a source of revenue that could “help everybody:” the county, landowners and individual job seekers. The commissioners also stated that it is local residents, not the state, which should determine the suitability of [...]

City of Hays may exercise its option to buy land north of I-70

info2019-03-07T11:49:54-06:00March 7th, 2019|

Hays city commissioners Thursday will discuss exercising the city’s option to purchase property near Interstate 70 and Commerce Parkway. In April 2018, the commission purchased an 18-month irrevocable option to buy 91 acres in the northeast corner of the 27th Street and Commerce Parkway intersection at the east I-70 Exit 161. That option expires September 19 of this year. The property, currently owned by the Cathy A. Braun Revocable Trust of Hays, has significant potential for future retail, commercial, and business park development. According to a memo from City Manager Toby Dougherty, the cost to exercise the option is the original [...]

City of Abilene seeks input concerning municipal building

info2019-03-07T11:49:00-06:00March 7th, 2019|

The City of Abilene is seeking public input concerning the future of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building. In a post on its Facebook page, the city is asking citizens for feedback. According to Abilene’s website, the city is “undertaking a review of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building to determine a plan for the future of the public facilities located in the current facility.” “Many aspects of the building are no longer adequate to meet the public service needs of the departments that use the building. The gymnasium/auditorium is deteriorating and would require extensive rehabilitation to return it to a [...]

Hospital Committee moves forward on helping hospital with financial issues

info2019-03-07T11:47:03-06:00March 7th, 2019|

Another step in helping the Hiawatha Community Hospital with its financial crisis was taken Monday when a joint committee voted to recommend to local governments an approval for a half-cent county wide sales tax and pursue a bond issue for $2 million. The joint committee was formed in January and made up of representatives of Hiawatha, Horton and Brown County Commissions, along with a representative of the HCH Board of Trustees. The vote to take this step in helping the hospital with its financial issues came after discussion pertaining to recommendations made by the committee to the hospital board. The committee [...]

City hears final word on hospital joint-commission

info2019-03-07T11:45:29-06:00March 7th, 2019|

The joint-County and City advisory commission met prior to Monday night’s Hiawatha City Commission meeting, and City Administrator Mike Nichols, who is the chairman of the joint-commission, brought a final update to the City. Nichols stated that the group had made their recommendations to the hospital, and at this point, the commission’s job appears to be done. One of the sticking points from prior meetings seemed to be resolved, as the hospital said they would work toward an affiliation with a regional healthcare provider, and if that did not come to pass, they would seek out a healthcare management firm to [...]

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