info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Communication happening between Topeka city government, homeless community

info2019-03-06T09:42:32-06:00March 6th, 2019|

Positive communication is taking place between Topeka’s city government and the local homeless community, people from both agreed at Tuesday’s city council meeting. “We’re learning from them and they’re learning from us, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz. Five members of the public — including three homeless people and one former homeless man — spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, where no action was taken on a proposal put forth last May that would ban camping on public property. Local homeless residents have expressed concerns about that measure. It now goes back to the council’s public health and safety [...]

Ellis County budget crunch squeezes criminal prosecutions

info2019-03-06T09:39:34-06:00March 6th, 2019|

A backlog of drug cases in Ellis County will only get worse, due to a shortage of prosecutors in the Ellis County Attorney’s office. With regret, the Ellis County Commission Monday evening denied a request from County Attorney Tom Drees to add a fifth full-time attorney to his office. “I believe what Tom says is absolutely accurate. I believe he could sure use another attorney,” said Commissioner Butch Schlyer during the commission’s regular meeting on Monday evening. Then he addressed Drees. “I think since you were on the agenda the first time, it’s been impressed upon me even more that the [...]

Mission Hills continues discussion on non-discrimination ordinance

info2019-03-06T09:27:51-06:00March 6th, 2019|

Mission Hills continued its discussion on crafting a non-discrimination ordinance Monday, with much of the conversation focused on comparing language already passed by neighboring communities. Mission, Prairie Village, Merriam, and Roeland Park have already passed NDOs- which grant legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents and employees. The ordinances apply to employers of commercial property and rental housing, while providing exemptions for religious institutions and private entities. Mission Hills is in a unique situation as the city does not have multi-family rentals or commercial property, as its neighboring communities do. Mission Hills’ legal counsel Anna Krstulic noted a key difference was that Prairie [...]

Wichita City Council moves forward with developers downtown plan for medical school

info2019-03-06T09:24:59-06:00March 6th, 2019|

The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to move forward with a request from property owner Sudha Tokala that would help advance her plans for a potential downtown medical school. Special assessments total $12 million that are related to multiple buildings that Tokala owns downtown as part of the city's facade improvement and asbestos remediation program. That request now moves to a March 19 public hearing to set the maximum amount of the assessments. The agreement covers the former Finney State Office building, which are two buildings joined together at 230 E. William and 130 S. Market; Sutton Place at 209 [...]

Saline County rejects road reclassification following concerns

info2019-03-06T09:23:10-06:00March 6th, 2019|

The Saline County Commission unanimously rejected a proposal Tuesday morning to reclassify 16 county roads from gravel to earth after several residents that would be affected by the changes contacted staff to discuss ways the roads are used. Two weeks ago, the county commission tabled the proposed road reclassifications and directed staff to contact residents who would be impacted by the changes. Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel said he received calls from several property owners who said the roads are used to transport cattle, mail, and equipment, and to travel to a cell tower and between farms. The proposed changes [...]

Sunday liquor sales draw much conversation in South Hutch

info2019-03-06T09:21:56-06:00March 6th, 2019|

The South Hutchinson City Council refused to fast-track any decision on Sunday liquor sales during Monday’s meeting despite the efforts of a few in attendance that wanted the matter passed immediately. Greg Dovel, who is opening a liquor and smoke shop in the city, wanted the council to pass Sunday liquor sales last night. New Police Chief Dean Harcrow said Monday that he would rather have the council take time to think about the matter before taking any action — Dovel agreed. Dovel said he had seen petitions being circulated against Sunday liquor sales and suggested Mayor Luke Herren was behind [...]

Growth continues at Water District # 7 Johnson County

info2019-03-05T09:13:57-06:00March 5th, 2019|

The start of 2019 appears to be as fast-paced as 2018. The Water District continues to move forward with projects in 2019, that were identified in previous years, that hopefully will provide water service to areas without service. The District serves urban and residential areas in southwest Johnson County, northwest Miami County, and areas along the Johnson/Douglas County line. The District continues to experience commercial growth in its service area primarily within the Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC) in Edgerton, KS; however, it also experienced the addition of an apartment complex (Blackhawk Apartments) in Spring Hill, KS. The residential growth was [...]

How Wichita draws water from Equus Beds sparks criticism

info2019-03-05T09:10:17-06:00March 5th, 2019|

A lot of discussion and a potential showdown with the city of Wichita could come during Tuesday’s annual meeting of the Equus Beds Groundwater Management District in Halstead. A proposal from Wichita to take water directly from river sources rather than use that water to recharge the water table is up for action. It’s part of an agreement made by the city and the district several years ago. Equus Beds manager Tim Boese says the board is recommending rejecting the proposal. “In their proposal, it would just be getting a credit when the aquifer is in a fuller state . . [...]

New acting chief named at Larned State hospital

info2019-03-05T09:08:46-06:00March 5th, 2019|

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Acting Secretary Laura Howard announced today she has appointed Lesia Dipman to serve as Acting Superintendent of Larned State Hospital. Dipman has served the State of Kansas for 34 years, starting her career at LSH in 1984 where she has worked in various positions, from food services to the nursing department, and multiple departments, from the State Security Hospital to the adolescent unit to the youth center. She attended Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from KSU in 1994. By 2004, she was promoted [...]

Land could be “transferred” from city to new baseball team

info2019-03-05T09:06:20-06:00March 5th, 2019|

The City Council will decide Tuesday whether to sell land worth more than $800,000 to the team owners for development. One of the team's owners, Lou Schwechheimer, told the Associated Press that the development around the ballpark should spur economic growth elsewhere in Wichita. The deal calls for the transfer to cost considerably less than the value - just $24 for the footprint being given. Until now, that stipulation was left secret. Mayor Jeff Longwell said it was because of Minor League Baseball rules. Managers of existing business near the site of the new stadium said they're not opposed to the [...]

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