info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Commission responds to social media criticism on storm/ice preparation

info2019-02-22T09:08:13-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

One major challenge was identified after Tuesday night’s El Dorado City Commission meeting was adjourned and cameras had stopped rolling. That challenge being the propagation of animosity towards the City and its employees without respect or compassion for their dedication to serving the public. Commissioner Wilkinson told Mr. Meyer, “I personally want to thank you and your department for everything you’ve done. I think a lot of the criticism you received on Facebook was unnecessary and quite rude.“ At the request of City Manager David Dillner, Mr. Meyer shared the City of El Dorado Public Works Policy on Snow and Ice [...]

Sugar mill collapse has planning department’s attention

info2019-02-22T09:06:30-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

The partial collapse of a 140-year-old building in Hutchinson has raised the attention of the city building inspector and the planning department. The old sugar mill suffered damage when a portion of the elevator shaft fell to the ground Feb. 4. Because the bill to repair the building is in excess of $250,000, the building will likely come down. Trent Maxwell, the city building inspector, says they are weighing the options for dealing with the older buildings in the city. Interim Planning Director Jim Seitnater says the city wants to be proactive in making sure the buildings are sound, but also [...]

Roeland Park approves expenditure of nearly $900K on R Park pavilion, restrooms

info2019-02-22T09:02:19-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Roeland Park’s city council on Monday approved the expenditure of $118,504 for engineering and design for the first of redevelopment for R Park. The project will be managed by Larkin Lamp Rynearson, a Kansas City engineering firm. The phase one designs will include a pavilion and restrooms. The pavilion will be large enough to accommodate 60 people and the restrooms will be designed to meet this capacity, according to the task order. The city initially planned to spend $200,000 for a pavilion in 2020 and another $200,000 for permanent restrooms in 2021, but the timeline was changed to meet code requiring [...]

Leavenworth County Commissioners review festival proposal

info2019-02-22T09:00:25-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

The city of Leavenworth may start up a new community festival. And the recommended name of the festival is Camp Leavenworth. Keli O’Neill Wenzel, president and CEO of O’Neill Events and Marketing, visited Tuesday with the Leavenworth City Commission regarding her firm’s recommendations for a new festival. The city hired the firm to do event research in preparation for a possible city-sponsored festival. Wenzel said the theme of the festival would celebrate the city’s sense of freedom and adventure. It also would pay tribute to the community’s ties to the military. “It plays to who you are with the military tie-in,” [...]

Clay Center approves extraction cutters, heated driveway for fire station

info2019-02-22T08:58:50-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Last night the Clay Center City Council approved a couple of items for the Clay Center Fire Department, including new cutters for vehicle extraction (commonly known as the jaws for life) and a system to heat the concrete driveway in front of the fire station at Fifth Street and Grant Avenue. In a committee meeting before the council meeting, council members heard a report from Fire Chief John Ihnen, who reported that the extraction tools that firefighters currently use are 25 years old. The council received only one bid that meet their qualification. The cost to replace the cutter is $10,971, [...]

Ark City to refinance hospital debt

info2019-02-22T08:56:20-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Arkansas City commissioners took steps this week they hope will help the city to refinance hospital debt and save taxpayers money. The commission approved an ordinance Tuesday that requires 95 percent of revenue from the one-cent sales tax be set aside for bond payments. City Manager Nick Hernandez said part of the reason for that action is to show potential investors that the city has a guaranteed source of income for repayment. “This is a requirement that we need to undertake as a commission to assure bondholders and bond buyers that revenue will be made available to pay back those pledges,” [...]

Wichita city leaders could reverse plans to close pools

info2019-02-22T08:54:48-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

When Wichita city leaders released their aquatic master plan two years ago, many city pools were scheduled to close. Now, a new plan could keep more pools open. Cynthia Maxwell and her daughter, Lucinda go swimming at least 4 times a week in the summer. When they heard Minisa pool might be closing, Lucinda braved a city council meeting and told members just how important the pool was to her. City Council member, Cindy Claycomb says push back from the city played a huge role in saving city pools. "Folks aren't liking this very well, what else could we do? We [...]

Ellis County tags $800K to fix busy northwest county roads

info2019-02-22T08:52:56-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

On an icy day, it’s not unheard of for cars and semi tractor trailer rigs traveling 230th Avenue northwest of Hays to slide off the hilly, narrow rock road. “At our plant, we employ 360 people,” said Mark Hess, vice president of operations for Hess Services Inc. “This year alone, 20 to 25 of our employees have wrecked their cars and slid into the ditch.” While 230th Avenue has a series of rollercoaster hills, one of the steepest that is north facing, in particular, gets very slick in icy wintry weather. “Luckily we’ve had no serious injuries,” said Hess, “but it’s [...]

Overland Park council incentivizes Market Lofts developer to complete major work before Farmers Market opening

info2019-02-22T09:45:57-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

The developer of the Market Lofts project in downtown Overland Park may be able to get some of his promised tax increment financing money restored if he meets two new deadlines designed to get his construction workers out of the way of the Farmer’s Market. Members of the city council’s finance committee okayed a plan Wednesday that would give developer Paul Goehausen until April 15 to have the exterior work and sidewalks done. The new deadline for final completion of the project is June 1. If he misses those deadlines, he stands to lose even more of the money he had [...]

Disagreement emerges in Topeka council debate over employee residency

info2019-02-21T09:11:19-06:00February 21st, 2019|

Disagreement emerged Tuesday evening as members of Topeka’s governing body debated a proposal that would do away with the city’s residency requirement for employees. Councilwoman Sandra Clear suggested she was willing to join council members Karen Hiller, Jeff Coen and Tony Emerson in supporting the proposed change. But Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz and Mayor Michelle De La Isla expressed opposition to it. Councilman Brendan Jensen said he was open to having his mind changed but had reservations about the proposal, which he said was counterintuitive to efforts he and other advocates for this community have undertaken to make Topeka a place where [...]

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