info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Louisburg Fire Department to get 2018 pumper truck

info2019-02-21T06:35:29-06:00February 21st, 2019|

Interim Fire Chief Brad Seely and two other representatives of the Louisburg Fire Department were recently in Appleton, Wis., to examine a pumper fire truck before the city finalized its purchase. At their Jan. 22 meeting, City Council members approved acquisition of the 2018 Pierce Saber Stock Pumper from Conrad Fire Equipment for $374,404.09. The truck was recommended by city staff and the fire department. At their meeting Monday, Feb. 4, council members accepted a bid from First Option Bank for a seven-year, capital lease agreement for $250,000 at 3.25 percent interest to help finance the pumper truck. First Option had [...]

Kansas House bill compels disclosure, auditing of state economic incentives

info2019-02-20T09:18:47-06:00February 20th, 2019|

A Kansas House committee approved legislation requiring the state agency responsible for awarding economic development incentives to businesses to document tax breaks on a website available to the public. The Kansas Department of Commerce’s tax incentive programs also would automatically, for the first time, be subject of performance reviews by the Legislature’s auditing division. Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee said they were eager for reform because Kansas remained one of the few states cloaking in secrecy details of tax breaks given businesses and avoiding rigorous analysis of the success or failure of incentives. [...]

Crawford County commission rescinds trail resolution

info2019-02-20T09:16:41-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Just weeks after approving a resolution in support of a plan to turn an abandoned railway into a trail, the Crawford County Commission voted Tuesday to rescind that decision. “I think we got ahead of ourselves,” said Commissioner Tom Moody, “and until some of these questions are answered, then we need to revisit (the Watco Trail plan.)“ At its Jan. 22 meeting, the commission had approved an initial resolution which would allow the nonprofit group Live Well Crawford County to apply for grants for a project to turn a section of railway stretching from Pittsburg to Cherokee, owned by Watco Companies [...]

Crawford County residents warned to watch for noxious weeds

info2019-02-20T09:15:12-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Removing garden variety weeds from lawns and fields may be a hassle for area residents, but some may not be aware that they’re legally required to keep certain unwelcome plant varieties — those officially designated “noxious weeds” in the State of Kansas — under control. Kansas classifies 12 plant species as noxious weeds, though only five are serious problems in Crawford County, according to County Noxious Weed Director Ed Fields. The five to look out for are bull thistle, musk thistle, field bindweed, Johnson grass and sericea lespedeza. “Our Achilles heel is sericea lespedeza,” said Fields. “That’s the one that’s just [...]

City of Topeka to hire civilian to investigate police misconduct

info2019-02-20T09:12:44-06:00February 20th, 2019|

The city of Topeka will hire an independent police auditor who will help investigate reports of police misconduct. City manager Brent Trout announced Tuesday he had authorized creating the new position in his office. He said the person will be a civilian and report to him. The person will work with the police department’s professional standards unit. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Trout found funds for the position by eliminating an existing job in his office for a senior executive aide, which was vacant. The person will be paid $71,500 a year. The city hasn’t started the process of finding someone to [...]

Finney County trying to prioritize road, bridge projects

info2019-02-20T09:12:13-06:00February 20th, 2019|

The Finney County Commission spoke Tuesday about which upcoming public works infrastructure projects should take priority over others. County Engineer John Ellermann reviewed a tentative schedule for upcoming roads and bridges projects, including pavement overlays and bridge replacements throughout the county and major modifications to Farmland and Mansfield roads. The schedule planned about one road project a year through 2027 and one bridge project a year through 2023. Ellermann said commission input would help him make a more defined master plan for county projects. “I just wanted to maybe know the appetite for bigger projects,” Ellermann told the commission. (Read more: [...]

Reno Commission Chairman upset about state wind bill; “comparable to state tax lid”

info2019-02-20T09:00:46-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Reno County Commission Chairman Bob Bush expressed anger and disappointment Tuesday about the introduction of a bill at the Capitol last week that would set statewide minimum setbacks from homes and public property for commercial wind turbines unless waived by a property owner. Calling the bill “an attack at us directly” and “incredible state overreach,” Bush was referring to House Bill 2273, which the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee – chaired by Rep. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie -- was hearing this week. The committee was scheduled to hear from those in favor of the proposal on Tuesday and opponents of [...]

Reno County commission again suggests expanding incentive for creating jobs

info2019-02-20T08:57:22-06:00February 20th, 2019|

The Reno County Commission agreed Tuesday to modify the county’s job incentive policy, offering up to 80 percent of the current policy for a company creating just a handful of new jobs. The board didn’t formally vote on the proposal, but it will come back in a couple of weeks for action, once county staff again amends the plan. The commission last October also indicated support for modifying the policy, though at a slightly lower level. The board, however, never took it up for a formal vote. A $500 incentive is paid per job for 10 or more jobs if they [...]

Kansas property owners lash out at wind farms in support of proposed restrictions

info2019-02-20T08:53:40-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Amy Brown held her two young sons to her side Tuesday as she fought back tears and lashed out at the company that plans to surround her home south of Hutchinson with massive wind turbines. She was in the Statehouse for a hearing on a bill that would impose heavy restrictions on new wind energy developments across the state. The law would require a 1.5-mile cushion between residential homes and wind turbines. Echoing the concerns of those who testified in support of the restrictions, Brown said she fears health problems linked by studies to low-frequency sounds produced by wind generators. If [...]

Wind Farm negotiations continue between NextEra Energy and Nemaha County’s hired attorney James Neeld

info2019-02-20T09:51:30-06:00February 20th, 2019|

County residents in opposition and those in favor of the proposed wind farms in Nemaha County filled the Commissioners Room of the Nemaha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 19, hoping to receive a term sheet. The Nemaha County Commissioners’ wind farm attorney, James Neeld, also was present to give an update and answer questions for those present. According to Neeld, they are close to having a full term sheet available for review but are still negotiating on two issues. “The two issues we are down to are money and setbacks,” he said. “The money is what taxing scheme will be imposed [...]

About info