info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Topeka has two TIF districts, but there may be more to come

info2019-02-19T12:12:10-06:00February 19th, 2019|

The city has two existing TIF districts. Those are: • The College Hill TIF District, located generally to the south of S.W. 17th and Washburn Avenue, which was formed in 2006 and hasn’t done as well as city officials had hoped it would. • The Wheatfield Village TIF District at the northwest corner of S.W. 29th and Fairlawn Road, which remains under construction. Kansas law allows government entities to create TIF districts at the request of developers to help offset development costs. Developers pay off costs over a period of up to 20 years using the increase in property tax and [...]

City of Hays unveils new website design

info2019-02-19T12:08:09-06:00February 19th, 2019|

Unveiling the city of Hays’ new redesigned website drew expressions of “wow” from Hays City Commissioners on Thursday. Chad Ruder, director of Information Technology for the city, gave a tour of the city’s redesigned site during the commission’s regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall. Haysusa.com has well over 200 pages. But Ruder said residents should find the new layout easier, so they can find what they want, and get things done. “I invite you to visit Haysusa.com, it went live on Monday,” Ruder told the commissioners. Residents will find forms, calendars, up-to-date city news, and be able to pay their bills [...]

Hutch City Council will consider contract to study convention center needs

info2019-02-19T12:04:05-06:00February 19th, 2019|

The Hutchinson City Council will take action on a market study contract during Tuesday’s meeting. The study would explore market needs for a new hotel and convention center. A task force with city and Chamber representation was recently assembled to identify options for the community when it comes to a new or renovated convention center or hotel project. The task force initially sent out a request for proposals to various hotel development groups. The task force received four letters of interest. Three development groups, one of which was the current owner of the Atrium, were then interviewed. The task force decided [...]

Franklin County sheriff asks judiciary committee to amend state law dealing with seizure of neglected animals

info2019-02-19T12:01:29-06:00February 19th, 2019|

Sheriff Jeff Richards believes Franklin County’s seizure last year of 55 horses suffering from inadequate food and water was the right decision. “They were in bad shape,” the sheriff said. “There was a lot of neglect.” Richards asked the Kansas House’s judiciary committee to amend state law to deal with legal and financial issues encountered after seizing the horse herd. In part, House Bill 2206 would clarify the role of state courts in assessing responsibility for the cost of caring for animals in cruelty cases. It also would streamline legal requirements when animals must be held in a county other than [...]

Lyon County Commissioners approve letter to KDOT re: Turnpike closures

info2019-02-19T11:54:52-06:00February 19th, 2019|

Lyon County Commissioners approved a letter to the Kansas Department of Transportation regarding how closures of the turnpike negatively affect local traffic on Interstate 35. The approval came following a discussion with Undersheriff John Koelsch Thursday morning at the courthouse. He said the purpose of the letter was to request a meeting with Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz. “It’s based on the joint city/county discussions about when the KTA decides to close and requests our local resources to close the gate,” Koelsch said. “It creates a backup on I-35 and overwhelms our resources in short order. It’s occurred several times over [...]

Newton utility rates under scrutiny

info2019-02-19T11:53:24-06:00February 19th, 2019|

Newton City Manager Bob Myers has said at many a city meeting that no matter where you live, you think the utility bill is too high. Apparently, he is right — as residents of the city of El Dorado were recently questioning their city hall about utility rates. Enough so that city staff of El Dorado turned to creating a graphic to show the average utility bill for eight different cities in the region and posting it on social media Feb. 13 for all to see. Of the eight selected, El Dorado showed as the second lowest. Newton was credited with [...]

Hays approves $774K for street maintenance this year

info2019-02-19T11:31:59-06:00February 19th, 2019|

Hays city commissioners Thursday night approved six low bids totaling $774,456.39 for the 2019 Street Maintenance Program. Monies will come from the Special Highway fund. A little more than $1.1 million is budgeted for street maintenance this year. The street work includes include seal coat, asphalt rejuvenator, micro-surfacing, curb and brick repair, major rehabilitation of Ash Street from 23rd to 27th, and concrete shoulders along portions of 8th Street and Old Highway 40 east of Vine Street. Vance Brothers had the contract in 2018 for micro-surfacing but was unable to finish all the work, according to John Braun, the city’s project [...]

Leavenworth County Development Corp approves budget without funding from Bashehor

info2019-02-19T10:50:58-06:00February 19th, 2019|

For a second year in a row, the Leavenworth County Development Corporation has approved an annual budget without funding from the city of Basehor. But Steve Jack, executive director of LCDC, said he is scheduled to meet today with Basehor’s new city administrator. “We’ll talk about the things we do,” Jack said. Jack said he will see if there is interest in Basehor rejoining LCDC. Leslee Rivarola became the Basehor city administrator earlier this month. Basehor previously supported LCDC. But the city ended its participation with the economic development organization at the end of 2017. The Leavenworth County government and the [...]

Feral cat trap-neuter-return proposal returning to Lawrence City Commission for review

info2019-02-19T11:39:06-06:00February 19th, 2019|

Lawrence city leaders will soon review changes to the city’s animal control ordinance, including a provision that would allow feral cat colonies. The Lawrence Humane Society proposed changes to the ordinance that would allow for a “trap-neuter-release,” or TNR, program under which cats would be caught, neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to where they were collected and allowed to roam free. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will review the proposed changes to the ordinance. Currently, Lawrence city code does not allow cats to roam free, and animal control officers address resident complaints and trap stray or [...]

City of Liberal discusses perimeter fencing for airport; may seek grant funding

info2019-02-15T12:17:41-06:00February 15th, 2019|

Community safety was the main theme of the evening for the Liberal City Commission during its most recent Tuesday evening. Up first in this theme saw Airport Operations Chief Brian Fornwalt talk to the commission about the installation of perimeter fencing at the Liberal Airport. “Last year when the FAA was doing its inspection, they saw coyotes running across the main runway and run toward the golf course,” Fornwalt began. “Through some programs we’re trying to go through the FAA to get some funding for a perimeter fencing project Our recommendation is for the commission to approve the perimeter fencing installation project [...]

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