info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Topeka hires Kansas native as new finance director

info2019-02-06T10:54:22-06:00February 6th, 2019|

Kansas native Jessica Lamendola was recently hired as the city of Topeka’s new administrative and financial services director. She starts work March 4. Lamendola comes to Topeka from the city of North Hempstead, N.Y., where she has been finance director and acting comptroller since July 2016, the city of Topeka said in a news release Tuesday. North Hempstead’s population in the 2010 census was 226,332, compared to 127,473 for Topeka. “Lamendola’s education, background and experiences will be very beneficial to the city of Topeka as we start work on the 2020 budget and CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) process,” city manager Brent [...]

Reno County approves trash compactor rebuild

info2019-02-06T09:26:21-06:00February 6th, 2019|

A contract to rebuild a three-year-old trash compactor at the landfill was approved Tuesday by the Reno County Commission. The contract with Foley Equipment in Wichita for $347,841 will make the equipment like new for about a third- to half the cost of buying new, said Justin Bland, director of Field Operations at the landfill. “They’ll tear it down to the frame and reconstruct the engine, powertrain, the wiring, the harness. It will get new paint, new seats, new floor liners, and headliners.” The county started a program rebuilding landfill equipment in 2004, and this will be the fifth piece of [...]

Hutch City Council agrees to lease new fire truck

info2019-02-06T09:25:07-06:00February 6th, 2019|

The Hutchinson City Council approved the lease of a new fire truck during Tuesday’s agenda session. The department will once again use a lease similar to the one that allowed the fire department to acquire a new ladder truck last year. The nine-year lease will allow the department to continue the new practice of setting a timeline for equipment replacement to better stabilize the budget. Councilwoman Jade Piros de Carvalho expressed concern about using an outsourced leasing agent to acquire the truck versus using a local institution to fund its outright purchase. (Read more: Hutch Post)

Horton hospital faces uncertain future

info2019-02-06T09:23:33-06:00February 6th, 2019|

A northeast Kansas hospital run by a troubled hospital management company is operating without enough supplies or the necessary funds to buy medications and food for patients, according to its chief nursing officer. Krissy Torkelson said she has had to negotiate with city officials to keep the lights on at Horton Community Hospital. She said and trash piled up because the bill wasn’t paid, adding that employees also weren’t paid on Friday but were assured they would be paid Monday. The hospital in the town of about 1,700 people is operated by EmpowerHMS, a subsidiary of The Empower Group. That Florida-based [...]

Sedgwick County wants more time to plan for wind, solar developments

info2019-02-06T09:19:47-06:00February 6th, 2019|

The Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday will consider a measure designed to give it more time to craft regulations for potential future wind and solar energy projects. The commission will vote on a moratorium that temporarily suspends the issuance of conditional-use permits for wind and solar energy projects within the county's unincorporated areas. Chairman David Dennis says there are already some leases for such projects in western parts of the county. But, because Sedgwick County doesn’t have regulations within its zoning code to specifically standardize use for wind or solar projects, Dennis says the moratorium is designed to give it time [...]

Great Bend will have representation on a trip to Washington D.C. in late March

info2019-02-06T09:19:11-06:00February 6th, 2019|

After not sending anyone a year ago, the city of Great Bend will once again send representatives to Washington D.C. as part of a Western Kansas Congressional Delegation in late March. The group that is made up of city, county and economic development officials from Western Kansas make the trip each year to meet with elected officials and their staff to discuss topics of vital interest to the western part of the state. City Administrator Kendal Francis estimated that it would cost $1,500 per person for the trip that would include airfare, meals and lodging. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

City council agrees with planning commission; rejects controversial sign proposed for Delano

info2019-02-06T09:17:19-06:00February 6th, 2019|

In Tuesday's city council meeting, members rejected a 60-foot sign that has been at the center of controversy in Delano. The sign was designed to advertise an up and coming sports bar, Tight Ends. The sports bar is similar to a Twin Peaks or Hooters. "We don't want become just a giant scene of signs there along Kellogg. We want people to actually like see the view of the city and enjoy it," said Christopher Parisho, a Delano resident. Under law, signs in Delano are not to reach above 30 feet. The proposed sign would be double that height. In addition [...]

Ellis County : some jobs hard to fill

info2019-02-06T09:16:08-06:00February 6th, 2019|

With truck drivers in big demand, hiring one for the Ellis County Road and Bridge Department isn’t easy, according to department director Bill Ring. “We had an interview Friday that lasted four minutes,” said Ring. “The dollar figure came up right away.” There are lots of interviews going on, he said, but they’re not getting a lot of applicants. “There isn’t a large pool out there of unemployed people,” Ring said. It doesn’t help that the hourly wage of $13.89 translates into $28,000 a year for a 40-hour week. Probably the employee situation is going to get worse before it gets [...]

Residents provide input toward Plan Pottawatomie 2040

info2019-02-06T09:13:21-06:00February 6th, 2019|

An open house Monday at Westmoreland Elementary School gave community members and interested stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the Pottawatomie County Comprehensive Plan, also known as Plan Pottawatomie 2040. County officials shared recommendations they’ve created so far, including 12 key initiatives. Meredith Dang, a Senior Associate with planning firm Kendig Keast Collaborative was on hand to present and answer questions from the community. Dang gave a presentation during the meeting of 12 different “near term” priorities for the community to choose from. Some of the general topics were roads, infrastructure, agriculture, and transportation. Jack Allston, Pottawatomie County Economic Development [...]

Salina, Saline County consider upgrades for Expo Center

info2019-02-06T09:11:01-06:00February 6th, 2019|

Saline County and Salina City Commissioners listened to a presentation Monday from Kala Ade, projects manager for GH2 Architects, who proposed about $8 million in upgrades for the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center. In July, the Saline County Commission hired GH2 Architects, at a cost of up to $9,600, to evaluate proposed improvements for the Expo Center. During the past six months, Ade has been talking with city and county staff and the public to better understand what upgrades are needed. Salina and Saline County are currently negotiating a long-term lease for the Expo Center, a county facility that sits [...]

About info