info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee County moves away from removing animal carcasses near roads; policy change allows ‘nature to take its course’

info2019-01-14T06:49:13-06:00January 14th, 2019|

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office has moved away from its past practice of removing non-hazardous animal carcasses from beside roadways, a supervisor with that office says. Shawnee County animal control, a support unit of the sheriff’s office, removes carcasses that are considered traffic hazards from roadways in Shawnee County, Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer said in an email Friday. That unit also may remove carcasses that pose issues in certain non-highway settings, Stallbaumer said. “As a courtesy, Shawnee County animal control has traditionally assisted with the removal of animal carcasses on the side of roadways,” he said. “More recently, however, animal control has [...]

Butler County okays Next Generation 9-1-1 for 2019 service

info2019-01-14T06:46:23-06:00January 14th, 2019|

The Commission authorized the 9-1-1 Director to pay the Kansas 9-1-1 Coordinating Council $108,360 for 2019 Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) services. In 2017, Butler County entered into an agreement with the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council for NG911 call handling equipment and participation on the statewide Emergency Services IP Network (ESI Net). It was noted that Butler County Emergency Medical Services Director Chad Pore will be stepping down from his position the first week of February. Will Johnson stated that Mr. Pore has been a great asset to Butler County and the county has made great improvements during his tenure. (Read more: [...]

Neosho County won’t issue moratorium on wind project

info2019-01-14T08:22:31-06:00January 14th, 2019|

A motion for a moratorium against a proposed wind farm in Neosho County failed with all three county commissioners present at a special meeting Thursday evening. Commissioners also voted to change their meetings to Thursday evenings from Friday mornings when a commissioner decided against resigning. The discussion on the proposed Neosho Ridge wind project filled the courtroom at the Neosho County courthouse to capacity, but was less dramatic than previous commission meetings. A representative of Apex Clean Energy, developers of the project, had 30 minutes to make a presentation, then a representative of non-participating landowners had 30 minutes to present the [...]

Land bank works to revitalize neighborhoods in Pittsburg

info2019-01-14T06:40:17-06:00January 14th, 2019|

The City of Pittsburg is ramping up its efforts to improve properties in Pittsburg. With the help of the Pittsburg Land Bank, the City is continuing to turn blighted, vacated and underused properties into new opportunities for businesses, homebuilders and developers. The City of Pittsburg established the Pittsburg Land Bank in 2015 to convert vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent and otherwise neglected properties into productive use. The land bank strategically acquires problem properties that destabilize neighborhoods, create fire and safety hazards and drive down property values, and transfers them to new, responsible owners in a manner that results in outcomes consistent with the [...]

Lawrence to consider extending fast-track incentives program for business parks

info2019-01-14T06:38:11-06:00January 14th, 2019|

City leaders soon will decide whether to continue a program meant to jump-start development at the city’s business parks and other industrially zoned areas. As part of its meeting Monday, the City Commission will consider approving a three-year extension of the Catalyst Program. The program, which the commission created in 2017, provides a simplified application process for industrial projects that want to build or expand facilities in VenturePark, East Hills Business Park or other industrially zoned land in the city. City staff is recommending that the commission extend the program, saying that it has been successful, according to a memo to [...]

Roeland Park tallies up completed priorities from 2018, looks to 2019 projects

info2019-01-14T06:37:17-06:00January 14th, 2019|

Removing dead trees in Nall Park, finishing a high priority sidewalk project, and maintaining the city’s art were among 2018 objectives completed by Roeland Park. Twenty tasks, with a total budget of $330,000, were planned for completion in 2018. Two-thirds of completed tasks came in at or below budgeted cost. “We got a lot accomplished in 2018,” said Roeland Park Mayor Mike Kelly during a council workshop. The city is also continuing work on two 2017 objectives, the most notable being a $1 million task to find a new location for Public Works. According to a staff report the city is [...]

Commissioner Mike Gaughan looks back on decade of service to Douglas County

info2019-01-14T06:37:12-06:00January 14th, 2019|

Interim County Administrator Sarah Plinsky told Gaughan during Wednesday’s meeting that she appreciated his dedication to initiatives that may not be flashy or make headlines, but that help the organization function better. Gaughan said certain administrative tasks — such as a salary study and overhaul of the pay structure that the county completed — will help the county be a competitive employer for those drawn to public service, despite its position sandwiched between Johnson and Shawnee counties as well as facing the University of Kansas, city of Lawrence and the local school district. “Just like every other employer in town, we’re [...]

Hays city commission debates ‘road to nowhere’: should development or infrastructure come first?

info2019-01-14T06:36:13-06:00January 14th, 2019|

Is it a road to nowhere or bridge to somewhere? Hays Mayor James Meier Thursday voted against improvements to East 41st Street from Home Depot east to Vineyard Park, calling it a “road to nowhere” and a “project in search of a problem.” Commissioner Ron Mellick voted with the majority for the improvements, which include grading, pavement, storm sewer and waterline. The low bid of $629,133.50 was from Paul-Wertenberger Construction, Hays, and was less than the engineer’s estimate. “I look at this as a ‘bridge to somewhere,’ ” Mellick countered. “You can’t develop on either side of the actual road. I [...]

Bid to make county commission elections partisan fails by a single vote

info2019-01-14T06:34:26-06:00January 14th, 2019|

Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown lost his bid Thursday to tie commission elections to party politics. But don’t expect the issue to go away any time soon. Brown and other commission members promised they’d keep the discussion going when the 10-year review of the county’s charter happens in 2021. The commission narrowly voted down Brown’s motion to put Ds and Rs on the ballot for what has for 20 years been a non-partisan election. Five of the seven commissioners voted in favor, but since it was an amendment to the charter a supermajority of six votes was needed. Had that happened, [...]

Unlikely that Salina will adopt universal curbside recycling

info2019-01-14T06:31:57-06:00January 14th, 2019|

It is looking increasingly unlikely that Salina will adopt universal curbside recycling, following a meeting of the Saline County Solid Waste Management Committee on Thursday afternoon. The committee took a series of preliminary votes to help draft recommendations to the Salina City Commission regarding the future of the curbside recycling program and other matters related to waste collection. The committee will take a final vote on a complete recommendation in a future meeting. Salina residents have the choice of paying the city or a private company to collect their trash. In a preliminary vote, six committee members voted against recommending the [...]

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