info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

His time in prison behind him, Leavenworth mayor inspires county’s ‘Expungement Day’

info2019-01-10T12:35:38-06:00January 10th, 2019|

Jermaine Wilson needed a plan. He was behind bars in the maximum security wing of Lansing Correctional Facility. “Like a caged animal,” he said. He took up paper and pen there in 2007 and began listing the way it was going to be. He had God in his life now. No more drugs. No more “chasing the money.” He was going to get back to his 8-month-old son, Jermaine Jr. He was going to take classes in prison. Get out and start a life of service. Go to work. Start a non-profit. Not on his list? Become the mayor of Leavenworth. [...]

Pittsburg continues to explore creating public electric utility

info2019-01-10T12:34:43-06:00January 10th, 2019|

The City of Pittsburg is continuing its exploration of the possibility of owning the city’s electric service. The city commissioned a study from GE Warren Associates on the feasibility of purchasing — as state law allows — the local electrical grid from Weststar and forming a public utility. At Tuesdays’ Pittsburg City Commission meeting, the representative from GE Warren — who said he was a “big proponent” of public power — said the number of customers in Pittsburg would make a city-owned power utility larger than 85 percent of public utilities in the U.S. Additionally, he said, the utility would generate [...]

South Hutch Council votes not to retain police chief

info2019-01-10T12:33:19-06:00January 10th, 2019|

The City of South Hutchinson is down to three police officers and no chief after the City Council on Monday night voted not to re-appoint Chief Mark Thompson. Mayor Mandi Blumanhourst, in an email, confirmed the council’s action. The News was unable to reach any city council members or the chief for comment. “The council voted to not reappoint Mark Thompson as police chief,” Blumanhourst stated. “I have no further details to provide.” Patrol Sgt. Paul Allen said the council appointed no interim chief, but he otherwise had no comment. Thompson, who worked at the police department nearly 17 years, took [...]

Louisburg city council discusses fixes to stormwater system

info2019-01-10T12:30:08-06:00January 10th, 2019|

While most of Louisburg’s stormwater system is in good condition, members of the City Council were told recently that it would take more than $1 million to fix problems with the pipes and structures. Brent Johnson with the civil engineering firm Olsson presented a stormwater master plan Dec. 17 to the Louisburg City Council. He said preparation of the plan, which included inspection of most of the city’s stormwater infrastructure, started in early summer and wrapped up in the fall. He said there was minor work to be done on the final report to the city, but it should be completed [...]

Great Bend working on online payment option for utility bills

info2019-01-10T12:28:25-06:00January 10th, 2019|

The City of Great Bend altered how they attempt to collect late utility payments, and there is now an effort to provide an option for citizens to pay their bill online. City Administrator Kendal Francis says the City has been approached multiple times requesting the online payment option. Francis acknowledged the online payment is a goal for 2019, but the City first wants to establish the utility network. Great Bend started a policy January 1, 2019, that if you are late on your bill, your utility service will be cut off without a face-to-face reminder. The move was made to eliminate [...]

Sabetha planning commission makes commercial wind generation city code recommendation

info2019-01-10T09:24:29-06:00January 10th, 2019|

More than 60 local residents were present for the Sabetha Planning and Zoning meeting, when the board voted unanimously to remove commercial wind generation facilities from the Sabetha’s “AG” Agricultural District Regulations Code. Others present at the Thursday, Jan. 3, meeting were Sabetha Planning and Zoning Commission members Jerry Johnson, David Koch, Lynn Hartter, Scott Wedel, Shannon Stapleton, Matt Heiman and Scott Krebs. Also present were City Administrator Doug Allen and Assistant City Administrator Bill Shroyer. Currently, the City of Sabetha Land Development Code Article 2 Section 2-102 — which was adopted in September 2003 — states that commercial wind generation [...]

Roeland Park survey will ask residents whether they want city parks smoke free, how to address teardown-rebuild issue

info2019-01-10T09:22:38-06:00January 10th, 2019|

Roeland Park residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on teardown/major remodeling guidelines, satisfaction with the updated leaf pickup program, and provide suggestions for pool programming when they receive their 2019 citizen survey. Residents can also indicate whether they want the city’s parks to be completely smoke free. Councilmembers discussed the draft version of the 7-page questionnaire during Monday’s workshop meeting. Once finalized each Roeland Park household can expect to receive a survey in the mail. The survey will also be available online. The questionnaire will allow residents to provide feedback on how much authority they would like the city [...]

LETTER: Ellis County sales tax for buildings successful

info2019-01-10T09:09:02-06:00January 10th, 2019|

On May 14, 2013, Ellis County voters approved a one-half cent per dollar local sales tax to construct a new building for Fire and Emergency Medical Services and extensively renovate the County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center. That sales tax went into effect on October 1, 2013, and sunset five years later on September 30, 2018. At the time of the election, the sales tax was projected to generate $14,352,000 over the five-year period to repay bonds issued to finance construction of the two facilities. Reconciliation of the sales tax receipts through December 28, 2018, indicates that the tax actually generated [...]

Lenexa council hears pitch for major revamp of old community center, senior center

info2019-01-10T09:07:56-06:00January 10th, 2019|

The first major change in Lenexa’s old downtown in 30 years began to take shape this week, as the Lenexa City Council got a peek at a project that would significantly alter the block now occupied by the old community center, senior center and a small adjacent park. An architect walked the council through the first draft of plans to eventually tear down the Senior Center at the corner of Pflumm Road and Walnut Street and bring it under the roof of the community center next door. The drawings also reconfigured the parking lot and created an outdoor gathering space for [...]

Nemaha County Commission hears concerns, continues NextEra wind project negotiations

info2019-01-10T09:06:08-06:00January 10th, 2019|

The Nemaha County Commissioners have been busy this past week listening and absorbing a plethora of information, which has been brought to them by multiple county residents in opposition of two wind farm projects proposed in Nemaha County. The first meeting was held on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, while the second was held on Monday, Jan. 7. During the Dec. 31 meeting, multiple county residents attended to express their concern and present information they had found regarding wind energy projects. At the Jan. 7 meeting, Attorney James Neeld – the attorney hired by Nemaha County – was present to answer questions [...]

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