info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Ellis County projects it will end year under budget

info2018-12-20T07:51:26-06:00December 20th, 2018|

The Ellis County Commission is projecting it will end the year under budget and approved a series of transfers of the unused funds Monday. The county intends to keep $2.925 million in unencumbered cash in its general fund account. This is about 15 percent of the county’s expenditures less transfers, Phillip Smith-Hanes, county administrator, said. Smith explained the county’s general fund is like the county’s checking account, and the unencumbered cash is extra money to help with the county’s cash flow and to use in case of emergencies. The two departments that had the largest surpluses in 2018 were the Road [...]

Bus shelters coming to South Hutch in 2019

info2018-12-20T07:49:26-06:00December 20th, 2018|

The Reno County Commission on Tuesday approved a licensing agreement with the city of South Hutchinson that will allow placement of two Reno County Area Transit bus shelters in that city. The board also approved the transfer of a van that will allow the Department of Aging to set up a grocery delivery service for the elderly, OK’d disposing of two aging RCAT buses on an auction site, and heard a report on bus driver wages. Both shelters will go on Main Street in South Hutchinson where there are existing concrete pads that city previously set up with benches, Reno County [...]

Valley Center hires former long-time Derby Rec Commission superintendent

info2018-12-20T07:47:57-06:00December 20th, 2018|

Former DRC Superintendent Frank Seitz will work as a consultant for the Valley Center Recreation Commission Board. According to The Ark Valley News, the board approved a contract with Seitz at its Dec. 10 meeting. Hired in 1980, Seitz was the first superintendent for the Derby Recreation Commission and served until his retirement in 2017. Chris Drum, current DRC superintendent, started working in the role in November of the same year. Seitz’s hiring comes two months after the board fired longtime recreation director Steve Geddes, claiming he had fractured relationships with other Valley Center governmental agencies. (Read more: DerbyInformer.com - news,news/)

Derby Rec Commission moves forward in acquiring arts center

info2018-12-20T07:46:11-06:00December 20th, 2018|

In a move that advanced its acquisition of the building, the Derby Recreation Commission approved a donation agreement for the Hubbard Arts Center. The agreement, approved at the DRC board’s December meeting, provides formal structure for the deed of the property located at 309 N. Woodlawn. The agreement was established by the DRC, the city, and the Derby Historical Society. It is not a final lease agreement. As part of the deal, the historical society will donate the Hubbard Arts Center to the DRC, which will pay for building insurance and utilities for both the museum and the arts center. The [...]

City land sale will square up lot

info2018-12-20T07:44:47-06:00December 20th, 2018|

The City Council approved the sale of a small portion of park land to a private party. Mark Fritze and his wife, Kourtney Fritze, asked to buy 3,600 square feet of city-owned land at the very east side of the Woodland Valley Park, which is adjacent to their residential lot at 1231 N. Wild Turkey. The sale price is $1,800, or 50 cents a square foot. “While the city does not generally favor selling its park lands, because this particular piece of the park is an odd shape, selling this small area would be of little to no consequence to the [...]

Development needed says city manager, but planning and zoning board vote against senior development

info2018-12-20T07:38:59-06:00December 20th, 2018|

In the coming month, the City of Newton Commission will face a vote to override its planning and zoning board and allow for the development for senior citizens, but actual details on the proposed development are short. Redwood Developments, out of Joplin, Mo., is in the early stages of working on a development of a 6.7 acre retirement development, available for those 55 years and older that would be built near Sand Creek Golf Course along S. Anderson Drive and north of Summer Drive. To make the development happen, the zoning of the property needed to be changed from single family [...]

Garden City to change practice with repeat offenders

info2018-12-19T07:37:34-06:00December 19th, 2018|

The Garden City Commission on Tuesday directed the Garden City Police Department to revise its existing practices regarding “Own Recognizance,” or OR, bonds for people who have violated the city’s code of ordinances, changing the language relating to repeat offenders. Suspects issued an OR bond are released with only explicit instructions to appear in court at a certain date and time, rather than posting a payment or other surety. Since July 2016, the GCPD has released people arrested on non-warrant arrests for municipal charges on an OR bond almost immediately, unless they are considered a danger to the community or under [...]

Topeka Mayor, city manager hold final joint news conference of 2018

info2018-12-19T07:34:33-06:00December 19th, 2018|

Mayor Michelle De La Isla and city manager Brent Trout conducted their final joint monthly news conference of 2018 on Tuesday morning at City Hall, discussing accomplishments that have taken place over the past 12 months and challenges awaiting the city next year. Early in her comments, De La Isla noted the city had balanced its budget this year. She said the city also has enjoyed a smooth working relationship with Shawnee County, something she said hasn’t always been the case. She praised the Topeka Police Department for its role in “some really difficult conversations in our community,” particularly in the [...]

North Newton residents now can get leak credits

info2018-12-19T07:33:39-06:00December 19th, 2018|

North Newton City Administrator John Torline told council members on Monday night one resident had a huge water bill because of a leak, and there was nothing he could do to help that person pay for the water bill. He said the leak was between the meter and the structure, which resulted in the large water bill. He said his response was to say, “Sorry, we don’t give a leak credit.” “We think it’s time to amend the policy,” Torline said. The council agreed, voting unanimously to give a “50-percent adjustment to the cost associated with the leak” if the leak [...]

Barton County set to welcome new County Counselor

info2018-12-19T07:32:10-06:00December 19th, 2018|

In addition to having a new County Attorney, Barton County will also soon have a new County Counselor who will assist Commissioners on legal issues. Current Counselor Carey Hipp will soon be leaving to become a District Judge in the 20th Judicial District after winning that spot in the November general election. Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to name Pat Hoffman with Sherman, Hoffman and Hoffman from Ellsworth to take over the position. That is the same law firm that Carey Hipp worked with during her time as Counselor. Commissioner Alicia Straub said she liked the idea of having an outside voice [...]

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