info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Ark City doesn’t make cut for TV show, but promoters pleased with effort

info2018-12-13T06:56:46-06:00December 13th, 2018|

Anticipation and excitement quickly deflated into groans of disappointment when a group of Arkansas City residents learned the city didn’t make the cut to appear on an online TV show and win $500,000. That announcement was witnessed during a watch party of citizens and local officials at the Burford Theatre. The crowd of about 45 people gathered to watch a live broadcast announcing the top 10 finalists for Season 4 of the Small Business Revolution — Main Street. The competition, sponsored by the Deluxe Corporation, invites small cities across the nation to campaign to be featured on the show, with the [...]

Riley County Commission approves resilient plan documents for future flood prevention

info2018-12-13T06:54:49-06:00December 13th, 2018|

The Riley County commissioners looked at some of the documents related to the Resilient Riley County plan during their meeting on Monday. Planning and Special Projects Director Monty Wedel presented the memorandum of understanding and the request for qualifications to the commission that were drafted by the City of Manhattan. This plan will deal with future flood prevention efforts. Commissioner Ron Wells asked Manhattan Assistant Director of Community Development Chad Bunger if he though the 50/50 split between the county and city was fair. Bunger replied saying that the people who were affected in the city were still Riley County residents. [...]

Reno County Commission rejects request for more wind direction

info2018-12-13T06:48:29-06:00December 13th, 2018|

His fellow commissioners rejected the attempt by County Commissioner Dan Deming on Tuesday to give more formal direction to the Reno County planning board before it takes up an anticipated application for the Pretty Prairie Wind Farm. Proponents of a wind moratorium, meanwhile, submitted their own list of conditions they’d like addressed in any development agreement and use permit between the county and NextEra Energy. Two women who’ve addressed the commission every week for the past two months offered new data they claim shows the proposed NextEra development will result in millions in negative economic impact on the county over the [...]

Topeka governing body discusses changing rules for public comments

info2018-12-13T06:47:02-06:00December 13th, 2018|

Topeka City Council members voiced varying views late Tuesday as to whether they should stop allowing themselves to vote to extend the four-minute time limit for members of the public to speak at their meetings. Councilman Mike Lesser said the council should stop providing extensions. “We need to set a limit and stick with it,” he said. But Councilwoman Karen Hiller said she didn’t see council members no longer providing that courtesy. “We want somebody to be able to finish their thought,” she said. Councilman Mike Padilla suggested the council allow for each speaker to potentially receive one extension, but not [...]

Reno County Commission approves the upgrades for audio and video of meetings

info2018-12-13T06:45:06-06:00December 13th, 2018|

On Tuesday, the Reno County Commission agreed to spend up to $25,000 to renovate their audio and visual system at the courthouse. This would include live-streaming and the recording of meetings. Originally, they were considering spending just over $23,000 for the upgrades, but Mike Matthews, Director of the IT Department, indicated to the commission that the audio system would need some additional equipment costing around $600.00. Therefore, the commission agreed to increase the spending for no more than $25,000. The decision to upgrade the system came after the streaming of the audio and video quit twice while recent commission meetings were [...]

Marion County Commissioners seek administrator

info2018-12-13T06:43:00-06:00December 13th, 2018|

Despite voters giving thumbs-down to a 2017 ballot question on hiring a county administrator, commissioners decided in a split vote Monday to create the position anyway. The non-binding 2017 advisory vote whether to hire an administrator was 1,192 opposed and 962 in favor. Before commissioner Randy Dallke arrived at Monday’s meeting, chairman Dianne Novak said she believes the county needs an administrator. Commissioner Kent Becker agreed, then Novak made a motion to approve a resolution — not written yet — to hire an administrator. Becker seconded Novak’s motion. Dallke entered the commission room as the motion was made and seconded and [...]

End of the line for embattled economic development corporation in Marion county

info2018-12-13T06:38:57-06:00December 13th, 2018|

The doors of an embattled countywide economic development corporation funded by the county and cities are officially locked and the shutters are closed. Marion County Community Economic Development Corp. board members, left with one remaining board member as of the end of this month, voted Tuesday to dissolve the corporation effective Dec. 31, and disburse remaining money. Cities will get a full refund and the county will get a partial refund. Board members Jared Jost, Hannah Bourbon, and chairman Clint Seibel all resigned during the November meeting. Merlyn Entz and Darin Neufeld both resigned Tuesday. That leaves Lloyd Meier the only [...]

Marion county commissioners tentatively agree on redistricting five areas

info2018-12-13T06:37:00-06:00December 13th, 2018|

County commissioners tentatively agreed to a redistricting plan creating five commission districts Monday, but did not take formal action to approve the plan until after they hear from the public. Two new commissioners will be needed for the unassigned districts. Commission chairman Dianne Novak produced the proposal and said she met with Marion and Hillsboro administrators to make sure they are happy with the recommendation. Marion mayor Todd Heitschmidt, however, said different. The map divides both Marion and Hillsboro into two separate districts. “I think all of us are concerned about the island part with the north half of Marion,” Heitschmidt [...]

Courtland installs new picnic shelter

info2018-12-12T08:38:55-06:00December 12th, 2018|

The horizon has changed at the Courtland mini park with a new picnic shelter now available. Courtland Pride and the City of Courtland worked together to erect the new structure over the former basketball court. Last year a new basketball court was combined with the tennis court, half of the court was resealed, swings were added to the playground area, and new trees were added to the park area. Upgrades were settled upon after a number of community meetings. Source: Belleville Telescope.

Reno Commission OKs replacing Silver Lake Road bridge

info2018-12-12T06:54:11-06:00December 12th, 2018|

The Reno County Commission on Tuesday committed to spending up to about $143,000 to replace a bridge on Silver Lake Road under a special KDOT “off-system” bridge program, with the state picking up 80 percent of construction costs. Public Works Director Dave McComb said he complained to Kansas Department of Transportation officials that the county, despite some of the largest bridge numbers in the state, has applied for off-system bridge funding every year since the state started the program and “we never receive funding.” “This time we got funded,” he said, though it’s for fiscal year 2020. The 58-foot timber bridge, [...]

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