info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Some cities taking another look at their curfew ordinances

info2018-11-28T06:54:42-06:00November 28th, 2018|

Declaring a juvenile curfew to keep troublemaking teenagers off the streets is a summer ritual in many American cities. This year Austin, Texas decided not to sound the alarm. “We looked at the evidence and decided it was time to discard the curfew law,” Austin Police Department’s assistant chief, Troy Gay, told The Marshall Project. “It wasn’t making an impact on juvenile victimization.” The evidence was a report drafted by a consortium of community groups that banded together to challenge Austin’s curfew law in 2017. Police Chief Brian Manley was persuaded and asked the City Council to rescind the law. A [...]

Topeka mayor weighs in on proposed Law Enforcement Center fence

info2018-11-28T06:51:14-06:00November 28th, 2018|

Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla can see both sides in the disagreement over the police department’s planned construction of a fence around the Law Enforcement Center, she indicated Tuesday. The mayor appeared at a news conference the city government holds near the end of each month that generally features her and city manager Brent Trout, who wasn’t present Tuesday. De La Isla responded to a question about the police department’s plans to put up a decorative, 6-foot tall perimeter fence at the Law Enforcement Center, which houses the headquarters for the police department and sheriff’s office at 320 S. Kansas [...]

Gardner Police Department pioneers new record system

info2018-11-28T06:49:30-06:00November 28th, 2018|

The Gardner Police Department is one of three law enforcement agencies in Johnson County that will soon roll out a new records management system. The new system, named NICHE, will replace the current ILEADS system and is meant to not only simplify data entry components of police records but also greatly enhance the sharing of information between agencies in the region. “Gardner, Olathe and Merriam police departments were selected to go first before the system is rolled out to other agencies in the region,’ said Sgt/ Steve Benz, GPD public information officer, and one of 14 officers leading the effort throughout [...]

City of Sabetha wants review of wind facility zoning

info2018-11-28T06:48:25-06:00November 28th, 2018|

Commissioners approved having City Administrator Allen ask the Planning Commission to look at amending the zoning regulations to not allow windmills within extra-territorial area zoned by city regulations, which is typically a 1-1/2 to 2 mile radius of the city limits. Currently, they are allowed. The Planning Commission would need to set a public hearing to change the way this is handled. (Read more: Sabetha Herald)

Barton county commissioners pick up the difference for roof repairs at the Historical Society

info2018-11-28T06:45:21-06:00November 28th, 2018|

Barton County Commissioners had plenty of questions but in the end voted 5-0 Monday to pay for the overage on a roofing project at the Barton County Historical Society. In 2017, the board authorized paying Steel Builders Construction $12,800 for the roof ,but when the final bill came in to County Administrator Phil Hathcock, it was more than $2,700 what the county had originally agreed to pay. Commissioners including Jennifer Schartz stated that while they appreciate the efforts of the historical society, they wondered why it took so long to get the project completed. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

Roeland Park approved shifting animal control service contract to city of Mission

info2018-11-28T06:43:56-06:00November 28th, 2018|

Roeland Park will be shifting its animal control services contract from the Northeast Animal Control Commission (NEACC) to the City of Mission, councilmembers unanimously voted last week. The contract change is expected to save Roeland Park about $22,400 per year. Mission will charge Roeland Park an annual base fee of $1,500 with an additional fee per call of $100. The NEACC will dissolve by the end of 2018, following concerns that the commission’s costs were too high for participating communities. The NEACC was formed in 1983 by Fairway, Mission, Mission Woods, Roeland Park, Westwood and Westwood Hills. In 2018 the six [...]

Greenwood county commissioners move forward with redistricting process

info2018-11-28T06:42:03-06:00November 28th, 2018|

At their regular meeting on Monday, commissioners approved a quote from R&S Digital Services, Inc., for population mapping of the county. In addition to studying the population, R&S will create three scenarios, which will separate Greenwood County in five equally-populated districts while keeping in mind “equal population, compactness, contiguity and maintenance of communities interest.” Based on the 2010 census, Greenwood County’s population is 6,161. Divided by five, each of the districts should represent approximately 1,232 people. Federal courts have viewed population deviations of 5% as the standard for redistricting. For Greenwood County, this would be approximately 62 people. (Read more: Eureka [...]

Saline county awards contract to online job application service

info2018-11-28T06:40:07-06:00November 28th, 2018|

The Saline County commission voted Tuesday morning to use CivicPlus HR to process the county’s online employment applications once the county’s current system, HRePartners, becomes unavailable in February 2020. CivicPlus HR normally has a first year cost of $9,625, but the company is offering a 50 percent discount for the first year to local Kansas government customers that sign up for the service before the end of 2018. Human Resources Director Marilyn Leamer said other Kansas cities and counties are already using CivicPlus HR and are pleased with the product. “It’s the most affordable option for what we need,” she said. [...]

Cold weather doesn’t stop Gardner from celebrating holidays with mayor’s tree lighting

info2018-11-28T06:37:29-06:00November 28th, 2018|

Gardner residents didn't let the bitter conditions get in the way of the 28th annual Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Hundreds of people packed Cornerstone Park to kick off the start of the holiday season in the town of more than 19,000. Temperatures were well below freezing when the mayor flipped the lights in the park. Children from several of the schools sang Christmas carols and Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted the little ones, taking pictures with them in their workshop. There was also a light show in the sky featuring more than a dozen drones. The unique show was supposed [...]

Salina busy with snow removal; citizens should be, too

info2018-11-28T06:35:50-06:00November 28th, 2018|

City crews have been working hard and around the clock doing snow removal. Don’t forget: Salina citizens also have a duty to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks. According to Section 35-252 of the City of Salina Code of Ordinances: It is hereby made the duty of the owner, occupant, or person in charge of any lot or piece of land abutting on any sidewalk to remove all snow and ice fallen or accumulated upon the sidewalk within twelve (12) hours after such snow has fallen or ice has accumulated. (Read more: The Salina Post)

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