info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Industrial engine distributor to locate in Hutchinson

info2018-11-09T10:17:02-06:00November 9th, 2018|

eNGines-LPG, LLC announced today their plans to begin operations at the former bakery facility at 120 E 3rd Avenue in Hutchinson, Kansas. eNGines-LPG is a family-owned and operated industrial engine distributor and generator manufacturer. This facility will serve as their flagship headquarters where they will assemble, distribute, sell, and support eNGines-LPG’s product lines and be a showroom for innovation for current and future products. “Since March, Greater Hutch, the economic development division of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, worked in concert with the Kansas Department of Commerce, City of Hutchinson, Reno County, and JP Weigand & Sons to help attract [...]

Work begins on commission expansion in Leavenworth County

info2018-11-09T10:14:46-06:00November 9th, 2018|

Now that voters have approved an expansion of the Leavenworth County Commission, the county clerk has started preliminary work on a process that will result in a special election for two new commissioners. During this week’s election, voters in Leavenworth County approved a ballot proposition to increase the commission from three members to five. County Clerk Janet Klasinski said she plans to discuss the process for having the special election when county commissioners meet Tuesday. Klasinski said she will discuss possible dates for actions related to the process. One of the required actions will be the commission’s approval of a resolution [...]

Main Street Kansas: A labor of love continues to grow at Bartlett Arboretum

info2018-11-09T10:13:23-06:00November 9th, 2018|

More than a century ago, a Kansas doctor set up a sanctuary for nature lovers, but over the years, the Bartlett Arboretum became overgrown and unruly. That is, until it was rescued by a free spirit from Texas and her team of volunteers! That garden is our next stop on Main Street Kansas. Ablaze with autumn colors, the Bartlett Arboretum is what the owner calls "her church of the trees"-- a religious experience in nature. "I walked in here, and I've never looked back," said Robin Macy, owner of Bartlett Arboretum. "I mean my parents thought I was crazy." "It's strictly [...]

Junction City Mayor Opposes Proposed Soft Cost Expenditures by the City on New Roundabout

info2018-11-09T11:04:40-06:00November 9th, 2018|

The Junction City Commission this week approved an agreement with KDOT for a new roundabout at K-18 Highway and Karns Road. This will support the new Junction City High School project. The City must fund the construction of the roundabout, but will be reimbursed by a $1.25 million grant from KDOT. At issue is an estimated $200,000 in soft costs for the project, such as engineering fees or minor land acquisition. USD 475 has proposed payment of 70% of those costs with the City picking up the remaining 30%. But Mayor Pat Landes is opposed to that idea. Landes stated in [...]

Planning commission turns down zoning request for bio-fuel plant in Sumner County

info2018-11-09T11:04:47-06:00November 9th, 2018|

he Sumner county Planning Commission Wednesday turned down a company's conditional use permit to build a bio-fuel plant in north Sumner County and a zoning-change request for the land where it planned construction. Sumner Newscow reports the planning commission voted 7-1 to deny VNA Corporation a conditional-use permit for the project and voted 6-1 to deny the rezoning request to rezone about 100 acres west of the Ninnescah River from rural to heavy industrial. The opposition does not put a fork in the company's plan for its plant. The Sumner County Commission does have the power to overturn the planning commission's [...]

Lawrence adopts ‘more concrete’ ethics policy for city employees and commissioners

info2018-11-08T08:34:42-06:00November 8th, 2018|

City leaders have approved a new ethics policy to replace a more general policy that was created in 1991. At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve a revised ethics policy that now explicitly applies to all city employees, elected officials and appointed officials, which includes advisory board members, and provides more specific language regarding what constitutes an ethics violation. City Attorney Toni Wheeler told the commission that the goal of the new policy was to clarify whom the policy applies to and to “make the provisions more concrete and less aspirational.” Wheeler said the city consulted [...]

Voters favor expanded Marion County Commission

info2018-11-08T08:33:45-06:00November 8th, 2018|

Marion County commission will go from three members to five after 2,450 voters voted in favor and 2,016 voted against a ballot question asking if the commission should change to a five-member district. Dianne Novak, who first brought up the idea of a five-member commission, was pleased to hear the measure passed. “I believe this is going to really benefit Marion County,” Novak said. “I think this is a good move on the part of the county. I think it will make a difference in the way things are done in the county.” (Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Wellington city council adopts amended animal ordinance

info2018-11-08T07:05:35-06:00November 8th, 2018|

After two meetings with lengthy discussions, and a whole two hour work session devoted to the subject, the Wellington City Council quickly passed the 2018 amended changes to the city animal ordinance. By a 6-0 vote, the council passed the ordinance with no discussion at its regular meeting Tuesday night. The new ordinance defines what is considered a “dangerous” dog and what animals owners can have within the city limits. The revised codes were adapted from the City of Wichita. One provision just recently added to the ordinance included a “adequate lighting” of a pet enclosure. (Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Supreme Court: Federal Age-Discrimination law applies to all local govt, no matter their size

info2018-11-08T07:03:25-06:00November 8th, 2018|

All local and state governments—no matter their size—need to comply with a federal law banning discrimination against employees on the basis of age, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Tuesday. The case stems from a dispute between a small Arizona fire district and two firefighters, who were laid off in 2009 during a budget crisis. John Guido and Dennis Rankin say they were terminated because they were the oldest employees at the district covering the Santa Catalina Mountains, later filing an age discrimination lawsuit. But the issue before the Supreme Court was not whether the Mount Lemmon Fire District discriminated against Guido [...]

Shawnee photographer sets focus on city hall, helps change ordinance

info2018-11-08T06:48:45-06:00November 8th, 2018|

Only a small percentage of Shawnee citizens cast a ballot in a local election each year. A typical city council meeting attracts very few residents. And less than a year ago, Shawnee mom Sarah Chou couldn’t have told you the names of the elected officials who represent her ward. When her life was nearly turned upside down because of a single phone call, however, she found herself in the midst of an unexpected civics lesson, and on the path to changing a city law. For the past five years, Chou has been a successful professional photographer, with a home-based studio. Marie [...]

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