info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Pittsburg names new police chief

info2018-11-06T08:49:55-06:00November 6th, 2018|

Pittsburg has a new police chief. According to a release from the City of Pittsburg, after an extensive, four-month search, the City of Pittsburg has announced the selection of Brent Narges to serve as the new chief of police for the Pittsburg Police Department. According to City Manager Daron Hall, Narges was one of three finalists for the position, and his experience with the police department and focus on community partnerships were important factors in his selection. “Brent has been with the Pittsburg Police Department for 22 years and has deep ties in our community,” Hall said in the release. “He [...]

Lawrence paid $7.5M in bonuses to senior employees over past 20 years; city manager recommends phasing payments out

info2018-11-06T06:25:37-06:00November 6th, 2018|

End-of-year bonuses for senior city of Lawrence employees that typically cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars annually could eventually be phased out. City management is recommending the change; employee groups are opposed. At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a new policy for the city’s longevity bonus that would tier and cap the amount paid to qualifying employees beginning in 2019 and would eliminate the payments for new employees. Read more: LJworld.

Hutchinson to Receive $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant

info2018-11-06T09:47:11-06:00November 6th, 2018|

The city of Hutchinson will receive a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Kansas Department of Commerce to improve the former Stevens Building. The grant funds are part of the CDBG funding the State receives from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. The building’s owners will provide $115,400 in matching funds to make needed repairs to the building. Built in 1876, the Stevens Building is the oldest building still standing in Hutchinson. The restoration will include local business Evolution Salon, Spa, and Boutique expanding business into the building. “Restoring the Stevens Building is exactly the sort of [...]

Two Pottawatomie County retailers intend to appeal their 2018 property appraisals based on the “dark store theory”

info2018-11-05T10:48:21-06:00November 5th, 2018|

Two Pottawatomie County retailers — Menards and Academy Sports — have said they intend to appeal their 2018 property appraisals. The move is an indication that promotion of the “dark store theory” of property appraisal is alive and well in Kansas, county appraiser Lois Schlegel told county commissioners Monday. The “dark store theory” is an appraisal technique being promoted nationwide by large retail chains which claim they are treated unfairly in the property appraisal process. Their buildings, the theory claims, should be valued as if they were vacant and available for sale to a future hypothetical user rather than as a [...]

Cities Count: Preparing for the 2020 Census

info2018-11-05T07:39:20-06:00November 5th, 2018|

"Municipal governments have an important relationship with the census — both as consumers of the invaluable data it gathers and as partners in ensuring the complete and accurate count of our cities." The National League of Cities (NLC) supports the Census Bureau’s mission to “serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy.” We also understand the many ways in which Census Bureau data impact a city. These resources have been assembled to provide local leaders with objective information about and resources to prepare for the upcoming 2020 Census. (Read more: NLC)

KDHE launches public awareness campaign regarding well water

info2018-11-05T07:37:44-06:00November 5th, 2018|

Approximately 7 percent of Kansans get their water from privately-owned wells. Recently, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) unveiled a public awareness campaign to recommend that private well water users have their wells tested for at least two contaminates, every one to three years. The contaminants include Total Coliform Bacteria and Nitrate. “It’s important for residents to understand that the Environmental Protection Agency sets regulations for treating and monitoring community water systems, but these regulations don’t apply to privately-owned wells,” said KDHE Environment Director Leo Henning. “Residents are responsible for monitoring their own wells, so we want them to [...]

Neosho County hears how electricity is marketed by wind generation

info2018-11-05T07:36:30-06:00November 5th, 2018|

Neosho County Commissioners Friday morning heard a presentation on how electricity is marketed as part of ongoing discussion of the Neosho Ridge wind generation project. They also continued to hear from opponents of the proposal by Apex Clean Energy to build 100 to 130 wind-powered electrical generators in the southwest area of the county. The Apex Business Development Director Melissa Peterson gave a presentation on how the proposed electricity would be marketed. Generators in Kansas and the area from Texas to South Dakota are part of the Southwest Power Pool grid system, a non-profit organization that balances load, demand and prices. [...]

Retaining sales tax will fund Chanute Regional Development Authority, city properties

info2018-11-05T07:34:51-06:00November 5th, 2018|

Chanute’s economic development over the past three years has been visible, with the growth of Orizon Aerostructures, Love’s Country Store and Travel Plaza and Tractor Supply. With that kind of return, supporters hope Chanute will increase its investment. City voters will decide Tuesday whether to extend a ¼-cent sales tax that previously supported construction of the Maring Aquatic Center. The renewed sales tax would fund the Chanute Regional Development Authority and also improve city properties. (Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Ford County Administrator addresses recent national spotlight

info2018-11-05T08:31:38-06:00November 5th, 2018|

The Ford County Board of County Commissioners, elected officials and appointed staff would like to thank the Ford County community for the amazing amount of support during what has become a highly stressful election season that includes a closely competitive gubernatorial race presenting a unique set of challenges. One of those challenges is a recent court filing requesting a temporary restraining order forcing Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox to open an additional polling location. This past Thursday night, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas denied that request. With that decision, the County Clerk is allowed to continue working [...]

Resident presents head of small animal carcass to Butler County Commission; seeks help from health inspector

info2018-11-05T07:19:58-06:00November 5th, 2018|

Business as usual can mean unusual business for Butler County Commissioners. A Butler County resident requested an audience with the Commissioners near the end of Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting and brought “Mr. Bones” with him. ’Mr. Bones” was the head of a carcass, possibly a cat, that the resident brought to illustrate his need for their assistance. He appeared before the board to ask for a County Health Inspector of County Fire Marshal to inspect the property where he currently resides, Hank Trailer Park. He claimed the property is a haven for drug users and that he had been [...]

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