info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Pratt will allow IRBs for new track and field complex

info2018-10-22T06:55:57-05:00October 22nd, 2018|

Pratt city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution that will allow the issuance of Internal Revenue Bonds to finance the construction of a track and field complex for the city of Pratt, Pratt Community College and other Pratt schools. “We have been assured that there is no risk of security and no hidden expenses in this,” said Mayor Doug Meyer. “All we ask is that the city be involved in any decision-making discussions as this process moves forward.“ (Read more: Pratt, KS - Pratt Tribune)

Wichita to take a swing at selling golf course

info2018-10-22T06:54:37-05:00October 22nd, 2018|

A Wichita city board has decided to put the MacDonald Golf Course up for sale. On Friday, the Park Board voted to seek proposals for the sale of the 146-acre course at 840 N. Yale in northeast Wichita, but with several conditions to ensure it remain a golf course and be open to public play indefinitely. Under the proposed terms of sale, if the buyer decided to close the course or redevelop it for another use, the Park Board could buy it back for the original sale price. However, Friday’s meeting didn’t really clarify how that could occur. The money from [...]

Opponents say wind farms come at a cost

info2018-10-22T06:53:42-05:00October 22nd, 2018|

Green wind energy sounds appealing as companies propose leasing land to build new wind farms that would help counties with job creation and economic development efforts. Concerned citizens in Neosho County have been researching the impacts of wind farms on counties and found things to not be so green, including claimed financial benefits to counties and landowners. About 30 people met Wednesday night at Tony’s Function Junction south of Erie to discuss the proposed Apex Clean Energy wind farm project in Neosho County and to share what they’ve found about wind projects in Kansas and other states. Apex plans a wind [...]

Lawrence installs new type of bike lane on portion of Massachusetts Street

info2018-10-21T19:45:21-05:00October 21st, 2018|

A different type of bike lane that changes the rules for both cyclists and drivers has been installed on a three-block portion of Massachusetts Street. The new bike lanes are wider and more visible than existing bike lanes throughout the city. They also include signage that restricts vehicles from turning right on a red light, as well as a new feature that a city diagram says is intended to make cyclists more visible at intersections. Read more: LJWorld.

Debate over multimillion-dollar Lawrence benefit districts raises questions for all homebuyers

info2018-10-21T19:44:34-05:00October 21st, 2018|

A buyer signs up to 150 pages of documents when closing on a home, and among the multitude of notices can be an agreement to pay significant sums to the city. After a contentious debate about the $5.3 million Queens Road benefit districts, city leaders have questions about whether such agreements can be more forthright in the future. The recently created Queens Road benefit districts will add thousands to the tax bills of residential and commercial property owners in the area, and many said they were not aware they had agreed not to protest the benefit districts. Even though the no-protest [...]

Visitors flock to Baldwin City for annual Maple Leaf Festival

info2018-10-21T19:43:40-05:00October 21st, 2018|

Donna Curran, Maple Leaf Festival booth committee chair, said she knew the 361 vendors she signed up for the festival would be busy Saturday. The day was perfect for the festival, she said, with sunny weather and mild temperatures. “We’re always busy when we have nice weather,” she said. “I knew it was going to be nice. I didn’t even look at the forecast.” Curran and other festival organizers estimate from 30,000 to 35,000 people attend the annual festival, although they have no way to take an exact headcount. Even when the booths opened at 9 a.m., she said, there had [...]

‘A good fit’: Rose Hill selects new city administrator

info2018-10-19T08:32:29-05:00October 19th, 2018|

After a period of vacancy, the City of Rose Hill has a new administrator. Rico Aguayo, 46, was sworn in for the administrative position at the Oct. 15 Rose Hill City Council meeting. “So it’s official now,” said Mayor Steve Huckaby after Aguayo’s swearing-in. “Something we have been waiting for for many months.” Aguayo, originally from California, has a long track record in public service, both locally and at the state level. (Read more: DerbyInformer.com - news,news/)

OP Council approves taking neighbors’ land for Quivira upgrade. Court fight could loom

info2018-10-19T08:21:57-05:00October 19th, 2018|

Overland Park may try to take land to improve two-lane Quivira Road from 159th to 179th streets, despite some landowners’ concerns about losing private property for a road widening that’s not anticipated until 2040. The City Council voted unanimously Oct. 15 to allow the property acquisition, through condemnation if necessary, to prepare for growth along the road. The council heard from one landowner’s attorney who argued the acquisition is speculative and unnecessary, but voted 12-0 to proceed. (Read more: KC Breaking News, Sports & Crime |)

Emporia City and Lyon County commissions discuss possible food council

info2018-10-19T08:33:27-05:00October 19th, 2018|

The Emporia City and Lyon County commissions had a joint meeting Wednesday evening during which they discussed topics ranging from a possible food policy council to housing issues. Teresa Briggs, Daphne Mertens and Hannah Crowl of Healthier Lyon County addressed the commissioners about the need for a food policy council. Briggs cited information from the Centers for Disease Control which reports life expectancy is growing shorter rather than longer. “Just let that sink in,” she said. “Whereas, here in the United States, we like to think that we are progressive enough and realize what we need to do to keep ourselves [...]

Geary County Sheriff arrested on suspicion of gifting county gun, misusing funds: KBI

info2018-10-19T07:09:57-05:00October 19th, 2018|

Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf was jailed on felony charges Thursday morning, on suspicion of gifting a county-owned firearm and misusing public funds. Agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation made the arrest in Wolf’s office in Junction City about 9 a.m. and booked him into the Geary County jail, the KBI announced. Wolf was then released on bond. Wolf, 44, has served as sheriff in the county since his election in 2012. (Read more: Local News |)

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