info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee county to take up matter involving solar street lights

info2018-09-24T09:58:42-05:00September 24th, 2018|

The Shawnee County Commission on Monday will consider awarding a Louisiana-based company the bid to carry out a pilot project to install solar street lights in three parks the county operates. Commissioners will consider choosing Metairie, La.-based ClearWorld LLC to carry out a project to provide solar lighting to Little Oakland Park, Shunga Glen Skatepark and Skyline Park as part of a pilot project commissioners approved last December. (Read more: News - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Salina City Commission violates Kansas Open Records Act

info2018-09-24T09:57:44-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Following a complaint filed to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office by former Salina City Commissioner John Blanchard, the attorney general’s office ruled that the Salina City Commission violated the Kansas Open Records Act. The finding comes after Blanchard in November requested copies of documents concerning a contract between the city and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development services. Blanchard said he received some of the requested documents but one contained redacted information. “While we did not find a violation of the KOMA, for the reasons more fully described in our letter, we determined there was a KORA violation,” [...]

Pratt county estimates $250,000 in uninsured losses from Labor Day flood

info2018-09-24T09:56:48-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Uninsured county losses from the Sept. 3 Labor Day flood in Pratt could reach $250,000. Tim Branscom, Pratt County Emergency Manager, presented the damage assessment to the Pratt County Commissioners at their Sept. 17 meeting. Branscom said the damage assessment ranges from $225,000 to $250,000 and includes all non-insured losses to the county. Most of the damage was to country roads, Pratt County Veteran’s Memorial Lake and Lemon Park Lake that is part of the fish hatchery water system. The Lemon Park Lake will have to be drained and dredged because of pollutants from the flood. The county threshold for submitting [...]

Butler Community College responds to Andover Mayor’s veto

info2018-09-24T09:54:45-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Butler Community College issued a formal statement early Friday morning in response to Thursday’s announcement from Andover Mayor Ben Lawrence. Lawrence shared that he had formerly vetoed Ordinance 1679, concerning the Special Use Permit for the expansion of Butler Community College in Andover. The statement reads, “Butler Community College leadership and Gravity Works Architects were surprised to learn of the veto on Thursday by Andover Mayor Ben Lawrence. The veto was issued following approval by the Andover Planning Commission on Tuesday. We are gathering information to work toward a resolution. This process of a special use permit is related to a [...]

Debate on wind energy project continues in Neosho County

info2018-09-24T09:50:43-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Debate continued Friday at the Neosho County Commission meeting between opponents and supporters of the proposed Neosho Ridge wind energy project. As many as two dozen people attended and discussed the project for about 2 ½ hours. Some opponents said Apex Clean Energy, the company developing the project, was not forthcoming with information or was misleading. Opponent Dustie Elsworth said efforts have started for a petition against the project, including among residents near Stark. The Neosho Ridge project is proposed for southwest Neosho County in the area near Thayer, Erie and Galesburg, while the Jayhawk wind energy project is proposed for [...]

Golf course springing back to life financially in Ark City

info2018-09-24T09:48:03-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Struggling with a temporary cash flow problem, board members of the Spring Hill Golf and Recreation Association asked for help from the City of Arkansas City. They got it — $1,000. But not all commissioners approved. The course, which operates on city owned property, was nearly closed in August 2016 due to major financial problems. The Spring Hill board approached the city at that time, requesting a minimum of $23,000 to help the organization get back on its feet. The commission had previously given the organization $3,600 to help cover its expenses through August of that year. Commissioners met with the [...]

Tennis group, city volley over indoor court fees

info2018-09-24T09:44:10-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Arkansas City commissioners, Cowley College and school district officials, along with an indoor tennis association are struggling to agree on how to make the best use of the Agri-Business building, a community-event center that hosts everything from mixed-martial arts to daddy-daughter dances. The debate centers on the future of the tennis courts inside the facility and the fees being charged for usage. One option involves removing the tennis court surface and replacing it with a more durable one. The new floor would allow a larger variety of activities and be easier to clean and maintain, according to city officials. It would [...]

Roeland Park’s new leaf pickup truck is ready to hit the streets this fall — along with changes to city’s program

info2018-09-24T09:38:36-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Roeland Park’s one-of-a-kind leaf pickup program is getting a new look this fall. The city recently purchased a new leaf pickup truck that vacuums up leaves instead of scooping them. Jose Leon, Roeland Park public works director, said Roeland Park was “in dire need” of replacing the equipment because it incurred hefty maintenance expenses last fall. During pickup season in 2017, several bricks, landscape rocks, yard tools and other heavy objects hidden in leaf piles got picked up by the machine and broke the leaf shredder. Those issues cost thousands of dollars and “a lot of downtime” to fix. “Over the [...]

Questions remain as Lawrence considers raising age to buy tobacco products

info2018-09-24T08:14:47-05:00September 24th, 2018|

Lawrence city commissioners will soon consider a measure that would raise the age to purchase tobacco products in the city from 18 to 21. Both the Lawrence school district and the Douglas County Commission have voiced support for the Tobacco 21 initiative, which would ban the sale of all tobacco-related products, including electronic cigarettes and vaping devices used to inhale nicotine, for those under 21. However, the city government would be the body in charge of creating, enforcing and legally defending such an ordinance, and city leaders have questions. Though Mayor Stuart Boley is undecided on the topic, he said the [...]

We’re getting a new baseball team, Wichita. What do you want to call it?

info2018-09-24T06:49:54-05:00September 24th, 2018|

The Wichita Linemen, the Keepers; the Sky Kings; the Lightning, the Bombers, the Funnel Cakes, the Aviators. Mayor Jeff Longwell and Vice Mayor Bryan Frye are hearing a lot of suggestions these days of potential names for the Triple-A Minor League Baseball team that will occupy the new ballpark that will be replacing the venerable Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at Maple and McLean. “I’ve heard so many great, creative imaginative names,” Frye said. “Wichitans are really pulling out all the stops. I like to think I’m a creative person, but I haven’t found one that I’m ready to push forward yet. He has [...]

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