info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Reno county register of deeds office to implement electronic filing

info2018-06-27T09:25:06-05:00June 27th, 2018|

The goal of the Reno County Register of Deeds office is start accepting real estate sales records via electronic filing on Aug 2. Currently, county residents must fill out paper documents, and then either deliver them in person or mail them into the office, Reno County Registrar Michelle Updegrove advised the Reno County Commission on Tuesday. With the switch to eRecording, people will be able to fill out and send in those same forms online. Updegrove explained that even though the process is changing, the majority of rules and regulations will still apply. According to Updegrove, there was a large demand [...]

Lawrence and Douglas county sue Australian animal health firm that received local incentives

info2018-06-27T09:22:47-05:00June 27th, 2018|

The city and county are suing an Australia-based animal health company that received startup funding from both local governments to begin operating in Lawrence. The City of Lawrence and Douglas County filed a lawsuit against the company, Integrated Animal Health, in Douglas County District Court on Monday. The lawsuit alleges that the company breached its incentives contract, and the city and county are seeking to recoup one-third of a $100,000 grant provided to the company as part of the agreement. Integrated Animal Health announced it would move its global headquarters to Lawrence in 2015. The city and county subsequently approved incentives [...]

Every Wichita high school has an armed police officer. Should their roles change?

info2018-06-27T09:20:48-05:00June 27th, 2018|

Wichita won't be pulling its police officers out of Wichita high schools, but plans to retool the program to make it less about security and more about mentoring and counseling, the city manager said Tuesday. City Manager Robert Layton told the Wichita City Council he's not going to recommend ending the program, an idea that had been floated in a series of possible cuts to close a $1.7 million budget gap. The idea of eliminating school resource officers was not popular during a social media town hall last week, particularly amid ongoing concerns over school shootings. "As a result of that [...]

Douglas County expenses for Proposition 1 referendum expected to be about $177,000

info2018-06-27T09:13:42-05:00June 27th, 2018|

When all the bills are paid, Douglas County will have spent about $177,000 to conduct this spring’s mail-in ballot for Proposition 1 and to provide educational material to voters. In January, the Douglas County Commission agreed to conduct the mail-in ballot election asking voters to approve a half-cent sales tax to fund an expansion of the county jail and to create a behavioral health campus. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said he still had not received a bill for what was by far the biggest expense from the mail-in ballot. The clerk’s office hired the Omaha, Neb., firm of Election Systems [...]

Wichita tackles another drinking emergency, legalizes champagne breakfast

info2018-06-27T08:34:21-05:00June 27th, 2018|

Want to start your daily drinking at the crack of dawn? Beginning this weekend, you’ll be able to do that in Wichita bars and restaurants. On Tuesday, the City Council approved an emergency ordinance to allow eating and drinking establishments to start selling alcohol at 6 a.m., rather than the current 9 a.m. The change in the city code brings Wichita into line with House Bill 2470, passed by the state Legislature, expanding the hours that bars and restaurants can serve alcohol. As an emergency ordinance, the change could be enacted as final action without a second vote at the next [...]

Douglas County to consider water district annexation, plan for transitioning service

info2018-06-27T08:33:00-05:00June 27th, 2018|

The request before the Douglas County Commission from Douglas County Water District No. 5 to annex a small area south of the Wakarusa River has prompted Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus to suggest it is time to start planning how the area eventually will transition to city water service. More than 50 percent of property owners in the area, which is currently unserved by any water utility, have petitioned to be annexed by Water District No. 5. The 77 acres are within a three-mile fringe growth area of Lawrence, which has a water utility. That required that the city be notified [...]

Roeland Park looking to reduce hurdles to incorporating solar panels on homes

info2018-06-27T08:26:09-05:00June 27th, 2018|

Roeland Park residents wanting to incorporate solar panels into their homes may find the process easier in the future. Councilmembers signaled support during a recent workshop for removing a restriction that requires residents to gain approval from city council prior to installing all solar panel systems. The updated ordinance would only require solar panel projects that fall outside of regular usage parameters to gain council approval. Otherwise residents could gain approval by Roeland Park’s building official John Jacobson. Mayor Mike Kelly signaled his support for the streamlined approval process. “If we can keep the bureaucracy out of this and encourage people [...]

McPherson City Commission votes to prohibit parking on selected streets

info2018-06-27T08:25:33-05:00June 27th, 2018|

The commissioners voted to prohibit parking on several streets in McPherson. The change was made at the request from the McPherson Police Department and letters were sent to homeowners on all involved streets. Jeff Woodward, with the McPherson City public work’s department, said the city has had several complaints that there is not enough room for emergency vehicles to get down the street when cars are parked there. “That’s what drove the issue,” he said. He said he hopes the move will provide adequate access for emergency vehicles as well as normal traffic. (Read more: News - McPhersonSentinel - McPherson, KS)

Former HR director files response to motion in Leavenworth county

info2018-06-27T08:24:08-05:00June 27th, 2018|

A former Leavenworth County human resources director had permission to work at home, and county authorities did not request that she return employment records in her possession when she was terminated last year. That is according to a court document from an attorney for former Human Resources Director Tamara Copeland. The document was submitted as a response to a motion filed last week by an attorney for the Leavenworth County Commission. The motion was filed in a lawsuit that is challenging Copeland’s employment contract with the county. The motion filed on behalf of the County Commission accused Copeland of being in [...]

Starlite Drive-In owner seeks zoning change for theater land. Theater’s future unclear.

info2018-06-27T08:21:39-05:00June 27th, 2018|

No one is talking, but changes are underway at the Starlite Drive-In. The theater’s owner, Chuck Bucinski, filed an application last week to change the zoning of his drive-in’s land at 3900 S. Hydraulic Ave. The reason listed on the application: “To permit a greater number of industrial and commercial uses.” The application for the zoning change itself cost $2,245. So why the zoning change? A representative for Baughman Co., a land development company listed as the agent for the zoning application, referred all calls to Bucinski. Currently, the land can be used only as a drive-in theater. The change would [...]

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