info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Chanute accepts design plan for neighborhood fiber

info2018-06-27T08:19:12-05:00June 27th, 2018|

Fiber became a chicken-or-egg issue for Chanute commissioners Monday evening. Commissioners voted to accept a proposal from an Oklahoma City engineering firm to design expansion of the city’s fiber optic broadband network into two neighborhoods. The quote from ACRS is $35,000-$45,000 to design and set specifications for residents near the 900 block of west 9th and the 400 block of south Westview, two neighborhoods whose residents have requested connection at previous commission meetings. City Manager Jeff Cantrell said that this is not construction, but is the first phase of the possible project. He said he can’t estimate a model of potential [...]

Salina City Commissioners discuss use of cellphones during meetings

info2018-06-27T08:17:38-05:00June 27th, 2018|

Salina city commissioners talked for a good while during their regular Monday meeting about the appropriate use of cellphones by commissioners, finally voting 3-2 to have staff develop a proposal for consideration. Commissioner Mike Hoppock had asked at last week’s meeting that the topic of commissioner use of cellphones and computer tablets during meetings be added to this week’s agenda. Commissioners Trent Davis and Melissa Rose Hodges voted against the motion that Gage and staff bring back to the commission proposed rules of procedure that would disallow the use of electronic devices at the commission dais. Hodges asked that enforcement be [...]

Kansas Supreme Court says school funding still inadequate but gives lawmakers another year to fix problems

info2018-06-26T07:29:30-05:00June 26th, 2018|

The Kansas Supreme Court said Monday that the five-year, $522 million increase to school funding that lawmakers approved this year is still inadequate. But instead of forcing lawmakers into a special session this summer to correct the problems, as it had earlier threatened to do, the court said lawmakers could address problems with the formula during the 2019 regular session that begins in January. According to the Kansas State Department of Education, the Lawrence school district is expected to receive an additional $3.4 million in funding under the new formula, including just less than $1.3 million in new special education funding. [...]

Poll indicates most Topeka voters would support raising citywide sales tax

info2018-06-26T07:28:14-05:00June 26th, 2018|

Results of a recent opinion poll indicate 53.8 percent of Topekans would support increasing the citywide half-cent sales tax to three-quarters of a cent and keeping it in place for 10 years. Those results were made public Thursday by Jim Parrish, of the nonprofit group Future Forward, which runs campaigns to promote sales tax ballot questions. “There is a huge sentiment that we need to get these streets fixed,” Parrish said. Future Forward commissioned Topeka-based ASA Strategic Marketing to conduct a scientifically accurate poll of 500 registered Topeka voters, Parrish said. The poll was taken in late May and had a [...]

Reno County sees drop in mortgage registration tax

info2018-06-26T07:05:12-05:00June 26th, 2018|

A change can be seen in the numbers after the state passed legislation to gradually eliminate the mortgage registration tax. In May, the county collected $7,182.47 — less than half of what it collected in May of 2017: $18,194.64. The recording fee amounted to $36,040. That number is above May of last year. In May of last year, the county collected a total of $227,895.74. So far this year, it has collected $196,398.00. (Read more: Hutch Post)

New distribution center, jobs coming to Park City

info2018-06-26T07:04:27-05:00June 26th, 2018|

A new distribution center is expected to bring 20 new jobs to Park City. Crossland Construction announced on Monday that it is breaking ground on the WinField United Solutions project, a distribution hub for 20 area service centers. The building will measure 253,000 square feet and be built at Broadway and Brian Rose Lane, just south of 81 Speedway. WinField United Solutions provides research-based product solutions and expertise to help farmers, retailers and others related to the agriculture industry. "We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with the city, helping to promote local economic growth and prosperity for our Park [...]

Engineers give Kansas a ‘C’ for infrastructure, but roads barely pass

info2018-06-26T07:03:26-05:00June 26th, 2018|

Kansas received a passing grade for its highways when the state’s chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers released its latest “infrastructure report card.” However, the engineers also warned that sweeping cuts to Kansas Department of Transportation funding are still causing roadways to suffer. Kansas earned a C on the report card, which ranks the quality of state infrastructure in nine categories, such as bridges, roads, energy and drinking water. This is up from a C- in 2013, the last time the Kansas ASCE chapter released a report card. And while some areas, such as levees and bridges, increased in [...]

Following city lawsuit, Lawrence restaurant removes patio canopy

info2018-06-26T07:01:47-05:00June 26th, 2018|

After being sued by the city over its patio canopy, a local restaurant has taken the structure down. The wooden canopy was constructed about two years ago on the north side of Dempsey’s building, spanning the width of an open area between Dempsey’s and the adjacent building. Last month, the Lawrence City Commission directed the city’s legal staff to bring a lawsuit against the owner and occupant of 623 Vermont St., which is the location of Dempsey's Burger Pub. The city alleges that Dempsey’s constructed a canopy structure for its patio without first getting a permit from the city and that [...]

Great Bend announces administrator candidates interviews, schedules

info2018-06-26T06:55:14-05:00June 26th, 2018|

The Great Bend City Council announced Monday morning the city administrator candidates and schedule for their visit to the community this week. The City of Great Bend will be interviewing three candidates on Wednesday and Thursday. Candidates include: Larry Collins, who served as fire chief and interim city administrator in Ann Arbor Michigan; Kendal Francis, who served as city manager in Coffeyville and city administrator in Lakin; and Scott Hildebrand, who currently serves as the city administrator for Valley Center. (Read more: Great Bend Tribune - Local News)

Manhattan Regional Airport Director Earns Professional Accredidation

info2018-06-26T06:53:44-05:00June 26th, 2018|

Jesse R. Romo, A.A.E., Airport Director, Manhattan Regional Airport, Manhattan, KS, has been awarded the distinction of Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). To qualify for his distinction, Jesse had to successfully complete three phases of the accreditation process: (1) pass a 180-item multiple-choice examination, (2) fulfill a writing requirement, and (3) demonstrate, in the final interview by a panel of A.A.E.s, his knowledge of airport management, business administration, and general transportation economics. Jesse’s achievement attests to his ability to meet these stringent requirements and his experience in managing a public airport. (Read more: Manhattan [...]

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