info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Closing CityArts boutique and gallery is possible cost-saving option for Wichita

info2018-06-11T07:24:49-05:00June 11th, 2018|

Among the many ways the city is looking to recoup a $3 million deficit in operating revenue is the possible closure of the boutique and gallery within CityArts. "I'd say it's too early to get too concerned with it at this point," says John D'Angelo, the city's manager of arts & cultural services. "They're just looking at alternatives," he says. "What kind of changes could be made to the CityArts operation . . . that would achieve some savings?" D'Angelo says CityArts costs the city $800,000 annually and recoups only about $300,000 from class fees. The gallery and boutique make $50,000, [...]

Hays discusses two intersections for roundabouts

info2018-06-11T07:22:51-05:00June 11th, 2018|

The Hays City Commission for a second time on Thursday put the brakes on a proposal to construct a roundabout at the intersection of 27th Street and Canterbury, but indicated a roundabout at 27th and Indian Trail might be a better investment. The issue was brought forth for discussion by Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, who requested the commission revisit the Canterbury intersection after Mayor James Meier initially suggested a temporary roundabout there in early March. The idea was rejected at that time, and Jacobs said she heard from many residents afterward who favored the proposal. “When we discussed it the first time, [...]

Leavenworth County meeting notice was technical violation

info2018-06-11T07:19:03-05:00June 11th, 2018|

An investigation by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office found that county commissioners committed a technical violation of an open meetings law by failing to include the location of a special meeting in a notice of the meeting. That is according to two letters sent from Assistant Attorney General Lisa Mendoza to county officials. Mendoza is the director of the Open Government Enforcement Unit of the Attorney General’s Office. The investigation was initiated by the Attorney General’s Office after County Treasurer Janice Van Parys filed a complaint last year about possible violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Van Parys’ complaint focused [...]

KDHE waste grants benefit NW Kansas schools, townships

info2018-06-11T07:17:28-05:00June 11th, 2018|

he Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Waste Management has announced the recipients of waste tire recycling grants. These annual solid waste grants are awarded to municipalities and school districts across the state. The grants total almost $468,000 for 2018. The waste tire recycling grants go toward funding safe surfacing at playgrounds, running tracks, picnic tables and benches made from waste tires. This year’s 51 individual waste tire recycling grants range from $209 to $61,213. The grants are funded through a 25-cent tax paid on the purchase of new tires. The list of grantees can be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/waste/grants/SFY18WTGSpreadsheetFinal.pdf. [...]

Analyst: Wichita at ‘a really interesting moment’ in its history

info2018-06-11T07:16:34-05:00June 11th, 2018|

It will be up to the people who live in Wichita — not government or corporate leaders — whether the city is to shake off decades of stagnation and achieve meaningful growth and prosperity, a Wichita-raised and Harvard-trained economic analyst says. Wichita has been "stuck in neutral for about three decades, with basically no growth, amidst the landscape of a growing U.S. economy," said James Chung, who graduated from Wichita Collegiate and now runs Reach Advisors, a New York-based strategy and research firm. Chung's firm was hired three years ago to analyze Wichita's strengths, problems and potential. His initial report was [...]

Biking Across Kansas kicks off Saturday

info2018-06-08T08:52:14-05:00June 8th, 2018|

Biking Across Kansas — a 558-mile ride across the state — begins Saturday, with the eight-day tour originating at the Kansas-Colorado line west of Johnson City.Overnight stops will be at Montezuma, Ashland, Pratt, Clearwater, Burden, Fredonia and then at Arma, the final night together on June 15. The following morning, the group will cycle to the Missouri border in Arcadia and cycle into Fort Scott, where they will celebrate the end of the ride with a picnic at the Fort [...] (Read more: News - The Garden City Telegram)

City attorneys gather in Lenexa for continuing education seminar

info2018-06-08T08:50:52-05:00June 8th, 2018|

Ranson Citycode Financial is in attendance at the City Attorneys Association of Kansas' (CAAK) semi-annual CLE (continuing legal education) seminar in Lenexa, Kansas. These semi-annual conferences are a great way for local government attorneys to stay on to of the latest developments in Kansas municipal law. We look forward to seeing many of our clients here.

States Could Reap a Bonanza From Sports Betting — If They Play Their Cards Right

info2018-06-08T08:24:20-05:00June 8th, 2018|

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting in all 50 states met with excitement in the affected industries. The closest parallel to this infant industry occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s, when states permitted widespread casino gambling. Despite creating, through legislation, protected casino monopolies for commercial interests, the states didn't receive an equitable portion of the value. Most settled for less than 50 percent of net gambling revenue, and few states auctioned off casino licenses to the highest bidders. Why did this happen? The negotiating table was uneven. Financially unsophisticated legislators and state executives went up against [...]

Is Your City Helping You Be Healthy? The Rankings Are In.

info2018-06-08T08:22:25-05:00June 8th, 2018|

"Your mayor, city council and city manager has just as much of an impact on your health as your doctor," say the authors of a new report. "Most people spend a few hours a year in the doctor’s office. The other 364 days out of the year, people are in the care of their city." On Friday, during the opening night of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' annual meeting in Boston, 24 cities will be awarded for their work in population health. The gold medalists are Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Jose, Calif. Nine cities earned a silver [...]

Clay Center OKs new Dollar General building

info2018-06-08T08:20:11-05:00June 8th, 2018|

A permit to construct a building on the current site of the bowling alley on West Crawford was granted to an Overland Park-based developer Tuesday night during the regular Clay Center city council meeting. The building permit indicates a new 10,640 square foot building will be occupied by Dollar General. Work on the $800,000 metal panel building will begin this summer with an anticipated completion date of this winter, according to the permit application. (Read more: www.ccenterdispatch.com - RSS Results in news,local/* of type article)

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