info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Salina Parks & Recreation Draft Master Plan Complete

info2018-06-06T06:27:46-05:00June 6th, 2018|

The City of Salina Parks and Recreation Draft Master Plan is complete and available online at http://salina-ks.gov/parksandrecreation-masterplan. The purpose of the Master Plan is to set goals and benchmarks for the future of parks and sports facilities. The overall vision of the Master Plan is to improve the spaces where community members go to make connections, enjoy the outdoors, and participate in recreational activities. The plan process includes independent analysis of parks and facilities, programming, agreements with outside agencies, staff interviews, public input meetings, and public surveys. (Read more: The Salina Post)

Hutch City Council approves benefits consultant

info2018-06-06T06:26:30-05:00June 6th, 2018|

The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to hire a new consulting firm to help with the city’s benefits package. The council agreed to hire USI Consulting out of Wichita at a cost of $58,500. According to Human Resources Director Tom Sanders, the city sent out a request for proposals to numerous firms earlier this year and got seven replies. These several firms were then interviewed by the Health and Wellness Committee. Sanders says USI has its own in-house legal staff that will eliminate the need for an outside attorney to handle benefit cases involving city employees. (Read more: Hutch Post)

Shawnee infrastructure plan calls for efforts to improve walkability along 71st Street, near new Monticello library

info2018-06-05T10:22:33-05:00June 5th, 2018|

The Shawnee City Council has unanimously approved the city’s 2019-2024 Capital Improvement Plan, including the addition of improvements to sidewalks along 71st Street from Clare Road to Hedge Lane Terrace. The CIP is a project-funding forecast, and all projected costs are subject to change and must be individually approved by the council, Caitlin Gard, Shawnee’s strategic initiatives manager, said after the council’s May 29 meeting. The 71st Street sidewalk program was added to the CIP presented at the meeting, and the council authorized a $300,000 annual expenditure for it from 2020 through 2024. The project would add sidewalks and regrade the [...]

Lawrence City Commission to consider giving police review board access to bias investigation files

info2018-06-05T10:20:49-05:00June 5th, 2018|

A community board may soon be able to review police investigation files related to certain racial or other bias complaints made against police. At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider allowing the city’s Community Police Review Board to review the police department’s internal investigation file when the person who made the bias complaint disagrees with the police findings. The current board, the Citizen Advisory Board for Fair and Impartial Policing, reviews only a summary of the investigation provided by police that some have said provides limited information. The proposed change is part of a revamp of the board [...]

Want to fight cybercrime? Wichita may be in your future

info2018-06-05T10:19:37-05:00June 5th, 2018|

Wichita could soon emerge as a hub for the ongoing battle against cybercrimes, officials say. "We could create a place that's attractive for IT companies — maybe not the extent of Seattle or Silicon Valley, but a regional magnet," said Col. Joe Jabara, vice wing commander for the 184th Intelligence Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard at McConnell Air Force Base. The momentum is being driven by the development of cybersecurity programs at a number of colleges and universities in the Wichita metropolitan area. There's a voracious demand for employees trained in how to protect computer networks. That, in turn, [...]

Shawnee City Council approves policy change to allow for remote participation

info2018-06-05T10:14:04-05:00June 5th, 2018|

Shawnee city councilmembers will now be able to vote or give their two cents during city meetings no matter their physical location, whether it be across the country for a business trip or home sick in bed. At its council meeting on May 28, the governing body unanimously approved policy revisions to allow council members to participate remotely in city meetings, should they be otherwise unable to attend in person. Each council member will be allowed to remotely attend a maximum of two meetings, including executive sessions, using an internet program like Google Hangouts, so they can be seen and heard [...]

Not your parent’s walking trail

info2018-06-05T10:13:19-05:00June 5th, 2018|

They won’t be walking uphill both ways in the snow, however local residents — particularly children — will soon have better access to safe walking trails. According to a release, the City of Pittsburg reviewed the condition of sidewalks and crosswalks around of Pittsburg Schools. Pittsburg Community Middle School, Westside and George Nettels were identified through the study as having a need for change. Pittsburg City Manager Daron Hall said the city is working to make transportation safer for all residents. He said he’s thankful for the Kansas Department of Transportation and the national Safe Routes to School program. The Safe [...]

Earthquake hits shake up Saline County

info2018-06-05T10:11:46-05:00June 5th, 2018|

Rick Miller, a senior scientist at the University of Kansas’ Geological Survey division, said that, clustered along the eastern border of Saline County, there have been four earthquakes over the past three years that have been large enough to be felt and more than 50 too small to feel. “They have been caused by some subsurface faults that exist in this area,” he said. Miller said that following earthquakes in Harper and Sumner Counties in southern Kansas in 2014 and 2015, the Kansas Legislature in 2015 authorized the establishment of seven regional network stations that record earthquakes. “There was only one [...]

More ambulance service coming to parts of Wichita, Sedgwick County

info2018-06-05T10:09:40-05:00June 5th, 2018|

Working to address a gap in emergency medical service coverage in the northeast part of Wichita, Sedgwick County officials have begun building a new ambulance post. Construction began Monday on the $799,000 project, which is expected to be completed by mid-January 2019. The new emergency medical service post will be at 3575 N. Webb. Sedgwick County EMS Director Scott Hadley said the gap in emergency medical coverage has existed since 2014, when an ambulance post was relocated away from the area. (Read more: Wichita Eagle)

City of Shawnee may change parade rules after Kris Kobach’s gun-mounted Jeep draws backlash

info2018-06-05T10:08:38-05:00June 5th, 2018|

Some say it was a controversial choice by Kansas Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach. On June 2, the politician rode through the Old Shawnee Days parade with a believed replica machine gun on a Jeep wrapped in an American flag decal. The City of Shawnee apologized on Saturday "for the concern and frustration" it caused parade attendees. The city isn't taking sides on the issue, but they may be changing the rules to their parade that is a yearly tradition. "What happened yesterday was clear that we probably need some set guidelines, so moving forward we have kind [...]

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