info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick County is counting homeless deaths for the first time. Here’s what to know.

info2024-10-15T12:39:46-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The deaths of more homeless residents are being counted this year after local officials implemented a formal process to identify them — the latest symptom of the intensifying conversation around homelessness in Wichita. As of September, 46 homeless people had been confirmed dead by Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center investigators. That’s more than the 42 that were counted all of last year through anecdotal numbers compiled via a collaboration between the Wichita Police Department, service providers and homeless advocates. The shift is the latest move to address homelessness in Wichita, following the opening of a new emergency winter shelter in [...]

Girard History Museum expands

info2024-10-15T12:37:44-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Saturday, as participants enjoyed Girard Homecoming and Fall Festival activities, just one block south of the square, the Girard History Museum held a reception to commemorate its recent expansion. Located at 300 S. Summit St., the Girard History Museum relies on community volunteers and members of Friends of Historic Girard to preserve historic sites and educate people about the town’s unique history. Since its opening in 2000, the museum has held tours in the former St. John's Episcopal Church. Recently, however, the museum recently an expansion that created additional space for meetings and restoration. “We were just in the church building [...]

Developers request incentives for ‘ultra-accessible’ amusement park project in Olathe

info2024-10-15T12:35:44-05:00October 15th, 2024|

More details for an “ultra-accessible” entertainment and youth athletic district proposed by members of the Hunt family in Olathe are starting to take shape. The project — proposed at the corner of 119th Street and Renner Boulevard — comes from Loretto Properties, a development company run by Lamar Hunt, Jr., and his son-in-law, James Arkell. They want to use the Kansas Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bond economic development tool, as well as some local incentives. On Monday, the Olathe Planning Commission voted 9-0, finding that the planned Olathe Gateway STAR bond district development conforms with PlanOlathe, the city’s existing [...]

Roeland Park wants to connect park, community center to busy Roe Blvd.

info2024-10-15T12:33:51-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Roeland Park is envisioning more connectivity near its northern city limits. Last week, the Roeland Park City Council unanimously voted to approve expanding an existing tax increment financing, or TIF, district to include Nall Park and the nearby Roeland Park Community Center. By expanding the TIF district, the city can raise funds to help pay for a route to connect the park and community center to busy Roe Boulevard, giving motorists and pedestrians easier access to two of the city’s public amenities. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

What Lawrence’s ballot question on the city’s ‘form of government’ actually means

info2024-10-15T12:32:32-05:00October 15th, 2024|

There’s a lot of confusion around the “form of government” ballot question that, if voters approve, could make the city commission into a four-district city council with a nonvoting, directly elected mayor, among other things. The question (as well as one asking to increase the sales tax to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives) will be on city voters’ Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election ballots. Here’s the text of the question: “Shall the City of Lawrence, Kansas, abandon the Commission-Manager form of government and adopt a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government and become a city operating under a Modified Mayor-Council [...]

Mural is ‘beautiful,’ but not what the council requested

info2024-10-15T12:28:21-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The new Fairview mural, which is catching eyes at the U.S. Highways 36 and 75 crossroads, is “beautiful,” but not what was requested by the Fairview City Council. The artist, Christy Klein-Tross, is a Fairview native and started painting the mural at the beginning of September. However, as Klein-Tross continued painting, some Fairview City Council members started to realize that it wasn’t what they had exactly requested Klein-Tross to paint. While the bottom portion of the mural is the only thing that can be seen by those passing by, the top portion of the sign, which says “FAIRVIEW,” also has been [...]

Manhattan Parks and Rec mulls new cost recovery policy to generate more revenue

info2024-10-15T12:24:31-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Manhattan Parks and Recreation officials want to raise fees for some programs with a new cost recovery policy. Parks and rec director Aaron Stewart on Monday told KMAN the proposed policy aims to focus on total cost recovery instead of operational recovery, which is the basis of the current policy. Stewart said the new policy would reduce the percentage of taxes used for operations by generating more revenue. “We’re looking to approach the city commission with a fully vetted cost recovery, which includes all fees and services to be set administratively based on this policy,” he said. Parks and rec also [...]

Douglas County to consider new pay plans that would boost county employee pay above area averages

info2024-10-09T12:31:24-05:00October 9th, 2024|

Douglas County government should create a new goal to pay its employees — everybody from custodians to administrators — well above the median wage of similar employees in the region, county commissioners will be told at their meeting on Wednesday. ... a human resources group, recommends that the county create a “compensation philosophy” that aims to pay county employees at a rate equal to the 70th percentile of wages for similar positions in the area. Source: LJWorld

Governor Kelly Announces Virtual, On-Demand Meeting as Part of Water Local Consult Outreach

info2024-10-09T09:59:54-05:00October 9th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that a virtual, on-demand meeting is now available for Kansans who want to provide input on water issues in the state. The virtual meeting is part of a second round of local consult meetings to gather input on strategies to implement the 2022 Kansas Water Plan. “These local consult meetings are critical to finding and implementing sustainable solutions to address our state’s water concerns,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By hearing directly from Kansans, we can make further progress on the goals of the 2022 Kansas Water Plan.” The recent in-person and new virtual meetings build on [...]

Increased prices contribute to continued housing shortage

info2024-10-09T09:58:09-05:00October 9th, 2024|

Real estate agent Natalie Moyer has helped Kansas residents purchase homes for the past 16 years. But the housing market is so tight right now, it’s been very difficult for first-time homebuyers to find a house within their budget. The demand for a home has been much higher in recent years and there simply are not enough homes to go around. That shortage of supply is pushing up the costs of homes on the market, making it even more difficult for buyers to purchase an affordable or middle-market home. The trickle-down effect of the tight market is believed to be contributing [...]

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