info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Leawood considers how to improve its city-wide tree canopy

info2024-09-17T15:10:56-05:00September 17th, 2024|

If the tree near the street in front of your house gets sick, should it be the city’s responsibility to remove and replace it? If you want to remove a tree from your yard, should you have to get a permit or be required to replace it with another tree? Those were among the questions discussed Monday as the Leawood City Council became the latest Johnson County community to take a fresh look at its tree ordinances during a work session. Councilmembers compared their existing regulations with their counterparts in Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Mission and Fairway — four cities with [...]

Concept aims to make downtown Overland Park a ‘destination.’

info2024-09-17T15:10:29-05:00September 17th, 2024|

A new potential future for downtown Overland Park drawn out by the Urban Land Institute of Kansas City suggests turning the area into “a destination” surrounding its popular farmers’ market. The conceptual vision for downtown — the area primarily between Santa Fe Drive and Metcalf Avenue, and 79th and 80th streets — includes a boutique hotel, new parking garages, infrastructure improvements prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle access, and a plethora of mixed-use redevelopment. Source: Johnson County Post

Arcadia’s history is preserved in music

info2024-09-17T12:58:39-05:00September 17th, 2024|

Nestled in the far northeast corner of the county, along the Missouri state line and Bourbon County line, Arcadia is a small community of only 250 people that celebrated its founding on Saturday with a parade, face painting, barbeque, and everything else one would expect of such a grand occasion. As the parade of fire trucks, police cars, and ubiquitous political candidates faded and the kids scoured the streets for gum and candy, parade-goers began filing into the Arcadia Community Center to hear about their past in a most inspiring way. In song. Source: Morning Sun

Curbside recycling pickup may be coming soon

info2024-09-16T17:55:16-05:00September 16th, 2024|

Within a year, SEK Recycling and the city intend to roll out curbside recycling pickup. At the organization’s banquet Thursday night, SEK Recycling Board President Jeremy Johnson announced what many Pittsburg citizens have been waiting to hear for decades. “We’ll be operating at a scale that we’ve not dreamed of,” Johnson told The Morning Sun. “We’ll bring in as much material in a month as previously we’ve done in an entire year.” The City of Pittsburg plans to partner with SEK Recycling to implement the recycling pickup service in conjunction with the trash service the city started earlier this month. Johnson [...]

Why the Wichita school district picked February for special election on $450M bond issue

info2024-09-16T17:53:56-05:00September 16th, 2024|

The Wichita School Board’s decision to call a special election in February — instead of posing its bond issue question during a general or primary election — will cost the school district an additional $113,000. And it could result in lower voter turnout. But Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said the district can’t afford to wait. The school board didn’t finish its facilities master plan in time to get the $450 million bond issue on the ballot for this November. “We would really like to get construction started next summer,” Bielefeld said. “And so to wait until later in the spring, April or [...]

Proposed solar project strains the bonds that unite a rural Kansas community

info2024-09-16T17:52:49-05:00September 16th, 2024|

In rural places in our divided land we can’t just pick sides and trash each other. But if we do, somebody — a friend, a loved one, or even a sometime enemy — might tug on our sleeves and remind us about the better angels of our nature. At a public meeting last year, Joe Schlessiger’s farmland neighbors were arguing once again. Joe stood himself up, all 6 feet, 6 inches of Kansas farmer. The topic once again: Spanish energy company Acciona’s proposal to build a solar energy array near Barton County’s Cheyenne Bottoms. The Bottoms are enthralling to those who [...]

Cafe in Burden back in business

info2024-09-16T17:48:58-05:00September 16th, 2024|

Residents in Burden welcomed a nice surprise this week with the return of Ma’s Cafe. Earlier this year, the previous owners of the cafe retired and closed the only sit-down restaurant in town. Bobby Smith and Hui Son had run the cafe since Jan. 11, 2021. However, Sandra and John Picconatto began renting the building and have reopened the cafe Monday through Saturday. Sandra spoke about Ma’s Cafe on Wednesday afternoon. She is from Wilmot, but has lived in Burden for the past 18 years. “A couple of years ago, we did a food truck,” Sandra said. “It did really well, [...]

Winfield to get new signs for landmarks

info2024-09-16T17:47:30-05:00September 16th, 2024|

Winfield city commissioners have approved the purchase and installation of new signage that would help visitors find local landmarks, something that was outlined in the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan. The project will consist of 18 signs, providing visitors with directions to places including Southwestern College, the Cowley County Historical Society Museum, sporting facilities and other points of interest. The signs have been in the works for several years. “It’s been talked about, but we just haven’t been able to get to it,” Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said in a request for commission action. The signs will cost $125,694. A total [...]

New Round of SEED Grants Available for Rural Quality-of-Life Initiatives

info2024-09-16T17:46:21-05:00September 16th, 2024|

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today that $250,000 will be available through a third round of Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grants. The SEED program supports economic development and revitalization efforts in smaller counties across Kansas through investments in quality-of-life initiatives. “SEED grants are a vital part of our commitment to ensuring every community in Kansas has the opportunity to succeed,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These grants are creating real impact in rural communities, helping them build stronger local economies, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. By investing in [...]

Wichita opens bidding process for emergency homeless shelter

info2024-09-16T17:44:16-05:00September 16th, 2024|

The City of Wichita has opened the bidding process for the operation of an emergency winter shelter for the homeless. The shelter will be set up at the former Park Elementary School at 1025 North Main, which was recently purchased by the city from the Wichita school district. Bids will be accepted until 10 a.m. on Friday, October 4th. Prospective bidders will be able to attend a pre-proposal meeting at 1 p.m. on September 23rd through Microsoft Teams. The City has allocated $600,000 for the operation of the 2024-2025 winter shelter. A successful proposal will have to be made by a [...]

About info