info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Lawrence files case against landlord for refusal of housing vouchers

info2024-07-02T09:05:39-05:00July 2nd, 2024|

The City of Lawrence has filed what appears to be its first Douglas County District Court lawsuit against a local landlord for allegedly refusing a prospective tenant based solely on their use of housing vouchers. Sue Herynk and her husband Joe Herynk, of River City Homes Inc., are named as defendants in the case. Sue’s responses indicate that they are eager for another chance to contest the city’s ordinance banning source of income discrimination, which they call unconstitutional. The Lawrence City Commission in February 2023 approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on renters’ source of income, as [...]

Russell Awarded a Grant for Street Lighting Upgrades

info2024-07-01T08:20:23-05:00July 1st, 2024|

The City of Russell is excited to announce that it has been awarded $122,783 in grant funds through the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to upgrade 311 streetlights to more energy-efficient technologies. The KCC received a $1.9 million Block Grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Under this program, the KCC supports projects that replace traffic signals and street lighting with energy-efficient technology, with a particular focus on rural communities in Kansas. Source: City of Russell

Supreme Court Expands Cities’ Power to Remove Homeless Camps

info2024-06-28T12:14:19-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The Supreme Court loosened the restraints on city officials confronting homeless encampments, overturning a lower court that found it unconstitutional to penalize people for sleeping in public when they have nowhere else to stay. Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishments, which a lower court invoked to strike down the city’s ordinance, had no role to play in limiting government responses to homelessness. Source: WSJ.com: World News and U.S. Supreme Court

Construction begins on expansion of Wichita homeless facility

info2024-06-28T12:11:02-05:00June 28th, 2024|

A groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin construction of a major expansion for the Union Rescue Mission in north Wichita. Construction will get started on July 8th to create several enhancements to the facility at 2800 North Hillside. The Union Rescue Mission raised over $2 million through its Dreams Rebuilt capital campaign that began in December, 2020. Kurt Yowell, chairman of the URM board of directors, said in a press release, “These renovations will not only freshen a well-worn facility, they will also provide a Chapel, additional classrooms, an updated emergency overnight shelter facility, improved security and safety features, and a [...]

New city administrator hired in Hiawatha

info2024-06-28T12:09:19-05:00June 28th, 2024|

Brad Scott--who has served the City of Hiawatha as Public Works Director and as Interim City Administrator--was officially hired as the new City Administrator at the end of Monday’s City Commission meeting. All city commissioner members voted in favor of Scott taking the position. Source: City Government | hiawathaworldonline.com

Lyon County Commission approves six-month moratorium on medical facility zoning applications

info2024-06-28T12:06:43-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The Lyon County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution establishing a moratorium on certain types of zoning, land use, and building permits related to medical facilities within the unincorporated areas of Lyon County Thursday morning. The resolution, presented by County Counselor Molly Priest, highlighted the lack of specific definitions and guidelines for medical facilities in the county’s existing zoning regulations. Priest said the resolution was crafted County Zoning Director Sam Seeley. “Our zoning regulations do not contemplate the breadth of medical facilities that exist today,” Priest said. “There are at least eight different types of medical facilities defined at state and [...]

Admire to celebrate new multiuse court with ribbon cutting, community festivities

info2024-06-28T12:04:47-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The City of Admire is set to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. July 3, to mark the completion of its new multiuse sport court. This event signals the final step in a project that has been eagerly awaited by the community. Following the ceremony, people are invited to join in a potluck dinner, enjoy a game of horseshoes, watch a spectacular fireworks display, and socialize with family, friends, and neighbors. The new multiuse court, designed to accommodate pickleball, basketball, and tennis, was made possible by a $30,000 implementation grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. This grant [...]

Tax change creates headaches for county clerks

info2024-06-28T12:03:04-05:00June 28th, 2024|

Homeowners may see a break on their property taxes this year but the change is creating extra work for the County Clerk’s Office. The tax relief package adopted by the Kansas Legislature at the June 18 special session changed the School Finance Levy Residential Exemption. Beginning in tax year 2024, the amount of residential property exempt from that statewide levy will increase from $43,049 to $75,000 of appraised value. County Clerk Bev Schmeidler told the Barton County Commission on Tuesday that her office was notified of this change on Friday afternoon and given until July 1 to update their abstracts, values, [...]

Johnson County wants and needs a homeless shelter. But who will pay $500K a year?

info2024-06-28T12:01:09-05:00June 28th, 2024|

Operating the proposed homeless shelter in Lenexa would require annual funding not only from Johnson County but also its cities, under a new plan, totaling almost $500,000 in public money, presented to county commissioners on Thursday. The idea sparked a heated discussion among commissioners, as leaders work to push forward the long-needed shelter, but have yet to secure any financial commitment from cities to help run it. The board voted 4-3 to move the discussion forward about a fund that would require $62,000 a year from the county. The plan also asks for varying amounts from each city, based on population, [...]

Leawood officials keen to add veterans memorial on city hall grounds

info2024-06-28T11:59:34-05:00June 28th, 2024|

A proposal to designate part of the grounds of Leawood City Hall as a veterans memorial plaza got a favorable reaction from city councilmembers last week as they met in a special work session. A temporary committee that had been meeting since November recommended the city hall location near the entrance flagpoles and the bubbling rock fountain because that area would require only minimal upgrades and because it already has space for gatherings. Councilmember Debra Filla said the location seems to be a good fit. “It’s that ‘Eureka’ moment of doing it right here in the courtyard which is a beautiful [...]

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