info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick County expects report soon on solar regulations

info2024-06-07T15:20:02-05:00June 7th, 2024|

Sedgwick County Commissioners heard an update Wednesday on the process of adopting regulations governing large-scale solar energy projects, and they voted to delay action until early August. The county has hired a consulting team with expertise on solar power issues to work with staff and gather insights and perspectives on proposed changes to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Zoning Code. Justin Constantino with the Metropolitan Area Planning Department said a draft document is expected from the Berkley Group later this month or in July. Commissioners approved a moratorium on utility or commercial solar projects until September 13th. Constantino said it’s expected that staff will have [...]

City Commission establishes new downtown parking program

info2024-06-07T15:18:21-05:00June 7th, 2024|

The Manhattan City Commission approved a resolution Tuesday night that establishes the Downtown Convention Parking Program for this year. Starting August 1st, the city will begin charging parking fees for the downtown garage. The action Tuesday will allocate transient guest tax, TGT, money to annually cover parking for conventions held in downtown Manhattan through the end of 2028. The approved resolution will allocate $115,000 to the Chamber’s Convention and Visitors Bureau and the commission has authority to change that amount every year. Although the resolution passed unanimously, some noted they want to meet with Chamber officials next month to possibly amend the program [...]

Overland Park plans to make all of its operations sustainable — but how?

info2024-06-07T15:17:15-05:00June 7th, 2024|

Overland Park is among a small group of cities selected to be in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program 2024 cohort. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating standard that’s been used on thousands of structures in the U.S. in the public and private sectors, though some reports suggest the standard is imperfect. The building council also offers a certification program for judging jurisdictional sustainability beyond just physical structures, which is what Overland Park is currently undergoing this year. Previously, the LEED for Cities program was called the STAR Community Rating System. Lara Isch, [...]

What is a STAR Bond, and could it really convince Chiefs to move to Kansas?

info2024-06-07T15:16:11-05:00June 7th, 2024|

A big debate sparked in Wichita on Wednesday after Kansas legislatures sent a letter to the Kansas City Chiefs trying to convince the team to build a new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line. This comes after Jackson County, Missouri rejected a sales tax extension to help fix up Arrowhead Stadium. Marty Yeager and Jim Farthing are lifelong Chiefs fans, so it's hard to find something about the team they disagree on, until now. "I think it's a great idea. It'd be a huge benefit to the state," said Yeager. "I really think they're probably better served staying where [...]

With EMS response times lagging in west Wichita, county plans to build a new Post 1

info2024-06-07T15:14:24-05:00June 7th, 2024|

After combining two EMS crews at one post, Sedgwick County saw emergency response times increase by roughly 7% in west Wichita. Now, the County Commission has approved the construction of a new EMS post to serve the area. The site of the new Post 1 has not yet been selected, but the commission approved $1,838,995 for land acquisition, design and construction at Wednesday’s meeting. Between 1975 and May 2023, Post 1 was located at 2622 W. Central, the site of the former Riverside Hospital complex, where the county was allowed to station ambulances without paying rent. The Post 1 crew is [...]

Lawrence city commissioners vote to no longer broadcast public comment because of ‘performative’ public

info2024-06-07T14:53:18-05:00June 7th, 2024|

The Lawrence City Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to no longer broadcast the general public comment period and to move it to the very end of each meeting because of how some people have chosen to use the time. “I guess my concern is when people are using public comment to be performative, not to actually talk to us. And that’s what I think the purpose of public comment is, is to talk to us,” Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said. The commission last month approved several changes to procedures, including moving the general public comment period to the second-to-last agenda item and not broadcasting it live, [...]

Inspired to come to Topeka

info2024-06-10T12:29:46-05:00June 7th, 2024|

New Topeka Zoo CEO Christina Castellano says her being a mother of two small children played a 'huge' role in her decision to move here and take that job. ”Speaking with staff and people in the community, I heard over and over again what a wonderful place this was to raise kids,” Castellano said Wednesday during her first news conference at the zoo, where she started Monday. Source: CJonline

Kansas’ smallest school district prepares to close in warning sign for rural communities

info2024-06-05T05:15:58-05:00June 5th, 2024|

Healy is an extreme example — one that caught lawmakers’ attention at the end of the legislation session — but it foreshadows the challenges that rural districts and state officials will have to confront in the near future as student populations dwindle. Eight other K-12 Kansas public school districts have fewer than 100 students. Another 28 districts have fewer than 200 students. The state has no blueprint for dealing with the declining student enrollment. Source: KAKE - News

Shawnee is now home to the largest renewable gas plant of its kind in the U.S.

info2024-06-05T05:09:15-05:00June 5th, 2024|

With a new modular plant in Shawnee, Johnson County is now home to a breakthrough in renewable energy solutions. In March, Archaea Energy launched its Archaea Modular Design renewable natural gas plant, a facility that turns landfill gas into renewable energy. Source: Prairie Village Post

Osawatomie USD 367 prepares for leadership overhaul

info2024-06-04T12:43:08-05:00June 4th, 2024|

There will be new faces in leadership roles at every school within Osawatomie USD 367 next school year. Superintendent Greg Clark confirmed that Swenson Early Childhood Education Center, Trojan Elementary, Osawatomie Middle School and Osawatomie High School will all have new principals next year. Clark said current Swenson principal Andrea Manes is retiring, Trojan principal Julie Samuels accepted a new position, Osawatomie Middle School principal Zachary Lopes accepted a new position, and Osawatomie High School principal Justin Young is exploring new opportunities. “I thank them for their exceptional service,” Clark said. Lopes and Young were just hired last year. Source: Local [...]

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