info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

County concerned city’s housing incentives could affect property taxes

info2024-02-22T10:03:55-06:00February 22nd, 2024|

Riley County commissioners on Thursday expressed concerns about how Manhattan’s potential housing incentive programs could affect county property tax income. The city’s proposal to use an estimated $8 million in sales-tax revenue to provide incentives for increasing workforce housing would decrease the county’s property tax collection for a set number of years — such as 7, 14 or 25 years — though the county would not be responsible for paying for any of the incentives. County commissioner John Ford said during an intergovernmental meeting the majority of the county’s budget comes from property taxes, and it can’t use sales taxes to [...]

These ethanol plants want to bury CO2 in Kansas to cut their carbon footprints

info2024-02-22T10:01:25-06:00February 22nd, 2024|

Two companies seek to build the first sites in Kansas where carbon dioxide emissions get pumped deep underground to keep them out of the atmosphere, a practice that proponents argue will combat climate change but that many environmental groups oppose. The fledgling carbon sequestration industry is picking up pace globally, and geologists say rock formations beneath Kansas offer a bonanza of suitable locations for it. “Kansas has abundant geology that would be compatible with long-term permanent CO2 storage,” said Brendan Bream, a senior scientist at the Kansas Geological Survey. The Kansas Geological Survey envisions conducting a county-by-county study to identify suitable [...]

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $16.5M for Short Line Rail Projects to Improve Agricultural Supply Chain

info2024-02-22T09:59:41-06:00February 22nd, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that nearly $16.5 million will go toward 17 short line rail expansion and rehabilitation projects. These investments, made through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP), will improve the state’s agriculture supply chain. “These needed rail infrastructure improvements will lift up rural Kansas and, in doing so, will maximize the economic potential of the entire state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By strengthening agriculture supply chains, my administration is helping our farmers and ranchers connect to regional, national, and international markets.” RSIP recipients will use the funds for expansion and capacity improvements, major track rehabilitation, [...]

Newton Schools announces updated plans for new playground

info2024-02-22T09:55:09-06:00February 22nd, 2024|

After receiving the majority of the necessary funds, Slate Creek Elementary announced to its students the plans to build a larger inclusive playground than originally expected. Slate Creek Elementary works with a number of students with disabilities throughout the county with the Harvey County Special Education Cooperative. Many of these students use wheelchairs and other mobility aids and communication devices. The current playground isn’t equipped to accommodate them. Tenae Alfaro, Slate Creek Elementary’s principal, gave an update to the students, announcing the plans for the playground. Students were selected to press a button and show the increases in funding the school had [...]

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $770 Million for Rural Infrastructure Projects During Investing in America Tour

info2024-02-22T09:32:30-06:00February 22nd, 2024|

During a visit to Edgecombe County, N.C., a Rural Partners Network community, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden today announced that USDA is funding 216 projects in 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands to bring high-speed internet, clean water, state-of-the-art infrastructure and economic growth to rural communities as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The new projects, totaling $772.6 million in investments, will benefit more than 1 million people living in remote areas of the country by providing reliable high-speed internet access, clean, safe water and a range [...]

Narcan vending machine gives Hutchinson tool to prevent overdose deaths

info2024-02-21T07:14:54-06:00February 21st, 2024|

Hutchinson will soon have a vending machine available that dispenses free Narcan so the public will have quick access to life-saving intervention in opioid overdoses. The vending machine will be officially introduced 11 a.m. Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Crossover Recovery Center, 400 W. 2nd Ave. A new naloxone vending machine is located at Crossover Recovery Center, 400 W 2nd Ave. to provide free public access to emergency opioid overdose medication. Residents can access the free naloxone by simply entering their ZIP code. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Source: Hutch [...]

Privatizing cemetery upkeep in Galena

info2024-02-20T21:02:21-06:00February 20th, 2024|

The City of Galena has something in the works when it comes to its cemeteries. It's accepting bids from contractors to privatize upkeep at the three it currently owns and maintains "The Old Galena,” "Oak Hill," and "Hillcrest" cemeteries. ... "We believe that the cemeteries deserve the utmost respect, and they need to look pristine all the time. We do our best to keep, to make that — although sometimes we fall short. So, our hope is that by putting out for bid, we will have some contractors put some bids in that are within our budget — that they can [...]

McAnarney agrees to Marion’s interim city administrator role

info2024-02-20T12:14:36-06:00February 20th, 2024|

There’s a new position ahead for Mark McAnarney, if only for a short period of time. McAnarney has reached an agreement with Marion city officials to serve as the city’s interim city administrator. The Marion County Record says McAnarney begins his work Thursday. The Record also says McAnarney will work three days a week at a full-day rate of $488 per day or a five-hour maximum of $244 per day. Employee benefits will not be included. Marion had been looking for a city manager after the resignation of Brogan Jones on Nov. 15. There is currently no word on when the city [...]

New $20M Overland Park police training facility back on table

info2024-02-20T12:13:33-06:00February 20th, 2024|

Overland Park is almost ready to move ahead on a new Overland Park Police Department training facility and some other major public safety investments. In the city’s draft capital improvement plan list for 2025-28, the city has budgeted nearly $20 million for the new facility. Overland Park plans to build the new training center at police headquarters, on the W. Jack Sanders Justice Center campus located at 12400 Foster St. Source: Johnson County Post

Brown County commissioners meet with planning committee over survey results

info2024-02-20T12:10:33-06:00February 20th, 2024|

The Brown County commissioners-Richard Lehmkuhl of District 1, Lamar Shoemaker of District 2 and William Pollock of District 3-met with Brown County Planning Commission members-who included Bill Vonderschmidt-on Monday over results collected from the survey conducted by Olathe-based ETC Institute. The commissioners and Planning Commission met with ETC Director of Community Research Jason Morado via Zoom call about the 2023 Community Survey that was conducted in Brown County. Morado gave some specifics of the survey. “The survey was five pages long,” Morado said. “On average, it takes residents about 10-15 minutes to complete the survey. The survey was administered by a [...]

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