info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Mural, Public Art Funding Available from Department of Commerce

info2023-03-01T14:48:29-06:00March 1st, 2023|

The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced multiple opportunities to support the creation of murals and public art in the state through coordinated funding programs from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) and the Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP). The programs will provide funding for communities to use public spaces for the purposes of artistic use and creative endeavors. ... The programs are designed to utilize artists, creative interventions, and arts organizations to increase community vibrancy and provide space for artistic expression and public engagement. KCAIC’s Mural and Public Art Program applications are open through March 13 to all 501c3 [...]

Task force makes recommendations to phase out plastic bags in Wichita

info2023-03-01T14:46:59-06:00March 1st, 2023|

A citizens task force is calling for a grassroots effort to phase out the use of plastic bags in the Wichita community. The committee delivered its report to Wichita City Council members in a workshop meeting Tuesday. Task force member Brett Prather said the group looked at environmental, health and economic impacts from single-use plastic bags, and they also looked at steps being taken by other cities across the U.S. Prather said 102 billion plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year and only one to three percent are recycled. He said Wichita has had more than 462.8 million [...]

Edwardsville City Manager Michael Webb Retires

info2023-03-01T14:46:24-06:00March 1st, 2023|

The City of Edwardsville today announced the planned retirement of Michael Webb, 60, after more than 16-years of service to the city and more than 35 years in the municipal management profession throughout Kansas, Texas, and Arizona. “Edwardsville is unique community with more than one hundred years of history. It took a special type of professional city manager to put in the work to attract quality development, work cooperatively with other governmental agencies and put us in an all-around better position financially,” said Mayor Carolyn Caiharr. “Mr. Webb is well respected in our city and among colleagues throughout the region. We [...]

Overland Park opening all 4 outdoor pools this summer

info2023-03-01T14:40:59-06:00March 1st, 2023|

Overland Park plans to open all four of its outdoor pools for the 2023 swim season, according to city officials. This marks the first time since summer 2019 that Stonegate Pool, the Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center, Young’s Pool and Bluejacket Pool will be open for the summer. Bluejacket Pool closed two summers ago due to a lifeguard shortage, and the city closed all city pools in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Prairie Village Post

Shawnee won’t enforce future county mask orders or vaccine rules

info2023-03-01T14:40:39-06:00March 1st, 2023|

Nearly three years after the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Shawnee has adopted new rules saying it will not enforce future Johnson County health orders having to do with masks, vaccines and social distancing. In a 7-1 vote Monday, the city council took the unusual step of amending one section of the Uniform Public Offense Code, a ream of local rules recommended to Kansas cities annually by the League of Kansas Municipalities. ... In explaining his vote for the measure, Councilmember Tony Gillette said, “Hopefully the public realizes that we’re putting this decision out [there] for your [...]

Survey: Wichita residents see safety and street repairs as priorities

info2023-03-01T14:39:51-06:00March 1st, 2023|

The results of a Wichita community survey are out. The survey asked residents about the city's livability, what they like about it and what needs to be improved. ... The survey report is 99 pages long. You can read it by clicking here. Or you can visit Wichita.gov and delve into each of the survey segments and compare them to previous survey results. Source: KSN-TV

Reno County standardizes fire departments across the county

info2023-03-01T14:38:56-06:00March 1st, 2023|

The Reno County commissioners hired fired a fire administrator, Travis Vogt, in March of 2022. Vogt has been working on making some changes so fire departments in the county will be more efficient when working together. Vogt has been working on standardizing equipment, procedures and training across the board. The Pretty Prairie Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Rick Garver, says it's all about being on the same page before they get into a stressful situation. And it'll ultimately make their fire response more efficient, saving more lives and more property. Source: KSN-TV

Schools-to-homes proposal advances

info2023-03-01T14:38:06-06:00March 1st, 2023|

BNIM, a group looking to convert Iola’s former elementary schools into housing, has passed the first phase to apply for state housing tax credits. They’ll now submit a full application. Plans to convert former elementary schools to housing are still moving forward. BNIM, a Kansas City, Mo.-based architect and design firm, is seeking Kansas Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to help pay for the first phase of the project, which would renovate McKinley and Jefferson. Renovation of Lincoln would be in the second phase. BNIM wants to convert all three former schools into housing. Their efforts hinge on a combination of tax [...]

Affordability, internet access make Wichita one of best cities for remote work, according to national publication

info2023-03-01T14:36:25-06:00March 1st, 2023|

As Wichita strives to bring in talent, a national publication has highlighted one segment of workers who may find the city particularly attractive. Recently, a Wall Street Journal report ranked Wichita No. 9 on its list of top U.S. cities for remote workers, thanks in large part to its broadband internet access and overall affordability. "If you have a growing family, then larger, more affordable homes in a fairly large city may top your list of priorities, along with fast Wi-Fi to accommodate work-from-home and all the kids' streaming devices. You may want to explore Wichita, Kan.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Greensboro, N.C.," the [...]

Wichita’s new $400M riverfront plan: Keep Century II and old library

info2023-03-01T14:35:13-06:00March 1st, 2023|

The city of Wichita's new, $400 million plan for the east bank of the Arkansas River downtown keeps and updates its 50-year-old anchor buildings — Century II and the former central library — while expanding current convention space. The plan unveiled Tuesday does not address a new performing arts center. But it does put an end to the $1.2 billion Riverfront Legacy Master Plan, which had momentum in early 2020 but hit a Covid-19 wall before it could be presented to city and county officials, as well as the public. The cost of the plan, unveiled Tuesday in a workshop format [...]

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