info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Should the Lawrence City Commission expand to 6 members plus a mayor? Voters will decide next year

info2023-02-20T10:06:45-06:00February 20th, 2023|

Lawrence city commissioners approved one change to city government Tuesday night and set the stage for another potential big change, though that one will be up to voters to decide. Beginning with the 2023 general election, all Lawrence city commissioners will serve four-year terms. But how many commissioners the city will have, and whether we’ll have a directly elected mayor, will be up to voters to decide in November 2024. Commissioners also decided to ask city voters to weigh in on the city’s form of government in the 2024 general election. They passed a resolution that will put several decisions on [...]

Future uncertain for Walnut Valley Festival

info2023-02-16T23:58:23-06:00February 16th, 2023|

The executive director of the Walnut Valley Festival confirmed comments he made recently on an area TV program that the beloved annual music event is struggling financially and its future is somewhat in doubt. Bart Redford, interviewed for an episode of “Positively Kansas” that aired Feb. 6, said the 51st festival will definitely be held in September, but there are no guarantees beyond that. “Where we go after that is an open question,” Redford told the KPTS. “We’re at a point where we’ve got to make it to continue on. No festival out there, no venture that you can think of, [...]

Colorful murals to brighten downtown Dodge City

info2023-02-21T06:57:43-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Dodge City was selected to receive a Community Challenge Grant from AARP Livable Communities and AARP Kansas to create murals in our historic downtown. The Dodge City Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) is proud to announce that the project is nearing completion. The PAAC has been working with talented artist, Efe Tekdemir from the design firm Gardner Design in Wichita, Kansas. Input gathered from community table days informed the direction of these three dynamic works of art that will infuse the area with color and excitement while honoring our city’s rich heritage and cultural diversity. The murals have been sent to [...]

Manhattan discusses Parks and Rec cost recovery model

info2023-02-21T07:29:26-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Manhattan’s Parks and Recreation Department updated the city commission with their proposed cost recovery model at their meeting Tuesday. The current model sorts all programs into one of five tiers. Tier 1 would consist of the programs with the most community benefit, and as the tier number increases, the programs become more individualized. The tiers are situated on a cost recovery pyramid indicating that programs with the most community benefit will require the smallest cost recovery percentage. Source: 1350 KMAN

Kansas school administrators question bill adding school board members to district payroll

info2023-02-21T07:31:51-06:00February 16th, 2023|

The hypothetical cost of implementing a Kansas House bill enabling local school districts to pay elected board members $20 per hour for a commitment of less than two hours a week would cost taxpayers $2.8 million annually. Adopting the change would break a 50-year precedent in Kansas law that made local school board members volunteers without a salary... Jim Karleskint, a former state legislator and Holton school superintendent ... did raise with the committee a series of concerns. “In many school districts,” he said, “the superintendent is selected as the chief negotiator for the board. In years of limited fiscal resources, [...]

City commission discusses state incentives for additional housing in Salina

info2023-02-16T14:26:44-06:00February 16th, 2023|

With the need for housing in the community not going away anytime soon, Salina continues to look for opportunities to make it easier for developers to build in the area. During its meeting Monday, the Salina City Commission discussed and ultimately decided to lend support for incentives for three housing developments in the community. Lauren Driscoll, the city's director of community and development services, presented the commission with multiple resolutions to consider on the topic. "As you're aware, we've been very much engaged in dealing how to provide more housing in Salina related to future employees (coming from) corporate expansion of [...]

Prairie Village looks to remake city hall and police HQ

info2023-02-16T14:17:48-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Prairie Village is looking to either renovate or completely rebuild its city hall and also remodel the city’s police department headquarters next door. City staff presented three preliminary project options at a special city council session on Saturday that came with projected price tags for work on both buildings ranging from $29 million to $42 million. This comes as the city is also gauging public opinion on a new community center on the site of the aging Paul Henson YMCA, which sits directly south of the current city hall and police building. Source: Prairie Village Post

Leawood’s new history book in the works for 75th anniversary

info2023-02-16T14:17:23-06:00February 16th, 2023|

In celebration of Leawood’s 75th anniversary, the city is publishing a new history book later this year. The roughly 100-page book — loosely titled “Leawood — The Journey Continues” — will chronicle the city’s history from 1997 to 2022 from a variety of perspectives, from economic development to arts and public outreach. City staff is slating for a fall publication, after which time the book will be available for purchase. Source: Prairie Village Post

House bill would repeal 50-year ban on compensating members of local school boards

info2023-02-16T14:16:58-06:00February 16th, 2023|

The hypothetical cost of implementing a Kansas House bill enabling local school districts to pay elected board members $20 per hour for a commitment of less than two hours a week would cost taxpayers $2.8 million annually. Adopting the change would break a 50-year precedent in Kansas law that made local school board members volunteers without a salary, but the idea seemed to make sense to Rep. Kristey Williams, chair of the House K-12 Budget Committee. She said during a Tuesday hearing the legislation could serve as a token of appreciation for board members and affirm the value placed on work [...]

Lyon County may use private entity for shelter services

info2023-02-16T07:57:07-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Lyon County may be close to an agreement with a private entity for animal control services, Sheriff Jeff Cope told city and county commissioners Wednesday afternoon during a joint luncheon. Cope said he was not yet able to disclose who the private entity was, but said he expected a contract to come through to the Lyon County Commission in the coming week. "We would be able to address the quarantine issues for animal bites, vicious animals, court orders and things like that," Cope said. Source: Emporia Gazette

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