info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Manhattan gives initial approval on rule banning commissioners from dual offices

info2023-01-26T07:11:24-06:00January 25th, 2023|

Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday unanimously gave initial approval of an ordinance prohibiting members from holding two elected offices, a move they proposed after Usha Reddi’s ascent to the Kansas Senate. But Reddi won’t be kicked off the commission because of a “grandfather” clause. The ordinance, which still requires a second commission vote for approval, states that a person holding another elected office must resign that position before being sworn in as city commissioner. It also includes a “grandfather” clause, stating any city commissioner serving in more than one elected office when the ordinance is adopted shall be entitled to complete [...]

Firefighting team unified as one unit

info2023-01-26T07:13:17-06:00January 25th, 2023|

Jessica Ellerman has been with the Atchison Fire Department for two years and Courtney Keegan has seven plus years (only one year in Atchison) in the dangerous profession. Both ladies stated the hardest part of being a firefighter is the physical demand. Both said that they must stay in top shape because of the heavy lifting and climbing up and down the fire truck. “Whether male or female, we are treated equally and the job does have a lot of demands,” Keegan said. Training is almost constant with many courses that all firefighters must take. However, the main part of their [...]

Salt makes icy roads less dicey, but it poisons the land. Here’s what Kansas is doing about it

info2023-01-25T13:10:40-06:00January 25th, 2023|

Rock salt saves lives by helping tires grip icy roads. It avoids broken bones when homeowners use it on slick sidewalks, driveways and parking lots. And in Kansas, one of the country’s top salt producers, rock salt generates paychecks. But it also costs Americans billions in corroding cars and bridges. It adds so much sodium to drinking water in some places that it can affect people’s health. And in some places, toxic salt levels kill or harm plants, animals and crops. Experts say we can take immediate steps to curb this toll without sacrificing road safety. The Kansas Department of Transportation [...]

10K more Wichitans will have access to fiber internet by end of 2024. What to know

info2023-01-25T07:37:43-06:00January 25th, 2023|

More than 10,000 residents in Wichita could have access to higher-speed internet by the end of next year, thanks to a new project to expand fiber-powered broadband. “The city of Wichita has reached out to us saying they need more connectivity, and we agree,” said Jim Jamison, the president of AT&T Kansas. “So it’s really just a win-win, and we found a way to reach those homes.” Once the project is finalized, AT&T will be awarded $2.2 million from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development and use AT&T private investments to fund the $10.4 million project. Source: Wichita Eagle

Meeting will gather input on recommended changes to development code that determines how city grows

info2023-01-25T07:36:44-06:00January 25th, 2023|

Consultants working to update the development code that determines where and how Lawrence grows have drafted a list of 80 recommended changes and are seeking public input on the proposal. A community meeting will take place on Thursday to gather feedback on the recommended changes, which consultants with Clarion Associates developed following a four-month assessment of the code. The code assessment outlines issues with the current code and the main focus areas for the code changes, according to a project overview. ... The 80 recommended changes span the various sections of the existing code and also include general suggestions. Recommendations are [...]

I Know It When I See It – What is a Capital Expenditure?

info2023-01-25T01:02:46-06:00January 25th, 2023|

According to Wikipedia, the fount of all knowledge, the phrase “I know it when I see it” is a colloquial expression by which a speaker attempts to categorize an observable fact or event, although the category is subjective or lacks clearly defined parameters. This phrase was famously used in a U.S. Supreme Court decision to describe the threshold test for obscenity. (See Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184 (1964)). Although this blog post will, unfortunately, likely not become as well known as the Jacobellis case, it will discuss, “What is a Capital Expenditure?” My guess is that a lot of tax-exempt bond advisors [...]

Manhattan City Commission to consider new “Reddi rule” ordinance

info2023-01-25T00:59:25-06:00January 25th, 2023|

The Manhattan City Commission tonight will consider an ordinance on first reading that would prohibit a sitting commissioner from holding a dual office. The move is a direct response to current commissioner Usha Reddi’s recent appointment to the Kansas Senate, to fill out the remainder of former Sen. Tom Hawk’s term. State law doesn’t currently prohibit someone from holding two offices simultaneously. According to the Kansas League of Municipalities, if the ordinance were passed, Manhattan would be the only known city in Kansas with such a restriction. Source: 1350 KMAN

Reed to resign as Winfield USD 465 superintendent; accepts job in Wichita area

info2023-01-25T07:21:00-06:00January 25th, 2023|

Dr. Nathan Reed, superintendent of Winfield USD 465, will resign from his current position to take a job in the Wichita area, he confirmed Tuesday. Reed, who announced the news to the board of education at their Monday evening meeting, declined to comment Tuesday on the specifics of his new position, but said he will remain as superintendent until his contract is up in June. The board will determine the next steps on how to seek a replacement in the coming weeks, Reed said. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Mulvane Fire pledges funds to Derby facility

info2023-01-25T00:53:01-06:00January 25th, 2023|

Following discussion over recent years regarding a joint training facility, Mulvane Fire Rescue has pledged support to help realize that goal in Derby – with such a facility currently in the works. Already having auto-aid agreements in place, the training facility in Derby would allow Mulvane firefighters to experience a live fire in a safe, controlled environment at a three-story facility – meeting training requirements. The Mulvane City Council recently approved a contribution of $35,000 from Mulvane Fire Rescue to help with construction of the training facility in Derby. Source: Derby Informer | News

Candice Alcaraz is Wyandotte County’s first Black female judge

info2023-01-25T00:46:36-06:00January 25th, 2023|

During November's local elections, Candice Alcaraz defeated 15-year incumbent Wyandotte County Judge Wes Griffin by an overwhelming majority. The win made Alcaraz the first Black female judge in the history of the county, at just 32 years old. Up until last week, she had been serving as an assistant district attorney. Alcaraz said she first decided she would run for the position back in 2020. Source: KCUR

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