info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Trains, mass transit for most-populated counties should be looked into, Kansas lawmakers say

info2023-01-09T09:10:41-06:00January 8th, 2023|

Lawmakers say it may be time to get on board with trains and other mass transit options as ways of attracting young professionals to the state. During a Friday legislative budget committee meeting, the last before the start of the legislative session next week, Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, recommended that the Kansas Department of Transportation conduct a study looking into mass transit systems for Johnson and Sedgwick Counties. Waymaster also recommended the department look into potential federal funding. With more jobs coming into the state through the Panasonic deal, Waymaster said, new forms of mass transit would be a significant [...]

Lenexa releases final design for $1M skatepark revamp

info2023-01-08T21:02:17-06:00January 8th, 2023|

After months of collecting community feedback, the City of Lenexa has unveiled the final design for an upgraded skatepark within Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. The city’s current skatepark is over 20 years old and the pavement is starting to deteriorate. Lenexa will spend $1 million to upgrade the skatepark and nearby parking lot. New Line Skateparks will design and build the skatepark. Professional skateboarder and New Line’s lead designer Kanten Russell said the design of the new park is all about making an inclusive space for all types of skaters and cyclists. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Newton’s flag recognized as one of country’s best

info2023-01-09T09:03:21-06:00January 8th, 2023|

You can fly your Newton flag with pride. It’s one of the best-designed flags in the country. That’s according to the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA). Vexillology–your $10 word of the day–is the study of flags. NAVA, a group of more than 1,000 flag enthusiasts and scholars, released the results of a national survey evaluating the 312 city flags it had knowledge of adopted after 2015. Source: Harvey County Now

Retiring JoCo Chair Ed Eilert lauded for ‘calm demeanor’ in face of conflict

info2023-01-08T20:58:46-06:00January 8th, 2023|

County Commission Chairman Ed Eilert has never been the type of elected official to be bombastic. There were plenty of opportunities during his tenure on the commission to get into a conflict, whether it was during discussions over the county’s controversial purchase of the King Louie bowling alley or more recently during heated public comments over mask mandates and election procedures, where constituents often were shouting at each other and the board. Source: Prairie Village Post

Thirty one Kansas cities bumped from ‘urban’ in Census report

info2023-01-09T09:04:14-06:00January 8th, 2023|

The rural population in Kansas grew by more than 10% during the last decade after about 30 small cities lost their "urban" classification according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau last week released a new list of cities considered "urban" based on new criteria that effectively increased the "rural" population in Kansas. The new definitions meant that 31 small Kansas towns lost their "urban" status, meaning they will face new challenges for getting federal government funding. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Kansas Supreme Court: Open Record Act’s application to electronic Excel spreadsheets

info2023-01-06T09:40:28-06:00January 6th, 2023|

The plain language of K.S.A. 45-219(a) requires a public agency, upon request, to provide a copy of a public record in the format in which it maintains that record. ... Here, if we focus on just an Excel spreadsheet, it can have embedded components that include at least some formulas. Such formulas provide information to show more than just numbers in a cell, but also how those numbers are generated. Hardcopies simply will not work to reproduce accurately such an integrated animal. Plainly, hard copies do not "embed" anything. The only accurate reproduction of an electronic file is a copy of [...]

Proposal for less stringent historic preservation rules in Lawrence gets mixed reactions

info2023-01-06T08:03:03-06:00January 6th, 2023|

Proposed changes that would loosen Lawrence’s historic preservation rules are getting a mixed reaction, with some residents and local leaders expressing concern about less-stringent restrictions and others saying the changes wouldn’t go far enough. The city is in the process of revising Chapter 22 of the city code, which lays out rules related to the conservation of properties on the local historic register. The proposed changes loosen some requirements for the area around listed properties and make various other changes regarding how development is allowed to occur on or near those properties. Chapter 22 was originally adopted in 1988, and Lynne [...]

Fed’s Esther George sees rates staying high at least into 2024

info2023-01-06T07:23:58-06:00January 6th, 2023|

As her 40-year central banking career comes to a close, Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George is advising her colleagues to stay tough in their efforts to stamp out runaway inflation. George said Thursday that she thinks the Fed should raise its benchmark borrowing rate above 5% and keep it there until there are substantial signs that prices are stabilizing. Source: CNBC

Winfield commission gets police station update

info2023-01-06T00:30:33-06:00January 6th, 2023|

Winfield city commissioners reviewed construction plans for the new police station and heard about upgrades to the Baden Square Community Center kitchen during their work session Tuesday evening. The police station, which will be built adjacent to the recently completed Winfield fire station near Ninth Avenue and Fuller Street, will contain about 16,800 feet of space. The current design contains office space for the chief, captain and lieutenants, but will otherwise have a more open plan in order to free up more room for operations, Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong said. There will also be an evidence handling area, and a [...]

Wichita Launches New Landlord Incentive Program

info2023-01-06T07:31:04-06:00January 6th, 2023|

The City of Wichita launched the Wichita Housing Authority Landlord Assistance program at the beginning of January. The program will give between $250 and $1,000 to rental property owners who accept tenants who receive government housing assistance. The Landlord Incentive Program provides a $1,000 bonus for a new landlord, $500 for a returning landlord or $250 for each tenant that a landlord leases up above baseline count. Incentives will also cover some damages and lost rent. Source: 101.3 KFDI

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