info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lack of growth cited as being a key reason Topeka has trouble affording utilities projects

info2022-12-21T07:49:45-06:00December 21st, 2022|

A lack of population growth is a key reason Topeka's city government struggles to afford to make needed improvements to its underground infrastructure, City Councilman Neil Dobler said Tuesday evening. "The real issue is we're not bringing new customers to the table," Dobler said. Mayor Mike Padilla agreed, saying Dobler had interjected into the council's discussion about a proposed utility rate increase a topic that, to his knowledge, "has not been considered as part of the underlying reason we are here." When the city works to address those types of problems, Padilla said, "We really need to look at how — [...]

Contract approved for drivers license restoration program in Wichita

info2022-12-21T07:39:26-06:00December 21st, 2022|

Wichita City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a contract for the operation of a new driver’s license restoration program. The Wichita Area Restoration Program (WARP) was developed this year to deal with a growing number of suspended licenses. There are more than 200,000 suspended licenses in Kansas, and the number has doubled since 2007. About 25 percent of the state suspensions are in the Wichita area, and 70 percent of the suspensions in Sedgwick County are for failing to meet financial obligations. Source: 101.3 KFDI

WPD officer shot in 2021 returns to the streets

info2022-12-21T01:05:24-06:00December 21st, 2022|

A Wichita police officer shot several times last year has finally recovered enough to return to the streets. Officer Kyle Mellard was one of three Wichita Police Department employees honored during a ceremony at Wichita City Hall on Monday. The WPD presented him with a plaque naming him the 2022 Officer of the Year. But police say it was only partly because of Mellard being shot in the line of duty on June 19, 2021. It was also because of his courage and resilience after the shooting. Source: KSN-TV

Shawnee County to add solar panels to 10 warning sirens

info2022-12-21T01:03:59-06:00December 21st, 2022|

Shawnee County is saving some money with its new environmentally friendly proposal. This week, the county proposed to add solar panels to the outdoor warning sirens. After approval from commissioners, they are planning a test run. Ten solar panels will be placed on various outdoor warning sirens across the county. While these sirens are a great way to notify the public of severe weather, the county still advises residents about having multiple methods. Source: KSNT 27 News

Local fire departments prepare for colder temperatures, tips for keeping homes safe

info2022-12-21T01:03:07-06:00December 21st, 2022|

Local fire departments are busy this time of year responding to many calls from frozen pipes bursting, fires at boarded-up structures being used for shelter, but also electrical fires from furnaces and space heaters. With the colder temps on the way, it can be a challenge for firefighters to respond. The icy roads can slow response, but the cold temps can make it harder to get water. Many departments, like Sedgwick County, bring in extra trucks with about 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of water just in case fire hydrants are frozen. Source: KSN-TV

Kansas school district is first in the state to use electric buses

info2022-12-21T01:02:06-06:00December 21st, 2022|

A local district is the first in the state to put electric school buses on the road. The Wabaunsee School district previously announced it would be the first in Kansas to start driving kids to school on these buses. "We feel fortunate that we got chosen for this grant that allows us to try these new buses out and try out the new technology," USD Superintendent Troy Pitsch said. "And to put the kids on a nice, brand-new, safe bus, and save money at the same time." The Environmental Protection Agency grant totalled $790,000. Pitsch said the district is excited to [...]

Bike to work in JoCo? These riders say it can be done 🚴

info2022-12-21T01:00:35-06:00December 21st, 2022|

Cars may still be king of the suburbs, but some in Johnson County are no longer bowing down. In an area with a reputation for shunning other forms of transportation, a handful of commuters have a message for colleagues, friends and other potential riders: it’s not so hard to quit being a driver. And beyond that, they say, biking to work can be fulfilling, enriching and even fun. Source: Prairie Village Post

Johnson County paves way for new fire station at new Panasonic site

info2022-12-21T07:41:21-06:00December 21st, 2022|

A new fire station is on its way to the future grounds of the Panasonic battery plant in De Soto. The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners last week agreed to set aside $500,000 toward the initial steps of building a new fire station within the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant site off of K-10 highway. The fire station will serve the new Panasonic plant and the surrounding area, according to county documents. Source: Prairie Village Post

Financial data bill heads to Biden

info2022-12-20T17:26:55-06:00December 20th, 2022|

Cities, towns, counties and states will be required to standardize their financial information in machine-readable format by 2027 under a provision included in the defense authorization bill that President Joe Biden is expected to sign into law. The Senate Thursday overwhelmingly approved the $848 billion National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, which includes the Financial Data Transparency Act. The House passed the NDAA last week. Biden is expected to sign it into law as soon as next week. Municipal market issuers like the Government Finance Officers Association, the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors lobbied unsuccessfully to [...]

Commerce Announces SEED Grant Recipients Supporting Economic Development

info2022-12-19T22:48:12-06:00December 19th, 2022|

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the award recipients for the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. In total, 61 recipients will receive nearly $2.7 million to invest in small communities across the state. “SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some of our state’s smallest communities,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “These investments will set the stage for future economic development success and prosperity across the state.” Awardees are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are [...]

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