News – Page 1004 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita passes new pilot program to boost home renovations, construction

info2022-08-17T07:01:59-05:00August 17th, 2022|

The idea from the city's perspective is simple, by waiving these fees, leaders hope people will use that money to put back into their homes, improving property values, hopefully opening up more current homes to rent or making it easier for new housing to be built. “We need many more affordable units, but we just need housing in general. This helps take care of the stock that we have, hopefully, build on some of those open lots and again, with saving folks’ money on doing that. Hopefully we see a shot in the arm to really help them,” said Johnson. Source: [...]

Shawnee could adjust zoning to encourage more small, artisanal businesses downtown

info2022-08-17T01:53:11-05:00August 17th, 2022|

The public thirst for handcrafted and artisanal goods has become strong enough that Shawnee officials are considering adding a new land use category in the city’s downtown and eastern gateway districts. Driving the news: The Shawnee Planning Commission Monday night unanimously approved “artisanal manufacturing” for its Town Square and Commercial Highway Overlay districts – a move intended to encourage small businesses like breweries, handmade clothing and food businesses. Source: Prairie Village Post

Overland Park discusses short-term rentals following community survey

info2022-08-17T07:02:50-05:00August 17th, 2022|

A city-led analysis in Overland Park concludes that problems associated with short-term home rentals are less common than some may believe. Nonetheless, the Overland Park City Council will continue exploring options for regulating or possibly completely banning these types of rentals within city limits in the future. The Overland Park City Council in its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night discussed how short-term rentals, such as AirBnb vacation homes, could be regulated. Source: Prairie Village Post

A banner day for Iola

info2022-08-17T01:48:46-05:00August 17th, 2022|

Representatives of USD 257, the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce and others involved in building a new Iola Elementary School gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Tuesday evening. Students and their parents were the first to get to tour the new attendance center, before the public was invited later in the evening. Wednesday is the first day of school for Iola schools. Source: The Iola Register

Riley County commissioners approve EPA fine for sewer violations

info2022-08-17T07:04:51-05:00August 17th, 2022|

The Riley County Commission on Monday unanimously accepted a fine of $1,750 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failures within the University Park Wastewater system to meet regulations regarding treated wastewater. The fine is the responsibility of the University Park Sewer Benefit District. County Counselor Clancy Holeman presented information to explain the fine before Monday’s vote. “Public Works Director John Ellermann and I were told early in our negotiations with EPA counsel and EPA staff that the Benefit District could face an EPA fine in ‘six figures,’” he wrote. “But during negotiations with EPA, we discovered any fine which might [...]

$230M project will expand portions of East Kellogg heading into Andover

info2022-08-17T01:46:15-05:00August 17th, 2022|

A two-mile stretch of East Kellogg — from K-96 to 159th Street in Andover — will be reconstructed into a six-lane highway, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced this week. The $230-million expansion is expected to begin in 2023 — one of 11 around the state unveiled in a second pipeline of projects under the IKE transportation plan. The state says expanding East Kellogg from the K-96 interchange to about a half-mile east of 159th Street will improve traffic on a busy stretch of highway heading out of Wichita. Currently it's a four-lane roadway, and there are signs more commercial development is [...]

Wichita gets $3.95 million in federal funding for electric vans

info2022-08-17T01:44:47-05:00August 17th, 2022|

Wichita Transit's goal of moving to an entirely battery-electric fleet has received an assist from the federal government. On Tuesday, the city announced the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration is awarding Wichita $3.95 million in federal grant funding to purchase 10 Vicinity Motor Corp. Optimal S1LF electric vehicles. The funding will also help with the installation of five 150-kilowatt, in-depot charging stations. Source: Wichita Business Journal

Hutchinson opens time capsule, buries another

info2022-08-17T07:06:11-05:00August 17th, 2022|

Hutchinson opened a time capsule that was buried 50 years ago and filled with items important to the community at the time. It included items such as letters with names historic to Reno County and centennial items. City officials say most of the items were in great condition but that there was some water damage. "I think it's really exciting to be a part of this history and see what's important to the residents of our community 50 years ago and also to see, or to have the opportunity to place items in the time capsule to be opened during our [...]

Public Employers and the COLA Conundrum

info2022-08-16T07:36:03-05:00August 16th, 2022|

With government workers’ pay raises lagging the private sector’s, state and local officials will need to navigate through different measures of inflation to fairly calibrate wage and pension increases. Government employees have drawn the short straw lately when it comes to inflation adjustments to their pay. The gap in pay increases could be closed in the coming year if cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are awarded by formula to public employees, but that’s a big if. And don’t be surprised if there are debates about which inflation index to use and how. Source: Governing

Banner Arts Walk fills downtown Garden City businesses with art

info2022-08-16T07:33:39-05:00August 16th, 2022|

Art was on people’s minds Friday and Saturday as the 2022 Banner Arts Walk returned to Garden City. Twenty-two artists created 23 banners for the Arts Walk and participants in the event Aug. 12 and 13 where they had the opportunity to see all the banners up close before they’re installed on downtown light poles and to vote for their favorite ones. ... Katy Guthrie, executive director of Garden City Arts, which partnered with event host Garden City Downtown Vision, said in the past the Banner Arts Walk has been a scavenger hunt, but this year it was changed to a [...]