News – Page 1048 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Golden petitioners drop their appeal

info2022-06-29T23:18:06-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Petitioners have dropped their appeal of the County Commission’s decision not to approve incorporation of a proposed city of Golden in northwest Miami County. District Judge Steven Montgomery granted the petitioners’ dismissal without prejudice Thursday, June 23. During a hearing in Miami County District Court conducted via Zoom on Monday, June 6, Judge Montgomery set bond in the Golden appeal at $3,500 and scheduled an in-person bench trial for October 2023. In October 2021, the County Commission voted 3-1 against incorporation of a proposed city of Golden. Jennifer Williams, who filed the initial petition to incorporate about 9 square miles north [...]

McPherson residents to vote on sales tax

info2022-06-29T23:16:39-05:00June 29th, 2022|

On Tuesday, Aug. 2, citizens of McPherson will vote in the primary election. Among items on the ballot, voters will consider a renewal of the city’s second half-cent sales tax. The city has scheduled eight public meetings during the next few weeks for citizens to get more information about the proposed renewal as well as have the opportunity to speak with city officials about the purpose of the sales tax. The meetings will consist of a 20-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session with various representatives from the different city departments. This is not an additional tax; it is a renewal [...]

Panel makes recommendations for addressing housing affordability in Prairie Village

info2022-06-30T08:12:45-05:00June 29th, 2022|

The Prairie Village City Council on Tuesday unanimously directed city staff to begin work on implementation of attainable housing strategies as recommended by a city committee. These recommendations were borne out of the ad hoc housing committee, which Mayor Eric Mikkelson charged with focusing on how to diversify the city’s housing stock and preserve its currently available attainable housing options. Source: Prairie Village Post

Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board to consider plastic bag ban

info2022-06-30T08:13:15-05:00June 29th, 2022|

The city’s Sustainability Advisory Board on Thursday will hold a special meeting to discuss a draft ordinance that would prohibit establishments from providing or selling single-use disposable plastic bags. The city has been discussing similar measures for a few years now. A previous draft of the ordinance would have required establishments to charge customers 15 cents per single-use disposable bag for any purchase. Produce bags and reusable bags are not included in the proposed ban. Single-use disposable paper bags would still be allowed. Source: The Lawrence Times

Pott County discusses potential reuse plan for old courthouse

info2022-06-29T23:11:24-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Jessica Stuck, an architect with Landmarks SGA, LLC, met virtually Monday with the county commissioners and suggested a reuse plan for the historic Pottawatomie Courthouse. Stuck specializes in adaptive reuse and historic preservation. She met previously in April with the commissioners and stakeholders to tour the building and obtain input regarding the potential future of the building. “There are thick 16-to-18-inch masonry walls which could pose problems with future reuses,” Stuck explained. Other restrictions on reuse Stuck mentioned included environmental factors such as asbestos and lead paint, proximity to the justice center, the age of the mechanical systems, and the fact [...]

Giant mural will start to be painted in downtown Osawatomie

info2022-06-30T08:14:46-05:00June 29th, 2022|

A giant mural will soon take shape in downtown Osawatomie. Samantha Moon, the city’s public information officer, said the muralist team should be on site around July 8 to begin the color application of a 40-foot by 40-foot mural on the building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Main streets. The city of Osawatomie received a $15,000 grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity and the “Rural Mural” program — a pilot program designed to bring public art into rural communities. The award included all expenses for labor, equipment, supplies and other costs. Source: Local News [...]

New $340,000 public art piece installed at Lawrence police headquarters

info2022-06-29T16:28:34-05:00June 29th, 2022|

A $340,000 art installation for the city’s police headquarters was recently installed. The artwork, “Through Other Eyes,” was paid for by the city’s longstanding Percent for Art program. The program allows city leaders to set aside up to 2% of a capital project’s budget for public art. The funding was approved as part of project budget for the $19.9 million police headquarters, 5100 Overland Drive. The piece consists of a metal pavilion with panels of colorful glass representations of eyes and light projections. The light sculpture at the center of the pavilion, the sphere toward the top of the design, includes [...]

Flights to Denver and Chicago continue as SkyWest withdraws termination notice for Salina

info2022-06-29T07:45:53-05:00June 29th, 2022|

After a few months of uncertainty about passenger air service to and from the community, Salina Regional Airport announced that flights will continue uninterrupted. On March 10 of this year, the air service, which operates United Express flights at Salina, which travel to and from Chicago and Denver, announced it would terminate the service, due to a pilot shortage impacting the regional airline industry. That notice to terminate was withdrawn by SkyWest on Friday, June 24, meaning United Express flights will continue as part of the Essential Air Service, a program from the United States Department of Transportation. The Salina Airport [...]

Rural Counties Are Booming, but Can It Last?

info2022-06-29T07:44:28-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Even in the face of inflation and the risk of recession, the broad economic prospects for rural America may be looking up for the first time in years. Small communities have long lagged far behind big cities in job creation and income growth. But since the pandemic, many are seeing an infusion of remote workers drawn by lower costs, laid-back lifestyles and natural beauty—and worn down by crime and other urban challenges. Their presence has helped spur hiring, income gains and home-price growth in rural towns. The question now is whether these transplants are there to stay. Source: Wall Street Journal

Wichita firefighters, supporters protest at City Hall over wages

info2022-06-29T07:42:29-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Wichita firefighters, their families and supporters cheered outside of Wichita City Hall on Tuesday after union officials told them that during contract negotiations they immediately rejected the city’s offer for raises. International Association of Fire Fighters Local 135 president Ted Bush said the city’s offer wasn’t even close to bringing firefighter wages up to a rate comparable with other large cities in the region. Union officials said firefighters have started to leave the department in large numbers and pay is a major reason why. The department being short-staffed, they said, is putting additional stress on the remaining firefighters. Source: Local News [...]