News – Page 1287 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Derby’s city manager leaves after giving and gaining in the experience

info2021-11-04T07:36:03-05:00November 4th, 2021|

... Derby has some natural benefits that make growth easier here than in other communities. It just feels like Derby is the right community in Kansas, in the right location, at the right time in history. But to have successful growth, it takes people with the ability to manage it so the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. One of the people who has been involved with that management is Kathy Sexton. Sexton, Derby’s current city manager, will be leaving her post next month on Dec. 10. And no matter what you might think of her performance, Kathy Sexton has made things [...]

Lyon County sales tax extended 15 years

info2021-11-04T07:35:11-05:00November 4th, 2021|

Lyon County voters had a penny for their thoughts Tuesday. They decided to keep it. The 1% county sales tax won a 15-year renewal by a 67.6 % majority. Final unofficial returns showed 3,438 for it, while 1,650 were against. “Those things are pretty popular among our voters,” Tyler Curtis, treasurer of Vote Yes Lyon County, concluded Tuesday night. Curtis says since the county sales tax took effect in 2009, it’s produced more than $50 million for Lyon County. He doesn’t expect much will change now. Source: Emporia Gazette

Kansas sees ‘tons’ of unused drugs, medicine turned in for national disposal month

info2021-11-04T07:34:07-05:00November 4th, 2021|

Nearly four tons of unused drugs and medicines were disposed of in last month's National Drug Take-Back Day, the Kansas attorney general announced Wednesday. Derek Schmidt said medicine was collected at 69 locations across the state during the Oct. 23 event. The disposal effort saw a total of 7,742 pounds of unused drugs handed over, according to a federal Drug Enforcement Administration report.... Local law enforcement locations and a limited number of other places collect unused medicine year-round. Source: KSNT News

Looking at Wichita water pipe maintenance and where it failed

info2021-11-04T07:32:27-05:00November 4th, 2021|

When a 36-hour boil advisory wreaked havoc in Wichita on Oct. 7 and 8, Alan King, the city’s public works director, wanted to make one thing clear. “This was a failure of the distribution system,” he said. In other words, the boil advisory came about as the result of a water main break in the pipes that carry drinking water to more than half a million people in Wichita and eight surrounding municipalities — not because of the city’s 80-year-old water treatment plant. Source: Derby Informer | Area

Herington city manager takes a pie in the face for a good cause

info2021-11-03T12:27:49-05:00November 3rd, 2021|

Three sales tax questions pass in Great Bend

info2021-11-03T07:35:46-05:00November 3rd, 2021|

Voters in Great Bend approved three retail sales tax additions Tuesday. A sales tax was also approved in Ellinwood. Collection of the new taxes will commence on April 1, 2022. ... The City of Great Bend sought a total 0.45% retail sales tax increase, divided into three propositions. This raises the city sale tax to 1.2%. Added to the state sales tax of 6.5% and the Barton County sales tax of 1.0%, the total after April 1, 2022 will be 8.7%. Proposition 1 (Yes: 1,067 - No: 884) will impose a permanent 0.15% city-wide sales tax “to pay the costs of [...]

Riley County voters pass 0.2% countywide sales tax for road, bridge projects

info2021-11-03T07:33:42-05:00November 3rd, 2021|

About 66% of Riley County voters passed a 0.2% countywide sales tax for road and bridge projects. According to unofficial final results Tuesday, the ballot question for the sales tax passed with 6,272 votes. The Riley County government was seeking voter approval of the sales tax for road and bridge improvements, including maintenance and construction. These projects will be outside of the Manhattan city limits. Source: themercury.com

Salina votes to curb city powers in emergencies

info2021-11-03T07:33:17-05:00November 3rd, 2021|

Salina voters decided to limit the power of the City of Salina governing body to impose restrictions on businesses and citizens during a state of emergency. The vote was 57% to 43%. The ordinance would only apply to the City of Salina and not Saline County or any other entity in Kansas. Some against the measure say it puts the city at risk. Source: KSN-TV

Lawrence approves recreation centers to house homeless overnight; commission hears changes to snow removal on city streets

info2021-11-03T07:23:02-05:00November 3rd, 2021|

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday agreed to use the gymnasiums of two city recreation centers for overnight shelter of the homeless, despite the city’s fire chief expressing concerns about the safety of the idea. Commissioners at their weekly meeting unanimously approved a plan to use the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., and the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th Street, to each house up to 75 people experiencing homelessness during cold winter nights. The plan, though, required the city to temporarily suspend portions of the city’s fire code meant to protect life and safety, and Fire Chief Shaun Coffey [...]

County joins with Great Bend for eco devo efforts

info2021-11-03T07:19:55-05:00November 3rd, 2021|

The Barton County Commission Tuesday morning agreed to help fund Great Bend Economic Development Inc. in the amount of $250,000 in a decision hailed by commissioners as a historic cooperative effort between the county and the City of Great Bend. “Today marks a special day in our community,” said District 3 Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson. “For the first time in recent history, Barton County is joining forces with the City of Great Bend and Great Bend Economic Development to develop a countywide initiative focused on growth.” The city already funds GBED for $250,000. Now the county will jump in at the same [...]