News – Page 1926 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lawrence City Commission to consider expanding fast-track incentives program

info2019-12-02T21:45:37-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

Lawrence city commissioners will soon decide if they want to expand the city’s fast-track incentives program for industrial projects, allowing a beverage distribution company to apply for incentives under the program. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission will consider expanding the Catalyst incentive program to allow applications from industrial expansion projects in Lawrence VenturePark and on privately owned property within the city. Currently, only industrial expansion projects in East Hills Business Park qualify for the program. New construction for industrial purposes in either business park or anywhere else in the city also qualifies. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Incoming mayor Jennifer Ananda excited for ‘a year of change’

info2019-12-02T21:45:06-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

When Jennifer Ananda dropped off her forms to become a Lawrence City Commission candidate in 2017, she said she was literally shaking. “It’s scary to put yourself out there,” Ananda said. “You’re saying ‘Please tell me that you find me appropriate for this.’ It’s very public and it’s very vulnerable.” Ananda need not have worried, as she finished second in the election, earning her not only a spot on the commission but a four-year term and the position of vice mayor this year. And come Tuesday, if city commissioners stick with tradition as expected, she is set to become Lawrence’s next [...]

Arkansas River Compact Administration to Meet December 5 in Colorado

info2019-12-02T21:01:57-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

The Arkansas River Compact Administration (ARCA) annual meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. MST at the Otero Junior College Student Center, 2001 San Juan Ave. in La Junta, CO. The meeting agenda is posted on ARCA’s website at https://www.co-ks-arkansasrivercompactadmin.org/. ARCA administers provisions of the Kansas–Colorado Arkansas River Compact, including operations of the John Martin Reservoir. Topics to be covered at the annual meeting include a review of John Martin Reservoir operations, compliance update, committee reports, and updates from state and federal agencies. ARCA’s Operations, Administrative and Legal, and Engineering committees will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 4, [...]

Pott. County Commission approves final design and specifications for the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility; discusses traffic-signal project and purchase of equipment for fire department

info2019-12-02T20:58:41-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

Pottawatomie County Commissioners approved the final design and specifications for the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility during their meeting Monday. These were brought to the commission last week but weren’t approved due to some concerns about finances and aspects of the design. “The first one was where does our current CIP (capital improvement plan) Fund sit financially?” Peter Clark, the public works director for Pottawatomie County, said. “How much money do we have? Where will we be at the end of the year in that fund after some of our projected transfers? And the last question was related to some particular [...]

Learning center is pathway to diplomas in Kiowa County

info2019-12-02T21:41:46-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

The 21st Century Learning Academy in the Kiowa County school system has graduated more than 50 students per year over the past 10 years. These students have been high school seniors or adults, but they are 50 people who might otherwise never had the chance to earn a diploma. Student enrollment tends to change from day to day because of open enrollment allowed throughout the school year, Brian Deterding, USD 422 principal said that students enroll, drop, and graduate on a fairly regular basis. Students in the virtual school fall into 1 of 3 categories. Charter students are sixth- to 12th-grade [...]

Meet and greet for Reno County administrator candidates set for Wednesday

info2019-12-02T20:50:17-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

The Reno County Commissioners on Wednesday will interview candidates for county administrator to replace Gary Meagher, who is retiring as administrator at the end of the year. The public is invited to a meet and greet reception for the candidates from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom, 3 W. Ave B. Candidate details will be announced Tuesday, according to Reno County human resources director Renee Harris. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Shawnee County Commission OKs hiring of crime data analyst after hearing from burglary victim

info2019-12-02T20:48:06-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

Soon after creating a new job for a sheriff’s office employee who will use data to combat crime, Shawnee County commissioners heard Monday from one of their department heads who was personally violated by burglaries committed last week as she slept. “I’m standing before you not just as an employee but as a citizen of Shawnee County and, most importantly, as a mother,” said human resources director Angela Lewis. Last Wednesday night, she said, “someone broke into our home while we were sleeping and stole my car and my purse and burglarized our home.” Lewis indicated the garage door opener from [...]

Topeka to share details about proposed utility rate increases

info2019-12-02T21:42:10-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

Topeka’s city government will share information about proposed increase in utility rates the city assesses during a public meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. The city’s utilities government asked the city’s mayor and council last month to raise utility rates each year from 2021 through 2025 to cope with what it describes as a “crisis” the city faces because of its aging utility infrastructure. The mayor and council are being asked to later consider raising rates each year in 2021, 2022 and 2023 by 9% for water, 9% [...]

Cities Target Alcohol Licensing As a Way to Fight Crime

info2019-12-02T21:42:58-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

Over the past few decades, numerous studies have found that alcohol consumption is associated with a significant portion of homicides. Often, these murders and other violent crimes happen in the vicinity of alcohol outlets, leading cities to take on zoning and licensing ordinances as a means of controlling crime. A new report from CityHealth, a policy research organization, grades the nation’s 40 largest cities on their efforts to reduce the density of liquor outlets, impose operating conditions on alcohol retailers, and become more deliberate in their processes granting and renewing alcohol licenses. Eight cities, including Chicago, Boston, and Las Vegas, received [...]

Topeka City Council to consider compromise for camping ban

info2019-12-02T21:53:25-06:00December 2nd, 2019|

A Topeka City Council committee met eight times over 18 months to deliberate over a proposal that initially would have banned camping on public property, including sidewalks, and on private property without the owner’s written consent. After a conversation that came to include members of the local homeless community, committee members Sylvia Ortiz, Karen Hiller and Mike Padilla voted 3-0 last month to recommend the council approve a compromise version of that measure. (Read more: Local Government - The Topeka Capital-Journal)