News – Page 1942 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wind farm firm doubles payment offer to county

info2019-11-13T20:41:45-06:00November 13th, 2019|

A draft of the proposed agreement between Marion County and developers of a proposed wind farm shows the company is offering twice the per-megawatt rate the county is paid by Diamond Vista wind farm in the northern portion of the county. The proposed rate is $1,800 per megawatt over the first 10 years the wind farm operates. The estimated total annual payment is $360,000 for the first year and $330,600 for the following nine years. The payment in lieu of taxes agreement proposed by Expedition Wind Farm developers will be discussed with county commissioners at 1:30 p.m. Friday. (Read more: Marion [...]

Reception for Smith-Hanes set for next week

info2019-11-13T20:41:08-06:00November 13th, 2019|

There will be a reception in honor of departing Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes next week. Smith-Hanes, who has been county administrator since 2016, recently accepted a similar job in Saline County. The reception is scheduled for 3:30 to 5 p.m. Nov. 18 at Ellis County Commission chambers. (Read more: Hays Post)

Andover city council will move forward with zoning changes, controversial development

info2019-11-13T17:22:25-06:00November 13th, 2019|

Andover city council members voted Tuesday night to move forward with an apartment complex development that caused controversy among nearby residents. Dozens of community members showed up to Tuesday's meeting to voice their opposition to the proposal. The plan calls for developers to build an apartment complex in an empty lot along 21st Street North and Andover Road next to Cornerstone. The plan also calls for rezoning of the land. The city wants to create multi-family housing to cater to more families in Andover, but residents in Cornerstone, a neighborhood that sits next to the lot, said the development will decrease property value, [...]

Topeka mayor, council adopt new city flag

info2019-11-13T17:16:44-06:00November 13th, 2019|

Topeka’s mayor and city council voted 8-1 Tuesday evening to adopt a new city flag featuring a white five-pointed star at Topeka’s site on the state map. Mayor Michelle De La Isla and Councilmen Brendan Jensen and Mike Padilla spoke positively of the new design, which has been a topic of discussion in the community for several months. “I was particularly excited to see how everybody embraced this,” Jensen said. Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz cast the dissenting vote, saying she likes the new flag but felt like it had been “rammed down my throat.” (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Farmers finding news avenues for Kansas wheat overseas

info2019-11-13T17:05:10-06:00November 13th, 2019|

In late October, the CEO of Kansas Wheat traveled to Brazil and Columbia, hoping to ramp up imports of Kansas wheat in South America. Kansas is the largest exporter of hard red winter wheat, but with trade negotiations continuing and new wheat producers ramping up, the U.S. wheat producers need to negotiate more openings for their wheat in already-established export markets, as well as find new trade partners. South American markets are good examples of increasing trade with already-established markets. “Brazil is one of the largest importers of hard winter wheat,” said Justin Gilpin, the CEO of Kansas Wheat. “They use [...]

Policing city ordinances a tough task

info2019-11-13T20:43:07-06:00November 13th, 2019|

Every city has rules for keeping the community clean, but those often come with loopholes that can be taken advantage of by opportune residents. In Marion, inoperable vehicles are to be screened within a property, but even that has room for people to take advantage, police chief Clinton Jeffrey said. “The ordinance just says ‘screened off,’ so if you strung up a bunch of tarps it would probably look worse,” he said. “Then there are places that have gone to tin or giant concrete blocks to screen it off.” (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Infrastructure, jobs on Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens’ mind after 100 days in office

info2019-11-12T21:08:34-06:00November 12th, 2019|

In his first 100 days in office, one of the things City Manager Craig Owens noticed firsthand — while driving the city’s streets, observing the alleyway behind his house or pushing his son’s stroller over the sidewalks — was that the infrastructure was in bad shape. Owens said the story is the same underground, where city water and sewer mains are in need of maintenance. He said that as the city worked out its 2020 budget this summer, there were a lot of unmet needs. But he said what didn’t seem to get its due attention was infrastructure. “There were a [...]

As many rural communities see healthcare struggles, Colby hospital thrives

info2019-11-12T21:05:11-06:00November 12th, 2019|

As many rural communities struggle to recruit and retain healthcare professionals, Colby sees an increase in services provided for patients. Citizens Health in Colby recently made renovations to accommodate its increasing numbers. Located on Interstate 70 between Hays and Denver, Citizen's Health serves as the healthcare hub for rural communities in northwest Kansas. "We definitely serve the 12 counties surrounding Colby in northwest Kansas, but we also reach well beyond that," says Citizens Foundation Executive Director Megan Carmichael. "We do have patients that come to us from Colorado and beyond out 12-county circle." (Read more: KWCH News)

Wichitans invited to complete fireworks ordinance survey for 2020

info2019-11-12T21:04:33-06:00November 12th, 2019|

The Wichita Fire Department wants your input on the City’s fireworks ordinance during the Fourth of July holiday season. In 2018, the ordinance was changed so the Wichita could reduce the number of illegal fireworks and injuries. Wichita Fire Department increased public education and enforcement in an effort to reduce the use of illegal fireworks and related injuries. Nearly 140 fireworks citations were issued and another 59 were written in 2019. Questions continue to be asked if these enforcement efforts are effective and/or necessary. (Read more: KSN-TV)

Homeowners in Andover neighborhood strongly oppose plans for apartment complex

info2019-11-12T20:41:29-06:00November 12th, 2019|

Homeowners in Andover rally together in protest of a possible zoning change ahead of a city council meeting. Neighbors say it's a decision that has the potential to redraw school-district boundary lines. The controversy in the Andover neighborhood comes after developers propose building a 250-unit apartment complex along 21st Street North and Andover Road. First, city leaders would have to rezone the area. Those who live near the proposed site for the complex say this vote is bigger than just the Cornerstone Neighborhood. It has the potential to affect the entire city, they say. (Read more: KWCH News)