News – Page 2018 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee updating sign code, design guidelines for downtown district

info2019-08-29T07:50:29-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Shawnee is in the process of updating its sign code and design guidelines after a downtown business requested city approval for a projecting sign. Pegah’s Family Restaurant in June had requested approval from the planning commission on a new projecting sign at its downtown location, 11005 Johnson Drive. City staff and planning commissioners were concerned that the sign was “too large and out of scale for the building facade,” according to city documents. The planning commission’s approval of the sign at the time called for a reduction of the overall size of the sign. The planning commission then directed city staff [...]

Winfield, Ark City to continue recycling despite rising costs

info2019-08-29T07:49:42-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Local recycling programs are continuing even as other cities are abandoning the service due to market changes and rising costs. Earlier this year, the cities of Winfield and Arkansas City announced they are working together to continue their joint recycling program after recycling collector Waste Connections announced a rate increase. The cities also requested a proposal for a longer-term contract with Waste Connections that would specify the rate structure and necessary notification time frames for any future rate changes. The costs have risen as China, once the primary market for recyclables, has stopped taking materials from the United States, Winfield Community [...]

Neosho County commission discusses public comment moratorium

info2019-08-29T07:48:28-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Neosho County Commissioners backtracked Thursday evening on the issue of public comments and heard from a frequent critic of the Neosho Ridge Wind project. After attending a seminar in Independence on open meetings and talking to other counties about how they conduct meetings, commissioners last week discussed removing public comments from the agenda. This week, Commission Chair Gail Klaassen had a copy of a resolution passed in 2010 that sets a public comment time. Although the discussion Thursday did not mention any time requirements, it left certain matters to the commission’s discretion – such as whether many of people on the [...]

City of Garden City Receives $30,000 ‘Meet Me at the Park’ Grant to Increase Access to Local Play Spaces

info2019-08-29T07:46:51-05:00August 29th, 2019|

The City of Garden City has been selected to receive a $30,000 play space grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Walt Disney Company. This investment supports NRPA and Disney’s combined goal of providing one million kids and families with greater access to play. As part of the national Meet Me at the Park Play Spaces grant program, park and recreation agencies across the country were invited to share their best ideas on increasing access to play spaces for children and families in their communities. Agencies with the most innovativeand impactful project ideas were chosen to receive $30,000 grants to build their [...]

Judge dismisses lawsuit to block wind farm plans

info2019-08-29T07:43:22-05:00August 29th, 2019|

A district judge has dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit seeking to block development of a wind farm in Marion County. The lawsuit, originally filed May 16, was against wind farm developer Expedition Wind, the board of county commissioners, and the county clerk. A dismissal with prejudice means the plaintiffs cannot bring another lawsuit based on the same claims. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Durham resident buys post office building

info2019-08-29T07:43:12-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Durham resident Wendel Cook has purchased a flood-damaged building to keep the town from losing its post office. Durham’s post office, damaged by four feet of flooding July 4, could be in business again as early as a month from now. Former building owner John Ratzlaff, who lives six miles from Buhler, said he didn’t want to have to renovate and restore the building. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

County commissioners fed up with road conditions

info2019-08-29T07:42:48-05:00August 29th, 2019|

County commissioners, tired of roads in the Diamond Vista wind farm area not being maintained to their standards, discussed taking action against the company Monday. Damage from heavy rains has led to a dispute over whether the county or the wind farm company should be responsible for repairs. Enel Green Energy, the company developing Diamond Vista, considers the heavy rains to be an unforeseeable event not in the scope of their responsibility. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Rules for dollar stores in Hutchinson could stir debate

info2019-08-29T07:42:18-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Hutchinson city staff received the go-ahead to draft rules for future dollar stores that could affect their proximity to each other and spell out how much floor space they should dedicate to fresh food.Hutchinson Planning and Development staff took the idea Tuesday night to the Hutchinson Planning Commission. It voted 5-1 to direct staff to draft dollar store regulations. (Read more: News - The Hutchinson News)

Cherokee County leaders discuss possibility of land bank at Monday night’s meeting

info2019-08-29T08:01:25-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Some structures that stand in Cherokee County were bustling years ago, but now stand vacant and deteriorating. County leaders are looking for a solution. “We have had some general interest in creating a land bank in the county, but didn’t have a lot of information,” explained Janet Miller with Cherokee County Economic Development. “So, we’re hoping to learn directly from people that have been down that road before.” Who better to hear from than leaders from Pittsburg and Fort Scott, as both cities have their own land banks? These land banks work to help a city or county acquire deteriorating or [...]

Johnson County Commissioner says collaboration is key to increasing housing options

info2019-08-29T07:52:28-05:00August 29th, 2019|

Housing affordability is a critical issue in Johnson County and in larger metropolitan areas across the nation. Johnson County’s cost of living has grown by double digits across all household sizes since 2014 according to the Economic Policy Institute. Housing costs is a key component of this increase. If these trends continue, will young adults and families be able to rent an apartment or buy a home? Will longtime residents be able to retire here? First time home buyers in my First Commission District are met with “sticker shock” when greeted with an average sale price well over $300,000 in some [...]