News – Page 2082 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Johnson County overcharged Walmart millions in property taxes, board rules

info2019-07-01T10:08:50-05:00June 30th, 2019|

In a big loss for Johnson County, the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals ruled Friday that the county had overvalued Walmart and Sam’s Club properties by $60 million, charging them millions too much in taxes. This is the latest in an ongoing legal battle between Johnson County and large retail stores to determine the proper way to measure the value of commercial real estate. At stake is tens of millions of tax dollars for schools and services. The case is one of a number filed by Target, Home Depot and other big-box stores in the county to challenge their property tax [...]

Kansas Supreme Court upholds Topeka’s ban on tobacco sales to under-21 customers

info2019-07-01T10:08:10-05:00June 30th, 2019|

The Kansas Supreme Court issued an opinion Friday reversing a Shawnee County District Court's injunction blocking enforcement of a Topeka ordinance banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to people under 21.The ordinance was challenged by Topeka businesses Vape Bar and Puffs ‘n’ Stuff, which argued the prohibition was unconstitutional and contrary to state law. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

1,000 rental scooters will hit Wichita streets in the next couple of weeks

info2019-07-01T10:09:36-05:00June 30th, 2019|

Rental electric scooters are about to make their debut on Wichita streets in a big way about a week from now Two companies have applied for city permission to deploy 500 e-scooters each on city streets under a pilot program recently authorized by the City Council. Of the two companies, one is a familiar name in Wichita. Boston-based Zagster already does business here, providing the bicycles you can rent through Bike Share ICT. The other company is a newcomer to the Wichita rental mobility market, the Chicago-based VeoRide. (Read more: Local News |)

DWAGFYS Manuf, Inc. vs. City of Topeka

info2019-06-28T13:41:16-05:00June 28th, 2019|

From the Court syllabus: 1. A city may adopt ordinary ordinances when no state law exists on the subject or when a uniform law applicable to all cities exists on the subject but the Legislature has not expressed a clear intent to preempt the field and there is no conflict between the state and local law. 2. Legislative intent to preempt the field must be clearly manifested on the face of the statute. Courts will not find legislative preemption by implication. 3. The provisions of K.S.A. 79-3301 et seq., do not show a clear manifestation of intent by the Legislature to [...]

County hires new directors for planning, parks and rec

info2019-06-28T10:44:53-05:00June 28th, 2019|

The Shawnee County Commission hired replacements Thursday for two men who spent a combined total of more than 34 years running county departments. Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook voted 3-0 to appoint Angleton, Texas, deputy city manager Randal S. “Randy” Anderson as Shawnee County planning director at an annual salary of $85,000 to replace Barry Beagle, who resigned last December after 15 years in that job. They also voted 3-0 to appoint Tim Laurent as parks and recreation director effective Monday at an annual salary of $94,570.06 to replace John Knight, whose last day will be Sunday after [...]

Kansas Rural Center to host town hall in Emporia

info2019-06-28T10:42:19-05:00June 28th, 2019|

Kansans are invited to attend the upcoming “Kansas Future of Farming & Food” Town Hall from 5:30 - 8 p.m. July 8, at the Bowyer Community Building at 2700 W. U.S. Highway 50. The town hall, hosted by the Kansas Rural Center, will feature a panel of experts on the food system and farming, climate and energy and rural/urban community needs and how we come together to address these. Following the panel comments, attendees will have time to respond, ask questions and share their experiences or opinions about the issues addressed to help identify what is needed to advance opportunities in [...]

Flooding issues continue for many Kansans

info2019-06-28T10:40:50-05:00June 28th, 2019|

DERBY, Kan. (KSNW)- Issues continue for many residents in Kansas even weeks after their homes flooded for the first time. Derby resident, Richard Bartel never thought he’d be working on a do-it-yourself project to keep water out of his home. “I’m trying to channel the ground water out through this pipe to the fence and all the way back to where I’m draining all the ground water into the back ditch behind our houses,” said Bartel. Ripped up carpets line the ends of driveways and many residents blame the high water table for their continuing flooding issues. Bartel said the level [...]

County to be named in Fire District No. 1 lawsuit

info2019-06-28T10:38:13-05:00June 28th, 2019|

A hearing in a lawsuit involving Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 ended Wednesday without a resolution in the case. District Judge David King ruled that the Leavenworth County Commission should have been named in a petition filed by attorneys for the Delaware and High Prairie townships. King granted a motion to allow the attorneys to amend their petition to include the County Commission. Attorneys for the two townships filed a petition for a declaratory judgment after Lansing city officials announced their intent to terminate an interlocal agreement that was used to establish Fire District No. 1. (Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Minutes add up for city PD’s payroll

info2019-06-28T10:30:43-05:00June 28th, 2019|

When the City of Scott City decided to have its employees enter the times when they arrive for work and leave at the end of the day by computer software rather than entering them manually, it was a means of getting a little more accountability. The city council got that . . . and a little bigger bill. Police Chief Chris Jurgens attributes the new procedure for clocking in and out as a big reason behind an $8,000 to $11,000 increase in his payroll this year. (Read more: Scott County Record RSS)

Kingman County to pay cash for jail/LEC project

info2019-06-28T10:26:27-05:00June 28th, 2019|

KINGMAN - After ballots to build a new Kingman County law enforcement center and jail failed in 2013 and 2014, the Kingman County Commission is moving toward a cheaper addition/remodeling alternative that will be financed by cash and won’t require voter approval. Commissioner Jerry Henning said the commission’s vote on the final plan should occur in mid-July and construction could start in the fall. “It’s going to be better than we have by a long shot,” Kingman County Sheriff Randy Hill said of the improvements to be financed by a commission-set $5-million spending cap. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)