News – Page 2207 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Clay Center approves extraction cutters, heated driveway for fire station

info2019-02-22T08:58:50-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Last night the Clay Center City Council approved a couple of items for the Clay Center Fire Department, including new cutters for vehicle extraction (commonly known as the jaws for life) and a system to heat the concrete driveway in front of the fire station at Fifth Street and Grant Avenue. In a committee meeting before the council meeting, council members heard a report from Fire Chief John Ihnen, who reported that the extraction tools that firefighters currently use are 25 years old. The council received only one bid that meet their qualification. The cost to replace the cutter is $10,971, [...]

Ark City to refinance hospital debt

info2019-02-22T08:56:20-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Arkansas City commissioners took steps this week they hope will help the city to refinance hospital debt and save taxpayers money. The commission approved an ordinance Tuesday that requires 95 percent of revenue from the one-cent sales tax be set aside for bond payments. City Manager Nick Hernandez said part of the reason for that action is to show potential investors that the city has a guaranteed source of income for repayment. “This is a requirement that we need to undertake as a commission to assure bondholders and bond buyers that revenue will be made available to pay back those pledges,” [...]

Wichita city leaders could reverse plans to close pools

info2019-02-22T08:54:48-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

When Wichita city leaders released their aquatic master plan two years ago, many city pools were scheduled to close. Now, a new plan could keep more pools open. Cynthia Maxwell and her daughter, Lucinda go swimming at least 4 times a week in the summer. When they heard Minisa pool might be closing, Lucinda braved a city council meeting and told members just how important the pool was to her. City Council member, Cindy Claycomb says push back from the city played a huge role in saving city pools. "Folks aren't liking this very well, what else could we do? We [...]

Ellis County tags $800K to fix busy northwest county roads

info2019-02-22T08:52:56-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

On an icy day, it’s not unheard of for cars and semi tractor trailer rigs traveling 230th Avenue northwest of Hays to slide off the hilly, narrow rock road. “At our plant, we employ 360 people,” said Mark Hess, vice president of operations for Hess Services Inc. “This year alone, 20 to 25 of our employees have wrecked their cars and slid into the ditch.” While 230th Avenue has a series of rollercoaster hills, one of the steepest that is north facing, in particular, gets very slick in icy wintry weather. “Luckily we’ve had no serious injuries,” said Hess, “but it’s [...]

Overland Park council incentivizes Market Lofts developer to complete major work before Farmers Market opening

info2019-02-22T09:45:57-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

The developer of the Market Lofts project in downtown Overland Park may be able to get some of his promised tax increment financing money restored if he meets two new deadlines designed to get his construction workers out of the way of the Farmer’s Market. Members of the city council’s finance committee okayed a plan Wednesday that would give developer Paul Goehausen until April 15 to have the exterior work and sidewalks done. The new deadline for final completion of the project is June 1. If he misses those deadlines, he stands to lose even more of the money he had [...]

Disagreement emerges in Topeka council debate over employee residency

info2019-02-21T09:11:19-06:00February 21st, 2019|

Disagreement emerged Tuesday evening as members of Topeka’s governing body debated a proposal that would do away with the city’s residency requirement for employees. Councilwoman Sandra Clear suggested she was willing to join council members Karen Hiller, Jeff Coen and Tony Emerson in supporting the proposed change. But Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz and Mayor Michelle De La Isla expressed opposition to it. Councilman Brendan Jensen said he was open to having his mind changed but had reservations about the proposal, which he said was counterintuitive to efforts he and other advocates for this community have undertaken to make Topeka a place where [...]

Survey is in: Here’s what Olathe residents think of city services

info2019-02-21T09:10:05-06:00February 21st, 2019|

Olathe residents remain among the most satisfied in the metro Kansas City area when it comes to their local government and city services, but a new survey shows several areas where that support slipped last year. Transportation issues in particular generated some of the biggest complaints from citizens polled during the final three months of 2018 by research firm The ETC Institute. Researchers released the results of their latest survey to the Olathe City Council on Tuesday. Only 52 percent of the roughly 500 respondents said they were satisfied with the ease of traveling east or west in the city, which [...]

Wichita Transit looks into self-driving shuttles program

info2019-02-21T09:08:34-06:00February 21st, 2019|

You could soon see autonomous vehicles in Wichita. The city's transit department is talking with the company Navya about trading two Q-Line trolleys for two self-operating shuttles. Wichita Transit Director Mike Trann says the vehicles would seat 15 people each. A staff member would still be on board to take control if the autonomous system had an issue. The city says it would cost $100,000 to launch the pilot program. Once the city council approves the program, Trann says it would take the company six weeks to get the system deployed. Trann says staff members are working on a proposal to [...]

Acting Secretary of Commerce Testified on Rural Revitalization before House Committee

info2019-02-21T09:08:17-06:00February 21st, 2019|

David Toland, Acting Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce, delivered testimony to the House Rural Revitalization Committee earlier today, focusing on challenges and how the agency can better serve communities in rural parts of Kansas. Topics included several challenges facing rural Kansans, including population loss, business closings, and even how one defines a community as “rural.” “If you’re in Dighton, Scott City is a big town. If you’re in Scott City, Garden City is a big town,” Toland said. “So while it’s all rural, it’s not all the same.” Toland explained several issues the Department of Commerce has had in [...]

Senate panel considers bill requiring counties to contact voters about signature errors

info2019-02-21T09:07:17-06:00February 21st, 2019|

A Senate committee reflecting on the increase in advance ballot popularity considered amending an elections law Wednesday to allow voters time to correct signature errors on advance ballots before the final canvass. Sedgwick County election commissioner Tabitha Lehman said she has concerns with timing in the proposed legislation. “Our concern is that this does not allow sufficient time for our office to reach out to voters whose ballots arrive the day before or on Election Day,” Lehman said. Members of the Ethics, Elections and Local Government Committee discussed efficient ways to make contact with voters who have an error with a [...]