News – Page 2210 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Topeka to hire civilian to investigate police misconduct

info2019-02-20T09:12:44-06:00February 20th, 2019|

The city of Topeka will hire an independent police auditor who will help investigate reports of police misconduct. City manager Brent Trout announced Tuesday he had authorized creating the new position in his office. He said the person will be a civilian and report to him. The person will work with the police department’s professional standards unit. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Trout found funds for the position by eliminating an existing job in his office for a senior executive aide, which was vacant. The person will be paid $71,500 a year. The city hasn’t started the process of finding someone to [...]

Finney County trying to prioritize road, bridge projects

info2019-02-20T09:12:13-06:00February 20th, 2019|

The Finney County Commission spoke Tuesday about which upcoming public works infrastructure projects should take priority over others. County Engineer John Ellermann reviewed a tentative schedule for upcoming roads and bridges projects, including pavement overlays and bridge replacements throughout the county and major modifications to Farmland and Mansfield roads. The schedule planned about one road project a year through 2027 and one bridge project a year through 2023. Ellermann said commission input would help him make a more defined master plan for county projects. “I just wanted to maybe know the appetite for bigger projects,” Ellermann told the commission. (Read more: [...]

Reno Commission Chairman upset about state wind bill; “comparable to state tax lid”

info2019-02-20T09:00:46-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Reno County Commission Chairman Bob Bush expressed anger and disappointment Tuesday about the introduction of a bill at the Capitol last week that would set statewide minimum setbacks from homes and public property for commercial wind turbines unless waived by a property owner. Calling the bill “an attack at us directly” and “incredible state overreach,” Bush was referring to House Bill 2273, which the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee – chaired by Rep. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie -- was hearing this week. The committee was scheduled to hear from those in favor of the proposal on Tuesday and opponents of [...]

Reno County commission again suggests expanding incentive for creating jobs

info2019-02-20T08:57:22-06:00February 20th, 2019|

The Reno County Commission agreed Tuesday to modify the county’s job incentive policy, offering up to 80 percent of the current policy for a company creating just a handful of new jobs. The board didn’t formally vote on the proposal, but it will come back in a couple of weeks for action, once county staff again amends the plan. The commission last October also indicated support for modifying the policy, though at a slightly lower level. The board, however, never took it up for a formal vote. A $500 incentive is paid per job for 10 or more jobs if they [...]

Kansas property owners lash out at wind farms in support of proposed restrictions

info2019-02-20T08:53:40-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Amy Brown held her two young sons to her side Tuesday as she fought back tears and lashed out at the company that plans to surround her home south of Hutchinson with massive wind turbines. She was in the Statehouse for a hearing on a bill that would impose heavy restrictions on new wind energy developments across the state. The law would require a 1.5-mile cushion between residential homes and wind turbines. Echoing the concerns of those who testified in support of the restrictions, Brown said she fears health problems linked by studies to low-frequency sounds produced by wind generators. If [...]

Wind Farm negotiations continue between NextEra Energy and Nemaha County’s hired attorney James Neeld

info2019-02-20T09:51:30-06:00February 20th, 2019|

County residents in opposition and those in favor of the proposed wind farms in Nemaha County filled the Commissioners Room of the Nemaha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 19, hoping to receive a term sheet. The Nemaha County Commissioners’ wind farm attorney, James Neeld, also was present to give an update and answer questions for those present. According to Neeld, they are close to having a full term sheet available for review but are still negotiating on two issues. “The two issues we are down to are money and setbacks,” he said. “The money is what taxing scheme will be imposed [...]

Parsons City Commission approves dealership incentives

info2019-02-20T06:57:41-06:00February 20th, 2019|

A new Ford dealership planned for the intersection of U.S. 400 and U.S. 59 will cost up to $2 million to build. The Parsons City Commission approved an incentive package for Mike Carpino Ford Parsons Inc. on Monday evening and much of it depends on construction of the new facility. “We are actually committing to a fairly large project out here on the corner,” Mike Carpino said. “When it gets said and done, we’re going to be between a million and a half to $2 million.” Carpino, who also owns Mike Carpino Ford, Columbus, plans to buy Green Country Ford, 1100 [...]

Leawood signals general support for CID, 1 percent sales tax increase for Ranch Mart North redevelopment

info2019-02-20T06:54:33-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Leawood City Administrator Scott Lambers on Monday told members of the council that he supported an application from the Regnier family, owners of Ranch Mart North, for the creation of a community improvement district there that would increase sales tax to pay for a portion of the redevelopment of the center. Under the terms of the draft agreement presented at a council work session, a 1 percent sales tax would be added to all transactions at the Ranch Mart North stores — including the Price Chopper grocery store — starting in either the summer or fall of 2020. The shops’ ownership [...]

Topeka Planning Commission recommends allowing three tall communications towers

info2019-02-20T06:53:24-06:00February 20th, 2019|

All members of the public who spoke at Monday evening’s meeting of the Topeka Planning Commission asked the city to keep AT&T Wireless from putting up tall communications towers at proposed locations here. But planning commissioners subsequently voted to recommend the city’s governing body approve each of three permits allowing such towers at 513/519 S.W. Taylor, 730 S.W. Fairlawn Road and 2446 S.E. 29th. Almost all those speaking in opposition Monday were neighbors in the areas involved who shared concerns the proposed towers might cause them health problems, or described them towers as eyesores that would devalue their property. But planning [...]

Neighbors, advocates clash over Olathe homeless shelter

info2019-02-20T06:44:41-06:00February 20th, 2019|

Barb and Marc McEver wanted to do something good for Johnson County and meet a vital need sheltering homeless adults. So they spent more than $250,000 this summer to buy a building in Olathe. Before the purchase, they had verbal and emailed assurances from city officials that the zoning was allowed and that the former Masonic Lodge at 725 W. Park St. could be used as an emergency shelter. But shortly after that purchase closed, the city’s rules changed. Now, the McEvers are told a special-use permit for transitional housing is required, which means seeking neighborhood support. At a tense meeting [...]