News – Page 2221 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Does Olathe’s Mentum have momentum over OP for ice rink, mixed-use development?

info2019-02-07T09:45:19-06:00February 7th, 2019|

The Olathe City Council has unanimously approved rezoning the former Great Mall of the Great Plains site, giving a boost to a developer’s vision to transform the property. The Council on Tuesday endorsed the rezoning and preliminary plan for Mentum, a $318 million mixed-use development on the old mall site at Interstate 35 and 151st Street. The concept calls for a 3,700-seat hockey arena, interactive golf facility, fitness center, other retail and entertainment uses, plus about 500 apartment units. “This has the potential to be something truly special,” Mayor Michael Copeland said. But hurdles still remain before the project can become [...]

Derby public schools to use new safety tool

info2019-02-07T09:44:03-06:00February 7th, 2019|

An anonymous tip line will give Derby Public Schools a new tool to try to keep students safe. The school board approved implementing the “See Something, Say Something” program on a 6 to 0 vote at its Jan. 28 board meeting, entering into an agreement with the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, the Derby Police Department, the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and the cities of Derby and Wichita. The program will allow people who are concerned about a threat to schools to call or text anonymously. Rewards will not be offered for tips. Tips can be submitted through [...]

Celebrate 150 years of Derby

info2019-02-07T09:37:42-06:00February 7th, 2019|

A lot has changed in 150 years, especially in the city of Derby. In 1869, the Alexander Garrett family staked a claim near Spring Creek close to what’s now Garrett Park, sparking the community that soon became El Paso and then in the 1950s boomed into Derby. Let’s get this in perspective. In 1869, Ulysses Grant was sworn in as our 18th president. The outlaw Jesse James robbed the bank that made him famous, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The terrain here was mostly prairie grass, and Kansas had just become a state in 1861. Look around Derby today [...]

Wellington City Council members express concern with school’s redesign curriculum

info2019-02-07T10:31:35-06:00February 7th, 2019|

There was a lot to talk about at the Wellington City Council Tuesday meeting – including talking about Wellington School Board. Wellington Mayor Shelley Hansel said she was concerned with rumors around town that people are going to move away because of the new Summit Redesign curriculum being implemented at the school district. “I heard a disturbing thing that there are several families who are considering of moving from Wellington because they don’t like the way our school district is going,” Hansel said in the audience participation portion of the meeting. “I am just wondering as a district partner, should we [...]

Sheriff’s Office considers contracts with cities

info2019-02-06T12:20:50-06:00February 6th, 2019|

The City of Barnes is considering a contract with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to provide city ordinance enforcement, sheriff Justin Cordry told the Board of County Commissioners on Monday. He will meet with the Barnes City Council in the near future to discuss a contract where Barnes would pay $50 to the sheriff’s office every time ordinance enforcement is requested, he said. He told the commissioners that this is the first per-incident basis contract his department will have done with cities. Source: Washington County News.

Harvey County says no fee for day use at parks

info2019-02-06T09:33:01-06:00February 6th, 2019|

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners made just one change to the fee structure for its three parks by eliminating the $125 seasonal camping fee. Parks Director Kass Miller said the action would prevent people from taking advantage of a season pass by living in a tent during the camping season. He also said it eliminated the issue but penalized those “who are in a situation in life where that might be the option for them.” Miller said allowing homeless people to live at a park created concerns among staff about the safety of staying in a tent when the temperature [...]

City of Topeka hires Kansas native as new finance director

info2019-02-06T10:54:22-06:00February 6th, 2019|

Kansas native Jessica Lamendola was recently hired as the city of Topeka’s new administrative and financial services director. She starts work March 4. Lamendola comes to Topeka from the city of North Hempstead, N.Y., where she has been finance director and acting comptroller since July 2016, the city of Topeka said in a news release Tuesday. North Hempstead’s population in the 2010 census was 226,332, compared to 127,473 for Topeka. “Lamendola’s education, background and experiences will be very beneficial to the city of Topeka as we start work on the 2020 budget and CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) process,” city manager Brent [...]

Reno County approves trash compactor rebuild

info2019-02-06T09:26:21-06:00February 6th, 2019|

A contract to rebuild a three-year-old trash compactor at the landfill was approved Tuesday by the Reno County Commission. The contract with Foley Equipment in Wichita for $347,841 will make the equipment like new for about a third- to half the cost of buying new, said Justin Bland, director of Field Operations at the landfill. “They’ll tear it down to the frame and reconstruct the engine, powertrain, the wiring, the harness. It will get new paint, new seats, new floor liners, and headliners.” The county started a program rebuilding landfill equipment in 2004, and this will be the fifth piece of [...]

Hutch City Council agrees to lease new fire truck

info2019-02-06T09:25:07-06:00February 6th, 2019|

The Hutchinson City Council approved the lease of a new fire truck during Tuesday’s agenda session. The department will once again use a lease similar to the one that allowed the fire department to acquire a new ladder truck last year. The nine-year lease will allow the department to continue the new practice of setting a timeline for equipment replacement to better stabilize the budget. Councilwoman Jade Piros de Carvalho expressed concern about using an outsourced leasing agent to acquire the truck versus using a local institution to fund its outright purchase. (Read more: Hutch Post)

Horton hospital faces uncertain future

info2019-02-06T09:23:33-06:00February 6th, 2019|

A northeast Kansas hospital run by a troubled hospital management company is operating without enough supplies or the necessary funds to buy medications and food for patients, according to its chief nursing officer. Krissy Torkelson said she has had to negotiate with city officials to keep the lights on at Horton Community Hospital. She said and trash piled up because the bill wasn’t paid, adding that employees also weren’t paid on Friday but were assured they would be paid Monday. The hospital in the town of about 1,700 people is operated by EmpowerHMS, a subsidiary of The Empower Group. That Florida-based [...]