News – Page 2222 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick County wants more time to plan for wind, solar developments

info2019-02-06T09:19:47-06:00February 6th, 2019|

The Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday will consider a measure designed to give it more time to craft regulations for potential future wind and solar energy projects. The commission will vote on a moratorium that temporarily suspends the issuance of conditional-use permits for wind and solar energy projects within the county's unincorporated areas. Chairman David Dennis says there are already some leases for such projects in western parts of the county. But, because Sedgwick County doesn’t have regulations within its zoning code to specifically standardize use for wind or solar projects, Dennis says the moratorium is designed to give it time [...]

Great Bend will have representation on a trip to Washington D.C. in late March

info2019-02-06T09:19:11-06:00February 6th, 2019|

After not sending anyone a year ago, the city of Great Bend will once again send representatives to Washington D.C. as part of a Western Kansas Congressional Delegation in late March. The group that is made up of city, county and economic development officials from Western Kansas make the trip each year to meet with elected officials and their staff to discuss topics of vital interest to the western part of the state. City Administrator Kendal Francis estimated that it would cost $1,500 per person for the trip that would include airfare, meals and lodging. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

City council agrees with planning commission; rejects controversial sign proposed for Delano

info2019-02-06T09:17:19-06:00February 6th, 2019|

In Tuesday's city council meeting, members rejected a 60-foot sign that has been at the center of controversy in Delano. The sign was designed to advertise an up and coming sports bar, Tight Ends. The sports bar is similar to a Twin Peaks or Hooters. "We don't want become just a giant scene of signs there along Kellogg. We want people to actually like see the view of the city and enjoy it," said Christopher Parisho, a Delano resident. Under law, signs in Delano are not to reach above 30 feet. The proposed sign would be double that height. In addition [...]

Ellis County : some jobs hard to fill

info2019-02-06T09:16:08-06:00February 6th, 2019|

With truck drivers in big demand, hiring one for the Ellis County Road and Bridge Department isn’t easy, according to department director Bill Ring. “We had an interview Friday that lasted four minutes,” said Ring. “The dollar figure came up right away.” There are lots of interviews going on, he said, but they’re not getting a lot of applicants. “There isn’t a large pool out there of unemployed people,” Ring said. It doesn’t help that the hourly wage of $13.89 translates into $28,000 a year for a 40-hour week. Probably the employee situation is going to get worse before it gets [...]

Residents provide input toward Plan Pottawatomie 2040

info2019-02-06T09:13:21-06:00February 6th, 2019|

An open house Monday at Westmoreland Elementary School gave community members and interested stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the Pottawatomie County Comprehensive Plan, also known as Plan Pottawatomie 2040. County officials shared recommendations they’ve created so far, including 12 key initiatives. Meredith Dang, a Senior Associate with planning firm Kendig Keast Collaborative was on hand to present and answer questions from the community. Dang gave a presentation during the meeting of 12 different “near term” priorities for the community to choose from. Some of the general topics were roads, infrastructure, agriculture, and transportation. Jack Allston, Pottawatomie County Economic Development [...]

Salina, Saline County consider upgrades for Expo Center

info2019-02-06T09:11:01-06:00February 6th, 2019|

Saline County and Salina City Commissioners listened to a presentation Monday from Kala Ade, projects manager for GH2 Architects, who proposed about $8 million in upgrades for the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center. In July, the Saline County Commission hired GH2 Architects, at a cost of up to $9,600, to evaluate proposed improvements for the Expo Center. During the past six months, Ade has been talking with city and county staff and the public to better understand what upgrades are needed. Salina and Saline County are currently negotiating a long-term lease for the Expo Center, a county facility that sits [...]

Man who helped form Park City is retiring

info2019-02-05T08:19:38-06:00February 5th, 2019|

Jack Whitson is one of Park City's founding fathers. Whitson, city administrator who moved to Park City in 1970 when it was known as a Sedgwick County Improvement District and is credited with shaping the city into what it is today, is retiring. Whitson moved from Tennessee to Wichita while serving in the Air Force at McConnell Air Force Base. He met his wife in Wichita, and she refused to move back to Tennessee with him. Whitson decided it would be wise to listen to his wife, and they stayed in Kansas where Jack worked for a couple of civil engineering [...]

Taggart Wall (Sterling city manager) hired as new Winfield city manager

info2019-02-05T08:16:15-06:00February 5th, 2019|

Taggart Wall, city manager of Sterling, Kan. and a former Winfield city commissioner, has been hired as the new Winfield city manager, the Winfield city commission announced Monday evening. The decision to hire Wall was unanimous, according to a press release issued by the city immediately after the announcement. Wall's hiring is the result of a multi-state search conducted by Osenbaugh Consulting, interviews involving the city commission and a comprehensive background investigation, the release said. Wall's expected start date is May 13. He replaces former city manager Jeremy Willmoth, who left the city in October 2018. (Read more: The Arkansas City [...]

Geary County to charge commercial tree-brush contractors for use of landfill

info2019-02-05T06:56:08-06:00February 5th, 2019|

Geary County Commissioners released a statement on Monday saying that the brush and tree disposal site at the “Closed” Geary County Landfill site was developed for residents of Junction City and Geary County to use free of charge. But the high volume of brush and tree debris coming into that facility from commercial tree-brush contractors has become overwhelming along with the daily expense of pushing and piling tree debris and periodic burning. As a result the County feels it is necessary to charge contractors a fee for disposing of trees and brush. Effective immediately all contractors will have a disposal fee [...]

Another Kansas hospital run by troubled North KC-based firm can’t pay its employees

info2019-02-05T06:54:47-06:00February 5th, 2019|

Another Kansas hospital run by North Kansas City-based EmpowerHMS is reporting serious financial trouble. Employees at Horton Community Hospital in northeast Kansas said they didn’t receive their paychecks Friday and have been dipping into their own pockets for weeks to buy supplies. It’s the latest in a months-long string of similar cash flow problems for EmpowerHMS, which until recently managed 14 rural hospitals across Kansas, Missouri and five other states. Last month a judge granted a request by the city of Hillsboro, north of Wichita, to remove Empower as its hospital’s operator, “citing the irreparable harm” likely to occur if Empower [...]