News – Page 2223 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Hutchinson trying to attract more conventions

info2019-02-05T06:51:19-06:00February 5th, 2019|

The question of attracting more conventions and other events to Hutchinson has become a concern to the city and also the local chamber. Debra Teufel, president and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, says a task force has been formed to look at a number of options, including a possible renovation of the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center. Teufel says the task force has provided feedback in an attempt to improve a product already in place. (Read more: Hutch Post)

The city’s making it snow again — this time with better sledding and a light show

info2019-02-05T06:47:45-06:00February 5th, 2019|

Few could have predicted just how popular last month’s Wichita Snow Day would be. The free event, which promised a full morning of sledding on artificially produced snow in early January, was swarmed with would-be sledders — so much so that the snow was mostly all gone a couple hours in. In the next week, there will be two more “artificial snow days” in Wichita — one a nighttime event with LED light shows and a live DJ, and one a Saturday-morning free sledding day. (Read more: Local News |)

Improving community through Place Science focus of Tuesday forum in Hutch

info2019-02-05T06:45:28-06:00February 5th, 2019|

Hutchinson residents are reminded of a public discussion Tuesday evening on how the community can invest in public places in a way that can lead economic growth. Katherine Loflin will present “Place Science: Loving Where You Live and Why It Matters to People, Places and Local Economies” beginning at 6 p.m. at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 N. Washington St. The event is sponsored by the Hutchinson Community Foundation, in partnership with Hutch Rec and Young Professionals of Reno County. “Place science” is the study of the relationship between people and a city, and placemaking is a strategy by which places [...]

Downtown Lawrence residents identify dozens of issues facing downtown as part of master plan workshop

info2019-02-05T08:21:56-06:00February 5th, 2019|

The list of challenges facing downtown compiled by a group of Lawrence residents was long and varied, but from it emerged some consensus. A firm hired by the city is hosting a series of community workshops this week to gather input for the city’s new Downtown Master Plan, which will shape the future of downtown Lawrence for the next 15 to 20 years. As part of a workshop Monday evening for downtown and adjacent neighborhoods, attendees came up with a list of 45 issues facing downtown Lawrence. Nik Davis, principal of the community planning firm Houseal Lavigne Associates, then asked the [...]

Kechi considers water runoff fee

info2019-02-05T08:20:42-06:00February 5th, 2019|

The City of Kechi is "behind the times" with its stormwater system, and a new fee may be in the cards for residents and businesses. The city council on Jan. 24 heard from assistant public works director Thomas Bevan about a recent report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. KDHE recently visited the city to inspect its stormwater practices. This was likely brought about due to the city's recent growth and development. "It kind of opened our eyes to what we've been doing," said Bevan. "I guess we're kind of behind the times down here, so we got some [...]

Lawrence City Commission to consider pay increases for city employees

info2019-02-04T09:51:27-06:00February 4th, 2019|

City of Lawrence leaders will soon consider a new pay plan that would provide more than $400,000 in pay raises for city employees beginning next year. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a study of the city’s compensation plan that was conducted by McGrath Human Resources Group. The report indicates that a significant number of city employees are underpaid when compared to their peers in other cities. Commissioners will then consider authorizing an amendment to the city’s 2019 budget to increase employee pay. Some money was budgeted for raises in 2019, but making the pay [...]

As mayor, Lawrence 7th-grader would improve city’s bikeability

info2019-02-04T09:50:24-06:00February 4th, 2019|

If Jack Tell were mayor, Lawrence residents might have to deal with a lot of construction and noise for a little while — but the payoff would be improved bike infrastructure citywide. The Billy Mills Middle School seventh-grader recently finished as a regional winner in the annual Kansas League of Municipalities “If I Were Mayor” memo contest. Jack’s plan to make Lawrence more bike-friendly would include “adding bike paths, bike lanes, bike racks, a bike park” and more, he wrote in his memo. His entry mentioned the health benefits of biking — “It helps your cardiovascular fitness, makes you stronger, decreases [...]

Topeka police receive cultural sensitivity training

info2019-02-04T09:33:13-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Recognize any personal biases you might have and make sure they don’t affect the way you do your job. That was among tips Cain Davis shared with Topeka Police Department employees Friday during a cultural diversity training session held at Topeka’s National Guard Armory. Police Chief Bill Cochran, who was among participants, said he hoped the training would help open up the eyes, hearts and minds of the department’s employees while improving their ability to interact with people from different races, religions and cultural backgrounds. “The better educated and more understanding the officers are, the safer the citizens and the officers [...]

City of Independence employee creates coloring book to prevent inappropriate calls to 911

info2019-02-04T09:48:04-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Alexis Sanders is in our employee spotlight this week. Alexis came to us last July from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Dispatch where she worked for about two and half years. Alexis is a Dispatcher Clerk I. Alexis received repeat 911 calls from a local youngster playing with the phone recently. What Alexis did next really demonstrates the quality of people that work at IPD. Knowing that it is important to reduce the demand on the 911 system, Alexis felt compelled to create a solution to prevent young children from inappropriately dialing 911. She also knew that young children require creative solutions. So, [...]

Topeka implementing downtown parking initiatives

info2019-02-04T09:25:19-06:00February 4th, 2019|

Parking in downtown Topeka could get easier after a variety of planned improvements, including upgrades to parking garage systems, on-street meters and wayfinding technology. A reader recently expressed confusion about parking, asking #TopCity What?: “There is a sign at Centre City Garage that says free parking during (business) hours. Why did I have to pay during the listed hours?” “It would appear the reader misread the signs,” parking manager Brenda Hayes said in a written response, noting that parking is free in the garage after business hours and on weekends. Hayes said if a user is charged incorrectly, he or she [...]