News – Page 2241 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Survey seeks input on design of Lawrence’s first bike boulevards

info2019-01-17T10:22:18-06:00January 17th, 2019|

The city of Lawrence is looking for residents’ input on the design of the city’s first bike boulevards, which will modify two city streets to make them user-friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. The city has released a survey that asks residents to identify the top three features they would like on the two boulevards, which will be constructed on 13th Street and 21st Street. The survey is available until 5 p.m. on Feb. 1. Designs for bike boulevards vary, but they typically use a variety of features — such as speed bumps, restricted entries and curb extensions — to lower the [...]

Shawnee gets first public feedback on concepts for proposed community center

info2019-01-17T06:57:44-06:00January 17th, 2019|

As Shawnee staff and city leaders move forward with plans to put a vote on a property tax increase to fund a potential community center before city residents later this year, designers this week are getting public input on concepts for the proposed project. City staff led an open house last night to share initial design concepts based on feedback from residents over the past year. The council Feb. on 11 will consider a mail-in ballot question in the spring that would ask Shawnee voters if they would approve a mill levy increase to fund the new community center, which would [...]

Derby City Council makes its views known to state lawmakers

info2019-01-17T06:52:38-06:00January 17th, 2019|

The 2019 Kansas Legislative session got underway this week and, with its start, the Derby City Council has voiced opinions as to what its members see as most important for the city. They approved the suggested legislative positions presented by City Manager Kathy Sexton at their Jan. 8 meeting. One of the city’s top priorities from the state, she said, along with the county’s, is a focus – and funding – on behavioral health.Sexton said she is “really proud of Sedgwick County” for putting the issue at the forefront. That includes opening a new state mental health hospital in the Wichita [...]

Wichita ‘claws back’ $100,000 in tax breaks from company that created too few jobs

info2019-01-16T11:45:52-06:00January 16th, 2019|

Wichita is “clawing back” about a fifth of the tax breaks it gave a company that failed to create the jobs it promised. Fiber Dynamics, a company founded by Darrin Teeter to commercialize technology developed at Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research in the early ‘90s, hasn’t had to pay city property taxes since 2008, an estimated value of more than $500,000. Now, it has to pay $100,000 in back taxes because it didn’t create enough jobs, based on a new agreement with the city. The city has twice given Fiber Dynamics a five-year tax abatement, dating back to 2008, [...]

Alexa earning her keep at Douglas County Register of Deeds office

info2019-01-16T11:38:49-06:00January 16th, 2019|

Alexa has extended her reach far beyond reordering laundry detergent and turning off that living room light someone always seems to forget. Now she’s doing a public service. Kent Brown, Douglas County’s deputy register of deeds, has set up an Amazon Echo Show at the county office. The voice-recognition device can answer 50 questions about the office. That’s short of the 172 Brown was hoping to program, but for now it’s “a good compromise,” he said. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Sabetha City Commission discusses animal control with residents

info2019-01-16T10:49:09-06:00January 16th, 2019|

Jonathon and Alexandra Kilhoffer were present at Sabetha's City Council meeting Monday to express concerns regarding animal control within the city. J. Kilhoffer said he proposes that the city have more resources available for controlling loose animals. J. Kilhoffer suggested possible solutions to the issue of dogs at large and wanted the city to commit to a timeline for pursuing these ideas and looking at costs. The suggestions included the following: • Incentive program for city workers or police officers who pick up dogs at large. He suggested giving the citation fine to the individuals who pick up the dogs. • [...]

Sports arenas proposed at Great Mall site and OP’s Bluhawk. Olathe seems to have edge

info2019-01-16T10:37:50-06:00January 16th, 2019|

A plan to revitalize the demolished Great Mall site with a hockey arena, golf entertainment complex and apartments advanced Monday, appearing to give Olathe the edge over a rival concept proposed for Overland Park. By a 5-0 vote, the Olathe Planning Commission endorsed a rezoning and preliminary development plan for the former Great Mall of the Great Plains site, at Interstate 35 and 151st Street. The City Council is expected to vote Feb. 5. “I think the project is actually very exciting,” said planning commissioner Jeremy Fry. “I think it’s great for all things Olathe and in getting some life back [...]

Andover Fire Rescue hosting Active Shooter Response program

info2019-01-16T10:36:16-06:00January 16th, 2019|

Nationwide and around the globe, communities are facing an increasing number of tragedies involving active shooter and/or hostile events. Andover Fire-Rescue is presenting An Introduction to PA3000: Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program, a standard that addresses all aspects of the process, from identifying hazards and assessing vulnerability to planning, resource management, incident management at a command level, competencies for first responders, and recovery. The session will include two main parts. Part 1 will be the main presentation, which will provide an overview of the new NFPA 3000. Part 2 will be a discussion session for audience participants [...]

Chanute commission talks fiber optic build-out and equipment

info2019-01-16T10:33:08-06:00January 16th, 2019|

Chanute commissioners viewed equipment Monday evening that will connect a fiber optic network to home customers. Rick Willis brought the equipment to Monday evening’s commission meeting for discussion about how the city could expand fiber optic service to homes in the community. A fiber optic connection would link to a box on the outside of a house containing an Optical Network Terminal. Willis said the ONT would be like an electric meter, and would plug into a wireless router or switch inside the house, which would then link to a television, video game or other equipment. The city would be responsible [...]

New Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson says council will face big decisions about trajectory of city in coming years

info2019-01-16T10:30:57-06:00January 16th, 2019|

New Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson used his swearing-in ceremony on Monday to map out a set of guiding principles for governing of the city into its 70th year and beyond. Mikkelson, who served a full term representing Ward 3 on the city council before rolling off early last year, said that matters of public safety, fiscal responsibility and infrastructure maintenance will continue to be the foundations on which good city government is built — and he credited outgoing Mayor Laura Wassmer with handing over the city in excellent shape on those counts. But, he said, the city will face a [...]