News – Page 2290 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Water, sewage rate increase proposed to help fund new treatment facility

info2018-11-19T09:50:23-06:00November 19th, 2018|

Lawrence officials will consider whether to move forward with a new plaza and recreation area concept along the portion of the Kansas River that borders downtown. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the city has budgeted $2 million this year to repair the Kansas River dam and address riverbank erosion south of the dam. The city could stabilize the riverbank by building a terraced stone plaza instead of rebuilding the existing retaining wall. The plaza would create river entry points and extend slightly into the river, which would facilitate pools and whitewater for kayaking and other water activities. Assistant City Manager Brandon [...]

Dreams of a Lawrence boardwalk on the Kansas River re-emerge in new development plans

info2018-11-19T10:21:43-06:00November 19th, 2018|

There are new plans for multistory buildings with nearly 400 apartments and condos to overlook the Kansas River, and the iconic North Lawrence bar Johnny’s Tavern would get a bit of a facelift too. Indeed, dreams of Lawrence’s own riverfront development are back in vogue. A group that owns the property including and around Johnny’s Tavern at North Second and Locust streets has filed new plans at City Hall that would construct a series of buildings tall enough to peek above the Kansas River levee and create a new row of riverside dining and living options. (Read more: LJWorld)

Parsons to consider hiring retail recruiter

info2018-11-19T09:46:47-06:00November 19th, 2018|

In an effort to attract more businesses to the area near U.S. 59 and U.S. 400, the city of Parsons may hire a retail recruitment firm. Parsons city commissioners will consider approval of a letter of engagement between the city and Retail Strategies to begin a three-year contract on Jan. 1. The contract would cost the city $25,000 per year. Jim Zaleski, economic development director, told commissioners during a Thursday work session the company should help him “get in the door” to talk to national retail chains. With a hotel and conference center being built on Cattle Drive near North 16th [...]

Pop-up parks appear in Wichita, city calls them ‘experiments’

info2018-11-19T09:45:30-06:00November 19th, 2018|

Small pop-up parks and playgrounds have appeared throughout Wichita. One of the newest sites has created some buzz. "When I first saw them, I thought to myself, 'What was this?' said Sabian Powers. "I was just very intrigued by it." "I was like, 'What is this? What are they doing?'" explained Caitlin Herring. "It's really chill. It's just a really cool place to go." "I think it's creative. I think it's nice. I think it's, like I said, it's good for the city. It looks good," said Wichita resident Sean Stewart. The newest pop-up park is located on Douglas and 135 [...]

Lyon county commission agrees to republish separate budgets

info2018-11-19T09:44:37-06:00November 19th, 2018|

Lyon County Commissioners approved a motion to republish 2018 budget expenditures for both the Road & Bridge and Noxious Weeds departments during a short action session at the courthouse Thursday morning. Commissioner Dan Slater said the updated budgets — which are set to be published in The Emporia Gazette next week — accounted for recent weather events. “The departments are both spending a little bit more money than we intended to spend, so with the weather doing weird things we decided to be safe and republish the budgets,” Slater said. “December can be a strange month for roads, especially when you [...]

Governing bodies to discuss mental health crisis response

info2018-11-19T09:43:46-06:00November 19th, 2018|

Mental health crisis response and paperless reports for liquid waste haulers are among topics local governing bodies plan to take up this coming week. Commissioners plan to consider entering into an agreement through which the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Topeka Police Department and Valeo Behavioral Health Care would team up to create and finance a job for a full-time employee who would assist sheriff’s and police officers during incidents involving people suffering mental health crises. The cost to employ that person wouldn’t exceed $60,000 a year, commissioners learned in a recent joint memo from Sheriff Herman [...]

Health assessment shows uneasy feelings in Hutch

info2018-11-19T09:41:36-06:00November 19th, 2018|

As part of their effort to determine where to direct efforts to improve community health, a Community Health Assessment Steering Committee made up of members from nine agencies conducted a recent scientific survey throughout the county. They are still assessing the data collected, said Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti, but they found some 17 percent of those surveyed rated their overall health as unhealthy, and a third felt their health was being impacted by environmental issues. Air and water quality were listed as the largest environmental concerns impacting health, he said. “Some 76 percent felt their households were doing [...]

National League of Cities Announces $100 Million in Partnerships to Support Entrepreneurship, STEM Education and Innovation in Communities Across America (including Hays and KCK)

info2018-11-19T10:18:35-06:00November 19th, 2018|

Today, the National League of Cities (NLC) is announcing $100 million in local partnerships to expand America’s innovation economy. These investments come at a critical time when there is a growing need for resources to create startups and train the next generation of science and engineering talent in communities across America. Currently, 80 percent of venture capital goes to just five metropolitan areas, and computer science is not offered in 75 percent of American high schools. Cities must lead on the nation’s most pressing issues in the absence of federal leadership. Over the past year, NLC, with support from Schmidt Futures, [...]

Century II Task Force Committee to give updates at Rotary Club meeting Monday

info2018-11-19T06:54:00-06:00November 19th, 2018|

We're getting closer to some answers about the future of Century II in downtown Wichita. Since February, a task force committee has studied the options and challenges facing the nearly 50-year-old performing arts facility. The years long debate weighs renovating the round building or building a new one. The committee will present its findings during the Rotary Club of Wichita's meeting Monday. Friday we caught up with the performing arts community in anticipation of the task force's update. "I think most of us who work here would very much welcome a new facility provided that it gave us the things that [...]

Wichita firefighters complete new search and rescue training

info2018-11-19T06:52:53-06:00November 19th, 2018|

Firefighters have one of the most dangerous jobs, their training has to be realistic. That's why the Wichita Fire Department created a new learning experience for all firefighters. No, there wasn't a trailer fire in Wichita Friday, but city firefighters got to practice for one, in a staged scenario. "There is an adult and two children inside, unknown location.," said one firefighter. The training is to make sure they're ready to navigate, during the real deal. "Once we force that door everything that we hear that we learn, gets challenged," said Capt. Carlos Rodriguez, Wichita Fire Department. Firefighters have been practicing [...]