News – Page 2304 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lawrence to discuss concerns that downtown panhandlers have become more numerous and aggressive toward visitors

info2018-11-05T06:37:12-06:00November 5th, 2018|

As city leaders prepare to discuss concerns that downtown panhandlers have become more numerous and aggressive toward visitors, both police and mental health resources will likely be part of the discussion. Some commissioners think that the Lawrence police department should potentially bring back downtown foot patrols to help deter panhandling, but others think to truly address the complex issue of homelessness and panhandling will take more. Commissioner Matthew Herbert, who was elected in 2015, said people have been talking about downtown panhandling being an issue as long as he’s been on the commission. Read more: LJworld.

Community Vision Workshop wants your ideas to improve Great Bend

info2018-11-05T06:34:56-06:00November 5th, 2018|

A visioning project in Great Bend is trying to improve the community and create a master plan to bring the city into the future. The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Barton County Young Professionals have worked together to form the initiative with the help of Shockey Consulting Services. Megan Barfield with the Chamber says the workshop is intended to get as many suggestions and solutions as possible. The goal is to get more than 200 people to show up at the workshop this Thursday. Sheila Shockey from Shockey Consulting Services was hired to help navigate a steering committee and develop [...]

Topeka wants to learn more about Garlinghouse Co., designer of modest bungalows

info2018-11-05T06:33:03-06:00November 5th, 2018|

Topeka’s city government and a historic preservation company it hired are trying to learn more about the company formerly based in Topeka that created designs for the bungalow-style “Garlinghouse” homes. “The purpose of the meeting is to solicit information about the Garlinghouse Company itself, as opposed to any one of their houses in particular,” said Molly Hadfield, the city spokeswoman. The meeting will be aimed in particular at gathering information about such topics as the way the L.F. Garlinghouse Co. operated and the people who worked for it, said Tim Paris, the city’s historic preservation planner. “We’re familiar with the volume [...]

Ford County won’t be forced to open second voting location, federal judge in Kansas rules

info2018-11-02T10:30:23-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

A federal judge ruled Thursday that adding a second Dodge City polling site five days before Election Day wasn’t in the public’s interest and would likely cause confusion for voters. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree heard nearly three hours of testimony, later filing the order rejecting the ACLU’s request for a temporary restraining order. While the ACLU argued that adding a second Dodge City polling site would prevent irreparable disenfranchisement, Brad Schlozman, an attorney for Ford County, said doing so would provoke “schizophrenic whiplash” in voters. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

KS Court of Appeals — City Powers: Governmental vs. Proprietary — Proprietary contracts may bind future governing bodies

info2018-11-02T10:27:12-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

From the syllabus of the Kansas Court of Appeals in Jayhawk Racing vs. City of Topeka... 6. Municipal corporations have dual capacities—governmental and proprietary. In the governmental capacity, they serve as an arm of the state and are sovereign. In the proprietary capacity, they exercise powers as any corporation does. 7. To procure what is needed for public improvements, cities contract with those people and companies that sell what is needed to do the job. When cities act in such a capacity, their actions are proprietary and are governed by the same legal rules that would govern a private corporate transaction. [...]

Chamber announces “Imagine Salina” initiative

info2018-11-02T10:14:29-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

Salina Post The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce is embarking on a five-year, $1.6 million initiative that will encompass workforce development and business expansion and retention, chamber officials announced Thursday morning. More than 50 business and civic leaders attended the news conference in the chamber’s Visit Salina Annex to hear about the privately funded “Imagine Salina, Turning ‘WHAT IF into WHAT IS'” program. The plan was developed by the chamber board with significant input from the business community. The core of Imagine Salina focuses on two main initiatives: workforce development and business expansion and retention. (Read more: The Salina Post)

Voters in Ingalls school district to decide on $1.5 million bond issue

info2018-11-02T10:12:46-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

On Election Day voters in the Ingalls school district in Gray County will decide on a $1.5 million bond issue. The Ingalls school district superintendent says it's been almost 40 years since the last time his district benefited from a bond project. One of the district's oldest buildings was constructed in 1949. Included with the $1.5 million bond are new roofs on every building, the installation of HVAC replacements and the installation of 48 new cameras throughout the schools. "If the bond issue passes, the Gray County Sheriff's Department and our administration will have remote access to all the cameras at [...]

Hutchinson, Reno ounty leaders bend lawmakers ears in Thursday roundtable

info2018-11-02T10:11:10-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

Hutchinson and Reno County leaders met with a majority of the Reno County legislative delegation on Thursday for a broad-ranging discussion on issues they want lawmakers to consider – or to allow local input on if they come up. The Hutchinson City Council and Reno County Commission hosted the 90-minute roundtable, which Sen. Ed Berger and Representatives Steve Becker, Jason Probst, Joe Seiwert and candidate Paul Waggoner attended at City Hall. Near the conclusion of the meeting, both Mayor Steve Dechant and City Manager John Deardoff noted it was one of the most positive sessions community leaders have had with local [...]

Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce board announces support for citywide, half-cent sales tax

info2018-11-02T10:08:24-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce board on Thursday announced it is in favor of the continuation of the citywide, half-cent “Fix Our Streets” sale tax that will be on the ballot Nov. 6. The tax, if approved, would be extended for 10 years. “The sales tax, approved in 2009, has been a critical source of funding for the maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing streets,” said Amy McCarter, vice president of communications for the Greater Topeka Partnership. Street repair has come up as an issue in economic development in Momentum 2022 discussions. “We are pleased by the improvements and innovations [...]

Officer misconduct could come into question in criminal cases

info2018-11-02T10:06:27-05:00November 2nd, 2018|

The personnel matter involving the Hutchinson Police Department has given a black eye to the department that will take time to repair. But, do the actions of those six officers who were involved in the protection and cover up of one of their fellow officers create other legal problems for the justice system? The question was put to prominent defense attorney Charlie O’Hara. O’Hara says, unless the wrongdoing by the officer in question had a direct effect on a particular case, then efforts to file a civil motion in past criminal cases would see little chance of getting anywhere. Still, it [...]