News – Page 2440 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kobach’s office: Counties may continue to ‘track’ citizenship if they don’t ask

info2018-06-21T07:57:18-05:00June 21st, 2018|

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office has told county election offices that they may no longer ask prospective voters for proof of citizenship but they can collect the documents if the voters provide them voluntarily. Kobach’s office provided instructions Wednesday afternoon to the state’s 105 county election offices following a federal judge’s decision Monday to strike down the state’s requirement that people must provide proof of citizenship before they can register to vote. Bryan Caskey, the state’s director of elections, instructed the county election officials to change the status of any voter registration record marked canceled or in suspense to [...]

Great Bend audit report a good one

info2018-06-21T07:52:48-05:00June 21st, 2018|

It was welcome news for the Great Bend City Council Monday night as Vickie Dreiling of Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball presented the city’s 2017 annual audit. After the presentation, it adopted the audit as reported. “Our opinion is an unmodified opinion,” Dreiling said. “It is the highest form of opinion we can use on a regulatory basis.” In more good news, Dreiling said this was the time in many years she has not had to bring up several recommendations from the previous year. “The staff has done a good job cleaning up any old, outstanding issues.” The only remaining suggestion [...]

County attorney’s request for an assistant spurs negative reaction from county board

info2018-06-21T07:50:40-05:00June 21st, 2018|

During a contentious county commissioners meeting that twice was called to order by Chairman Dave Baier, County Attorney Laura Johnson-McNish asked the board to consider what would happen if she was no longer the county attorney. “Let me make a point right here,” said Commissioner Lynn Feldhausen. “No one is irreplaceable. No one. Not me, not (Commissioner Bob Connell), everybody. Not irreplaceable.” The discussion began when Johnson-McNish, an elected official, requested $216,900 for 2019 for her office, which is an increase of $69,850 from this year. The commissioners have added some funding to her office since the 2018 budget was set [...]

Community Memorial Healthcare sales tax petitions presented to Marshall county officials

info2018-06-21T07:46:41-05:00June 21st, 2018|

Marshall County Board of Commissioners met with representatives from Community Memorial Healthcare on Monday to discuss whether to allow a public vote on a proposed countywide, half-cent sales tax to help fund CMH. Hospital representatives presented a petition with 456 signatures from people requesting an election on the issue. The commissioners tabled the matter until July 2 and gave CMH two options: • Accept a public vote on a quarter-cent sales tax. • Accept a public vote on a half-cent sales tax, with a quarter-cent for the hospital and a quarter-cent for other health services that the county funds such as [...]

Douglas County puts off decision on Baldwin City’s trail easement funding request

info2018-06-21T07:45:00-05:00June 21st, 2018|

Douglas County commissioners indicated Wednesday that they were interested in helping Baldwin City with its purchase of a trail easement along the Midland Railway, but said they wanted to fold the request into their budget discussions for 2019 rather than approve it outright. Baldwin City Administrator Glenn Rodden requested that the county provide $94,167 in annual installments of $18,833 over the next five years. The money would help the city recoup part of the $354,000 the Baldwin City Council approved in April to purchase 11 miles of hiking and biking trail easement along the railway. Rodden said the city had already [...]

Lawrence City leaders question study results for bus transfer hub location

info2018-06-21T07:34:05-05:00June 21st, 2018|

Some city leaders and neighbors are questioning the results of a consultant-led study that determined the two best locations for the city’s bus transfer hub. One of the recommendations, on Stewart Avenue, is one block north of a site recommended by a 2014 location study. As was the case then, some residents of the nearby Schwegler Neighborhood oppose the location, citing concerns about noise, traffic and safety. Residents submitted a petition to the commission against the Stewart Avenue site and in favor of one on Bob Billings Parkway, and more than a dozen attended the commission’s meeting Tuesday. (Read more: LJWorld.com [...]

Saline County approves policy giving preference to local bidders

info2018-06-21T07:31:23-05:00June 21st, 2018|

The Saline County Commission approved a policy giving preference to local bidders Tuesday morning. The policy states that a local bidder will be preferred if the local bid is within 1% of the low bid; the local bidder agrees to match the low bid by filing a written agreement within 72 hours of being notified; and the quality, suitability and usability of the materials or goods are equal. Commissioners began considering giving preference to local bidders a few months ago. (Read more: News - Salina Journal)

Hays to consider water park addition

info2018-06-21T07:30:28-05:00June 21st, 2018|

The Hays City Commission on Thursday will discuss possible purchase of a new play feature at Hays Aquatic Park, 300 Main. The proposed addition offers many features, including two small slides and a large bucket that will occasionally drop water, as well as other water play sprinklers. It would be located in the zero-depth entry pool, replacing a current starburst water sprayer. The city commission in January spoke in favor of adding new features to the swimming pool, and directed staff to seek proposals with a price cap of $185,000. There were three proposals received, and staff from the city and [...]

Council recognizes first Tonganoxie Citizens Academy class

info2018-06-21T07:29:11-05:00June 21st, 2018|

The first Tonganoxie Citizen Academy class officially graduated. Members of the first academy class attended Monday’s City Council meeting. The academy was established to enhance citizen knowledge of operations and services, recruit informed and engaged residents to serve on city boards and commissions, encourage a unified community identity and increase in participation in city events and meetings. The academy ran from February to May with four sessions lasting two to three hours each. (Read more: TonganoxieMirror.com stories)

Manhattan City Commission approves economic incentives, rezoning ordinance

info2018-06-21T07:25:23-05:00June 21st, 2018|

The commission approved the economic development package for Ultra Electronics I.C.E. Inc., an aerospace electronics business founded in Manhattan that was bought out by a U.K. holding company in 2014. The package was initially approved at commission’s first reading on June 6 and was not altered. Ultra Electronics is looking to expand and relocate some military aerospace programs to a facility in the U.S. “This is an excellent project,” said Commissioner Wynn Butler. “I especially like it because it supports a local business and doesn’t necessarily bring out an outside business.” The package offers the company up to $745,000 in economic [...]