News – Page 2455 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Junction City Trying to Recruit New Company

info2018-06-11T07:36:09-05:00June 11th, 2018|

The Junction City Commission will hold a public hearing on June 19th on whether to issue up to $40 million in industrial revenue bonds to help renovate and equip a facility for a possible new company in the I-70 Industrial Park. Chamber of Commerce CEO Mickey Fornaro-Dean said they are “working with an industry to locate in Junction City. We’re very excited about our opportunities. We’re very excited about our opportunities, and we’re honored to have them seriously considering us. And We’re looking forward to discussions on the 19th of June.” (Read more: Junction City Post)

Chanute negotiating with pontoon boat builder

info2018-06-11T07:33:49-05:00June 11th, 2018|

A development agreement with a pontoon boat manufacturer could bring 50 to 55 jobs to Chanute if it receives approval at Monday’s city commission meeting. In exchange for the jobs, the city could provide a vacant building for as little as $9,000 and three residential lots. Denali Marine Group, doing business as Coach Marine Group, is the parent company of two pontoon boat companies, Coach and Xcursion. Both companies’ products are manufactured in Fort Dodge, Iowa, by a third-party builder, the Misty Harbor company. By moving to Chanute, Xcursion will take over its own manufacturing, Chanute Regional Development Authority Director Matt [...]

From dilapidated hotels to mixed use: OP council gives Metcalf Crossing the OK

info2018-06-11T07:31:19-05:00June 11th, 2018|

The Overland Park City Council on Monday voted to approve almost $6 million in incentives for a mixed-use project designed to replace two dilapidated hotels at a key intersection on Shawnee Mission Parkway. Council members voted unanimously to adopt a redevelopment plan for Metcalf Crossing, proposed on 5 acres at the northwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Metcalf Avenue. The plan includes almost $3 million in development reimbursement through tax increment financing, or TIF, and $3 million in funds raised through a 1 percent community improvement district sales tax levied on the site. The TIF would last 20 years while [...]

JoCo takes control of fire district

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

In an unprecedented move, the Johnson County Commission will take control of an embattled rural fire district to try to ensure stable fire protection for an affluent, growing part of the county. The commission voted 7-0 on Thursday to immediately assume governance of Johnson County Fire District No. 2, which provides fire and ambulance services to about 21,000 people in south Overland Park, Spring Hill, and part of unincorporated Johnson County and north central Miami County. The county commission had become concerned about the long-term financial viability of the district, which was governed by a five-member volunteer board that critics said [...]

Haysville: Study calls for sizable increase in utility rates

info2018-06-11T07:25:54-05:00June 11th, 2018|

A utility rate study prepared by the city of Haysville and released last week recommends a substantial increase in water and stormwater rates. The study recommends increasing the monthly water fee to $3.50 per 1,000 gallons – up 24 percent over the current $2.82 rate, which was set in 2009. It also recommends adding a $7 flat monthly fee to fund capital projects, and recommends increasing the monthly stormwater utility fee from $1.75 to $2.50. The study proposes leaving wastewater rates unchanged. For more information on utility rate reviews, please contact Beth Warren with Ranson Citycode Financial at ewarren@ransonfinancial.com or call [...]

Closing CityArts boutique and gallery is possible cost-saving option for Wichita

info2018-06-11T07:24:49-05:00June 11th, 2018|

Among the many ways the city is looking to recoup a $3 million deficit in operating revenue is the possible closure of the boutique and gallery within CityArts. "I'd say it's too early to get too concerned with it at this point," says John D'Angelo, the city's manager of arts & cultural services. "They're just looking at alternatives," he says. "What kind of changes could be made to the CityArts operation . . . that would achieve some savings?" D'Angelo says CityArts costs the city $800,000 annually and recoups only about $300,000 from class fees. The gallery and boutique make $50,000, [...]

Hays discusses two intersections for roundabouts

info2018-06-11T07:22:51-05:00June 11th, 2018|

The Hays City Commission for a second time on Thursday put the brakes on a proposal to construct a roundabout at the intersection of 27th Street and Canterbury, but indicated a roundabout at 27th and Indian Trail might be a better investment. The issue was brought forth for discussion by Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, who requested the commission revisit the Canterbury intersection after Mayor James Meier initially suggested a temporary roundabout there in early March. The idea was rejected at that time, and Jacobs said she heard from many residents afterward who favored the proposal. “When we discussed it the first time, [...]

Leavenworth County meeting notice was technical violation

info2018-06-11T07:19:03-05:00June 11th, 2018|

An investigation by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office found that county commissioners committed a technical violation of an open meetings law by failing to include the location of a special meeting in a notice of the meeting. That is according to two letters sent from Assistant Attorney General Lisa Mendoza to county officials. Mendoza is the director of the Open Government Enforcement Unit of the Attorney General’s Office. The investigation was initiated by the Attorney General’s Office after County Treasurer Janice Van Parys filed a complaint last year about possible violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Van Parys’ complaint focused [...]

KDHE waste grants benefit NW Kansas schools, townships

info2018-06-11T07:17:28-05:00June 11th, 2018|

he Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Waste Management has announced the recipients of waste tire recycling grants. These annual solid waste grants are awarded to municipalities and school districts across the state. The grants total almost $468,000 for 2018. The waste tire recycling grants go toward funding safe surfacing at playgrounds, running tracks, picnic tables and benches made from waste tires. This year’s 51 individual waste tire recycling grants range from $209 to $61,213. The grants are funded through a 25-cent tax paid on the purchase of new tires. The list of grantees can be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/waste/grants/SFY18WTGSpreadsheetFinal.pdf. [...]

Analyst: Wichita at ‘a really interesting moment’ in its history

info2018-06-11T07:16:34-05:00June 11th, 2018|

It will be up to the people who live in Wichita — not government or corporate leaders — whether the city is to shake off decades of stagnation and achieve meaningful growth and prosperity, a Wichita-raised and Harvard-trained economic analyst says. Wichita has been "stuck in neutral for about three decades, with basically no growth, amidst the landscape of a growing U.S. economy," said James Chung, who graduated from Wichita Collegiate and now runs Reach Advisors, a New York-based strategy and research firm. Chung's firm was hired three years ago to analyze Wichita's strengths, problems and potential. His initial report was [...]