News – Page 2460 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Westar Energy and customers are fighting over the sun

info2018-06-06T06:51:27-05:00June 6th, 2018|

Kansans who generate some of their own electricity are fighting Westar Energy over proposed rates they say could cast a huge shadow over solar power in the Sunflower State. As part of a broader rate increase, Westar is proposing a mandatory extra charge on customers who install rooftop solar panels to cut their electric bills. Solar power enthusiasts say Westar wants to crush home solar to maintain its monopoly control over energy long into the future. "One thing Kansans have always prided themselves on is their independence, resourcefulness and the like," said Ryan Jamison, a Topeka business consultant who helps clients [...]

Leavenworth taking bids for solid waste disposal

info2018-06-06T06:46:00-05:00June 6th, 2018|

The city of Leavenworth is seeking bids for the disposal of garbage collected through the city’s trash service. City officials plan to continue to operate the curbside trash pickup. But officials are looking to see if the city government can save money by switching the location of where the trash is taken. Currently, the city government utilizes the Leavenworth County Transfer Station to dispose of the garbage picked up by city crews. Located in Lansing, the Transfer Station is operated by the county government. An anticipated increase in fees charged to the city for the use of the Transfer Station has [...]

Ellis County faces tough choices in 2019 budget

info2018-06-06T06:43:57-05:00June 6th, 2018|

Preliminary estimates suggest the Ellis County Commission will need to find a way to either increase revenue or cut spending in order to balance the 2019 budget. If the commission chooses to slightly raise the mill levy as allowed under a state-imposed tax lid, the budget still appears to be approximately $400,000 in the red, County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said. If the commission decides against a tax increase, the estimated deficit jumps to $645,000. Smith-Hanes noted the proposed mill levy increase would be slight, approximately ⅝ of one mill. For a home valued at $100,000, that amounts to an additional $7.20 [...]

Summertime and Swedes: Lindsborg’s Midsummer Fest set for June 16

info2018-06-06T06:42:09-05:00June 6th, 2018|

Fun in the sun can be had during Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival, held this year on June 16. The traditional Swedish festival is celebrated worldwide, welcoming the arrival of the summer solstice, and Lindsborg is hosting a day full of activities. (Read more: McPherson Sentinel)

Wichita tests water quality for Riverfest activities

info2018-06-06T06:34:32-05:00June 6th, 2018|

Like most Riverfest goers, Gabby and Jacob Marney spent the afternoon walking alongside the Arkansas River. “It’s definitely a big focal point. Us being new here, we hear stuff about it all the time,” Gabby Marney said. But what they hadn’t heard about are the flags located on the Douglas and Lewis Street bridges. The flags let festival goers know the water is safe, depending on the color. “Blue or green means go ahead, get in, recreate. I mean, don’t drink it. That’s just dumb,” President and CEO of Wichita Festivals, Mary Beth Jarvis said. Specifically, blue means the water is [...]

Salina Parks & Recreation Draft Master Plan Complete

info2018-06-06T06:27:46-05:00June 6th, 2018|

The City of Salina Parks and Recreation Draft Master Plan is complete and available online at http://salina-ks.gov/parksandrecreation-masterplan. The purpose of the Master Plan is to set goals and benchmarks for the future of parks and sports facilities. The overall vision of the Master Plan is to improve the spaces where community members go to make connections, enjoy the outdoors, and participate in recreational activities. The plan process includes independent analysis of parks and facilities, programming, agreements with outside agencies, staff interviews, public input meetings, and public surveys. (Read more: The Salina Post)

Hutch City Council approves benefits consultant

info2018-06-06T06:26:30-05:00June 6th, 2018|

The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to hire a new consulting firm to help with the city’s benefits package. The council agreed to hire USI Consulting out of Wichita at a cost of $58,500. According to Human Resources Director Tom Sanders, the city sent out a request for proposals to numerous firms earlier this year and got seven replies. These several firms were then interviewed by the Health and Wellness Committee. Sanders says USI has its own in-house legal staff that will eliminate the need for an outside attorney to handle benefit cases involving city employees. (Read more: Hutch Post)

Shawnee infrastructure plan calls for efforts to improve walkability along 71st Street, near new Monticello library

info2018-06-05T10:22:33-05:00June 5th, 2018|

The Shawnee City Council has unanimously approved the city’s 2019-2024 Capital Improvement Plan, including the addition of improvements to sidewalks along 71st Street from Clare Road to Hedge Lane Terrace. The CIP is a project-funding forecast, and all projected costs are subject to change and must be individually approved by the council, Caitlin Gard, Shawnee’s strategic initiatives manager, said after the council’s May 29 meeting. The 71st Street sidewalk program was added to the CIP presented at the meeting, and the council authorized a $300,000 annual expenditure for it from 2020 through 2024. The project would add sidewalks and regrade the [...]

Lawrence City Commission to consider giving police review board access to bias investigation files

info2018-06-05T10:20:49-05:00June 5th, 2018|

A community board may soon be able to review police investigation files related to certain racial or other bias complaints made against police. At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider allowing the city’s Community Police Review Board to review the police department’s internal investigation file when the person who made the bias complaint disagrees with the police findings. The current board, the Citizen Advisory Board for Fair and Impartial Policing, reviews only a summary of the investigation provided by police that some have said provides limited information. The proposed change is part of a revamp of the board [...]

Want to fight cybercrime? Wichita may be in your future

info2018-06-05T10:19:37-05:00June 5th, 2018|

Wichita could soon emerge as a hub for the ongoing battle against cybercrimes, officials say. "We could create a place that's attractive for IT companies — maybe not the extent of Seattle or Silicon Valley, but a regional magnet," said Col. Joe Jabara, vice wing commander for the 184th Intelligence Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard at McConnell Air Force Base. The momentum is being driven by the development of cybersecurity programs at a number of colleges and universities in the Wichita metropolitan area. There's a voracious demand for employees trained in how to protect computer networks. That, in turn, [...]