News – Page 33 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Halstead Planning Commission nears final draft of BESS regulations

info2025-02-24T10:20:41-06:00February 24th, 2025|

The Halstead Planning Commission worked through the zoning regulation draft for battery energy storage systems (BESS) during its regular meeting Monday evening, just a few days after Concurrent, a Texas-based company leasing land in the city’s industrial park, held a public forum to answer questions regarding their plan to open a BESS facility in town. Planning Commission Chairman Tessa Wending asked if they adequately addressed mitigating the risk from a potential explosion because it’s such a big risk. Source: Harvey County Now

New Assistant County Manager Darron Leiker begins work at Johnson County Government

info2025-02-24T10:19:31-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Today, Darron Leiker joins the Johnson County Government leadership team as a new Assistant County Manager. That role was vacated in December 2024 with the retirement of Joe Connor. Leiker comes to Johnson County from the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, where he served nearly 23 years. He began as Assistant City Manager in 2002 and became City Manager in September 2005, serving for 19 years. In that role he oversaw approximately 15 departments and 1,240 FTEs, prepared an annual budget of more than $233 million (FY 2024) and implemented the policies and goals of a seven-member governing body. Source: Johnson [...]

Gardner voters renew half-cent sales tax paying for road projects

info2025-02-24T10:17:57-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Gardner voters have approved renewing a half-cent sales tax for the city’s Pavement Management Program. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, nearly 68% of voters who cast mail-in ballots approved the sales tax renewal, according to unofficial results from the Johnson County Election Office. Overall, turnout for the special election was 17%, according to unofficial final tallies. The renewed sales tax takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and will continue for another decade. Mayor Todd Winters said the passage of the sales tax renewal will allow the city to maintain and improve roads, sidewalks and trails for years to come. Source: Johnson County Post

See the tax rebates, home improvement grants on offer in your Johnson County city

info2025-02-24T10:16:48-06:00February 24th, 2025|

As property taxes continue to rise along with home values in Johnson County, residents may be looking for any way they can to save money. Many local cities in Johnson County, as well as the county itself, offer a variety of rebate programs aimed at helping homeowners pay their annual property tax bills, as well as make repairs and renovations. Many of these programs are aimed at certain populations, including low-income homeowners, seniors and disabled veterans. But other rebates are open to a wider segment of homeowners looking for assistance in paying for everything from replacing windows and installing solar panels [...]

Wichita approves public art plan to fill empty spots downtown

info2025-02-24T10:15:37-06:00February 24th, 2025|

The City of Wichita has approved a plan to once again fill the empty pedestals in Old Town and elsewhere with sculptures. Starting in 2008, the city installed over a dozen pedestals, most of them in Old Town, as part of a sculpture walkabout program. That program ended in 2023. On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve a $200,000 plan (using funds explicitly earmarked in the budget for art projects) to fill the pedestals with permanent pieces. Source: KSN-TV

Topeka residents meet, evaluate the city

info2025-02-24T10:14:35-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Topeka residents met Wednesday, Feb 19, to serve on a special city committee that hasn’t been seen in a decade. The Topeka Citizen Government Review Committee is made up of five people all selected by the mayor. The last time this group was put together was 2014. For the next six months, the committee, along with public comment, will examine and evaluate Topeka’s form of government and determine if they have recommendations for change. Source: KSNT 27 News

Symphony in the Flint Hills will end after 20 years

info2025-02-24T10:12:56-06:00February 24th, 2025|

The Symphony in the Flint Hills announced Wednesday, Feb. 19 that 2025 will be the last year for shows. These annual shows were a way for people to appreciate and learn more about the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie After 20 unforgettable years, the Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event will have its Grand Finale on Saturday, June 14, at Evans Family Ranch in Chase County. Join us for one last breathtaking evening of music, prairie skies, and community as we celebrate this milestone event. Along with the Signature Event concert, the Symphony in the Flint Hills hosted a prairie art [...]

Most homeowners in Sedgwick County will see increase in tax appraisal. Here are details

info2025-02-24T10:11:36-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Tax valuations will increase for 87% of homeowners in Sedgwick County this year. The average median increase for residential properties is 9%. Notices will be mailed out March 1. Last year, 60% of residential property owners saw an increase in valuation, with a 10% median increase. Tax appraisal increases are driven by the sales prices of new and existing homes. “Demand is high and the supply of homes is tight, thus prices increase as a result of this continuing imbalance,” county appraiser Mark Clark told county commissioners. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Are Wichita-area schools running out of snow days? See what Kansas law says

info2025-02-24T10:10:45-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Wichita school districts students have so far had this week off amid snow and bitter cold. School officials canceled classes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There was no school Monday because it was President’s Day. So far this year, including Thursday, Wichita students have been off school eight days because of severe weather. Half of those were in January, with the rest in February. So will they — and students from surrounding districts in similar situations — have to make up days? Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

It’s illegal to own a pet raccoon in Kansas. One man is trying to change that

info2025-02-24T10:08:52-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow Kansans who obtain raccoon ownership permits to keep the animals as pets. For the past four years, Lenexa resident Stephen Kaspar has been feeding and training wild raccoons that wander onto his property. But it’s against Kansas law to own a pet raccoon. That’s why Kaspar is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would legalize pet ownership of raccoons. Owners would be required to obtain a raccoon ownership permit, complete educational training and vaccinate their raccoons for rabies and other diseases. They’d have to provide raccoons with their own room [...]