News – Page 389 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Braxton Copley named Topeka’s assistant city manager

info2024-08-15T08:17:23-05:00August 15th, 2024|

Topeka has a new assistant city manager, but he should be a familiar face to many. Braxton Copley will serve the role for Topeka after 19 years in previous positions. ... Copley joined Topeka's city attorney's office in 2000 and over the next 12 years served in such position as assistant city attorney, interim city attorney, and utilities and transportation director. He left in 2012 to join the private sector. He returned as deputy director of utilities in 2017, then served interim director of utilities in 2020 and director of utilities in 2021. Copley was promoted to public works director in [...]

Crawford County hosts public forum on solar

info2024-08-14T11:43:53-05:00August 14th, 2024|

John Copyak, one of three proprietors of Shasta Power, updated the county commission on a proposed solar farm his company is developing between Arma and Frontenac. The farm will cover 1,500 acres, centered around an already existing power station. Additions to the current site will include battery storage and some minor modifications to tie the solar panels into the existing grid. Construction of the site will employ 200 workers, with a dozen permanent jobs remaining to maintain the site. The farm is slated to generate 200 megawatts, enough to power 50,000 homes, according to Copyak, and will generate with no noise, [...]

Hesston City Council sets grocery store community conversation date

info2024-08-14T11:41:27-05:00August 14th, 2024|

On Tuesday, Aug. 27, there will be a Grocery Store Community Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dyck Arboretum Prairie Pavilion, 177 W Hickory St, Hesston. According to City Manager Gary Emry, representatives from Beneficient will be in attendance for a community-wide discussion about the grocery store project. This meeting was originally on the docket for June but has finally been put on the books. Source: Harvey County Now

Drivers not charging at EV spots in Merriam can now be fined

info2024-08-14T11:40:08-05:00August 14th, 2024|

The city of Merriam will now require vehicles parked in front of electric vehicle charging stations to be plugged in, or the owner will be subject to fines. On Monday, the Merriam City Council in a 6-0 vote approved a new ordinance that levies fines for owners of vehicles, both non-EV and EV alike, who park in EV charging spots without using the charging station. This follows the city of Overland Park’s move in June that set similar rules for EV parking spots, requiring vehicles parked at city chargers to be actively plugged in. There is a minimum fine of $100 [...]

Johnson County is seeing homelessness grow, but a proposed new shelter offers hope

info2024-08-14T11:38:25-05:00August 14th, 2024|

In Johnson County, homelessness is on the rise. The county's latest data, from a July point-in-time count, found that 250 people are unhoused — although the real number is likely higher. The county wants to functionally end homelessness by 2029. Its proposed Homeless Service Center could be a "crucial" part of the solution, according to Johnson County Commission chair Mike Kelly. The shelter would repurpose a La Quinta Inn and Suites at 95th Street and Interstate 35 in Lenexa, but it faces some hurdles. Kelly says there are "very real" concerns from Lenexa and other cities that can't be addressed, because [...]

City council approves new regulations for pet owners

info2024-08-14T11:36:41-05:00August 14th, 2024|

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, members discussed changes to animal services. The ordinance amendment passed 7-0. Councilors will look at the amendment again before the regulations go into effect. The Wichita Police Department recommended the following amendments: Increased fines for dog bite convictions with a first-time bite increasing from a $250 mandatory fine to a $500 fine, a second offense from a $500 fine to a $1,000 fine, and a third offense from a $1,000 fine to a $2,500 fine; Removal of mandatory dog pen requirement for dangerous dogs, leaving the determination to the discretion of Animal Services; Require microchips on [...]

Historic downtown Pittsburg property set for major renovations with $300,000 grant

info2024-08-14T11:34:44-05:00August 14th, 2024|

Renovations are in the works for an old property in the downtown Pittsburg area. In June, the city was awarded a $300,000 grant from the state. The plan is to use the money for the renovations. The ground floor will also be redeveloped for commercial space, and apartments will go upstairs. During tonight’s city commission meeting, commissioners approved a grant agreement, repayment agreement, and matching funds agreement. “211 and then the buildings in between, there’s actually some that are for sale that we’re looking to do some additional projects with. So that’s really going to kind of reinvent that whole area. [...]

Pittsburg launches new solid waste service for residents

info2024-08-14T11:32:40-05:00August 14th, 2024|

The City of Pittsburg is officially rolling out a new service for residents. “I think for the most part, I mean, we’re just wanting to make Pittsburg a clean town,” said Troy Graham, city of Pittsburg property and sanitation assistant director. City of Pittsburg property and sanitation assistant director Troy Graham says for years, departments around the city have picked up bulk solid waste and trash. But are now making this task officially their own. “What we’re doing now is basically trying to fill that void since we’ve been doing it anyways. And like I said, we’re just the start of [...]

Topeka to use ‘Built for Zero’ model to help end homelessness

info2024-08-14T11:30:39-05:00August 14th, 2024|

The Capital city is looking at an additional approach to combat homelessness. It’s called the Built For Zero model and it was discussed at city council Tuesday, Aug. 13. Brought to the state by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), this model looks to end homelessness rather than manage it. With a four-phase approach, the City is taking its equity access shelter program, which was based off the the built for zero model and turning it into full built for zero model. “One of our first steps is looking at our data, creating a by name list, really [...]

Judge could force City of Topeka to let residents decide on property tax increase

info2024-08-14T11:29:23-05:00August 14th, 2024|

A Topeka man is suing the city, claiming it ignored what he calls a lawful petition. The petition’s creator Earl McIntosh wants Topeka taxpayers, not the city council, to decide whether property taxes increase. After the council took no action on his petition last month, he’s filed a lawsuit demanding they take it to a vote. He’s served the city with a mandamus lawsuit. He’s accusing city leaders of failing to perform their law-mandated duty. “The citizens of Topeka have decided to file this lawsuit,” McIntosh said. “To ask a judge to force the city to vote or let the people [...]