News – Page 389 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Opposition to sales tax hike noted at public hearing

info2024-10-21T09:41:45-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Local business owners expressed their opposition to increasing the county’s current sales tax rate during a special Jackson County Commission meeting last week. At the revenue neutral rate hearing for the county budget in August, some taxpayers asked about the possibility of increasing the sales tax in the county to offset a mill rate increase. About 50 people attended a special evening meeting on Sept. 30 to share their input on increasing the current sales tax in the county. The meeting lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Jackson County currently has a 1.4 percent sales tax rate, which includes a special [...]

Olathe OKs $350M in incentives for latest phase of Coca-Cola bottling plant

info2024-10-21T09:39:58-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Olathe has signed off on $350 million in incentives for the next phase of the Heartland Coca-Cola bottling plant campus on the city’s southern edge. Earlier this week, the Olathe City Council unanimously voted to issue the industrial revenue bonds, which are also tied to a 10-year, 55% property tax abatement, to the development near 167th Street and Hedge Lane. Source: Johnson County Post

Olathe paves way for bigger animal shelter to replace ‘woefully outdated’ one

info2024-10-21T09:38:52-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Olathe has picked a home for its replacement animal shelter and animal control facility. On Tuesday, the Olathe City Council took two votes to start the process of acquiring property near Santa Fe Street and Ridgeview Road. Both actions passed 8-1, with Councilmember Kevin Gilmore in dissent. He did not publicly explain his “no” votes. Source: Johnson County Post

Hays, Russell sue Edwards County over efforts to block water transfer project

info2024-10-21T09:37:13-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Two western Kansas towns are accusing a neighboring county of interfering with their efforts to pipe in water for their residents to battle frequent drought and contamination. The cities of Hays and Russell last week filed a lawsuit against Edwards County over zoning regulations they argue target their plan to draw groundwater from the R9 Ranch in Edwards County to supplement their municipal water supplies. Hays and Russell’s lawsuit says their current supplies are “highly susceptible to drought and contamination” and calls their plan to pipe water from the ranch one of “existential importance.” According to the lawsuit, Edwards County has [...]

Edwardsville needs new city buildings. Why officials say added tax won’t burden residents

info2024-10-21T09:35:03-05:00October 21st, 2024|

About 10 years ago, the city of Edwardsville bought its police station for $1. Meant as a temporary solution, the station has seen investments over the years well beyond that face value. Now, the building — more accurately a series of trailers bolted together, standing on cinder blocks about 200 feet from City Hall — is one of three major pieces of public infrastructure that Edwardsville officials hope to rebuild. And they’re asking residents to establish a 1% local sales tax to pay for it. “It’s not an initiative of want. The bottom line here is that the conditions within these [...]

Emerald Ash borer continues to spread in Kansas

info2024-10-21T09:33:04-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The emerald ash borer continues to spread in Kansas. The pest, which has already killed hundreds of millions of Ash trees across the U.S. and Canada, has now spread to 15 Kansas counties. The latest sighting was confirmed this week in Nemaha County by the Kansas Forest Service, working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension Office. The emerald ash borer had been suspected to be in the county for some time. However, according to Kansas State, this is the first time a live insect was found to definitely confirm it. This is the second county with [...]

McPherson’s Pfizer plant lays off 80 people

info2024-10-21T09:31:52-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The Pfizer plant in McPherson laid off 80 people, KSN News confirmed on Thursday. Those impacted included professional/salaried employees, and production was not impacted. Tucky Allen, Kansas WorkforceONE, says there will be a meeting next week for those impacted. The statement explains the layoffs are based on projected product demands. They are being carried out as Pfizer makes operations more efficient at the McPherson plant. The McPherson plant manufactures sterile injectable medicines used in hospitals worldwide. The company employs around 1,800 people. Source: KSN-TV

How these Kansas towns got their unique names

info2024-10-21T09:30:07-05:00October 21st, 2024|

In terms of size, Kansas is 81,823 sq miles, larger than 37 other states, including most of its neighbors, with the exception of Colorado. Data from the Census Bureau shows there are 671 incorporated and unincorporated communities in Kansas where people live. Many of these communities have names associated with their founders or historical figures, such as Ulysses or Lincoln. Others have names of Native American or even French origin, like Kiowa or La Cygne. Still others are named after other towns and cities where their pioneer founders were originally from. Below is a list of some Kansas communities with some [...]

Cities in Kansas competing for Tank of the Year

info2024-10-21T09:28:13-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Eleven cities in Kansas are competing for the 2024 Tank of the Year. Tnemec Co. Inc., a commercial and industrial paint company, is hosting the competition with participating cities in the USA and Canada. A two-week voting window for the People’s Choice of water tank is currently open. The public vote will close on Oct. 18, and the Tank of the Year announcement is planned for Oct. 25. Last year’s winner was featured in Tnemec’s 2024 water tank calendar. A Tnemec committee of water tank enthusiasts will select the other 11 finalists. Source: KSN-TV

Topeka receives $4 million grant to improve lead safety of local homes

info2024-10-21T09:25:24-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The City of Topeka is celebrating after being awarded a $4 million grant to improve child safety and housing health. City of Topeka spokesman Dan Garrett announced in a press release that a $4 million Lead Hazard Reduction Grant will be distributed to the city’s Housing Services Division over the course of four years. The start date for the distribution will be Nov. 15, 2024 with the end date being Nov. 15, 2024. Garrett said the cash will be used to grow the city’s rehabilitation programs to address and mitigate lead hazards. The end goal is to make an estimated 180 [...]