News – Page 490 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Flushable wipes clog up city resources

info2024-03-06T15:34:01-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Toilet clogs can be a pain for homeowners, but flushing wipes may turn into an issue for neighbors, as well. Newton’s public works recently spent time unclogging a large sewer blockage caused by flushable wipes. Suzanne Loomis, director of public works, said the wipes are a problem because although they’re labeled as flushable, they don’t dissolve, and they clog lines. Loomis said marketing them as flushable is a problem, because it’s misleading and makes people think they’re safe to flush. Source: Harvey County Now

Rejecting car wash plan sparks debate on downtown Overland Park’s future

info2024-03-06T15:32:43-06:00March 6th, 2024|

A new Tommy’s Express Car Wash location proposed in downtown Overland Park won’t be able to move forward due to concerns about whether it would fit in with the city’s long-term plans to reinvest in the corridor.... Councilmembers who voted to deny the plans for the Tommy’s Express worried that the car wash fails to support the community’s goal of remaking its downtown into a more pedestrian-friendly urban core. Source: Johnson County Post

JoCo cities say bills threaten local control

info2024-03-06T15:32:02-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Cities in Johnson County are lining up in opposition to two bills circulating in the Kansas Legislature that take aim at municipalities’ powers when it comes to zoning and citizen petitions. One bill would sharply curtail a city’s ability to rezone private property, and the other would strengthen petitioners’ efforts to put a question on a local ballot, circumventing a city’s ability to stop it. Source: Johnson County Post

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-3: Election-Day Buffer Zone

info2024-03-06T15:29:37-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Synopsis: County election officers may constitutionally prohibit electioneering on private property within 250 feet of a polling place on election day. Cited herein: K.S.A. 21-6602; 21-6611; 25-2430; 25-2435. Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-2: Transient Guest Tax

info2024-03-06T15:25:38-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Synopsis: The Transient Guest Tax Act is a nonuniform act. As such, a county may exempt itself from provisions of the Act under its home-rule powers through a charter ordinance or resolution. Sherman County’s Charter Resolution No. 18 was a permissible use of its statutory authority. However, once it exempted itself, Sherman County cannot then require the Kansas Department of Revenue to collect the tax. Cited herein: K.S.A. 12-1696; K.S.A. 12-1697; K.S.A. 12-1698; K.S.A. 12-1699; K.S.A. 12-16,113; K.S.A. 19-101; K.S.A. 19-101a; K.S.A. 19-101b; K.S.A. 75-704. Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

City manager pushes for updated Newton city plan

info2024-03-08T08:30:42-06:00March 6th, 2024|

After looking over the current comprehensive plan for the City of Newton, planning commissioners realized that much of the plan had already been done. Daniela Rivas, Newton’s city manager, said at the planning commission meeting on Monday, March 4, that she would like to see a “refresh” of the plan as well as begin work for the new comprehensive plan. The current plan deals with the city’s goals for several areas, such as land use and transportation. City employees said the plan is a guide for the direction they take. The current plan is for 2010 to 2030. Source: Harvey County [...]

Wichita City Council lifts ban on corporate political donations, with one requirement

info2024-03-06T13:23:19-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to lift a short-lived ban on corporate campaign contributions to city candidates. The rollback of the campaign finance reform was approved 7-0 as council members came together in support of an amendment requiring candidates to report the name of the principal owner of the company that gave to their campaign. Another amendment introduced by council member Brandon Johnson that would have banned the practice of giving multiple donations through different companies failed 3-4 without the support of the council’s three Republican members or Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian. In cases where one limited liability company [...]

USD 259 parents petition to stop closure of six schools

info2024-03-06T13:22:27-06:00March 6th, 2024|

After the Wichita Public Schools board voted to close six schools, parents are petitioning to have the decision reviewed on the state level. Parents KSN News has spoken to are upset, and you can see it. In the video above, you can see signs dotting a lawn, protesting the BOE decision and encouraging parents to get involved. On Tuesday, parents started going door to door to get a petition signed trying to stop these closures. Parents say closing the six schools was a decision they don't feel they had a say in. "I think it's pretty evident that most of us already felt [...]

Wichita Fire Department to host Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring

info2024-03-06T13:21:07-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The Wichita Fire Department will be hosting another Citizens' Fire Academy this spring. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening starting in April and go through the beginning of June. Although the WFD has not released what time the classes start, they say the classes will last 2-3 hours and take place at the Regional Training Center, 4746 E. 31st St. S. #4494. The last meeting will be held at a City Council meeting to recognize the participants for completing the academy. (...) "The Wichita Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy is dedicated to increasing public awareness by familiarizing and informing the citizens [...]

Abilene in the running for best historic small town contest

info2024-03-06T13:20:06-06:00March 6th, 2024|

A small town situated in the heart of Kansas is in the running for a national contest hosted by USA Today. The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in a press release on Monday, March 4, that Abilene will be a finalist for USA Today's Readers' Choice 'Best Historic Small Town' contest. Abilene came close to the number-one spot in 2022 and 2023. "This honor is truly remarkable!" Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitor's Bureau Julie Roller-Weeks said. "Achieving this recognition once is a significant accomplishment, and securing it for six consecutive years in a nationwide contest against other exceptional small [...]