News – Page 772 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee considers cracking down on AirBnBs

info2023-04-12T11:19:57-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Shawnee appears poised to institute new restrictions on short-term rental properties, like AirBnBs, in many of its residential neighborhoods. The Shawnee City Council dove back into the issue during a council committee meeting Monday. No action was taken, but the majority of councilmembers signaled their desire to ban AirBnBs, VRBOs and other short-term rentals in single-family home neighborhoods. There was also some discussion about adding other requirements in areas where they could be allowed, like new fees or taxes. “This is getting kind of absurd,” council president Eric Jenkins said. “We don’t have neighborhoods so you can come in here and [...]

Prairie Band lauds court decision noting ‘arbitrary’ methods for issuing COVID-19 aid

info2023-04-12T11:19:01-05:00April 12th, 2023|

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation welcomed a U.S. Court of Appeals decision in a challenge to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s method for distributing CARES Act assistance and the tribal chairman said the outcome could have ramifications for allocation of future federal funding. A series of lawsuits, including one by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation headquartered in Mayetta, led to the Court of Appeals’ declaration the Treasury Department engaged in an arbitrary and capricious process for calculating emergency aid. The Court of Appeals ordered the U.S. treasury secretary to provide further explanation of decisions regarding Prairie Band’s aid. Prairie Band Chairman [...]

Governor Kelly signs bill to raise the minimum smoking age to 21

info2023-04-12T09:33:56-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed a bipartisan bill from the legislature to raise the minimum smoking age from 18 to 21. House Bill 2269 makes changes in state law on the sale, purchase and possession of cigarettes and tobacco products. The Kansas Department of Revenue says raising the minimum age to 21 will bring the state into compliance with federal law, and that will allow federal funding to continue to be provided to Kansas for the enforcement of tobacco laws. Source: 101.3 KFDI

City of Manhattan to pay close to $30K after losing appeal in case involving damaged mailbox

info2023-04-12T11:08:37-05:00April 12th, 2023|

The Kansas Court of Appeals has affirmed that the City of Manhattan pay close to $30,000 in attorney fees to a local couple following their successful lawsuit over a damaged mailbox. The decision was published April 7 ... The case stems from a December 2019 incident involving a city-owned snowplow that struck a stone mailbox, cracking its base. Marti Wickham and William Franz successfully sued the city and in November 2021 were awarded approximately $3,200 for the mailbox and roughly $10,000 for attorney fees. Source: 1350 KMAN

Newspaper Editorial: Cities should encourage folks to mend, keep all sidewalks

info2023-04-12T11:12:50-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Rules vary from town to town, but most cities at least used to require installation of sidewalks along with curb and gutter in new neighborhoods. Most at one time had rules about maintaining said sidewalks. We think it's safe to say that those rules, regulations and ordinances are none too well enforced these days, and as a results, the ever-increasing number of walkers are mostly in the street. Sidewalks generally were and are installed on city property, the area along a street known as "the parking." This is the tract between the edge of the right of way (often 60 feet) [...]

Marijuana DUI’s no simple matter

info2023-04-12T09:24:47-05:00April 12th, 2023|

The Kansas Department of Transportation put out a press release, warning drivers that driving high on marijuana is illegal. “April 20 each year marks the unofficial marijuana ‘holiday,’ which tends to see an increase in its use,” the release stated “But whether a person uses marijuana or another substance, they should never drive afterward, as driving under the influence penalties are not limited to defined alcohol concentrations.” Enforcing state law, however, is easier said than done, according to Deputy Police Chief Scott Powell. Source: Harvey County Now

When a Kansas county wants people to plant milkweed but a city makes them rip it out

info2023-04-12T11:15:18-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Oliver Hernandez’s front yard hums with plenty of bugs for the 12-year-old and his friends to find. “It’s kind of fun just knowing that there are lots of caterpillars in the yard,” he said. About a third of the yard looks like a teeny swath of prairie, with wild indigo, bee balm and, until recently, a key plant for monarch butterflies: common milkweed. Last fall, the city of Overland Park told Oliver’s mother to rip the milkweed out of her pollinator garden. That bummed Oliver because it’s a plant where brightly striped yellow, black and white caterpillars would appear each summer, [...]

Wichita toy store owner asks City to change ordinance

info2023-04-12T09:18:40-05:00April 12th, 2023|

If you want to open a secondhand store in Wichita, some City of Wichita requirements might discourage you. For example, the City says some secondhand stores must fingerprint people who bring in used items. Derek Sorrells told the City Council that's a problem. He owns Let's Go Build, 2684 N. Greenwich, a store that buys, sells and trades Lego bricks. "I'm asking a mother who brings in $20 worth of Legos to submit her fingerprint," he said. "There were many odd looks. Many odd looks. And there were frankly people who walked out the door." Source: KSN-TV

Andover YMCA rebuild continues following tornado

info2023-04-12T09:16:13-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Almost a year following the Andover tornado, progress continues to rebuild the heavily damaged YMCA in the storm. The April 30, 202, the EF-3 moved through the east side of Andover, causing extensive damage to homes, an elementary school and the YMCA. Cars from the YMCA parking lot were thrown into the lobby, the roof was removed, and glass was shattered. YMCA employees that night reacted and got everyone to safety before the storm hit. Since the storm, work has been moving to rebuild the facility. The walls outside are being rebuilt with 6,375 new limestone blocks, and 22,600 square feet [...]

Property appraisal appeals increase by nearly 300 percent

info2023-04-12T09:13:47-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Backlash from Miami County residents upset about skyrocketing property appraisals led to a spike in appeals being filed this year with the county appraiser’s office. Property owners had until the end of March to file their informal appeal, and Miami County Appraiser Justin Eimers confirmed Monday, April 10, that his office received a total of 1,205 informal appeals this year compared to 303 in 2022, an increase of nearly 300 percent. “The appeals process gives property owners a chance to address questions and concerns to the County Appraiser’s Office,” Eimers said. “I see the appeals process as an opportunity for the [...]