USD 410 and Hillsboro partner on city improvement projects

USD 410 students presented to the Hillsboro City Council in a special city council meeting on Wednesday, March 9. … Two different groups, led by teacher Darrel Knoll, presented during the 30-minute meeting, and both gave some simple and fairly cost-effective ideas to improve the town of Hillsboro. The first group offered some revisions of the shelter houses in the park. The group consisted of Callie Plenert, Katherine Maxfield and Emily Paulus. They talked about how the shelter houses are outdated and need updating and fixing. The group suggested revamping and improving the shelter houses located in the park. “People usually have events outside of them and don’t really use the inside of them because it’s just so nasty,” said Kate Maxfield.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Ranson Financial2022-03-17T22:05:38-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Colwich Fire Department staff, equipment stretched thin due to recent grass fires

Recent wildfires across Kansas are taking a toll on trucks and staff at the Colwich Fire Department. Fire Chief Moe Lallement said there haven’t been any grass fires in Colwich’s immediate jurisdiction yet this year, but the department still helps respond when one breaks out somewhere else if help is needed. “It seems that we’re in a cyclic pattern, so about every week or so, every three of four days, you get what we call a red flag day, which is something we’re experiencing today,” Lallement said. Lallement said it’s so frequent that some of his volunteer firefighters are taking days off work to come in and help. “Some have the ability to, depending on their type of work, they can work from the fire station but still respond to an alarm,” he said.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:15:36-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Kansas increasingly meeting the need for rural broadband speed

At a time when civic problems often seem intractable, Kansas is actually making progress on increasing access to quality broadband, a deficiency exposed all too clearly by the pandemic. With the help of state and federal investments, spurred by the pandemic, and private companies taking leaps of their own, some Kansans are noticing the difference in internet speeds. But it’s a push that hasn’t been without hiccups and is far from complete. After hearing rumors that better broadband would finally be coming to historic Cottonwood Falls in the scenic Flint Hills, Sandy Carlson was skeptical.
Source: KLC Journal

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:12:37-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Calls for service on the rise for Spring Hill PD

The Spring Hill Police Department’s annual report shows there was an increase in calls for service in 2021 compared to each of the two previous years. Police Chief Cindy Henson gave the annual report during the Feb. 10 Spring Hill City Council meeting. The report shows there were 7,990 calls for service in 2021, compared to 6,285 calls for service in 2020 and 7,045 in 2019. Criminal reports of battery and drug arrests both saw large increases in 2021. Battery reports increased from 42 in 2020 to 61 in 2021. Drug arrests increased from 26 in 2020 to 40 in 2021.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:10:02-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Leaders talk about state of the city, school district and county

Completion of two major street projects, updating the city’s comprehensive plan, and ringing up record sales tax collections were just a few of the topics Leigh House touched on Wednesday, March 9, while delivering her first State of the City remarks as mayor of Paola. “Paola saw a record amount of sales tax collected, showing that the community is choosing to shop local to support our businesses. And thank you all for that,” House said. “It does make a huge difference.” About 50 people gathered for the State of the City on Wednesday morning at Town Square event center in Paola. The event was organized by the Paola Chamber of Commerce. Jeremy Smail, chief financial officer of First Option Bank, served as moderator. The city of Paola issued 472 building permits with a construction value of over $9.7 million in 2021, House said.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:05:35-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

County issues over 600 burn permits via new online system

The county has issued 620 burn permits through its online permit system since it was launched in mid-November. Mark Whelan, emergency management coordinator for the county, said Tuesday, March 15, that 151 of those permits have been issued in the last 30 days. Permits are required, and the permit holder should call 294-3232, Option 4, when they plan to burn. The new online burn permit system will save applicants a little leg work. Whelan said the new system should help streamline the process because it will no longer be necessary for someone to get a paper permit.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:03:35-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

McPherson School Board recall election will take place, thanks to lawsuit

Residents of USD-418 will soon have a chance to decide if they want to retain Board Members Jeff Johnson, Emily Greer, and Ann Elliott after McPherson County Clerk Hollie Melroy certified the success of a recall effort. She certified its failure fewer than two months ago. The recall election is set for May 24, with advanced voting available from May 4 through 23. What changed? The reversal of decisions came after 12 members of the recall committee filed a lawsuit against Melroy on Feb. 18, claiming she hadn’t correctly counted, specifically contesting Melroy’s disqualifications due to address changes, the use of nicknames, and clerical issues, according to Clinton Sides of the recall effort.
Source: McPherson Weekly News » Feed

Ranson Financial2022-03-17T22:08:05-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Merriam approves one-time employee retention bonus amid staffing shortage

The Merriam City Council on Monday approved a one-time, approximately $300,000 employee retention bonus. Why it matters: Merriam is experiencing staffing shortages — just like other cities, and even hospitals and school districts. The city is seeing fewer applicants to fill vacancies, particularly in the public works and police departments, according to city documents. City Administrator Chris Engel said the city traditionally faces competition from other local government agencies. Now, he said, it’s gotten to the point where the city is competing with Hy-Vee for police officers.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T22:55:58-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Governor joins effort in asking for $50 million for rural housing

Gov. Laura Kelly is getting behind efforts of a broad coalition of business and government interests to get the Legislature to approve $50 million to help solve a rural housing shortage. The governor announced a $50 million budget amendment on Tuesday that would be transferred to the State Housing Trust Fund administered by the Kansas Housing Resource Corp.
Source: Sunflower State Journal

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T22:50:31-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

City to-do list has hefty price tag

Iola city leaders crossed several big-ticket items off their to-do lists Monday, totaling more than $978,000. The first was a bid of $145,000 to PAR Electrical, Inc., out of Kansas City, Mo., to install three 69kV power poles. The PAR bid was the lowest of three for the laminated, cambered wood poles. The Council approved the pole purchase in November. Monday’s action was for installation. As an aside, the poles arrived Monday prior to the meeting, said Mike Phillips, power plant supervisor. NEXT up was a $543,500 expenditure to Peaker Services, Inc., out of Brighton, Miss., to upgrade the MED controls for the five city-owned electric generators at the Bassett substation and within the power plant.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T22:49:04-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

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