Lawrence municipal services workers vote to join Teamsters

The 85 workers responsible for Lawrence’s infrastructure, street maintenance, engineering and more have voted by more than a 4-1 margin to unionize with Teamsters Local 696. The City of Lawrence Municipal Services and Operations department follows in the footsteps of sanitation workers, who voted to join the union in August 2020 and ratified their first contract this summer that increases wages and provides strong seniority language, grievance procedures and more, according to a Thursday news release from the union. The MSO workers want better wages, fairer work rules and improved benefits, the release says.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2021-10-29T07:10:50-05:00October 29, 2021|News|

Douglas County Commission takes next steps toward repairing, waterproofing historic courthouse

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously to allow staff to seek out professional design services for a project to waterproof and repair the basement of the historic county courthouse. The project aims to fix the courthouse’s water infiltration issues. The work will involve excavation of the courthouse’s perimeter in order to get to its lowest point, testing and repairing the building’s stones, and adding waterproofing drain tile that would connect to a sump pump to collect and move water away from the building. “Back in 1904, I think when the building was constructed, they didn’t do waterproofing on these types of structures,” said Jay Zimmerschied, director of capital improvement projects. “These buildings traditionally are incredibly porous, and that’s what we’re trying to stop.”
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2021-10-29T07:10:21-05:00October 29, 2021|News|

Johnson County FD#1 acquires 21 Spring Hill firemen in split

Twenty-one SH firemen will be contracted with Johnson County Fire District #1 next month. The change has been in the works about two years, as Overland Park has annexed land in the Spring Hill (JCFD#2) area, the decision was made to split #2 evenly between Overland Park and JCFD#1, which serves the Gardner Edgerton area. Dennis Meyer, fire chief for JCFD#1, said the change will not increase costs to local residents; however, the district will assume 21 Spring Hill employees, and #2 will contract for that management.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2021-10-29T07:09:46-05:00October 29, 2021|News|

West Lawrence home gets to keep its artificial palm trees; other homes may get to add them too

Planning and Development Services Director Jeff Crick … said his office’s original analysis that the city’s land development code prohibits artificial plants from being used to meet the code’s landscape material standards was accurate. However, that code also exempts “detached dwellings” from complying with those landscape standards. “So, that code section would not apply to a residence…” That brings up the question of whether artificial trees are now fair game at homes across the city. The answer is that it depends on location and other factors such as size. But, with the current ruling, there certainly are some opportunities for property owners to install artificial trees or other types of synthetic vegetation.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:33:45-05:00October 28, 2021|News|

Baldwin City mother files petition to challenge Douglas County’s mask mandate

A Baldwin City resident recently filed a petition in Douglas County District Court to challenge a mask mandate for children under the age of 12, alleging that the mask requirement causes her child “severe anxiety, stress and a lack of concentration.” Marie Taylor, the mother of a 9-year-old, filed the petition on behalf of the child, in response to the county’s current mask order, which requires anyone between the ages of 2 and 11 to wear a mask indoors in public settings, including in public school buildings. The Douglas County Commission issued the order in August, then extended it for 90 days in September because children in that age range were not yet eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines …
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:32:18-05:00October 28, 2021|News|

Rose Hill fitness center gets upgrades

October marked the official unveiling of the new fitness center at the Rose Hill Recreation Commission (400 S. Rose Hill Rd.). The upgraded fitness center has expanded by about 750 square feet, according to RHRC Superintendent Jason Steadman, through movement of some office space. Additionally, new fitness equipment was secured for the renovated space. “We’ve added 1,200 pounds of free weights, an olympic bench press, a hip sled, a leg press … and new cable machines for biceps/triceps,” Steadman said. Renovations began in March 2021. While there are a few finishing touches being made, the space has officially opened to RHRC members.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:21:10-05:00October 28, 2021|News|

Public service is way of life for longtime Derby resident

For 46 years, Larry Gould has had a hand in the growth, vision, and safety of the community through his service on councils, boards, and committees. The spry 81-year-old moved to Derby from Wichita in 1965, and on the advice of a friend that “this is a small community and you’ve got to support it,” he become involved with the Derby Jaycees. His first foray into public service came in 1975 when he was elected to a two-year term on the Derby City Council, followed in 1981 by election to a four-year term on the Board of Education and appointment in 1987 to an unexpired City Council term through 1991.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:20:36-05:00October 28, 2021|News|

Overland Park takes this step to solve financial issues for fire departments in JoCo

As Overland Park, Leawood and Olathe have grown, financial problems have mounted for the fire district that serves rural southeast Johnson County. The expansion of those cities has shrunk Fire District No. 2, and its tax base, creating a bleak future for the district. Right now, Fire District No. 2 is serving territory that Overland Park annexed in 2008, but the city is about to open a new fire station for that area and will terminate the service agreement earlier than initially planned. Jim Francis, chief of Fire District No. 2, said the move will cost the district even more revenue, about $1.5 million next year. The remedy? Fire District No. 2 will cede day-to-day operations to Overland Park and to Fire District No. 1, which serves southwest Johnson County. Overland Park will absorb 22 staff members and the area east of Lackman Road. Fire District No. 1 will take 22 employees and the area west of Lackman.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:19:57-05:00October 28, 2021|News|

Saline County approves agreement to pledge $1 million towards new RHID

The Saline County board of commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward in the process of developing the South View Estates Rural Housing Incentive District located near South Ohio Street and Schilling Road. With the vote, they affirmed their previous decision made on Aug. 31 not to protest the formation of the RHID and authorized chairman Rodger Sparks to sign an agreement between the county and the City of Salina. The county will work with the developers to identify ARPA-eligible costs, for which they set aside $1,000,000 to spend on housing, and transmit those to the city for preapproval.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:09:22-05:00October 28, 2021|News|

‘Don’t walk, run!’: Emporia brewery owner’s business booming with state ‘Main Street’ program

An Emporia business owner is applauding a recently expanded state economic development program for keeping his business up and running, especially during the pandemic. Jeremy Johns, co-owner of Radius Brewing Company, said the state’s “Main Street” program had been ‘proactive’ in providing the support his brewpub needs to stay afloat. “A lot of times, businesses don’t know what kind of help they need, and Main Street reaches out to us and says, ‘Hey, we see this coming up, how can we help? Here are some things that might be helpful for you…,'” Johns said. Emporia is one of 28 designated communities under the Main Street program, which is expanding to three new communities in 2022.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-10-28T07:08:13-05:00October 28, 2021|News|