Junction City bed tax idea goes to the County Commission

Junction City Mayor Jeff Underhill and City Manager Allen Dinkel Monday to outline an idea that would establish a City transient guest tax and leave the County with a bed tax only for Grandview Plaza and Milford. Under this plan the convention and visitor’s bureau would also come under Chamber of Commerce auspices once again, instead of being a separate organization. “What we talked about was them dissolving their transient guest tax and us being able to implement our own in the city that we would be able to utilize and we would operate the CVB at that point…”
Source: JC Post.

Ranson Financial2021-07-20T07:17:17-05:00July 20, 2021|News|

Sedgwick County Zoo’s new superstar, a 400-pound goofball rhino baby, is drawing crowds

The Sedgwick County Zoo has a new superstar — a 400-pound potato who likes to roll in the mud, pretend to charge at visitors, and run around like a clumsy puppy who isn’t quite used to his feet. He’s such a star that he’s lured lots of visitors since the zoo at 5555 W. Zoo Boulevard reopened post-COVID-19, officials there say. And he’s so popular that he even has his own merch display in the zoo’s gift shop. But for as much joy as he’s brought to zoo staff and to Wichita zoo visitors, KJ the baby black rhino — born on March 1 — has a bit of a sad backstory. He was a surprise to his keepers, who didn’t even know his mother, longtime zoo favorite Bibi, was pregnant until 13 months into her 16-month pregnancy.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-07-19T23:45:59-05:00July 19, 2021|News|

Sedgwick County EMS Director Dr. John Gallagher placed on paid administrative leave

Sedgwick County EMS Director Dr. John Gallagher was placed on paid administrative leave Monday following a Wichita Eagle investigation into slow response times and a staffing shortage in the department, as employees complain about his leadership style. County Manager Tom Stolz made the decision Monday. Stolz has been under increasing pressure from EMS employees and Commissioner Jim Howell to act quickly after two EMS employees quit last week, blaming unresponsive leadership during an ongoing public health crisis.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-07-20T06:57:00-05:00July 19, 2021|News|

Kansas utilities and municipalities have plans to recoup record energy bills

For officials in Eskridge, the eye-popping prices from February’s Winter Storm Uri never cease to amaze, even though it almost six months since the bitter cold spell ripped through the Great Plains. It is one of 50-plus cities with municipal gas agencies, leaving them more at the whims of the wildly fluctuating markets than most. Eskridge’s total bill from the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency was $1.1 million — 10 times more than its entire gas costs for all of 2020. Relief came in the nick of time, however, as Kansas lawmakers approved a loan program for cities staring down those eye-popping bills, allowing them to pay off their sky-high costs without burdening residents with dramatic rate increases — or having to disband their city all together.
Source: CJonline.com

Ranson Financial2021-07-19T07:31:48-05:00July 19, 2021|News|

Edgerton seeks residential developers

Elevate Edgerton! gave a presentation on Edgerton’s housing situation at the July 8 council meeting. James Oltman, president, said they had decided to work with RDG Planning and Housing Design for the city’s housing needs. Less than one percent of Edgerton’s houses were built in the last ten years with 79 percent being built between 1979 through 2009, he said. Oltman said Edgerton’s median rent is the third lowest in the county at $746 per month, but there wasn’t a lot of rental variety. “There is not a lot of supply,” he said. Oltman said the greatest shortage of housing is for residents whose income is more than $75,000 and want multi-family homes.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2021-07-18T20:15:25-05:00July 18, 2021|News|

Some counties revisit mask mandates

COVID-19 numbers in Sedgwick County are slowly increasing. According to the health department, we’re sitting at a 12% positivity rate. Other counties and cities across the U.S., such as Kansas City, are revisiting the idea of mask mandates. Right now masks aren’t required in Sedgwick County but individual businesses have the choice to mandate them inside their facilities. Many residents we talked to say if masks would help slow the spread, they’d be open to another mandate. “If we had to go back to them for a little bit, I’m not thrilled about it but I certainly understand with two variants coming out really hitting everybody,” says Jason Brabander, Park City resident. In Johnson County, health officials are looking to recommend masks for the unvaccinated in public areas. But some are raising a privacy concern saying it’s a personal decision to get vaccinated, so many people might not be willing to disclose the information, making enforcement difficult.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-07-18T20:11:20-05:00July 18, 2021|News|

Girard one of 10 chosen for T-Mobile Hometown Techover

Thousands were nominated, but one southeast Kansas community could soon get a huge technology makeover. Girard has been named one of the top 10 finalists in T-Mobile’s Hometown Techover contest. The overall winner will receive a $3 million prize. It includes a city network upgrade, little league field refurbishment, and a $200,000 community grant. “We were all excited and stuff. I mean everyone was excited. We had the shirts made up, and it was something exciting for Girard kind of put them on the map,” said Girard Mayor Mickey Pyle. The city will receive a $50,000 grant for being selected as a finalist. The overall winner is expected to be announced at the end of the month.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-07-19T07:42:58-05:00July 18, 2021|News|

Miami County discusses what experts it will call in Golden matter

The County Commission will call upon experts to provide insight on a variety of topics in the coming weeks regarding the proposed incorporation of the city of Golden in northern Miami County. The four commissioners agreed at their June 30 meeting that deliberations would not begin until August, because of conflicting schedules in July. The commissioners said they would like to be present for all the deliberations. The incorporation of the city of Golden would require a unanimous, 4-0 vote from the commissioners. Commissioner Danny Gallagher is not taking part in the deliberations because of a potential conflict. He left the commission chambers during the Golden discussion, and he did not attend the June 23 public hearing.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2021-07-19T07:26:02-05:00July 18, 2021|News|

Natural gas leak outside of Lyons, KS

Authorities said Friday that a natural gas well outside of Lyons that exploded during maintenance the day before is now safe and repaired. Local residents had complained of an odor and a lingering haze, but a Northern Natural Gas official said there is no danger to the public. The complaints of a noxious smell began after the underground storage well blew open after 3 p.m. Thursday southeast of Lyons, causing water and natural gas to fly up into the air.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-07-19T07:43:55-05:00July 18, 2021|News|

‘Fairly concerning’ — Johnson County COVID-19 numbers spike as part of larger trend driven by Delta variant

Local health officials are expressing growing concern as new COVID-19 cases in Johnson County continue a renewed surge as the more contagious Delta variant spreads throughout the greater Kansas City region. Data kept by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment show an increase across the board in COVID-19 activity in Johnson County. Over the past two weeks, key metrics like the incidence rate of new cases and percent positivity have shot up to levels last recorded in February in March, when mass vaccinations were just getting underway. “It’s starting to be fairly concerning, yes,” said Dana Hawkinson, MD, during the University of Kansas Health System’s daily COVID-19 briefing Thursday.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2021-07-18T20:04:16-05:00July 18, 2021|News|