Builder seeks fee waiver as costs soar

Local contractor Brandon Jellings wants more incentives from the City of Arkansas City to build a housing project that has struggled to get off the ground. He met with city commissioners during a Friday work session and asked that the city waive several required permits and reduce utility connection fees. Jellings Construction is building 54 duplex-style housing units in the Compass Point Addition in northwest Ark City. The original developer planned single-family homes.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-05-20T06:56:54-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

First Impressions feedback: Inman is practically perfect in every way

On May 10, prior to the Inman City Council meeting at the community building, Jan Steen, with the K-State Community Vitality program, presented the observations of a team from Harper, who visited Inman in July and August 2020. Their goal was to identify, “How does a first-time visitor view my town?” The Community Vitality initiative is part of the Kansas Pride Program, sponsored by K-State Research and Extension. The observers visited as a team and then came back as individuals or with their families. … As it turns out for Inman, the Harper team found that there is much to commend in Inman with only minor improvements needed. Source: McPherson Weekly News

Ranson Financial2021-05-20T06:59:27-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Kansas Main Street director helps local effort

Scott Sewell, director of the Kansas Main Street program, spent last Thursday in Marysville, visiting with Marysville Chamber & Main Street’s board and exploring the city’s downtown. Kansas Main Street was re-established last fall in the Kansas Department of Commerce as a program to promote revitalization and preservation of downtown districts. A small office of three, Sewell’s team offers training and technical assistance to Kansas downtowns based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality. While in Marysville, Sewell was impressed with the enthusiasm of those he met with the Marysville Chamber & Main Street organization.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

Ranson Financial2021-05-20T07:00:10-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Manhattan wants landlords to provide flood hazard notice

Landlords likely will be required to notify tenants if they’re living in a flood prone area. Manhattan city commissioners discussed requiring a flood hazard notice Tuesday. The change is a part of the Manhattan Development Code. City officials have updated this code, formerly known as the Unified Development Ordinance, with new zoning regulations into one document. The main goal is to put all the zoning and design information into one document and make it easier for the public to understand. “I think this is one of the big improvements we wanted,” Mayor Wynn Butler said of the flood notification requirement. “We were waiting on this one for awhile, so glad to see it in there. I think it’s going to help so we don’t get folks surprised, which happened in the past.”
Source: themercury.com – RSS Results in news of type article

Ranson Financial2021-05-20T07:00:45-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Roaming! Mountain lion sighting in Andover

For the second time in about a week — a mountain lion is spotted in and around the Wichita area. The latest sighting took place Wednesday morning in Andover. An Andover resident’s Ring camera captured a mountain lion walking past his home. Last week, a surveillance video showed what officials say is in fact a mountain lion moving through the Riverside area.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-05-20T07:01:13-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Overland Park police officers swap police gear for lawnmowers to help homeowner

Someone living in Overland Park caught officers off guard. The person snapped pictures as officers worked this week, but they weren’t on patrol. They traded in police gear for lawnmowers and helped an older homeowner with yard work. The department said all of the work was completed between service calls the officers received. Police said man recently lost his spouse and had fallen a little behind on some outdoor chores. Thanks to the officers, his yard is back up to code.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-05-20T07:01:34-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Overland Park wants to expand mental health staff and training for police

An ambitious set of recommendations to bulk up Overland Park’s mental health resources was unanimously accepted by the city council Monday night. The list includes several new staff positions for crisis intervention and co-responders, as well as mental health counselors. The vote now means city staff will begin to work some of the recommendations, which came from the city’s Mental Health Task Force, into the upcoming budget that will be proposed in about three weeks. No price tag or timeline was included with the recommendations, but it could involve a substantial commitment of resources, said City Manager Bill Ebel.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-05-19T07:20:20-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Wichita OK’s 41 days of food trucks and street drinking downtown; here’s where, when

In a sign of the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Wichita has approved a long list of outdoor activities at the Brickyard and the WaterWalk for this year and next, including a four-day party during the women’s March Madness basketball tournament next year. In each case, streets will be closed to accommodate crowds, food trucks and the outdoor sale and imbibing of alcoholic beverages. All 41 events were approved by a single vote of the City Council this week. “We want to come together again,” said Mayor Brandon Whipple. “We deserve it after what we went through last year,” when most public events had to be canceled to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-05-19T07:19:51-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Derby passes ordinance regulating micromobility companies

Following a proposal for a pilot program brought forward by Bird Scooters earlier this year, the Derby City Council took action at its most recent meeting on May 11 to address micromobility companies operating within the city limits. Given the concerns of city council members, the governing body looked to have something in place as soon as possible regulating such operations, adopting an ordinance to do just that on May 11. “It’s basically going to stop the ability for them to just say we’re going to come operate in your city without you knowing. If they do come in here and operate, we do have a fine schedule in the ordinance. We can assess those costs as well as they’re going to [have to] gather the equipment up,” said Kiel Mangus, deputy city manager.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2021-05-19T07:19:33-05:00May 19, 2021|News|

Lawrence City Commission open to collaboration, code changes to address shortage of affordable homes

City leaders say they’re looking forward to an upcoming review of the city’s development code and potential collaboration with developers and nonprofits to help ease the city’s shortage of affordable housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation from the Lawrence Home Builders Association, the Lawrence Board of Realtors, the affordable housing provider Tenants to Homeowners and others regarding shortages in Lawrence’s housing market. The presentation included ways the city could support potential housing development and help make development easier, and commissioners said they were excited at the prospects.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2021-05-19T07:15:29-05:00May 19, 2021|News|