Wichita council votes to delay action on deputy position for Wichita mayor

Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple wants to create a position of “deputy to the mayor” or a chief of staff similar to support positions for mayors in comparable cities. He said the position would help with policy research, community outreach, working with city department heads and engaging in efforts to increase transparency and accountability.
After a lengthy discussion during their meeting Tuesday, the city council voted unanimously to hold off on a decision until city manager Robert Layton completes a staffing study. That study should be complete by the end of June.
Whipple said there was a previous position of executive assistant to the mayor, and he wanted to reinstate that position to provide assistance and support to the mayor and city council. He said previous positions have left out some major areas of responsibility.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:52:02-05:00April 22, 2020|News|

Wichita City Council tables proposal to hire deputy mayor

The Wichita City Council at its meeting Tuesday tabled a proposal to hire an assistant for Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. The mayor wants to establish a deputy mayor position.

The person holding that job would help the mayor research policy and meet with council members, City of Wichita department heads and stakeholders. Whipple says previous Wichita mayors have had similar help and believes establishing the assistant position could improve transparency at City Hall.

Some of Whipple’s critics on the proposal say the city is going through an uncertain time and should not consider adding new staff. Other criticism touches on Whipple’s salary, indicating he’s paid enough to fulfill his responsibilities himself.

The city council could reconsider the issue concerning the proposal for deputy mayor in Wichita at a later date.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-21T23:54:42-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Grant program created to help nonprofits

Building on the success of Rally Reno, organizers are expanding the program to help local nonprofits, which face their own challenges during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Hutchinson Community Foundation has allocated $75,000 in donor-advised funds to match with local donations to create a new Nonprofit Response Grant program, explained Aubrey Abbott Patterson, the foundation’s executive director.
The program seeks to partner directly with nonprofits, providing “rapid response grants” to support and build on their services.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:53:12-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Shawnee County restrictions to fight COVID-19 to be relaxed in phases

Within “a day or two” after a statewide stay-at-home order is lifted, Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino anticipates he will allow the reopening of most businesses here that were ordered closed to fight the spread of COVID-19, he said Tuesday.
“We want to send people back to work,” Pezzino said during a podcast on CJOnline.com.
He indicated local health officials plan to work in stages to remove the various restrictions currently in place.
“There’s going to be several steps in 14-day increments that can only happen if nothing bad really takes place in the previous period,” he said.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:53:38-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County gets nearly $100 million for coronavirus fight; but how to spend it?

Sedgwick County will get nearly $100 million to aid in the local battle against coronavirus COVID-19, county commissioners were told Tuesday.
The money, $99.6 million, will come from recent federal action in Washington, Assistant County Counselor Kevin Stamper told the commissioners at a staff meeting conducted online.
The first half of the money is expected to arrive into the county’s bank account “imminently, sometime this week, potentially,” said County Manager Tom Stolz.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:54:08-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Grants offered to local businesses in Valley Center

A nonprofit organization is offering financial assistance to businesses in Valley Center that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ark Valley News reported.
Main Street Valley Center’s board of directors started a grant program April 13 that allows locally owned businesses to apply for up to $300 in direct support. The grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocated funds, $9,000, are used up.
The board streamlined the application process too, asking applicants to briefly describe how the social-distancing and stay-at-home orders have affected their businesses. Some shops in Valley Center were forced to shut down because they were deemed nonessential in Sedgwick County’s stay-at-home order. To fund the relief grant, Main Street Valley Center put its Main Street Enhancement Grant program on hold. The Main Street Enhancement Grant program assists businesses that want to improve the appearance of their buildings. Main Street Valley Center is also postponing planned spring and summer activities.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:55:32-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Johnson County creates recovery task force

April 20 the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners authorized the creation of a Recovery Planning Task Force to strategize and implement a phased approach to reopen the economy.
“We recognize and appreciate the serious sacrifices that Johnson County residents have made to flatten the curve, and we also understand the significant economic challenges that businesses and individuals have sustained,” said Ed Eilert, chairman. “We are working on phased plans to restore our economy.”The task force will include many sectors in the economy representing a broad section of Johnson County. The makeup of this task force includes:
• Johnson County Board of County Commissioners representatives
• Johnson County government (Public Health, Emergency Management, County Manager)
(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:55:51-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Law enforcement asks people to follow social distancing rules while protesting stay at home orders

Local law enforcement is asking people to remember social distancing rules if they’re planning to protest this week.
A group of people said they’re planning to hold a rally in Topeka this Thursday at the Capitol and our local officers said they’re prepared.
The goal of the protest is to express frustration with the governor’s stay at home order.
Lieutenant Adam Winters with the Kansas Highway Patrol said people have a right to peacefully protest, but they have to follow the executive order that requires social distancing.
(Read more: KSNT News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-22T09:56:23-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Johnson County Museum launches regional effort to document COVID-19 experience; Comanche Elementary’s Josiah Enyart receives $1,000 for math education

In an effort to capture this unprecedented time and the impact of coronavirus on the community, the Johnson County Museum is collecting COVID-19 related items to include with the museum’s exhibits. The museum has also launched an online form where people can share their COVID-19 experience.
Residents can visit JCPRD.com/collecting to complete the online form, where they can include a description of their story, photograph, and/or object. The form includes prompts asking participants to share what they miss and appreciate during this time, what their new “normal” looks like, the impact on schooling and businesses, and what objects define this time for them.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-04-21T09:32:01-05:00April 21, 2020|News|

Analysts slash two-year state revenue projections by $1.3 billion

Locked-down businesses, surging unemployment and consternation about a possible coronavirus recession Monday prompted downgrading of Kansas’ tax revenue projections in the next two years by $1.3 billion to force state lawmakers into the position of contemplating cataclysmic budget cuts.
The group of economists and analysts responsible for revising state revenue estimates predicted tax collections in the fiscal year ending June 30 would be down by $815 million. In the fiscal year starting July 1, tax revenue was expected to drop off $549 million because of damage caused by COVID-19 in Kansas.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-04-21T09:31:28-05:00April 21, 2020|News|