JoCo commission OKs funding for portion of county-wide housing assessment

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners last week approved the expenditure of $50,000 toward the cost of a county-wide study to assess the area’s housing inventory and needs for the future.

Housing affordability issues has gained prominence in Johnson County in recent years, as more and more residents have struggled to find jobs that pay enough for them to afford to live here. United Community Services of Johnson County, the non-profit organization that analyzes data on human services in the area and organizes efforts for collaboration between the county, city governments and other groups, has raised concerns about the growing issue of housing affordability in Johnson County, making it a key message at this year’s Human Services Summit.

UCS will oversee the study, which is forecast to cost about $110,000. Seventeen of Johnson County’s 19 cities have agreed to contribute to the remainder of the cost not covered by the county’s allocation. The organization is expected to deliver the report in October 2020.

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:39:16-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

Judge rejects permits for northwest Kansas hog operations

A judge has invalidated two state permits allowing construction of large hog production operations in northwest Kansas that environmentalists deemed too close to surface water.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Shawnee County District Court Judge Richard Anderson ruled earlier this month that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment violated state law. The permits were issued for four operations in Norton and Phillips counties in 2017 and 2018, under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The operations were under common management tied to prominent northwest Kansas hog farmer Terry Nelson but organized with as separate companies. KDHE allowed construction of each facility up to 250 feet from surface water. A single larger facility would have had to be 500 feet away.

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:37:24-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

Prairie Village gets grant from state for playground surfaces made of waste tire material

The Kansas State Department of Health and Environment has awarded the city of Prairie Village a grant that will help complete access loops at two local parks using recycled materials.

The state’s Waste Tire Grant program provides municipalities with matching funds for projects that incorporate waste tire material. Prairie Village will add paths made from the material that will connect sidewalks to ADA transfer stations at Franklin Park (83rd and Somerset) and Weltner Park (79th and State Line Road).

The city says these new installations will “provide a loop of connectivity for our residents with special mobility needs at the park.”

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:35:14-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

empirical to Open Ground Beef Facility in Kansas

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. December 23, 2019 —The empirical family of companies announced today that it will soon begin the construction of a new ground beef facility in Garden City, Kansas. The new facility will supplement empirical’s existing production at its South Sioux City, Nebraska location and represent the largest single investment in the company’s 40-year history.

Craig Letch, president of empirical foods, inc., noted that, “Demand for empirical’s lean ground beef requires us to significantly increase our processing capacity to meet the growing needs of our customers. This presents an exciting opportunity for the future of our company and the communities that we call home.”

When fully operational, the Garden City facility will more than double empirical’s current ground beef capacity and employ about 300 employees in the Garden City region. Given the technologically advanced nature of the empirical ground beef operations, there will be a greater need for skilled staff which will entail on the job training at the state-of-the-art facility.

(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:33:56-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

Reno County OKs cash incentive for GeoChemicals

GeoChemicals LLC, a Hutchinson-based corporation formed in March and employing 12 people as of this week, will receive up to $50,000 in cash from Reno County if it fulfills goals in an agreement approved Monday by the Reno County Commission.

“Every little bit helps,” said Jason West, chairman of the board for GeoChemicals LLC, especially when the company is in its infancy, he said.

GeoChemicals falls “into a very specific niche” in the oil and gas industry, West said. After wells are drilled and the pump jack is put in place, that is when GeoChemicals’ work begins. It will keep the pump jack running and in good repair, he said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:32:23-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

With need growing and resources dwindling, Shawnee Mission residents step up to boost Cares Fund

Shawnee Mission residents have come through in recent days to help shore up a fund critical to helping students and their families in need.

The Shawnee Mission Education Foundation’s Cares Fund was established to help provide financial assistance to district families facing financial stresses: unpaid rent after unexpected medical expenses, for example, or utility bills after a lost job.

Over the fall, the foundation saw more requests than ever before come in. With disbursements of more than $30,000 over the past 12 months, the fund balance had dipped into negative territory.

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:29:31-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

City approves increased spending for Economic Development Services

Annually, the City contracts with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development related services. On Tuesday, December 17, the City Commission authorized execution of the Chamber’s contract for 2020, with an increase of $350,000, bringing their total to $493,080.

Along with the Chamber’s regularly contracted services, the Chamber intends to use the additional funding for three primary focus areas: economic diversification, talent sustainability, and entrepreneurial dynamism. Specific uses of the additional funds include hiring a Director of Economic Development and a Workforce Officer, as well as fund additional economic research, business and industrial park planning, developing a recruitment and retention marketing plan, and contract with an organization to maintain an entrepreneurial ecosystem to enable and empower small startups to grow.

(Read more: Manhattan – News Flash)

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:28:04-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

County considers acquiring ‘floating playground’

Shawnee County commissioners plan Monday to consider spending more than $31,000 to dredge the Lake Shawnee Adventure Cove, plus $80,000 to acquire a “floating playground” and have it put in place there.

Proposals to make those moves are among items on the agenda when Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays meet at 9 a.m. in their chambers in Room B-11 of the County Courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th.

The Topeka City Council won’t meet Tuesday because it will be the fifth Tuesday of the month, and the council meets only on the first three.

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:26:43-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

College is free for kids in this tiny Kansas town. Will more people move there now?

Paula Wells and her husband were just getting serious about how to fund their fifth-grader’s college tuition.

Then a wealthy businessman instantly absolved them — and their entire town — of that particular obligation.

“It’s almost like I just got an $80,000 bonus into my retirement plan,” said Wells, who also has a kindergartner. “And that’s very attractive to a lot of people.”

This southeast Kansas town of about 2,300 has been buzzing since a former resident in November announced the Neodesha Promise program, which offers a simple yet extraordinary pledge: Anyone who lives here and graduates from the local high school can qualify for free col

Ranson Financial2019-12-29T18:25:10-06:00December 29, 2019|News|

Lawrence libraries dropping late fines amid national push

The Lawrence Public Library is joining a growing number that are dropping fines for overdue books.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the library’s board voted unanimously Tuesday to make the change. Library patrons would still be charged for lost or damaged items.

Patrons also would be blocked from checking out additional books and materials once an item became two weeks overdue. But, the return of the overdue item would immediately restore access.

Earlier this year, the American Library Association officially came out against charging fines, citing concerns that fines create barriers to library materials and services.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-12-22T21:24:30-06:00December 22, 2019|News|

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