Topeka seeks federal funding for viaduct, weir projects

Finding federal funding to help replace Topeka’s Polk-Quincy Viaduct and construct a downstream Kansas River weir was the focus of conversations Mayor Michelle De La Isla and city manager Brent Trout had last week with members of the Kansas congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., they said Tuesday.

Trout and De La Isla met with U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins and staff members for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran during a visit to the nation’s capital, which took place Dec. 4 and 5, Trout said at the monthly news conference he and De La Isla hold at City Hall.

“It was a worthwhile trip,” De La Isla said.

Ranson Financial2019-12-10T20:50:43-06:00December 10, 2019|News|

Wichita City Council could put term limit changes, pay raises on future ballot

Wichita’s City Council members decided not to vote Tuesday to increase their own term limits, citing a strong negative reaction from voters.

But that doesn’t mean the issue is dead. In February, the term-limit extension for the mayor and City Council members could come back to the bench, and it could likely include other historically unpopular proposed changes.

Like City Council pay raises.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-12-10T19:05:02-06:00December 10, 2019|News|

Building permits down due to nice weather

McPherson City Commissioners learned Monday building permits in the city are down markedly from 2018.

Ryan Rank, city building inspector, presented the November 2019 building inspection report to commissioners. His report highlighted the decrease in building permits issued in 2019 versus 2018. By November of 2018, there had been 704 building permits issued. This year only 524 building permits have been issued so far.

The decline in the number of building permits issued relates directly to the nice weather conditions McPherson has seen this year. In 2018, a large hail storm caused considerable property damage in town. As a result of the damage, building permits were issued for repairs to be completed to homes and businesses. No major storms have impacted the area this year.

(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)

Ranson Financial2019-12-10T19:04:05-06:00December 10, 2019|News|

Santa’s helpers — PSU students, Bone Creek 4H children make toys for tots

“Elves,” big and small, have spent the past few weeks creating and assembling wooden toys for tots.

For the second year in a row, Pittsburg State University students in Society of Architectural Woodworkers (SAW) club are creating wooden toys to send to Toys for Tots, which will then be used in the Crawford County Christmas Distribution next week. Last year’s toys were a “resounding success,” Toys for Tots Crawford County Coordinator Lynden Lawson said. The toys were quickly picked up.

The idea of creating wooden toys for children in the community was brought to PSU last year by Chris Wernimont. This year, Bone Creek 4H children helped make the toys, which Wernimont said he hopes “leaves a lasting impact” on the children.

(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)

Ranson Financial2019-12-10T19:02:06-06:00December 10, 2019|News|

Sedgwick County Zoo Begins $10 Million Entry Complex Project

The Sedgwick County Zoo will soon demolish its original main entrance building to make way for a new updated entry plaza.

Construction fences block the entrance area and new signs are posted to direct visitors to a temporary entrance and exit north of the zoo’s Cargill Learning Center.

The $10 million entry and administration complex will be the first major project in the zoo’s updated master plan.

(Read more: RSS Feed)

Ranson Financial2019-12-10T18:57:43-06:00December 10, 2019|News|

JoCo Election Commissioner job is open again. And, again, JoCo residents have little authority over who gets hired

On Primary Election night 2018, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach spoke twice on the phone with Johnson County Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker.

It’s not surprising that the Secretary of State was seeking an update on the status of the vote count. It was, after all, the second major election in a row in which Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, had been unable to post vote tallies in a timely manner. And as Secretary of State, Kobach was in charge of reporting the statewide vote total.

The software failure that led to the long delay in vote totals being reported has been well documented. But for some Johnson County voters, it was the political ties between Kobach and Metsker that raised the most concerns as uncertainty surrounded the outcome of such a close race. Kobach, a former chair of the state Republican party, had appointed Metsker, then the sitting chair of the Johnson County Republican Party, to the six-figure position in 2016, and then reappointed him just weeks after Kobach emerged with a narrow victory over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the primary.

Ranson Financial2019-12-10T18:53:04-06:00December 10, 2019|News|

Local Teamsters union leader to meet with Lawrence City Commission, says some city employees want to unionize

City leaders will soon hear from an area union that would like the city to make changes to its local resolution governing employee unions.

As part of its study session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a report from Teamsters Local 696 regarding Resolution No. 6817, which the commission can amend at its discretion. Representatives of the union say there is a group of city employees interested in unionizing, but that resolution limits employees’ ability to do so.

Wichita city council will study potential of extending term limits.

Wichita city council members will look at potentially adding a third term for council members on Tuesday.

In 1991 voters agreed to limit city council members to two terms.

Some this week say it’s a good idea while others are not sold.

“I’m still considering my vote on this, if it comes to a vote,” said council member James Clendenin.

Another term would mean another four years.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-12-09T21:08:32-06:00December 9, 2019|News|

Leavenworth may adopt new burning restrictions

Regulations that allow burning inside the city of Leavenworth could change.

As part of an update of city fire codes, Leavenworth Fire Chief Gary Birch is recommending amending the city’s open burning regulation.

Currently, people can burn tree branches and brush piles on their properties if they obtain permits through the Leavenworth Fire Department. And people can burn in screen-covered barrels without obtaining permits.

Birch said allowing people to burn in barrels inside a city is “really kind of unheard of” today.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-12-09T21:07:03-06:00December 9, 2019|News|

USD 450 seeks candidates for policy and community task force

Unified School District 450 has released an application for its new policy and community task force, and is encouraging Shawnee Heights community members to apply.

The application, which will close at 5 p.m. Friday, comes after a Dec. 2 board meeting where members voted to create the task force in light of recent violence at Shawnee Heights High School.

Those applying are asked to identify which position they are applying for, if they are currently involved with the district in another capacity and why they want to serve on the task force.

Ranson Financial2019-12-09T19:49:51-06:00December 9, 2019|News|