Unsolicited materials issue will be revisited

Another look at the situation of regulating the placement of written materials on the property of Derby homeowners resulted in the City Council following a recommended action of having the staff report back in six months.

The council examined the situation at its Nov. 12 meeting and was undertaking a second reading of the ordinance at the Nov. 26 meeting.

However, in between that period, there was a meeting with city officials and representatives from the Wichita Eagle and ANS Newspapers. ANS is the entity that places the printed materials in Derby under contract with the Eagle.

Ranson Financial2019-12-04T19:42:34-06:00December 4, 2019|News|

Evergy looking to make amends with Wichita homeowners angry about transmission poles

Evergy, formally Westar Energy, looks to make amends with angry homeowners after the utility placed 57 large transmission poles through a northeast Wichita neighborhood.

The company laid out a few alternative options to these large poles to homeowners Tuesday night—but some neighbors and state representatives still aren’t satisfied.

“Our goal this evening was to present a couple different options, that our engineers were able to come up with to people who live in the neighborhood, to residents who have been affected by the project, and really be able to talk about what those options look like, and get feedback that we might be able to incorporate”, said Gina Penzig with Evergy.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-12-04T19:39:16-06:00December 4, 2019|News|

Lawrence City Commission to reconsider raising age to buy tobacco products to 21

One of the first actions by the new Lawrence City Commission was to take up a proposal to ban the sale of tobacco and vaping products to people under 21.

The previous commission declined to consider a Tobacco 21 ordinance earlier this year, but two newcomers to the commission, Commissioner Courtney Shipley and Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei, were sworn in as part of the commission’s meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Lisa Larsen proposed reconsidering the ordinance, and the commission voted 4-1, with Mayor Jennifer Ananda opposing, to put the topic on a future agenda.

Topeka OKs ordinance banning camping in some areas

Topeka’s city government will ban camping in some locations, including downtown Topeka and North Topeka’s NOTO Arts District, while continuing to allow it in others.

The Topeka City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday evening to approve a compromise proposal putting those rules in place.

“Great work,” Deputy Mayor and Councilwoman Sandra Clear said afterward of the considerable effort the council’s public health and safety made receiving input and working with city employees to craft that ordinance.

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T22:31:55-06:00December 3, 2019|News|

Salina, Saline County still at impasse over Expo

Last week, the Saline County Board of Commissioners said it wanted to hear from the public before taking action on the Expo Center. This week, the public responded.

The Salina City Commission was offering the county a lease agreement of 25 years with three five-year options on the Expo grounds, which the city owns. The agreement would require the county to invest $5.7 million in the project in the first five years of the lease.

The county was hoping for a full 40-year lease if it was going to invest that much so early and last week drafted a letter to the city stating its intentions to vacate the land in August 2021.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T22:31:27-06:00December 3, 2019|News|

Goddard minors who vape face strict penalties

Goddard minors who pull out a vape for a quick puff will face strict penalties.

On Monday, the Goddard City Council voted in favor of an ordinance that will supersede the state penalty of $25 for a minor in possession of a pod, which can contain liquid with nicotine or THC. Goddard Police Chief Fred Farris, who spearheaded the ordinance, said the state statute mentions E-cigarettes but not the pods and the current penalty doesn’t discourage minors or educate them about the illnesses happening from vaping. Kansas legislators have been talking about amending the law.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T22:29:56-06:00December 3, 2019|News|

Official who lied about Garden Plain’s drinking water gets probation, fine

A man who used to serve as Garden Plain’s water system operator will spend a year on probation and pay a $1,000 fine for lying about where he got samples used to test the town’s drinking water quality two winters ago.

Arthur Wolfe, 64, of Norwich, pleaded guilty in September to falsifying bacteriological reports required by the Environmental Protection Agency. An indictment alleged Wolfe collected tap water from the city’s water treatment plant in 2017 and 2018 but claimed on reports that it came from four different homes in Garden Plain.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T22:29:39-06:00December 3, 2019|News|

Overland Park approves permit for display of moving lights on City Place building at U.S. 69 and College Blvd.

After months of discussion and negotiation, the developers of City Place got the go ahead to roll moving light displays atop four buildings going up at College Boulevard and U.S. Highway 69.

The Overland Park City Council granted a special use permit for an indefinite time period for the LED light panels that are a part of the design of the office buildings. Developer Ken Block has said he thinks the displays will create a unique sense of place to draw people to the development after business hours. Block and lawyer Curtis Holland said the artistic displays would enhance the College Boulevard corridor, which the city wants to update.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post )

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T22:29:20-06:00December 3, 2019|News|

Reno County administrator finalists announced

The director of the Reno County Health Department and Finney County’s county administrator are two of three finalists who will be interviewed Wednesday for the Reno County administrator job.

The third candidate is a former county administrator from Missouri.

The three finalists are Nicholas “Nick” Baldetti, of Hutchinson, Randall Partington, of Garden City, and Dean Brookshier, of Missouri, according to a release from Reno County human resources director Renee Harris.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T22:22:03-06:00December 3, 2019|News|

Attorney General’s Office to Provide KOMA & KORA Training

The Office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt and will provide public training on open meetings and open records on Tuesday, December 17 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in Heritage Hall of the Tony’s Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway.

Employees and members of City and County boards, commissions and committees subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) and the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) are welcome and encouraged to attend. The training will be filmed and published on the City of Salina’s YouTube account by December 31.

(Read more: Salina KS News)

Ranson Financial2019-12-03T20:13:32-06:00December 3, 2019|News|