Hutchinson ready to take action on rental program

The Hutchinson City Council will take action on the new rental inspection program during Tuesday’s agenda session.

The city is proposing a licensing fee structure with incentives rather than the current permit fee. The Housing Commission has denied a recommendation on the proposal. That came during a meeting on Oct. 19 on a 4-2 vote.

“There were still some concerns from the housing commissioners that is this really going to solve any of the problems,” Planning Director Ryan Hvitlok said. “We also had two new slots filled on the commission so that changed the vote a little.” Several other members of the commission were absent, which also skewed the numbers, according to Hvitlok.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Ranson Financial2019-11-04T20:25:53-06:00November 4, 2019|News|

Wichita Transit is giving free rides to the polls on election day

Wichita Transit is offering a day of free rides on all traditional bus routes for Tuesday’s general election.

A transit spokesperson said free rides on November 5 are valid for everyone riding to or from polling locations as well as any other trip during the day. Riders do not need to provide documentation of voting to receive a ride.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-11-04T19:36:45-06:00November 4, 2019|News|

KDHE issues boil water advisory for Spring Hill, Johnson County RWD 7

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil order water advisory for Spring Hill, a portion of Johnson County RWD 7 located south of Highway 56 and the Miami County RWD 2 in Kansas.

Customers of Johnson Co RWD 7 north of Highway 56 are served by water originating from Olathe and as such are not subject to the advisory.

KDHE officials said they issued the advisory because of high turbidity. High turbidity in a distribution system may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

(Read more: KMBC)

Ranson Financial2019-11-04T19:35:29-06:00November 4, 2019|News|

Johnson County commissioners express concern with potential expansion of mail-in ballot distribution

The Johnson County Commission is not on board with possible new efforts to expand the list of voters who can get ballots in the mail automatically every election.

Commissioners made a last-minute addition to their legislative agenda Thursday that implied disapproval of what Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker said is likely to be a push to allow more of the automatic mailings. The legislative agenda is a list of positions taken by commissioners every year on issues likely to come up in the next session.

The commission originally considered writing a platform plank that would “oppose” any changes, but changed it to more passive wording to “support the current statute” lest the public think they oppose advance voting in general.

Ranson Financial2019-11-04T19:23:46-06:00November 4, 2019|News|

Secretary of State speaks to clerks about election security

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab stopped by the Finney County Clerk’s Office on Monday, one of many visits he and his team made ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day.

The visit, he said, was largely to speak to clerks about this week’s election and prepare for the higher profile 2020 election.

“We want to make sure we’re focusing on security, security, security, security. We’re not just dealing with nefarious political activists — we’re dealing with foreign nationals,” Schwab said. “And so we’re working with our clerks to let them know what we see, so if they see it then they can report it and we can stop it.”

Ranson Financial2019-11-04T20:26:57-06:00November 4, 2019|News|

New numbers suggest Lawrence’s commuter population is growing rapidly

Tucked between Topeka and Kansas City, Lawrence long has been known as a town with plenty of commuters. But the city never has been able to say this before: If you live in Lawrence and have a job, it is now more likely than not that your job is located outside of Lawrence.

New federal and state data show that 53% of all Lawrence residents who have a job commute outside the city to get to that job. That number, which is for 2017, is up from 42% at the beginning of the decade and 36% from 2002, which is as far back as this particular Census Bureau program tracks data.

Lawrence is not the commuting capital of Kansas. Many small towns in the state have more than 80% of their employed residents commuting to larger towns for work. But among large Kansas cities, Lawrence does seem to have the fastest growing population of commuters.

Rural Kansas grass fire burns 300-400 acres; multiple agencies assist

Authorities are investigating the cause of a Sunday afternoon grass fire in Harvey County.

The fire in the 3800 block of North Sand Hill Road northeast of Burrton burned about 300 to 400 acres of land, according to a media release.

The spread of the fire was stopped, and there are no injuries or damage to homes reported at this time.

…

Fire departments from Burrton, Halstead, Hesston, Newton, Sedgwick, Buhler, Hutchinson and Moundridge responded.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Ranson Financial2019-11-03T20:47:59-06:00November 3, 2019|News|

Facts about proposed changes to Manhattan’s Public Nudity Ordinance

The Manhattan City Commission will consider an amendment to Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance at the upcoming November 5, 2019, legislative meeting. First adopted in 2003, the existing ordinance makes it unlawful to publicly display female breasts or male or female buttocks or genitals. The ordinance contains exceptions from prosecution, including for breastfeeding mothers.

The proposed amendment removes the female breast from the definition of public nudity, in reaction to a court case that applies in Kansas. If the amendment is adopted, Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance will continue to prohibit the display of male or female buttocks or genitals in public. Even as amended, Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance will still be stricter than many areas of Kansas.

(Read more: Manhattan – News Flash)

Ranson Financial2019-11-03T18:53:42-06:00November 3, 2019|News|

‘Tax guzzlers:’ Developer tax breaks a defining issue of Johnson County’s elections

When the $2 billion Brookridge Golf Course redevelopment was first proposed for Overland Park, resident Stephan Glentzer showed up to city meetings with a cardboard sign. It read, “No TIF, no OP taxes.”

Five years later, he’s still carrying the same sign.

After years of going back to the drawing board, a new iteration of the massive project is crawling through City Hall. And this time, the developer — looking to build luxury apartments, offices and retail northeast of Interstate 435 and Antioch Road — is requesting more than $200 million in TIF money, or tax increment financing, and other tax breaks.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Ranson Financial2019-11-03T18:52:21-06:00November 3, 2019|News|

Rooks County Health Center will have open house for new rehab center

Sunday marks the official opening of Rooks County Health Center’s new dedicated Rehabilitation Center and a key piece of the hospital’s two-phase expansion. RCH invites the public to attend an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday offering tours of the new facility, demonstrations and light refreshments. Visitors to the open house, as well as all patients attending rehabilitation appointments, are encouraged to use the new north-side parking lot and entrance for direct access to the new hospital wing at 1210 N. Washington.

After an 18 month construction process, RCH received its certificate of occupancy from the fire marshal’s office which enabled the Rehab department to start seeing patients in the new building on October 21.

“We moved all the Rehab equipment in as soon as we could after getting the OK from the fire marshal so that those attending appointments for Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy were able to start using the space last week,” commented AJ Thomas, the CEO of RCH. “We still have some final touches before interior construction is completed but we can work around those areas for now.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-11-03T18:48:34-06:00November 3, 2019|News|

Hutchinson ready to take action on rental program

Wichita Transit is giving free rides to the polls on election day

KDHE issues boil water advisory for Spring Hill, Johnson County RWD 7

Johnson County commissioners express concern with potential expansion of mail-in ballot distribution

Secretary of State speaks to clerks about election security

New numbers suggest Lawrence’s commuter population is growing rapidly

Rural Kansas grass fire burns 300-400 acres; multiple agencies assist

Facts about proposed changes to Manhattan’s Public Nudity Ordinance

‘Tax guzzlers:’ Developer tax breaks a defining issue of Johnson County’s elections

Rooks County Health Center will have open house for new rehab center

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