This Johnson County race is usually overlooked. So why is it now hotly contested?

It was the disasters in Flint and Newark — where low-income communities were poisoned by lead-contaminated drinking water —that inspired Olathe retiree Ullyses Wright to become a first-time candidate.

“It seems to me that a public entity, serving the public, needs to be representative of the public,” said Wright, one of three contenders for an open seat on the WaterOne board, which oversees Johnson County’s water supply.

“People need to speak up for people of color and people with different socioeconomic backgrounds, especially thinking about what happened in Flint and now Newark.”

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-28T17:17:05-05:00October 28, 2019|News|

Riley County Fire District One needs volunteers

Over the past several years there has been a decline in volunteers for Riley County Fire District #1.

Riley County Fire Chief Pat Collins said Monday was the first time in the history of the Fire District that he had to go to the Riley County Commission ( Fire Board of District #1 ) and tell them know there were not enough members left to keep the Peach Grove Fire Station open.

That station is closed to the center of the county and just two miles from the Marshall County line. It provides the first response for fires in an approximate 25 square mile area in northern Riley County. Collins said having the station there, with it current apparatus, when properly staffed has made it possible for the District to obtain a current ISO insurance rating of 5-5Y and reduced insurance rates for 20-30% for years. If that station is closed the people in that area will not only lose basic fire protection from a close station but they could see a sharp increase in insurance rates. The next closest stations are the Swede Creek and in May Day.

(Read more: Little Apple Post)

Ranson Financial2019-10-28T17:14:21-05:00October 28, 2019|News|

Lawrence Human Relations Commission to consider sanctuary city proposal

The city’s Human Relations Commission will soon hold a special meeting to discuss a proposal from a local group to make Lawrence a sanctuary city.

The Sanctuary Alliance is proposing that the city create policies that restrict the Lawrence Police Department from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in noncriminal circumstances and help ensure immigrants are not discriminated against. The Sanctuary Alliance’s full proposal is available on the city’s website.

Group delivers final cost estimate for Wichita water-treatment facility

The group contracted to design and build a new water treatment plant for the City of Wichita releases its final cost estimate for the project, coming in at a shade below $500 million.

Wichita Water Partners estimates its final, fixed-price budget at $494.2 million for the new facility planned for construction in northwest Wichita.

“The proposed project will replace Wichita’s 80-year-old water treatment facility. The not-to-exceed cost estimate was developed based on extensive input from city staff resulting in important refinements that will benefit both the project and the rate payers of Wichita,” Wichita Water Partners explains. “If approved, those chases will eliminate the city’s exposure to future construction cost inflation and save the city millions of dollars in capital construction costs.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-28T19:58:14-05:00October 28, 2019|News|

Firefighters warn of toxic substances in McPherson landfill fire

Firefighters are warning McPherson residents of toxic substances after another fire sparked at the landfill Sunday.

A neighbor noticed smoke and flames coming from the landfill around 10 a.m. This is the second fire in one week for the McPherson landfill and it’s all hands on deck to get a handle on the situation.

The McPherson Fire Department, employees, contractors, and even some volunteers worked around the clock to get a handle on the fire.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-28T19:58:35-05:00October 28, 2019|News|

Lawrence wins state award for best-tasting tap water

Those filling their glass with water from the tap in Lawrence can now say they are drinking award-winning water.

The City of Lawrence recently won an award for best-tasting tap water. A sample of tap water from the city’s Kaw River Water Treatment Plant competed against about 10 other Kansas communities from across the state in the taste test, according to a memo to the City Commission. The competition was part of the annual joint conference of the Kansas Water Environment Association and the Kansas Section American Water Works Association.

Dighton vote to reveal views on pit bulls

Dighton residents and dog owners Becca and Mike Warta asked for a change in a Dighton city ordinance banning pit bull dogs and dogs with those characteristics and the city council voted to seek public opinion by putting a question on the ballot, according to Dighton city clerk Chelle Anderson.

The Nov. 5 election question is:

Should the City of Dighton’s Ordinance prohibiting the possession of the Pit Bull Dog; Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed; the American Pit Bull Terrier Breed or the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed of dog or any combination thereof be abolished?

After the election, the Dighton City Council will return to the issue. It isn’t mandated to change or retain the ordinance, based on the election outcome, Anderson said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:37:29-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

KDOT meetings planned to discuss transportation priorities

A second series of Local Consult meetings hosted by the Kansas Department of Transportation will give citizens a chance to discuss regional transportation priorities and continue shaping FORWARD, the State’s next 10-year transportation program.

“Kansans are ready for the next transportation program to improve safety and grow our economy,” Secretary of Transportation, Julie Lorenz said. “We heard from more than 1,100 Kansans across the State who talked about the importance of completing T-WORKS projects, improving highways and making transit, aviation and rail work better. Now, as promised, we are coming back out for a second round of meetings to discuss specific transportation priorities in each region.”

All meetings will include an opening presentation and use facilitated breakout groups to:

Discuss transportation assets and needs at a regional level and gather feedback on priorities among KDOT’s various programs;

Share draft engineering and economic scores for highway modernization and expansion projects and gather feedback on those scores;

Discuss which highway modernization and expansion projects are regional priorities.

The meetings all will have a similar format, but the content will be specific to the region. KDOT encourages people to attend the meeting within the KDOT district where their community is located.

The Local Consult meetings are scheduled to take place in October and November in Pittsburg, Junction City, Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita, Great Bend, Liberal and Colby. A list of the dates, times and locations are below.

If possible, please contact Mike Moriarty, KDOT Chief of Transportation Planning, at 785-296-8864 or Michael.Moriarty@ks.gov to let us know which meeting you plan to attend.

Southeast Region – Pittsburg
Tuesday, Oct. 29
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Pittsburg State University
Overman Student Center
302 E. Cleveland
Pittsburg, KS 66762

North Central Region – Junction City
Wednesday, Oct. 30
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Geary County Convention Center
at the Courtyard Marriott
310 Hammons Dr.
Junction City, KS 66441

Northeast Region – Topeka
Tuesday, Nov. 5
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Capital Plaza Hotel
Maner Conference Center
1717 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66612

Kansas City Metro Region – Kansas City
Wednesday, Nov. 6
9 a.m.-noon
The Reardon Convention Center
at the Hilton Garden Inn
520 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101

Wichita Metro Area – Wichita
Friday, Nov. 15
9 a.m.-noon
Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center
225 West Douglas
Wichita, KS 67202

South Central Region – Great Bend
Monday, Nov. 18
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Great Bend Events Center
3111 10th St.
Great Bend, KS 67530

Southwest Region – Liberal
Tuesday, Nov. 19
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Seward County Community College
Student Wellness Building
1801 North Kansas Ave.
Liberal, KS 67901

Northwest Region – Colby
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019
1:30-4:30 p.m.
City Limits Convention Center
2227 South Range Ave.
Colby, KS 67701

(Source: Great Bend Post)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:36:34-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

New Prairie Village Park, at site of old church, opens to an enthusiastic crowd

To the delight of a large crowd of residents, Prairie Village’s newest public space, Wassmer Park, opened Saturday at the site of the former Faith Lutheran Church at 67th Street and Roe Avenue in Prairie Village.

“I’m just so happy we were able to do this,” said former Prairie Village Mayor Laura Wassmer, for whom the park is named.

“It was really a culmination of a lot of talented people, primarily a very hard-working staff that pulled all of this together,” she said. “Public works employees were incredible and they really did the majority of the work on this, so the thanks goes to them.”

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:36:00-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Shawnee considering new guidelines for mixed-use development downtown

As new projects for commercial and residential purposes begin cropping up in downtown Shawnee, city leaders and staff are creating a new land use category in its design guidelines for future downtown development.

The new category, “Townsquare Mixed-Use,” would reflect the city’s goals to build on existing development patterns while maintaining the downtown’s established historic, civic, commercial and residential core. The Shawnee planning commission on Monday discussed the new category with city staff.

“It’s long overdue to look at this downtown area and adjust some of the land uses we’ve called on here,” said Stephanie Malmborg, deputy community development director for Shawnee, citing a number of developments already underway downtown. “The land use guide doesn’t really reflect what the city’s looking for on some of those properties.”

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:03:52-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

This Johnson County race is usually overlooked. So why is it now hotly contested?

Riley County Fire District One needs volunteers

Lawrence Human Relations Commission to consider sanctuary city proposal

Group delivers final cost estimate for Wichita water-treatment facility

Firefighters warn of toxic substances in McPherson landfill fire

Lawrence wins state award for best-tasting tap water

Dighton vote to reveal views on pit bulls

KDOT meetings planned to discuss transportation priorities

New Prairie Village Park, at site of old church, opens to an enthusiastic crowd

Shawnee considering new guidelines for mixed-use development downtown

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