New rules create uncertainty in mayor vote

Election Day may be over but the votes are still coming in at the Sedgwick County election office. That’s all because of a change in state law. And it’s creating uncertainty in a race where just 160 votes can decide who moves on to the general election.
… at the election office downtown votes continue to arrive, more than 425 mail-in ballots and counting. A state law change a couple years ago means the elections office has to accept mail-in ballots until Friday, as long as the postmark is no later than Election Day.

The question is, will one candidate manage to dominate the mail-in vote enough to move the final percentages?

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T21:03:58-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

KDOT program to replace and rehabilitate deficient bridges on local road system

KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the program Wednesday at an event in Butler County joined by leaders from the Kansas Association of Counties, the Kansas County Highway Association and the Kansas Contractors Association.

The Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program is a $5 million state-funded program that helps cities and counties by providing up to $150,000 toward the replacement or rehabilitation of a bridge on the local roadway system. To qualify, bridges must be rated as deficient, have a daily vehicle count of less than 100 and be 20 to 50 feet in length. Cities and counties can garner an additional $50,000 by closing a deficient bridge. Local jurisdictions that are awarded funds must provide a 10 percent match.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:54:25-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

JoCo cities looking at caveats on tax incentives for big box retailers who make ‘dark store theory’ appeals

Should cities continue to give generous tax incentives to big retailers even if it means those businesses will eventually challenge their property valuations, demand several years of tax refunds and leave homeowners and school districts holding the bag?

Some Johnson County cities are beginning to say no. As the news has begun to sink in that yet another corporate discounter – Walmart – recently won an appeal of its property values, a few cities are already looking at ways they can protect themselves. And the idea of the day seems to be tax incentive agreements that can rake back some of the money if retailers get their way in a tax appeal.

Gardner and Lenexa may be the first Johnson County cities to try such a thing, and Shawnee is considering it. Gardner had an agreement written into its Main Street Market Place development for a Price Chopper grocery store. Lenexa’s is for the City Center Hotel development for a Hyatt.

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:38:32-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

Lenexa updates code to allow golf carts on some public residential streets

After Lenexa residents posed questions on proper usage of golf carts on residential streets, the city council updated city regulations to make them more easily understood and enforceable.

Before the city updated the code, golf carts were generally not allowed to operate on city streets.

City staff reported receiving numerous questions from residents regarding the use of golf carts on public streets.

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:37:52-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

Garden City celebrates National Night Out with local first responders

Kids surfed down inflatable slides and slurped on snow cones as the heat beat down on Garden City Monday afternoon, taking advantage of a “night out” with their families, neighbors and, notably, local first responders. Dozens of residents took to the streets, driveways and front yards Monday for National Night Out, the local celebration of a national event aimed at building community relationships with law enforcement and reducing crime across the country.

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:36:33-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

Revised bridge program could be boon for county

Marion County might benefit from the reinstatement of a state program designed to reduce the number of deficient bridges on local roads.
County engineer Brice Goebel told commissioners Monday that the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement program will pay $140,000 per location to build local bridges.
“It does not have to meet federal guidelines,” Goebel said.

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:35:59-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

Wichita Police Department shows off its two new police horses

The Wichita Police Department’s mounted unit now has two new members – Hero and Keeper.

The Mounted Unit’s eight horses, 14 officers and two sergeants were featured at a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Old Town Farmer’s Market to introduce its newest partners.

Becca Boldra, Wichita Police Foundation executive director, said the “Horse for Heroes” fundraising campaign allowed the department to purchase the Clydesdales and introduced the horses to the community.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:32:50-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

High speed fiber laid in Greensburg’s northwest sector

Haviland Telephone Company is working to bring Greensburg residents up to speed with a three-layer process to provide residents with high speed fiber optics cable in city limits.

Some Greensburg residents are already experiencing the joy of high speed internet as provided by Haviland Telephone Company’s new fiber cable, but most are patiently waiting for their turn to get linked into the new internet option made possible by city leaders.

(Read more: Kiowa County Signal)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T20:32:06-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

Kansas imposes toughest online tax collections in the nation

Kansas plans to impose what some tax experts said Wednesday would be the nation’s most aggressive policy for collecting state and local taxes on online sales, possibly inviting a legal battle.

The state Department of Revenue issued a notice last week saying any “remote seller” doing business with Kansas residents must register with the department, collect state and local sales taxes and forward the revenues to the state, starting Oct. 1. It cites a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year allowing states to collect sales taxes on Internet sales.

Most states now have policies to collect such taxes, but almost all set minimum annual sales or transaction thresholds to exempt small businesses, according to groups tracking tax laws. Kansas is the first to attempt to collect the taxes without exempting any businesses, they said.

(Read more: Little Apple Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T21:14:56-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

Marshall County Commissioners interested in funding local development

Marshall County commissioners plan to decide soon on funding for economic development in the 2020 budget. All three board members have expressed interest in increased funding….

Commissioner Keith Bramhall says he’s in favor of allocating $25,000 in 2020 funding for the Marshall County Partnership for Growth, a countywide economic development organization. The county is currently funding the group at $2,500 per year.

Bramhall also said he wanted to revisit Commissioners Chairman Dave Baier’s proposal for the county to provide $20,000 in grant monies for new businesses.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Ranson Financial2019-08-07T21:00:20-05:00August 7, 2019|News|

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