Topeka Rescue Mission might close soon without new funding

Officials with the Topeka Rescue Mission say the organization could close next month if new funding isn’t found.

Leaders said in a statement Monday that the mission is facing a $180,000 shortfall each month. It will close all its shelters and end all services if new funding isn’t found by Sept. 15.

WIBW reports Mission leaders say they’ve already made money-saving moves, including announcing last week that the TRM Thrift Store would close soon.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T14:15:25-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

The city plans to put a new tax on your drinking water, but some question whether it’s fair to low-income residents

In many progressive circles, the most hated tax in the land is a sales tax on food.

Kansas is one of the few states that charges it, and opponents decry it as extremely regressive because it forces low-income people to pay tax on a product that is necessary for life.

But now questions are being raised whether Lawrence city commissioners — perhaps without much thought — are placing an equally regressive tax on the one product that may be even more essential than food. Commissioners are poised to place a new tax on water.

As part of the city’s proposed 2020 budget, a new 6% tax would affect every water bill in the city. The tax is in the recommended budget that is slated for final approval on Aug. 13.

Can large pile of cash reduce Lawrence’s proposed water rate increases? City is unsure

While water rates are set to go up 8% next year, the city is sitting on a huge pile of cash in its utility fund.

How much cash? So much that city officials aren’t entirely sure where it all came from.

A review of financial documents by the Journal-World found that the city’s water/sewer fund is projected to end 2019 with nearly $42 million in reserves. To put that in perspective, for every $1 that the water/sewer fund spends in 2019, it has an additional 84 cents sitting in a type of savings account known as a fund balance.

“That is a lot,” said Dave Wagner, who oversees the utility department as the city’s director of Municipal Services and Operations.

‘It was a mess’: Ottawa businesses start cleanup after heavy rain causes serious flooding

As fast as the water rose in Ottawa, that’s how fast crews arrived to start cleaning it all up Friday.

After severe thunderstorms caused heavy flooding for many in town, several Ottawa businesses spent the day trying to get back to normal.

Richard Towe, a retired Ottawa firefighter, opened Three Guys Liquor fifteen years ago. His son now owns the family business, but he said in all these years, he’s never seen anything like this.

(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:30:07-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

St. John youths do belly flops with cops

Belly Flop with the Cops gave St. John-area youths a chance to interact with the local police force and have some free fun in the pool from Friday evening.

“We have some new faces on our force and we want kids to get to know them,” said Officer Tori Perez before the event. “This seemed like a fun way to do it.”

Perez joined the three-member city police force in May.

“I think it was a wonderful idea,” said St. John pool manager Stephanie Smith. “That’s why we waived the normal admission fee of $2 for adults and $1 for kids.”

Perez was joined at the pool by Officer Dave Eulenstein, who has served with St. John Police Department since December and who also works full time as a Stafford County sheriff deputy, and by Undersheriff Tom Fischer.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:29:07-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

Water dispute lands city, mayor in court

A water line dispute between neighbors in Wellsville, Kan., has degenerated into a civil suit filed in federal district court and involved the city and its mayor who are among the defendants named in the suit.
Marc and Regina Smith, the plaintiffs, say in court filings that they paid for a water meter in 1999 to serve their newly purchased residence and that the house is served by a water service line that extends about 1000ft from the meter to the property.
The couple claims that three of their neighbors tapped into the water line without a formal written agreement regarding the payment of water bills or the maintenance of the water line.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:27:26-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

Voters in new city of The Highlands get tax-lid ballot

Voters in this 1-year-old incorporated city will vote Tuesday on a property tax question. The state’s tax lid formula limits the increase of the city budget for 2020, and the ballot asks:“Shall Resolution No. 2019-0023, adopted by the governing body of The Highlands, Kansas, on July 5th, 2019, increasing the City property tax by $30,000 to provide adequate funding for the City services and needs in 2020 be approved?”

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:26:25-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

Kansas, Missouri governors agree to cease-fire in business incentive border war

Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order Friday designed to match a Missouri law linking state-level business development incentives to net job growth in seven counties of the Kansas City metropolitan area and inspire at least a truce in the economic border war. The order issued by Kansas’ Democratic governor adhered to a law signed by Missouri Gov. Michael Parson, a Republican. The concern of public officials in both states has been the propensity of government officials to shower …

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:31:22-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

‘Showing their softer side’ at Hays PD Community Night Out

As usual, Hays police officer Ryan Blecha was on duty Thursday evening, but this shift did not require a patrol vehicle or even the official uniform.

This duty called for wearing shorts and a special T-shirt as Blecha manned the chip station in the food line for the Hays Police Department’s “Community Night Out” at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP).

“He’s very important,” laughed Mackenzie Blecha, Ryan’s wife.

Mackenzie and daughter Gentry, 18 months, were some of the Hays police officers’ family members enjoying the fourth annual event. It included free swimming for everyone and a hot dog or hamburger meal for the first 1,000 people.

…

Several city officials also enjoyed Community Night Out, including city commissioners Eber Phelps, Ron Mellick and vice-mayor Shaun Musil.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:25:35-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

Looking for ideas to improve the countys economy

Nearly 30 people attended a meeting to discuss economic development in Bourbon County.

The meeting, held Tuesday evening as part of the Bourbon County Commission meeting at the courthouse, was led by Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide attendees with results from a recently completed community-wide assessment and to set three priorities to move the county forward.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Ranson Financial2019-08-05T08:30:49-05:00August 5, 2019|News|

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