Topeka officials hear from outsider on riverfront, hope to spur development soon

Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla sees riverfront development as the city’s next big win.

De La Isla was part of conversations Monday between city government, Greater Topeka Partnership members and out-of-towner Carol Coletta, president and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership. Coletta visited Topeka to survey the city’s development and offer constructive criticism about how the city plans to make the Kansas River a focal point of its community.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity you have here, and I saw a tremendous commitment today — people who hung around all day long — to talk about the opportunity and figure out what are the next moves,” Coletta said. “I think they’re very practical, very action-oriented. I expect a lot of momentum to develop over the next several months to make this riverfront what it can be, ought to be, for Topeka.”

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T21:50:28-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Big Pool gets one last year in the sun

Garden City’s Big Pool will see another season after the city commission on Tuesday voted to keep the pool open for the 2020 season.

That will be the final season for the historic pool before it is reconstructed into another water recreation feature.

The near 100-year-old facility has been seeing issues related to its age over the last few years, resulting in pipes needing replaced, cracks in concrete needing resealed — but most importantly, significant water loss. More than 200,000 gallons of water a day is lost from the pool when filled.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T21:50:10-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Lawrence approves ordinance requiring bars to train staff on sexual violence intervention

A new ordinance will soon require some bar and and restaurant workers in Lawrence to undergo sexual violence intervention training in order for the establishments to keep their local liquor licenses.

Despite opposition from several local bar and restaurant owners, the Lawrence City Commission approved the ordinance with a unanimous 4-0 vote on Tuesday. Commissioner Leslie Soden was absent from the meeting.

The measure was originally on the meeting’s consent agenda, which would have allowed the commission to approve it without discussing it. But it was pulled out for discussion when Topeka attorney Tuck Duncan, who helps businesses acquire liquor licenses, said he and other stakeholders in the restaurant and bar industry had concerns about it.

South Hutchinson doesn’t bite on aerial mosquito spray

The South Hutchinson City Council voted 2-3 Monday night on a motion that would have authorized the mayor to sign paperwork allowing the city to be sprayed for mosquito control.

It was the only city in Reno County to turn down free aerial spraying to be conducted Thursday night, according to Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti.

Results of traps on June 5 prompted health authorities from the federal to the state to the county level to favor aerial spraying. Federal dollars will cover the cost.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T21:51:09-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

USDA agencies may relocate to KC, but few existing employees may follow

The Kansas City area has celebrated the prospect of more than 500 new jobs with the relocation of two U.S. Department of Agriculture units. But few of the units’ existing employees may come along for the ride, The Hill reports.

Employees of the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture have until midnight Monday to decide whether to move from the Washington, D.C., area to Kansas City.

So far, only 27 of 250 ERS employees have committed to relocating, The Hill reports, citing employee tallies. Overall, employees say that 70 percent of ERS workers will not make the move to Kansas City, and 45 percent of NIFA employees will not move.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T17:43:00-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Redesign plans approved for Haviland district

The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday approved 71 schools in 30 districts – including Haviland Grade School – to launch their Kansans Can School Redesign Project plans during the 2019-2020 school year.
The schools/ districts were announced Tuesday, July 9, during a Kansas State Board of Education meeting. The schools/districts are a mix of Gemini I and Gemini II schools that applied to be a part of the Kansans Can School Redesign Project.

Gemini I schools applied to be a part of the project prior to the 2017-2018 school year, and upon acceptance, were given the option of planning for one year or two years prior to launching. Gemini I schools cleared for launch during the upcoming school year chose to take two years to plan before launching.

The Gemini II schools applied and were accepted into the project prior to the 2018-2019 school year and were given one year to plan prior to launching.
The approved Gemini I and Gemini II schools participated in regional redesign workshops during the 2018-2019 school year and were cleared for launch by a Launch Readiness Committee, which was comprised of representatives from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and educational service centers. At the last workshop in May, schools presented their launch plans to the committee, and then the committee recommended a “Go” or a “No Go” (or not yet) for launch in the 2019-2020 school year.

(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T17:39:10-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Riverfront Legacy Master Plan leaders set open house date

The community groups, governmental bodies, design and real-estate firms collaborating on a plan for the Arkansas River’s east bank area downtown have set a date and time for the first public engagement.

The Wichita Boathouse, 515 S. Wichita, will play host to an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on July 31. Residents will receive information on what is planned over the next few months and may ask questions of the local groups and Populous, a Kansas City-based design firm.

Residents will be encouraged to offer ideas for the area, which is bounded by Kellogg, the river, Douglas Avenue and Main Street. A short presentation is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T17:33:52-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

FCC approves nearly $40 million for rural broadband in Kansas

The FCC authorized nearly $38.7 million on Monday to fund broadband access for 10,864 unserved rural Kansas homes and businesses.

The Federal Communications Commission says the money is part of the third wave of support from last year’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction. Providers will begin receiving funding this month.

In Kansas, nearly $6.2 million was authorized in May and June. Today’s authorization brings the total to $44.86 million, which will connect 13,354 homes and businesses to modern broadband.

Nationwide, the auction last fall allocated $1.488 billion in support to expand broadband to more than 700,000 unserved rural homes and small businesses over the next 10 years. The FCC has already authorized two waves of funding in May and June, and funds from those first two waves are expanding connectivity to nearly 100,000 homes and businesses that lack service. Today’s action, which provides funding in 23 states, brings total authorized funding to nearly $803 million, or over half of the $1.488 billion allocated through the auction, expanding connectivity to 305,518 homes and businesses.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T17:17:38-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Flag Design Contest Winner

Congratulations to Kim Medvid whose design “Little Apple on the Prairie” was selected as the City of Manhattan flag contest design winner. A total of 3,021 ballots for the new flag were cast through online and in-person voting. The Little Apple on the Prairie design won with 29% of the votes.

“This has been a good process that generated a lot of community interest,” said Assistant City Manager Dennis Marstall. “It’s clear that people embrace the ‘Little Apple’ nickname and want to celebrate the City’s location in the Flint Hills.”

Artists as young as eight years old and as far away as Sweden participated in the contest, submitting 120 designs for consideration. All of the designs had meaningful symbolism that reflected the spirit of the heartland and Manhattan’s unique heritage. The winning design represents Manhattan as a land of growth and opportunity, with the “Little Apple” rising out of the Flint Hills. The colors of the original design were adjusted and represent the following:

(Read more: Manhattan – News Flash)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T17:16:02-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Lagging sales tax collections, ‘dark store’ appeals on commercial property put Overland Park officials on edge

An unexplained lag in sales tax collections and the prospect of losing commercial property tax revenues in a court battle had Overland Park officials on edge as they set the public hearing for the 2020 budget.

City Manager Bill Ebel told council members Monday that more bad news on either issue would likely mean spending cuts, even though the latest property valuation estimates are higher than anticipated.

Ebel’s comments came in a committee meeting before the council set Aug. 5 as the public hearing date for a 2020 budget that is largely unchanged from the one he recommended in June. The $304.8 million budget estimates that the tax rate will remain flat at 13.566 mills. The rates won’t become final until this fall, after appeals are finished.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T15:15:16-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Topeka officials hear from outsider on riverfront, hope to spur development soon

Big Pool gets one last year in the sun

Lawrence approves ordinance requiring bars to train staff on sexual violence intervention

South Hutchinson doesn’t bite on aerial mosquito spray

USDA agencies may relocate to KC, but few existing employees may follow

Redesign plans approved for Haviland district

Riverfront Legacy Master Plan leaders set open house date

FCC approves nearly $40 million for rural broadband in Kansas

Flag Design Contest Winner

Lagging sales tax collections, ‘dark store’ appeals on commercial property put Overland Park officials on edge

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