Coffeyville Interim City Manager Press Release

The City of Coffeyville announces the appointment of Tim Wilson as Interim City Manager. The Coffeyville City Commission voted to approve Wilson’s appointment at their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. As Interim City Manager, Wilson will serve as head of the administrative branch of the City, responsible to the Coffeyville City Commission for the efficient administration of all City affairs and assure all laws and ordinances are enforced. Tim Wilson currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Prosperity Home Mortgage LLC, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliated company. Prosperity is a multibillion dollar mortgage bank that operates in 49 states. Until his retirement from the role as President and CEO, he was responsible for managing strategic development, operations and sales for the company since its establishment in 2009. Mr. Wilson has over 30 years of management experience and expertise in the banking industry. Wilson has also served as Treasurer and Chairman of Real Estate Services Providers Council, Inc. and has participated for years as a member of Ellie Mae Executive Advisory Board. Tim was born in Parsons, Kansas, and moved to Coffeyville, Kansas, at the age of five. Tim attended Holy Name Grade School, Field Kindley High School, and Coffeyville Community College. Mr. Wilson then completed his degree at Washburn University graduating in 1981.
Source: Coffeyville, KS – News Flash

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:26:35-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Study finds significant problems with Wichita school buildings

A report from two consulting firms says it would cost over $1 billion to fix problems with all buildings in the Wichita school district. The report was presented to school board members week by representatives of Cooperative Strategies and Alloy Engineering as part of a master plan for district facilities. The study said that the district has 54 elementary schools and 24 of them have fewer than 350 students because of declining enrollment. Middle schools are underused by 38 percent. Many of the buildings are aging and need repair. The situation could lead to decisions to close or consolidate some schools. District staff will continue to work with consultants and they’re expected to have a final report with recommendations for the school board by May or June.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:24:59-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Branding Iola: City Council will let community decide flag

Local artist Max Grundy presented six options for a city flag during Monday evening’s Iola City Council meeting. Noting that he’s not originally from Iola, Grundy said his inspiration for the artistic renderings came mostly from his appreciation of the area’s natural beauty. The flag presentation unfolded as council members expressed varied opinions on the designs, with options ranging from a clock tower to five representations of Iola’s scenic landscapes. The favorite among council members depicted the old Allen County courthouse’s clock tower. Grundy added that the time on the clock is set to 3:04 — significant because Kansas became the nation’s 34th state. “It’s honoring the tradition of our beautiful clock tower that was dedicated in 1905,” he noted. “We think it’s respectful to the tradition of our town. We know there’s still some bad feelings about it (the old courthouse) getting torn down, even though it happened in 1958. People are still sore about it.” Grundy explained the beams emanating from the clock on the flag give a “forward thinking” look to the town. “In my mind, that is what our town is becoming,” he said. MAYOR STEVE French praised the clock tower flag’s symbolism, however, others raised concerns about its colors. As the discussion progressed, the clock tower and land/water flags emerged as the council’s top choices. Grundy was asked to attend the Jan. 8 city council meeting with color variations on the clock tower flag in hand for the council to review. Council member Joelle Shallah proposed involving the community in the decision-making process, suggesting the narrowed-down selection be put to a public vote, possibly on social media. Council member Nicholas Lohman echoed Shallah’s suggestion.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:23:54-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Junction City and Geary County at odds over ambulance costs

Junction City and Geary County are at odds over who should pay the EMS bill. In 1967, the two governments agreed that the Junction City Fire Department would handle EMS calls in Geary County, and not just in the city limits. The non-reimbursed costs for the service to the county are split with one-third paid by the city and two-thirds paid by the county. Geary County officials announced in July they no longer wished to continue the agreement at that cost split. A new agreement was discussed but no action could be taken, due to the 2024 budget already having been completed. Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel explains the root of the problem, and what it could potentially mean for county residents. Dinkel also published a memo stating that property owners in city limits are not just responsible for their one third, but also 71% of the remaining county share, stating residents are required to pay four times as much for the same service as non-city residents. Dinkel explains how busy EMS has been in the Junction City and Geary County. Junction City has determined that Geary County owes them approximately $800,000. Geary County approved a resolution last month to pay the city approximately $447,000, more than half the total owed. No action was taken by city officials Dec. 5, but the issue is expected to be revisited at next Tuesday’s meeting, after the city’s legal team presented to the Geary County Commission earlier this week.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:21:13-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Wamego officials planning for demo of “Not” Chrysler House

Wamego city officials were unable to find an interested buyer for the building locals refer to as “Not the Chrysler House,” at the southeast corner of Highway 99 and US 24. The historic house, once thought to be the birthplace of automotive industry executive Walter Chrysler, sits on property deeded to the city years ago from the Kansas Department of Transportation. City Manager Stacie Eichem. Eichem says city staff are exploring best options for future public use of the property, but admits the location, at the corner of two highways, creates a tricky situation. Community members raised funds to move the home to the current location in the mid 2000s. It was later discovered the house was not Chrysler’s actual birthplace.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:19:45-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn is passing the torch after 27 years in office

Leawood, Kansas, will swear in a new mayor next month for the first time in 27 years. Mayor Peggy Dunn announced in June that she wouldn’t run again. Dunn first entered public office in 1993 as a city councilmember, and after two terms in that role, she was elected mayor in 1997. Among her most significant contributions to the city were establishing major commercial shopping areas, like Park Place and Town Center, which allowed the city to keep property taxes down. “I kept running because I enjoyed it so much, and the city was in a time of historic growth,” Dunn told KCUR’s Up To Date. “So, it made it extremely interesting and just a great time to be involved to work with great people and see lots of progress and change.” Marc Elkins, a longtime public servant in Leawood, was elected mayor in November and will assume the role Jan. 2, 2024.
Source: KCUR

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:17:12-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Kansas Amelia Earhart Museum contender for top new museum in the United States

The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is in the final stretch of online voting as one of 16 new museums across the United States nominated for the “Best New Museum” by USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Travel Awards for 2024. “With thousands of Amelia Earhart fans and admirers casting their vote for us — every day — until Christmas Day — we think the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum can soar to the top spot,” said Mindi Love Pendergraft, the museum’s executive director. Celebrating Earhart’s aviation legacy in aviator’s Atchison, Kansas, hometown, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is the only museum in the Midwest among the 16 new museums nominated across United States, a statement from the museum said. As of December 14, the Museum is ranking at #4 on the USA Leaderboard for Best New Museum. “This special honor will not only shine a bright spotlight on our state-of-the-art museum in Amelia’s hometown but also heighten the nation’s interest in exploring the many stellar museums and tourism attractions across Kansas and the Midwest,” added Love Pendergraft. The winner will be announced on Friday, January 5 at noon ET. USA Today 10Best provides original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:15:05-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

Amid enrollment declines and aging buildings, Wichita district could shutter some schools

Consultants hired by the Wichita school board say the district has too many small elementary schools and can’t afford to maintain them all. The consulting firm is developing a proposal that could recommend closing some school buildings. It plans to present options to the Wichita board before the end of this school year. David Sturtz, a partner with Ohio-based Cooperative Strategies, said nearly half of Wichita’s 54 elementary schools have fewer than 350 students, which is inefficient and costly to maintain. Twelve elementaries have fewer than 300 students. “Having a few schools that are that low (enrollment), you can supplement (budgets),” Sturtz said. “Having nearly half of your elementary portfolio under that enrollment? That’s a financial struggle.” Needed repairs across the district are estimated at more than $1 billion. “I will not recommend a scenario that says, ‘You know what? Just keep everything the same and pay $1 billion over the next five years,” Sturtz told board members Monday. “That’s not a real plan. … And it’s not what you should do.” Last spring, the Wichita school board used $1 million in federal COVID-relief funds to pay for a systemwide audit of district facilities.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T12:12:32-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

City shuts off water at some Towne West Square businesses for non-payment

Some stores in Towne West Square are without water after the City of Wichita disconnected service for not making payments on their bill, a city official said. “Two businesses at Towne West Mall had water turned off yesterday and one business was shut off today,” city communications manager Tyler Schiffelbein said. “The property manager for these businesses has not been making payments.” No other businesses will be impacted or have their service interrupted until the city makes contact with the property manager. “The Water Utility is reaching out to the property manager regarding significant lapsed payments for water service at the mall,” Schiffelbein added. Veronica Barrett is the corporate regional manager for Towne West Square, which is owned by New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group. When asked about the situation over the phone, Barrett said “That’s not true, but I can check into it a little bit further tomorrow.” Barrett said that the investment group’s corporate office is closed, but that she would reach out to their accounting department tomorrow to “find out what’s going on… see if its been paid,” Barrett said. “I do know that, you know, there’s just been some struggles there at the mall,” Barrett added. The mall previously had the power shut off in September and November for failing to make bill payments to Evergy, The Eagle reported. The city did not say how far behind the mall was on water utility payments or how much the bill was for.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T11:58:22-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

JoCo Notes: Johnson County merges 988 and 911 call centers

Call takers at Johnson County’s Mental Health Center and Emergency Services have merged into one centralized location. On Tuesday morning, county officials celebrated the merger with a ribbon cutting and hosted an open house at the County Communications Center, 11880 S. Sunset Dr., in Olathe. This means Johnson County callers dialing 911 for emergency help or he 988 for a mental health crisis will be directed to the same dispatch center. County officials say the merger will make way for infrastructure and technology improvements for 988, and allow 911 dispatchers and mental health professionals to work more closely together on calls that necessitate a mental health response. More information on Johnson County’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available online. Anyone in need of mental health assistance can call 988.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-12-15T11:55:54-06:00December 15, 2023|News|

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