Gant retires after 39 years of service to Seward County Sheriff’s office

The Seward County Sheriff’s office said goodbye to one of its own Friday afternoon. Capt. Rob Gant began working with the sheriff’s office in 1984, and Friday, county staff, local law enforcement, family and friends gathered in the commission chambers in the Administration Building for a reception for the long-time officer. Before Gant was given a few presents for his retirement, Sheriff Gene Ward recalled he and Gant’s early days in law enforcement.
Source: Liberal First

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:53:24-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

City of Gas residents register few complaints

A community conversational at Gas offered a look at the benefits of living in the small community, with few complaints. It’s a neighborly community, residents said. There’s much to appreciate about living in Gas, a handful of residents agreed Tuesday evening. And in a refreshing look at its citizenry, few had much to complain about, either. Perhaps some residents can be a bit more diligent in keeping junk and trash out of their yard, but for the most part, residents here are polite, friendly, and clean, locals Larry and Shirley Robertson agreed.
Source: Iola Register

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:52:15-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Derby weighs tax burden in discussing future sales tax use

What comes next with the Derby Difference sales tax? That is the pressing question the Derby City Council began to tackle at its March 28 meeting, discussing potential next steps toward implementing a new city sales tax with the Derby Difference coming to an end. Following the results received from a community survey, City Manager Kiel Mangus brought forth a few items for the council to chew on at its latest meeting, including election options and rates with the new sales tax to potentially go into effect in 2025. The Derby Difference is scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31, 2024.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:42:54-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Derby adjusts policy for financing public improvements

In an effort to more equitably spread out costs for public improvements such as streets, sewer improvements, etc. – the Derby City Council looked at and approved a new policy resolution at its March 28 meeting. Last updated in 2016, Assistant City Manager for Development Dan Squires presented the adjusted public improvement financing policy on March 28. The policy specifics financial guarantees from developers, the term of special assessment taxes (which help recover part or all of the costs of public improvements) and the cost split between the city-at-large and the developer/benefitting properties. … Squires pointed out the current policy is good at addressing routine subdivision projects (streets, water lines, etc.), but doesn’t really touch on regional infrastructure – such as lift stations and interceptor sewers. … With such hefty price tags (as construction costs continue to increase) and an eye on balancing feasible development with more affordable housing, updates in the policy included a 75/25 split for projects such as regional sewers, lift stations, bridges, etc. The larger portion would fall to city, with 25% left to be assessed to current and future developments.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:44:11-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Barton County OKs more facade grants

Another set of Barton County Facade Improvement Grant applications were approved by the County Commission Wednesday morning as commissioners harked back on a program that has become a popular one. “We were right in the middle of COVID,” said commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 3. “The federal government decided that they wanted to give us a whole pot of money. We had to figure out how to redistribute that throughout the county.” They conceived a way to utilize some of the funds to “reinvest it into our main street business owners. “What better way to have a lasting impact on our communities than invest in those that are stepping up and trying to make a difference in our community.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:44:25-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Hillsboro approves chickens and secure dogs

A proposed new Hillsboro dog ordinance will be considered April 18. The ordinance would change the definition of “securing” a dog in the open bed of a truck. The proposed ordinance also would change who designates a dog to be “dangerous.” Under current ordinance, the designation is made by police, but the proposal changes that to municipal court. … An ordinance to permit chickens to be kept in town was approved. Residents to keep as many as 10 chickens on a lot of less than 15,000 square feet and one additional chicken for each additional 1,000 square feet. They would have to be kept in clean, dry, and sanitary coops.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:45:53-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Marion County firefighters battle more than 2 dozen wildfires

County firefighters were kept unusually busy during this past week fighting blazes in dry conditions and high winds. In all, they battled 24 fires through the week, with no fires reported only one day. Many of the fires had rekindled after controlled burns.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:47:07-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

With the Ogallala Aquifer drying up, Kansas ponders limits to irrigation

The Ogallala Aquifer has a visibility problem. It’s easy to see when drought, farm irrigation and city taps drain the great reservoirs of the Southwest. Bathtub rings paint the red rock walls surrounding Lake Powell as it shrinks, sounding alarm bells loud and clear. What about a body of water that’s locked away in a subterranean labyrinth of gravel and rock reaching more than 300 feet underground? The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, but we can’t see it. And, problematically, that means we can’t see it disappear. That hasn’t stopped people like Brownie Wilson from trying to bring the aquifer’s decline into focus. He’s one of the Kansas Geological Survey crew members who fan out across western and central Kansas every year to check hundreds of water wells that tap into the Ogallala.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T09:00:53-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Kansas Senate passes constitutional amendment restraining property tax valuations

The resolution asks voters to consider a constitutional prohibition on counties raising property tax valuations by more than 4% in any year. … Lawmakers have considered ways throughout the session to address rising property values and the tax bills associated with them. The proposed constitutional amendment would limit tax-assessed property values from growing by more than 4% per year. There are exceptions for new construction, changes in property class or when property is transferred to another owner.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:48:31-05:00April 6, 2023|News|

Fire department evacuated residents in north McPherson due to gas leak

The McPherson Fire Department (MFD) evacuated residents on the north side of McPherson due to a gas leak Wednesday night. “Crews on scene for a gas leak,” the MFD said in a Facebook post. “Several residents have been evacuated.” The MFD says they received a call around 7:20 p.m. for the report of a gas leak in a residential area near the intersection of Oakmont Street and Oak Park Drive. McPherson Fire Department Chief TJ Wyssmann said six homes were evacuated.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-04-06T10:48:46-05:00April 6, 2023|News|