Meeting will gather input on recommended changes to development code that determines how city grows

Consultants working to update the development code that determines where and how Lawrence grows have drafted a list of 80 recommended changes and are seeking public input on the proposal. A community meeting will take place on Thursday to gather feedback on the recommended changes, which consultants with Clarion Associates developed following a four-month assessment of the code. The code assessment outlines issues with the current code and the main focus areas for the code changes, according to a project overview. … The 80 recommended changes span the various sections of the existing code and also include general suggestions. Recommendations are made related to zoning districts, density regulations, and the procedures and processes for development.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T07:36:44-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

I Know It When I See It – What is a Capital Expenditure?

According to Wikipedia, the fount of all knowledge, the phrase “I know it when I see it” is a colloquial expression by which a speaker attempts to categorize an observable fact or event, although the category is subjective or lacks clearly defined parameters. This phrase was famously used in a U.S. Supreme Court decision to describe the threshold test for obscenity. (See Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184 (1964)). Although this blog post will, unfortunately, likely not become as well known as the Jacobellis case, it will discuss, “What is a Capital Expenditure?” My guess is that a lot of tax-exempt bond advisors use intuition when determining that certain expenditures qualify as “capital expenditures” for tax-exempt bond purposes. In other words, they know a capital expenditure when they see one. However, the question as to what constitutes a “capital expenditure” under the tax-exempt bond rules may be difficult to answer at times.
Source: The Public Finance Tax Blog

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T01:02:46-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

Manhattan City Commission to consider new “Reddi rule” ordinance

The Manhattan City Commission tonight will consider an ordinance on first reading that would prohibit a sitting commissioner from holding a dual office. The move is a direct response to current commissioner Usha Reddi’s recent appointment to the Kansas Senate, to fill out the remainder of former Sen. Tom Hawk’s term. State law doesn’t currently prohibit someone from holding two offices simultaneously. According to the Kansas League of Municipalities, if the ordinance were passed, Manhattan would be the only known city in Kansas with such a restriction.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T00:59:25-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

Reed to resign as Winfield USD 465 superintendent; accepts job in Wichita area

Dr. Nathan Reed, superintendent of Winfield USD 465, will resign from his current position to take a job in the Wichita area, he confirmed Tuesday. Reed, who announced the news to the board of education at their Monday evening meeting, declined to comment Tuesday on the specifics of his new position, but said he will remain as superintendent until his contract is up in June. The board will determine the next steps on how to seek a replacement in the coming weeks, Reed said.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T07:21:00-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

Mulvane Fire pledges funds to Derby facility

Following discussion over recent years regarding a joint training facility, Mulvane Fire Rescue has pledged support to help realize that goal in Derby – with such a facility currently in the works. Already having auto-aid agreements in place, the training facility in Derby would allow Mulvane firefighters to experience a live fire in a safe, controlled environment at a three-story facility – meeting training requirements. The Mulvane City Council recently approved a contribution of $35,000 from Mulvane Fire Rescue to help with construction of the training facility in Derby.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T00:53:01-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

Candice Alcaraz is Wyandotte County’s first Black female judge

During November’s local elections, Candice Alcaraz defeated 15-year incumbent Wyandotte County Judge Wes Griffin by an overwhelming majority. The win made Alcaraz the first Black female judge in the history of the county, at just 32 years old. Up until last week, she had been serving as an assistant district attorney. Alcaraz said she first decided she would run for the position back in 2020.
Source: KCUR

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T00:46:36-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

Law enforcement agencies supporting one another after OIS shooting

Four law enforcement officers are recovering after an o fficer-involved shooting (OIS) in Dodge City on Monday. Throughout this situation, law enforcement agencies say they stick together, describing their relationship as a family. Trooper Michael Racy is a Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) technical trooper, and he says in rural Kansas, so many people know one another. “We’re not in the metro,” Trooper Racy said. “We’re out here, and in rural areas, so we know each other. We know each other’s families most of the time.”
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-26T07:14:32-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

WPD studies Retail Pet Sales Bans, offers suggestion

It has been six months since the Wichita Animal Control Advisory Board asked the Wichita Police Department (WPD) to research a Retail Pet Sales Ban. On Tuesday, the WPD took its report to the Wichita City Council. People who want the ban see it as a way to shut down sales avenues for commercial breeding operations sometimes referred to as puppy mills. Captain Dan East, over WPD Administrative Services, told council members that his team spent a lot of time researching the topic. He says they met with people both for and against the ban and discussed the issue with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T00:41:27-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

New bill could create change on where you drink alcohol in Kansas

A new bill introduced in the Kansas Legislature may create new common consumption areas across the state. House Bill 2059 was introduced in the Committee on Federal and State Affairs on Tuesday at the request of the City of Topeka and support from the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. If the bill is passed, it would allow cities across Kansas to expand the use of common consumption areas. According to the City of Topeka, these areas already exist in states such as Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee and others. They allow people over the age of 21 to drink alcohol from various liquor-licensed businesses in a common area. In the capital city, this could be put in place in an area like downtown or the North Topeka Arts District.
Source: KSNT

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T07:26:57-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

Consultant’s report on Wichita police department to be released online soon, city says

Jensen Hughes, a top law enforcement consulting firm in the U.S., is expected to issue its report suggesting reforms to the Wichita Police Department next month. City officials say that analysis will be published online in its entirety. The report, which will investigate the breadth and depth of bias within the police force, focusing on racism, officer discipline, public oversight and violent interactions with civilians, is on track to be finalized sometime in February. “I do not have a date yet for the final report that we will receive in February but it will be posted on the website,” city spokesperson Megan Lovely told The Eagle.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-01-25T07:29:02-06:00January 25, 2023|News|

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