An inside look at the North Lawrence camp for people experiencing homelessness

As the Lawrence community considers different strategies for a citywide response to the homelessness crisis, residents of a temporary campsite are living through the reality of the situation day to day. Lawrence city leaders have been getting heat from community members ranging from business owners to housing advocates to local residents, both housed and unhoused, sharing numerous concerns about safety issues within and surrounding the camp. Some are advocating for more resources to be put into the camp’s management, to help support Jenn Wolsey, homeless programs coordinator for the city’s Homeless Initiatives Division, who has been running the site. Others believe the city should be putting the funding for the temporary campsite toward a more permanent housing solution altogether. Wolsey said in a recent interview that the ultimate goal is to help those experiencing homelessness to find housing, but it could take years for the city to have enough affordable housing stock in place. “So in the short term, we do have to focus on the emergency service part just to keep people alive to get to that point,” she said.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-11-30T08:26:56-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

Home ownership program fills slate of applications

All 10 requests have been filled for the Washington County Home Ownership Pilot Loan/ Grant Program. The final spot was filled Nov. 3 with a home in Clifton. Because all 10 spots will have loans that will be closed by the Dec. 31 deadline, there will not be a queue established in Washington. Washington County received $125,000 to be split among 10 homes purchased in the county this year. The first two homes received their $12,500 allocation on June 20.
Source: www.backroadsnews.com/rss.xml

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:34:50-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

County administrator search continues

The Unified Government continues to move ahead with a search for a county administrator. According to Bill Johnson, Board of Public Utilities manager, who is co-chair of the UG search task force, meetings were held last week with a new search firm, gv HR. The other task force chair is Bonner Springs Mayor Jeff Harrington. Johnson spoke at the UG Commission meeting Nov. 17. Cheryl Harrison-Lee was appointed the interim UG county administrator after former UG administrator Doug Bach retired Jan. 6. Bach had served as administrator since 2014 and was deputy county administrator from 2003 to 2014.
Source: Wyandotte Daily

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:32:24-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

Panasonic gives De Soto first look at site plan for $4B electric-vehicle battery plant

With site selection, incentives and more streamlined zoning lined up for its $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant, Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd. soon will ask De Soto to approve a doozy of a development plan, one piece at a time. The company anticipates submitting its first of three phased pieces — a preliminary site and mass-grading plan — for the city’s Planning Commission to review in late December. The factory’s architectural elevations then could follow in January, culminating with final plans for grading, landscaping, signage and lighting in April.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:30:09-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

Topeka Metro set to launch on-demand transportation

The Topeka Metro is gearing up to launch a new microtransit on-demand service in the southeast area of Topeka early next year. The new service is called “Metro On-Demand.” MOD will let customers request curb-to-curb transportation in specific areas. Passengers will also be able to request a ride that would arrive in 15 minutes. “As we continue to look for new ways to improve, we believe the more personalized nature of microtransit will be a great addition to our service,” said Bob Nugent, Topeka Metro general manager. “Microtransit has been around for a while and has proven to be a more expedient and cost-effective way for folks to travel to where they need to go.”
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:27:50-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

County to move forward on sales tax direction

Since voters approved a measure to lower the countywide 1 cent sales to .75 percent to fund solid waste and joint communications, county leaders took action to clarify and ensure a solid path forward. Vice Chairman Casey Quinn brought the issue to the forefront Nov. 22 when she told fellow commissioner she thought it best to repeal Resolution 2014-1390 sooner than later in preparation the new sales tax rate becomes effective April 1, 2023. goes into effect. Quinn expressed her concern the document currently in effect would only be one be replaced by a new one without thought and communication with the public.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:25:39-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

Area eco devo agency staying busy for city

In an update to the Great Bend City Council Monday night, Bob Wetmore, co-director of Dodge City-based Great Plains Development Inc., said his agency continues to work for the community as he outlined the services GPD provides. This is a non-profit economic development agency that works with cities and counties by helping with loans to them as well as entrepreneurs.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:21:24-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

Speaker tells of historic preservation efforts

Randy Greeves, a recently appointed Historic Preservation Officer for the Unified Government, was the speaker at the annual meeting of the Wyandotte County Historical Society Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Wyandotte County Museum. About 40 persons attended. Greeves explained that the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 sets federal policy for the preservation of our heritage. The law allows federal, state and local governments to operate and cooperate in historic preservation efforts.
Source: Wyandotte Daily

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T00:20:19-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

City Manager Mitchell finds home in Hoisington

… As City Manager, Mitchell understands that being in charge doesn’t mean backing away from a project. “Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing,” he said. … Mitchell got his first taste of community service when the United Way director asked him to be her intern. After graduation, he attended Kansas State University with a major in public relations, “because that was what she went to school for,” Mitchell recalled. Later as he was interning at United Way, he was approached by the Junction City city manager who asked what he thought about working with him. “I didn’t think that sounded that cool,” he said. “But I realized how much of a difference you can make working for the city.” He worked in the Junction City city office for four years, then followed up with his master’s degree in public administration “because that was what the city manager there had.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-11-28T10:31:23-06:00November 28, 2022|News|

Democracy, Civility, and Rural America: An ICMA blog post by Russell city manager Jon Quinday

While often referred to as flyover states, rural America can be the calm and example for “of the people, by the people, for the people.” … We often hear of rural decline, which is true in some areas but not all in the rural Midwest. Listen to the conversations; some folks believe that rural decline is inevitable, with the belief that as older generations age and pass on, the younger generations are moving to big cities. In some instances, this is true. Take a closer look, and you see the younger generations returning to rural Kansas. Whatever their reason, it is a spark. Something or someone has drawn them back home, back to where their values and beliefs were formed, and are still alive and well today. So rather than talking about everything wrong with the community, rural life, or Kansas, let’s celebrate the progress our community and rural communities across Kansas have made despite being viewed as a relic of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Read the full post at ICMA.

Ranson Financial2022-11-27T22:00:14-06:00November 27, 2022|News|