Historic Oak Grove Schoolhouse is open for future generations

Oak Grove Schoolhouse is open now! The 1877 one-room stone schoolhouse is in SE Neosho County, located in a rural area about 7-1/2 miles NE of Parsons. The efforts to restore Oak Grove stretch back more than 50 years. Much of the progress has been made in the last 5-10 years but the majority of the work has been done in the past 3 years. Thanks to the grants from the Kansas Historical Society’s Heritage Trust Fund the school is ready for students. The plan is for the school to open as an active classroom for fourth graders to learn as if they were back in 1877. Research has revealed that Oak Grove was more than the average one-room schoolhouse. Due to its historical past, Oak Grove has been listed on both the Kansas and National Historic Sites Registers. Oak Grove was built out of local sandstone in 1877 – but it was first established as a log structure in 1867.
Source: KOAMKOAM

Ranson Financial2022-10-18T08:28:03-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Prairie Village City Council votes down strategy for affordable housing

After a public outcry, the Prairie Village City Council has gone on record against putting duplexes, apartments and other multi-family developments in single-family residential areas as part of an affordable housing strategy. Signs had gone up around the city protesting recommendations from an ad hoc committee tasked with finding ways to diversify Prairie Village’s housing stock so more people can afford to live there. Council member Piper Reimer said residents are concerned that regulations might be changed “in a way that would allow the developer or builder to come in and potentially take down the house next door to you and put up some sort of multi-family unit.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-10-18T08:32:52-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Harvey County commission approves updates  to renewable energy regulations

The Harvey County Commission approved updates to the County’s Unified Development Code Section 16.14, in regard to commercial renewable energy projects, at its Oct. 13 meeting. … Among the updates to the regulations previously in place: The setback distance from non-participating property lines was established at 1,000 feet. The setback distance from a home remains 2,000 feet. Renewable energy equipment and operations will not be allowed in an area defined as the Sand Hills Overlay District, due to grassland fire dangers. Restrictions addressing wind turbine flicker, ice throw and noise. Financial protections for project decommissioning and environmental cleanup.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-10-18T08:35:23-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Property tax “freeze” for Pittsburg metal fabrication company

Atkinson Industries was founded in Pittsburg more than 100 years ago, and has facilities across the country. This city-approved tax freeze involves the company’s $2,000,000 manufacturing expansion project in Pittsburg. “By being able to essentially freeze their property taxes at their current rate, it allows them to recoup the cost that they put into the expansion, so it obviously benefits the company, but it also benefits the community because this enlarges the company’s foot print in our community and obviously they’re adding jobs, adding to our local economy,” said Blake Benson, President, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. … “Among the benefits would be, $9,000,000 in new personal incomes, almost $13,000,000 in new local retail sales tax generation. So, it’s certainly a project that’s good for the community and this is a tool that will be very helpful to them,” added Benson. It will also result in more people becoming Pittsburg residents, which has been a focus recently for city officials.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T10:59:21-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Proposed Wichita Ordinance Aims to Crackdown on Catalytic Converter Thefts

An ordinance from the City of Wichita was proposed that aims to crack down on catalytic converter thefts. These cases can be difficult solve since catalytic converters can’t be traced. The proposed ordinance would allow Wichita Police to investigate and charge suspicious accumulation of catalytic converters, as well as officers to seize catalytic converters from people who cannot explain how they came into possession of them. The city did say that the ordinance will allow protection for people who came into possession of the part legitimately, including people who own the vehicle, can provide proof of purchase or permission from police to temporarily possess the part, or those who are licensed metal dealers.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T07:20:38-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

New communications director not new to Ark City

A native of Arkansas City has circled back home to become the communications director for the City of Arkansas City. Shana Adkisson stepped into that role two weeks ago, replacing Andrew Lawson, who left in March after more than seven years to take a similar position with the City of Manhattan. City Manager Randy Frazer said a committee of department managers conducted 15 interviews. … Adkisson’s past work experience combined with her education and personality made her a great fit, Frazer said. She has a good understanding of the community having grown up in Ark City and attending Cowley College.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T07:20:22-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Overland Park opens city’s first all-inclusive playground

A new playground is opening in Overland Park just in time for families to get out and enjoy the weekend. Overland Park says Strang Park at 89th and Farley is the city’s first all-inclusive playground. It allows children to play no matter their age or ability. The new playground is located behind the Johnson County Central Resources Library.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T07:19:15-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Johnson County welcomes new human resources director, outlines recruitment and retention efforts

Johnson County is welcoming a new Human Resources Department Director, William Coy. He begins his role with the county on Nov. 28. Coy’s experience includes more than a decade serving in a dual leadership position while working for the U.S. Army. He most recently served as a division chief/career executive appointment in the State of California’s Department of Human Resources. An ongoing concern for Coy to address as he joins the Johnson County team will be recruitment and retention. There are currently, 3,787 full-time positions at the county, with 442 vacancies. As of September, the county had a voluntary turnover rate of 13%, compared to 8.44% in 2019. The county, however, has been making progress toward incentivizing new and ongoing employment.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T07:19:02-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Lenexa will install 6 new electric vehicle charging stations

Lenexa will install four electric vehicle charging ports in its Civic Center parking garage and two in Old Town as a pilot project to determine how to plan electrical infrastructure for the increasingly popular cars. And, as a somewhat poetic side note, the Old Town ports will be directly in front of the city’s first gas station, built close to a century ago at the dawn of the gasoline-fueled automobile craze.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T07:18:28-05:00October 17, 2022|News|

Jeff Porter to take over as Wellington City Manager

effrey M. Porter will officially begin his tenure as the new Wellington City Manager… He was the city administrator for the City of Medicine Lodge from Oct. 2014 to the present. Medicine Lodge is a community of 2,000 residents. During his tenure, he was in charge of developing and managing the city’s $4 million annual budget. He oversaw a team of staff, contractors, and funding agencies to complete a $5 million upgrade to the city’s municipal water distribution system. and served as staff liaison to advisory boards dealing with landscaping projects, airport improvements, tourism and planning and zoning.
Source: Sumner NewsCow

Ranson Financial2022-10-17T07:17:25-05:00October 17, 2022|News|