Plans continue for the Annual Celebration of Freedom activities that will happen in November. This year as a special addition we will officially dedicate a portion of Highway 54 from the Missouri border to the east edge of Kingman. HB 2409 created the designation of Veterans Memorial Highway and authorized the installation of signage that identifies the two entrances of the roadway.
The statute allows for the posting of the signs at both ends of the road after the state receives payment for the cost of the signs and an additional 50% for the maintenance. All funds must come from private sources, based on the “Home Rule” law as many signs as needed can be placed on city property.
Along the route various organizations have been collecting money to meet this criteria, so a sign can be posted on the highway as it passes through their community. I think this is an outstanding way to honor all of our veterans and at no cost to the taxpayer. Special guests are being invited to El Dorado and when attendance and specifics become available I will pass them on.
I spent Monday in Topeka working with my assigned staff people on several issues, which included a request for attorney general opinions on dealing with transparency of government and alleged violations of open meeting laws. Another request for help in adopting a Mexican orphan is a little complicated because of variances in international law and of course is more difficult because of the language barrier.
Property tax issues and problems are always out there and here is a doozie of an example. When we purchase a home; a title search is normally conducted at the direction of a lending institution and this insures that all taxes are paid and no other party has a lien or other interest in the property. Because someone else initiates the title search, buyer involvement is in limited to paying for the search and paying his/her portion of the tax.
When we purchase a mobile home not attached to a permanent foundation this unit should possess a title much like your motor vehicle. This is classified as personal property and also must have the taxes paid up to date. Whether or not the buyer or seller pays is of no concern to the tax collector. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ask if the taxes are current. The person to contact is the County Treasurer, 322-4210.
Kansas Statute, K.S.A. 79-2020, tells us the property tax must be paid upon transfer of ownership and if it is not paid, a lien is filed on the property and a tax warrant will be issued and the sheriff will be directed to collect the money or take possession of the property.
Sadly more than one individual has been surprised when they thought they had purchased a dream home and it became a nightmare because of unpaid taxes. I would suggest the tax question should always be addressed in any personal property transaction to avoid surprises.
I never intend to offer legal advice; we have many competent attorneys in town that are happy to work for you. I am trying to bring to light what otherwise may go unnoticed and by becoming informed citizens we all share a better world.
The Joint Committee on Legislative Post Audit, on Monday authorized several investigations to determine,
Whether the additional money appropriated to SRS in Fiscal 2007 for increasing salaries of caregivers for those with developmental and physical disabilities have been used for the intended purposes, and if not, why not?
Determining whether there is a problem with the Health Wave Program returning calls placed through its toll-free call center, and if so what is the cause and what is being done to fix it.
Determining whether appropriate procedures were followed in awarding contracts to The Farm for foster care and family preservation services in 2005. Also whether moneys from the contracts awarded have been used only for the appropriate purposes related to the contract.
If you are wondering who owns “Big Oil,” chances are the answer is “you”? If you have a mutual fund account - and 55 million U.S. households do - there’s a good chance it invests in oil and natural gas company stocks. If you have an IRA or personal retirement account – and 45 million U.S. households do – it’s likely to invest in oil and natural gas companies as well.
There was an economic study authored by economist Nam D. Pham and Robert J. Shapiro, undersecretary for economics affairs under President Clinton. The study, which summarizes data from the Securities and Exchange Commission, shows that contrary to what some say – America’s oil and natural gas companies are not owned by just a small group of corporate insiders.
In fact, the study found that company executives own only 1.5 percent of industry shares, with the majority owned by millions of middle-class Americans. In addition 43 percent of these oil and natural gas company shares are owned by mutual funds and asset management companies that have mutual funds. The study revealed institutional investors such as pension funds own 27 percent of shares.
For further information see www.energytomorrow.org.
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” – Thomas Jefferson
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think.
johng@carlisleinc.net, www.johngrange.net, 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, 316-321-2087.
Thanks again, Rep. Grange
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