ELLIS–An update on financing of the city’s waterline improvement project will be heard by Ellis City Council members during their meeting tonight.

In other business, the Ellis Recreation Commission 2015 financial statements will be reviewed, and the council will consider creating an official Ellis Tourism Committee.

The complete agenda follows.

AGENDA July 18, 2016 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS City Hall – Council Meeting Room

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on July 5, 2016
b) Bills Ordinance #2001
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis County Coalition
b) Discuss Possible Utilities Connection – Larry Parke
c) Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Denis Vine
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Installation of WIFI at City Hall
b) Update on Special Pickup Charges
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Pay Estimate #1 and Authorize Mayor to Sign Documents for Waterline Improvement Project
b) Discuss Relocation of Fire Hydrant on Dorrance Street
c) Consider Approval of Payment Application #4, KDHE Pay Request #4, and Authorize Mayor to Sign Documents for Wastewater Treatment Plant Project
d) Consider Approval of Cereal Malt Beverage License – Ellis Fire Department
e) Discuss Creation of City Tourism Committee
f) Consider Approval to Purchase Water Treatment Plant High Speed Pump
g) Discuss Cameras for Public Works Department
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Comparative Water Report
(2) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Ellis Recreation Commission 2015 Financial Statements
(2) June Health Insurance Savings Report
(3) Update on USDA Financing for Waterline Improvement Project
(4) Department Update
4) Attorney
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Reminder of KOMA/KORA Training on August 5th
(2) (Enc) Letter from LKM
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT

The Hays Police Department responded to 18 animal calls and 30 traffic stops Fri., July 15, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Harassment, Telephone/FAX–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 12:37 AM; 12:50 AM
Burglary/residence–3300 block Willow St, Hays; 7/14 5 PM; 7/15 4:50 AM
Burglary/vehicle–3300 block Willow St, Hays; 12 AM; 7:45 AM
Burglary/vehicle–2900 block Indian Trl, Hays; 8:38 AM
Animal At Large–1200 block E 43rd St, Hays; 9:05 AM
Mental Health Call–2700 block Colonial St, Hays; 9:20 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–100 block W 4th St, Hays; 9:39 AM
Animal At Large–1700 block Oak St, Hays; 10:35 AM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 10:38 AM
Found/Lost Property–1100 block Downing Ave, Hays; 11:09 AM
Animal At Large–2500 block Donald Dr, Hays; 11:20 AM
Animal At Large–1300 Donald Dr, Hays; 12:19 PM
Animal Injured–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 12:40 PM
Suspicious Person–300 block Main St, Hays; 1:50 PM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 1:36 PM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 3:08 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 3:16 PM
Animal Injured–1700 block Agnes Dr, Hays; 3:47 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–3200 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 4:15 PM
Civil Dispute–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 5:48 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6:48 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and 22 traffic stops Sat., July 16, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Driving Under the Influence–1000 block W 27th St, Hays; 1:04 AM
Disorderly Conduct–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:13 AM
Disturbance – Noise–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 1:12 AM
Driving Under the Influence–400 block W 8th St, Hays; 2 AM
Open Door/Window–200 block W 8th St, Hays; 2:14 AM
Battery – Domestic–500 block Ash St, Hays; 5:08 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–500 block S Campus Dr, Hays; 6:23 AM
Theft of Vehicle–1700 block Wheatland Ave, Hays; 7:10 AM
Civil Dispute–1600 block E 27th St, Hays; 9:01 AM
Animal At Large–500 block W 40th St, Hays; 9:44 AM
Water Use Violation–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 1:58 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–200 block W 5th St, Hays; 2:29 PM
Suspicious Activity–2900 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 2:32 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–Hays; 4:06 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–1600 block E 27th St Terr, Hays; 4:55 PM
Found/Lost Property–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 5:55 PM
Disturbance – Noise–200 block W 5th St, Hays; 10:03 PM
Harassment (All Other)–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 11:38 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and 22 traffic stops Sun., July 17, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Disturbance – General–500 block W 21st St, Hays; 12:06 AM
Suicidal Subject–1100 block E 15th St, Hays; 12:16 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:25 AM; 1:30 AM
Aggravated Battery–400 block E 17th St, Hays; 2 AM; 3:08 AM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 5:28 AM
Theft of Vehicle–3300 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 7:45 AM
Fire–400 block E 5th St, Hays; 8:31 AM
Found/Lost Property–400 block W 13th St, Hays; 8:52 AM
Parking Complaint–300 block Mopar Dr, Hays; 10:45 AM
Traffic Stop–2600 block Vine St, Hays; 11:14 AM
Unattended Death–1100 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 1:02 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–1200 block Vine St, Hays; 4:42 PM
Mental Health Call–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 4:48 PM
Theft (general)–3000 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 6:36 PM
Burglary/residence–200 block W 37th St, Hays; 7/16 5 PM; 7/17 3 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1000 block Vine St, Hays; 12 AM; 5:58 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–2800 block Indian Trl, Hays; 7:50 PM
Sex Offense–1600 block E 27th St, Hays; 8:23 PM
Animal Call–1200 block Allen, Hays; 10:09 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–1800 block Ash St, Hays; 10:54 PM

By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Both Rhiannon Mullins and Cheyenne Rowe planned to participate in the High Plains Music Camp. It would have been their fifth straight year attending Fort Hays State University’s summer camp.

Mullins was at the camp lastweek. Rowe, however, recently had a relapse of mononucleosis she first contracted her sophomore year in high school. Now, instead of being a vocal student last week she is at home in Dighton, resting. Rowe said she misses being at the camp.

“It’s always great to hear other performances from professionals and students as well,” Rowe said.

Mullins, from Hoxie, was busy last week with performances on her trumpet. She was practicing for her honor recital Wednesday over lunch hour before that evening’s performance.

“I’m a bit nervous,” said Mullins, who is also in honor band and honor jazz band at camp.

Mullins’ father, Mike, played the trumpet in high school.

“I started playing on my dad’s trumpet when I was 2 or 3,” Mullins said. “Fourth or fifth grade, when we were introduced to music, that’s when I found this is what I really want to do.”

Rowe, a mezzo-soprano, thinks she might have gotten her singing ability from her father, Troy.

“My dad’s a very talented singer, but he never really did anything with it,” Mullins said. “It kind of passed on.”

Music helped Rowe chart her career path while she was in high school. She attended Garden City High School as a senior, and was active in music there after attending high school in Dighton her first three years.

“When I got hurt playing basketball my sophomore year, I really relied on music to pull me out of a funk,” Rowe said.

After that, Rowe decided to concentrate on music. Now, despite missing FHSU’s summer music camp this year, she still will be able to concentrate on music this fall at FHSU as part of the incoming freshman class. Rowe, who will major in music education and performance, wants to recuperate now so she is ready to move in to her residence hall next month.

“I’m really excited to be going to Fort Hays State,” Rowe said. “I met (FHSU instructors at summer camp) before my freshman year, and everyone there is really welcoming.”

Rowe shares the same enthusiasm for FHSU’s summer music camp, now in its 69th year.

“It’s been really positive,” Rowe said. “It’s helped me grow confidence as an individual and also as a performer. The faculty is really great and willing to work with everyone. Everyone’s very passionate.”

Mullins – who, like Rowe, will be a freshman at Fort Hays State this fall, majoring in music education and performance — agreed the enthusiasm of the FHSU faculty shows through at the camp.

“They’re passionate about it,” Mullins said. “They want to keep music alive, and they want to help kids stay in music programs. They offer camps like this to keep it going.”

After five summers at FHSU’s music camp, the school feels special, Mullins said.

“It feels like home,” she said. “It’s a great big family.”

By Martin Hawver

Yes, there was griping and angst last week when Secretary of State Kris Kobach, from hundreds of miles away, managed to pull at least 17,000 Kansans’ votes off state primary election—and maybe even general election—ballots.

The issue: State law requiring proof of citizenship to vote in Kansas elections. That’s a birth certificate or passport, or something similar to make sure you are a genuine citizen if you’re going to vote for a state representative or mayor or water district board member.

Sounds logical, of course. Probably, ought to be citizens who are electing government leaders, not foreigners or even just tourists.

A major source of those questionable registrations—of folks who want to register to vote but don’t automatically pass the proof of citizenship requirement—is registering to vote by checking a box on the forms used to get new driver’s licenses. It’s called “motor voter” registration, and the idea is that when you go in to get a driver’s license, you can conveniently register to vote. A two-fer.

Well, judges have decided that proof of citizenship required by state law for voting is a dab more than is needed for just voting in federal elections. So, pretty much uniformly, judges have said, though maybe not written out in must-follow orders yet, that the motor voter registration is good enough for voting in federal elections.

Kobach, who essentially wants everyone who votes anywhere on anything to prove by birth certificate or some other document that they are genuine Americans, came up with a fix for the problem he perceived, and managed to get the Legislature to pass.

That solution: Sure, Kansas election office workers will go ahead and count those votes by drivers for federal offices. But, if you haven’t proved to the satisfaction of state law that you’re an American, well, you are just wasting your time at the bottom of the ballot. For 1st congressional district Republican voters, the U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp/Roger Marshall race will be worth the trip indoors. And that’s about it for high-profile primaries.

Real effect of the Kobach rule will be to cut votes in small-number elections. Those where a hundred votes might decide a primary election, and that primary win probably means a general election win.

Take four years ago, when conservative Republicans were trying to oust moderate Republicans who didn’t care for the massive tax cuts of that year. Just 160 primary votes saved a moderate who went on to win; and it was less than 500 votes that bumped then-Senate President Steven Morris, R-Hugoton, out of the Senate.

That 17,000 votes, scattered across the state, may well determine who is running the Legislature next session.

It’s called following state law by Kobach, who proposed and saw passed his proposal which is now, well, state law. Those who didn’t like that proof of citizenship hurdle call it voter suppression, and it sure was, but they didn’t have the votes to stop it, so we can just call it state law now.

It’s just law.

Practically, though, Kobach, who was represented by top-level employees in Topeka while he was helping write the party platform at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, last week played the game to prevent counting those don’t-have-the-citizenship-paperwork voters’ votes in August or November.

Kobach rewrote the rules and regulations for dealing with ballots cast by those who can’t prove citizenship to state standards. Well, they get handed a ballot, and they, having been forewarned that they are “provisional,” can vote for federal officers, and if they have time to spare, the rest of the state and local candidates on the ballot. Those non-federal votes just won’t be counted.

Practically, if you want to make sure that those “I’ll register if it’s easy enough” voters don’t shift state and local races, Kobach has found exactly how to accomplish that. Probably isn’t a good idea, but if that’s your goal, Kobach has done a great job getting it done.

That’s why the angst. Not counting at least 17,000 votes will change some primary election results, and everyone can analyze whether it helps moderate or conservative Republicans, or which Democrat can count on obsessive citizenship provers as their supporters.

Angst, computation, the only thing sure is that the new ballot counting rule for the state is going to change things. We’re just not sure what, and by how much…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

City of Hays

Beginning Monday, July 18, 2016, a contractor for the city of Hays will be doing Street Seal Coating on various streets throughout the city.

The Seal Coat is a spray treatment applied in two coats so the streets will be temporarily closed during this time. Property owners will be notified by the contractor prior to sealing of the streets. The repairs are estimated to be completed within two weeks (weather permitting).

Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution and if at all possible avoid this area. The construction is in relation to 2016 street maintenance projects.

The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Planning, Inspection, and Enforcement Division at (785) 628-7310.

Click the image below for a sortable list of Ellis County Fair results! Updated daily.

ELLIS–The American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive Mon., July 18, at the Ellis Knights of Columbus, 1013 Washington, from 12 to 6 p.m.

Click here to make an appointment to donate; walk-ins are also welcome.