TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 75-year-old man has died from injuries sustained last month when he was struck by a car while riding a bike in Topeka.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that John Gamber was critically injured after the collision with a car on Sept. 20. Topeka police said he died Wednesday.
Police say investigators are still working to determine if a crosswalk light was activated when the crash occurred.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to either the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office or the Topeka city prosecutor for review.
ELLIS–A public apology was read by Ellis Mayor Dave McDaniel to Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman during Monday’s Ellis city council meeting.
Following a 20-minute executive session, McDaniel read a prepared statement apologizing to Scheuerman regarding comments made by council members at the July 18, 2016 council meeting in his absence. During that July 18 meeting, council members discussed whether to require Scheuerman to wear a body camera while on duty. The discussion came following a number of citizen complaints about Scheuerman’s interaction with the public. No action was taken.
Coincidentally, Monday’s next agenda item following the public apology called for presentation of awards and proclamations. McDaniel then presented a plaque to Scheuerman recognizing him as a Certified Floodplain Manager. The certificate is issued by the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
In other business, the council unanimously approved a $3,900 change order to the waterline improvement project. At 12th Street and Cottonwood, a four inch hydrant will replaced with a six inch hydrant to hook onto a six inch service line. According to the project consultant, the change should alleviate some of the problems with water pressure in that area.
The complete Oct. 3, 2016 meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes October 3, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel requested the addition of an Executive Session after Public Comments.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Buck Driggs, Doreen Timken, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Avery Smith, Dena Patee, Glen Keller and Martin LaBarge
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on September 19, 2016 and Bills Ordinance #2006, with the exception of the voucher for Hays Fire & Rescue which will be considered under New Business. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Doreen Timken, PRIDE Committee representative, discussed the first phase of the cleanup of Memorial Park. Following the recommendations from Holly Dickman, KSU Horticulture agent and others, the bushes have been trimmed back and paths cleared. The committee intends to add natural landscaping with the second phase of the project this spring. Ms. Timken praised the efforts of the Stockton Correctional Facility inmates and the Public Works Department for their help with the project.
Officer Avery Smith, recent graduate of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, expressed his gratitude to the Governing Body for supporting him during his training at the Academy and for giving him the opportunity to serve the City of Ellis.
Cheryl Kinderknecht, Tourism Committee member, reminded Council of the Coffee and Calendars event on October 4th at 7:00 a.m. at the Alliance office. Organizations are invited to share event dates to develop a comprehensive community calendar for residents.
Dena Patee praised the Public Works Department for their efforts in removing the large tree from the creek.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session under attorney-client privilege. A 20-minute executive was proposed starting at 7:37 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to recess to executive session under attorney-client privilege with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 7:57 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
POST EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor David McDaniel read a prepared statement apologizing to Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman regarding comments made by Council members at the July 18, 2016 Council meeting in his absence.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
Mayor David McDaniel presented a plaque to Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman recognizing him as a Certified Floodplain Manager. The certificate is issued by the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
SPECIAL ORDER
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Street: Repair/Maintenance
City Attorney Olavee Raub provided an update on the several drainage issues brought before Council recently. Ms. Raub stated that the drainage channel on Cedar Lane was created prior to land development; therefore, homeowners bought the property with the channels already established and would likely be the party responsible for correcting. At 10th Street and Spruce, Mr. Scheuerman reported that a representative from the Natural Resources Conservation Service would review the topography of the area and offer an opinion on correcting the drainage issue in that area. Regarding the drainage on 21st Street, Ms. Raub explained that normally the developer or homeowner would be responsible to correct; however, she is researching the TIF documents to determine if drainage infrastructure planned for that area just hadn’t been completed yet. Ms. Raub will try to have more information for the next Council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Water: Special Project
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, discussed several change orders on the Waterline Improvement Project. The first change order involves the property at 606 W. 10th Street. That meter connection has always been in the alley with a long service line leading to the property. The owner of the property would like to move the connection from the alley to the front of the property. The owner is willing to donate an easement to move the meter. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to move the meter to the front of the property at 606 W. 10th Street at a cost of $121.90, contingent on approval of the easement. The motion carried 6-0.
Mr. Driggs then proposed a change order at 12th Street and Cottonwood replacing a 4” hydrant with a 6” hydrant to hook onto a 6” service line. This should alleviate some of the problems with water pressure in the area. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the change order installing a 6” hydrant at 12th Street and Cottonwood at a cost of $3,900.00. The motion carried 6-0.
At the June 20, 2016 Council meeting, Council approved the purchase of valves up to $25,000.00. Five valves were added at a total cost of $28,779.00. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to ratify the purchase of five valves at a total cost of $28,779.00. The motion carried 6-0.
Fire: Repair/Maintenance
Council member John Walz moved to ratify the invoice from Hays Fire and Rescue Sales & Service in the amount of $1,050.00 for the annual pump tests on the fire trucks. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Special Machinery: Financial
Council reviewed the proposed 6 month lease agreement with Ellis County for the 1999 Mack truck. The monthly lease payments of $3,087 will be applied to the total purchase price of the truck. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the Motor Vehicle Lease agreement with Ellis County for the 1999 Mack truck. The motion carried 6-0. City Attorney Olavee Raub will begin drafting the purchase documents.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water: Training
Council member John Walz made a motion to allow Operator-in-Training Brad Leiker and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman to attend the Kansas Municipal Utilities training on water and wastewater systems from October 12th – 14th in McPherson. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Water: Violation
The required public notice of noncompliance with KDHE requirements for TTHM levels in the water system has been published. Although the levels are decreasing, the chemical levels are calculated on a rolling average, therefore, the City will need to publish a notice for the 3rd quarter as well.
Mr. Scheuerman informed Council of talk that the Environmental Protection Agency could issue more stringent rules on the lead and copper levels in the drinking water systems. The City could face significant financial obligations if EPA requires replacement of lead and copper service lines.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for September and the October Staff Calendar. The Department will participate in several training events in the coming weeks.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented an updated roster of City committee appointments and the August health insurance savings report. Minutes from the Tourism Committee, Safety Committee, and Planning Commission were included for review. City Hall will be closed on October 20th for annual inventory.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub noted she will be absent for the October 19th Council meeting. City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler will attend in her absence.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel announced that the League’s Regional Supper will be held October 19th in Oberlin. Mayor McDaniel and Council members John Walz and Jolene Niernberger will attend the League’s Annual Conference October 8th – 10th. The Campground Committee will meet on October 10th at 7:00 p.m. Mayor McDaniel acknowledged a note received from Chris Rorabaugh thanking the Public Works Department for their help during his recent water leak. Due to a perceived conflict of interest, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner will replace Council member Gary Luea as one of the City representatives to meet with the Ellis Golf Club investors.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bret Andries moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
See the online ad here-image courtesy Salina Police- Click to ENLARGE
SALINE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating an online scam.
Police say they recently received a report of a local house that was fraudulently listed for rent on Craigslist, according to a social media report.
They credit an alert homeowner for notifying police to the online scam attempt.
Police remind the public to never send cashier’s checks, money orders, cash, or any other form of payment to an unknown person and if you are looking to rent a house or apartment, meet the landlord at the residence and conduct business in person.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — President Susan Wagle and other Republican candidates for the Kansas Senate have outlined a broad campaign platform aimed at addressing voters’ anger with state government.
But the 26 senators and Senate candidates who signed onto the platform Wednesday are not publicly breaking with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.
The platform says the Republican candidates are committed to providing greater oversight of the state budget, making the tax system fairer and working to create new jobs.
It doesn’t specifically call for repealing key tax cuts enacted at Brownback’s urging, though Wagle said “everything is on the table.”
The Wichita Republican said the platform is a response to what Republicans are hearing from voters while they campaign.
But Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka called the platform “a bunch of platitudes.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says it will not change its policy on tattoos on troopers.
The agency released a statement Tuesday saying a more focused effort on recruiting and a salary scale adjustment have generated enough applicants for jobs without having to alter the policy.
In January the KHP conducted an unscientific survey to poll the public’s perceptions of tattoos in law enforcement The full survey results are here
The current policy prohibits tattoos that are visible on areas of a trooper’s body not covered by the uniform. Minor adjustments were made for consistency.
Further changes weren’t recommended by an internal committee studying the issue.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been charged in the death of former University of St. Mary basketball player Marcus Mondaine.
The Kansas City Star reports that 21-year-old Damon Hammons, of Grandview, faces second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges in the death of Mondaine. Hammons has not been apprehended.
Authorities said Mondaine had been dating Hammons ex-girlfriend. Mondaine was killed Saturday in Kansas City while he slept beside the woman’s 1-year-old daughter. Hammons is the child’s father.
Mondaine was finishing his final semester at the private liberal arts university in Leavenworth, Kansas. Before his last season ended this spring, he was twice named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week. He also played for State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
A 33-year-old Hays man was arrested after another man was dragged behind a Hays Access bus following an incident over the weekend.
According to the Hays Police Department, at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, Dean Herzog, Hays, driver of the Access bus, was involved in an altercation with one of the passengers and shoved him off the bus.
Herzog allegedly drove off, dragging the man a short distance when he grabbed onto the bus.
Assistant Police Chief Brian Dawson said the victim sustained a cut on the head and skin abrasions.
Herzog was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery.
Anna Findley, Transportation Manager of Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas – operator of the Access bus – declined to comment.
SALINE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a burglary.
Police say between September 5th and September 29th someone cut a padlock off a storage unit in the 600 Block of South 2nd Street in Salina.
The suspect removed several antique items including a Walnut Pier mirror, a Walnut Parlor table, three oil lamps, a large round stain glass window with Oak frame, a box of Fiesta plates, antique mirrors, crystal prisms, amber crystal teardrops.
The loss is estimated at $9,614, according to police.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Washburn University graduate assistant football coach who originally was charged with aggravated kidnapping and rape has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 23-year-old Jesse Robert Bubke, of Topeka, admitted Tuesday to one count of battery and two counts of criminal restraint. Under the plea, he will serve 60 days in the Shawnee County Jail and be placed on probation for 10 months after that.
Senior assistant district attorney Dustin Curry told the judge he had discussed the proposed plea with the victim, who was in full agreement with it.
Police said the woman reported in March that she had been kidnapped from a bar, taken to Bubke’s home, assaulted and released. As a graduate assistant, Bubke has coached defensive backs.
Indian mascot decorates the basketball gym at Hays High School
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Native American mascots are popular among Kansas high schools even as a national debate brews over whether they should be eliminated.
The Manhattan Mercury analyzed a list of all the high school mascots in Kansas.
Fourteen schools have the mascot name “Indians,” making that the fourth most popular in the state. One of those schools is in Manhattan, where the school board is considering changing it. Advocates say the mascot is offensive or insensitive to American Indians.
Manhattan has used an Indian mascot since 1940. A push to change the mascot in 2001 was unsuccessful.
The list obtained from the Kansas State High School Activities Association also shows that three schools use Redskins; two use Redmen. Wamego uses Red Raiders. Two use Chieftains; two use Braves.
Saturday’s weather forecast for Hays is calling for a high of 73 degrees and sunny–perfect conditions for the “2016 What’s In Your Water? Family Fun Fest Nature Trail Walk” at Hays Medical Center, 2220 Canterbury Drive.
The free event is a partnership between a Fort Hays State University leadership class, KSU Watersheds, the city of Hays and HaysMed. Activities include fun, hands-on educational stations about soils, water, plants and the environment, according to KSU Watershed Specialist Stacie Minson, WaKeeney.
It’s also an opportunity to learn about the natural vegetation at HaysMed which recently won an award from the city for water-smart landscaping.
“They’ve done an excellent job of establishing native plants and taking a more ‘wild’ approach,” said Greg Sund, Hays Public Works Director. “It lets nature highlight what it does in this area and look more like a prairie in some cases.”
“At the same time, it provides ample opportunity for those plants to clean the stormwater that runs off. Instead of having to be regularly cared for and receive fertilizer, these plants clean the water rather than put more nutrients in the water. So, when we have people who don’t clean up after their pets, or whatever, these plants will help clean the water (runoff) before it reaches our waterways,” Sund explained.
“The landscaping can also help catch litter that can be cleaned up before it becomes a problem in our waterways, creeks and rivers,” he added.
HaysMed has converted the majority of the hospital grounds to environmentally friendly landscaping. This type of landscaping diminishes erosion, improves habitat and also reduces the use of water. The project decreased six acres of fescue grass to one acre, thus substantially reducing outside water use while maintaining an attractive grounds presentation for patients, families and the public.
The hospital also incorporated a water barrel tree watering system.
The nature trail walk is 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Participants should park in HaysMed parking lots G or F, adjacent to the nature trail.
There’s no charge to attend and free snacks and drinks will be provided.
For more information, contact Minson at [email protected] or (785) 814-7100.
Police on the scene of Wednesday’s shooting at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 5400 block of E. 21st. Street between Oliver and Woodlawn -photo courtesy KWCH
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say an 18-year-old man is dead after 20 to 30 rounds were fired at a car in northeast Wichita.
The shooting happened before 5 a.m. Wednesday in an apartment complex parking lot.
Wichita police Lt. Todd Ojile says officers found the victim inside the car. The Wichita man had multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ojile says he had gone to the apartments to see someone but didn’t live at the complex. His name wasn’t immediately released, pending notification of his relatives.
Police are interviewing witnesses and urging anyone with information to come forward.
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WICHITA— Police say an 18-year-old is dead after a shooting in the parking lot of the Woodgate apartment complex in the 5400 Block of East 21st. Street in northeast Wichita, according to a social media report.
The shooting happened just after 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
No other details were immediately available, including the name of the victim.
Photo by Andy Marso/KHI News Service Shawn Sullivan, right, the governor’s budget director, says this year’s Kansas revenue projections would have been more accurate if the process incorporated recommendations released Tuesday. At left is Sam Williams, a retired accountant selected to lead the working group that made the recommendations.
BY ANDY MARSO
A working group appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback unveiled Tuesday a host of recommendations for changing the way Kansas officials estimate the amount of tax revenue the state will receive each year.
The recommendations include overhauling the group that makes the estimates and making a controversial change to the way monthly tax revenue is reported.
The governor’s office and the Legislature use the tax revenue estimates as a guide to the amount the can spend for all services, including education, health care and transportation.
The current process has been in place for decades. But state revenues have consistently failed to meet estimates since 2012, when Brownback and the Legislature approved significant income tax cuts and then followed with increases in other taxes in subsequent years.
Sam Williams, a retired accountant tapped to lead the working group, said the inability to adapt to the tax changes shows the revenue estimating process needs improvement.
“When there’s a significant tax policy change, the system breaks down, and that’s exactly what we’ve been through in the state of Kansas the last four years,” Williams said.
A consensus revenue estimating group makes tax revenue projections twice a year. The group includes representatives of the Division of the Budget, Kansas Department of Revenue and Kansas Legislative Research Department and one consulting economist each from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University.
Williams’ group recommended eventually removing the current economists and putting out a bid for a single economist experienced in economic and revenue forecasting.
“The tools we have are not accurate,” Williams said. “The people we’re bringing to the table are not bringing, in our opinion, the expertise to the table we need to bring.”
Controversy over monthly reports
Williams’ group also recommended that revenue estimators:
Gather additional data from more diverse sources for the twice-annual revenue forecasting meetings, including macroeconomic reports and information from experts in industries important to Kansas, like agriculture.
Buy new computer software to form economic and revenue models.
Use statistical methods that focus less on past trends.
Restructure the Department of Revenue to increase expertise.
Estimate capital gains separately from individual income tax receipts.
Remove monthly projections from Department of Revenue reports and report only actual collections compared to the same month of the prior year.
The governor’s office can make those changes without legislative approval.
Democratic leaders immediately voiced concerns about the proposal to scrap the reports that compare actual collections to monthly projections.
Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka, the top Democrat on the Senate budget committee, said that would make it more difficult for legislators to know if the state was on track to be able to fund its budget or if the budget needed to be adjusted.
Kelly said the monthly missed revenue targets have become a political embarrassment for Brownback.
“Clearly this is an effort to get that out of the news,” Kelly said. “Because it has been bad and will probably continue to be bad.”
The proposal to end the monthly comparisons comes on the heels of a decision by Brownback’s Council of Economic Advisors to scrap a quarterly report showing Kansas lagging in metrics the governor said should be used to evaluate his policies.
Williams said his group’s recommendations were not a response to the current economic or political environment. Instead, he said they were intended to better account for tax changes and economic trends like the drop in commodity prices and oil prices.
He said the proposals would make the twice-annual forecasts accurate enough that comparisons to monthly projections would become irrelevant.
Tax changes drive revenue uncertainty
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said in a prepared statement that the current revenue estimating process had been in place since 1975, through eight administrations. It had been accurate, Hensley said, until Brownback and Republican legislators began overhauling the tax code.
Kelly likewise said the flood of tax changes since 2012 made inaccuracies in the revenue estimates inevitable.
“I don’t see how any of these recommendations are going to change that,” she said.
But Shawn Sullivan, the governor’s budget director, said this year’s projections would have been more accurate under Williams’ recommendations.
Sullivan said he already was working to implement some of the group’s recommendations, but the administration still was evaluating the proposal to change the monthly reports.
“This particular recommendation, we’ll have to discuss with the governor, the Legislature, with KLRD if we decide to implement it,” he said.
Sullivan said a decision on the monthly reports likely would be made later this year or early next year.
Williams’ group also recommended that the Legislature allow the executive branch to delay April revenue forecasts until May to sync better with state income tax deadlines and allow more input on the fiscal notes that legislators use to evaluate the effect of tax bills before voting on them.
Far more companies used the exemption than originally estimated, leading to questions about whether corporations were changing their structure to take advantage of it.
Williams said the work group found no evidence that was the case.
Andy Marso is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 75-year-old man has died from injuries sustained last month when he was struck by a car while riding a bike in Topeka.
“The landscaping can also help catch litter that can be cleaned up before it becomes a problem in our waterways, creeks and rivers,” he added.
