ELLIS – Ellis city council members will consider bids for a survey of potential water well sites during their meeting Sept. 18. They will also hear an update on repairs to the Dorrance Street bridge.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ellis City Hall.

The complete agenda follows.

AGENDA
September 18, 2017
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 September 5, 2017
b) Bills Ordinance #2029
c) August Manual Journal Entries
(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) Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Dustin Vine
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Bids for Survey of Potential Water Well Sites
b) Update on Repairs to Dorrance Street Bridge – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
c) Review Amended Lease Agreements for Museums
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Discuss City Website – Cheryl Kinderknecht, Tourism Committee
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Consider Approval to Attend Training
(2) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Information on Prohibiting Pedestrians on Big Creek Dam
3) City Clerk
(1) August Financial Statements
(2) Draft Minutes from City Committees
(3) Department Update
4) Attorney
(1) Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Update from League Annual Conference
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT

My name is Kevin Daniels and I would like to publicly declare my candidacy as a write-in candidate for the USD 489 Board of Education this November.

Since not earning the appointment for the open board seat a few weeks ago, many people: teachers, staff, administrators, parents, business people, and community members, have encouraged me to run as a write-in candidate this November. They believe in me as a candidate and as a person they can trust.

I am currently serving as president of Roosevelt Home and School, and I have worked hard to support our students, but also our teachers and staff. I have been in the classrooms and seen the needs first-hand for smaller class sizes and better facilities. I have talked with parents and teachers on a regular basis, listening to their concerns and making the tough decisions when necessary.

I believe that I will be an asset to the USD 489 Board of Education. I believe I will bring honesty, transparency, and trust to the position, and I will fight for what it is right.

My campaign slogan is “Working with Teachers to put Students First.” There are three parts to that statement that are important to me. The first word is “working.” I am a hard worker and give 110 percent to everything that I do. I am active in the community, serving on several boards and committees, working hand-in-hand with people to better our community. I will give my whole heart to serving on the board.

The second part of the statement is “with teachers.” If I could make the slogan longer, it would say, “with teachers, staff, and administrators.” There is a feeling by many that the board is in an adversarial relationship with the teachers and staff. I believe something needs to be done to fix that. We need to listen to one another and work together for the common goal of educating our students. I have demonstrated at Roosevelt that much can be accomplished when parents, teachers, staff, and administrators work together in unison. Yes, disagreements come up, but I will listen carefully to both sides and then make the best decision possible. I have the support of many teachers and staff in the district, and it’s important to me to have that support. But that support doesn’t mean that I will make decisions just to make people happy. What I have promised my supporters—all of them—is that I will listen to their concerns and that I will be transparent and honest with them about my decisions.

The third part of the statement should perhaps be at the beginning, because it is the most important: “put students first.” The whole reason we who support our schools do so is for the sake of the students. Nothing comes before what is best for the safety, security, and education of our students. If students stay in Hays, there are entrusted to us for 7 plus hours a day for 13 years. We have an incredibly important responsibility to use that time wisely, preparing them for the world beyond K-12.

To serve on the board would be a great honor for me. It has been humbling these past several weeks, having so many people share with me their support and encouragement. I am looking forward to a win in November so that I can continue serving our Hays community, this time as a board of education member.

I would humbly ask for your support as I embark on this uphill write-in campaign. My name will not appear on the ballot, so each person will have to manually enter my name. It’s going to be a battle, but it’s one that I’m prepared to win. For more information about me, visit kevindanielsfor489.com or on Facebook.com/kevindanielsfor489. You can email me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you. Thank you for your support!

I know, I know, it’s still more than 13 months before Kansans elect a governor, so why such early analysis? A reasonable question, but given that we have more than 10 announced or probable candidates, it makes sense to think things through. Let’s go.

1. The 2018 election shapes up as the most wide open and uncertain since Kansas adopted four-year terms for governor in 1974. Although a recent Steve Rose column in the Kansas City Star suggested that Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Democratic House Minority Leader Jim Ward would face off, such a presumption seems beyond premature. We also have soon-to-be governor Jeff Colyer, Insurance Commissioner Ken Seltzer, businessman Wink Hartman, former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Jim Barnett, former legislator and non-profit head Ed O’Malley, former legislator Tom Hutton, all Republicans. Democrats include former legislator and Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty, former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer, Arden Anderson, and a 16-year-old high school student, Jack Bergeson, who cleverly ascertained that Kansas has no minimum age for governor.

2. The best-known GOP candidate is also the least liked. Kobach has the highest name recognition; being a well-known Republican should be an advantage. But Kobach is far more notorious than popular. Indeed, when one recent survey identified him with a given immigration policy, support for that policy dropped by ten percentage points.

3. If Kobach is nominated, torrents of national money will flow into Kansas, a lot for Kobach, but far more against him. The Secretary of State has spent seven years making himself a national figure, with the upshot that he will serve as a powerful magnet for out-of-state money to oppose his candidacy. Short take, nationally he is toxic for many major liberal and moderate funders.

4. The three Democratic candidates reside far away from the votes they need most. The Democratic primary will favor the candidate who can do well in Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas, and Shawnee counties, as opposed to Wichita and rural Kansas.

5. Might a Democrat from northeast Kansas still enter the race? Right now, despite much recruitment and enticement, it looks unlikely. Ironically, several moderate Republicans from Johnson County might well have put themselves in a good position to seek the nomination by switching parties before the 2016 elections

6. GOP consultants will prosper. Still, I want to be in the room when a consultant outlines the “path to victory” (in both primary and general elections) to all the Republican candidates except Kobach. “Oh, Mr. Seltzer here is how you distinguish yourself from the Republican herd and then defeat the candidate (Kobach) with a stranglehold on the far right voters who dominate primary elections.”

7. Will there be six or seven candidates in the GOP field, or will it winnow down to just three or four? For Kobach, of course, given his attraction to base voters, the more the merrier.

8. Will (Can?) a pro-life Democrat, Josh Svaty, win that party’s primary? A truly difficult task, even though he might be the strongest general election candidate.

9. Did the 2016 election foreshadow a return to moderate-conservative government in KS? If the Kansas House retains its partisan balance and someone not named Kobach wins, the answer is “yes.”

10. Last, but certainly not least, will Greg Orman run for Governor as an Independent? Orman’s decision complicates everything. Republicans see him as a Democrat, Democrats see him as the ultimate spoiler. Orman sees himself as a savior. Kris Kobach, who might well lose a head-to-head race with Democrat, likely sees him as his best pathway to Cedar Crest.

Welcome to the 2018 governor’s race.

Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas

While linguists debunk the urban legend that an Asian symbol for crisis also means opportunity, recent weather events reveal catastrophe can open opportunity’s door. That’s evident in nearby Trego County. Just a month ago Wakeeney and area residents took cover as wind driven baseball size hail shattered windows, punched holes in roofs, and decimated vehicles. If you drive through town now, you see stacks of shingles lining neighborhoods and glass repair logos on vehicles parked around town. Clearly, some businesses are thriving.

After the initial shock after examining destroyed possessions, insurance agents and residents worked swiftly to put lives back together. This is a big task considering a local builder’s observation that over 900 homes averaged $20,000 dollars damage each. Keep in mind some buildings had more and others had less. That means a lot of roofers, window, guttering, siding repair folks, and painters are working long hours to put homes back to rights before cold weather sets in. Every street rings with the sounds of hammers and nail guns.

Almost every yard sports a sign advertising companies performing the work, and many include local names. Younger residents are watching out for elderly neighbors to make certain reputable businesses do the work. To discourage those who take advantage of others’ misery, the city assembled a list of accredited companies to guide selections. Well-staffed crews finish a roof a day before moving to the next job. In such an environment, new employees can gain experience and skills quickly, a benefit to them and the country.

Home repair companies aren’t the only ones benefitting from this catastrophe. Vehicles sustained as much damage as houses did, if not more. In many cases, insurance companies totaled out cars and trucks even though the mechanical parts worked. Second-hand parts dealers have purchased a number so they can repurpose functioning materials.

Car dealerships from as far away as Larned sent flyers to residents offering better than usual deals for drivers who must replace an auto. Due to sales volume after such a crisis, institutions can afford to offer lower prices without hurting their bottom line to those who lost transportation.

Service industries are booming. With extra laborers in town, motels, restaurants, gas stations, and quick shops are full of customers. Local employment opportunities have improved for the time being. I don’t know that the city charges for extra loads to the dump, but someone’s working plenty of hours to keep up with the volume of battered shingles, glass, and siding arriving daily.

More than anything, I’ve seen residents passing on one kindness after another. Folks wait patiently for their neighbor’s house to be restored, knowing their turn is coming. Relatives arrive from out of town to clean up messes and replace roofs and windows for loved ones who can’t. People inquire of one another, ask how things are going, and help despite their own troubles.
It will be awhile before life is back to normal and the echoes of noisy repairs become a distant memory. Despite the wait, out of despair hope shines. It’s a good thought to hang onto when the news is full of tragic stories.Out of Despair, Hope Shines

CATHARINE – Ellis County Rural Water District No. 6 has scheduled an outage for Monday, September 18.

According to Tom Walters Jr. Rural Water District Manager, the areas affected will be north of Feedlot Road in the morning hours and partial afternoon hours.

The town of Catharine will be without water from approximately 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.

LOGAN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday in Logan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Tacoma driven by Robert A. Nolting, 57, Longmont, CO., was northbound on Logan County road 160 ten miles west of Russell Springs

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It traveled into the east ditch. He overcorrected into the west ditch. The pickup rolled three times and the driver was ejected.

Nolting was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Kennedy Koster Funeral Home.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

 

Today A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 84. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph.

Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 94. Windy, with a south wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 60. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 22 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

WednesdaySunny, with a high near 84.

Wednesday NightClear, with a low around 60.

ThursdaySunny, with a high near 92.