OFFICE OF GOV.

TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer along with Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey and Kansas Water Office Director Tracy Streeter toured parts of southwest Kansas Thursday, March 15, surveying the drought conditions currently affecting the entire state. The governor made an executive order declaring a state of drought in all the counties in Kansas earlier in the week.

The entire southwest region is currently experiencing extreme drought conditions.

“Farmers and ranchers have a tough job that becomes even more difficult when dealing with a lack of water,” said Governor Colyer, “It was important to me to take the time to visit some of the areas where the drought is affecting our farmers and ranchers, so I can listen to their concerns, understand what challenges they are facing, and offer support however we can.”

The governor started the tour at the Clawson Ranch Partnership just west of Meade, Kansas, where David Clawson showed the governor winter wheat fields that are struggling to come out of dormancy due to the extreme lack of moisture in the soil.

The next stop on the tour allowed the Governor and all tour participants, including leaders from the Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association, to see firsthand examples of technologies, including soil moisture probes that farmers are implementing to better manage their water resources. Across Kansas, farmers are incorporating new technologies and practices, from participating in voluntary Water Conservation Areas to utilizing more efficient irrigation practices, in their crop management plans. These technologies and management practices have enabled farmers to improve water management and conservation practices, which becomes especially important in tough drought years.

“Kansas farmers are implementing proactive water conservation practices, as we saw today,” said Streeter. “These water-saving strategies are important in our efforts to preserve natural resources for future generations, as well as to persevere through drought years.”

The final tour stop was at the Gardiner Angus Ranch near Ashland, which was the site of devastating wildfires that burned more than 650,000 acres in Kansas last March. Rancher Greg Gardiner showed the governor areas of the ranch that burned last year and efforts that continue to rebuild the operation, including rebuilding fences and other infrastructure. Current drought conditions dramatically increase the risk of wildfire disasters, in addition to the direct challenge the drought poses for the survival of crops and livestock.

Earlier this week, Governor Colyer encouraged county Farm Service Agency (FSA) committees to begin the process of requesting access to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for haying and grazing. The Governor says he is hopeful FSA will grant this request, as accessing CRP will provide additional forage resources and help reduce wildfire fuel load and aid in fire suppression.

“We witnessed some incredible examples of the resilience of the farmers and ranchers of Kansas, and the significant efforts they are making to persist through these times of difficulty,” said McClaskey. “Agriculture is the largest industry in Kansas, accounting for 45 percent of the state’s economy. The impacts of this drought will be felt by every Kansan, and we stand ready to support farmers and ranchers however we can during this drought emergency.”

Governor Colyer’s drought declaration signed by executive order on Tuesday will provide assistance to farmers and ranchers as they cope with the impact the drought will continue to have on crops and livestock. The executive order applied to all 105 counties in the state; at that time 57 counties were in D2 (severe) or D3 (extreme) drought levels. Thursday’s U.S. Drought Monitor brought that number up to 66 counties, with no improvement in conditions in the near future.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“This is not a short term thing. … You can’t expect that if we hire a retail recruitment consultant that within three months we’ll have 10 stores open,” Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood told city commissioners Thursday night. “It’s a long game. These projects take time.”

In November, the city of Hays issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for retail gap analysis and recruitment firms.

Wood and other city staff members are recommending Retail Strategies of Birmingham, Ala., at a cost of $50,000 for one year and the option to renew for two additional years at $45,000 each year.

The three other companies submitting RFQs are “data centric” with their proposals, according to Wood.

“Retail Strategies has the contacts in the market. They know the retailers, the people who are in the game,” Wood said. “They said they want to do the analysis as quickly as possible and then take that with them to recruit businesses at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Las Vegas in May.”

Commissioners agreed to act on the recommendation at their next regular meeting with a preference to start with a one-year contract only.

“I’m anxious to see what they can do,” said Sandy Jacobs.

Shaun Musil also liked the proposal from Retail Strategies but wondered what they would do differently from previous efforts to lure new business to Hays.

Wood pointed out that analyses have been done before but the city has “never had anybody that’s actually gone out to the retailers and said this is why you need to come to Hays.

“We may have had the data before but Retail Strategies can fashion the data in a way they know realtors are looking for.” That information includes which retail stores like to be in situated in the same area.

Mayor James Meier asked if the data would be helpful to the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development.

“I would argue that’s not what the coalition does,” interjected City Manager Toby Dougherty. “They’ve pulled some high-level data but there was also a lot of asking what people would want to see in Hays.”

The city’s 2018 budget includes $43,775 that was intended to support the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development. The coalition has chosen not to request funding from the city in 2018.

Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller recommended that unused allocation be used for economic development. “Right now, it’s this retail recruitment,” he said. The allocation, along with additional economic development monies from the General Fund, would be used to hire Retail Strategies.

The firm would then become available to also work with local developers, realtors, brokers and landowners.

“We want to maximize what they can do,” Wood said.

“I have to admit, I was skeptical about this from the beginning,” he added. “We’re kind of at a tipping point with things now. We’re gonna have some stuff land. We’ve got the convention center coming in.  Do we really need this?

“But after talking to references, the people who have worked with these guys, I think it will be money well spent,” said Wood.

“What do we have to lose?” Meier said. “We’ve spent almost twice this amount every year for many years.”

Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. from Gross Memorial Coliseum

Captain Chris Stegman of the City of Hays Fire Department is retiring after 28 years of service to the people of Hays and Ellis County. A retirement reception to honor Captain Stegman will be held on Thursday, March 22, from 3 to 5 PM in the City Commission meeting room at City Hall, 1507 Main. The public is invited to attend.

In 1990, Captain Stegman started as a volunteer firefighter with the Ellis County Fire Department at the Hays rural fire company station. On May 28, 1998, he was appointed as a career firefighter with the City of Hays Fire Department. He advanced through the ranks until he was promoted to Captain in command of the HFD A-shift on Jan. 2, 2005.

Stegman was one of the first Hays firefighters trained as a fire investigator and hazardous materials technician. He is also nationally certified as a fire inspector, fire instructor and basic and advanced fire officer. Captain Stegman graduated from the University of Kansas Certified Public Manager program and he completed a management course of study at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md.

During his service with the HFD, Captain Stegman took extra training to become an expert in hazardous materials safety codes. In addition to his other duties, he worked with the businesses in our community to help make sure hazardous materials storage and use met current safety standards.

From 1988 to 1996, Stegman served with the U.S. Army Reserve. He was activated during Operation Desert Storm and served with the 44th Evacuation Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

“Captain Stegman has been an important member of the City of Hays Fire Department. Over the years he has contributed a great deal to help us advance as a professional organization. He truly cares about the people of Hays and the members of the fire department. While he may be retiring he will always be a part of the City of Hays Fire Department,” said Chief Gary Brown.

— HFD news release

KDWPT

PRATT – Mike Rader, wildlife education supervisor for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has been selected by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) to receive the John K. Strickler Award.

Each year, KACEE recognizes leaders in education with its Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Awards. Nominated by their peers, recipients are chosen for exhibiting outstanding innovation, leadership and achievement, as well as collaboration and cooperation within and beyond the environmental education field.

“These award recipients are the best in their field and KACEE is pleased to honor these deserving individuals and organizations, who contribute so much to environmental education in Kansas,” said Gina Penzig, KACEE president and media relations manager at Westar Energy.

The John K. Strickler Award, named after one of KACEE’s founders and first executive director John K. Strickler, honors the lifetime achievements, contributions, and leadership of individuals in the Kansas conservation and environmental education field. Rader was selected because of his long-term commitment to environmental education, which began early in his career when he worked as a conservation worker at Wilson State Park.

At Wilson State Park, Rader provided visitors with educational programs about the unique wildlife in the park, as well as his love for the area.

In 2007, Rader was promoted to wildlife education coordinator where he took his passion for teaching about the environment statewide. Currently, Rader oversees staff and programming at the Milford Nature Center, Prairie Center in Olathe, Pratt Education Center and Museum, Southeast Kansas Nature Center in Galena, and the Fort Hays State University Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms. Rader also coordinates the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites (OWLS) program, promoting and funding outdoor classrooms at 167 schools across the state, where students can engage in onsite, hands-on outdoor learning labs.

Rader also spearheads ECO-Meets, which are statewide scholarship competitions for high school students. Hundreds of high school students from around the state participate each year, many of whom go on to pursue careers in the natural sciences as a result of their experience.

Other award winners recognized alongside Rader this year include:

KACEE Awards – Flint Hills Map and Education Program, Elmdale (Community/Non-Profit);Sperry-Galligar Audubon Society, Pittsburg (Community/Non-Profit);Judy Boltman, Topeka (Government);Melanie Falcon, Lindsborg (PreK-16 Education);Park Management and Conservation Program, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (PreK-16 Education).

Connie Elpers Rising Star Award – Amber Myers, Manhattan

Kansas Green School of the Year Award – Chisholm Middle School, Newton

Awards will be presented at a celebration hosted by KACEE on Friday, April 6, 2018, at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan. The event is sponsored by KACEE, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Sunset Zoo, Midwest Energy, and the Franklin County Conservation District.

To purchase tickets, and for more information on the awards, visit www.kacee.org or call (785) 532-1902.