HPD

In preparation for this weekend’s blizzard, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty has declared the City of Hays to be under a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency. During a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any street designated as an emergency snow route.

The City of Hays Public Works Department and Hays Police Department are requesting your assistance with snow removal along emergency snow routes. Please take the appropriate measures and move your vehicle from the snow route at this time. Should you take no action and allow your vehicle to remain parked on an emergency snow route, you risk receiving a citation and/or having your vehicle towed at your expense.

This Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency shall remain in effect until such time that the Hays City Manager deems the Winter Storm Traffic Emergency terminated.

Since winter precipitation continues to fall and conditions are expected to worsen through the weekend, the Hays Police Department is asking that motorists avoid travel if at all possible. Those that must travel are advised to do so with caution and are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. Please remember to drive slow, pay attention to vehicles in front of you, and allow for extra stopping distance. The public’s cooperation is greatly appreciated throughput this winter storm.

Below is a link to the City of Hays website that has a map of the snow routes:

https://www.haysusa.com/402/Snow-Route-Information.

Adjutant General’s Department

Moderate to heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions are possible with a winter storm system that is forecast for this weekend. The storm system will begin to affect western Kansas tonight and spread eastward across the state through tomorrow.

Current forecast predictions indicate that there will be a mixture of rain, freezing rain or drizzle before the snow begins across portions of the state. Widespread heavy snow coupled with northerly wind gusts as high as 45-55 mph will cause blowing snow throughout the day on Saturday, hindering travel conditions due to limited visibilities. Snow totals are expected to range from 1-6 inches across much of the state, with locally heavier amounts possible, especially in western Kansas.

Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a declaration of disaster emergency to expedite use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties if needed.

“Due to upcoming severe winter weather, I’ve declared a disaster emergency to make sure state assistance is readily available if needed,” said Kelly. “I encourage all Kansans to stay warm and safe during the snow storm in the coming days. Avoid travel if possible and keep an eye on the weather forecast as the storm moves and develops.”

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will activate the state emergency operations center on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 a.m. through midnight, with additional staffing, if needed, into Sunday. Agencies in the SEOC will include the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Kansas National Guard. Additional support agencies will be contacted as needed.

The Kansas National Guard will activate and preposition thirteen Stranded Motorist Assistance Response Teams to assist local public safety agencies reach stranded motorists if local resource capabilities are exceeded. Each team will consist of four Guardsmen and two High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles.

Kansans are urged to change or delay their travel plans until the storm moves through. If you must travel, be sure your car’s gas tank is full and you have an emergency kit. Vehicle emergency kits should include blankets, flashlights, batteries, a cell phone charger, hand-warmers, high-energy food snacks, bottled water, necessary medications, a snow shovel, flares and other emergency supplies. Make sure your cell phone is charged and someone is aware of your itinerary, including expected time of arrival.

On the road, remember the following:
* Allow extra time for delays and slower traffic speeds.
* Buckle up and properly secure children in safety seats.
* Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Ice and snow significantly increase your stopping distance.
* Accelerate and brake gently. A light foot on the gas is less likely to make wheels spin on ice and snow. Braking is best accomplished by pumping the pedal. If your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system, it is very important that you understand how to use it. Read the owner’s manual or check with a dealership for more information, and practice using it correctly.
* Make turns slowly and gradually, especially in heavily traveled areas (e.g. intersections that may be icy from snow that melted and refroze).
* Visibility is very important. You must be able to see out, and other drivers must be able to see your vehicle. Clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, and lights. Use headlights as necessary.
* If your car loses traction and begins to slide, steer into the swerve, or in the direction you want to go. Anticipate a second skid in the opposite direction as the car straightens out.

If you are stranded in a winter storm, do not panic. Stay in the vehicle, keep fresh air circulating through a downwind window, run the motor sparingly, turn on the dome light, and make sure the vehicle’s tailpipe is clear of snow. Stimulate circulation and stay awake by moving arms and legs.

If you leave the car, work slowly in the snow to avoid over-exertion and the risk of a heart attack. If you have a cell phone, call a Kansas Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (47), or *KTA (582) while on the Kansas Turnpike.

For an updated list of road conditions go to the Kansas Department of Transportation web site at https://kandrive.org. Winter road conditions are accessible by dialing 5-1-1 from your mobile phone anywhere in Kansas; outside Kansas call 1-866-511-5368 (KDOT).

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

With the city-imposed deadline just one week away, the R9 Ranch water project will move forward by Friday, March 1.

Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller made that announcement during Thursday night’s city commission work session saying the Division of Water Resources Chief Engineer “has promised he’s going to get the Final Master Order off his desk by next Friday.”

“We’re going to move forward. It’ll then go to review by internal counsel there at the Division of Water Resources and then handed over to the city for its review,” said Schwaller.

“I want to thank Commissioner Meier because during his term as mayor he made this a priority. That’s what really got this kickstarted. Because of him, we’ve entered this final stretch which has really gotten dragged out.”

Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil said he had reached out to Chief Engineer David Barfield earlier on Thursday.

“I personally thought it was a very good conversation and I feel like he’s definitely hearing us,” Musil said.

He thanked Schwaller and former mayor James Meier for their leadership in working with state officials to speed up the change order process which has been underway since June 2015.

“I think they are hearing us. I know it’s not as soon as we want to get it done,” added Musil, “but I think it’s happening just by your comments to get it going.”

During a Tuesday news conference detailing a personal visit with the governor on Monday, Schwaller said the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) has endorsed the long-term water project.

That was incorrect.

“I mistakenly said they had endorsed the project when really they were just involved in it to a light degree. I just want to correct the record,” he clarified.

Schwaller said KLA had asked about doing some water modeling. “We said no, we’re going to handle that. We did keep them in the loop.”

The water modeling to determine how much water would be moved from Edwards County to Ellis County and used by the cities of Hays and Russell was conducted by Black and Veatch engineers.

In May 2018, the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources released a Draft Master Order approving an application to convert water use on the city-owned property from agricultural to municipal.

Following a public hearing in Greensburg in June, DWR Chief Engineer Barfield began preparing the Final Master Order.

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