The April 4th Hays Area Job Fair is only THREE weeks away!
HaysHasJobs.com is still taking registrations for booths and want to remind employers that the fees go up next week! The $50 booth registration price increases to $75 on March 21st. The booth application form can be found at https://www.hayshasjobs.com/JOBFAIR.aspx.
This year’s event is sponsored by Berexco, Hess Services, NCK Tech, Rebel Staffing, Wilkens Manufacturing, Big Creek Crossing, KANSASWORKS, Kansas WorkforceONE and Grow Hays – Investing in Ellis County.
If you have any questions, contact Ernee Sly at Grow Hays, 785.628.3102.
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce in Hays, Kansas, a vibrant city of 21,000 and a regional center for education, health care, professional services and retail, is recruiting for the position of President/CEO.
The successful candidate will provide collaborative leadership with the staff of three, the Board of Directors, 500-strong membership and other community organizations. Applicants should have executive management leadership experience in business, non-profit or chamber association, and experience leading an organization through growth and change to achieve strategic objectives. Bachelor’s degree in the area(s) of association management and/or business is required. Personal computer and excellent communication skills are required.
Occasional travel outside of Hays is required. The Hays Chamber offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. Please email cover letter and resume to [email protected] by March 22 for priority consideration. Resumes will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
Estelene Mitten, age 94, was released into God’s loving hands on March 4th, 2019 at Citizens Health in Colby, Kansas. She was born in Utica, Kansas on May 16th, 1924 to her parents Art and Irene Hagans, where she was raised on the family farm. In 1945 she was united in marriage to her beloved husband of 72 years, Jim, after he returned from serving his country in World War II. Estelene lived her life as a homemaker who loved her home, flowers, garden and supported her husband in so many ways, including driving a semi with him when he was building his trucking business.
Gam, as she was fondly known by her family and many friends, was a loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother who supported all by always being available to offer grandmotherly love, food and babysitting.
Horses were always a love of hers and she so enjoyed the time she spent traveling with her daughter Tami to AQHA horse shows and raising quarter horses. There was nothing she liked more than a good shopping trip and many were shared by her and her beloved daughter, Toni.
The winters she and Jim spent in Texas with wonderful friends were also a very important part of her life.
She was blessed to spend all but the ending months of her life in her beloved home with family and friends near.
Her family is grateful she is now reunited with her husband Jim (2013) and daughter Tami (2004).
Those left to miss her include daughter Toni and husband Gary Johnson; Larry Bley; Grandson Matt and Gam’s special care giver, his wife Misty; Grandson Chris Johnson and great granddaughters MaKenzie Estelene and Mariah Rae Mildenberger, all of Oakley, Kansas, the place she called home for over 50 years.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held Tuesday, March 19th at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Oakley, Kansas. The family suggests memorials to the United Methodist Church of Oakley or the Logan County Community Foundation and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Sen. District
SENATE HIGHLIGHTS
The Kansas Senate finished the ninth week of session with committee meetings and bills coming forward. The Senate held floor debate on Wednesday and Thursday passing out bills with the possibility of these bills having hearings next week in the House which will be the last week for committees to meet and pass out bills.
FLOOR ACTION
CEMETERY DISTRICT TERRITORY VALLEY CENTER – SB 155: Senate Bill 155 would de-annex all of Valley Center territory within the Hillside Cemetery District, located in Sedgwick and Harvey counties, from the cemetery district.
SALE OF PROPERTY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY – SB 173: Senate Bill 173 would authorize the State Board of Regents to sell the Oldfather Studios in Douglas County on behalf of the University of Kansas with proceeds from the sale deposited to the restricted use account of the University of Kansas to be used for deferred maintenance.
STATE USE LAW EXTENSION – HB 2174: House Bill 2174 extends the sunset date for the State Use Law Committee which is organized within the Department of Administration.
TEMPORARY PERMITS FOR THE SELLING AND SERVING OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR -SB 70: Senate Bill 70 modifies and consolidates laws concerning temporary permits to serve liquor for consumption on premises.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT DELETING REQUIREMENT FOR ADJUSTMENT OF CENSUS DATA – SCR 1605: Senate Concurrent Resolution 1605 removes the census adjustment requirement in the Kansas Constitution for military personnel and students. Currently, the state is required to contact every college student and member of the military who resides in Kansas to determine official residence. The census adjustment will ask ‘what is your permanent residence’, then adjusts the official census numbers accordingly based on that answer. This adjustment is only used for reapportionment of Kansas Senate districts, Kansas House of Representatives districts, and State Board of Education districts. During the 2010 adjustment, approximately 13,000 individuals were subtracted from U.S. Census bureau numbers because they told the State of Kansas, they considered themselves to be a resident of another state. If SCR1605 does not pass, the Secretary of State’s office anticipates needing $834,000 in state general funds to cover the costs of the adjustment as part of the 2020 Census. In addition to state savings, SCR1605 has the benefit of allowing for expedited redistricting. On average, it takes three to six months after official U.S. Census data is provided to Kansas to complete the adjustment and provide redistricting data to the Kansas Legislature. Historically, Kansas has been among the last states to complete its reapportionment requirements and SCR 1605 provides the Legislature with additional time to complete redistricting. Kansas is the only state which has this requirement.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES-RELATED STATUTES – SB 99: Senate Bill 99 creates the designation of inactive certificate, authorizing the Board to issue an inactive certificate to persons currently certified by the Board who make a written application on a Board form and pay the corresponding fee.
HOUSE PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR STALKING – SB 150: Senate Bill 150 creates law prohibiting certain actions from being taken against a tenant, lessee, or applicant for a lease because such person has been or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking. An applicant, tenant, or lessee would qualify for the protections of the bill if the applicant, tenant, or lessee provides a statement regarding the circumstances to the landlord or property owner, who could also request the applicant, tenant, or lessee provide additional documentation specified by the bill. A landlord or property owner could impose a reasonable termination fee, not to exceed one month’s rent.
AUTHORIZING A STUDY OF RETAIL RATES OF KANSAS ELECTRIC RATES – Sub SB 69: Substitute for Senate Bill 69 authorizes an independent $1 million study of retail rates charged by public utilities. The bill requires the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders, to select a firm or organization to perform the study which is scheduled to be completed in 2020. The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), the state’s utility regulator, would have to cooperate with the organization hired to conduct the study. Sub SB 69 requires the study to be paid for by utility companies.
$90 MILLION SCHOOL FUNDING INFLATION PLAN – SB 142: Senate Bill 142 appropriates funds to the K-12 base aid for FY 2020 and FY 2021. The legislation supplements the state’s $525 million, five-year investment that passed last year, with a series of additional $90 million bonuses during the next four years. SB 142 was crafted to comply with the Kansas Supreme Court’s instructions to add an inflation adjustment.
ALLOWING KANSANS TO BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL TAX REFORM – SB 22: Senate Bill 22 was originally introduced in response to the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 and the revenue windfall Kansas is expected to receive because of federal tax reform. SB 22 addresses both individual and corporate taxes by decoupling state law from federal tax provisions. The bill will provide individuals with the ability to itemize when using the federal standard deduction on their tax return. SB 22 provides Kansans with the right to deduct interest on their mortgage, property taxes, and health care expenses. The bill also provides incentives for businesses to invest and create jobs in Kansas since it places Kansas on par with surrounding states that have already decoupled from federal law, increasing Kansas’ competitiveness. The House of Representatives added two amendments before it passed the House chamber. One amendment added by the House provided a one percentage point reduction in the state’s 6.5 percent sales tax on food. The food sales tax reduction is expected to provide a $43 million reduction in sales tax, beginning October 1st. The second amendment was an internet sales tax amendment that requires out-of-state vendors to pay sales tax. Online sales tax is expected to generate about $21 million annually.
GOVERNOR KELLY SIGNS SENATE BILL 9 INTO LAW
Last Friday morning, Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 9 into law. Senate Bill 9 allocates $115 million from the state general fund to the school group of the Kansas Public Retirement System (KPERS). The $115 million pays back a previously missed KPERS payment, bringing the funding ratio to the highest point it has been in 25 years. The school group of KPERS has had the lowest funding ratio, at 61.6 percent, well below the total KPERS funding ratio which is 68.4 percent. Senate Bill 9 passed both the Senate and House unanimously.
GOVERNOR KELLY CABINET APPOINTMENTS
On day 37 of a 90-day session, Governor Kelly submitted four of her acting Cabinet secretaries for Senate confirmation. The Senate read in the Cabinet secretaries on Wednesday to send to committees for screening and consideration. Once committees have held hearings on the appointment, they will then be forwarded to the full Senate for a vote.
Current Appointments submitted include:
Commerce Secretary – David Toland
Transportation Secretary – Julie Lorenz
Secretary of Health and Environment – Lee Norman
Secretary of Revenue – Mark Burghart
From the State Library
The Kansas Constitution, including the Ordinance, Preamble, and Bill of Rights, is available to print in a pocket sized version from the State Library’s website https://kslib.info/constitution. Just click on the link and follow the instructions. A helpful diagram shows how to fold and where to cut to assemble your booklet. Helpful tip: print double sided and flip on the long edge.
Visitors from Senate District #36
We had another busy week with visitors from home including Russell High School senior students and Northern Valley students from Phillips County. The Kansas Optometric Association and the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents held their annual meeting and receptions along with the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees and Phi Theta Kappa 2019 scholars. The Kansas Department of Transportation Division of Aviation their 5th annual Aviation Day with city officials from Concordia attending.
As always, I’ll keep you updated on the activities of the Senate while we continue through the second half of the session. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. The House meets at 11:00 AM and the Senate at 2:30 PM. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.
Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Dist. state senator and serves as the Senate Majority Whip. The 36th Senate District includes Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties and portions of Marshall and Phillips counties.
The missing 20-year-old man has been found and is safe, according to a social media report Monday from the Osborne County Sheriff.
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OSBORNE COUNTY — The Obsorne County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for information on a missing 20-year-old Garrett Kipp. He was last seen in Russell County on March 14, according to the sheriff’s department’s social media page.
If you have any information, contact the sheriff at 785-346-2001.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Federal authorities say 1 million pounds of pork products allegedly smuggled from China have been seized at a New Jersey port.
Troy Miller, field operations director for the Customs and Border Protection in New York and New Jersey, says it’s the largest agricultural seizure ever made in the United States.
.@CBP NYFO Director Troy Miller, Acting Port Director Port of New York/Newark Stephen Maloney and Chief CBP Agriculture Specialist Basil Liakakos host media event discussing recent seized shipments of food products from China that may be contaminated with African Swine Fever pic.twitter.com/aZdEBoxtbf
Officials feared the meat could be contaminated with African swine fever virus, which has killed more than a million pigs in China. It’s not dangerous to humans, but officials say an outbreak in America could cause $10 billion in damage to the pork industry in just one year.
Officials say the pork was smuggled over several weeks in containers where it was hidden by packages of noodles and laundry detergent. They say the meat was “primarily cured,” and the cargo containers were not refrigerated.
NORTON—Valley Hope of Norton and Fort Hays State University will unveil a new program providing students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work in Norton on March 25.
For those unable to commute or relocate to the FHSU campus in Hays, the Bachelor’s Social Work (BSW) Cohort Program offers the opportunity to earn a degree in Norton. Classes start in the fall of 2019 and will be held at Valley Hope of Norton one night a week for three hours, with the other classes conducted online.
The partnership makes it convenient for students living and working in western Kansas to earn a degree and potentially fill a gap in services available in the region. Currently only 11 percent of the state’s Licensed Bachelor’s Social Workers and Licensed Addiction Counselors live and work in western Kansas.
“Valley Hope of Norton is honored to partner with Fort Hays State University and provide this important educational opportunity to northwest Kansas,” said Valley Hope Executive Vice President Dr. Patrick Hall. “The flexibility offered will enable more people in northwest Kansas to achieve a college degree on their schedule.”
The event will include presentations from Tim Davis, Chairman of the Department of Social Work at Fort Hays State University and Rekala Tuxhorn, Instructor/Cohort Coordinator, FHSU Department of Social Work.
WHAT: Open house launching the new Bachelor of Social Work Cohort program partnership between Valley Hope of Norton and Fort Hays State University.
WHO: Tim Davis, Chairman of the Department of Social Work at Fort Hays State University and Rekala Tuxhorn, Instructor/Cohort Coordinator, FHSU Department of Social Work, Faith Wanja, Valley Hope of Norton Clinical Program Director.
WHEN: 6 p.m., Monday, March 25.
WHERE: Valley Hope of Norton (residential facility), 709 West Holme Street, Norton, Kansas 67654.
Tours of the facility will be available.
For more information about the BSWCohort program or to apply, contact Rekala Tuxhorn, cohort coordinator, at [email protected] or visit fhsu.edu/socialwork.
Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Wed., April 10 at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall), One Tiger Place.
Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.
The program for the April meeting will be “FLSA Updates” presented by Susan Lang, Department of Labor.
The program will be submitted for SHRM continuing education credits.
WKHRMA members can RSVP at wkhrma.shrm.org. The deadline to RSVP is noon on April 5.
WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management. For more information on WKHRMA, visit wkhrma.shrm.org.
MISSION – More than 2,000 Special Olympics Kansas athletes will take part in state basketball and cheerleading competitions this week in Hays and Topeka.
Fort Hays State University will host 900 coaches and athletes from 65 teams March 22nd and 23rd, and Washburn Rural High School will host more than 1,200 coaches and athletes from 80 teams March 23 and 24.
Athletes participating in state competition will have had eight weeks of basketball training, local and regional competition leading up to the events. Because of the size and scope of these two- day state tournaments Special Olympics Kansas is seeking volunteers to help at both locations.
So, come to Gross Memorial on Friday March 22nd at 10:00 a.m. to watch the opening ceremonies. Games will start at 12:30 and FHSU and Hays High. Games will be going on all day on Saturday as well.
Come cheer on the athletes and enjoy some March Madness!!
We’ve extended the dates of our current exhibitions, so if you haven’t been able to get in to see these three beautiful and exciting bodies of work, you have time to do so!
INTERMITTENT MUSINGS by Stan Detrixhe features stained and fused glass, reverse glass painting, collage, and acrylic painting
~ now through April 17
IN MOTION by Mike Strong features dance photography from youth & adult studios and professional dance companies
~ now through April 17
UNWRAPPING LIFE by Terri Horner features sculpture in stone, metal, wood and ceramic
~ now through March 30
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Hello Friends,
I am beside myself that the Senate voted to block the President’s National emergency declaration last week. Time and time again this administration has outlined the clear threat that our broken immigration system poses. I want to FIX this problem; I long for a day where our borders are secure AND our nation’s applications backlog is manageable, so that people pursuing the American dream can come to our country the RIGHT way.
Washington has a habit of making the simple, complicated. Leaders make the complicated, simple. You’re either for securing our borders and keeping Americans safe, or you aren’t. I stand with the President.
I’ve been to the border and I’ve seen the circumstances, our border patrol and DHS agents who are fighting on the front lines need our help to stop the flow of illegal drugs, sex trafficking, and violent criminals from coming into our communities.
(Editor’s Note: President Trump vetoed the block Friday afternoon.)
Agriculture Day
Last week I had the honor and privilege to speak on the House floor to celebrate National Agriculture Day. The state of Kansas has always been a leader in agriculture – ranking first in the production of grain sorghum, second in the production of wheat, third for cattle, and fourth in the production of sunflowers. Our dairy sector is also rapidly expanding and other sectors of animal agriculture are growing exponentially as well. Kansas farmers work around the clock to ensure their animals are healthy and their crops are maintained.
The number of people in agriculture today, less than 2% of our population, is but a fraction of what it was 100 years ago, but the impact of today’s agriculture industry is extraordinary. Today’s farmer feeds about 165 people and agricultural goods are still our country’s number one export. In Kansas, agriculture accounts for nearly half of the state’s total economy. In fact, our state is second in the nation for the total number of acres farmed.
On the floor, I also spoke about the importance of the relationship between co-ops and farmers. Co-ops are responsible for more than 4,600 jobs and $1.1 billion in total economic impact statewide. Cooperatives are critical to the continued success and prosperity of the American farmer, and I will do everything in my power to continue to support them.
This #NationalAgDay we celebrated our hard-working Kansas producers, the men, and women who work tirelessly in the most important industry in our nation. The strength of our country is dependent on the work our farmers and ranchers put in every day, and I am proud to celebrate with them and fight on their behalf in Washington.
EPA Focuses On Ethanol
I am thrilled to see the EPA’s new rule embrace renewable bio fuels and allow for the year-round sales of ethanol blends. Last week Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Wheeler signed a proposed rule that would pave the way for the sale and use of E15 ethanol blends year-round. This is excellent news for the ten ethanol plants across Kansas, along with the grain producers and American consumers who will benefit from the cleaner, higher octane, and lower cost fuel blend.
Here in Kansas we produce nearly half a billion gallons of ethanol a year and this production creates more than 700 jobs, and servicing these plants also creates another 4,000 jobs across the state.
The Importance of Nutrition!
This month is National Nutrition Month, in recognition of nutrition being in the spotlight (even though for me it is something I take seriously and advocate for throughout the year) I introduced two bipartisan bills that aim to end certain food insecurities. Last week I introduced The Campus Hunger Reduction Act of 2019 and The Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act.
The Campus Hunger Reduction legislation makes sure college students have access to the help that they need to be able to focus on their studies and their futures without having to worry about where they will find or whether or not they will be able to afford their next meal. We must enable our colleges and universities to build out programs and partnerships to alleviate hunger among the students they serve.
I also introduced legislation to combat food deserts. The Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) seeks to help alleviate the fact that more than 20 million Americans live in areas where it is difficult to buy affordable fresh food. Today more than 12 million children identify as food insecure, that’s unacceptable. We need these children enjoying our Kansas commodities like nutritious beef, grain, and milk, not suffering from preventable health conditions like diabetes or obesity.
STEM Opportunities in Biotechnology and Bioscience
On Tuesday, the Research and Technology Subcommittee held its first meeting, examining opportunities and challenges with biotechnology and bioscience. Many of the panelists echoed the importance of STEM education as an important component of workforce development and US leadership in bioscience and biotechnology, especially as it relates to research and development in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. It was a great hearing, and I look forward to continuing these important conversations about U.S. leadership in engineering biology with my colleagues here in D.C. as well as with the many fine educational and research institutions back in the district!
Internet of Things Cybersecurity Act of 2019
On Monday, I joined a handful of colleagues in introducing H.R. 1668, the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019. As we dive deeper into the digital age, we are increasingly using devices such as fitness trackers, smart watches and thermostats that connect to various networks, however many of these devices lack adequate cybersecurity protections. The number of cyber attacks are increasing, and with that comes the need to create more secure and resilient products and services, particularly when it comes to the use of “internet of things” devices by the federal government. This bill aims to address risks posed by these devices by establishing light-touch, minimum security requirements for procurement of internet connected devices by the government.
ELLIS – The late winter weather has been hard on local streets.
Ellis City Council members will discuss repair of potholes, ruts and other problems in streets and alleys during their meeting tonight. Also on the agenda is a renewed discussion of establishment of a Emergency Snow Route.
Darin Myers, Ellis County Emergency Manager, will present an update on the countywide storm emergency siren project.
The complete meeting agenda follows.
AGENDA
March 18, 2019
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)
CONSENT AGENDA (Enc)
Minutes from Regular Meeting on March 4, 2019
Bills Ordinance #2065
(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.)
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
Proclamation for Flood Safety Awareness Week
SPECIAL ORDER
Monthly Fire Department Report – Chief Dustin Vine
Update on Storm Siren Project – Darin Myers, Ellis County Emergency Manager
Present Banner Proposal – Tourism and PRIDE Committees
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Update on Modifications to Cedar Lane Lift Station
