ELLIS–City authorities dealt with several animal issues during the Sept. 21 Ellis city council meeting. A proposed dog park, a proposed ordinance requiring pet owners to register their cats, a skunk problem at the golf course, and the outcome of the dangerous dog trial.

Prior to the regular meeting, a public hearing was held on the Community Development Block Grant street project application. The streets set for rehabilitation under the grant include Dorrance Street (from 11th St. to 13th St.); Spruce Street (from 10th St. to Good Samaritan Drive); and Cottonwood Street (from 10th St. to 12th St.).

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES September 21, 2015

PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STREET PROJECT
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to enter into the Public Hearing at 7:10 p.m. The motion carried 4-0, with Council members Walz, Niernberger, Gary Luea and Bob Redger voting in favor of the motion. Mayor David McDaniel stated the purpose of the Public Hearing was to gather input from the public on the Community Development Block Grant street project. Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development, stated the City is required to hold the Public Hearing as part of the grant application. The deadline for the grant application is November 2nd, and the City will be notified in late January if awarded any grant monies. The streets set for rehabilitation under the grant include Dorrance Street (from 11th St. to 13th St.); Spruce Street (from 10th St. to Good Samaritan Drive); and Cottonwood Street (from 10th St. to 12th St.). The entire project is estimated to cost $813,459, with the grant providing $400,000 of that cost. Ms. Cox reviewed the rating criteria the State uses in awarding CDBG grant applications. The CDBG is a competitive grant and not all grant applications are funded. If the City is not funded this cycle it may re-submit the same project next year, but then if not funded again, the City must wait an additional three years before re-submitting the same project for grant funding. There being no comments from the public, Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. The motion carried 4-0.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Gary Luea, Heather 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. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Buck Driggs, Corina Cox, Kellie Begler, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Lyle Johnston, Chad Sproul, and Glen Keller.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on September 14, 2015 and Bills Ordinance #1981. Council member Heather Luea seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kellie Begler urged Council to consider building a dog park, and she presented a petition with names of residents in support of the project. Ms. Begler is exploring grant opportunities to help fund the project and also plans to hold annual fundraisers to help pay for the upkeep. Volunteers would provide maintenance for the park. Ms. Begler suggested several possible locations around town to build the park.

PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Streets: Grant
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, reviewed the Project Budget Form with the estimated cost of rehabilitating each location. Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development, reviewed the documents required for submission with the grant application. Proposed Resolution No. 514 certifies the City is a legal entity and dedicates the $413,859 in City funds toward the grant project. The resolution also authorizes the Mayor to sign any forms related to the grant application. Proposed Resolution No. 515 assures the Kansas Department of Commerce that the City will provide sufficient funds each year for the continued operation and maintenance of the City’s streets. Ms. Cox then reviewed the proposed Administrative Consulting Agreement between the City and NWKP&D. The agreement details the services that will be provided to the City for administering the grant. The agreement is contingent upon the City being awarded CDBG funds. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 514, Resolution No. 515 and the Agreement for Administrative Consulting Services with Northwest Kansas Planning and Development for administering the CDBG grant. The motion carried 5-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: City Code
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported that she contacted the League of Kansas Municipalities regarding options on how the Ellis Golf Club could eliminate their skunk problem. The League referred her to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. KDWPT stated the best course of action would be for the Golf Club to hire someone with a Nuisance Animal Damage Control Permit to rid the course of the pests. Council member Bob Redger noted he has had several phone calls from citizens stating they are not in favor of the Golf Club discharging firearms in the area. Ms. Raub and Police Chief Taft Yates explained the City cannot override State Statutes which states no discharge of firearms is allowed in the City limits, which includes pellet guns and BB guns. KDWPT also noted trapping of the skunks would be deemed illegal. City Clerk Amy Burton provided Chad Sproul, representing the Ellis Golf Club, with a list of the NADC permit holders in the area, as compiled by the State.
General Government: City Code
Council discussed a proposed ordinance requiring pet owners to register their cats with the City, in hopes of helping identify the feral cats in the City from the pet cats. Ms. Raub noted the City already has an ordinance prohibiting animals from running at large. Any cat impounded would need to be taken to Hays, as the cats would not be allowed to be housed at the dog pound. If not claimed, the City would be responsible for paying the $35 impound fee. After further discussion, the majority of the Council members felt the proposed ordinance would not produce the results desired. Council decided not to take any action on the proposed ordinance.
Public Works: Violation Notices
At Council’s request, City Clerk Amy Burton presented the various violation notices issued to residents for numerous items. Much of the wording contained in the notices follows the wording in the City Code sections. Council suggested minor modifications in two of the notices. Ms. Burton will make the modifications.

NEW BUSINESS
Parks: Event Request
Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the Public Property Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control from the USD 388 STUCO for the use of Memorial Park for a pep rally and the approval of the parade route in conjunction with the annual homecoming activities. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: City Code
Council member John Walz moved to approve Ordinance No. 1390 updating the floodplain management provisions for the City. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Upon a call for further discussion, City Clerk Amy Burton explained the revisions as directed by Steve Samuelson, Kansas Division of Water Resources. Once Ms. Burton made the modifications, the Ordinance was sent back to Mr. Samuelson for review, who then also forwarded the Ordinance to Dave Barfield, Chief Engineer for the Kansas Division of Water Resources. The Ordinance is stamped with the Division’s approval. The Ordinance must be sent to FEMA by October 1st to be in compliance with the Community Rating System program for floodplain management. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 5-0.
Special Highway: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented a bid from Straight-Line Striping to stripe Cedar Lane. Two bids were solicited; however, only one bid was received. Mr. Scheuerman feels the one bid received is reasonable. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the bid from Straight-Line Striping in the amount of $1,000 to stripe Cedar Lane, with funds to come from the Special Highway fund. The motion carried 5-0.
Municipal Court: Contract
Due to the increased volume of cases heard in Ellis Municipal Court, Municipal Judge Ross Wichman has decided to hold municipal court twice per month, rather than just once per month. City Attorney Olavee Raub stated that at just one court date per month, the dockets average 20-30 cases. In addition, the cases can easily be drawn out with having to wait four weeks for the next hearing or trial date. With that, Judge Wichman has requested a corresponding increase in his monthly fee, from $150 per month to $400 per month. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to approve the request of compensation for Municipal Judge Ross Wichman of $400 per month effective October 1, 2015. The motion carried 5-0, with Council member Bob Redger abstained due to a perceived conflict of interest.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Police Chief Taft Yates presented bids from Lewis Ford and Marmie Motors for a new patrol car. Chief Yates is looking to replace the 2012 Dodge Charger with a 2015 Ford Taurus. Marmie Motors indicated they may not be able to still get the 2015 model, but quoted the vehicle at $24,669 less trade-in of $6,000, for a net purchase price of $18,669. Lewis Ford quoted the vehicle at $24,535 less trade-in of $10,500, for a net purchase price of $14,035. Both quotes reflect the fleet government rate. In recent months, the Charger has been in the shop for numerous repairs including the motor, alternator, water pump, radiator, and a second set of struts. The vehicle was budgeted to be replaced in 2015 at a cost of $43,000 fully equipped. In review of the accessory equipment quote, Council member Gary Luea questioned the price on some of the equipment and inquired of obtaining local bids for the equipment and installation. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to accept the bid from Lewis Ford for a 2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor at a net price of $14,035, including trade-in of the 2012 Dodge Charger, with funds to come from the Special Machinery fund. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
Council member John Walz moved to approve the quote from Ka-Comm, Inc. for vehicle equipment and installation in the amount of $9,761.40, with funds to come out of the Special Machinery Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Chief Yates noted certain items will transfer from the Dodge Charger to the Ford Taurus, including the light bar, the gun racks and the cage. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
Council member John Walz then moved to approve the quote from L.A.W.S. for the graphics package for the new patrol car in the amount of $1,310, and the quote from D&B Body Shop for the installation of the graphics in the amount of $1,500, with funds to come out of Special Machinery Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the current well levels and average water use.
Sargeant Drilling is currently installing the piping for the transducers. Don’s Electric reported the components for the transducers have not arrived yet, but should arrive and be installed in the next 2-3 weeks.
Mr. Scheuerman reported the Department has been turning the water valves and documenting the locations and condition of the valves. Approximately 60-65% of the valves have been tested. Mr. Scheuerman believes the valves have not been tested in 12-15 years.
Water: Training
Mr. Scheuerman would like to attend two conferences on the future of water in Kansas. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to allow Mr. Scheuerman to attend the water meetings in Salina in October and Manhattan in November. The motion carried 5-0.
Sanitation: Special Project
Mr. Scheuerman reported the last grass pickup will be October 12th and the City-Wide Cleanup is scheduled for October 19th.
The Stockton inmates will be in town next week to help trim trees at the Cemetery.
Public Works: Training
Mr. Scheuerman reported on his progress in the online training program to become a certified building inspector. The modules are set up as a 2-year program. Council instructed Mr. Scheuerman to complete the modules in between his daily work; however, they encouraged him to set personal goals of completing certain modules in a particular time frame.
Campground: Special Project
Council discussed the completion of the dock at Big Creek. Mr. Scheuerman is going to check with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism regarding possible grants to help complete the project. Reconstruction of the dock is a joint project between the City and Rotary.
Mr. Scheuerman then inquired about interest in expanding the campground. The project has been discussed off and on for several years. If interested, Mr. Scheuerman would like to get some trees planted. Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to get cost estimates on extending the water and electric lines. Council also discussed the possibility of installing individual sewer drops to the expansion sites.

Mr. Scheuerman reported the Department will return to regular hours the week of September 28th.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reported on upcoming training for his Department.
City Clerk
The annual flu shot clinic will be held September 28th from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
City Clerk: Training
City Clerk Amy Burton requested approval to attend the Municipal Clerks Certification Institute in November. This will be her final year to attend Institute and she will graduate at the banquet ceremony. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve Ms. Burton’s attendance at the Clerk’s Institute in November in Wichita. The motion carried 5-0.
Ms. Burton reported she will be applying for a scholarship to attend the IIMC National Conference in Omaha in May 2016.
Ms. Burton reminded Council of the League of Kansas Municipalities annual conference October 10th – 12th and the League Regional Supper on October 21st in Goodland.
Tourism: Repair/Maintenance
At the last Council meeting, Council inquired about replacement costs of the vinyl on each of the City’s billboard panels. Ms. Burton presented pricing for each of the boards and also reviewed with Council the last vinyl replacement of each board.
Parks: Committee
Ms. Burton reported the Safety Committee performed inspections of the playground equipment at Playworld and Chrysler Parks and made several recommendations to increase safety for the patrons at the parks.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub provided an update on the dangerous dog trial held September 18th. The defendant failed to appear and was found guilty of all charges. The defendant has 5 days from the date of being served to pay the impound costs and fines in order to retain possession of the dogs. However, the dogs are not allowed to live within the City limits. If not paid in 5 days, the dogs will be destroyed. If the dogs are moved to another City, Ms. Raub will notify that community of the demeanor of the dogs while in Ellis.
Mayor/Council
Council member Gary Luea questioned the difference between a car dealership and a junk yard. Ms. Raub explained that a dealership usually has operational vehicles and any junk accumulation would revert to the zoning code, under which the owner could be cited.
Council member Bob Redger inquired on the zoning classification of the Old Power Plant. Ms. Raub stated that the City consultants applied existing zoning codes when updating the classifications. Utilities may be maintained in a residential classification.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

In June, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty presented to city commissioners the results of city staff’s ‘Strong Towns’ fiscal investigation of Hays.

“Since then, city staff has been very busy in the background continuing to fine-tune the investigation and implement the results as was previously discussed. I feel it is imperative that city staff and the commission continue to discuss this issue to keep it in the forefront of our thoughts and actions,” Dougherty said.

He will present an update at tonight’s city commission work session.

According to Dougherty, ‘Strong Towns’ fits in well with the city’s comprehensive plan. It differs, he said, “by putting a fiscal perspective on what we can afford to maintain over the years.”

He used parks as an example.

“As a community, we can have six really nice parks and support them with a population of 20,000 from the revenues we receive.  Those parks can have shelter houses, expensive pieces of playground equipment, restrooms and things like that.

“Or we can have 12 parks that don’t have the amenities because we can’t afford to put the same amenities in all 12 parks.

“When we look at quality of life investments, we have to make sure we’re getting the maximum exposure, the maximum utilization of those amenities.  That’s simply one way of looking at things.

“From our standpoint, ‘Strong Towns’ is a way of life for us.  It’s a way of making sure that we are looking at short-term benefit, who we’re benefiting, and long-term cost.

“That all fits into the comprehensive plan.  It talks at length about sustainability, quality of life amenities and paying attention to these issues.

“Essentially, it makes for a stronger Hays,” Dougherty added.

The other agenda item for the Oct. 1 work session is adoption by ordinance, the updated 2015
Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas Cities (UPOC) and the updated 2015 Standard
Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities (STO) for use within Hays.

The complete agenda can be seen here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

October is filled with fun and festivities in Hays. Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Rick Rekoske has some of the highlights, plus Tuesday Trivia for October. Deadline to enter your guess is Friday, Oct. 2, by noon. The winner will receive Hays-branded promotional items and Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Cheques.

A complete list of activities in Hays is available on the CVB website, www.haysusa.net.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A new marketing campaign highlighting the convenience, affordability and reliability of passenger service at the Hays Regional Airport will ramp up this fall and continue through January.

A total of $50,000 has been earmarked for the effort–$25,000 from the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and $25,000 from the City Commission Financial Policy Projects fund.

The advertising will be done by the Hays CVB with input from Sixel Consulting Group, an airport marketing specialist.

“Potential passengers are operating on assumptions based on second-hand accounts and misinformation,” according to City Manager Toby Dougherty. “I’ve challenged my staff to download Google Flights on their smart phones so they can talk to people about why they should check Hays first.”

Starting with billboards, Dougherty said the “targeted audience will be those customers who never came back after Great Lakes left and those who left due to the SkyWest schedule blip in January through March” when the early morning flight was cancelled and then returned in March with an 11 a.m. departure.

SkyWest service in Hays started August 1, 2014, with a 6:50 a.m. departure to Denver.

A jet now leaves the Hays airport for Denver at 10:15 a.m., arriving at DIA about 40 minutes later. The previous carrier, Great Lakes, ended service at the end of March 2014, leaving the Hays airport without commercial service for four months.

Dougherty told commissioners he is in “constant communication with SkyWest” and explained why “other options for passenger service in Hays are not viable.”

There are 12 non-stop flights weekly from Hays to Denver.

“A lot of cities would kill for this (SkyWest service and schedule),” Dougherty added.

City Manager Toby Dougherty has announced the appointment of Johnny O’Connor as the new Director of Utilities for the City of Hays. O’Connor is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Utilities.

In announcing the appointment, City Manager Dougherty stated, “Johnny has a strong background in the water/wastewater field as well as excellent leadership, management, and organizational skills.”

O’Connor started his employment with the City of Hays November 10, 2014, as the Assistant Director of Utilities. Before joining the City of Hays, O’Connor worked as the City Superintendent of Attica, Kan. and as the Operation Supervisor for the City of Wichita. He received his Master of Business Administration from Friends University.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s going to cost $30,260,000 to upgrade the city of Hays’ wastewater treatment plant.

City commissioners voted unanimously Thursday night approving an ordinance authoring a Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to pay for the project.

City Finance Director Kim Rupp, aided by David Arteberry of George K. Baum & Co., determined the SRF is the best source of funding for the project costs.

Rupp explained to commissioners the city has 20 years to pay back the loan with semi-annual payments.

Rupp expects the interest rate will be locked in at 2.27 percent. The estimated annual payments will be $1,894,312. Estimated total interest will be $7,626,235.

Sewer rates for Hays customers will triple over the next six years to help finance the wastewater plant renovation as well as replacement of aging sewer lines.

The Hays waste water plant was originally constructed in 1953, expanded in 1967, and last improved in the early 1990s. The facility has reached the end of its useful life and more stringent federal and state environmental regulations continue to force the plant to meet lower effluent limits.

HDR Engineering, Inc. was hired in April 2015 to identify improvements and costs for renovating the plant to meet current regulations as well as those regulations anticipated to be promulgated in the next five to ten years.

Hays Police Department

The Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit will host its fall Drug Takeback Day Saturday, Sept. 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Residents may turn in unused or unexpired prescription and over-the-counter medications at the Hays Good Samaritan Society, 2700 Canal Blvd., or the temporary Law Enforcement Center, 3000 New Way.

The event is in collaboration with National Drug Takeback Day sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA).

The spring collection in Hays yielded 208 pounds of unwanted medicine.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hoping to reduce the risk of flooding within the Lincoln Draw watershed, Hays city commissioners will tonight consider a proposed engineering services contract related to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study cost share agreement. Staff is recommending a contract with Olsson Associates for field services in the amount of $109,365. The study will look at potential locations for detention basins.

Another agenda item also involves water. The wastewater treatment plant is at the end of its useful life and more stringent environmental regulations have forced a major renovation project. Total cost of the improvements, including financing, is $30.26 million.

Staff has determined the Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan is the best source of funding for the project costs. Commissioners will consider approving the ordinance authorizing the SRF Loan agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Commissioners will also be asked to release $25,000 from the City Commission Financial Policy Projects fund for a fall marketing campaign for the Hays Regional Airport.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

The entire Sept. 24, 2015, meeting agenda can be seen here.

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

To kick-off World Space Week, Fort Hays State University’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute is sponsoring Super STEM Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 26 in the Forsyth Library’s MakerSpace room 060.

Super STEM Saturday will involve designing and building stomp rockets, 3D printing, bristlebots and learning to solder. The event is free and open to all of the FHSU and Hays communities.

Stomp rocket launches will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Ellis County Fairgrounds, weather permitting.

World Space Week is from Oct. 4 through Oct. 10. FHSU will celebrate by streaming NASA TV from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, in Memorial Union’s Cody Commons. Also on Monday, MakerSpace will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. for free 3D prints from NASA.

From the observation deck in Tomanek Hall, the Astronomy Club will host a solar observation of the sun from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Space Week will also include a demo of the multi-genre game Kerbal Space Program, where players create their own space program and spacecrafts.

To find out more about what is happening during Space Week, visit https://www.fhsu.edu/smei/Space-Week/ or call Cari Rohleder at (785) 628-4743.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Marketing for the Hays Regional Airport is now being done by the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, City Manager Toby Dougherty announced recently.

CVB Director Rick Rekoske has marketing and advertising experience; Airport Manager Nathan Marcucci does not, Dougherty told Hays City Commissioners last week.

Commissioners will be asked at Thursday’s Hays City Commission to authorize $25,000 from the City Commission Financial Policy Projects fund to help pay for airport marketing efforts. Another $25,000 would come from the CVB, combining the monies to be used in a “fall push” to promote use of the Hays airport, according to Dougherty.

“We lost passengers when we had Great Lakes (carrier service) because they basically had their fill of the airport with Great Lakes (poor service) and we may never get those passengers back. We did get a few of those passengers back when we received SkyWest’s service. Because of that six-month turnaround, and then losing the early morning flight by SkyWest, some of the people left and just haven’t come back.

“In the interim, SkyWest has actually modified their morning flight a little bit. They moved it up a little bit to take better advantages of the non-stop flights and mid-morning backs in Denver.

“It’s a lot easier now to get out of Hays to pretty much anywhere in the United States in one day–very easy.”

“This is the word we need to get out to the people who could utilize our airport. You need to check the Hays schedule first; don’t assume it’s not going to work for you and don’t assume it’s not going to work based on past practice.”

“People are working under the assumption ‘I can’t get east out of Hays in one day.’ I checked and I can go one-stop and get to Hartford, Conn. I can get to New York City. I can get to D.C. I can get to a lot of places on the eastern seaboard in the early evening with one connection. To me that’s a pretty good schedule out of Hays, Kansas, and if you’re going north or west, the schedule is absolutely great.”

Dougherty said a targeted message needs to be developed that stresses convenience, reliability and affordability in using the Hays airport.

The loss of the early morning flight was “purely a business decision on the part of SkyWest,” he said. Dougherty has talked with the SkyWest network planner and was told that “he’s happy with the way the enplanement projections are going. They understood that modifying the schedule would take away passengers. SkyWest still sees potential here,” Dougherty added.

“They feel confident the smaller number of enplanements will not cause them issues in the next bidding period of EAS (Essential Air Services).

“There’s money to be made in the Hays market,” Dougherty emphasized.