Delores Schmeidler, a Hays resident with a private water well, questions why her city sewer charge is higher than other residents who are city water customers.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
There are a few private water well owners in Hays who utilize the city’s sewer lines. According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the “handful of houses were grandfathered in many years ago that actually have private wells but then discharge wastewater into the city sewer.”
During the city commission’s July 16 discussions of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project, Hays resident Delores Schmeidler asked why her sewer rate is higher than other residential customers. She is paying $24.65 a month, while an average resident using city water is charged $13.83 a month in sewer fees.
“Back in the ’60s, the governing body set a rate for these types of users,” Dougherty said. “Unless we put a meter on their water well, we don’t know how much volume is coming into our sewer system, and sewer charges are by volume,” he explained.
“When you pay your water bill, depending on the volume of water you used, that will determine what your sewer rate is. It will go up and down proportionately with your water usage.
“Since the city had no way of knowing without a meter on these private wells, they just put a ‘one size fits all’ sewer rate on them–probably a little on the high side–that way they could catch the average use in there.”
“(Schmeidler) assumed that she has been paying more than she would typically pay if she was hooked up to city water and she is correct. She asked the commissioners to review why this is being done.
“It’s completely up to the governing body if they want to change it. The customer does have the available alternative of allowing us to put a meter on her well and then she would be charged actual usage just like any other customer, but she didn’t want to do that.
“We (city staff) think it’s working just fine. I’ve been here 10 years and this is the first time I’ve heard of anybody questioning it,” Dougherty pointed out.
The ordinance regulating sewer rates for private well owners will be reviewed during tonight’s Hays city commission work session.
“I probably won’t be giving quite as many ‘high-fives’ in the hallways. These students might look at me a little strangely.”
The new principal at Thomas More Prep Marian junior and senior high school, Chad Meitner, moved his family from Dodge City to Hays this past weekend.
Meitner most recently served as principal of Sacred Heart Grade School in Dodge City and says he’s been looking forward to working with older students. He also plans to spend some time in the TMP classrooms.
“I think the first goal–when you’re new–you want to come in and learn a lot about the people, about the culture, the people, the traditions, so I need to be a student first and learn about those,” Meitner said.
“My underlying philosophy, which is the foundation for a lot of our goals and they’re the same that TMP has had for quite awhile, is that we need to be focused on the whole student. Their spiritual well-being, their mental well-being, their physical well-being, and their academic process–we can’t necessarily neglect one or the other when we do that.
“My goal is to get an idea of the teachers’ styles in the classrooms, and I need to get in the classrooms every day and watch lessons–be a part of that–and find out how I can help. My job is to help the teachers, help the parents, and help the staff–to help the students. That all flows down to them–the students–they’re the reason we’re here.
“Those goals, although they’re not very specific, those are the goals that are behind the foundations of all our decisions at TMP,” Meitner added.
The first full day of classes for TMP-Marian and Holy Family Elementary school was Wednesday.
Meitner takes over for Kathy Taylor, who filled the role the past two academic years as interim principal.
Work started Monday to repair the sewer line on south Main Street in Hays between Sixth and Seventh Streets.
According to Johnny O’Connor, assistant director of utilities, the old “line is in need of some repair.”
O’Connor said the work will be a “demonstration of patch repair on a busted sewer pipe.”
City crews along with employees of JCorp Construction of Hays were well into the job late Wednesday morning, removing water from underground. The work should be completed in approximately one week.
“The point is to get it repaired so Mayer Specialty Services of Goddard can finish videoing,” O’Connor added. The pipeline is being inspected by Mayer which is collecting data for other needed repairs or replacement, another upcoming city project.
Some of aging lines in the 120 miles of the Hays sewer system are 75 to 100 years old.
No parking is allowed on Main Street in the one-block stretch where repairs are underway to the sewer line. Traffic cones are set up to reroute traffic around the construction site.
Up for discussion during the Aug. 20 Hays city commission work session is one agenda item requested by Commissioner Lance Jones–whether to remove the one-way designation for 6th and 7th Streets.
City staff conducted a brief inquiry and sees no significant issues should the commission choose to convert 7th Street from one-way traffic to two-way traffic. The change is actually called for in the city’s Comprehensive Plan, in part to slow traffic through residential areas.
City staff does see significant issues with changing 6th Street from one-way to two-way traffic, including the need to remove some on-street parking.
Jones has listed his ‘Top 10 Reasons’ why 7th Street should be a two-way on his city commissioner Facebook page. The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce is asking residents to give their opinion in an online poll about the possible street changes.
Also on the agenda is a request from the Friends of the Hays Dog Park to proceed with installation of two shade shelters in the Hays Dog Park, located in the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex. FHDP has raised enough money to pay for the $18,000 project. City workers would provide staff labor to pour the necessary concrete for the shelters and sidewalks.
Mayer Specialty Services employees clean Hays sewers on 33rd Street in 2013.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Another 18 miles of sewer lines in Hays will be cleaned starting Monday, Aug. 24., in an area located generally south of 27th Street between Ash and Vine Streets.
This is the third year the city has contracted with Mayer Specialty Services of Goddard to do the work, according to Bernie Kitten, director of utilities. The project will take about two months and is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 24.
In addition to preventative maintenance which significantly reduces the chance for damaging sewer blockages and backups, the workers will inspect the condition of the sewer lines. In some areas of Hays, the sewer lines are 75 to 100 years old and need to be replaced, Kitten explained.
“This company has camera equipment and trained technicians that know how to look at cracks and breaks, roots, and other things in the sewer line. Right after they clean these, they send their TV camera in–a little rover–and run it through the pipe. It videos all the lines. The operator runs it by remote control and he’ll see a crack. He logs it–1 through 5–as to how bad it is. Then he’ll log that data.
“We are collecting that data to create a new project–sewer repair. They’re getting data for that project which is starting soon,” Kitten said.
The hike in sewer rates for Hays customers approved last week by the city commission will be used in part to fund sewer line repair and replacement. There are 120 miles of sanitary sewer lines in Hays.
Door hanger notices will be placed on homes affected the day before the cleaning. Click here for more information.
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty presented the major changes in the city’s 2016 budget for city commissioners prior to the public hearing last Thursday.
City commissioners reinstated the ECCED’s funding request but ‘parked it’ in the 2016 city budget.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The 2016 budget was adopted by Hays city commissioners Thursday night following a review of the highlights by City Manager Toby Dougherty and a public hearing. The 25 mill levy is the same as it has been the past seven years.
The only change made was in funding for outside agencies.
Aaron White, ECCED Executive Director, at the city allocations meeting June 4.
During the budget hearing, Schwaller recommended funding the Coalition’s entire $87,550 request, but instead “parking” the money until the Coalition “answers the commission’s concerns.”
“I think we owe it to that entity to give them time to respond to our concerns and come back with a plan that is mutually agreeable for both the Coalition and the city,” he said.
“So in lieu of just giving them that money, we will park that money in a Economic Development Activities account. If we get our differences resolved — and I think we will — it will be allocated to them,” Schwaller said. “If we don’t get our differences resolved — I don’t think that will happen — then we take the money and do something else with it.”
The city has a voting representative on the board, currently Schwaller, and the city manager also has a seat at the table as a non-voting member. One Ellis County commission and the county administrator also are on the board in a similar fashion.
Kurt David, chairman of the board for the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, came to the podium to thank the commission for returning its full funding.
“There’s been a number of discussions, fruitful and timely, since last Thursday,” David reported. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress, and I’m happy to tell you the two groups (Coalition and city) are working together in some meetings for us to start creating the job description and creating the strategic plan that needs to happen to meet your requirements.”
Meier thanked David for meeting with him and other members of the ECCED board Wednesday.
“I think everybody understood there’s issues and that we can work through it. That’s why I’m comfortable restoring the funding but putting it in a ‘holding pattern’ until we do come to some kind of resolutions,” Meier said.
“We’re happy with that, and I’m confident we’ll meet your expectations,” David replied.
Vice Mayor Shaun Musil told David he would like to see Coalition Executive Director Aaron White and board members to appear before the commission a couple times a year to update the commission on what’s going on.
“I know Aaron gives us a good recap, but I just think it’s something we all need to know about — what’s going on in the community,” Musil said.
“That will happen,” said David.
Commissioners denied increases requested by Fort Hays State University Scholarship Program, Ellis County Historical Society and Hays Arts Council.
Also at Schwaller’s suggestion, the commission agreed to move the Sister Cities Advisory Board under the “umbrella of the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau and call it Community Relations.” Sister Cities will remain a volunteer organization, he clarified, and it will elect new board officers.
Sister Cities Advisory Board member Greg Sund and chairwoman Ann Leiker, at the June 4 allocations meeting.
“I want to have a more hands-on role,” Schwaller explained. “I think they’re looking to us for some leadership.
“We will provide direction whether the commission wants to go forward with our Sister Cities relationships or if we are interested in promoting a diversity community–this ‘inclusiveness’ message,” he added. “That way they’re in an area that promotes the community. They’re either promoting it by developing relationships with other cities or promoting the fact that we’re a ‘friendly community.’ ”
“I think those can work hand-in-hand,” said Mayor Eber Phelps, as the other commissioners nodded in agreement. “Sister Cities is a committee formed by the city some years ago, and I think it deserves to be a line item in the city budget.”
Hays residents sewer usage bills will increase from $13.83 to $36.44 a month over a six year period. (Click to enlarge)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Sewer rates for Hays residents will begin going up substantially starting September 1 with a 17 percent hike.
Hays city commissioners voted four to one Thursday night to approve the increases recommended by Springsted, the company hired by the city to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the new rates.
The city plans a $30 million rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant as well as replacement of aging sewer lines—some are 75 to 100 years old. The upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and must be in place by Jan. 1, 2018.
The average residential customer’s monthly bill will go from the current $13.83 to $36.44 a month over a six year period.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller’s motion for the second option–which started with a 15.5 percent hike the first year and allowed the sewer fund to dip below $500,000–was voted down.
“The ending balance will work itself out. It is on the edge of the city’s comfort level, but these are things (useage) we cannot predict. It meets the obligation for the state revolving loan fund and it gives us enough money to do the maintenance we need to do,” Schwaller said.
“There’s a certain amount our ratepayers can pay and a certain amount they cannot pay. Hitting them so hard up front is, I think, unconscionable and very difficult, and that’s why I will not support Option 1 under any circumstances, and I’m holding my nose on Option 2.
“I’d rather spread this out over a longer period of time. I understand the consequences of paying higher interest on the bonds–and it is pretty significant–but again, $2 million dollars 10 years from now is a lot less, particularly if we have inflation,” he concluded.
Stan Christopher of HDR Engineering, the city’s owner-representative for the rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant
Commissioners last night also accepted the wastewater facility plan presented by HDR engineering.
The city will apply for a Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Loan in the full amount for the project of $30,260,000 with a 20 year amortization and interest/fees ranging from 2.15 to 2.25 percent.
Kim Rupp, Finance Director, and Bernie Kitten, Utilities Director, discuss sewer rate increases with the Hays City Commission.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Sewer rates in Hays will start going up soon.
City commissioners are scheduled to pick one of two options during their Aug. 13 meeting.
The city plans a $30 million rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant as well as replacement of aging sewer lines. The upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and must be in place by Jan. 1, 2018.
Option 1 was presented and recommended July 16 by Patty Kettles of Springsted, Inc., a company hired by the city to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the rate increases. Springsted recommended the monthly sewer base and volumetric user rates be increased 17 percent August 1, 2015, 15.5 percent annually during 2016-2020, and 12 percent in 2021.
“The governing body, understandably so, thought those were pretty high adjustments,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty.
Commissioners asked for “other options to achieve the same thing.” After another round of research, city staff presented four other options during the Aug. 6 work session. Staff recommended Option 2 with the monthly sewer base and volumetric user rates increasing 15 percent September 1, 2015, another 15 percent annually during 2016-2020, and finally, another 12 percent hike in 2021.
Option 2 for sewer rate increases
Option 2 would allow the city’s sewer fund to drop below $500,000, something Springsted advised against. After other discussions, Dougherty, City Finance Director Kim Rupp and the city’s financial advisor felt comfortable about it. “We do have discretionary monies available if it dips down. We can supplement that on a one-time basis,” Dougherty said.
After Rupp presented Option 2 last Thursday, commissioners started re-thinking Option 1. “Option 2 is cumulatively 10 percent less (highest monthly fee) than Option 1,” Rupp explained, “from $36.44 a month to $35.05 a month.”
Option 1 for sewer rate increases
Commissioners Shaun Musil and Lance Jones both said they now favor Option 1.
“I can go for a little higher increase overall,” Jones said. “You’re talking about a $1.50 higher more or less and we have a million dollars in the bank at the end of it (rate hikes).” Jones also pointed out the Option 1 hikes are still lower than those in Options 3 and 4.
Vice-mayor Shaun Musil asked that Options 1 and 2 be presented at the Thursday, Aug. 20 city commission meeting, with the expectation that one or the other will be approved and set into motion. Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from last week’s work session.
Hays residential users currently pay $13.53 a month for an average 500 cubic feet sewer usage, one of the lowest rates in the state. Click here to see the four rate options.
The August 27 Hays City Commission meeting will start an hour later than usual–at 7:30 p.m.–allowing commissioners to participate in the annual Core to Campus event in downtown Hays.
Hundreds of students and faculty from Fort Hays State University, NCK Tech and Hays Academy of Hair Design, will be introduced to the unique variety of shopping, eating and entertainment available in downtown Hays.
Rick Rekoske, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, said everyone is invited for the fun.
The Downtown Hays Development Corporation, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, TGOF Committee (Tiger Gold on Friday) and Eagle Communications are hosting Core to Campus. More than 35 downtown businesses will participate.
Free dinners from the Taco Shop will be provided to the first 500 students presenting the IDs. The event will also feature music, games and more.
Core to Campus will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Hays.
Hays city commissioners cut $25,000 from the 2016 funding request by ECCED.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The withdrawal of an agenda item originally scheduled for Thursday night’s Hays City Commission work session brought about changes in outside agency funding for the city’s 2016 budget.
City Manager Toby Dougherty asked commissioners for a “consensus” in allocations for the agencies that had been left at the 2015 budget level, although three groups asked for increases in 2016.
Commissioners agreed to fund the higher amounts requested — another $25,000 for the Fort Hays State University Scholarship Program; $379 more for the Ellis County Historical Society; and an additional $818 for the Hays Arts Council.
Of that $26,197 in increases, $25,000 was deducted from the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development request, decreasing ECCED’s city funding to $61,353, slightly more than 30 percent. Commissioner James Meier advocated cutting the ECCED request “by half.”
“I have a lot of concerns about the organization (Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development) and whether they’re really doing what they should be doing, which is basically to be the economic development arm for the city of Hays,” said Meier.
“I think that it kind of came to life over the Big Creek Travel Plaza proposal. Two weeks ago, I got this packet which apparently was supposed to be the final form, but I read through it and I was able to identify spelling errors and grammatical errors. The front page is addressed to ‘The Honorable Eber Phelps’ but later on the page it says ‘The Honorable Mayor Schwaller.’
“In Section 5 of the Economic Development Application (to the city of Hays), it says that they have requested outside agencies funds from other government agencies or received outside funds. But then in Section 10 when it says to provide names and information for those entities, it says ‘Not Applicable.’
“To me that means the application is void and not complete.”
“I think this is something that should have been caught by the Coalition. It was brought to the table by the Coalition….They’ve been very publicly supporting this project, which is fine…(but) I don’t think they’re doing their job as far as really screening and giving a quality product to us,” Meir concluded.
Commissioner Lance Jones nodded his head in agreement.
“I actually spent the last two days fuming about this,” Jones said. “I took a highlighter and there wasn’t a single page in this whole document that didn’t have a single error on it somewhere. I was very upset with the development group (NWK Investments of Colby) and then realized today I was mad at the wrong entity.
“Ellis County Economic Development should have caught this. They’re…wasting city staff time and they’re wasting a lot of the commission’s time,” Jones added.
“The development group does have a successful track record,” Mayor Eber Phelps pointed out. “Look at their (travel plaza) operation in Colby. “When you come to an economic development group in any community…you’re sort of taking them on as your agent to know the nuances of how things work in that particular community and what the (city) commission expects, what (city) staff is able to put forth in assistance. The Hays city staff is not economic development personnel.”
“That’s why we give the Coalition money,” said Meier. “To be honest … I would just like to see (city funding) eliminated because if they’re not going to do their job, they shouldn’t be receiving city money.”
“I agree they have not done what we have requested. I think we should put them on ‘warning’ that if it’s the same next year, they’re done,” countered Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil.
“I can say the Coalition has been involved in business development and lots of other issues around town that involve economic development. I’m as disappointed as anybody in this,” Dougherty said in a response to a question from Musil.
Commissioners agreed on the need for “something in place like the Coalition for economic development.” They also talked about the possibility of using the ECCED $87,550 budget to instead hire a city employee responsible for economic development but were reluctant to do so.
The revised Big Creek Travel Plaza proposal is expected to be before the city commission on Sept. 3.
Meier also suggested eliminating city funding for the Hays Sister Cities Advisory Board but was outvoted by the other commissioners.
Thursday was the final time the commission reviewed the 2016 budget before the Aug. 13 public hearing and adoption of it at next week’s regular commission meeting.
“You can’t increase the mill levy or the total amount spent, because the budget has already been published, ” advised Dougherty. “Any changes you would make could only be a reduction.”
The levy of 25 mills has “remained the same for the past seven or eight years,” according to Dougherty.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from Thursday’s work session.
School starts soon for local students and First Call for Help is again providing free backpacks filled with school supplies for low income families in Ellis County.
Those who registered for Backpacks for Kids, are picking them up today until 6p.m. in the Hays Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh, on the first floor.
Coordinator Laura Shoaff expects more than 600 backpacks will be given away this year.
“We do a pre-K, a (grades) 1 through 5, a 6 through 8, and then high school backpacks. So those kids will all be getting the same supplies according to their grade level. It’ll all be age-appropriate and off the school lists in Hays, Victoria and Ellis,” Shoaff explained.
Personal hygiene items, including soap, shampoo, and toothpaste and toothbrushes, are also included.
If there are any backpacks left over Thursday, Shoaff said the remaining ones will be available for pick-up Friday morning from 8 until noon in the same location.
First Call for Help has organized the Backpacks for Kids program for more than 12 years.
Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless in Hays have jointly helped solicit donations of school supplies for the project the past eight years. Jenny Leiker, Nex-Tech senior marketing analyst and Corrina Hudsonpillar, Nex-Tech Wireless marketing supervisor, delivered two full vans of supplies to FCFH which were sorted and packed into the backpacks by other volunteers.
“When we first started doing this program, we would take the (school supplies) list and put everything on there and sometimes we would get 500 boxes of crayons and 2 sticks of glue. So the last few years we started organizing the list into the ‘Most Needed’ items and put those at the top of the list. Then we have the ‘Also Needed’ items at the bottom of the list.” Leiker said.
“They need all of it but it varies from year to year. They might have a surplus of one thing and too little of another. We work with First Call for Help each year to make the list just right for what they need that year and I think that really helps them get the right amount of supplies,” she added.
“We are local companies and this is just one way we can give back to this community and the people that we serve,” said Hudson-Pillar.
“I’m really excited about the donations we’ve received,” said Shoaff. “We’ve also had a lot of churches that have helped supply things for us. Dentists and orthodontists in the area have been very gracious in donating most of the toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss for the hygiene packs that go in the backpacks.” Area service clubs also made cash donations.
“Having the new supplies like everyone else has puts everybody on the same playing level, and helps those kids get excited in families that might be struggling right now and not have the money for new school supplies.
“It’s very appreciated by the kids and families,” Shoaff said.
Donations to Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless are delivered.
