By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“It was a great meeting. I can’t imagine that meeting going any better than the way it did.”

One of the two newest Hays city commissioners, James Meier, is very pleased with Tuesday night’s joint meeting of the Hays and Russell governing bodies about the R9 Ranch development project.

The cities jointly own the property in Edwards County which will be developed as a long-term water source for both towns.

Meier made his comments at the end of Thursday night’s Hays city commission meeting.

“In Hays, I think that we’re going to be hearing more about the ‘magic well’ in Trego County, the ‘magic well’ in Rush County, or wherever the ‘magic well’ might be at. I’m halfway through a stack of about like that (Meier held up his fingers to indicate the stack thickness-about five inches) of summaries from the past 40 years of water studies in the area. I can tell you–and assure you–R9 is the best option for the city of Hays moving forward. If I find the ‘magic well’ in that stack, I’ll be happy to bring it back to the commission. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Meier said.

“The discussion of where we go for water is over, and it should be over. The decision has been made. The discussion from here forward should be about how, and how much it’s going to cost, to bring the water to Hays and to Russell. I just want to say publicly that it is my resolve we move forward with the R9 project. It’s in the best interest of Hays.”

The estimated cost to develop the R9 is $70 million. The city of Hays, which owns 82% of the ranch, enacted a sales tax in the mid-1990s to help fund the project. The city of Russell owns 18% of the R9 Ranch.

Meier acknowledged “while there are a lot of issues facing Hays and the region, water is the number one issue and will be the number one issue for years to come.”

He also stressed that Hays and Russell are not taking water away from Edwards County residents.

“We are discussing taking our water that we own in Edwards County and bringing it to Hays. It ceased being Edwards County’s water in 1994 when we bought the ranch. It is not their water; the water belongs to Hays and Russell, it does not belong to Edwards County.

“They (Edwards County) had the opportunity to buy the ranch in 1994 and they chose not to. They’ve had the opportunity to try and buy the ranch from us the past 20-plus years and they chose not to.

“Now, it’s our water and we’re going to move forward, and I’m a strong supporter of moving forward,” Meier added.

Mayor Eber Phelps offered “kudos” to the Russell city staff and council members. “They’ve been doing their homework…and are up to speed on this issue.”

Phelps also served on the Hays city commission 20 years ago. “We did have more than one member on the Water Study Panel (back then) that actually identified the ranch and Edwards County (as a new water source).”

Current Russell city council member Frank Peirano as well as the current Russell Utilities Director Arlyn Unrein were also on that panel, according to Phelps.

“Frank can be one to provide a lot of inside information…and Arlyn was also very involved in those discussions.

“From the very start, Russell had a start in the process. I’m glad to see that after 20-some years, their city council has been listening…and I appreciate their invitation to us (to host Tuesday’s meeting.) I hope we can continue to get regular updates and have them over here as well,” Phelps added.

The first steps to request changing the use of the water from agricultural to municipal are planned to be filed within the next few days with the Kansas Division of Water Resources.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s summertime in Kansas and loaded wheat trucks are rumbling down the roads.

Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Tod Hileman, Troop D in Hays, is reminding drivers to be on the lookout for harvest traffic.

Hileman (@TrooperTodKHP) tweeted a picture Thursday afternoon of a crash between a passenger car and a wheat-laden semi-truck that occurred late Tuesday afternoon in Russell County just off I-70 near Gorham.

Two people were injured in the accident just after 4 p.m.

According to KHP, a car driven by Angela R. Eilts, 36, Gorham, left Interstate 70 at the 175 exit two miles south of Gorham.

The vehicle started to turn north, failed to yield to a northbound semi-truck filled with wheat, and was hit by the semi. The car rolled on the bridge.

Eilts and the semi driver, Zachary G. Dreiling, 20, Gorham, were transported to Russell Regional Medical Center. Two children in the car were not injured.

In his tweet, Hileman wrote “pulling out in front of a loaded harvest truck could have serious consequences.”

“LOOK, and Look Again,” he recommended.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The date for a public meeting regarding the wastewater facility rehabilitation plan will be set this evening during the Hays City Commission meeting.

The city plans to apply for a State Revolving Loan (SRF) to pay for the $28 million project.

The public meeting will include a discussion of the new proposed effluent limits, the evaluation of treatment alternatives, the costs to construct the proposed alternatives, the costs to operate the facilities, and the anticipated impacts on
the sewer user rates. It will also discuss the environmental impacts of the proposed
project. The public attending the meeting will be given the opportunity to provide
comments and ask questions related to the project.

Other agenda items for tonight’s city commission meeting include renewal of the city’s commercial insurance plan for 2015/2016 and a resolution accepting the final plat of the Tebo First Addition located at 43rd and General Hays/Vine Street.

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

The complete agenda is available here.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

RUSSELL–Russell Mayor Curt Mader, who grew up in the town, remembers the days when it was “us against them.”

The cities of Russell and Hays often were viewed as competing with each other.

Today, the towns are co-owners of the R9 Ranch in Edwards County, purchased in 1994 as a long-term solution to water needs for Russell and Hays.

The governing bodies of both towns, along with their respective utilities directors and city attorneys met Tuesday evening in Russell City Hall for an update of the development of the R9 Ranch. The cities want to use 7,500 of the 8,000 acre feet of water rights associated with the R9.  Russell owns 18% of the ranch; Hays owns 82%.

Project change applications will be filed with the Kansas Division of Water Resources (DWR) within the next few days, according to Project Attorney David Traster of Foulston Siefkin Law LLP, Wichita.

“We’ll be asking to change the place of use from the ranch to Hays and Russell; to change the authorized water use from agricultural irrigation to municipal consumption; and to change the point of diversion, which will allow new municipal use wells to be drilled and consolidate the numerous existing irrigation wells to just 12 or 14 total wells,” Traster explained.

“Municipal use would be (taking less water) than agricultural use,” Russell city councilman Jim Cross pointed out. Ceasing traditional farming and converting water rights to municipal use would leave more water in the aquifer than current practices. The usage for Hays and Russell represents less than two percent of the water utilized in Edwards County.

A transfer application must also be filed which will trigger the state’s Water Transfer Act for the first time ever, and requires a public hearing. “This has never been done before,” said Traster.

“Both Hays and Russell have been talking about new water resources and have been studying options for 60 years,” said Hays city manager Toby Dougherty. “The R9 represents the most viable option for a secure, long-term water supply for the region.”

Letters of support for the project have come from the cities of Ellis, Victoria and LaCrosse, as well as Ellis County.

“We’re kind of in a no-man’s land out here where we have the population but we don’t have the water. You get west of us, you get Ogallala Aquifer water; you get east of us, you have reliable surface water as well.

“As a result we’ve had to conserve water and we’ve reached the limits of effective conservation,” Dougherty said.

“If we tighten our belts too much…we’re going to become those communities in Kansas that don’t have any water and that’s going to harm our ability to grow.

“We saw that when we were in Stage IV,” confirmed Russell city councilman Paul Phillips. Stage IV is the most critical water conservation level in Russell.

Right now the Russell/Ellis County region represents a $2.5 billion annual economy, the results found in an economic study Hays contracted with the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University.

“So we think we can demonstrate to the state that if they want this part of the economy to continue to grow and prosper, it needs a long-term water source,” Dougherty said with a look of determination on his face.

“I think that’s what it all boils down to–the ability to get rid of that stigma of no water. A lot of you have lived here all your lives and you’ve dealt with water as an issue. Be a part of the group that ends that discussion and now we can focus all our effort, manpower and thought on something else. Think how important that would be to our communities,” he said.

“Nothing grows without water,” agreed Mayor Mader, who owns a greenhouse in Russell.

“I think moving forward and approaching this from a regional standpoint–instead of us against them–is the best way for all of us to move forward as a group. This is a big step,” Mader added.

Lead engineer Brian Meier, Burns and McDonnell, Wichita, presented a slide program of how the years-long project would be designed. The total development cost is estimated at $70 million.

The R9 Ranch, south of Kinsley and 78 miles from Hays, is being converted to native grass as agricultural irrigation water wells are shut down and equipment removed. Talks with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism have begun about the area being used for the state’s Walk-In Hunting program along with preservation and protection of the lesser prairie chicken habitat.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Parks Department has been fielding a lot of phone calls recently from residents asking why the city isn’t mowing waterways in town.

The Parks Department has changed its maintenance practices for water drainage ditches–areas including Chetolah Draw, Skyline Draw, Anthony Draw, Canal Draw and Lincoln Draw–according to Jeff Boyle, Director of Parks.

The change is related to the new municipal separate stormwater system permit recently issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Hays is required to improve the quality of water leaving the city through stormwater runoff.

The city lies within the Big Creek watershed, which is considered ‘impaired’ due to elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and bacteria.

“The city of Hays is a significant contributor to the impairment as noted in stormwater runoff samples,” Boyle said.

One of the most cost-effective methods in reducing these impairments is the use of densely vegetated drainage channels–a program known as ‘no-mow.’

The city is mowing these drainage areas only as necessary to control annual weedy vegetation.

“The goal of this type of maintenance is to provide native vegetation growth, reduce erosion and help clean the water leaving the city of Hays,” Boyle pointed out.

The process takes time to become a more natural, environmental approach to the drainage areas.

“The tall vegetation slows the water down, allowing the sediment and the ‘undesirables’ to settle out and be taken care of by Mother Nature in the ditches,” he explained.

Some areas have been really overgrown, thanks to the “unexpected 6.5 inches of rain in May–in a typical year, the vegetation wouldn’t be quite as tall and dense as it is right now–but for the most part, the program is working. We will be doing a little bit of touch-up here and there promoting those native grasses.

“As we move forward, ecological succession will take over and we’ll get these native plants that we want–the desirable type weeds and grasses–and they’ll be beautiful areas,” Boyle said.

In some parks, ‘no-mow’ is also being done in areas where there little to no activity by people, as well as on slopes.

“No-mow doesn’t mean we will never mow an area. It will be mowed on occasion,” Boyle stressed.

“The proper way to do most areas is a fall mowing. That way the native naturalized species have had the opportunity to produce seed, the grass can be mowed off and the seed will drop into place, adding to a more dense native grass population. That is the intent of the no-mow program,” he added.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS — “Only in a small town can you make a phone call and 14 people and 1 bulldog show up 12 minutes later for a ‘flash mob award ceremony.'”

Mari Penner and WenDee LaPlant, executive director and assistant director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, were on the road last Monday–driving west on I-70 in their brightly colored ERV-Explorer Researcher Voyage–and made a phone call to clerk Margie Mickelson in the Ellis city office.

“We were 12 miles east of Ellis and asked Margie if she could put out the word to have residents gather within 15 minutes at Dena Patee’s office for a surprise award presentation,” Penner said.

Unknown to Patee, she had been selected for one of ten 2015 “We Kan” awards from the Kansas Sampler Foundation, which is based in Inman.

The mission of KSF is to preserve, sustain, and grow rural culture by educating Kansans about Kansas and by networking and supporting rural communities.

Patee is director of the Ellis Alliance, which coordinates economic development and chamber of commerce activities in the town.

“Dena has had so much passion for Ellis for many years,” Penner said, “which we see by our own observation and things we hear from other people. She’s doing everything out there for Ellis and it was time she be noticed and appreciated for that.”

Penner and LaPlant, surrounded by the 14 Ellis residents–including Mayor Dave McDaniel–presented Patee with the 2015 We Kan award for “Doing Everything, All Out.”

“There were a few red eyes,” Penner said. “It was really neat.”

The surprised Patee was in her office on Washington Avenue, along with her bull dog Junior, recuperating from Saturday’s Riverfest, while she counted proceeds from the annual community event and wrapped up her report.

“Today was a great day!,” Patee wrote on her Facebook page. “Thank you to all those that came to support me and who work with me in our great little town!”

Most of the 2015 We Kan awards, made by Elk Falls (KS) Pottery, had already been presented to the recipients during the annual Kansas Sampler Festival, held May 6 and 7 this year in Wamego.

Penner and LaPlant handed out the remaining two awards in person as they journeyed west in ERV this week to Sherman, Thomas and Sheridan counties.

They were gathering research for an update to the 2005 “The Kansas Guidebook for Explorers,” which features every incorporated city in Kansas–all 626–and includes observations of the key elements in sustaining communities.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays City Commissioner Henry Schwaller sees a “silver lining” in what he calls the “controversial” Bike Hays project. He also has two regrets.

“The major portion of the city’s cost of the project went to the repair and reinforcement of the (Big Creek) levee–the floodwater control system on the west and south side of Hays,” Schwaller said during Thursday night’s commission work session.

The levee has been capped with a concrete multi-purpose path.

“It’s important because the levee had not been touched since the 1950s and we discovered it was not built correctly in some areas. Now we can protect homes that are in the flood plain and subject to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) loans.

“I think every dime we spent there was worth it and I’d do it again.”

However, Schwaller said he has two regrets.

“I’m very concerned about the design of the symbols, the paths and the signs. This was a Kansas Department of Transportation (engineering) project and they designed everything.

“I knew this going in.  But if I’d known it would look the way it does–there’s no rhyme or reason to it to us–and it’s confusing to the public. I think it’ll get better over time but right now I have to say I’m not happy with the final project and I think we made a mistake on that.

“I also think the application (of bike symbols and lane designations on the streets) was not done well.

“More importantly, if this is going to work, we’re going to have to be much more aggressive in enforcement (of bicyclists disobeying of traffic laws). One-hundred percent of the people I’ve seen using the bike lanes were doing so incorrectly. Even if the paths weren’t there, they’d be violating (state and city) statutes.

“Every stop sign that I’ve been to since these have been installed…bicyclists just blow right through them. They’re going to get hit; accidents will happen. Unless we have vigorous law enforcement, we’re going to have a problem.

“Even if we didn’t have these lanes, people will still ride foolishly. But now that we have (Bike Hays), people will say it’s the lanes’ fault. It’s not.

“I’m encouraging the police chief and city staff to enforce and educate the public that bicyclists must adhere to the same rules that drivers do, and if they don’t they will warned and they then will be ticketed.

“As more and more people use the bike lanes–and I hope they do–we’re setting ourselves up for some serious problems,” Schwaller said.

Schwaller gave an example with what he saw on his way to city hall Thursday night–“a woman bicycling left-of-center, on the wrong side of the street, on the wrong bicycle path, while her companion was in the appropriate lane.”

Mayor Eber Phelps said he is “very pleased with the project” and educating the public about bicycling safety “will take time.”

“The city began implementing water conservation programs 25 years ago. We’ve been educating the public and school kids since then and a day doesn’t go by that somebody asks (questions about it.) So the education process is ongoing.

“Bicycles have been around forever; some people obey the rules, some people don’t. I’ve detected some positive comments that at least the markings and signs are reminding motorists they are sharing the road with bicyclists,” Phelps added.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s not a bad way to way to retire from your job–having your last day proclaimed in your honor by the city mayor.

Hays Public Works Director I.D. Creech is retiring Friday, after more than 30 years of public service with county and city administrations in Kansas.

Mayor Eber Phelps read a special proclamation during the Thursday night city commission work session, thanking Creech for his public service, dedication and integrity.

“I.D. Creech began his career in city-county government as in intern in the budget office for the city of Wichita and has since served as city administrator for Ellsworth, city manager for Osage City, city administrator for Valley Center, county administrator for Harper County, and director of public works for Hays,” Phelps read from the plaque.

“I.D. has dedicated the last 30 years to serving the public in a professional manner and with the highest ethical standards. Therefore, I, Eber Phelps, mayor of Hays, on behalf of the city commission, declare Friday, June 19, 2015, as ‘I.D. Creech Day.'”

Creech also served as interim Hays Regional Airport manager from May through November, 2014.

Creech was given a second plaque from the mayor affixed with the key to the city of Hays.

He started his job in Hays almost exactly four years ago, on July 11, 2011. Creech said he and his wife, who was in the audience to watch the ceremony, “plan to travel.”

The Hays director of public works is responsible for the service, solid waste, planning, inspection and enforcement, airport, fleet maintenance, buildings and grounds, and stormwater management divisions.

A review of applications for the position began in March after Creech announced his retirement in late February.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays’ commercial insurance premium should be decreasing slightly.

City Finance Director Kim Rupp will present the information to Hays city commissioners during their work session this evening.

Rupp will also discuss the possibility of using State Revolving Loan funds for the wastewater treatment facility reconstruction–a project estimated to cost about $28 million.

The work session starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main Street.

The complete agenda is available here.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Police Department has taken to social media to answer questions about the new Bike Hays program.

Frequently asked questions will be answered each day on the Hays Police Department Facebook page.

Updated information is also available on the Bike Hays website, www.bikehays.com.

HPD Corp. Brandon Hauptman, who leads the HPD bike patrol program, also recently talked with Hays Post about bicycling safety for bicyclists and motorists.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays City Commissioners and city staff are getting a lot of comments and questions about the new Bike Hays program.

Numerous signs and street markings for bicycle traffic have been appearing across town this week. Some residents are excited and have been looking forward to the changes–others, not so much.

Confusion seems to be rampant, whether it’s a “conversation at the local donut shop or talk on social media,” Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil said Thursday night.  “Bike Hays is a good thing.  It’s just going to take time.”

Musil said he keeps a bunch of the Bike Hays Biking Guide pamphlets with him so he can hand them out when he gets questions from residents.

The commission was given an update about the program by Assistant Hays City Manager Paul Briseno during their Thursday night meeting.

“Bicycles have always been allowed on the city streets (along with motorists), regardless of the new system,” Briseno reminded the audience, which included cable TV and Internet viewers watching the meeting live.

The on-street system is about half-way done–roughly nine miles–which includes the bike lanes and sharrows throughout the community, Briseno reported.

The levee west of Main Street is complete, while the levee section east of Main is scheduled to be finished next week.

The desire for a bike system by a majority of Hays residents was first noted in the 1995 city comprehensive plan and, most recently, in the 2012 comprehensive plan.

The entire system, about 21 miles when it’s completed, has been engineered and overseen by the Kansas Department of Transportation, according to Briseno.

“So therefore, the bike lanes as well as the sharrows are strategically placed according to national standards,” he said.

Local social media, including Hays Post, has been abuzz recently with complaints that the bike markings are “in the middle of the street.”

“When you see the sharrow markings on the road–the bike with arrows–both motorists and bicyclists should know that’s an designated area both will be utilizing…What we’re trying to do is provide a safe route for bicyclists to use and  to encourage motorists to understand you can expect to see more bikes in these areas,” Briseno said.

“The system was set up to create a process for bicyclists to get from Point A to Point B with the least amount of stop signs.”

Commissioner James Meier, who just assumed his seat in late April, questioned what it cost the city to implement Bike Hays.  “We’ve created a long-term liability.  That’s why I ask.”

Briseno told him $600,000 was paid by KDOT–60% of the roughly $1 million project. The remaining 40%–$400,000–plus engineering costs, were paid by Hays.

“About half of the $400,000 came from the Special Parks fund, which is created by alcohol purchase taxes in Hays and can only be used for (special) park projects.  The other half was paid by Stormwater funds utilized to protect the cap of the (Big Creek dike) levee by placing the (concrete) path on there.”

The pavement markings, created with a special paint which includes bits of ground glass for light refraction, are guaranteed for one year, according to Briseno.  The city is responsible for upkeep the next 10 years.

“I have budgeted in future years roughly $50,000 in the Special Parks fund to touch up the markings or should citizens come before the commission and ask for more markings or more lanes,” he said.

Meier told commissioners he “turned onto 13th Street from Douglas and drove to Vine.  I think I saw three Bike Lane signs.”

“It may be a little overkill,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty, “but this is very new for us…and we’re doing it all at once, so we felt like it was a good idea to make sure (Bike Hays) routes are well-marked with signs.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Finance Director Kim Rupp somewhat jokingly referred to the 2014 City of Hays audit as “his report card” and called the process “aggressive.”

Melissa Romme, CPA, and a partner at Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball in Hays, called it “very thorough.”

Rome, with Ken Beran alongside, presented the 2014 audit during Thursday’s Hays City Commission meeting.

“Each year we try to switch up what we look at. We don’t look at the same thing year after year and try not to ask the same questions. We try to rotate the different procedures that we do,” Rome explained.

“We came in with a lot of questions and looked at different areas. A lot of it centered around the airport FAA grants,” she said.

In 2014, Hays received a $920,133 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to rehabilitate the Hays Regional Airport terminal. The city paid the remaining cost of $445,496, which came from the Airport Improvement, Airport Operating and City Commission Financial Policies funds.

As required by Kansas statute, the city of Hays hires an outside firm to conduct an annual audit of city finances. The audit represents an unbiased opinion of business practices and the financial soundness of all city funds.

“We can happily report we have no citations for you this year,” Beran told commissioners. “We found no problems with your audit this year.

“Our job as auditors is to recommend things we see that can maybe improve your system. We do a number of audits and we believe you have a topnotch system,” he added.

“I’m looking at your auditor’s results and there’s no irregularities or weaknesses,” commented mayor Eber Phelps.

“That’s a real tribute to Kim and everybody involved,” he added.

The 2014 Hays budget is available on the city website.