By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

For the first time, a Fort Hays State University drop-off location for unwanted drugs is part of the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit annual Drug Takeback Day.

The Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, has long been a drop-off site, but the building is undergoing renovation and closed to the public.

RELATED STORY: Officials tally the results.

According to Ellis County Sheriff Detective Chuck White, FHSU residential life officials contacted the sheriff’s department about taking part in the program giving university students, faculty and staff have an on-campus location to drop off unwanted medications.

An employee in the Financial Aid office, Wendy Rohleder-Sook, took advantage of the convenience and tossed several bottles and packs of unused and unwanted drugs–prescription and over-the-counter are accepted–into one of two green recycling carts provided for the program.

The on-campus site, manned by FHSU Police Sgt. Nathan Lang, is located in McMindes Residential Hall, just outside the cafeteria entrance.

“I’m hoping students will see us here when then come for lunch and then go back to their rooms to collect any unwanted drugs and bring them by,” said Lang.

Lang thinks the FHSU location is a great idea.

“We also have information here for the students to pick up and learn about the dangers of prescription drug abuse,” he said. Other pamphlets highlight alcohol abuse and alcohol poisonings.

In recent years, overdoses from prescription medications are on the rise, and there are more overdoses from those medicines than from illegal drugs, according to White.

As in previous years, the program is free and completely anonymous.

White said officers will take medicines in capsules, tablets, pill and liquid form — but syringes and aerosols will not be accepted.

The other drop-off site is a drive-through location at the Good Samaritan Center, 27th and Canal.

Both locations were open until 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The takebacks are organized by the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit, which is made up of representatives from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, Hays Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Ellis County Attorney’s Office.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays USD 489 board members will meet in a special meeting at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17, to consider approval of changing the school district’s property/casualty insurance provider from EMC to the new Kansas Education Risk Management Insurance Pool.

Cost comparison information was presented by a representative of Assurance Partners, the school district’s insurance broker, during the board’s Monday night work session.

Fourteen Kansas school districts, including Osborne USD 392, are expected to participate as charter members of the new KERMIP which requires a two year commitment.

The Assurance Partners representative told the board USD 489 could expect “broader coverage” and a “premium savings of $33,436” in FY 16.

The deadline to sign up for the state insurance pool is 5 p.m. Friday.

If board members decline to make the change, the broker said she will “continue to work with EMC but there will be no cost reduction” for the school district. Other options would also be pursued.

The district’s insurance policy expires July 1, 2015.

Friday morning’s special meeting starts at 7 a.m. in the Toepfer Board Room, 323 W. 12th Street.

See the agenda here.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Just one item faces Hays City Commissioners on their agenda for the Thursday, April 16, work session.

Commissioners will discuss an ordinance levying special assessments in two districts.

Property owners have petitioned for improvements, resolutions have been passed
authorizing the improvements which have been completed, and a resolution
setting a public hearing date of April 23, 2015 has been approved.

The two special improvement districts are 46th Street Second Addition and Golden Belt Estates Fifth Addition. The improvements are water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and
streets.

The work session starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall.

See the agenda here.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post News

The Hays USD 489 budget for high school and middle school athletics pays only for coaches and officials salaries, travel expenses, supplies and leases.

Everything else, from uniforms to equipment, is funded by donations from parents and the community.

The 2014 athletic funding budget for both schools was $563,923. Total community contributions were $404,218.

USD 489 school board members are considering implementing a “Pay to Participate” fee to close that funding gap.

During Monday night’s work session, Hays High School Booster Club member Jon Armstrong said there are “already numerous fundraisers for individual sports and many parents have the perception they are paying for their students to play.”

Armstrong added that implementing a “Pay to Play” fee would “likely result in less participation in athletics, and less financial support from parents and the community.”

,…

Hays High and Middle School Athletic Directors Chris Michaelis and Bruce Rupp both previously coached school sports for 20 years. Rupp told board members that “parents will expect their kids to see playing time if they’re paying for it, and coaches don’t need that kind of extra pressure.”

According to Michaelis, no schools in the Western Athletic Conference–to which Hays belongs–have a “Pay to Play” fee.

The Hays High Booster Club has raised an average $32,736 annually for athletics the past 12 years.

Superintendent Dean Katt said he prefers to leave the situation as is, but also pointed out that it would be easier to increase the current $50 activity fee charged to every student, rather than the “bookkeeping nightmare” of instituting a participation fee.

The board tabled the topic until the next work session.  They asked Michaelis for more information from schools which have implemented the fee, including Salina and McPherson.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays has been named a Tree City USA for the 36th consecutive year. The honor will be recognized during the Arbor Day celebration April 16.

The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.

Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting the four core standards of maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

The Tree City USA award will be presented by Bryan Peterson, Kansas District Forester, at the Hays Arbor Day celebration Thursday, April 16.

The program, presented by the Hays Beautification Committee, begins at noon in the Hays Dog Park, Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, 1376 Highway 183 Alternate, where three Accolade Elm trees will be planted by Hays Parks Department employees.

Also to be presented are the Smokey Bear Poster winner awards by Brenda Slaughter, Prairie Garden Club.

The public is encouraged to attend.

For more information call the Hays Parks Department at (785) 628-7375.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners unanimously approved a contract Thursday night for the Owner Representative of the wastewater treatment plant project utilizing the design-build process.

The contract with HDR, which has offices in Colorado and Missouri, will not exceed $1,708,412.

Reconstruction of the wastewater treatment plant is necessary to meet Kansas Department of Health and Environment permit requirements in 2018. The project is expected to cost between $26 and $28 million dollars.

Assistant Hays City Manager Paul Briseno explained to commissioners that traditional design-bid-build processes have caused issues historically with larger projects. Long-serving commissioners Eber Phelps and Henry Schwaller both recalled past problems with street projects and the Hays Aquatic Park.

City staff therefore recommended utilizing the design-build process with the Owner’s Representative Team acting as an extension of the city’s staff to guide the city through the design-build process.

This is the first time the city has used the design-build process.

By Becky Kiser
Hays Post

Outgoing Hays City Commissioner Kent Steward, who chose not to run for re-election, welcomed incoming commissioner Lance Jones prior to the start of Thursday night’s city commission meeting.

It was Steward’s final regular meeting. Next Thursday, April 16, is the commission work session.

The new commissioners, Jones, James Meier and incumbent Henry Schwaller IV, will be sworn in to office shortly after the start of the April 23 meeting.

“I want to commend everyone who had the courage to put their names forward and run for the Hays City Commission and the USD 489 school board, and of course, extend congratulations to those who won,” Steward said towards the end of meeting.

“Since this is the last time I will be sitting here at this time in a regular commission meeting, I also want to say that I love the city of Hays and I thank everyone for the great honor I’ve had of being able to serve  in this way for almost 10 years,” Steward added.

The other outgoing city commissioner Ron Mellick, who also declined to run again, was absent from Thursday’s meeting. Mellick was with his son, Kansas Highway Patrol Master Trooper Mitchell Mellick, who had open heart surgery.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Two variations of an ordinance providing for a pay increase for Hays City Commissioners were presented at Thursday night’s commission meeting.

Neither was adopted following a motion by Vice-Mayor Eber Phelps that “we do not adopt the ordinance,” which was quickly seconded by Mayor Henry Schwaller. The motion passed 3-1, with outgoing commissioner Kent Steward voting against the motion. Commissioner Ron Mellick was absent.

Steward had made the proposal last month with the idea that better pay might encourage more residents to become candidates for the city commission.

“Right now we have a staff that does yeoman’s work in making sure we commissioners understand what we’re doing up here. I think rather than worry about compensation for the commission, I think we need to make sure we continue to compensate the professional staff we have here in this municipality,” Phelps said.

“I’m also on a church board and a board downtown,” said Commissioner Shaun Musil. “It’s a choice I made. I didn’t expect to get paid. I’d feel guilty if I gave myself a raise.”

“I think the intentions are good and I appreciate that,” said Schwaller to Steward. “But as with the others, I want to put the other people in the (city) organization first.”

The five city commissioners are currently paid $150 a month.

In comparison, Ellis County Commissioners are paid $1,200 a month, according to county administrator Greg Sund. The three commissioners also are covered by the county’s health insurance plan and the state’s KPERS plan–Kansas Public Employee Retirement System.

The seven Hays USD 489 board members do not receive any compensation for their service, according to the administrative office.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Absentee voting for the April 7 local election started strong, according to Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus, but it has “really slowed down” — and that concerns her.

“As of last Friday evening, we had 269 absentee ballots requested,” she said late Monday morning.

 

“You have until noon Monday, April 6, to come into the County Clerk’s office in the Administrative Center, 718 Main, to vote in advance,” Maskus said. Business hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

“I will note the county offices will be closed this Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday,” she pointed out, “so I encourage everyone to get out early and vote in advance. Then you have it taken care of.”

Eligible voters can also apply for an advance ballot by mail, which must be back before 7 p.m. election night, Tuesday, April 7.

The April 7 election results will be the first to be tabulated in the new county administrative center.

“It’s a new site so some things are located differently,” Maskus said. “I’m looking at putting all the tabulations downstairs (in the building basement) and keeping most of the public upstairs (on the main floor).

“We will bring out printed results as soon as we get them. We’re not going to get out the old green chalkboard. I see the results all coming in about the same time — they usually do,” she added.

County commissioners will canvass those results officially during their Monday, April 13, meeting at 5 p.m.

Maskus predicts an 18 percent to 20 percent voter turnout for the city/school election — about average.

“Our past history isn’t very good. We all know that. But we’re talking about city and school and that’s so important … especially for our young people,” she said. “I really encourage people to get out and vote. Educate yourself before you vote. A lot of people I’ve spoken to don’t even know there’s an election. That alarms me a lot.

“For 2015, this upcoming city and school board election is the only one on the calendar, unless a special election is scheduled. Of course, 2016 will be a busy election year,” she said with a smile.

The year 2016 will include a state general election and the presidential election.

Anyone with questions about voting should call the Ellis County Clerk office at (785) 628-9410.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays’ new turf conversion program and rebate is now available to more property owners following a change implemented this week.

“If you have city water — irrigate with city water — a manual system is now also eligible. … As City Commissioner Ron Mellick likes to call it, ‘a hose-dragger’ can apply now,” Assistant Hays City Manager Paul Briseno told city commissioners during their Thursday night meeting.

Previously, only residential or business turfs with automatic irrigation systems qualified for the “Cash for Grass” program.

The turf conversion program allows a rebate of one dollar per square foot of warm season grass, up to 1,000 square feet, to be replanted with cool season grass. Xeriscaping and artificial turf allow qualify for the program.

Cool season grasses, such as buffalo and Bermuda, require 80% less water than warm season grasses, such as fescue or bluegrass.

“Homeowners can save an average 250,000 gallons of water a year in watering their lawns,” Briseno added, “or roughly $1,000 to $1,500 dollars in maintenance as well as water savings (on their water bill.)”

As of Thursday, there were 10 homeowners signed up for the program, according to Briseno.

Up to 50 rebates will be paid by the city this year.

More turf conversion information is available on the city’s website.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays water customers will notice a new look to their next water bill from the city.

“The change is to help customers truly understand their water usage and if they’ve hit the conservation tiers,” according to Hays Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno.

He showed an example of the redesigned bill to city commissioners during their meeting Thursday night.

“Item number two — the average water consumption — that shows January, February and March, which is generally just indoor usage,” he said. “Area number three notes conservation charges broken down by water usage and corresponding dollar amount. Conservation charges occur then the customer exceeds their indoor use.

“The fourth area visibly displays the annual water consumption to easily view the increase or decrease each month,” Briseno explained.

Anyone with questions about the new bills should call Brenda Kitchen, Hays City Clerk, at (785) 628-7320.

By BECKY KISER
Hay Post

Four areas of continued residential and business development in north Hays were approved unanimously by Hays City Commissioners during their Thursday night meeting, including one that was not supported by city staff.  Commissioner Kent Steward was absent.

Information was presented by I.D. Creech, Public Works Director, for a replat in the North Hays Addition east of Carrico Implement, the final plat and rezoning of Clubhouse Gardens II adjacent to the Smoky Hill Country Club,  as well as an engineering services agreement in King’s Gate Addition Phase II on the north side of 41st Street.

Creech reminded commissioners the Hays Planning Commission had already unanimously approved each project.

However, city staff recommended against approval of the final plat of Clubhouse Gardens II Addition because “the two large lots do not conform with the spirit of the city’s comprehensive plan,” Creech explained.  “There is too large of a discrepancy in lot size.”

“They do conform with the development to the south of it,” mayor Henry Schwaller pointed out.  “I think the developer (P & W Residential Investments LLC) is correct in configuring the development in this manner.”

City Commissioner Ron Mellick said he had attended the planning commission meeting when it was approved and “the nearby neighbors are aware of the change and support it.”

“We didn’t have anybody show up against this, which is unusual when we replat something.  I think the neighbors are fine with it,” Mellick said.

Commissioners also heard from Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno about special assessments for two Special Improvement Districts within the city which are ready to be finalized and assessed to the property owners. The SIDs are 46th Street Second Addition–with $453,951.60 to be assessed, and Golden Belt Estates Fifth Addition-with $522,416.55 to be assessed– for water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and streets.

A resolution was approved setting a public hearing for April 23 to consider the proposed assessments.

By Becky Kiser
Hays Post

The water was back on about 7:15 p.m. Thursday evening following a break in an 8-inch water main at 3:45 p.m. just northeast of the intersection of 22nd and Donald streets.

“It split apart on the bottom — blew out about a 3-foot piece,” according to Tobin Miller, Hays Utilities Department equipment operator. “We put in a new 6-foot length of pipe.”

He explained the situation to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty who stopped by to check the repair progress after Thursday night’s city commission meeting.

Although it’s “hard to know why it happened,” Miller suspected the spring weather.

“It’s so dry and the ground has started shifting as it goes going from frozen to thawing out,” he explained.

“It’s not unusual this time of year,” Miller said as waited for the rest of the repair crew to return to the site.

Miller estimated about three blocks of homes were without water for the three and half hours it took to repair the water main break.

Donald Street is coated with mud and water along the repair area.

“We’ll be back tomorrow after the mud dries and just scrape it off the street,” Miller said.

“That’s a lot easier than trying to clean up all this mud,” he said with a grin.