Hays resident Darrel Goheen used a drone to shoot aerial video of Saturday’s early morning fire at the Heartland Truss Plant, 710 General Custer Road, south of Hays.
One building was completely destroyed; a second one was salvaged, according to Ellis County Rural Fire Director Dick Klaus.
About 30 firefighters responded. The state fire marshal is on the way to Hays to investigate the scene.
See the aerial video here.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
An early morning fire destroyed one building at the Heartland Truss Plant, 710 General Custer Road, and damaged a second building.
Hays City Firefighters initially responded to a 911 call at 4:40 a.m. Saturday. The caller thought the fire was in the trailer park on Reservation Road in south Hays.
According to Ellis County Rural Fire Director Dick Klaus, once HFD arrived, they found the fire was actually in the nearby truss plant, which is out of the city limits.
Ellis County rural fire units were then dispatched from companies 4, 5, 6, and 8. Ellis City and Victoria also responded. About 30 firefighters fought the blaze.
“It burned down and is a total loss but we were able to salvage the east building,” Klaus said.
Klaus expects the state fire marshal to be in Hays about 11 a.m. to investigate the scene.
A nearby resident, Dylan Thomas, said he “woke up thinking I heard thunder” but then fell back asleep. His wife Melanie woke him up again and said “there’s a fire and the fire department is here.”
The Thomas’s house is located less than 250 feet from the truss plant.
“We could feel the heat from the fire as we stood on our porch,” Dylan said.
There were no injuries.
Fire units remained on the scene at 9 this morning, still spraying water on the debris.
“We have a lot of mopping up to do,” Klaus said.
More than 1,500 people of all ages are expected to gather on Saturday, May 9, at Hays Municipal Park for the third annual Susan G. Komen Kansas Race for the Cure® in Hays.
Participants will honor loved ones and celebrate survivors as they walk or run in the Hays race. The Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure serves women and men in 95 counties in the state of Kansas.
The local event is presented by Eagle Communications and Hays Medical Center.
See coverage of last year’s event HERE.
Every two minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year.
Help end breast cancer. Be a part of the 2015 Susan G. Komen Kansas Race for the Cure®-Hays.
Every step you take in this inspirational movement – a 5K competitive, 5K non-competitive or a one-mile walk – will bring us closer to a cure.
WHAT: 3rd Annual Susan G. Komen Kansas Race for the Cure® – Hays
5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk
WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 7:15 a.m. to 10:30 am
7:00 a.m.: Onsite registration opens
8:00 a.m.: 5K start
8:30 a.m.: Survivor Breakfast opens
8:30 a.m.: Kids for the Cure activities begin
9:00 a.m.: Kids 50 Yard Dash
9:15 a.m.: 1 Mile Family Fun Walk begins
10:00 a.m.: Awards Presentations and Survivor Celebration
WHERE: Hays Municipal Park – 1st and Main, Hays
WHY: To help save lives and end breast cancer forever.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Register: Online registration continues through midnight May 6. Register at www.komenkansas.org. Registration fees range from $10 – $30 prior to Race day. Fees will be $20 – $40 on Race day.
Volunteer: There is still a need for volunteers to help with Race duties. View volunteer opportunities at www.komenkansas.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/volunteer/
Make a Donation. Perhaps you can’t join us in person on May 9, but you want to help. Donations of all amounts are appreciated. Details at: www.komenkansas.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/donate/
Any questions, contact Dana Steffee at [email protected] or call (316) 683-8510.
The Susan G. Komen Kansas Race for the Cure®-Hays, locally presented by Eagle Communications and Hays Medical Center, is grateful for the support of its generous national and local sponsors.
Local sponsors include: Brungardt Hower Ward Elliott & Pfeifer L.C., McGrath Publishing-Plains/Waconda Trader, Hays Ashley Furniture HomeStore/Miller’s of Claflin, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Commerce Bank, Golden Belt Bank FSA, Nex-Tech Wireless and Trober Sound.
The National Presenting Sponsor is Bank of America. The National Series Sponsors include American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, New Balance, SELF Magazine and Walgreens.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen Kansas Affiliate
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and in 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Kansas Affiliate is part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer.
Through events like the Komen Wichita Race for the Cure and the Komen Hays Race for the Cure, the Kansas Affiliate has invested $4 million in community breast cancer programs in 95 counties in Kansas. Up to 75 percent of all funds generated by the Affiliate stay in the 95 counties we serve in Kansas. The remaining 25 percent of funds raised go to national breast cancer research programs. For more information, call (316) 683-8510 or visit www.komenkansas.org.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The new coordinator of the Rooks County Historical Society and Museum in Stockton, Sue McFarland, has some new ideas for getting people through the doors and learning the history of Rooks County.
The museum, at 921 S. Cedar, was dedicated in 1994. The original museum was located at the fairgrounds.
In addition to a large doll display donated by area residents and a collection of medical instruments used by the county’s first doctors, the museum also houses a lot of official Rooks County records, including those of land ownership, schools, obituaries, wedding licenses, newspapers and yearbooks.
“I’m switching the focus of the museum’s holdings from a ‘collection of old stuff’ to be more education-oriented, and my museum board is really enthusiastic about the change,” said McFarland.
Last month, McFarland started what she called “Genealogy Research 101″ classes.
Prior to February, the first two classes were to ‘teach the teachers'”, she laughed.
The classes are free and participants should bring a computer laptop if they have one. The two instructors utilize the Family History Center program affiliated with the Mormon Church.
Sessions will be held every other Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This month’s sessions are March 14 and 28. Class size is limited.
To sign up for a session, call the museum at (785) 425-7217.
“This is a great little museum,” declared McFarland.
“We have lots of resources for how to get started in genealogy and I’ve seen the thrill people get when they discover knowledge about their family history.
“I think this is going to be a booming success.”
ELLIS–Ellis will not be removing or shutting off any street lights.
City council members voted 5-0 Monday evening to use Old Electric monies to pay the newly increased Midwest Energy bill for the remainder of the year. The council also agreed not to raise the franchise tax for now.
Midwest Energy dramatically increased its bill to Ellis recently after discovering it has been undercharging the city for years.
Mayor Lyle Johnston and Council member Terry Redetzke were absent.
In other business, a Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 Team presented their strategic plan for bringing community awareness to the importance of the Community Development Block Grant Low-to-Moderate Income Surveys.
The students also outlined how they will obtain sufficient resident surveys to help the City become eligible to receive the grant. The team will conduct a telephone campaign in March, and then proceed to the door-to-door requests for those not reached by telephone.
The complete March 2, 2015, meeting minutes follow.
REGULAR MEETING Minutes March 2, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Council President Dave McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Ron Johnson, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Mayor Lyle Johnston and Council member Terry Redetzke were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Robert Redger, Martin LaBarge, Holly Aschenbrenner, Bob Muirhead, Ryan Augustine, John LaShell, Brian Raub, Bret Andries, Glen Keller, Perry Henman, Jackie Henman, Charlene Weber, Shelby Stewart, Jesse Schneweis, Graham Swartzell, and Qiuya Xing.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 16, 2015 and Bills Ordinance #1968. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bob Redger noted that he paid his filing fees before the filing deadline in January to run for City Council, submitted his responses to the questionnaire for the Town Crier in a timely manner, yet his response was the only candidate response not included in the quarterly publication.
Perry Henman addressed Council on behalf of his sister, Jackie Henman. Ms. Henman would like to build a house on the south end of town, to which Mr. Henman presented a petition to the Council for consideration to have the land annexed into the City limits.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
SPECIAL ORDER
General Government: Special Project
The Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 Team consisting of Shelby Stewart, Jesse Schneweis, Graham Swartzell, and Qiuya Xing, presented their strategic plan for bringing community awareness to the importance of the Community Development Block Grant Low-to-Moderate Income Surveys, and outlined the steps they plan to take to obtain sufficient resident surveys to help the City become eligible to receive the grant. The Team will begin by conducting a telephone campaign in March, and then proceed to the door-to-door requests for those not reached by telephone.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Sanitation: Policy
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented a draft of the modified dumpster policy. Non-profits would make application to the City for use of a City-owned dumpster for a limited time for up to two times per year. The dumpsters would be available on a first-come first-served basis. Ms. Raub will make further revisions removing the provision of the City having the option to charge the non-profit entity, and also adding a provision that municipalities and quasi-municipalities would be exempt from the policy.
General Government: Accounting/Billing
Council member John Walz noted that the majority of the residents he has visited with do not want any street lights removed, nor do they want the franchise tax to increase. Bob Muirhead, Midwest Energy, noted that it would take approximately 30-45 minutes per street light to disconnect the bulb in order to evaluate if the street light could be removed. The City would need to remove almost one-third of the street lights to decrease the utility bill back to 2015 budget calculations. Council member Gary Luea moved to pay the increased portion of the Midwest Energy bill for the City street lights out of the Old Electric monies for the remainder of 2015, to not raise the franchise tax at this time, and to reimburse the Old Electric monies in the 2016 budget. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. Upon a call for further discussion, City Clerk Amy Burton reminded Council that a future Council cannot be bound to the budget statement included in the motion. Mr. Muirhead stated if the Council would decide to increase the franchise tax at a later date, the City would need to enter into a new 20-year franchise agreement. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 5-0.
Public Works: Building Code
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented proposed modifications to Code Section 4-125 allowing property owners to perform work on their own residences as long as building permits are obtained and the work is approved by the City inspector. The proposed addition would also allow property owners of rental property or “flip” houses to perform their own work under the same conditions. This will serve as the first reading of the proposed ordinance.
NEW BUSINESS
Water: Repairs/Maintenance
Council member John Walz moved to approve the quote from Layne Christensen for pump repairs to Well #13 in the amount of $10,681.70 with funds to come from the Water Depreciation Reserve fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The City will have repaired three wells in the last six months.
Campground: Policy
The City currently allows up to four sites at the Ellis Lakeside Campground to be used by extended-stay campers at any given time. Extended-stay campers must obtain approval from the Public Works Director and pre-pay their camping fees. Requests may be renewed on a month-to-month basis. With temporary workers entering the County to help with the wind farm project, the Council discussed the lack of rental property available, and possibly increasing the number of sites for extended-stay campers and expansion of the campground. No action was taken.
Personnel: Salary
City Clerk Amy Burton explained a procedural error back in 1997 increasing the pay for the Governing Body. An ordinance will need to be approved to fix the error. Council entered into a discussion on the pay for the Mayor, Council members, and the Treasurer. Council member John Walz moved to compensate the Mayor $50.00 per meeting, but that Council members should serve as an act of public service and not be compensated. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. Ms. Niernberger agreed that serving on the Governing Body should be an act of public service to the community, and also agrees the Mayor’s pay should be increased due to the increased responsibility assumed in that role. She would also like to see the Treasurer’s pay revisited. Council member Dave McDaniel disagreed that Council members should not be compensated, as they are the decision makers for the City. Council member Ron Johnson stated that all members of the Governing Body are decision makers and either all should be paid, or none. Upon a call for a vote, the motion carried 3-2, with Council members Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, and John Walz voting for the motion, and Council members Ron Johnson and Dave McDaniel opposed. City Attorney Olavee Raub will revise the ordinance for possible approval at the next meeting.
General Government: Contracts
Ellis County is requesting a Right-of-Way Deed and Temporary Easement from the City for the planned improvements to widen and overlay Old 40 Highway from Ellis to Yocemento. Ms. Raub will contact Thomas Bennett with BG Consultants to obtain clarification of the tracts in question.
Swimming Pool: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented bids for hydrochloric acid, calcium hypochlorite briquettes, and calcium hypochlorite granular for use at the pool and sewer plant. The briquettes are less expensive from Brenntag; however, the granular is less expensive from D. Gerber Commercial Pool Products. Mr. Scheuerman will contact the companies and see if the prices will be honored if the products are sold individually. Only Brenntag provided a bid on the acid. The chemical purchase will be revisited at the next meeting.
General Government: Fines/Fees
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the proposed updated fee schedule. The schedule now includes the dangerous dog fees, increases fees for campsites, as approved in the 2015 budget, and increases fees paid to witnesses to appear in municipal court. Council member John Walz moved to approve Resolution #507 adopting the fee schedule as presented. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Entry
Alyssa Dawson has agreed to manage the Ellis Municipal Pool again this season. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the Swimming Pool Management Agreement. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Entry
Council member Gary Luea inquired if the City could hire someone to perform inspections, as Mr. Scheuerman is not a certified inspector and many of the codes are subject to interpretation. The cost to hire someone could be added onto the building permit fee. The City does currently have an agreement with the City of Hays to assist when needed. Council member Ron Johnson suggested Mr. Scheuerman take a webinar class certifying him for a variety of residential and commercial inspections. Mr. Scheuerman will look into the webinars.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Scheuerman reported the separating wall has been constructed at the shop annex, as directed by Council, and the Department is currently working on the remodeling of his office at City Hall. During the recent Safety Committee meeting, the board performed a safety inspection at the shop annex.
Water
Mr. Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period January 10th – February 10th. The Regional Water Vision Team will hold a public meeting on March 3rd in WaKeeney at 1:00 p.m. and in Salina at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will help determine the region’s water supply goals and priorities. Mr. Scheuerman will also explore the possibility of dredging Big Creek to increase the oxygenation. The Governing Body reviewed the annual Progress and Management Report on Big Creek from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for February and the officer calendar for March. The DARE program will be starting this month at Washington Elementary. The Fort Hays State University Defensive Tactics Team will join the Department in presenting a program to Washington Elementary students on cyber bullying. The Department will be donating $150.00 out of the Police-Special Projects fund to help bring in Todd Keene and the Power Team. The Team will present an interactive program to Ellis High School students to empower them to stay drug-free and make positive choices.
Police: Repair/Maintenance
Chief Yates reported that additional work was needed to repair the 2012 Dodge Charger. Council member Dave McDaniel moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to ratify the increased bill from Ellis Auto Repair in the amount of $1,864.44 with money to come from the Police Department budget. The motion carried 5-0.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton reported the General Fund departments were able to transfer $40,253.01 in excess budget authority to the Special Machinery fund. Ms. Burton offered clarification on the sales tax expiring in 2016. That 1% sales tax is used to help pay the bonds for the water treatment plant. The City’s other 1% sales tax became effective in 1983 and is used for general operations. That sales tax does not expire. Ms. Burton noted the Clerk’s office will do an additional mailing to distribute Bob Redger’s questionnaire responses to the Town Crier. Mr. Redger has evidence showing the email was sent to Charlene Weber before the deadline, but Ms. Weber never received it. The Community Blood Screening will be held on April 24th from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. in Council chambers.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub will prepare a resolution for the next meeting regarding the proposed annexation of the Henman’s property.
Mayor/Council
Council member John Walz provided an update from the Ellis County Extension Council’s meeting regarding establishing a PRIDE Committee for Ellis. The Committee focuses on improving the community through volunteer efforts. Holly Dickman has offered to present to the Governing Body on xeriscaping and drought tolerant plants.
Council member Jolene Niernberger would like for the Mayor to invite Ellis County Commissioner Marcy McClelland to a Council meeting to discuss the County’s budget shortfall and possible services to be cut in communities.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Ron Johnson moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
We’re in the final days of the annual Girl Scout cookie sale, which continues through Sunday, March 8.
If you’ve already purchased enough Thin Mints for yourself, you can still help support the 212 Girl Scouts in Ellis and Russell Counties, as well as local charities, through the Cookie Share program.
Sales Manager of the Hays Girl Scouts office, Lisa Cech, said it’s a “great opportunity for consumers to support the Girl Scouts, along with Kansas military members, food banks and Catholic Charities.”
“We do partner with the Kansas National Guard and other forms of the military, including McConnell Air Force base in Wichita. We have the local food pantries which are extremely popular in this part of the state. We also partner with Kansas Food Bank. They push the cookies out through their many food pantries they support across the same 80 western Kansas counties Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland covers, so that’s a great partnership for us. We also work with Catholic Charities,” Cech said.
A Cookie Share program was started last year with local Hays businesses.
“I’ll have to say the people in this region have always been very supportive of the Cookie Share program. We rank right up there with the rest of the state in cookie donations,” added Cech.
The eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies, including the new gluten-free Trios, are $4 a box.
Girl Scout Cookie Booths will be open this weekend in Hays at the west Dillons store, 512 W. 27th, and at Walmart, 4301 Vine Street.
Several American Red Cross mobile blood drives will be held in the area during March.
Call 1-800-RED CROSS or go online at redcrossblood.org to make an appointment. Walk-ins are always welcome.
3-4-15
TMP-Marian HS
Al Billinger Fieldhouse
9 am – 2 pm
1701 Hall St., Hays
Colby
Community Building
Noon – 6 pm
285 E. 5th St., Colby
3-5-15
Colby
Community Building
7:45 am – 1:30 pm
285 E. 5th St., Colby
3-17-15
Phillipsburg
Phillips Co 4-H Building
Noon – 6 pm
N. Hwy 183, Phillipsburg
3-18-15
Quinter
Church of the Brethren
Noon – 5:30 pm
700 Grant, Quinter
3-19-15
Wakeeney
United Methodist Church
Noon – 6 pm
500 Summit Ave, WaKeeney
3-24-15
Fort Hays State University
Memorial Union
11 am – 5 pm
600 Park St., Hays
3-25-15
Fort Hays State University
Memorial Union 9 am – 3 pm
600 Park St., Hays
3-25-15
Northwest Kansas Tech College
Student Lounge 9 am – 3 pm
1209 Harrison, Goodland
3-26-15
Hays Medical Center
Hadley Rooms 11 am – 5 pm
2200 Canterbury, Hays
Norton High School
Norton JH Gym
8 am – 3 pm
513 W. Wilberforce, Norton
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A public information meeting and open house about the upcoming reconstruction of a portion of 13th Street will be held next Tuesday, March 10, at 5:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall.
According to Assistant Public Works Director John Braun, the work will be on the four blocks between Main and Milner. The project will start at Milner and proceed west to Main.
“This project has been in the planning stages over the past year and last week the city commission awarded a bid to APAC-Kansas, Inc. of Hays at just over $2 million to replace the pavement, parking, curb and gutter, sidewalks and driveways. Intersections will be constructed with bulb-pits and brick-lined crosswalks. New storm sewer improvements and services will also be installed,” Braun explained at a news conference Tuesday morning.
Braun said each block of 13th Street will be closed as it’s worked on and then reopened as it’s completed.
“We’ve found that to be safer for the public and for the construction workers, and it makes it more efficient for the contractor to move along and not have to accommodate through-traffic. Plus, with the storm sewer pipe going in and crossing the streets, it makes it much more efficient being able to shut down the street in its entirety and cross the streets with the pipes,” Braun added.
The reconstruction work on 13th Street is scheduled to start March 23 and conclude at the end of October.
Letters of invitation to Tuesday’s meeting have been mailed to property owners and tenants adjacent to the project.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays City Commissioners had to consult their attorney regarding parliamentary procedure when they voted 3-1-0 for a resolution provided by the Kansas League of Municipalities which opposes Kansas Senate Bill 171.
The final bill, with some amendments, was passed by the Senate 21-18 Thursday night and sends the measure to the House.
SB 171 would move city and local school board elections from spring to the fall of odd-numbered years. One amendment keeps those elections non-partisan. Another amendment requires local tax and bond issue votes to be held in primary or general elections and not in special elections.
A number of cities have already passed the resolution along with more than 194 school districts, according to the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Hays city commissioner Shaun Musil voted against the local resolution. “I don’t agree with the bill but I just don’t see where this does anything for us,” he said.
Outgoing commissioner Kent Steward abstained. “I’m not for the bill and I don’t oppose it. I see pluses and minuses in having local elections in April and I see pluses and minuses in moving them (to November.)
“I don’t know if I’ve ever done this before, but as an expression of my complete disinterest in this, I’d like for the record to show that I abstain,” Steward said.
City attorney John Bird interjected an explanation of parliamentary procedure. “You don’t need three votes to pass a resolution. All you need is a majority, and the abstention is counted with the majority,” Bird said.
Supporters of the measure argued it will increase turnout in local elections because people are used to voting in November during state and national elections. Municipal and school board elections currently are held in April, with primaries in late February or early March. Turnout is typically quite low.
Critics of the bill said there’s no compelling reason for a change and it will cause administrative problems for local officials.
Vice-Mayor Phelps, who served 16 years in the Kansas House, said “with every piece of legislation there’s a fiscal mark. It seems to me there’s no cost-savings (with this bill.)”
Friday was Turn Around Day for the state Legislature.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays City Commissioners approved four bids Thursday night for various projects in the 2015 Street Maintenance Program. The project total is $584,178 to be funded out of Special Highway monies.
Bids were awarded to B&H Paving for chip seal operations; JCorp for reconstruction of 12th Street east of Canterbury; Sweeney Pavement Maintenance for polypatch operations; and Stripe and Seal for curb and brick repair on Ash from 14th to 17th Street.
The projects include the chip seal of approximately 5.6 miles of asphalt streets, and polypatch of asphalt streets in various locations.
The work will be done at various locations and various times through the year.
Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, State Representative, Kansas House District 109
TOPEKA–Turnaround Approaches
This Friday, February 27, marks the first major deadline of the legislative session, commonly referred to as “Turnaround.” All bills, aside from some exempt bills, must be passed by the chamber of origin by this deadline in order to be considered after today. If a non-exempt bill is not passed by its chamber of origin prior to this deadline, then it cannot be considered.
Committees only had until Wednesday to send non-exempt bills to the House floor, so a majority of the House’s work this week remained in committees. This week, long hours were spent on the House floor in order to move the non-exempt bills to the Senate for action in the second half of the session.
While being on the floor of the House all day on Wednesday and Thursday, we debated and voted on many bills with varying subject matter and impact to the state of Kansas. Here are some of the bills that were debated this week:
House Bill 2061 – Amending the powers and duties of the Kansas Department of Agriculture division of conservation and the state conservation commission;
House Bill 2228 – Allowing in-state tuition status for current and former military members;
House Bill 2104 – Elections regarding filling vacancies of nominations;
House Bill 2326 – Contract negotiations for certain professional employees, namely teachers. This bill was amended on the House floor on Wednesday by Representative Sue Boldra’s amendment, which removed language and inserted the contents of House Bill 2257.
These bills, and many others, were debated during the week and those that were passed will then be sent over to the Senate for its consideration. We will now most likely be working the Senate bills that will come across the rotunda to the House starting next week.
House Bill 2108: Straight Ticket Ballots
One of the bills that the House Elections committee passed out is a bill that would require a straight party ticket option to be placed on, and only on, a general election ballot. This method of voting would be defined as allowing voters to vote for all candidates of one party for all partisan offices by selecting a single party designation on the ballot. There would be an exception to allow the voter to select a single candidate in another party or cast a write-in vote, which of course would be counted.
The bill also specifies that if the voter does not wish to vote a straight party ticket, the party boxes may be left unmarked and the voter may select individual candidates. The ballot would distinguish the difference between a straight party ticket vote and a vote for judicial retention, nonpartisan offices, or ballot questions.
KPERS Bonding
The Pensions and Benefits House committee passed out House Bill 2095, which would authorize the issuance of $1.5 billion in bonds for the unfunded liability of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. The bonds would be subject to the approval of the State Finance Council and a maximum percentage rate on the bonds would be 5 percent.
The bill would also require adjustments to the fiscal year 2017 State and School Group employer contribution rate. The rate would be reduced by the amount of the debt service payment in 2017. The existing statutory cap of 1.2 percent would apply to future fiscal years.
According to KPERS and a cost study completed by KPERS’ consulting actuary, this bill could create a long-term KPERS employer contribution savings totaling $2.8 billion. For the fiscal year of 2015, the employer contribution rate was reduced to 8.65 percent, as a result of Governor Brownback’s allotment plan. For the fiscal 2016 year the rate would return to the statutory rate of 12.37 percent, which has been certified by the KPERS Board of Trustees. Then for fiscal year 2017 the rate would be reduced by 1.94 percent or the cost of the debt service payment on the bonds, which is estimated to be $90.3 million annually.
Personal Privilege, Shadow, Pages, and Contact Information
Each year, the Speaker of the House grants each representative two Points of Personal Privilege, which we can utilize to honor someone with a statewide recognition. This past Tuesday, I had the distinct pleasure of honoring Melinda Cross, who was selected as the 2014-2015 Dr. Earl Reum Kansas Advisor of the Year. It was a great honor for Melinda to be recognized for this achievement by the entire House of Representatives.
Also this week, I had the pleasure of having Larry Lambert, Smith Center, participate as a Legislative Shadow for me. He attended all committee meetings and House sessions to see what a day in the life of a legislator is like.
I also had six pages this week on Monday. Those that served as Legislative Pages were Whitley and Brooke Leiker, Jordynn Guenot and Lacey Nuss, all from Russell, and Ross and Reed McNett from Larned.
If you have any concerns, feel free to contact my office at (785) 296-7672, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected]
It is an honor to serve the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns and questions. I appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas.
Troy L. Waymaster,
State Representative
109th Kansas House
300 SW 10th
Topeka, KS 66612
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The city of Hays has adopted changes to the Stormwater Management portion of the city’s code. The ordinance amendment was approved by commissioners Thursday night.
Public Works Director I.D. Creech said the changes will bring the city into compliance with federal Clean Water Act requirements for “post construction” stormwater controls.
He outlined three major changes.
It will impose requirements on residential developments for stormwater management, and also change the current standards for storm sewer infrastructure–moving away from water in pipes to overland flows in new developments. Non-stormwater discharges causing problems with unpaved surfaces are added to the list of prohibited discharges.
“There will be some growing pains,” Creech cautioned.
“The new water quality requirements will initially be a challenge for developers and planning engineers, and upfront costs for developers will increase, but they may be offset with a reduction in infrastructure.”
In addition to bringing Hays into compliance with the EPA regulations, Creech listed reasons how the changes will benefit the city.
Creech said future new development will not increase flood flows and stormwater discharge from new and re-development should have less impact on Big Creek water quality.
Development and re-development should decrease nuisance flows and improve groundwater recharge and new development should have less negative impact on aquifer recharge. Removal of current exemptions allows for uniform application of stormwater controls based on proposed thresholds, Creech explained.
The 141-page Post Construction StormWater Best Management Practices (BMP) manual for the city of Hays is available online at: https://www.haysusa.com/Post_Construction_BMP_Hays.pdf
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Improvements will begin this spring to the Big Creek levee from 8th Street to the Highway 183 Bypass. The levee, built in 1950, has never had any work done to it.
According to Hays Stormwater Specialist Steven Walters, the levee has a “minimally acceptable” rating by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The most recent inspection revealed poor sod cover, tree encroachment, minor erosion, silt deposits and erosion near drainages.
During their meeting Thursday night, Hays City Commissioners voted to award the low bid of $486,645.00 for levee improvements to J Corp of Hays. The engineer’s estimate was $776,819.
The bid includes tree removal, repair of outfallstructures, replacement of stormsewer pipe, re-grading of Montgomery Ditch, the repair/rebuilding of the levee embankment east of Main Street, and constructing a 6 inch concrete cap on the levee. The concrete cap will extend the KDOT hike and bike trail project east of Main Street.
The project will be funded by the Stormwater Utility – Capital projects line item.
Commissioners also approved the $21,000 bid from Penco Engineering, Plainville, for construction phase engineering services.
