A revised work session calendar was approved by USD 489 Hays school board members Monday night.
In August, board Vice President Marty Patterson suggested conducting work sessions in each of the district’s school buildings.
The board hopes the location changes will encourage district patrons to come talk to the school board members in a more familiar school environment, rather than at the Rockwell Administration Center.
Work sessions are not televised.
The Sept. 8 work session was held at Hays Middle School, with a tour of the building prior to the meeting.
The remaining work sessions are scheduled as follows:
Oct. 20: Lincoln Elementary School gym
Nov. 10: Wilson Elementary School media center
Dec. 8: Roosevelt Elementary School library
Jan. 12: Washington Elementary School gym
Feb. 9: Hays High School library
March 2: O’Loughlin Elementary School gym
April 13: Munjor School gym
Other work sessions are scheduled in the Rockwell Administration Center on Sept. 29 and May 18 in conjunction with fall and spring graduation ceremonies at The Learning Center of Ellis County.
USD 489 Hays Board of Education members Monday night approved the appointment of an interim board clerk.
Sarah Wasinger was named assistant to Superintendent Dean Katt and clerk of the school board. Her appointment is effective Sept. 22 and continues until the position is filled permanently.
Wasinger attended Roosevelt Elementary School, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School and Fort Hays State University. She is the former manager of Radio Shack in Hays.
“I am very excited to have Sarah on board. Her work ethic and work experience will be an asset to the district and I am certain she will exceed my expectations,” Katt said in a news release Tuesday.
“I look forward to the opportunity of collaborating with Dean, the Board of Education and the USD 489 staff to assist in providing the best education for the children of our community,” Wasinger said.
The board also recognized Elizabeth Jaeger, who has served in the position for nearly eight years. She resigned recently to accept a position at Eagle Communications in Hays as corporate brand manager.
Board member Josh Waddell and Vice President Marty Patterson were absent from the meeting.
USD 489 Facility Needs Committee co-chairmen Bryce Young and Patrick Lowry, with HTK Architects Vice President Chuck Smith, Topeka.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
“The school district cannot fall behind. The reason that HaysMed, Fort Hays State University and other businesses are able to recruit new employees to Hays is, frankly, because of the school district.”
That was the caution issued Monday night by Bryce Young, chief operating officer of Hays Medical Center and co-chairman of the USD 489 Hays Facility Needs Committee. Young and co-chairman Patrick Lowry, Hays Daily News editor and publisher, presented the committee’s recommendations to the Hays school board at Monday’s meeting.
The 10-member group of community volunteers and two school board members began their work in November 2012 and had a final draft on March 7 of this year. The presentation to the board was delayed until this week.
The committee, in conjunction with HTK Architects of Topeka, worked on a long-range vision for facility improvements, touring each building in the district and working with administrators and staff to understand the educational needs at each school.
The price tag of the projects is a little more than $100 million dollars, proposed to be funded by a bond issue.
“We didn’t fully understand the constraints and space requirements needed for special-education classes,” Lowry said, noting nearly every building needs updated security and safety features.
Necessary building and equipment maintenance has been deferred for years, he added.
“I think if you could get everyone in the community to go through the same two-year process that we did, everybody would walk away saying it truly needs to be done,” Lowry said. “None of us walked in thinking that there was that much to be fixed or to be planned for. We walked away discovering it was a $100 million recommendation.”:
The committee asked for each school’s top five needs and top five wants. The recommendations include closing the Rockwell Administration Center and the Munjor school. All early childhood classes would be located in Wilson Elementary School. Washington Elementary would house Westside Alternative school and the Learning Center.
Following the 30-minute presentation, USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt said the committee’s recommendations will be reviewed at every school board work session, starting next week.
“There may be some sessions devoted entirely to discussion of facilities needs,” Katt said. “We have a lot to talk about.”
In April, Kansas will conduct school board elections statewide. Lowry suggested that if the Hays school board wants to “push fast on a bond issue, voter turnout would likely be better then than any other time.”
The last major construction bond issue was in 1979 for Hays High School. The last USD 489 bond issue was in 1995 for maintenance items, according to Katt.
Click HERE for the committee’s recommendations report.
A 20-year-old Hays man arrested last year on suspicion of sex crimes against underage girls will be sentenced in Ellis County District Court Monday.
Gustavo Reyes was arrested March 26, 2013, on suspicion of electronic solicitation of a juvenile, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, intercourse with a child between 14 and 16 years of age and sexual exploitation of a child.
According to Hays Police Detective Dave Bunger, a parent of a 13-year-old juvenile had reported what she believed to be suspicious contact between her daughter and Reyes, then 19. During the course of the investigation, officers determined the presence of a second juvenile victim, a 15-year-old female from a town near Hays.
Reyes, who is out of jail on bond supervision, entered a plea of no contest Aug. 15 to two counts of involuntary and unlawful sexual relations, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.
The USD 489 Facility Needs Committees will present its recommendations to the school board Sept. 15.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The USD 489 Facility Needs Committee is scheduled to present its formal recommendation report to the Hays school board Monday evening.
The presentation will be made during the committee reports portion of the meeting agenda. The meeting is set for Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Rockwell Administration Center.
The Facility Needs Committee agreed upon a final draft March 7, but its presentation was pulled off a spring Board of Education agenda.
“We begged off presenting our recommendation because of the school district’s budget cutbacks and the employee layoffs that were pending,” committee co-chairman Patrick Lowry said Thursday.
“It didn’t seem like a good environment to do it this past spring, even though the needs are still realistic and necessary,” Lowry added. “The school district is looking at decades of deferred maintenance, which has put facilities at the end of their operational life, even beyond that in some cases.”
The committee of community volunteers worked for more than a year on a long-range vision for facility improvements, touring each building and working with administrators and staff to understand the educational needs at each school.
The price tag of the projects in the recommendation report was approximately $100 million dollars, proposed to be funded by bond issue or issues.
“We were asked to make a presentation on Sept. 15,” Lowry said. “Although we’ve tweaked the presentation a little since the final draft, not much is changed. It’s still the ‘big picture.’ It’s still a $100 million plan for district-wide building upgrades.”
Click HERE for more on the facilities needs process from USD 489.
ELLIS — An Ellis Police Department officer’s employment was terminated and Police Chief Taft Yates was reprimanded during an Ellis City Council special meeting Wednesday night.
Mayor Lyle Johnston called five executive sessions, a total 75 minutes, for personnel matters of non-elected personnel to discuss performance and disciplinary matters.
Following the fifth executive session, in which City Attorney Olavee Raub, police chief Yates and Officer Jon Geiger were present, council members voted unanimously to ratify and adopt the immediate termination of Geiger.
Council members also voted unanimously to ratify the written reprimand of Chief Yates for placement in Yates’ personnel file.
Johnston said Thursday he “could not comment because of the need to protect the privacy of non-elected personnel.” Johnston also said Wednesday’s actions “conclude the matter.” No other details about the incident or reason for the officer’s termination are expected.
Geiger, a certified law enforcement officer from Colorado with four years experience, was approved for hire on Jan. 2 by Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates.
Following several executive sessions during the Sept. 2 regular meeting, city council members voted to suspend Geiger with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Johnston said that investigation was conducted by him and the Ellis city attorney.
The complete special meeting minutes follow.
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ELLIS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Minutes September 10, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lyle Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Council members Ron Johnson, Gary Luea, Dave McDaniel, Jolene Niernberger, Terry Redetzke, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
PUBLIC PRESENT
Doreen Timken, Jon Geiger
PURPOSE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Lyle Johnston stated the purpose of the special meeting is to approve a test drill agreement form and to address personnel matters, inclusive of any executive sessions, if necessary.
a) Review and Approve Test Drill Agreement Form
Council discussed the amount of compensation to offer landowners for the ability to drill test holes on their property. Council member Gary Luea feels $300.00 per site is a fair offering. Council reviewed a proposed “Permission to Drill and Option Agreement” to serve as the contract between the landowner and the City. Section 6 should be modified in two places to read two years from the date of completion of the test well, rather than one year. The City will ask for use of a 5 acre tract, but could reduce that if necessary. Council member John Walz moved to approve the “Permission to Drill and Option Agreement” with the modification to Section 6 replacing “one year” with “two years.” Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. Upon a call for discussion, Council discussed whether or not to have the Agreement notarized. Council member John Walz then amended his motion to allow Mrs. Luea to notarize the Agreement on site upon the City Attorney determining no conflict of interest would exist. Council member Ron Johnson amended his second. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 6-0.
Council member Dave McDaniel then moved to authorize Council member Gary Luea to negotiate test drill sites with landowners and to offer up to $300.00 per test drill site with money to come from the Capital Improvement – Water Exploration Fund, and to authorize the Mayor to sign documents related to the “Permission to Drill and Option Agreement.” Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
b) Executive Sessions
Mayor Lyle Johnston called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 30-minute executive session was proposed starting at 7:15 p.m. Mayor Johnston asked for a motion to recess. Council member Dave McDaniel moved and Council member Ron Johnson seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel to discuss performance and disciplinary matters with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 7:45 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Mayor Johnston called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 15-minute executive session was proposed starting at 7:47 p.m. Mayor Johnston asked for a motion to recess. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Terry Redetzke seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel to discuss performance and disciplinary matters with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 8:02 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Mayor Johnston called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 8:06 p.m. Mayor Johnston asked for a motion to recess. Council member Ron Johnson moved and Council member Dave McDaniel seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel to discuss performance and disciplinary matters with the City Attorney and Police Chief Taft Yates present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 8:16 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Mayor Johnston called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 8:18 p.m. Mayor Johnston asked for a motion to recess. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Dave McDaniel seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel to discuss performance and disciplinary matters with the City Attorney and Police Chief Taft Yates present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 8:28 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Mayor Johnston called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 8:29 p.m. Mayor Johnston asked for a motion to recess. Council member Terry Redetzke moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel to discuss performance and disciplinary matters with the City Attorney, Police Chief Taft Yates, and Officer Jon Geiger present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 8:39 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
c) Address Discipline Recommendations and Implement Disciplinary Action
Council member Terry Redetzke moved to ratify the termination of Officer Jon Geiger, as issued by Chief Taft Yates on today’s date, and to adopt termination, effective immediately, as the appropriate resolution to the findings of the investigation for which Officer Geiger was on suspension. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Council member John Walz moved to ratify the written reprimand of Chief Taft Yates as presented and prepared by Mayor Johnston, and allowing the Mayor to sign and place the reprimand in Chief Yates’ personnel file. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Terry Redetzke moved and Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Although they couldn’t agree on the color, Hays city commissioners are agreeable to a request by the Public Works Department to change the supplier of its polycarts for solid waste collection.
Public Works Director I.D. Creech told commissioners during Thursday’s work session the city needs to purchase 400 more carts to replace aging carts and to have extras on hand for new customers.
“Single-family homes still have about 65 percent of the polycarts,” Creech said, “but duplexes are our biggest growth area, and that’s reflected in the increase of building permits for duplexes.”
The sole-source polycart purchase would be from Rehrig Pacific Co. in Desoto. The current supplier, Mid-Kart, no longer manufactures the style used by the city, although “they have a 10-year complete warranty on the ones we have,” Creech added.
The Rehrig carts are similar to what Hays is using and would be “less expensive and a little more thicker — durable,” according to Creech.
Commissioners tossed around the idea of outsourcing the collection of trash and recyclables, but agreed with Creech the city’s investment has resulted in a “very clean community.”
“That’s because of all the rules and regulations the city has regarding trash collection. The rates are in line with what a private hauler would charge customers.”
There are about 7,300 blue polycarts in the automated collection program which began in 2008. The purchase request will be considered for approval at next week’s regular Hays City Commission meeting.
DHDC Board President Stacey Smith and Executive Director Traci Stanford answer questions from Hays city commissioners Thursday night.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The origin of the Downtown Hays Development Corp. 14 years ago was rooted in its initial goal to purchase six specific properties to “jumpstart the redevelopment of downtown Hays.”
DHDC Board President Stacey Smith explained the group’s beginnings to Hays City Commissioners Thursday night.
“It was done in partnership with the primary developer of the Chestnut Street District, Liberty Group,” she added.
Smith and other board members, along with recently rehired executive director Traci Stanford, attended the city work session to answer commissioners’ questions about the organization’s strategic goals and financing.
In the city’s 2015 budget, DHDC was allocated $53,655 as part of the funding to outside agencies.
The city’s contribution is the biggest part of DHDC’s proposed 2015 budget.
Information distributed to commissioners Thursday show other income as: Partnership Program (public and private monies)–$19,000; Fundraiser–$17,000; Events and Activities–$1,000; and Interest–$150, for a total budget of $90,805.
Other information indicated more than $10.5 million private dollars have been reinvested in downtown Hays buildings or businesses since DHDC was established in 2001, along with approximately 50 businesses that have started or relocated to downtown. Downtown sales tax collections are 10.14 percent of the city of Hays general sales tax collections.
During the budget process, Commissioner Shaun Musil said he had “heard some concerns from the public about what DHDC does for the city and what the commission’s expectations are. I couldn’t answer their questions.”
Commissioner Ron Mellick said DHDC has “a lot of communication problems” with the city and its own members.
“There are some critics out there about the city being involved in downtown development,” said Vice Mayor Eber Phelps. “I disagree with most of that. I think some patience needs to be exercised here and you need to keep pointing out what’s going on.”
Stanford emphasized that DHDC is “not membership-driven and is open to anyone with an interest in the viability of downtown Hays.”
The historic Chestnut Street District has defined boundaries within the downtown area.
“There are just two downtown Hays merchants on the board of directors,” Smith said. “This is a revolving board of 13 community volunteers. That’s about 150 people over the past 14 years, along with one-and-a-half paid positions. They’ve led a tremendous amount of economic development growth and quality of life enhancements in downtown Hays. But we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of the city, the Hays community and the downtown merchants and businesses. We have more to do and we hope tonight’s discussion is a step towards a renewed effort of what we can do together:”
Karen Dreiling, owner of The Furniture Look in downtown Hays and a new DHDC board member, told commissioners she believes the city is getting a “quantifiable return on your investment.”
“I do think you’re gaining, whether it’s the Farmers Market, Core2Campus or a quality of life issue. We have what a lot of people would love to have–I hear that all the time. I don’t see how that engine can run if you don’t put any gas in it.”
DHDC manages several other annual events including Blues, BBQ and Bargains, Bargains on the Bricks, Wines & Steins and the FrostFest Season and Parade.
The USD 388 Ellis Board of Education is again pursuing a bond issue to finance school improvements.
A $10 million bond issue proposal last year was voted down by the school district patrons.
Although “nobody wants to pay more in taxes, the community needs to understand how much education needs have changed,” believes USD 388 Superintendent Bob Young.
“We used to prepare kids to work in factories, to stand still and focus on one mundane task. Today we’re trying to train our kids to be problem-solvers and to think on their feet. That requires a whole different skill set–no sitting in desks in neat rows and listening to the same teacher talk for seven hours,” Young said.
“It also requires different space needs. Community members need to get into the classrooms and see what’s being taught, how much education has changed:”
The list of improvements included in the bond issue is similar to last year’s, according to Young.
It includes more classrooms and office space for the junior high in the Ellis High School, payoff of the $1.5 million dollars in HVAC improvements, replacement of the HVAC in Washington Grade School, construction of a secondary gym and a new football field and track.
A new building was erected next to the high school earlier this year to house the wrestling and weight rooms. The $325,000 project was funded from the district’s capital outlay fund. The local “Raise the Bar” fundraiser netted more than $86,000 for new weight room equipment.
Young said expects the amount of the proposed bond issue to be “up to $9 million.”
The school board will organize committees to begin getting information to the public.
The ordinance regarding fireworks sales and use in Hays has “changed eight times” during the tenure of city manager Toby Dougherty.
Dougherty made the observation during Thursday night’s city commission work session, where commissioners talked about it again at the request of first-term commissioner Shaun Musil, who wanted a “clarification” of the ordinance.
In late May, city commissioners voted to ban fireworks due to the regional drought. But after significant rains in June, the commission voted during a special meeting June 30 to allow fireworks for three days during the July 4 holiday.
Musil told his fellow commissioners he was “just as confused as the public was. It just seemed like every week during June there was a different reason you four guys had for banning fireworks.”
“I think a lot of the reason was we didn’t want to listen to the complaints. If we don’t want to listen to complaints from vendors and residents, let’s just tell them, and let’s not have fireworks,” Musil said.
Mayor Henry Schwaller said “every year we’ve had fireworks, immediately afterwards we altered the ordinance for the next year:”
No motion was made and no action was taken.
The current ordinance states the commission can decide whether to allow or suspend the sale and use of fireworks at the final regular meeting in the month of May before the July Fourth holiday in order to provide vendors with the proper amount of time for preparation.
When the city does allow the use of fireworks, consumer use of fireworks is allowed between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 2, 3 and 4.
“There is no perfect way of doing it,” said long-time commissioner Kent Steward. “The time frame we set up is what the fireworks vendors asked for.”
The city supplied commissioners with statistics regarding fireworks-related calls to the police and fire departments this year. From July 2 to July 5, four fires were called in and the police department responded to 49 fireworks-related incidents.
City staff recommended a permanent ban on fireworks.
The Hays Public Works Department is asking the city commission to approve the purchase 400 polycarts to provide adequate reserves and to replace aging polycarts.
Commissioners will consider the request during their work session tonight. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in city hall.
The polycart solid waste collection program has been in place for six years.
Staff is recommending a sole-source purchase from Rehrig Pacific Company in Desoto, Kansas.
“They’re not only cheaper, but also very similar to our current polycarts,” according to Paul Briseno, assistant city manager of Hays.
“The ones we have now are actually thinner than the ones made by Rehrig, and, consequently more brittle:”
Hays has about 7,300 polycarts currently in use.
They were purchased in 2008 from Ameri-Kart, in Mildford, Ohio, and have a 10-year warranty. Ameri-Kart no longer manufactures the style purchased by the city.
A search for any leaks in the city of Hays’ 180 miles of water lines is underway through September 19.
The city contracted with Wachs Water Services of Buffalo Grove, Ill., to perform a non-invasive water line leak detection survey on the water distribution and raw water transmission lines from the Smoky Hill River well field.
Work started Tuesday, according to Jason Riegel, the Water Conservation Specialist for the city of Hays.
“There won’t be any interruption in water service,” Riegel explained. “Since it’s non-invasive, they’re just listening for leak sounds.”
“The survey crew will be accessing water valve boxes, and, in some cases may need to access water meter pits in front of houses and buildings to pinpoint a leak:”
Riegel said crews will be able to determine exactly where water leaks may be occurring, and “that means we (city workers) won’t be digging any dry holes trying to find a leak.”
Any leaks found by Wachs will be repaired as soon as possible by the city.
“It’s not ‘them’ or ‘they’,” contends Jason Rauch, United Way of Ellis County Executive Director.
“It’s your friends, someone’s family member. It’s us.”
Rauch spoke passionately during the 2014 United Way Kickoff Campaign lunch Friday at Rose Garden Banquet Hall, surrounded by representatives of the 15 allocated member agencies, along with UW volunteer board members.
The campaign theme is “We Are United.”
Kickoff attendees were asked to write their thoughts on table top chalkboards about the question “What are your hopes for our community tomorrow?”
Campaign chairman Terry Siek has been involved with United Way “the past 26 years, since I’ve been employed at Hays Med.” Siek is the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer.
He’s been a member of the United Way Board of Directors the past four years.
“We fund programs for families of people struggling with alcoholism. There are domestic abuse programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters helps kids who need a positive, consistent adult influence in their lives. These are people who live next door to us,” said Siek:”
“From children to our senior citizens, the 15 member agencies help people achieve things that, for whatever reason, they could not achieve on their own,” said Siek.
This year’s goal is $490,000, the same as last year.
Siek thanked community members and stressed their generosity.
“We are able to change people’s lives every day because of you.”
By BECKY KISER
