By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

WaKeeney city employees and the city administrator will see an increase in their paychecks.

During the January 7 city council meeting, a cost-of-living wage scheduled was approved by council members for all full-time employees effective this month.

Following an executive session, council members also approved a $2.00 per hour wage adjustment for City Administrator Hardy Howard.

The full meeting minutes are below.

RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOVERNING BODY 7 JANUARY 2014
The Governing Body of the City of WaKeeney, Kansas met in a regular session at City Hall 408 Russell Ave at 7:00 PM with the Mayor presiding and the following members present:
Mayor Kenneth Roy and Council Members Mary Jo Clevenger, Irene Dirks, Troy Leiker, Lynelle Shubert, and Allen Weigel
BEING ABSENT: None
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written, printed and distributed.
GUESTS: Nicole Hendrix, Crystal Day, Charlie Knoll, and Janelle Miller
CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Hardy Howard presented to the Governing Body a cost-of-living wage schedule for all full-time employees effective with the January 2014 payroll. After a discussion and review of the proposal, Troy Leiker motioned to approve the schedule as presented. Irene Dirks seconded. Motion carried.
The City Administrator then presented a list of budget fund transfers of year-end 2013. After a review of the year-end financials, Mary Jo Clevenger motioned to approve the budgeted transfers for 2013. Lynelle Shubert seconded. Motion carried.
Static water levels for the city’s water wells were reviewed, levels were noted to be down in most wells as compared to one year ago. City staff believes our water source remains stable even in face of the ongoing drought but that caution should be exercised if water levels continue to decline.
At this time an ordinance making appropriation for the payment of claims for the month of December 2013 was read, whereupon, Lynelle Shubert motioned to approve claims in the amount of $183,359.41 Irene Dirks seconded. Motion carried. Warrants #9675, #9732, #9736, #9738, #9739, and #9742 were reviewed prior to approval.
MAYOR: Kenney Roy reminded the City Council of the upcoming LKM City Hall Day in Topeka on February 5, 2014.
Council Member Shubert discussed with the other members of the Governing Body repealing Article I of Chapter 8 of the City Code dealing with sidewalks within the city. A motion was made by Lynelle Shubert to have this section of the code repealed due to its lack of enforcement. Irene Dirks seconded. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Troy Leiker to adjourn into executive session for a period of 20 minutes for the discussion of non-elected personnel. Mary Jo Clevenger seconded. Motion carried. Those remaining in the executive session included Mayor Roy and the City Council.
The meeting reconvened within the allowed time period, whereupon Troy Leiker motioned to approve a $2.00 per hour wage adjustment for the City Administrator. Allen Weigel seconded. Motion carried.
No further business appearing, the meeting was adjourned.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will meet in a special session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday for a 2015 budget planning meeting.

Agenda items include discussion of the new EMS/Rural Fire building.  After all bids for the project came in higher than the budget, commissioners are now considering changing the structure to a metal building rather than concrete, which would be less expensive.

Commissioners will also give their input on budget priorities for next year, talk about funding and timing of the 230th Avenue/Feedlot Road improvement project, and discuss employee meal reimbursements.

The meeting will be held in basement of the Administrative Center, 718 Main.

 

 

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

They’ll leave at noon today from Hays on a 24-hour bus drive straight through to Washington.

Traveling on a bus from the Salina diocese, 35 Thomas More Prep-Marian High School students and their religious education teacher, Judy Schuler, will travel cross-country to participate in Wednesday’s national March for Life.

TMP Development Director Jeff Brull said it’s a “crazy week for these kids and definitely worthwhile.  They’ll bring home a lot of great memories.”

While in Washington for the annual rally, the Hays group also will participate in a group Mass and tour several historic sites.

Schuler is the TMP freshman and junior religion teacher. Brull said she started the annual trip in 2007 with seven students.

Those who participate must do some fundraising. According to Brull, a lot of the money comes from Monarch Madness raffle tickets sold by the students during sporting events.

The students are scheduled to be back in Hays on Friday.

The March for Life is an annual rally protesting abortion.  It’s held in Washington on or near the Jan. 22, 1973, anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision legalizing abortion in the case Roe v. Wade.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Despite the high number of influenza cases reported in Kansas, Hays Medical Center officials aren’t seeing the same increase.

Bevra Brinkman, HaysMed infection prevention officer/quality specialist, told Hays Post on Thursday “very few patients have been admitted with influenza. There are no visitor restrictions so far.”

The state Department of Health and Environment reported Tuesday there have been three deaths directly attributed to flu since Sept. 1.

To date, influenza or pneumonia has directly caused or contributed to 510 deaths reported in Kansas during the current influenza season, which began Sept. 1.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Workers began dropping off the blue PVC waterline pipe this morning for an upcoming Fort Street project in Hays.

The city’s contractor, APAC, is scheduled to start work Jan. 27 beginning at 20th Street and proceeding north to 27th Street.

Assistant Hays Public Works Director John Braun said the project will require traffic to be diverted:

Letters have been sent to adjacent property owners.  A public meeting about the project will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hays City Hall.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Tuesday, Jan. 21 at noon is the filing deadline for candidates in the April 1 Kansas local elections.

There are three at-large positions open on the Ellis City Council.  Terms will be ending for Loran Gottschalk, Jeff Wolf and John Walz.

Four people have filed to run: Ron Johnson, David McDaniel, Brian Raub and incumbent Walz.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Kansas is one of 49 states filing at least one resolution with Congress calling for a constitutional convention to consider changes to the founding document.  In order for a convention to be held, at least 34 states must pass a resolution on the same subject.

Two Kansas attorneys debated a Constitutional amendment Tuesday night in Hays at Thirsty’s Brew Pub and Grill.

Kansas Director of the Convention of States Project  and Fort Hays State University graduate David Schneider, Wichita, and Richard Fry, Olathe, were invited by the Big First Tea Party.

About 80 people filled the room, coming from as far away as Dodge City, Salina and Beloit, as well as Hays.

The issue involves Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which allows two-thirds of the states to call a convention. Those states can appoint delegates to debate changes.  The states’ reasons range from balancing the federal budget to limiting federal powers. There’s been just one  constitutional convention, the original one in 1787.

“Washington is out of control with overspending, taxing, seizing more and more control with no authority, and

Washington will not fix itself,” Schneider said.

“The COS project empowers state legislators to call a Convention of States.  The delegates would propose amendments to the Constitution to rein in the federal government and restore power back to the state level,” said Schneider.

Both Schneider and Fry, who consider themselves “good conservatives,” agree the federal government has ceased to operate within a proper interpretation of the U-S Constitution.

“Our politicians are wicked and self-serving. No amendment will make these clowns respectful of their sacred oaths to support and protect the Constitution,” Fry responded passionately.  He demonstrated the “folly” of the COS project by ripping pages out of his pocket Constitution, saying it could affect the existing amendments.

“The root problem is us — we’re not doing our job,” Fry said.  “We have to work with the states and get them in control before we can get the feds in control.”

“Let’s get a constitutional amendment in this state and give a citizen referendum initiative and recall that applies to all government officials in this state from dog catcher to the governor,” he suggested.

The Kansas resolutions calls for a constitutional convention to balance powers of states and the federal government, and specifies that education, guns, health care, insurance and elections are strictly state powers with no role for the federal government.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays and Xinzheng, China, are Sister Cities.  Each city has sent delegations in the past, and Hays Mayor Kent Steward is sending an official letter to the mayor of Xinzheng suggesting another visit by Hays residents.

The Sister Cities relationship evolved because Xinzheng is home to Sias International University, which has an educational partnership with Fort Hays State University.

The trip to China, tentatively scheduled to begin April 6 and last 10 days, would be expanded into a trade mission.  Xinzheng, although much bigger than Hays with 600,000 residents, is located in Henan Province, a major wheat-growing and aircraft-manufacturing region.  Henan Province and the state of Kansas are Sister States.

Although no city staff members are expected to participate, City Manager Toby Dougherty says Commissioner Henry Schwaller has expressed interest in traveling to Xinzheng:

The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development and the Hays Sister Cities Committee also have expressed interest in participating.

Community members are invited to apply to be delegates. An informational meeting about the trip will be held tonight at 6p.m. in Hays City Hall.

For more on the trip, click HERE.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A survey of homeless Americans will be conducted later this month to identify those challenged by housing needs.

The “Point in Time” survey will ask each person where he or she slept Jan. 22. The data will be used to allocate federal funding for locales identified with homeless housing needs.

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is helping with the project in Hays.

“Rural housing challenges don’t look the same as urban housing challenges,” said the Rev. Celeste Lasich of First Presbyterian Church:

The Hays Housing Coalition is hosting a free chili supper Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Hays National Guard Armory, 200 Main, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Attendees will be asked to complete the brief housing survey and will receive free underwear, socks and toiletries.

The chili supper is provided by Wendy’s restaurant and local churches.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, is a longtime farmer who serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in the Kansas Senate.

He expects water rights and the talk of transporting water from the Missouri River in eastern Kansas to western Kansas to be a hot topic this legislative session.

Ostmeyer talked with area farmers Friday in Grainfield.

“I actually worked for some of the guys’ families when I was a first married,” said Ostmeyer, “and they’re worried about the dwindling water supply:”

The 2012 Kansas Legislature gave groundwater management districts the authority to initiate a public hearing process to consider a specific conservation plan to meet local goals through Local Enhanced Management Areas.

Ostmeyer, who serves the newly expanded 40th Senate District, said no-till farming practices in western Kansas have helped slow the use of water.

You can see the entire interview with Sen. Ostmeyer today on the Eagle Community TV Legislative Forum and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on ECTV Channel 14.

Just as everyone is getting back into a routine after the holidays, Mother Nature is doing her best to keep people off the roads across much of the U.S.

Severe winter storm Hercules dumped deep snow in the Northeast and extreme cold penetrated the central U.S.

As a result, the American Red Cross says in a news release,  blood drives have been cancelled in these locations and elsewhere there are low donor turnouts.

Donors in unaffected areas are urged to help make up the donations lost in the weather-impacted areas.

Local blood drives this week include:

Hays Public Library
1205 Main Street
Tuesday 1/14/14
10AM–1:30PM

Ellis Knights of Columbus
1013 Washington
Wednesday 1/15/2014
1:00 PM–6:00 PM

Hays Medical Center
2200 Canterbury
Thursday 1/16/2014 
11:00 AM–5:00 PM

Hays Academy of Hair Design
1214 E. 27th
Friday 1/17/2014
12:00PM–3:30PM

 

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Kansas House Taxation committee was “quite active” last year, according to freshman member Travis Couture-Lovelady (R-Palco.)

Couture-Lovelady predicts a slower year for the committee, except when it comes to K-12 education funding and the soon-to-be-issued  ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court.

If the ruling mandates increased K-12 funding, then the money has to come from somewhere, explains Couture-Lovelady:

Public school funding accounts for more than 50 percent of all state government spending each year.

You can watch all the “Legislative Preview” interview with Couture-Lovelady and ECTV host Mike Koerner Monday on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 at 4p.m. and 7p.m.

The Kansas legislature opens its 2014 session Monday afternoon in Topeka.