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Author: Becky Kiser

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home – March 4

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Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.

All Day In The House
Starting last Tuesday, the members of the Kansas House of Representatives spent all day in the House chambers debating and voting on a wide array of bills.

On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, the House debated twenty five bills and Wednesday, we debated eight additional bills.

Some of the bills that we discussed were:

House Bill 2084, which revises the Kansas 911 Act. The bill also repeals three outdated statutes in the existing act.

House Bill 2006 requires that the Kansas Department of Commerce create a database for information regarding economic development incentive programs.

A couple of bills that were debated affected the Board of Regents in the state of Kansas. House Bill 2209 authorizes the Board of Regents to purchase cybersecurity software. House Bill 2168 allows the University of Kansas to sell property located in Douglas County and Kansas State University to sell two properties, one located in Saline County while the other property is in Cherokee County. Wednesday morning I voted in support of all these bills.

The House completed final action on all of the bills debated last week.

Turnaround
The culmination of last week marks what is referred to as “Turnaround,” or simply the halfway point of the legislative session. The Senate and the House spent the majority of last week in our respective chambers debating bills from the bills’ chamber of origin. Most of the House bills introduced so far this session needed to be debated and voted on by Thursday, February 28, 2019, or they would run the risk of not advancing in this session. The same can be said for bills in the Senate.

When we return on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, our focus will be on bills that were debated and passed out of the Senate. The Senate will then evaluate the bills that we in the House have passed. That will be the major work for the committees until we adjourn for our April recess.

More Bills
House Bill 2225 requires that a driver stop the vehicle at least fifteen feet before crossing a railroad track if other track equipment, in addition to a train which is current law, is nearby. I did not support this bill because it is common sense to stop at a railroad crossing.

House Bill 2223 makes revisions to vineyard permits by now calling them producer permits. The bill also allows for wine producers to use a wider variety of agricultural products for wine production. I support this bill.

House Bill 2360 is a bill that came from the Children and Seniors committee, and it concerns background checks for employees and volunteers that have unsupervised access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. I voted “yes.”

We had planned to debate House Bill 2173, the commercial hemp bill, however it was pulled from discussion this week. Due to the passage of the federal farm bill of 2018, which allows for the production of commercial hemp, we need to have this bill debated to clear up existing statute language that we passed last year.

Anytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at www.kslegislature.org.

Contact Information
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected]. Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill) is the 109th Dist. state representative and chairman of the House Appropriations committee. The 109th District includes Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties and portions of  Barton, Jewell, Lincoln and Rush counties.

Cold overnight low in Hays, but not a record

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The overnight low in Hays was -8°.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Are you sure you want to know this?

Yes, it was cold in Hays Sunday.

According to Official Weather Guy Joe Becker at the K-State Agricultural Research Center, the high for March 3 was just 8 degrees.

The overnight low dropped to -8 degrees. Very cold, but not a record for that date. On March 3, 1960, the overnight low in Hays was -11 degrees.

You might remember this: One year ago, the high was 73 degrees.

A Wind Chill Advisory was in effect for Hays Monday until 9 a.m., with wind chill values as low as -19.

Emergency snow routes to be discussed by Ellis City Council

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ELLIS – It’s a timely agenda item for the Ellis City Council tonight.

Council members will discuss the possible establishment of emergency snow routes and snow removal procedures. They’ll also consider a revision to the personnel policy regarding emergency call-outs.

In other business, Todd Keller with the Washington Grade School PTO will discuss a proposed community book exchange.

The complete meeting agenda follows.

AGENDA

March 4, 2019

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS

City Hall – Council Meeting Room

 

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)

  • CONSENT AGENDA
    1. Minutes from Regular Meeting on February 18, 2019
    2. Bills Ordinance #2064

(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda.  By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes.  If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson.  ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment.  Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)

  • PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
  • SPECIAL ORDER
    1. Discuss Community Book Exchange – Todd Keller, Washington Grade School PTO
  • UNFINISHED BUSINESS
    1. Review Bids to Replace Swimming Pool Roof
    2. Consider Approval of Public Property Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control – Chrysler Car Show
    3. Consider Revisions to Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank Policy
    4. Review Revisions to Small Cell Aesthetic Standards
    5. Update on Modifications to Cedar Lane Lift Station
    6. Consider Purchase of Skid-Steer Loader
    7. Consider Purchase of Jack Hammer Attachment for Skid-Steer Loader
  • NEW BUSINESS
    1. Consider Approval of Public Property Permit Application – Kohl Family
    2. Consider Application for New Retail Business Sales Tax Incentive – Auto Standard
    3. Discuss Establishing Emergency Snow Route and Snow Removal Procedures
    4. Consider Revision to Personnel Policy Regarding Emergency Call-Outs
    5. Consider Donation for Ellis Alumni Golf Tournament
    6. Consider Ratification of Flatlander Dirt Works Invoice
  • REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
    1. Administrative
      • Public Works
        • Letter from ISO
        • Department Update
      • Police
        • Monthly Activity Report for February
        • March Staff Calendar
        • Department Update
      • City Clerk
        • Draft Minutes from Committee Meetings
        • Swimming Pool Public Information Flyer
        • Discuss City Donation Policy
        • Department Update
      • Attorney
        • Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
      • Mayor Update and Announcements

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

ADJOURNMENT

🎥 Reservations open for Healing Kids Hearts retreat

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Healing Kids Hearts Retreat is still taking applications.

Organizers are urging loved one to get their children’s names in for the retreat as soon as possible.

Children experience the loss of loved ones just as adults do but youngsters grieve differently than adults.

The Center for Life Experience (CFLE) in Hays is offering a special retreat March 30 for children dealing with death.

Healing Kids Hearts is in its fourth year.

The daylong retreat is for children ages 7-12 who’ve lost someone significant in their lives, whether a relative or a friend.

“They don’t talk the same way as adults,” says Ann Leiker, CFLE executive director and a licensed social worker. “They may want to grieve creatively, doing things like making a memory box with pictures and drawings.” Music and story writing is often part of the process.

Children attending past retreats have made bird houses and memory stones to place in a garden to honor loved ones. This year’s activities will include a balloon launch.

The young participants learn about grief, how to embrace it and how to cope with it so they can move forward in their journey of healing.

Each child is paired with a trained adult volunteer as a matched “buddy” for guidance and support throughout the day.

“They become friends and they just share. The kids come in pretty quiet and by the end of the day, they’re smiling and they have hope,” Leiker said. “They have memories of their loved one that they can share.”

“Healing Kids Hearts” will be held 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 30 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive. The deadline for applications for participants and volunteers has been extended, but organizers would like to have applications by March 8 if possible. Applications are available on the CFLE website.

Cost is $10 per child which includes a T-shirt, tote, lunch and snacks. The cost for families with two or more children attending is $5 per child. Financial scholarships are available.

A separate session for adults will be held during the morning.

More information is available by calling or texting Leiker at 785-259-6859, or by email at [email protected].

Another 4″ of snow falls in Hays

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The second consecutive Saturday snow storm in Hays.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The latest winter storm dropped 4 inches of snow in Hays Saturday, yielding 0.30 inch of moisture, according to the official report from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town. With some snow still on the ground from last weekend, there’s an average of 7 inches now in Hays.

The Hays Regional Airport recorded 5.5 inches.

So far in the snow season, Hays has had 29.80 inches of snow. Moisture to date in 2019 measures 1.95 inches.

The overnight low dropped to 0 degrees. That’s cold, but not a record for March 2. In 1960, the temperature fell to -15 degrees on March 2.

It was a lot warmer one year ago when the high soared to 72 degrees.

Saturday’s high in Hays was 27 degrees. Sunday’s forecast is calling for very cold temperatures with a high of just 6 degrees. Wind chill values will be as low as -20 degrees.

🎥 Reservations open for Healing Kids Hearts retreat

Posted on

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Healing Kids Hearts Retreat is still taking applications.

Organizers are urging loved one to get their children’s names in for the retreat as soon as possible.

Children experience the loss of loved ones just as adults do but youngsters grieve differently than adults.

The Center for Life Experience (CFLE) in Hays is offering a special retreat March 30 for children dealing with death.

Healing Kids Hearts is in its fourth year.

The daylong retreat is for children ages 7-12 who’ve lost someone significant in their lives, whether a relative or a friend.

“They don’t talk the same way as adults,” says Ann Leiker, CFLE executive director and a licensed social worker. “They may want to grieve creatively, doing things like making a memory box with pictures and drawings.” Music and story writing is often part of the process.

Children attending past retreats have made bird houses and memory stones to place in a garden to honor loved ones. This year’s activities will include a balloon launch.

The young participants learn about grief, how to embrace it and how to cope with it so they can move forward in their journey of healing.

Each child is paired with a trained adult volunteer as a matched “buddy” for guidance and support throughout the day.

“They become friends and they just share. The kids come in pretty quiet and by the end of the day, they’re smiling and they have hope,” Leiker said. “They have memories of their loved one that they can share.”

“Healing Kids Hearts” will be held 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 30 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive. The deadline for applications for participants and volunteers has been extended, but organizers would like to have applications by March 8 if possible. Applications are available on the CFLE website.

Cost is $10 per child which includes a T-shirt, tote, lunch and snacks. The cost for families with two or more children attending is $5 per child. Financial scholarships are available.

A separate session for adults will be held during the morning.

More information is available by calling or texting Leiker at 785-259-6859, or by email at [email protected].

🎥 Third voting system demonstrated; county clerk will make purchase decision

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Jack King of ElectionSource talks about the Dominion Voting System precinct ballot counter.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The third and final public demonstration of new voting systems for Ellis County was held Wednesday with poll workers and election staff.

The group in the county Administration Center commission chambers was much smaller than that at the first two presentations. Ellis County Clerk and Election Officer Donna Maskus attributed it to the extreme cold.

Josh King and Don Vopalensky did get out in the winter weather and drove to Hays. The two Kansas residents work for ElectionSource, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and showed their Dominion Voting Systems.

King talked about the extra security layer built in the precinct ballot counter, which requires both a USB key and a unique password.

“You have to have this little physical device and you have to know the password the county has chosen for that election,” explained King. “You can have it programmed to each specific machine or one for everyone. It’s all up to the county and how granular they want their security to be.”

The precinct counter, which holds 3,000 ballots and has a separate write-in ballot bin, costs approximately $5,000. The ADA compliant ICX touch screen voting booth prints ballots but does not tabulate. Its cost is about $3,000.

Ellis County must replace its aging iVotronic voting system in order to comply with a new Kansas statute requiring post-election audits done on paper. The iVotronic machines do not produce a paper ballot.

Maskus said all three companies are “excellent” and they each work with other counties in Kansas as well as other states.

Rooks County is using Election Source products.

During February presentations were also made by Adkins Election Services, Clinton, Mo., and  Election Systems & Software (ES&S) of Omaha, Neb.

Don Vopalensky is the Kansas State Elections Manager for ElectionSource.

Each company showcased systems that would require less work by poll workers and put more responsibility on the voter.

“I’m very much considering that it will take less election board workers,” Maskus said. “Once that ballot is handed to the voter, the voter goes to the table, does their secret voting, and then comes to the machine and puts it in. If they choose to do the touch screen option, it will print a ballot and they will have to put it in the machine to be tabulated.”

The printed ballots will go into a ballot precinct counter which does the tabulations. Write-in ballots are also scanned, counted and printed.

“We’re going to be able to print reports and combine those results. It should be a faster process on election night and that is exciting to me,” she said with a smile.

Maskus has talked with several Kansas counties who are using the new systems which print and tabulate ballots and “they just love them. It’s less time and they say they feel so much better about them. It’s tabulating there in the machine and you don’t have that human error.”

Attendees at Wednesday’s ElectionSource demonstration.

Ellis County election board workers who’ve attended the presentations have also told Maskus the new systems look much easier to use. “They’re also looking forward to some new equipment.”

Whichever company is selected, it will provide training for the poll workers on the new system. “We want to be trained correctly and what to do if something happens to a machine or if the electricity goes off.”

The county budget has capital reserve set aside to purchase new machines as part of the election budget. Maskus will decide which system to go with after reviewing all three bids.

“I do want input from my staff, people who have attended the meetings, my board workers and supervisors, and the county commissioners. It’s a big dollar investment. We will review all that very thoroughly.”

“It’ll be great to have new equipment. There’ll be a learning curve but everybody is excited.”

Ellis County has 10 polling sites and 69 iVotronic machines.

Maskus expects to use the new equipment for the upcoming election in November and a possible primary election in August.

🎥 City signs support letter for renovation of former Washington School

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USD 489 Early Childhood Connections is currently housed in the former Washington Elementary School. The program will relocate to the Oak Park Medical Complex once that building is renovated.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The former Washington Elementary School in downtown Hays will retain its historical significance when repurposed as affordable housing in a project proposed by Overland Property Group (OPG) of Leawood.

The city commission Thursday night unanimously approved a Resolution of Support sought by developer Matt Gillam for federal tax credits through the state.

Washington School opened its doors in 1926 and May 19, 2015.

The USD 489 Early Childhood Connections program is currently housed in the building at 305 Main and will move to the Oak Park Medical Complex, 2501 E. 13th, once it is renovated.

“I know a lot of people have said you’re going to come in and tear it down. That is not what I put in front of the state. It is for historical rehab of that school and it’s to put 18 apartment units inside that school,” Gillam told commissioners.

Fifteen of the units in StonePost Lofts will be one-bedroom apartments. There aren’t very many of those in Hays.

“This is a really cool opportunity to be able to fill the gap with one-bedrooms, do a historic renovation on the school and money is spent so that it is not an eyesore for the community,” Gillam added. “It’s going to be a contributing piece of real estate in a very vital piece of downtown.”

Gillam said the state now has the application for the Kansas Housing Resources Corp. Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and he has talked with the state historical society. His contractors have also checked out the building.

He noted the school gymnasium cannot be converted to apartments.

“There’s a lack of windows and because of the historical significance, I’ll have to maintain that as a kind of internal community activity space.”

Plans are to replace the building roof and and the HVAC system. A large asphalt parking lot on the property will be improved for use by the tenants.

Gillam estimates the renovation will cost a minimum of $4 million.

“I think this is a wonderful project,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs. “I’ve lived here all my life and I’m very attached to that building. I think it’s going to do much for our downtown.”

Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil asked how much of the renovation work would be done by local contractors.

OPG is not a contractor, Gillam pointed out.

“We use McPherson Group of Topeka a lot which has done some recent stuff at Fort Hays State University. We’ve really dialed in that local subcontractor.” An OPG project underway in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, utilized 70 percent local subcontractors, according to Gillam.

StonePost housing locations in downtown Hays

Apartment rental prices would range from $380 to $600 a month plus utilities.

OPG has three other qualified-income housing projects open in the area of south Main Street.

“We have a very substantial waiting list on StonePost on all phases right now,” Gillam reported.

City to get progress report on wastewater treatment plant upgrade

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays wastewater plant reconstruction underway in Feb.(Drone picture courtesy city of Hays)

Hays city commissioners will hear an update on the progress of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Reconstruction Project during their meeting Feb. 28.

Eric Farrow with HDR engineers is scheduled to present the update.

The commission will also be asked to sign a letter of support for Overland Property Group, Leawood, which plans to redevelop the former Washington Elementary School, 305 Main, and construct income-qualified housing.

As part of the process to apply for federal tax credits, OPG must have a Resolution of Support from the local governing body. City staff is recommending the commission approve the resolution.

A low bid recommendation will be considered for purchase of a new double drum asphalt compactor for the Service Division. The low bid of $34,445.91 is from Murphy Tractor and Equipment, Great Bend; budgeted amount was $37,000. The equipment will be for asphalt and base compaction as well for asphalt and concrete projects.

Holly Dickman, Water Conservation Specialist, will provide an update to the commission on the Water Conservation Program and results from 2018.

The complete agenda is available here. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

 

 

MASON: Where innovation and service flourish, partners find each other

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Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president

I love how our spirit of innovation combines education with service to our communities! It is especially gratifying when community partners join us to accomplish goals of education, access, opportunity and service.

I have written previously about several of our community-based partnerships, as we are so proud of our faculty and students and how they positively contribute to Western Kansas communities. In fact, over the past couple of weeks, Dr. Tim Davis, chair of the Department of Social Work, and I have been visiting with legislators about furthering the work we are accomplishing in addressing the state’s need for social workers – especially in Western Kansas. Did you know that only 11 percent of the state’s Licensed Bachelor’s Social Workers and Licensed Addiction Counselors live and work in Western Kansas?

One of the key aspects our faculty realized early on is that if we were going to make an impact on social worker needs in Western Kansas, we could not wait for students to come to us. Boldly, we would go to them.

So in 2006, we partnered with Garden City Community College to address a severe shortage of licensed social workers in Southwest Kansas. The solution was a partnership between the state’s AccessUS program through the Kansas Board of Regents, Garden City Community College and our Department of Social Work. Students who were committed to their home communities could gain their associate degrees through Garden City Community College and then, without leaving their homes, enter into the three-year social work cohort program and gain the credentials needed to seek licensure.

A cohort is a group of students who enter the program together and stay for the three-year course of education. Classes are taught by FHSU faculty at the local community college. Dr. Davis said the model has proven successful in Southwest Kansas, noting in a recent story that, “The first three Garden City cohorts graduated 30 Bachelor of Social Work students, the majority of whom have remained in Finney County to practice. These students now make up over half of the Licensed Bachelor’s Social Workers in the county.”

The program later expanded to Dodge City, and Dr. Davis said the cohort scheduled to graduate there this year has 13 students. If all finish, it will double the number of LBSWs in Ford County.

Social workers perform valuable services in their communities. They work in child and family service agencies, mental health centers, hospitals and health care agencies, schools, nursing homes, social service agencies, addiction treatment centers, the courts and more. The services they provide, as it says on the FHSU Social Work website, help “people cope with complex interpersonal and social problems and assist in obtaining resources.”
The program also expanded into Seward County, Dr. Davis said, because local child welfare agencies could not fill open professional positions. The eight in the cohort there will more than double the number of the county’s licensed social workers.

Northwest Kansas also needs many more social workers than it has available. By Dr. Davis’s count, the 26 Northwest Kansas counties that the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan considers its service area – stretching from Saline County in the southeast to Cheyenne County in the northwest – have a total of 166 licensed, bachelor’s level social workers, but 92 of them are in Ellis and Saline counties. Five of these counties have none, 16 have three or less.

But the AccessUS program was created by the Kansas Legislature to expand educational opportunity only in Southwest Kansas. The fund helps pay for the added costs that come with offering an entire educational program at a distance, and not only does it pay for certain administrative costs, but it also provides for student scholarships.

Absent additional legislative funding, Dr. Davis and the department sought other partners. The Hansen Foundation stepped in. A $95,000 grant will fund expansion of the program to Colby and Colby Community College this fall and, with the assistance of Valley Hope Inc. and the CCC outreach center, to Norton as well.

Two more communities and faculty with a vision to further serve the needs of Western Kansas – that is impact. That is evidence of a culture of thinking out of the box. We understand that our success is the community’s success and the region’s success. This is a great example of reshaping education and opportunity in new and creative ways to prepare students for the future and communities for success.

At Fort Hays State, we say that our personality as an institution and as people is one of innovation, hard work, dedication, and caring about others, seeking ways to help them succeed. In many ways, the same can be said about Western Kansas – the values of one reflect the other, and each is willing to invest its energy and creativity in the common goal of preparing people for successful lives and making the world better.

🎥 Rep. Wasinger: Partnerships critical for Northwest Business Corridor in Ellis Co.

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Kansas Deputy Transportation Secretary Lindsay Douglas; Congressman Roger Marshall; Representative Ken Rahjes; Senator Rick Billinger, and Kansas Commerce Secretary David Toland

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Partnership” was the most-often used word by local, state and federal officials during a tour Friday afternoon of the Ellis County Northwest Business Corridor road improvement project.

Those riding on the two-hour bus tour, initiated by Rep. Barb Wasinger of Hays (R-111th Dist.), included numerous government and business representatives of Ellis County, Hays, and the state of Kansas, along with First Dist. Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend).

The corridor is north of Hays, defined as U.S. Highway 183 and Feedlot Road running two miles west to 230th Ave., then south two miles on 230th to Interstate-70 and the Highway 183 Bypass.

Planned road improvements to the Ellis Co. Northwest Business Corridor. (Click to enlarge)

The plan calls for a paved 8-inch concrete road capable of handling large truck traffic and oversized loads.

Wasinger is a former Ellis County and Hays city commissioner. She’s very familiar with the concerns.

“I told him [interim Kansas Commerce Secretary David Toland] how important it was, how dangerous the road was and how much we needed the support of the governor and all the different divisions of the state,” Wasinger said after the tour. “It doesn’t take much to learn once you’re on that road how dangerous it is for these enormous vehicles to be going down there.”

The corridor carries a high percentage of large truck traffic with Midwest Energy’s Goodman Energy Center and Hess Services both located on 230th Avenue. The bus stopped at both facilities for quick guided tours.

Between the bypass exit and the entrance to Goodman Energy Center, the hills on 230th Avenue vary 67 feet in elevation.

Midwest Energy’s Bill Dowling talks about the dips in 230th Ave.

Midwest Energy actually has a safety directive in place for when big contractor loads drive in and out of the Goodman driveway

“These are long trucks with 80-foot poles on them,” Bill Dowling, Midwest Energy Center Engineering and Energy Supply Vice President, told the tour group.

“We station a pickup up on the top of the hill with its flashers on in an attempt to slow down the traffic.  The sight lines on that road are terrible,” Dowling said. “It is a bit of a risk every time you get on and off 230th.”

A semi drives past the USD 489 bus transporting the tour group on 230th Ave.

The traffic is often speeding and there are no shoulders along the road.

“When you go through these facilities, you see what commerce is and you see what’s important to Hays, Ellis County and all of northwest Kansas,” said Dustin Roths, Ellis County commissioner.

Hess Services currently has 355 employees and about 50 contractors working at its primary facility at 1789 230th. Co-owners and brothers Dan and Mark Hess told the tour they plan to expand their company if it can acquire the necessary infrastructure, including the corridor project.

Dan Hess leads a tour of Hess Services with 1st. Dist. Congressman Roger Marshall, state representative Ken Rahjes of Agra, Ellis Co. Commissioner Dean Haselhorst and county public works director Bill Ring, immediately behind him.

Ellis County has already approved $800,000 for road improvements for the Northwest Business Corridor.

“When I got on the commission, this project looked vitally important to me,” Roths said. “We’re hoping we can find other people to make this happen.”

Roths heard a lot of comments about Hess from tour participants from outside of Hays who “couldn’t believe this exists in this part of the world.”

“Huge credit to Hess Services and their company, its growth and their vision. So now it’s time for us to do our part, in my opinion. It’s time for the government to do what it’s supposed to do which is provide that infrastructure so that they can continue to grow and thrive.”

Interim Kansas Commerce Secretary David Tolan talks with Susan NeuPoth Cadoret, KS Dept. of Commerce, (L) and State Representative Barb Wasinger of Hays (R) following Friday’s tour.

Also on the tour were Kansas deputy Transportation Secretary Lindsey Douglas, state Sen. Rick Billinger of Goodland and Susan NeuPoth Cadoret, Business & Community Development Director for the Kansas Dept. of Commerce (KDC).

Admittedly, KDC doesn’t focus much on infrastructure in the state, but she “saw some really impressive job opportunities,” NeuPoth Cadoret said following the tour. “There’s also some potential for additional growth that’s coming so I can see the importance and the value of having this road hard-surfaced and completed.”

A private developer has approached the city of Hays in the past year about constructing a travel plaza at the intersection of 230th Ave. and 55th Street. There has also been discussion about potential housing and a commercial site just north of I-70 on the west side of 230th.

Wasinger said she has “accomplished the first step” in the road improvement plan “with collaboration and the help of everybody.”

“It just shows we all want to work together to take care of the needs of rural Kansas and Ellis County. The next step is to not let this excitement die.”

Those on the tour also included representatives from Fort Hays State University, Grow Hays, and the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center.

According to information provided by Ellis County to tour participants, the Northwest Business Corridor improvements would cost $11,079.33. Additional improvements on 55th Street would increase the total to $15,734.862.

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