There are five men running for three open seats on the Hays city commission.
Two are incumbents, Ron Mellick and Henry Schwaller IV. The three other candidates are all political newcomers, Michael Berges, Mason Ruder and Ryan Rymer.
This week Hays Post will run a series of interviews with each candidate.
Ron Mellick, 67, says he has no immediate plans to retire. In another 18 months, he will have worked 50 years in the floor covering business as in installer. All but two of those years, he will have been self-employed.
He and his wife Mary, who runs an in-home daycare, have four adult children and 12 grandchildren.
Mellick previously served as a Hays city commissioner from 2007 to 2015. In July 2018, he was appointed to fill Commissioner Chris Dinkel’s unexpired term.
Mellick is proud of two major accomplishments made during the time he has served on the city commission, but is quick to say, “I don’t believe any commissioner, individually, can take credit for accomplishments that the commission achieved because it takes a majority of the commissioners.”
He points to the city’s stable mill levy. It’s remained at 20 mills for 12 of the past 13 years.
“You won’t find any city in Kansas, outside of Johnson County, that has a lower city mill levy. Nor will you find another Kansas city still operating on the same mill levy that they were in 2007.”
Mellick is also proud of the city commission’s adoption of a “pay-as-we-go” policy.
“We save our money. We pay for our projects in cash. We’re no longer bonding them and paying that interest for years to come.”
He doesn’t want that to change.
What Mellick does want to change is the stability of the city’s long-term water supply with activation of the state’s Water Transfer Act.
“I think once we get that water here (from the city-owned R9 Ranch in Edwards County) we could see a huge economic development driver not only for Hays but the region for years to come.”
The top two city commission candidates will serve for four years, while the third-place vote-getter will serve for two years.
Advanced voting is underway. The election is Nov. 5.
There are five men running for three open seats on the Hays city commission.
Two are incumbents, Ron Mellick and Henry Schwaller IV. The three other candidates are all political newcomers, Michael Berges, Mason Ruder and Ryan Rymer.
Beginning today, Hays Post will run a series of interviews with each candidate this week.
Michael Berges, 39, is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and has a degree in political science from Fort Hays State University. He’s also run motels in other cities.
“I’ve always had an interest in watching and following governance,” Berges says. “I particularly like local government – city, county, school board – and the topics that come up in local issues.”
“I strongly feel that local issues make the greatest impact in your life.”
Berges and his wife, Erica, the new United Way of Ellis County executive director, have three young sons.
As a father and city commission candidate, Berges is looking to the future of Hays and how it will support his kids’ futures.
“I don’t know where else we could live besides Hays that provides all the quality of life amenities that fit our family so well.”
As a financial advisor, Berges works with numbers all day long. He feels his experience with personal budgets would translate well to working with the city’s budget.
Berges also deals with economic data and trends affecting changes in the nation’s economy.
“While Hays is somewhat isolated being in the middle of the country and in the middle of Kansas, it doesn’t mean some of those economic trends don’t transfer into Hays.”
The top two city commission candidates will serve for four years, while the third-place vote-getter will serve for two years.
Advanced voting is underway. The election is Nov. 5.
A second water line to serve Hays customers north of Interstate-70 will soon be installed underneath the roadbed, creating redundancy with a more reliable water loop.
There is currently only one 16-inch water line serving the area, which has seen considerable business growth since the line was installed in 1993.
Jeff Crispin, water resources director, told city commissioners Thursday night adding a line will also provide better fire protection and increase water pressure in the north zone.
“Typical water pressure in the area is probably 10-15 psi less than it is to the south,” Crispin said.
The commission approved the low bid of $769,678 from Midlands Contracting, Kearney, Neb., for a 12-inch water line plus a backup booster station.
Commissioner Ron Mellick asked why the new line will have a 12-inch diameter instead of 16 inches to match the existing line.
“We already have 12-inch lines that are located there and we’re just extending that. Creating that loop will supply us plenty of water in that area,” Crispin explained. “That was part of the study that was done and the recommendation was made to extend that 12-inch line. But once we create that loop, we’ll have a continuous supply of water that will be running through that area, through both lines and booster stations, and that’ll provide adequate pressure.”
A study by Bartlett & West Engineers in 2018 recommended crossing I-70 at Hall Street connecting a new 12-inch water main from 45th and Hall to an existing dead-end line along 48th Street at the west property line of Carrico Implement. The plan also called for installation of an above ground booster pump station on city-owned property along W. 41st Street just east of Post Road near a city water well.
Construction will begin soon and is to be completed by July 1 of next year.
The commission also approved renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas health insurance for city of Hays employees in 2020.
Erin Giebler, human resources director for the city of Hays
The premium went down two percent, according to Erin Giebler, human resources director, who gave credit to the employees for the savings.
“Due to the city’s low utilization, the renewal showed a two percent decrease,” Giebler told commissioners. The city’s estimated cost would be $1,683,700 with an additional $120,000 to match employees’ Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions.
According to Giebler, 58 percent of employees choose a high deductible option.
This is the second consecutive year the premium has decreased. The city switched to BCBS in 2017 with three deductible options.
In other business, the commission approved annexation of property at 700 W. 48th Street, location of the now-closed-Mid Kansas Auto Auction.
Property owner Mark Ottley has changed business plans for this location which is contiguous to the existing city limits. He’s requested a zoning change from C-2 (Commercial General) to A-L (Agriculture) from the Planning Commission change of zoning from C-2 (Commercial General) to A-L (Agriculture) to allow uses within an A-L zoned district for a portion of the property.
“The property does have private water and septic,” Jesse Rohr, public works director said. “However, sanitary sewer will be extended by the owner from the Ottley Addition from the east.” Water will be available to the property upon completion of the I-70 city waterline project approved by the city commission earlier in the meeting. Rohr previously told commissioners the Trego Rural Water District had been supplying the water.
The commission also heard an update from First Care Clinic.
When it opened in downtown Hays in 2008, its four employees saw 1,211 patients. Today there are 50 employees providing medical, dental and behavioral health services in one location. This year the clinic is on track to see 7,030 patients, reported Bryan Brady, CEO.
Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director, said the integrated care is filling gaps in Hays.
“If you don’t give affordable care, high-quality care, or accessible care, people will let their medical problems go and then you wind up with a very expensive or advanced problem.”
Dr. Christine Fisher, First Care Clinic medical director
Fisher noted that happens across the United States. “So we think it hopefully not only benefits the patient but then all of us as contributors to the cost equation,” she explained.
First Care Clinic recently remodeled the former Eddy Clinic in downtown Hays and has a $5 million dollar annual budget.
Two executive sessions totaling 35 minutes were called at the end of the meeting regarding right of way authorization for the North Vine Street Corridor Project.
At the September 26 meeting, City Manager Toby Dougherty was authorized to spend $390,020 toward the acquisition of right of way and easements associated with the project.
The city commission was later asked to consider administrative settlements that might be above the original city offers.
Perrin Trapp, Skylar Wittman, Isabel Escalante, Lili Shubert, Tanner Sells, James Kriegh, Carter Minson, Dillon Dunn, Fes Molitor
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
WAKEENEY — Students at Trego Community High School in WaKeeney were out of the classroom Wednesday and out on the town as they participated in the school’s annual Community Appreciation Day.
“It’s a a way to say thank you to the community for supporting the school,” says project organizer and USD 208 counselor Joleen Schoenthaler. “We’ve done this for approximately 20 years.”
Community Appreciation Day was originated by former faculty member Brad Starnes. The entire high school participates in the project.
There were 45 jobs requested this year by WaKeeney residents and business owners.
The 105 students, 14 teachers and 13 adult sponsors — most of them parents of the students — spent the day raking leaves, trimming trees, and doing other yard work. They also picked up trash, cleaned windows, and cleaned out basements, garages and sheds.
(Photos courtesy Stacie Minson)
Tanner Sellers and Carter Minson
Lili Shubert, Isabel Escalante, Skylar Wittman
Coach Pat Haxton, Perrin Trapp (in red), Carter Minson, Dillon Dunn, Tanner Sells
Perrin Trapp, Skylar Wittman, Isabel Escalante, Lili Shubert, Tanner Sells, James Kriegh, Carter Minson, Dillon Dunn, Fes Molitor
Perrin Trapp, Skylar Wittman, Lili Shubert, Carter Minson, Isabel Escalante, Fes Molitor, Tanner Sells, James Kriegh, Dillon Dunn,
Kelsey Kinderknecht, Andrew Mejia, Isaac Brungardt
Fes Molitor, Carter Minson
Perrin Trapp, Tanner Sells, Fes Molitor, Lili Shubert, Isabel Escalante, Carter Minson, Skylar Wittman, Cindy Katt-owner of the DQ where the students cleaned windows, James Kreigh, Dillon Dunn
The city of Hays plans to file a passenger facility charge (PFC) application with the FAA to impose and use the PFC at the Hays Regional Airport.
The additional $4.50 per enplaned passenger will fund the local share of certain PFC eligible airport improvements.
The PFC is expected to be effective February 1, 2020, through May 1, 2024, and generate an estimated $276,257.
“Our last groups of projects is about to expire and so we have submitted a new group of projects to the FAA in order to justify the charge,” said Toby Dougherty, city manager.
Federal regulations require a public hearing prior to implementation to the PFC.
Dougherty says the process is more geared toward bigger airports such as Denver that “might have 25 different carriers that might want to come ask questions about it. We only have one carrier (United Express) and they’re well aware of our charge.”
A list of the PFC projects and the city’s share of the cost is shown below. Costs are split with the FAA which usually pays 90 percent of the total project amount.
A 30-day period is provided for filing of comments by the public. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25.
The Hays Regional Airport will hold an air carrier consultation meeting at 3 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the Hays Regional Airport conference room.
After the air carrier consultation meeting/public notice another 30-day period is provided for filing of comments. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 26.
Comments may be submitted to:
City of Hays
Hays Regional Airport
Jesse Rohr, Director of Public Works
1002 Vine St.
Hays, KS 67601
UPDATED Oct. 27, 2019 to clarify the PFU would be a continuation of a previously approved implementation by the FAA. An air carrier consultation meeting, not public hearing, will be held Nov. 26.
Dr. Jay Steinmetz and Dr. Wendy Rohleder-Sook, FHSU Dept. of Political Science, at Tuesday’s forum with Hays city commission candidates Michael Berges, Ron Mellick, Mason Ruder, Ryan Rymer and Henry Schwaller IV.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The five men running for three open positions on the Hays City Commission agreed on two things during their 90-minute public forum Tuesday night in Fort Hays State University’s Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
Incumbents Ron Mellick and Henry Schwaller IV, along with newcomers Michael Berges, Mason Ruder and Ryan Rymer all said they love the community of Hays and want to give back to the town and its residents by serving on the city commission.
Each candidate also declared the need for affordable housing to be a top concern.
Written questions from the audience of about 75 people were read by Dr. Jay Steinmetz, FHSU political science assistant professor.
One of the first questions asked the candidates to name the biggest problem facing the city and how they would fix it.
Their answers varied but each included a mention of affordable housing.
Ruder, the Ellis County Environmental Planning Supervisor, grew up in Hays. Like many young people, he left for awhile to live and work in a bigger city – Kansas City. Then Ruder returned to Hays start a family.
“Our biggest issue we need to tackle is finding ways to retain young people in Hays. Affordable, moderately-priced housing is part of that,” Ruder said, “and working with developers, realtors, Grow Hays.
“We have a bunch of resources available to us to bring in some of these potentially new developments to let the students and the younger people plant roots right here in town.”
Ruder said he struggled to find a house in his price range but “got lucky with what I found. It was a difficult, difficult process.”
He also believes the city should help sustain local businesses and encourage entrepreneurship to help support the economy and retain young residents.
Rymer, an ER nurse at Russell Regional Hospital, told the audience he had done a “search of homes in Hays looking at middle-income housing, which to me was about $200,000 on down to about $150,000 for entry-level folks. I only found two that had been made in the last 20 years.
“If we are to remain competitive and attractive for young people to move to and, when they get done with college here, to not want to leave, we have to look for ways to make housing more economically affordable.
“The city’s parks, with the upcoming addition of the accessible recreation complex, and our blossoming Main Street are amazing, so we’ve got to do other things to help accommodate” people in Hays, Rymer said.
“I’m going to turn the question around and ask what’s the biggest opportunity for Hays,” said Berges, a financial advisor.
Although he sees a lot of opportunities for people living in Hays no matter their stage of life, “we have a kind of wage stagnation with very little opportunity for growth which comes down to a greater problem in affordable housing.”
Berges estimates 80 percent of Hays residents are spending 30 percent of their income on housing, whether rent or mortgage, and says “that’s not affordable housing.”
It’s also not unusual for those raising a family in Hays to be spending another 20 to 30 percent of their income on daycare, according to Berges.
He suggested leaning on Grow Hays and similar organizations to attract higher-paying jobs to town.
The two incumbents approached concerns about affordable housing a little differently.
Schwaller owns more than 150 properties in Hays as president of Henry Schwaller and Associates. He is also a management instructor at FHSU.
“If we’re going to continue to grow, we’re going to have to invest in the fundamentals,” said Schwaller.
“We’re going to have to retain and grow existing businesses and encourage startups. We have to build houses for the people who work here. We’re going to have to make sure we’re creating jobs that are high-skill and high-wage.”
Schwaller pointed out the many employable FHSU and NCK Tech College graduates who “can find jobs that fit right into our economy, and that is a spot we are missing.”
Mellick, a self-employed floor covering installer, referenced the declining population of western Kansas, saying “we need them. They rely on us for services and we rely on them for shopping.”
The city’s general fund is financed primarily by a half-cent retail sales tax.
“I do believe affordable housing would keep a lot of people in our community and in western Kansas,” Mellick said.
“But land prices here in Hays are so high you can’t have affordable housing because affordable housing starts with affordable land prices.”
According to Mellick, the city has many areas that could be developed “but to get those land prices down so we can put in affordable housing is going to be very, very difficult.”
A perennial topic of debate in Hays is traffic roundabouts and their inclusion in the North Vine Street Corridor Improvement Project.
Berges, Ruder and Rymer all said they understand the increased safety and driving convenience but question the roundabouts’ locations in the proposed design.
Schwaller has previously expressed his opposition to the configuration as presented to the city commission. Mellick continues to support the project.
Each candidate stressed the importance of fostering a good relationship between the governing bodies of Hays and Ellis County.
As a county employee, Ruder often works with city department heads.
“We’re currently working on redesigning the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (three-mile zone) around Hays to better suit both the county and the city,” Ruder noted.
Mellick and Schwaller talked about the currently shared services and resources between Hays and Ellis County including law enforcement, emergency medical service, a mutual aid fire agreement and fire training and occasional roadwork.
The city has also written letters of support for the Northwest Business Corridor, proposed improvements to 230th Avenue and Feedlot Road to complete the U.S. 183 bypass around Hays.
“We have an open dialogue,” Mellick said, “and will keep the lines of communication open.”
Although there are many opportunities to work together, “the county is working on getting ahold of their budget and figuring out their revenue sources for the future,” Schwaller said. “Because they’re focused on that, it’d be difficult for us to says let’s work on this together.”
Ellis County residents will vote on a proposed sales tax increase in April. If approved, the city of Hays would receive a portion of the sales tax revenue.
“As Hays goes, Ellis County goes,” Berges said. “I know Victoria and Ellis residents don’t want to hear that.”
Acknowledging that the county’s budget work comes first, Berges added “it is important that we work with our county commissioners and our county employees from a city level.”
“We are just one city in the county,” Rymer said, “and we owe it to the citizens of our county to be able to assist it and augment it in any way possible. We’re all in this together.”
Rymer and Ruder both believe joint commission meetings should be conducted for large projects such as the Northwest Business Corridor. In light of the county’s budget difficulties, Ruder also suggested the city should consider providing financial support to the project.
“It’s going to be a good thing for the city in the long run,” said Ruder.
The audience also asked questions about downtown Hays revitalization, subsidizing Safe Ride, recycling, and long-term water supply problems and solutions.
In their closing statements, each candidate encouraged Hays residents to vote in the Nov. 5 election. Advance voting began Monday.
The top two city commission candidates will serve for four years, while the third-place vote-getter will serve for two years.
Tuesday’s forum was organized by the FHSU Student Government Association, American Democracy Project, the Department of Political Science and Tiger Media Network along with the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce and the Docking Institute of Public Affairs.
Water pressure in northwest Hays is not as strong as it is south of Interstate 70.
Plans to install a second waterline under I-70 will correct the problem as well as provide better fire protection and a redundant water supply to the growing number of businesses north of I-70.
According to Jeff Crispin, director of water resources, water north of I-70 is supplied by a single 16-inch water main.
“In 1993 this line was installed as well as the half-million gallon water tower north of Hays to supply the few businesses north of I-70,” Crispin told commissioners last week. The current above-ground booster station is located near the curve of 41st Street.
“In the last 26 years we have seen growth in this area of many businesses that are vital to our economy. A failure of that single water main under I-70 would have huge consequences to be able to provide water just for use, but most importantly fire protection.”
Crispin also noted a break in the existing line cannot be easily repaired.
A typical water main break in the city takes an average of about four hours to repair.
“That’s from notification to that you have a water leak, to repair, to the service being put back in. If you look around in the industry, that’s pretty darn good timing,” Crispin said.
If the single water line under I-70 breaks, the city will not be able to dig up I-70, according to Crispin.
“You’re talking about getting approval (from state and federal agencies) to bore a new line would take time, and then to actually bore that new line, we would probably be talking weeks in order to replace that line.”
City commissioners are expected Thursday night to approve a low bid of $769,678 from Midlands Contracting, Inc., Kearney, Neb. for construction of the second waterline crossing and a booster pump station.
Authorization of the 2020 health insurance plan for city employees from Blue Cross Blue Shield. The renewal cost is about two percent less than in 2019.
Approval of up to $390,020 toward the acquisition of right-of-way and easements associated with the North Vine Street Corridor Project.
Annexation request by Mark Ottley of property at 700 W. 48th St., formerly Mid-Kansas Auto Auction. Ottley has changed
business plans for the location and has also requested from the Hays Area Planning Commission a change of zoning from C-2
(Commercial General) to A-L (Agriculture) for a portion of the property.
Presentation of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service awards to city employees.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
Have a great time for a great cause! We’ll start at 6 p.m. at Uptown Fox, then start our pub crawl to six other bars in downtown Hays. You’ll enjoy drink specials, costume contests, a crawl t-shirt, prizes and more.
Even better, all the money goes to the Alzheimer’s Association so you’re drinking for good!
“The Gold Star families have liked this stop in Plainville the best.”
Nola Fritz, Gold Star mom and display manager
Nola Fritz, a Gold Star mother from Verdon, Nebraska, heaped praise on the small town and residents of Rooks County following Friday morning’s opening ceremony of “Remembering Our Fallen.”
The national traveling display is in honor and memory of military personnel who died in the line of duty, in training, and as a result of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) since 9/11.
Also participating in the ceremony were Brigadier General David Weishaar, Kansas National Guard, and Col. Thomas O’Connor, Jr., Fort Riley, who dined privately afterwards with the Gold Star families and other dignitaries.
“We must always remember the genesis of freedom that we enjoy today as Americans, is rooted in these heroes and their sacrifice,” said O’Connor, Jr. “It is my commitment that we will honor and remember your loved ones as we are doing here today,” added Weishaar.
Fritz manages and travels with the basketball court-sized pictorial display. Her oldest son, First Lt. Jacob Fritz, 25, and a West Point graduate, was executed while an Iraq POW on Jan. 20, 2007.
What was most appreciated by the Gold Star families, Fritz said, is the pen pal correspondence started between them and students of all ages in Rooks County.
Some of the communication was email and some of it was in a hand-written letter.
“They all got to connect with a class and they had the chance to meet the class today and take a picture with them,” said Sheila Hachmeister, a Plainville Ambassador member who chaired the weekend event.
“We’ve got a lot of people from the eastern part of the state. A couple who now lives in Ohio flew in to meet their class. Another soldier’s family flew in from North Carolina. Although they are Kansas families, we’ve kind of had them from all over.”
The Rooks County students also made red, white and blue fabric wreaths that decorated the main stage for the attending Gold Star families to take home. Another 70 wreaths will go to Kansas families whose sons and daughters are also on the towers.
None of the K-12 students was alive on 9/11.
“They’ve seen some clips on TV,” said Leona Breeden, a social studies teacher at Plainville Grade School. She explains to her 4th, 5th and 6th graders where she was on that fateful day – teaching in Hoxie.
“I talk about it in terms of what we did as a school then,” Breeden said, “and then we talk about the fact that these are real places and real people they hear of on the news that the U.S. is trying to help.”
Breeden’s 6th grade class was pen pals with the parents of Hays native Bryan Nichols. Jerry and Cindy Nichols now live in Palco. Jerry is a Vietnam veteran.
Leona Breeden, Plainville teacher and Gold Star family
“Ironically enough, I lost my nephew in Afghanistan, so he is also on these towers,” Breeden said, “and they are both pictured on the exact same tower, my nephew and Bryan.”
“We think there was some divine intervention there maybe that we got chosen to be his pen pal family.”
Bryan Nichols, 31, a 1998 graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, was killed August 6, 2011, one of 30 American troops who died in Afghanistan when their Chinook helicopter was shot down.
Also aboard the helicopter was Dave Carter, 47, a 1982 graduate of Hays High School whose family is now in Colorado.
The Nichols have been interviewed numerous time by the media about their son and his mission.
Jerry and Cindy Nichols, Palco, parents of Bryan Nichols who was killed in 2011.
“Cindy and I have a direct connection through Bryan as well as the other people that were lost on the same mission that day,” said Jerry Nichols. “It’s just very emotional being here and seeing the magnitude of people who lost their lives in defense of 9/11.”
The Nichols met with a Kansas City family Friday whose son served with Bryan.
“We kind of keep in touch with those members that were with Bryan, especially his crew area,” said Cindy. “But this is amazing community outpouring. I didn’t realize it could be this big.”
“Since the declaration of ‘The War on Terror,’ we’ve lost almost 7,000 heroes,” Fritz reminded the crowd in Andreson Memorial Park, “and there will be more. We currently have on the towers 70 percent of those that voluntarily gave their life for freedom.”
Plainville High School sophomore Benjamin Hansen reads names on the towers.
Plainville High School sophomore, Benjamin Hansen is 16 years old. He was one of many local volunteers reading the more than 5,000 names currently listed on the pictorial towers.
He admits he was a little nervous when he took his turn at the podium, but “this whole experience and seeing all these pictures and those names and reading more about them on there” has helped make it real.
The ‘war on terrorism’ has been discussed in a couple of Hansen’s classes.
“It’s just surprising that happened here,” he says of the airplane terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Penn. 18 years ago. “And think of all those security measures that have changed.” Now Hansen understands why.
Two Plainville residents have also died, both as a result of PTSD. Navy corpsman Andy Brown, 27, died Feb. 17, 2017. Lynn Pfaff was part of the 388th Medical Logistics unit of the Army Reserves. She died Feb. 16, 2019.
“I think people are shocked when they walk up to the towers,” said Hachmeister. “They’re very visual. They’re going to punch you in the face.”
Each person is shown wearing their military uniform in a formal picture. A second inset picture shows them in an informal setting, with family or enjoying a favorite hobby.
“We want them to be remembered because that’s how we keep them alive,” Hachmeister said.
Sheila and her husband Ken Hachmeister of rural Natoma have two sons serving in the military. Jared is a 2017 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy currently stationed in Pensacola. Seth is currently a West Point cadet at the U.S. Military Academy.
The Hachmeisters were in Philadelphia for the Army-Navy football game this last fall and happened to walk past the display at Independence National Park, on which they quickly found the picture of Bryan Nichols.
Hachmeister approached Fritz and asked how to get it to Plainville, a town with a population of just 1,500 people.
Nearly a year later, the memorial display and its entourage were escorted Thursday into Plainville by the American Legion Riders Chapter 173, Hays.
During her speech Friday, Hachmeister thanked all the Rooks County residents and many others who pulled together to host the event.
The memorial remained open 24/7 until the closing ceremony Sunday afternoon.
The Plainville stop was the first in Kansas (west of Kansas City) for the national display. It made its debut at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2017 and has so far traveled to 29 states.
Flags line U.S. 183 into Plainville
Fort Riley First Infantry Division Band
Fort Riley First Infantry Division Color Guard
Quentin Meyers, Plainville mayor
Emcee Roger Cooper, Plainville
Pointing to a loved one’s pictures and name
Andy Brown, Plainville
Bryan Nichols, Hays
David Carter, Hays
Derrick Lutters, Goodland
Jacob Fritz, Verdon, Neb.
Gold Star Families posing for a group picture.
Military killed in combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan are pictured on 29 beige background towers.
Finding names on each tower
Military who died on training and goodwill missions.
Military who succumbed to the wounds of PTSD and completed suicide.
Kansas National Guard static display on Friday
Plainville High School sophomore Benjamin Hansen reads names on the towers.
Gold Star families wore IDs with a yellow lanyard.
Sarah Meitner, volunteer for the Hays ARC Park project
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Plan designs for the new Hays Accessible Recreation Complex have been updated and a proposed groundbreaking pushed back since the fundraising campaign officially kicked off a little more than a year ago.
Volunteer Sarah Meitner, the mother of a special needs son, briefed Hays city commissioners on the project Thursday night, along with Kathy McAdoo, Arc of Central Plains exec. director and Brent Kaiser, Arc activities director and director of the local Special Olympics program.
The biggest change to the ARC Park to be located in Seven Hills Park, 33rd and Hillcrest, is the addition of a $180,000 parking lot and drop-off area, pushing the total project cost up to approximately $2 million.
The layout locations of a baseball field, playground equipment and splash pad have not changed.
“I know we’ll end up with school buses of kids here, along with baseball teams,” Meitner predicted.The parking lot is 43 stalls – plenty of handicapped parking – plus a drop-off area that will have benches around it. We think that will alleviate the flow of traffic and the street parking.” An entrance and exit will be installed both on 33rd and Hillcrest.
Meitner, Kaiser and McAdoo have gone to door-to-door meeting nearby residents. They each said they have heard nothing negative about increased traffic from neighbors.
“I’ve talked to several of those people and even received a donation from one,” McAdoo told commissioners.
Commissioner Eber Phelps said he knows a family with a special needs child who travels in a motorhome because of the accessibility issues. “You could have people come off Interstate 70 that know about this. I hope that happens.”
Families seek out such facilities when a child just can’t handle a busy restaurant, according to Meitner. “They pack picnics even for small road trips because they know they’re going to have to find a park to play at.”
The Hays ARC Park can be recognized as a sensory-friendly and accessible playground on Google maps, which the group found out from an interested parent. “That’s what they search for.”
Groundbreaking is now projected for April 2020 for the Hays ARC Park as fundraising continues for the project in Seven Hills Park.
Now also planned for the park is a we-go-round, a wheelchair accessible, multi-generational merry-go-round.
The zipline will be extended to 60 feet. “It’ll be a fun showpiece that those kids without disabilities will say this park is pretty cool.”
A low hammock can be stood on for balance or used lying down by someone who is soothed by the back and forth motion.
A new sensory feature – similar to an oversized “Simon” game – will add another component to play particularly for children with vision or hearing impairments.
More shade structures and benches will added and other enhancements will have an artistic component.
She noted the accessible playground will also be important to parents who are in wheelchairs or have mobility problems. “They can be right there with their kids.”
The baseball field will have a scoreboard and bleachers.
“As we’ve done our research into the lack of baseball fields in our region, we know that we’ll have (Special Olympics) teams wanting to come and play at it.” Meitner suggested teams from Colby and Great Bend could meet in Hays to play each other.
So far, slightly more than $480,000 has been raised for the park with donations coming from about 500 individuals and businesses. Donors have included all Hays civic organizations and most of the schools.
“We’ve even gotten Girl Scout cookie money from three different troops,” Meitner said with a smile.
As fundraising enters a second year, donations are anticipated again from organizations in their 2020 budgets.
Several fundraising events are scheduled through the end of the year including a freewill offering barbecue Sunday sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church and Downing-Nelson Oil at Hays VFW Post #9076, 22nd and Vine, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
At least $80,000 has been secured in quantified in-kind donations.
“We’re nearing the $600,000 mark, which isn’t quite enough, but remarkable for a year’s time.”
Now that there is money in the bank, the project is pursuing grant funding from outside the community, including national foundations.
Meitner is hoping for a donation surge around the upcoming Christmas holiday through a mailer with the goal for a spring 2020 groundbreaking.
“At this time we’re trying to get the baseball field and playground up concurrently this spring. The phase three splash pad may have to be postponed back to 2021 which is disappointing but we have to remind ourselves how far we’ve come.”
Originally, construction was anticipated to begin this month. Meitner said a flyer was recently mailed to all Ellis County residents explaining the delay.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs is executive director of the Heartland Community Foundation, which awards grant monies to non-profit groups within Ellis, Trego and Rooks counties.
“It is wonderful how you are able to maintain your level of enthusiasm,” Jacobs praised the group. “I know it’s really, really difficult when things don’t come through the way you expect them to come. You have to keep that energy up. It’s probably driven by your passion.”
“I can’t say enough about all the work that you’ve done so far,” Phelps added. “I don’t think we can even imagine the impact the park is going to have.”
2018 Hays Alley Cleanup (Photos and video by Hays Post)
City of Hays
The 2019 annual alley cleanup will consist of one and only one sweep through the city beginning Monday.
No set schedule has been established; however, residential curbside services will be first with residential regular alley services following.
The city-wide general schedule for alley services will start after curbside collections are completed. The number of employees committed to the task may vary from day to day; therefore, crews are unable to predict when they will be by a residence. City crews have a 20-minute time limit per residence. Any items remaining after 20 minutes of pickup will be the responsibility of the property owner.
As in years past, the city WILL NOT pick up tires and hazardous waste. Tires should be disposed of at the Ellis County Landfill, and hazardous waste items should be disposed of at the Ellis County Hazardous Waste Facility. Please call 628-9460 or 628-9449 for detailed information.
The annual Alley Cleanup Program is an opportunity for residents to discard items that would not be picked up in normal trash collection. Alley cleanup is for city of Hays residential customers paying for refuse services.
Waste should be placed in four separate piles in preparation of the alley cleanup.
The piles should be organized in the following manner:
1.Tree limbs and brush (no longer than 12 feet in length or 6 inches in diameter); bamboo bundled in 4’ lengths; all yard and garden waste MUST be bagged
2.Construction and Demolition Debris, i.e., lumber, drywall, bricks, sinks, wires, etc. (please pull or bend over nails and place small quantities of concrete, bricks, and plaster in containers)
3. White Goods/Metals, i.e., guttering, siding, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, metal swing sets, propane tanks for grills, etc.
4. Municipal Waste (all other items), i.e., furniture, carpet, TVs, computers, etc.
**TO AVOID WRONGFUL PICK UP, “TREASURED ITEMS” SHOULD BE TAGGED OR REMOVED FROM THE COLLECTION AREA**
Help make the city of Hays alleys clean and safe for all.
Free disposal of tree limbs is available for Hays residents at the Ellis County Sanitary Landfill, 1515 W 55th, Monday to Friday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There’s been significant growth north of Interstate 70 in Hays since the 500,000-gallon water tower was constructed and city water was extended to the area in 1993.
A single 16-inch water main crossing under the interstate is the only water service to the many businesses in the north pressure zone and needs to have redundancy.
The project has been in the design phase for the past six months.
“Right now, we have one waterline crossing under I-70 and that was fine while there wasn’t a whole lot up there,” says Toby Dougherty, city manager. “Now that we have a mass balance of businesses up there, if we were to have a significant break underneath the interstate with that one line, we are limited to the supply from the water tower. That’s not a long period of time on days when we’re using a lot of water up there.
“For fire protection, for viability of those businesses, it’s time to put in a second redundant water line crossing.”
As the project began, Dougherty said the city looked at how to provide the most benefit for long-term development, as well as water pressure and flow.
A study by Bartlett & West Engineers in 2018 recommended crossing I-70 at Hall Street, connecting a new 12-inch water main from 45th and Hall to an existing dead-end line along 48th Street at the west property line of Carrico Implement.
The plan also calls for the installation of a new booster pump station on city-owned property along West 41st Street just east of Post Road near a city water well.
Water pressure in the northwest part of Hays, which have been problematic, will be increased.
“That part of town is the furthest away from our towers and our pumping station,” Dougherty noted, “and it’s also at a very high elevation compared to the pumping station.
“We really don’t want to put another water tower up in that area right now. That’s a pretty costly endeavor.”
John Braun, city project manager, will review a recommended low bid of $769,678 with the city commission tonight from Midlands Contracting Inc. of Kearney, Neb., to construct a booster station and an additional waterline under I-70.
Recommendation from city staff for renewal of the current health insurance plan for employees from Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is a 2 percent decrease from last year.
Recommendation of requested annexation of property located at 700 West 48th Street, the former Mid-Kansas Auto. The property is contiguous to the city limits, and water and sewer services will soon be
available to the property.
An update on fundraising and plans for the Hays Accessible Recreation Complex
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
Patty Stull recently sold her Coldwell Banker franchise to independent Hays real estate agent Robert Readle. Stull is still listing and selling real estate as she’s done the past 36 years. Jane Brady has been her administrative assistant for 15 years.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Patty Stull has been a Hays real estate agent for nearly 36 years.
Now there are two Coldwell Banker Real Estate sites in Hays — Readle’s location at 22nd and Vine, and Stull’s longtime office in downtown Hays at 1001 Main. Readle is the supervising broker while Stull is an associate broker.
At age 72, Stull will continue to list and sell real estate. It’s her favorite part of the job.
“I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities to help people find their dreams,” Stull said, “and when they find their dream, it becomes my dream.”
Since 1984, Stull has sold houses, commercial properties and land to area residents and businesses. Some transactions were small, less than $30,000. Her most expensive home sale was $1.2 million.
One of the smallest deals is one of her most memorable.
“The one I love the most is this little two-bedroom house in Victoria I sold to a couple. It didn’t have a basement. They had two little babies. They didn’t have a lot of money.
“And we made it. They were able to close on that house and they went into my arms and wept,” Stull recalled. “Pretty sure they might not have got it, except I was able to help along the way.
“They came back to me years later and said, ‘Thank you. We were really at the lowest point in our life and you helped us have a dream. It may not be a big dream to many, but it was our dream.’ ”
Readle called Stull “a titan in the community.” She’s been selling real estate long enough that it’s come full circle.
“I may start when they’re young and buying their first home. Twenty-five years later, their children return to settle in Hays and come to me to buy their own house. Then the parents become older and buy a different home or a second home,” Stull said. “It keeps revolving and you get to have this family connection.”
Over the years, she’s received many cards and flowers as a thank you for matching people with their dreams.
“A home is an emotional decision. You have to be able to wrap yourself around that situation because it is a big decision and it’s done with the heart. Commercial and land is not done with the heart. It is a business decision.”
Stull started her work life as vice-president of First Federal Savings and Loan in Beloit and as loan manager for a Russell bank. She moved to Hays, without a job lined up, and was approached in 1984 with an offer to buy the Coldwell Banker franchise by owner Robert Finch’s son-in-law.
She hesitated. “Those guys upset me a lot over the years when I was making them loans. I didn’t even really like them. And that’s pretty well what I told him.”
The Finches talked her into “giving it a try.”
The divorced mother with three young daughters decided to pursue her dream, although her self-employed father, Ralph J. Werth, advised against it. ” ‘Please don’t do that,’ he said to me in German. ‘It’s going to be a hard life.’ ”
“You got to remember back in those days women were not supposed to be in authority. When I came into this city as a broker/owner, the other five were all male owners. I had a lot of bad times. They just couldn’t believe a woman was doing this and wondered why I was doing it.”
One of the male broker/owners did support Stull. “Dean Ellner stood by me. He helped me and taught me.”
A Dean Ellner agent, Lana Whitney, helped Stull buy a house.
“Unbeknownst to Lana, I admired her so much and she became my ‘silent’ mentor as I eventually decided I wanted to be just like Lana. I want to help people. I’m going to do a huge volume of real estate. And one day, it happened and one day, I went past Lana. But I’m not taking anything away from her. She’s an amazing woman and a very, very good real estate agent.”
Stull got her business loan from Golden Belt Bank to buy Coldwell Banker. “I don’t know how they ever believed in me. If I hadn’t had Golden Belt Bank by my side, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Less than 30 days after Stull acquired that loan, a major employer, Travenol, closed its doors and the Hays economy slumped into a 10-year recession.
“There were over 800 houses on the market. The houses I sell today at $135,00 sold for $33,500 then and people could not afford to buy a house.” It would be 11 years before her new business was in the black.
“Those were very, very hard years but there are always hidden blessings and struggles. It makes you become strong, makes you look for different things in your life.
“Out of it all, I evolved and I hope I’m the best I can be and look forward to every single day being even better.”
Stull credits her religious faith and the support of a large family for her success.
“My mom and dad taught us faith. That was the foundation of our home. And they taught us how to work hard, to not expect anything, to go and earn it … to have ethics, honor, and to be truthful.”
Stull is the oldest of 16 children, eight boys and eight girls.
She finds it interesting that she has been self-employed – just like her dad – for more than 30 years and many of her siblings are also self-employed. “We’re independent. We grew up that way.”
Her father died at the age of 64.
Her mother, Martina Werth, is 91 years old and has 109 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and is expecting the first great-great grandchild next year.
“She is the matriarch, our queen. Our mother to this day is so sharp. She has a lot of pain but she does her own checkbook. She’s an amazing cook in the kitchen and she’ll beat you up in any game of pinochle. Every day, she’s in a chair embroidering something to make somebody happy.”
There are a number of step-siblings in the close-knit family.
“So many people ask why our family is so close. We grew up near Catharine and we only had each other. In those days, you didn’t drive to town because you were bored and you wanted to go swimming, or whatever,” she laughed. “Mom and Dad made sure we had plenty to do. At an early age we learned how to clean, how to cook — lots of cooking.
“I’ve been extremely blessed in my life. Sure, there have been struggles in many ways, but I’m no different than anyone else.”
Stull has four daughters. “One is in heaven,” she says. “Wendy passed away in 1997 when she was 23. It broke all of our hearts.”
Her husband of 11 years, Rich Sieker, has two married children and four grandchildren. Stull has eight grandchildren. “We love them all.”
Stull’s grown daughters have their own businesses and she didn’t expect them to have her same passion for the real estate business. Stull missed a lot of her daughters’ activities, including school sports, as they grew up. “They understood my passion but as I look back I wish I could have been there.”
Teaming up with Readle was the answer to her prayers.
“I believe in Robert and I’m going to mentor him and his growth. I no longer am a supervising broker but I will always be a broker. The thing that’s changing is I don’t have to worry about the whole operation. The only thing that you’re going to see different is that I’m not signing the checks,” she laughed.
“You’re gonna see a lot of smiles on my face. I may have the opportunity to go play some golf, go see my grandbabies and participate in their sport lives.
“We only have today,” Stull reminds us.
“Find a reason to smile, tuck the sadness in your heart where it belongs. The past makes you who you are today.”
