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Author: Becky Kiser

🎥 Hays Public Works working on rain-ravaged alleys

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Recent heavy rains have deteriorated some Hays alleys.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Most Hays residents are very happy when it rains.

But the past few weeks have brought multiple inches of rain falling hard and fast, causing flooding in portions of Hays on July 6.

These most recent rainstorms, on top of late spring rains, have also resulted in some messy alleys.

Public Works Director Jesse Rohr is well aware of the less than ideal conditions and says his employees are working to improve the situation.

“The stormwater and flooding have washed and eroded many of city’s alleys and they require maintenance, some more than others,” Rohr said Tuesday. “Public work staff is working on the alleys as schedules allow and will continue to do so over the next several months. The worst alleys are at the top of the priority list and will be worked on first.”

This work is in addition to the department’s annual alley maintenance program concentrated in in the fall and winter months.

“Our solid waste crews obviously use the alleys every day so they’re letting us know where they have difficulties getting through the alleys and we’ll address the worst of them. Eventually, we’ll get to all of them again,” Rohr declared.

“There’s also a lot of people who use alleys for rear-yard access to get to their detached garages in the back. And, a lot of alleys have utilities in them – electric, gas, phone, communications – and the utility companies need to get back there.

“The alleys do get a fair amount of traffic in them so they need to be accessible to the best extent possible.”

Alleys susceptible to erosion have a soil base with a limestone rock or crushed concrete topping. In many areas of Hays, alleys convey stormwater.

“That’s led to erosion in certain areas, typically along the sides,” Rohr explained. “After heavy rains, a lot of the aggregate on top of the alley will wash into the streets.” The city will move the rock topping back onto the alleys and rectify the erosion, all of which requires a motor grader.

“We still have other projects on the schedule,” Rohr noted, “so we appreciate the public’s patience and understanding. Please know that the conditions of the alleys will improve as additional time can be devoted to their maintenance.”

Residents with questions or concerns should call the Hays Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

Tractor Supply Co. eyeing Hays for new retail store

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays could soon be home to a new Tractor Supply Company retail store north of Interstate 70.

A public hearing for rezoning property in the Crawford Addition, located on the northwest corner of 48th and Roth, and the final plat of Crawford Addition were approved unanimously June 18 by the Hays Area Planning Commission.

(Click to enlarge)

Property owner Crawford Supply Co. has requested  annexation into the city limits and connection to city services, along with a zoning change from agriculture (A-L) to commercial general district (C-2).

The property abuts existing property zoned C-2.

According to information from Curtis Deines, Hays PIE Superintendent, the property has been used for agriculture production for many years. In May, the property owner began the process for developing the property.

“The property is currently being planned for development by Tractor Supply Company. City staff has been working with the developer for several months,” according to the city administrator’s memo to the Hays City Commission. “The annexation, rezoning, and plat have all gone through the Planning Commission with no issues.”

The annexation, zoning and platting will be reviewed by the Hays City Commission during its July 19 work session.

Other agenda items another review of the 2019 draft budget with specific discussion of funding to outside agencies.

During their first budget review, commissioners Sandy Jacobs, Ron Mellick and Mayor James Meier supported full funding – $100,000 – of the Fort Hays State University city scholarship program request.  The draft 2019 budget calls for $90,000 which was the amount funded in 2018.

Commissioners will also review a proposed bid award for a tower at the new fire/rescue training facility under construction in south Hays.

They will also discuss maintenance procedures of the city’s stormwater drainage system at the request of Vice Mayor Henry Schwaller.

The complete agenda is available here.

The work session begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

New Girl Scout badges now available in key 21st century issues

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Girl Scouts today reveals 30 new badges now available exclusively for girls ages 5–18 that not only enhance the one-of-a-kind Girl Scout experience, but also address some of society’s most pressing needs, such as cybersecurity, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science, and space exploration. (PRNewsfoto/Girl Scouts of the USA)

GSUSA

NEW YORK— Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) today reveals 30 new badges now available exclusively for girls ages 5–18 that not only enhance the one-of-a-kind Girl Scout experience, but also address some of society’s most pressing needs, such as cybersecurity, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science, and space exploration.

In a safe all-girl space, Girl Scouts develop important soft skills, including confidence and perseverance, as well as hard skills, setting them up for success and preparing them to take action for a better world.

Today’s youth are more vocal than ever about the change they want to see, and Girl Scouts are the most equipped with the skills needed to make a real impact. The results are proven: girls who participate in Girl Scouts are more than twice as likely to exhibit community problem-solving skills than girls who don’t (57 percent versus 28 percent).

The unique Girl Scout environment provides fun, exciting, and essential experiences that carry into girls’ future careers and life success; the KPMG Women’s Leadership Study of more than 3,000 professional and college women shows that early exposure to leadership has a significant impact on a woman’s perceptions of her ability to lead. Additionally, 76 percent of women today wish they had learned more about leadership and had more leadership opportunities while growing up, demonstrating how imperative it is for girls and volunteers to join Girl Scouts.

The new programming for girls in grades 6–12 includes:

  • Environmental Stewardship badges, GSUSA’s first-ever badge series focused on environmental advocacy. Girls in grades 6–12 prepare for outdoor experiences and take action on environmental issues. Although Girl Scouts have been advocating for the environment since the organization’s founding 106 years ago, these badges are the first to specifically prepare girls to be environmental advocates who address problems, find solutions, and protect the natural world (funded by the Elliott Wildlife Values Project).
  • Badges that teach girls how to program, design, and showcase robots, completing the suite of Robotics badges GSUSA first introduced for grades K–5 last year.
  • The College Knowledge badge for Girl Scouts in grades 11 and 12, the first badge completely dedicated to college exploration. By showing girls how to research the admissions process, financial aid, and other factors, the badge fills a specific need that girls asked for—and that many do not have support for outside Girl Scouts.
  • Two Girl Scout Leadership Journeys: Think Like a Programmer (funded by Raytheon) provides a strong foundation in computational thinking and the framework for Girl Scouts’ first ever national Cyber Challenge, coming in 2019. The Think Like an Engineer Journey exposes girls to design thinking to understand how engineers solve problems. As with all Leadership Journeys, girls complete hands-on activities and use their newly honed skills to take action on a problem in their community. The programming aims to prepare girls to pursue careers in fields such as cybersecurity, computer science, and robotics.

Girls in grades K–5 can now earn badges in:

  • Environmental Stewardship, through which girls learn how to respect the outdoors and take action to protect the natural world (funded by the Elliott Wildlife Values Project).
  • Cybersecurity, introducing girls to age-appropriate online safety and privacy principles, information on how the internet works, and how to spot and investigate cybercrime (funded by Palo Alto Networks).
  • Space Science, enabling girls to channel their inner NASA scientist as they learn about objects in space and how astronomers conduct investigations (funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and led by the SETI Institute).
  • Mechanical Engineering for Girl Scout Juniors, through which girls in grades 4 and 5 design paddle boats, cranes, and balloon-powered cars, learning about buoyancy, potential and kinetic energy, machines, and jet propulsion. Following last year’s introduction of Mechanical Engineering badges for girls in grades K–3, the addition of these badges for Girl Scout Juniors means that all Girl Scouts in elementary school can now have hands-on engineering experiences.

“Across the country, people are having powerful conversations about the increasingly strong voice of young people who want to change the world and the lack of women in leadership positions in the United States—two topics Girl Scouts is uniquely positioned to address,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Whether they are fighting cybercrime, exploring how engineers solve problems, or advocating for issues affecting their community, Girl Scouts are learning how to proactively address some of the foremost challenges of today while also building skills that will set them up for a lifetime of leadership. I am so proud that our new programming continues to push girls to be forward-thinking and equips them with the skills they need to make the world a better place. We believe in the power of all girls, and we invite them to strengthen their unique abilities by joining Girl Scouts.”

GSUSA works with top organizations in fields that interest today’s girls. Combined with Girl Scouts’ expertise in girl leadership, these organizations and specialists advise and inform on content to provide the most cutting-edge programming available to girls. Content collaborators include Code.org, the Cyber Innovation Center, robotics educator and author Kathy Ceceri, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the Museum of Science, Boston, and WGBH’s Design Squad Global. Girl Scouts themselves also rigorously tested some of the new offerings, including the Think Like a Programmer activities and the Space Science and Cybersecurity badges, which were announced last year and are now available for girls around the country to earn.

Prepare your girl to unleash her inner strength. To join or volunteer, visit www.girlscouts.org/join.

🎥 Enclosure of water tower begins for lead paint remediation

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Employees of Maguire Iron begin work Monday to enclose Hays’ 1 million gallon water tower for remediation of lead paint.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Work to remediate the existing lead paint and then repaint the exterior of the one million gallon water tower in Hays began Sunday.

The tower next to Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Dr., was built in 1972 and recoated in 1997. According to city staff, the tower is flaking paint, an environmental concern, and requires a “full blast” to remove the paint and lead.

A low bid of $528,500 was awarded June 14 by the Hays city commission to Maguire Iron, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The bid also includes repainting of the 500,000 gallon water tower north of Hays on Highway 183. The north tower was built in 1994. The exterior paint, which does not contain lead, is fading and requires an overcoat.

The Sternberg tower will first be draped to keep lead dust contained. Workers will then sand down the tower, remove all the lead paint, contain it, remove it off-site, and finally, repaint the tower.

Engineers Bartlett & West will provide inspection services for both towers for $28,500.

The project will be paid from the Water Capital Reserve fund.

Fort Hays State University will pay for updating its Sternberg Museum of Natural History logo as part of the project. The “All America City” logo, added after Hays won that designation in 1996, will be removed.

Hays artist Dennis Schiel talked to the city commission March 1 about painting a historical mural on the Sternberg tower after it is repainted. He is in the process of soliciting funds for that project.

The Sternberg work is expected to take about six weeks to complete, depending on the weather. According to Jeff Crispin, director of water resources, crews may be working irregular hours and at night if wind conditions are not favorable during typical business hours.

Customers may notice changes in their water pressure system during the scope of the project, Crispin noted, which is to be completed by December 31.

Ellis city council to discuss days allowed for fireworks discharge

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ELLIS – Ellis city council members plan to rethink the days fireworks are allowed to be discharged in town. Currently, the city of Ellis allows fireworks July 3-5 from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The city of Hays allows the sale and discharge of fireworks July 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Ellis County Commission allowed the same hours and days for fireworks use this year in unincorporated areas of the county.

Other agenda items for tonight’s meeting include opening of bids for a city land lease.

The complete agenda follows.

 

AGENDA

July 16, 2018

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 July 2, 2018
    2. Bills Ordinance #2049

(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. Opening of Bids for City Land Lease
    2. Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Dustin Vine
  • UNFINISHED BUSINESS
  • NEW BUSINESS
    1. Consider Approval of Application for License to Sell Cereal Malt Beverages – Ellis Volunteer Fire Department
    2. Consider Approval of Noise Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control – Ellis Jr Free Fair
    3. Discuss Dates of Discharge for Fireworks
  • REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
    1. Administrative
      • Public Works
        • Comparative Water Report
        • Department Update
      • Police
        • Department Update
      • City Clerk
        • Health Insurance Savings Report for June
        • Department Update
      • Attorney
        • Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
      • Mayor Update and Announcements

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

  • ADJOURNMENT

🎥 Wonder Women League, ABBB partner for new Born Learning Trail

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Born Learning Trail in Sunrise Park just east of Roosevelt School

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Within the first six months of forming, the new Wonder Women League (WWL) of the United Way of Ellis County (UWEC) had 35 members, hosted one fundraiser and completed their first Community Impact Project.

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for the Born Learning Trail in Sunrise Park, 19th and Lawrence Drive, was held Tuesday morning.

“We’re very proud of our venture,” said WWL co-chair Nancy Jeter.

The trail was installed by the Hays staff of Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball (ABBB) as a community volunteer project.

The 50 or so employees split up the work over two sessions in June to first install the signposts and then paint the accompanying letters, numbers, colors and even hopscotch on the concrete walking trail. “We had about 25 people each time,” said Brenda Bickle, ABBB financial services coordinator.

Nancy Jeter and Rhonda Meyerhoff, co-chairs of the Wonder Women League with Brenda Bickle of ABBB talk about the new Born Learning Trail

“It’s so fun to have Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball as our partner in our first project,” Jeter added. The ABBB employees will also maintain the trail, repainting it as needed.

The city of Hays Parks Department, with the help of the volunteer Hays Beautification Committee, has installed a pollinators garden along the trail filled with plants to attract pollinating insects and other animals.

The Born Learning Trail is a series of 10 interactive signs describing fun learning activities to be done along the trail by children along with their families and caregivers. The adventures help with pre-literacy, gross motor skills and problem-solving skills.

“It’s fun and also a great learning experience. Studies have shown that children that have that advantage before they even hit preschool, they have an advantage by learning their numbers, their colors, their shapes, and everything,” Jeter reported. “They have a head start on everyone else. And when they don’t, they’re at a greater disadvantage of learning all the way through their education.”

The Wonder Women League is an affinity group of the United Way and operates independently.

“Please know we have no intention of taking away from the United Way of Ellis County,” emphasized Rhonda Meyerhoff, WWL co-chair. “Half of the proceeds from all of our fundraisers will go to the United Way of Ellis County. We want to support them and help that organization to grow and do even more of the really good things that they do.”

Sherry Dryden, executive director of the United Way of Ellis County, live streamed the ribbon cutting event on Facebook.

Sherry Dryden, executive director of the UWEC, who live streamed the event on Facebook, was full of praise for the Wonder Women League.

“They are a phenomenal group and we are totally blessed to have them in our community,” declared  Dryden told the crowd about recently attending a regional conference in Gatlinburg, Tenn., where that women’s United Way group took two years to get 35 members and do their first project, “and they were in a county of 300,000 people,” she pointed out.

“These women in our community are amazing. I tell everyone when you see them, don’t run. They will catch you,” Dryden continued as the crowd laughed. “And when they do catch you, you just say yes.”

“When we started this, we talked to a few businesses and they didn’t know who we were. They didn’t know what we were going to do,” Jeter recalled. “We said just give us a chance and we’ll prove ourselves.”  WWL now has several year-round sponsors including Werth Wealth Management, Golden Plains Credit Union, Eagle Communications, Bank of Hays and First Kansas Bank.

The next WWL project is a self-defense workshop for women to be held Sat.,  Sept. 8 at Fort Hays State University. Meyerhoff and Jeter encouraged Ellis County residents to contact the group with ideas for other community projects.

The group is still accepting new members, Jeter said, and hopes to have 50 by December.

“One woman can do a little, but a whole group… We’re going to change things in this community and make it such a better place,” Jeter said with a huge smile on her face. “Just give us the time. We’re going to get a lot of things done.”

For more information go to www.liveunited.us/wonder-women-league.

(Disclosure: Rhonda Meyerhoff is an employee of Eagle Communications which owns Hays Post.)

 

 

Ellis city council approves 2017 audit report

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ELLIS – The 2017 audit report was approved by Ellis City Council members during their July 9 meeting.

After considerable discussion, the council directed the Campground Committee to investigate options for allowing reservations at the Lakeside Campground. Currently, no reservations are allowed because there is no on-duty attendant. However, the council voted 3-2 to accept one- time reservations for a tour group wanting seven camp sites July 18-21.

Following a report by Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, council members asked Scheuerman to come up with estimated costs for paving half of the city’s truck route on Madison and Washington Street from 2nd to 3rd Streets in concrete versus the entire street.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

July 2, 2018

 

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Susan Eaton, Jolene Niernberger, Dena Patee (left at 8:20 p.m.), and Bob Redger.  Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber, Police Chief Taft Yates (arrived at 7:38 p.m.), and City Attorney Olavee Raub.  Council member Bret Andries and City Clerk Amy Burton were absent.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

Council member Dena Patee requested discussion on campground reservations under Unfinished Business.

PUBLIC PRESENT

Barbara Perkins, Glen Keller and Verda Flinn.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on June 18, 2018, Bills Ordinance #2048, and the May manual journal entries.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

None

SPECIAL ORDER

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

General Government: Financial

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the 2017 Audit Report as presented by Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd at the last Council meeting.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-0.

Campground: Policy

Council member Dena Patee reintroduced the question of allowing a tour group to reserve seven campsites at the Lakeside Campground from July 18 – 21st.   At the last Council meeting, in which Ms. Patee was absent, the Council’s consensus was to adhere to the current policy which does not allow reservations.  Ms. Patee stated that the group could bring $1,000 in revenue to the City during their stay.  After an extended discussion, Council member Dena Patee moved to allow the one-time only exception to the City’s policy prohibiting reservations at the Lakeside Campground for this tour group.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion.  The motion carried 3-2, with Council members Dena Patee, Holly Aschenbrenner, and Susan Eaton voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Bob Redger and Jolene Niernberger opposed.  The Council then directed the Campground Committee to investigate options for allowing reservations at the Lakeside Campground in the future.

NEW BUSINESS

General Government: Financial

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the 2019 Budget Consultation Contract as presented.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-0.

Public Works: Repair/Maintenance

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman explained the history of repairs for the Case Loader.  The latest repair invoice is in excess of the Department Head’s authorization and therefore needs ratified by Council.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to ratify the invoice from Victor L. Phillips Co. in the amount of $2,342.61.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-0.

Public Works: Special Project

Mayor David McDaniel explained that in the interest of being a “good neighbor” he had told St. Mary’s Church that the City would help remove a large tree which has fallen from the Church property into Big Creek.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner expressed concern on how this tree, and the other large tree which has fallen in the Creek just west of the Washington Street Bridge, could damage the City’s infrastructure.  Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman explained that while the St. Mary’s tree is easily accessible, the second tree has several physical barriers that completely block the City from accessing it with their equipment.  City Attorney Olavee Raub informed the Council there is past precedence which would allow the City to go on private property to remove trees.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to have the Public Works Department assist St. Mary’s Church with the removal of their tree, with the condition that any costs incurred by the City for rental of additional equipment to complete the project will be the responsibility of St. Mary’s Church.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-0.

Street: Repair/Maintenance

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reviewed his memo detailing the proposed street maintenance project involving the City’s truck route on Madison and Washington Street from 2nd to 3rd Streets.  After further discussion, Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to provide additional information on the cost of doing only half the street in concrete versus the entire street in concrete.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Sanitation: Special Project

Mr. Scheuerman continued by proposing dates for the annual City-Wide Clean Up.  The Ellis County Landfill has requested the City not run the clean up the same time as the City of Hays.  It was decided to hold the clean up on October 17th.  The grass route will not run on October 15th.

Street: Special Project

Mr. Scheuerman updated Council on the latest information he had about the Washington Street resurfacing project with Ellis County.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for June and the July Staff Calendar.  Chief Yates informed Council that the application process to fill the vacancy in the Department is still ongoing.

City Clerk

Council reviewed the draft minutes from the recent meeting of the Planning Commission/ Board of Zoning Appeals and the May financial statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit Worksheet.  Council has scheduled the first budget work session on July 12th at 6:00 p.m. in Council chambers.

 

Swimming Pool

Wednesday, July 4th is the annual Free Swim Day at the swimming pool; however, the swimming pool will not open that day until 2:00 p.m. so that pool staff may attend the funeral services of George Crawford.  Also, the regular Wednesday water aerobics session will be rescheduled to Thursday, July 5th.

Attorney

Mayor Update and Announcements

Due to the recent resignations of Cheryl Kinderknecht and Dena Patee from the Tourism Committee, the City is looking to fill the vacancies.  Mayor David McDaniel asked Council members to offer names for consideration to appoint to the committee.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of City Attorney Olavee Raub.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 7 minutes to discuss a current claim against the City pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(2) with City Attorney Olavee Raub present.  The open meeting will resume at 8:49 p.m.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.  No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Bob Redger moved to adjourn the meeting.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

🎥 ‘Roll Out The Rain Barrel’ project surpasses 6,500 barrels

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City of Hays employees help build rain barrels Tuesday morning at the KSU Ag Research Center.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The same day Hays received more than three inches of rain in just a couple  hours, resulting in flash flooding, the state issued its July 6 drought map.

Ellis County remains in a Drought Warning. All of Kansas’ 105 counties are either in an Emergency, Warning or Watch status.

Water is precious in western Kansas and building rain barrels has become a big project for Stacie Minson, KSU Watershed Specialist.

A rain barrel is the simplest way to collect and store rain water runoff from a roof gutter downspout which can then be used in gardens and landscaping.

Rain barrels offer other benefits which make it preferable to tap water. Because the water is straight from nature, no chemicals or chlorination contaminate the water. Also, any pollutants in tap water — such as nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and E.coli — will not run off into local water sources when using rain water to irrigate.

Since 2006, more than 6,500 rain barrels have been put together by Minson and dozens of local volunteers.

She was at it again Tuesday morning, this time working with city of Hays employees at the K-State Agricultural Research Center, where the rain barrels are constructed and distributed.

The first year the barrels were built inside the Hays Rec Center. It was a pilot project with now retired Fort Hays State University agricultural professor Dr. Jean Gleichsner and her landscaping students. “We quickly realized we didn’t have near enough barrels, and it’s grown ever since,” Minson laughed.

The rain barrels became a partnership project among the city of Hays, Coca-Cola Enterprise, Inc., Ellis and Ellsworth County Conservation Districts, the Smoky Hill River Kanopolis Lake Watershed, Gleichsner and the FHSU Ag Department, Ellis County K-State Research & Extension (now the Cottonwood District), KSU Ag Research Center and Ellis County Master Gardeners.

The 55-gallon plastic barrels, emptied of soda pop syrup, are donated by Lenexa Coca-Cola, brought to the Victoria Coca-Cola plant, and then stacked three high in a work shed at the research center.

Starting at 7 a.m. this morning, Eric Borger, an employee in the Hays Stormwater Division, A.J. Wickham in the Service Division, and John Braun, Project Manager, first drilled circular holes in the barrels which then advanced to Holly Dickman, Water Conservation Specialist, and Minson who fitted the hardware onto the barrels. Grant monies are used to purchase hardware to convert the large clear barrels which are sold for $26.

The project’s popularity has spread, thanks in part to a Youtube video Minson helped produce years ago for the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE), part of K-State Research and Extension. The video, which demonstrates how to build your own inexpensive rain barrel, has had more than 100,000 hits, according to Minson.

She’s had inquiries from water conservation groups and agencies in 15 states, including Alaska. Minson has shipped some hardware parts to Alaska “because they just can’t get them there.”

Minson and representatives of the city of Hays presented the “Roll Out The Rain Barrel” project three years ago at a Kansas City regional conference of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “The Chicago region EPA then asked for a hundred of the hardware kits so we shipped them and they built rain barrels there in Chicago,” Minson said.

The latest batch of rain barrels, some of which have been pre-sold, will be housed at the Cottonwood Extension District office in Hays, 601 Main.

For information about purchasing a rain barrel, call the extension office at 785-628-9430.

 

 

 

🎥 City offers Turf Conversion Rebate

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The growing season is still suitable for about another week to plant warm-season turf grass such as Buffalo or Bermuda.

The city of Hays encourages private property owners to convert from cool-season turf grasses like Tall Fescue and Kentucky Blue Grass which require supplemental irrigation during the hot summer months to keep them looking nice.

A Turf Conversion Rebate is available from the city to those who convert well-maintained cool season turf to warm-season turf or water-conserving landscaping.

“Warm-season grasses thrive during the heat of the summer and therefore require very little if any supplemental irrigation once established,” explains Holly Dickman, Water Conservation Specialist for the city of Hays. “The same is true with drought tolerant landscaping plants.”

The maximum rebate is $1,500 and the pre-inspection is good for one year. Pre- and post-inspections by Dickman are required for rebate eligibility.

Details about the rebate are available at www.watersmarthays.com.

Friday’s official rainfall less than reports from west side of Hays

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Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler carries a young girl from her flooded home Friday morning. The Hays Fire Dept. and Hays Animal Control also assisted in the rescue. (Courtesy HPD)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Friday morning’s rain deluge in Hays came in on the west side of town where there were several unofficial reports of more than four and up to five inches of rain. A Flash Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Dodge City was in effect from 9:40 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.

The official rainfall amount recorded at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 3.11 inches. The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, received 3.60 inches.

Short-lived flooding occurred on west 27th Street and north to the Thunderbird Drive area. Streets in downtown Hays and near Fort Hays State University, located in the flood plain, were also flooded.

Several vehicles were disabled, basements in south Hays were flooded and some residents had to be rescued from their homes.

Adding Friday’s downpour to several small rainfalls earlier last week has brought the July rainfall total to 3.49 inches.

Hays has received 13.38 inches of moisture for the year-to-date.

 

🎥 City commission gets first look at 2019 budget

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners got their first look at the 2019 draft budget during a work session Thursday night.

City Manager Toby Dougherty reviewed highlights of the $39,466,072 proposal, noting the mill levy will remain unchanged at 25 mills.

A new pay plan for all city employees is included, while the amount budgeted per employee for health insurance has increased from $9,500 to $11,000.

Mayor James Meier praised city staff for their work on the budget.

“Valuation is down a half percent, and we’re budgeting down one percent on sales tax, and yet providing more benefits to our employees,” Meier said.

“It’s a balanced budget and the mill levy is the same. I know sometimes we get wrapped up in discussions in other smaller items in the budget but I think that’s the main message we should always be sending.”

The city commission asked for a few revisions and additional information which will be presented at the July 19 work session.

🎥 New Hays city commissioner sworn in

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

All five seats on the Hays city commission are once again filled.

Ron Mellick was sworn in Thursday night by City Clerk Brenda Kitchen during the commission’s work session. Mellick fills the seat vacated June 20 by Chris Dinkel who is moving to New York City to attend law school this fall.

“I want to thank the commission for entrusting me with the responsibility of filling Commissioner Chris Dinkel’s vacant term,” said Mellick.

“I will try very hard to serve all the people of Hays.” The unexpired term runs until 2020.

Mellick previously served two terms as a city commissioner from 2007 to 2015, including a stint as mayor.

His experience was cited by the other commissioners when they voted June 28 to appoint Mellick to the unexpired term.

“I appreciate that you’re willing to step forward, Commissioner Sandy Jacobs said last night. “It’s nice having the experience and the background especially as we’re entering the budget process. So we appreciate you wanting to serve.”

City Manager Toby Dougherty then reviewed highlights of the 2019 budget proposal, noting the mill levy will remain unchanged at 25 mills. The commission asked for a few revisions and additional information which will be presented at the July 19 work session.

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