By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Ellis County Republican Party will be hosting a series of “meet and greets” with Republican candidates for state office beginning in April.

“We plan to have two a month between now and the general election in November,” said Elaine Adams, Hays, chair of the local GOP party.

The public is invited to the meetings which will be held at Diamond R Jewelry, 807 Main, Hays. “Dustin Roths has generously allowed us to use his store for these opportunities to meet so many of the Kansas candidates,” she said.

The first meet and greet will be held Sunday, April 15, at 6 p.m. with candidates Kelly Arnold, Wichita, and Clark Shultz, Lindsborg.

Arnold is running for Secretary of State. He is the Sedgwick County Clerk and also chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.

Shultz is campaigning for Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. He currently serves as the Assistant Insurance Commissioner.

Shultz is a former state senator representing the 35th District for one year. He previously served 17 years in the Kansas House representing the 73rd district.

For more information, contact Adams at 785-639-6639 or [email protected].

MARCH 23: This story has been corrected to show the first candidate forum is Sun., April 15, not April 1.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Ellis County Republican Party will be hosting a series of “meet and greets” with Republican candidates for state office beginning in April.

“We plan to have two a month between now and the general election in November,” said Elaine Adams, Hays, chair of the local GOP party.

The public is invited to the meetings which will be held at Diamond R Jewelry, 807 Main, Hays. “Dustin Roths has generously allowed us to use his store for these opportunities to meet so many of the Kansas candidates,” she said.

The first meet and greet will be held Sunday, April 1, at 6 p.m. with candidates Kelly Arnold, Wichita, and Clark Shultz, Lindsborg.

Arnold is running for Secretary of State. He is the Sedgwick County Clerk and also chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.

Shultz is campaigning for Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. He currently serves as the Assistant Insurance Commissioner.

Shultz is a former state senator representing the 35th District for one year. He previously served 17 years in the Kansas House representing the 73rd district.

For more information, contact Adams at 785-639-6639 or [email protected].

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Although there may have been a few frowns on the faces of those planning to spend time outdoors as spring break kicked off for many people this week, most faces likely wore a smile as much needed moisture fell in Hays and across much of Kansas Sunday and Monday.

According to official statistics from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town, the two-day moisture total was 0.76 inches. It was the first moisture of the month.

Prior to this week’s rain, drizzle and wet snow, the last time rain fell in Hays was Feb. 20 with just 0.01 inch recorded. On Feb. 11, 0.09 of an inch of rain was measured.

Hays has seen 1.36 inches of rain so far in 2018. The season’s snowfall to date is 9.0 inches.

ELLIS – Monthly reports from department heads will be presented during tonight’s Ellis City Council meeting.

Other agenda items include the Governor’s Declaration of Drought status and a review by the city clerk of the financial statements for January and February.

The complete agenda follows.

 

AGENDA

March 19, 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 March 5, 2018
  2. Bills Ordinance #2041
  3. Manual Journal Entries for January and February

(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. Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Dustin Vine
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS
  1. Update on Progress of Cited Violations at 210 E. 11^th Street
• NEW BUSINESS
  1. Review City Code Chapter 8 Article 4 Regarding Weeds
  2. Consider Approval of Credit Card Resolution
  3. Consider Approval of Auditing Contract with Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball
  4. Consider Approval of Chemical Purchase for Wastewater Treatment Plant
  5. Consider Purchase of Water Valves
• REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
  1. Administrative
     • Public Works
       • Discuss Governor’s Declaration of Drought Status
       • Department Update
     • Police
       • Department Update
     • City Clerk
       • Review Financial Statements for January and February 2018
       • February Health Insurance Savings Report
       • Minutes from Committee Meeting
       • Department Update
     • Attorney
       • Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
     • Mayor Update and Announcements

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

• ADJOURNMENT

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“This is not a short term thing. … You can’t expect that if we hire a retail recruitment consultant that within three months we’ll have 10 stores open,” Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood told city commissioners Thursday night. “It’s a long game. These projects take time.”

In November, the city of Hays issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for retail gap analysis and recruitment firms.

Wood and other city staff members are recommending Retail Strategies of Birmingham, Ala., at a cost of $50,000 for one year and the option to renew for two additional years at $45,000 each year.

The three other companies submitting RFQs are “data centric” with their proposals, according to Wood.

“Retail Strategies has the contacts in the market. They know the retailers, the people who are in the game,” Wood said. “They said they want to do the analysis as quickly as possible and then take that with them to recruit businesses at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Las Vegas in May.”

Commissioners agreed to act on the recommendation at their next regular meeting with a preference to start with a one-year contract only.

“I’m anxious to see what they can do,” said Sandy Jacobs.

Shaun Musil also liked the proposal from Retail Strategies but wondered what they would do differently from previous efforts to lure new business to Hays.

Wood pointed out that analyses have been done before but the city has “never had anybody that’s actually gone out to the retailers and said this is why you need to come to Hays.

“We may have had the data before but Retail Strategies can fashion the data in a way they know realtors are looking for.” That information includes which retail stores like to be in situated in the same area.

Mayor James Meier asked if the data would be helpful to the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development.

“I would argue that’s not what the coalition does,” interjected City Manager Toby Dougherty. “They’ve pulled some high-level data but there was also a lot of asking what people would want to see in Hays.”

The city’s 2018 budget includes $43,775 that was intended to support the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development. The coalition has chosen not to request funding from the city in 2018.

Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller recommended that unused allocation be used for economic development. “Right now, it’s this retail recruitment,” he said. The allocation, along with additional economic development monies from the General Fund, would be used to hire Retail Strategies.

The firm would then become available to also work with local developers, realtors, brokers and landowners.

“We want to maximize what they can do,” Wood said.

“I have to admit, I was skeptical about this from the beginning,” he added. “We’re kind of at a tipping point with things now. We’re gonna have some stuff land. We’ve got the convention center coming in.  Do we really need this?

“But after talking to references, the people who have worked with these guys, I think it will be money well spent,” said Wood.

“What do we have to lose?” Meier said. “We’ve spent almost twice this amount every year for many years.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a study with the goal of reducing the frequency and severity of flooding within the boundaries of the Lincoln Draw Watershed through the center of Hays.

According to Hays Project Manager John Braun, the watershed covers an area of 4.25 square miles and flows through the heart of the city before entering Big Creek at Montgomery Ditch.

“It starts about a half-mile north of 55th Street and cuts through the downtown area, the most developed area of the city,” Braun said. “Besides the actual flooding of Big Creek, a large rain event over the Lincoln Draw Watershed has the greatest potential for flood damages in the city of Hays.”

The Corps of Engineers will hold an informational meeting next week to present an update on the preliminary result of the ongoing study.

The study of Lincoln Draw Watershed has been underway for about 2.5 years.

“We’re looking at wrapping it up this year or early next year,” said Braun. “We’re calling this a mid-study report. The Corps of Engineers will provide their results so far and where they’re headed with this so there won’t be any surprises at the end.”

The city requested the study in 2015. “The Corps appropriated funding for the initial phase and then the city entered into a cost share agreement for the next phase of the study,” Braun explained.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tue., March 20, at Hays City Hall, 1507 Main Street.

For more information, contact Braun at the Office of Project Management, 785-628-7350, or [email protected].

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays firefighters are testing the city’s more than 1,100 fire hydrants this month.

Each test takes 8 to 10 minutes, according firefighter Travis Hageman.

He and firefighter Justin Choitz were working on the east side of Vine Street Friday afternoon, in front of Dillons and Peerless Tires. Those two hydrants happened to be the ones used by the Hays Fire Department during a recent structure fire at C & E Doors.

The testing is done annually and compared with the previous year’s results.

“If there’s a discrepancy from year to year, we investigate to see if there’s a problem with the system,” said Choitz. “Maybe a valve is closed somewhere or the supply is getting used a lot more than we anticipated.”

The water supply for fire hydrants comes from static underground tanks at the Hays Water Department on south Vine Street and the city’s two water towers.

“We find out how much water pressure there is in the system,” Choitz explained. “Then we exercise the system and check the quantity of water for a minute or so.”

“It also helps purge the line of sediment whether it’s rust, mud, dirt or debris. It’s just like the water lines in your house. If you don’t flow the water once in a while, you’ll see some rusty water.” The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.

The top of each fire hydrant is painted one of four colors – red, orange, green or blue – depending on how much water flows through it. The base of all Hays fire hydrants is yellow.

Inspecting the fire hydrants also ensures there is no damage or obstruction that would interfere with the prompt use of the hydrants in an emergency.

Slight discoloration of the water supply may occur during the hydrant flushes, although there is no health risk to the consumer.

ELLIS – The Ellis city council is considering a sales tax refund program for retailers.

During the March 5 meeting, council member Dena Patee talked about two such programs in Elk City, Oklahoma.

The Elk City sales tax program refunds 50 percent of the sales tax paid by the retailer during the first year of operation and 25 percent in the second year of operation.  The downtown revitalization program provides for Elk City to match up to $2,500 for exterior improvements to existing buildings.

Ellis city council members will consider drafting a similar plan during it 2019 budget sessions.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

March 5, 2018

 

CALL TO ORDER

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

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

Mayor David McDaniel added the reading of a Proclamation from Governor Colyer to Section 2 of the agenda.

PUBLIC PRESENT

Annette Ellis, Mark Ellis, Nancy Wright, Joleen Fisher, Mark Flax, Joe Day, Barbara Perkins, Verda Flinn, Steve Ferland, Glen Keller, Gary Luea, Pauleen Edmonds, Charlene Weber, Travis Roland, and Dustin Vine.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 19, 2018, Bills Ordinance #2040, and the Manual Journal Entries for December 2017.  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)

Campground: Award

Mayor David McDaniel recognized members of the Campground Committee and presented Travis Roland, Alan Scheuerman, Charlene Weber, and David McDaniel with a Citizen’s Award for their act of service.  Committee members Mike Grogan and Taft Yates were not present.

General Government: Proclamation

Mayor David McDaniel read a Proclamation from Kansas State Governor Jeff Colyer recognizing March 4-10, 2018 as Flood Safety Awareness Week.

SPECIAL ORDER

General Government: Policy

Mark Flax expressed his dissatisfaction with the City’s handling of the grass field north of the tennis courts.  The property is owned by USD 388.  He questioned why the City doesn’t require the school district to follow the codes regulating grass height that other residents must abide by.  Mr. Flax reviewed each of the definitions stated under Code Section 8-402 and discussed what he believes are inconsistencies in the Code.  Mr. Flax also stated the tall grass is a fire hazard to properties in the area.  Council agreed to review the ordinance at the next meeting.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Tourism: Contract

Joleen Fisher, Hays Daily News, presented the proposed digital advertising package as recommended to Council by the Tourism Committee at the last meeting.  At that meeting, Council had questions regarding the package that Committee members were unable to answer.  Ms. Fisher entertained questions from Council regarding how digital advertising works and the target audience the package hopes to reach.  The ad campaign will run from May 1 – August 31 for $250 per month.  Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to approve the digital advertising package from the Hays Daily News in the amount of $1,000, with funds to come from the Tourism Fund.  The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed.

General Government: Violations

Mark and Annette Ellis, representatives for the property at 211 E. 11^th Street, updated Council on the status of remedying the twenty-five code violations cited at the property.  Ms. Ellis stated nine of the violations have been addressed, but they are waiting on material to arrive to continue the work.  The couple asked for an additional 45-day extension to bring the property into compliance.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to grant an extension of 14 days to address the remaining violations at 211 E. 11^th Street and for Mr. and Mrs. Ellis to appear at the March 19, 2018 meeting to update Council on the progress.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Jolene Niernberger opposed.

NEW BUSINESS

General Government: Violation

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two structures that he believes should be deemed dangerous and unfit for human use or habitation.  The structure at 719 Washington has holes in the roof on two sides, and the garage at 209 E. 11^th is shifting off plumb.  City Attorney Olavee Raub explained the Council can declare the structures dangerous and unfit and proceed through the hearing process and possible demolition, or Council can instruct Mr. Scheuerman to cite a Chapter 8 environmental code violation and give the property owners 15-45 days to remedy the violations.  The property can still be deemed dangerous and unfit if the property owner doesn’t take action.  It was the consensus of Council to have Mr. Scheuerman proceed by issuing a Chapter 8 code violation on each of the two structures.

General Government: Policy

Council member Dena Patee shared information received from Elk City, Oklahoma regarding two of their economic incentive programs.  Their sales tax program refunds 50% of the sales tax paid by the retailer during the first year of operation, and 25% for the second year of operation.  Their downtown revitalization program provides for Elk City to match up to $2,500 for exterior improvements to existing buildings.  Certain parameters must be met to participate in either program.  Council would like to revisit drafting a similar plan for the City during the 2019 budget sessions.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period January 10^th – February 10^th.  The percentage of water accounted for continues to decrease.  Mr. Scheuerman did note a substantial leak on 11^th Street that Public Works has been in the process of repairing.

Flatlander Dirtworks will be in town towards the end of the week to remove the houses at 1309 Fauteux and 208 W. 12^th Street.

Public Works: Training

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to allow Mr. Scheuerman to attend the Kansas Association of Code Enforcers meeting in Manhattan on April 4^th – 6^th.  The motion carried 5-0.

Personnel: Entry/Exit

Tyler Watson has resigned his position in the Sanitation Department effective March 2, 2018.  Cameron Reed was hired to replace Mr. Watson.  He began employment February 22, 2018.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for February and the March Staff Calendar.

City Clerk

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the December 2017 and Year-End Financial Statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit Worksheet.

Minutes from recent meetings of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals and the Water Advisory Committee were included for review.

Attorney

City Attorney Olavee Raub provided a status update on the real estate contracts with the Ellis Golf Club and the land owners for the Water Exploration Project.

The City has an ongoing case regarding the placement of a fence.  Both the City and the resident have hired independent surveyors, but there are differences within each of the surveyor’s reports.

Mayor Update and Announcements

Mayor David McDaniel reported that he and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman recently attended a FEMA Floodplain Mapping meeting in Hays.  The project will take 3-4 years to complete but will supply cities within Ellis County updated floodplain maps.

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner updated Council on the Community Block Party event tentatively scheduled for June 9^th.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.  The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A disaster declaration request by Ellis County has been approved by the state following the two major wildfires east of Hays on Tuesday.

Mid-afternoon Tuesday, Gov. Jeff Colyer declared a state of disaster emergency that includes Barber, Clark, Ellis, Greenwood, Harper, Kingman, Logan, Reno, Smith and Stevens counties.

The first fire just east of Hays started about a quarter mile north of Interstate 70 near mile marker 160 and continued south across I-70, driven by a steady 21 mph northwest wind with constant gusts, as high as 54 mph.

“The initial call came in as a structure fire,” said Darin Myers, Ellis County Fire Chief and Emergency Manager, “and the city of Hays also responded. They did a good job on the south side of the interstate protecting the homes and woods area in that part of the city.”

Units from Victoria, Munjor and Ellis also responded to the blaze.

Blowing smoke and dirt forced the temporary shutdown of I-70 in both directions by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

As the first fire started to come under control, another wild fire was reported about 2 miles north of Toulon Avenue and Homestead Road in an open range area, quickly pushing south towards Catherine.

The craggy canyon land is not easily accessible. City fire trucks are not equipped for that kind of terrain, so it was up to the rural firefighters and their equipment.

“All of our grass trucks and our engines are equipped to fight a wild land fire,” explained Myers. “We can put somebody on the back in a harness with a nozzle and be able to drive them around.”

“Getting the initial knockdown on the fire in that location was almost impossible with those winds,” Myers said Wednesday afternoon.

Four Black Hawk helicopters were soon called in from the Kansas National Guard in Salina and Topeka to fight the fire from the air with water scooped up from farm ponds near Victoria.

Ground crews also did some back-burning in the area to create barriers to the fire.

The fire burned an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 acres, an 8-mile long path about 2 miles wide in some areas. It spread south nearly to Emmeram Road. Myers estimated there were 40 to 50 emergency responder units at the scene. There were also local farmers plowing the ground for other fire breaks.

“The help from the Kansas Highway Patrol, American Red Cross, Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies, Ellis County Public Works, Ellis County EMS, Hays Fire Department, Kansas Forestry Service, multiple surrounding county fire departments including Russell, Rooks and Trego, and the Kansas National Guard has had a profound effect on the outcome of this fire,” Myers wrote in a press release Tuesday evening. No houses were burned and no livestock was lost.

Crews were back at the scene monitoring hot spots Wednesday morning. The helicopter pilots, who stayed overnight in Hays, were called back in about 9 a.m.

“We put them up north again where we had a lot of trees, about a mile long, that were burning all night,” Myers said. “We didn’t want to put firefighters underneath the falling trees.” There were also water springs nearby which the fire trucks couldn’t drive through.

Two helicopters dropped water for about two hours and then had to refuel. By then, they were summoned to Greenwood County to assist in a wildfire that broke out near Hamilton.

Two firefighters were transported to HaysMed and hospitalized for treatment of smoke inhalation, according to Myers.

“It’s my biggest fear in the job, having one of our own get hurt. It wasn’t serious but they were still being monitored at noon Wednesday.”

There are about 90 firefighters in the six companies of the Ellis County Fire Department. They are all trained volunteers, who are paid per response call. Most work full-time jobs. “They’re awesome. They believe in their community,” Myers said. “They definitely don’t do it for the money.”

Back in Hays, Myers’ administrative assistant Meagan Carver was getting lots of phone calls throughout the day from people wanting to donate water and other hydrating drinks for the first responders.

“It was just a constant line of people driving up to drop off drinks and snacks,” Carver said Wednesday morning at the Emergency Services Building.

“It just amazes me how great of a community we live in,” Myers said. “Even all the way from Russell they were bringing in McDonald’s food for supper. There were multiple places throughout Hays helping; I can’t name them all.

“A granola bar or power bar doesn’t seem like much, but that provides a needed energy boost. And they need the water to stay hydrated.”

Donors were so generous there was more dropped off than needed. Myers said some of it will be stockpiled, noting “this is just the first week of the grass fire season.” Some of the supplies will be shared with the American Red Cross. Hays volunteer Pete Peterson was also on the scene Tuesday afternoon and evening, feeding about 100 firefighters.

Several Hays businesses offered free meals to the first responders Wednesday. Myers, along with firefighters from Ellis, Hays, Victoria and Catherine, enjoyed complimentary lunch at the Golden Q.

“That was the first thing I thought about after 30 hours out there, how hungry I was,” Myers smiled.

The next thing Myers thought about was “seeing my family again. Then I’ll grab a shower and a nap.”