ELLIS – The city of Ellis continued discussion of enforcement of property violations, while also confirming Monday night the final details for condemnation of two properties.

Following two executive sessions, council members voted unanimously to accept the Ellis Golf Club’s counteroffer of $1,500 for the purchase of 1.67 acres of land.

Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported firefighter Brianna Witchey will write several grants for replacement of pagers.  Vine said EFD has 12 pagers, which are 30 years old, for its 20 firefighters.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

February 19, 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, Susan Eaton, Jolene Niernberger, Dena Patee, and Bob Redger.  Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Dustin Vine, City Attorney Olavee Raub, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

None

PUBLIC PRESENT

Dean Gottschalk, Nancy Wright, Glen Keller, Mark Flax, Myles Vine, Westin Vine, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Guy Windholz, Nickole Byers, Rick Gaschler, Brianna Witchey, and Donnie Younger.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 5, 2018 and Bills Ordinance #2039.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mark Flax informed Council that he will be at the next Council meeting to discuss code definitions, citizen complaint procedures, and to address a lot that needs mowed.

Nickole Byers, Chamber of Commerce, asked for the City to consider donating a used telephone pole to repair one the Chamber’s billboards.

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

Tourism: Award

Mayor David McDaniel recognized members of the Tourism Committee and presented Glen Keller, Cheryl Kinderknecht, David McDaniel, Dena Patee, and Guy Windholz with a Citizen’s Award for their act of service.  Committee members Pauleen Edmonds, Verda Flinn, Travis Kohlrus, Jenette Lewis, and Steven Schmidt were unable to attend.

SPECIAL ORDER

Fire: Report

Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported that Equity Bank is offering “Firefighter Fridays” where the bank will donate $20.00 to the Fire Department for each new checking account opened.  Coffee and donuts will also be offered during the promotion.  Firefighter Brianna Witchey has offered to write several small grants for the Department in hopes of replacing the Department’s pagers.  The Department only has twelve pagers for its twenty firefighters and the pagers are thirty years old.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

General Government: Contract

Executive Session

Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of the Ellis Golf Club representatives.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss the Ellis Golf Club pursuant to the confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(4) with City Attorney Olavee Raub and Ellis Golf Club representatives Dean Gottschalk, Rick Gaschler, and Donnie Younger present.  The open meeting will resume at 7:57 p.m.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.  No action was taken in executive session.

Executive Session

Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess again into executive session.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss the Ellis Golf Club pursuant to the confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(4) with City Attorney Olavee Raub and Ellis Golf Club representatives Dean Gottschalk, Rick Gaschler, and Donnie Younger present.  The open meeting will resume at 8:08 p.m.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.  No action was taken in executive session.

Post Executive Session

Ellis Golf Club representative Donnie Younger asked for Council to consider a counteroffer of $1,500.00 for the purchase of land located at the golf course.  Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to accept the Ellis Golf Club’s counteroffer of $1,500.00 for the purchase of 1.67 acres of land and to direct City Attorney Olavee Raub to prepare the contract and deed documents.  The motion carried 6-0.

General Government: Violation

Council reviewed progress on the cited violations at 211 E. 11^th Street.  Only six violations have been addressed out of the twenty-five cited by Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman.  City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler noted that the property owners have not been in contact with her to discuss the property.  Council expressed frustration with the lack of violations addressed and would like to visit with the property owners at the next meeting to discuss their intent with the property.  Council member Bret Andries moved to direct City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler to contact the property owners at 211 E. 11^th Street to request they appear at the March 5^th Council meeting to discuss their plan to rectify the cited violations.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

General Government: Violation

Ms. Zeigler continued by reporting the City is ready to move forward with condemnation of the properties at 1309 Fauteux Street and 208 W. 12^th Street.  All resolutions, publications, and mailing requirements have been satisfied.  Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that Flatlander Dirtworks needs to add a maximum of $400 to each demolition bid to account for the recent fee increase at the Ellis County Landfill.  Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to proceed with demolition of the properties at 208 W. 12^th Street and 1309 Fauteux Street, to contact the Fire Department prior to demolition to afford them the opportunity to train in the structures, and to increase the demolition bids from Flatlander Dirtworks by $400 for each property.  The motion carried 6-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Special Machinery: Acquisition

City Clerk Amy Burton presented a bid from Municipal Emergency Services for the purchase of air packs and valve assembly units for the Fire Department.  The four valve assembly units were approved for purchase back in November; however, Chief Vine wishes to purchase two additional air packs.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to approve the purchase of two air packs from Municipal Emergency Services in the amount of $9,717.98, with funds to come from the Special Machinery Fund.  The motion carried 6-0.

Special Machinery: Acquisition

Police Chief Taft Yates reported that when Ka-Comm installed the equipment into the new Ford Explorer, a different console unit had to be used instead of the one originally quoted, resulting in a small price difference.  Council member Dena Patee moved to ratify the additional charges of $249.06 from Ka-Comm for outfitting the 2018 Ford Explorer.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

Tourism: Contract

The Tourism Committee has recommended a digital advertising package from the Hays Daily News to run from May 1^st – August 1^st.  The package is $250 per month for a total investment of $1,000.  Council questioned how this digital advertising differed from the package from Eagle Communications.  The deadline to accept this quote is February 28^th; however, Council decided to table consideration until the Committee can clarify the package benefits.

Tourism: Contract

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the 2018 contract with Lamar for the City’s five billboards.  The renewal reflects a 3% increase from last year.  Council expressed disappointment in the new wraps in that they are much darker than expected.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to approve the contract with Lamar in the amount of $8,372, with funds to come from the Tourism fund.  The contract period runs from May 4, 2018 – May 2, 2019.

General Government: Economic Development

Council reviewed a sample Economic Development policy provided by the Ellis Industrial Development Coalition.  Council felt the sample policy was directed more at industrial development rather than downtown development.  Council hopes to bring business downtown in order to get consumers into town and see what else Ellis has to offer.  Council member Dena Patee shared information about a sales tax rebate program used by a town in Oklahoma.  New and existing businesses that expand their workforce are eligible to receive a percentage rebate on the sales tax they contribute to the City.  Ms. Patee will contact the City for more information and share at a future meeting.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the annual Water Treatment Plant Inspection Report and the Comparative Water Report for the period December 10^th – January 10^th.  The percentage of water accounted for has significantly decreased, leading Mr. Scheuerman to believe the City has leaks underground that haven’t surfaced yet.  Doug Guenther, Kansas Rural Water Association, is assisting the Department in determining the cause for the decreased percentage.

Mr. Scheuerman thanked Ellis County Public Works for allowing the use of their Grizzly machine at the City’s burn site.

General Government: Special Project

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to gift a used telephone pole to the Ellis Chamber of Commerce to repair their billboard.  The motion carried 6-0.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates updated Council on several training opportunities for the Department this month.

City Clerk

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Health Insurance Savings Report for January.

Attorney

City Attorney Olavee Raub reported the land contracts for the new water well sites have been drafted.  Ms. Raub will review the contracts with Water Advisory Committee representatives this week.

Mayor Update and Announcements

Mayor David McDaniel reminded Council of the legislative visit on February 23^rd at 8:00 a.m. in the Ellis Public Library Community Room.

Council member Bob Redger added that the first Lenten Breakfast will be at the Methodist Church on February 21^st at 6:45 a.m.

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner updated Council on the Community Block Party event to take place this summer.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Dena Patee moved to adjourn the meeting.  Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.  The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Bids are expected to be awarded for the 2018 Street Maintenance Project during Thursday’s Hays city commission meeting.

The projects in this year’s program include seal coat, micro-surfacing, diamond grinding, curb and brick repair and polypatch. The diamond grinding of Canterbury Drive between 13th and 17th Streets will allow for a lane reduction with the restriping of Canterbury from four lanes to three lanes.

Five contractors with the lowest bids will be recommended for the work at a cost of $1,109,862.24.

Commissioners will also hear an update of the wastewater treatment plant reconstruction.

The complete Feb. 22 agenda may be seen here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main, and will be streamed live on Eagle TV channels 14 and 614.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The roller coaster temperatures this winter continue.

Sunday’s official high in Hays was 76 degrees, according to the K-State Agricultural Research Center. Much warmer than average, although not quite a record high for Feb. 18. That was set back in 1930 with a high of 79 degrees.

Monday’s high temperature was much cooler, just 27 degrees, a difference of 49 degrees.

The overnight low was 13 degrees and brought 0.02 inches of a light snow and ice blanket in Hays. Snowfall for the season so far is 8 inches.

Tuesday’s weather forecast calls for a cold, blustery day. A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect until 9 a.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

An informational hearing was held in the Kansas legislature this week regarding the new federal tax bill and its effect on the state.

Many Kansans pre-filed their 2017 taxes because there is no tax advantage for individuals to wait until 2018, and that gave the state a huge increase over last year, according to Rep. Eber Phelps of Hays (D-111th Dist.). Corporate filings however, were down because many Kansas corporations will file in 2018 for federal tax breaks available this year for businesses.

“The report indicated Kansas would likely see an increase of about $138 million when the fiscal year starts July 1st, and an additional $180 million the following year,” Phelps said.

Phelps later talked to staff in the Legislative Research Department who said they are still trying to “sort it out.” The department provides nonpartisan, objective research and fiscal analysis for the Kansas Legislature.

“We’re not sure where our money is going to be and it’s making it very difficult in the Appropriations Committee to determine what kind of budget we’re going to put together. The Tax Committee is also looking at this very closely,” added Phelps.

“I expect a clearer picture towards the end of the session.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Bids for the 2018 Street Maintenance Program will be presented during tonight’s Hays City Commission work session by Project Manager John Braun.

According to Braun, “unit price bids were very competitive.” The projects in this year’s program include seal coat, micro-surfacing, diamond grinding, curb and brick repair, and polypatch.

Commissioners will also hear an annual review of the city Financial Management Policy by Finance Director Kim Rupp.

Eric Burks, president of North Central Kansas Technical College, will give the annual report of the Big Creek Technical Training Center. The center is housed at 101 South Main Street as part of an agreement with the city.

The complete Feb. 15 agenda can be seen here.

The meeting will start one hour earlier than usual, at 5:30 p.m., in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Visitor restrictions will remain in effect at HaysMed through the end of March.

The restrictions were implemented Feb. 7 due to an increase in influenza and other respiratory illnesses. Signs noting the restrictions are posted at the main entrances to alert visitors not to visit if they have symptoms of influenza, respiratory illness,  or are 12 years of age or younger.

“When visitor restrictions went into effect, we had six patients admitted with influenza to the hospital,” said Kimberly Koerner, infection prevention Officer at HaysMed.

Koerner also said the HaysMed clinics, including the walk-in clinic at Big Creek Crossing, are “seeing a much higher number of flu patients.”

According to Koerner, 27 percent of  patients screened for flu in January at HaysMed tested positive for the virus.

Reporting information from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ending Feb. 3, shows  43 states, including Kansas, experienced high flu activity.

CDC recommends getting a flu shot by the end of October if possible.  However, getting a vaccine later in the season is still beneficial.  HaysMed offers flu vaccines through the end of March to anyone 6 months of age and older. 

The Ellis County Health Department in Hays also has flu vaccines available.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

There were no smoke alarms found in the residence of a Pratt woman who recently died after a Jan. 25 fire in her home, which also killed her four children.

Having a working smoking alarm reduces your chances of dying in a fire by nearly half, according to information provided by the Hays Fire Department (HFD).

HFD has a program to install free smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in homes by firefighters at no cost. The combination alarms are part of the “Get Alarmed Kansas” program provided by the State Fire Marshal. They have a sealed 10-year lithium ion battery for easier maintenance and don’t require batteries to be changed twice a year.

“To qualify you have to live within the city limits of Hays and be on a fixed or limited income,” said Firefighter Lucas Everett.

“We put one inside each living quarter. So if there are people living upstairs and downstairs in a dwelling, we can install two alarms,” Everett said. There’s no cost to HFD to participate in Get Alarmed Kansas.

Hays firefighters will also come to the homes of senior citizens or persons with limited mobility to check the batteries and function of existing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. They can also install alarms purchased by residents.

“Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms can save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire,” added Everett. The goal of “Get Alarmed Kansas” is for all Kansans to be protected by working smoke alarms in their homes.

To schedule a time for firefighters to install smoke and CO detectors, call the Hays Fire Department at 785-628-7330.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s not too late to get a flu shot.

The Ellis County Health Department still has plenty of influenza vaccines available for people ages six months and older.

“With the flu in the United States at almost historical proportions, it’s important to be vaccinated and protect yourself as much as possible,” says Kerry McCue, health administrator. “While some area clinics and medical providers have run out of the flu vaccine, we still have plenty available.”

There are two types of vaccines available at the health clinic, the regular dose for most people, and the high dose for people over the age of 65.

Costs are $35 and $55 respectively. “We will bill your insurance,” Kerry added, “so it may end up costing you nothing.”

No appointment is necessary to get a flu shot. The Ellis County Health Dept., 601 Main in Hays, is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and again 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Fridays, the department is open mornings only from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

For more information, call 785-628-4440.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Area legislators are concerned about the continued use of state highway monies to fund other areas of the budget.

The new Kansas governor, Jeff Colyer, is also speaking up about the situation. Last week Colyer told lawmakers the state “must end the highway funding sweeps and build an effective plan that promotes economic development and strengthens our transportation network.” Because of that sweeping for a number of years from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), nearly two dozen projects to repair or expand highways are currently delayed.

During the Feb. 3 legislative forum in Hays, the participants talked about the possible implementation of a fuel tax, which unlike sales tax on fuel, cannot be swept or transferred.

“The money that’s being swept from KDOT comes from sales tax. The federal funds cannot be touched,” explained Sen. Rick Billinger (R-Goodland.) “A special sales tax was implemented with the last Comprehensive Transportation Plan.”

The Senate Ways and Means Committee, of which Billinger is a member, had a hearing at the end of January from which he expects a bill to be passed out to form a committee which will study a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Billinger anticipates it would be a 10-year plan and the committee would determine how it should be funded. “They’ll try to figure out a funding source other than sales tax, something that can’t be swept into the state general fund.”

Rep. Leonard Mastroni (R-Lacrosse) thinks a fuel tax isn’t a bad idea.

“I thought last year would have been an ideal time to implement it,” he said, “because gas was around $2 gallon and we’d probably get the least amount of pushback from that if we had done that then. It’s something I think we can still think about.”

If a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan is approved, Mastroni said his only concern would be that “priorities in the current plan’s construction projects that have been waiting for a number of years should not be changed in priority of which job gets done first.”

He’s worried that a new plan would open up priorities in eastern Kansas and the monies “would go to Wichita and the Johnson County and western Kansas may be kind of pushed back.

“There is a considerable amount of construction we want to do in southwestern Kansas by Dodge City and Garden City.”

Increased semi-truck traffic in southwest Kansas has also created a safety concern, Mastroni said. He illustrated the danger by relating a recent personal experience.

“We were on a tour bus filled with 40 to 50 legislators discussing highway projects and traveling on Highway 156 near Jetmore which goes into Garden City.  There was a semi tanker behind us and he decided to pass us just outside Jetmore where there are a lot of hills, plus the highway there doesn’t have any shoulders.

“As the semi went past our tour bus, everybody stopped talking,” Mastroni recalled. “You could literally put your hand out the window and touch that tanker as it went by. It was a scary feeling.

“With the increase in truck traffic in some of these areas, we have to do something.”

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

When the up and down temperatures this winter are up, the guys at Dustin Hynes Construction have been building more sidewalks in three Hays parks.

Work in Frontier Park, Old Highway 40, is completed.

In East Frontier Park, that includes an area connecting the shelter to what was called the old swinging bridge. “While they were in there, we also had them go ahead connect to the playground unit as well so folks would have a sidewalk to it for access,” said Jeff Boyle, director of parks for the city of Hays.

“Across the bridge in North Frontier Park, they actually took out a section of asphalt sidewalks that were buckled really bad and went back in and poured that in with concrete.

“Both those areas turned out really nice.”

The workers then moved on to Ekey Park, 19th and Holmes. Sidewalks were already in place on the north and east sides of the park and are now connected on the south and west sides. “We wanted to get those completed. A lot of folks use those sidewalks while they’re kids are playing on the equipment,” Bole said. “It’s a good opportunity for parents to get in their own exercise.”

Working on a recent cold sunny day, Jamie Hynes and Weston Groth slowly smoothed the newly laid concrete to eliminate holes.

“They’re making it flat and sealing it up,” explained owner Dustin Hynes. “If you leave holes, water can get down in it, freeze and then expand, popping up the top a little.”

Even when the temperature falls below freezing, work is not necessarily halted.

“If it gets that cold, we cover the sidewalk with blankets made for concrete only that keeps it from freezing,” Hynes said. “If the ground is not froze, we can work.”

Hynes Construction is now working on the third and final phase of the project at Hickok Park, 26th and Donald, which has no sidewalks.

“We’re trying to get sidewalks put in where there are needs. This work was requested by the Public Works Department. It’s a high use area and there’s actually a trail worn in the grass,” Boyle said.

“We’ve been looking at making our community transportation-friendly and that includes sidewalks. There are several areas in town where we have no sidewalks but there is literally a dirt path worn in where you can tell hundreds of people have been walking through the grass. So we’re trying to make those areas more user-friendly.”

Total cost of the three parks’ sidewalks was $55,900.

Next year, Boyle wants to work on Rolling Hills Park, 41st and Autumn Lane. “We’d like to connect at 41st and Hall, where there are already crosswalks and a sidewalk on 41st, on the southeast corner of the intersection. We’d connect the sidewalk and bring it down through Rolling Hills Park. Right now you can’t safely get from 41st over to Rolling Hills or to the houses on east.”

Boyle says some stormwater issues in that area will have to first be considered. “This will be a pretty significant project so it might just be this one on the next go-around.”