Chip sealing of a number of streets in Hays is scheduled for eight work days starting Wed., Aug. 16.
Preliminary work began Tuesday evening in Frontier Park, in the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex and on the fuel access road at the Hays Regional Airport.
APAC, a contractor for the city of Hays, will lay down a surface primer in those three areas and then apply chip seal tomorrow morning, according to interim Public Works Director John Braun.
The work will gradually move into the northwest residential area and is expected to be completed Fri., Aug. 25.
The chip seal treatment is a spray applied application of polymerized oil followed immediately by small rock chips.
“Chip seals have been used effectively for maintaining asphalt streets in Hays for the past several years,” Braun said.
Traffic will be limited during the short time the streets are being sealed. “Motorists should use caution and avoid driving in the wet oil,” Braun advised.
The work is part of the 2017 street maintenance projects.
School is back in session tomorrow for Hays USD 489 with a half-day scheduled. Students at TMP-Marian Jr. and Sr. High return to classes Thu., Aug. 17 for a full day, with a half-day for Holy Family Elementary School students.
The Hays Police Department (HPD) is reminding motorists to exercise caution and slow down in school zones and around school buses.
“It can be pretty chaotic this time of year,” said Lt. Brandon Wright, “until everybody figures out their schedules and where they’re going.”
HPD enforces speed limits in school zones, according to Wright.
“We have officers assigned every morning and every afternoon in school zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in school zones, typically starting at $160 and it goes up from there depending on your speed.”
If a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm out, state law requires motorists to stop.
“One of the misconceptions is when people are on the other side of the street from the school bus and are approaching it, they think it doesn’t apply to them, but it does. Anytime those lights are flashing you have to stop and be watching for kids. They can jump out from that school bus and in an instant be in the street.”
The fine in Hays for not stopping for a stopped school bus is $200.
Parents or other adults driving children to and from school should have the property safety seats in their vehicle and be sure everyone is buckled up. If a child under the age of 14 is not restrained, the fine is $160.
Drivers should avoid double parking and stopping in the street.
“It’s especially dangerous if you’re letting children out in the other side of the street from the school and they have to cross a lane of traffic in order to get to the sidewalk safely,” Wright warned.
He suggests waiting until traffic clears so drivers can get into the school’s designated drop-off area or to drop children off curbside near a sidewalk so they can use a crosswalk which is usually protected by a school crossing guard.
Children walking or biking to school should be familiarized with their route and made aware of driveways and alley openings they may have to cross. “Have them watching for cars backing out of driveways, looking for alleys and make sure they are stopping before they cross streets,” Wright said. Bicyclists should wear a helmet.
Wright also recommends parents talk to their children about “Stranger Danger” and not accepting rides from anyone without the parents’ permission, whether they know the person or not. If approached by a stranger, children should report the incident to a teacher or another adult as soon as possible.
“There’s safety in numbers,” Wright said. “Have your child walk or bike with others if possible. Also have a plan for after school check-in with an adult.”
“We all have busy lives and tend to multitask,” he acknowledged. “It’s especially important this time of year to pay attention to your driving, put down your phone, and give yourself extra time to get to your destination. A tragedy can occur in an instant.”
ELLIS – If you’re interested in introducing your child to the world of shooting sports, hunting, fishing and other outdoor-related activities, head out to Hays on August 19 for the 20th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival.
Hays area businesses, conservation groups and shooting sports groups have teamed together to offer a free day of target shooting and outdoor activities for youth 17 and younger and your family is invited to attend. The event will be held Saturday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club, located 1/4 mile north of I-70 Exit 157.
Youth will learn the ins and outs of trap and skeet shooting, archery equipment, air rifles and BB guns, muzzleloaders, small-bore rifles, and more. There will also be a casting competition, paintball target shooting, and a furharvesting demonstration.
Youth will be closely supervised at each station by experienced volunteer instructors, and all equipment will be supplied. Hunter Education certification is not required, however, youth are required to be accompanied by an adult.
There is no cost to attend and families can register onsite the day of the event.
A free lunch will be provided courtesy of Eagle Communications and the Hays Chapter of Pheasants Forever. Youth will also have chances to win prizes, including guns, fishing tackle and other outdoor equipment.
For more information, contact Kent Hensley at 785-726-3212 or Troy Mattheyer at 785-726-4212.
Early this year, the Kansas State Department of Education, in a request by the Kansas Highway Patrol, asked the state’s 286 school districts to voluntarily take part in a school bus safety awareness project. The purpose of the project was to raise awareness about illegal passing of school buses by motorists.
Hays USD 489 was one of 57 districts to volunteer between Jan. 23 and March 3, 2017. In those 30 school days, 40 motorists illegally passed stopped Hays school buses.
Russ Henningsen, USD 489 Dir. of Transportation
“We don’t want any children getting off the bus to get hurt,” said Russ Henningsen, USD 489 Director of Transportation. “It’s state law traffic must stop in both directions when a stopped school bus is displaying its flashing red lights and stop sign arm.”
The only exception is on a divided highway, such as Interstate 70, when only same-direction traffic overtaking the bus is required to stop. USD 489 doesn’t make any stops on I-70, according to Henningsen.
“Basically, anywhere in the city limits of Hays including Vine Street, if the stop sign is out, motorists in both directions must stop,” Henningsen explained. Once the bus is no longer displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm, traffic may proceed.
The Hays school buses also routes outside city limits on Highway 183 and near the airport on east Highway 40, where traffic is traveling much faster. “We don’t make any stops on Highway 183, but on Highway 40, we have no choice. We have to make a couple stops there.”
“A lot of people run our stop signs out there,” Henningsen reported. Most of the incidents of illegal passing reported to the state this year by USD 489 occurred on Highway 40.
“No matter if it’s city, state, or county roads, they all apply under state law. In town, our bus drivers are going 20 to 30 mph. On the highway that can be up to 50 mph, so it’s a lot more dangerous out in the county than it is in Hays.”
USD 489 bus driver Dan Leis
When a bus driver sees a vehicle about to go around the bus, “we get very nervous about the children’s safety,” he said.
“We want to be as safe as we can transporting very precious inventory. The students are either very happy to be getting home or excited to arrive at school and may not be paying attention to vehicles on the road.”
With the fall semester starting later this week in Hays, Henningsen reminds motorists to also watch for students walking and riding their bikes to and from school.
Henningsen wants to make sure drivers are aware of the Kansas law. “We all need to be extra careful to help the kids out. It’s a very serious issue.”
He reminds drivers Hays school buses must also stop before a train crossing. “Twice in one week two different buses were rear-ended at a railroad crossing and we do have the four-way flashing lights on to warn drivers before we stop.”
Hays school buses are typically on the road from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. picking students up for school and again in the afternoon from 3 to 4:30 p.m. delivering them back home. During regular school hours they may be driving students between schools or on field trips, and in the evenings traveling for sporting events. “We’re running around at all times,” Henningsen said. “It is more than just going to and from school.”
Kansas Highway Patrol officers conduct safety inspections of Hays school buses Aug. 10. (Photo courtesy Tod Hileman, KHP)
Drivers who are caught going around a stopped school bus will be fined.
“We’re in communications with the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ellis County Sheriff and Hays Police Department after one of our drivers sees a violating motorist. They work with us to find violators,” Henningsen said. The bus drivers sometimes are able to pass along a vehicle description or even a tag number. They’ll fill out a state-provided form and pass it along to local law enforcement.
“Hays police will either call or go to the offender’s residence and talk to them about being reported for not stopping. If it happens a second time, the violator is often issued a ticket,” Henningsen said. There are areas along the Hays bus routes where the bus stop arms are commonly ignored and USD 489 sometimes asks HPD to watch for violators in action.
“People are in too much of a hurry, distracted by cell phones and they’re just not taking their time,” Henningsen believes.
According to state law, violations are punishable by a fine and court costs in excess of $420.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler with new officers Nait Elkin, Nick Woodruff and Nikki Elliott.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
“As police chief, I feel like I hit the jackpot. I got the trifecta of new employees right here.”
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler was obviously very happy during the August 10 Hays city commission meeting as he participated for the first time in a recently added regular agenda item, the introduction of new employees and recognition of city employees who’ve been promoted.
He enthusiastically introduced three new police officers who’ve all moved to Hays from out of state.
The trio has something else in common. All three are veterans who served in the United States Army.
“As chief of police, you’re looking for someone understands courage, understands dedication, understands duty, understands sacrifice. All three of these individuals understand that,” Scheibler said. “I’m very excited about having them on board.”
Scheibler gave a brief biography about each of the new officers–Nikki Elliott, Nick Woodruff and Nait Elkins.
Elliott was born in the Bahamas, went to high school in New York and has a degree from Delaware State University. She worked in the private sector before joining the military. Elliott, her husband and family moved to Hays for a business opportunity, enabling Elliott to then apply to the police department.
Woodruff became a federal police officer after serving in the military. He later moved to Kansas and became a certified police officer in the state. Woodruff then moved to Hays with his wife and family. Because he is already a certified police officer, Scheibler said the process of acclimating Woodruff to the department will “move a lot faster.”
Elkins was born in Ohio. “He and the love of his life were born in the same Ohio hospital, but they had to move to Manhattan to meet each other in Kansas,” Scheibler explained with a smile. Elkins just got out of the military. “This week he got out of the military and this week he’s working for us,” Scheibler noted. Elkins is pursuing a degree at Fort Hays State University.
Jeff Crispin and Holly Dickman
Three other employees were recognized by Jeff Crispin, director of water resources.
Holly Dickman is the new Water Conservation Specialist. A lifelong Ellis County resident, Dickman served the past 11 years as the Ellis County K-State Research and Extension Horticulture Agent. “That’s a brilliant hire,” said Vice-Mayor James Meier as the other commissioners echoed their agreement.
Crispin welcomes Levi Moran.
is a new Water Resources Maintenance Worker I who previously worked at Hess Services in Hays. His specialty is welding according to Crispin, “sewer lines, water lines, working on meters and calls such as that.”
Chase Scheibler was promoted to Plant Operator I. He started working for the city of Hays a little more than a year ago in the maintenance department of the water resources department.
Chase Scheibler with Crispin
Scheibler now works in water plant operations “making sure our water is safe,” Crispin said.
ELLIS – If you’re interested in introducing your child to the world of shooting sports, hunting, fishing and other outdoor-related activities, head out to Hays on August 19 for the 20th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival.
Hays area businesses, conservation groups and shooting sports groups have teamed together to offer a free day of target shooting and outdoor activities for youth 17 and younger and your family is invited to attend. The event will be held Saturday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club, located 1/4 mile north of I-70 Exit 157.
Youth will learn the ins and outs of trap and skeet shooting, archery equipment, air rifles and BB guns, muzzleloaders, small-bore rifles, and more. There will also be a casting competition, paintball target shooting, and a furharvesting demonstration.
Youth will be closely supervised at each station by experienced volunteer instructors, and all equipment will be supplied. Hunter Education certification is not required, however, youth are required to be accompanied by an adult.
There is no cost to attend and families can register onsite the day of the event.
A free lunch will be provided courtesy of Eagle Communications and the Hays Chapter of Pheasants Forever. Youth will also have chances to win prizes, including guns, fishing tackle and other outdoor equipment.
For more information, contact Kent Hensley at 785-726-3212 or Troy Mattheyer at 785-726-4212.
Mayor Shaun Musil signs the proclamation Thu. declaring Aug. 12, 2017 as Bob Schmidt Day in Hays.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, has been proclaimed Robert E. “Bob” Schmidt Day in Hays by Mayor Shaun Musil.
The 90-year-old philanthropist, renowned broadcaster and retired chairman of the board of Eagle Communications passed away Tuesday, Aug. 8 at his home.
Musil read out loud and then signed the proclamation during Thursday’s city commission meeting. The proclamation was a short history of Schmidt’s life and highlighted several of his many contributions to the community.
“(Bob Schmidt’s) name has been synonymous with kindness and generosity for so many programs and projects for so many years. He has served on many boards throughout the community, and has been an excellent example of a true philanthropist as well as a successful business leader,” Musil read.
“I knew Bob since 1963,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, “and we were good friends. More recently, in the last 10 years, we were great friends. He was a mentor to me. He always encouraged me to do the right thing and figure out what the right thing was.
“More than just giving back, he said it was getting other people and encouraging them to join in that. That was the true leadership, in my opinion,” Jacobs continued. “Bob could bring people to the fold. He collaborated. I will miss him greatly. He was a great, great man.”
“He was probably the hardest working man in this community,” said Commissioner Henry Schwaller, who also admired Schmidt’s “amazing sense of humor and funny, quick wit.”
A self-made man, Schmidt believed it was his responsibility to give back, according to Schwaller.
“He had done so well in the realm of radio and TV broadcasting. And because it used public licenses, Bob felt obligated to give that money back to the public,” he said.
“Bob and Pat Schmidt are of a generation of people gone. Who are going to be the next people to step up?” Schwaller wondered.
“Those of us who are in our 40s, we need to look at what Bob did,” said Mayor Shaun Musil. “It’s our time to run with the ball.”
(Click to enlarge)
“Everybody in the community at some point has benefited from the Schmidt family,” agreed Vice-Mayor James Meier, who works at the HaysMed Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Institute.
The Schmidt name is visible throughout Hays, most notably at the Fort Hays State University Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center and the Schmidt-Bickle Training Facility, the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Institute at HaysMed and the city-owned Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
Musil moved to Hays in the early 1990s.
“You’d see the Schmidt name all over the place and I wondered ‘Who is this guy?’ ” he said.
Musil began running into Schmidt at various community events and meetings a few years before he became a city commissioner.
“He’s the kind of guy you can just sit in awe of, listen to him and learn from him,” he said. “He never treated you like you were below him. You were one of the residents of Hays.
“The word ‘idolize’ gets thrown around too much, but this guy, he’s truly a guy you can idolize,” Musil said emphatically.
Hays Mayor Shaun Musil reads the Bob Schmidt Day proclamation to Bob’s son Tony and his wife Loreta Friday morning.
Friday morning in city hall, Musil presented a framed copy of the proclamation and a key to the city to Schmidt’s son, Tony Schmidt, and his wife, Loreta, of Lawrence.
“We will treasure this,” Schmidt said.
Commissioners Jacobs and Schwaller, along with Ellis County Commissioner Barb Wasinger, told the couple the community would not be the same without the generosity of Bob and Pat Schmidt. Pat Schmidt passed away in August 2015.
“I know he had a gene in him that was community service,” Tony said of his dad. “I loved his word ‘obligatory,’ ” Jacobs interjected.
“Well, he’s a good Catholic Volga-German,” Tony Schmidt added with a chuckle.
As he shook Musil’s hand, Tony Schmidt said “now you guys can be the ‘Outstanding Man of the Year.’ ”
Ellis County Commissioner Barb Wasinger tells Tony Schmidt how grateful the community is for the generosity of Bob Schmidt.
Among his many accolades, Bob Schmidt was named Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Hays Chamber of Commerce in 1956. The award came just six years after Schmidt graduated from Fort Hays Kansas State College (now Fort Hays State University) and became general manager of KAYS Radio, as well as vice-president and director of KAYS, Inc. (now Eagle Communications).
“We have some very big shoes to fill,” Musil and Schwaller said with a smile.
Funeral services for Schmidt will be Saturday. Click HERE for details.
The Aug. 10 severe thunderstorm brought rain but no hail to Hays.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The city of Hays fared much better than WaKeeney during Thursday afternoon’s severe weather.
Several severe thunderstorm warnings were issued by the National Weather Service in Dodge City starting at 2:48 p.m. Two-inch hail propelled by 70 mph winds battered WaKeeney.
The storm, which initially was headed directly east toward Hays, took a more southerly route. By the time it hit Hays, the thunderstorm no longer contained hail, according to Joe Becker at the K-State Agricultural Research Center, where official weather records are kept for Hays.
Hays received an 0.47 inches of rain yesterday and no hail. The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, had 0.26 inches.
So far in August, 1.44 inches of rain has fallen. Slightly more than 22 inches of precipitation has been recorded in Hays for the year.
In Ellis, much heavier rain was reported. Reports just south of the city showed nearly 2.2 inches in the gauge. The Victoria area received less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation.
Hays Finance Director Kim Rupp with the 2018 budget book.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Following a review of the highlights and no public comments, Hays city commissioners unanimously adopted the 2018 budget during their meeting Thursday night.
Fifteen of the city’s 25 departments and divisions reduced their budgets from 2017, while four more departments increased their budgets only slightly. According to Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood, expenditures decreased by $215,118, with no reduction in city services. All city employees will receive a four percent wage increase next year.
“It’s a balanced budget with no mill levy increase,” Wood reminded commissioners. “We continue the process of paying cash for large projects. Our reserve funds are maintained and are healthy and we have a full-funded street program in 2018.”
The city’s mill levy has been at or below 25 for 11 of the past 12 years.
“We’re the sixth lowest (mill) levy in Kansas,” Wood reported, “and we’re also the lowest levy outside of Johnson County, so that’s something we should be proud of, being able to keep our levies low.”
Wood showed a calculation of the monthly tax liability for the owner of a median $158,000 home in Hays. When all the numbers are crunched, the monthly figure is $37.85.
“That $37.85 a month in conjunction with sales tax revenues provides all the services we have here in Hays.”
With further calculations and comparisons with several other cities, Wood determined Garden City is about $10 higher per month, Salina is about $8 more and Great Bend about $40 more. Area cities smaller than Hays have an even bigger monthly tax liability for homeowners, with Ellis, Victoria and Plainville being more than $100.
“Even though our tax valuation is a little bit higher and people may think it’s too high, we still have a low property tax. And actually, of that $37.85, the city’s portion is only $27 if you back out the Hays Public Library,” he added. “Twenty-seven dollars a month for all the services Hays provides to residents.”
The assessed valuation for the city of Hays increased by four percent in the 2018 budget of $38,058,556.
Commissioners thanked all the employees involved in drafting the budget, particularly Finance Director Kim Rupp. “I don’t know what he’s going to do for the rest of the year,” joked Wood.
“I appreciate city staff and what you guys have brought to us this year,” said Mayor Shaun Musil. “I’m very happy with the budget.”
ELLIS–Following a public hearing with no comments from residents, Ellis city council members voted to adopt the city’s 2018 budget during their Aug. 7 meeting.
The council also approved a resolution presented by City Clerk Amy Burton amending the fixed percentage increase to city utility rates in the approved 2018 budget.
A public hearing was set for Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. for the 2018 Waterline Project.
At the suggestion of Police Chief Taft Yates, members agreed to move a flag disposal box from the Ellis VFW building, which is often locked, to a hallway inside city hall.
The complete Aug. 7 meeting minutes are below.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
August 7, 2017
PUBLIC HEARING – 2018 BUDGET DOCUMENT
General Government: Financial – 2018 City of Ellis Budget
Mayor David McDaniel opened the 2018 budget hearing at 7:02 p.m. Mayor McDaniel stated the proposed budget has been published the required amount of time and that tonight is an opportunity for the citizens of Ellis to comment on the proposed budget for 2018. Resident Gary Luea noted that the published budget in the Hays Daily News was too small to read. There being no further public comments, Mayor David McDaniel declared the budget hearing adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members 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, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member Bret Andries was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Chad Pritchett, Gary Luea, Glen Keller, Nickole Byers, Buck Driggs, Brian Raub, Cheryl Kinderknecht, and John Walz.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Dena Patee moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on July 17, 2017, Bills Ordinance #2026, and the manual journal entries for April, May and June. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Nickole Byers read a prepared letter addressing recent concerns over a perceived bias and misrepresentation of council items in recent Ellis Review publications.
Chad Pritchett and Glen Keller requested Council table consideration of the proposed revisions to the Chrysler Museum and Railroad Museum lease agreements until the respective boards have had a chance to review the revisions.
Gary Luea, Water Advisory Committee, requested Council add an executive session to the agenda for the next Council meeting to discuss land acquisition.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
Swimming Pool: Acquisition
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to accept the gift of the swimming pool slide from the Ellis Community Foundation. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0, with Council member Dena Patee abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest. The responsibility for maintenance and ownership of the slide now rests with the City.
SPECIAL ORDER
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: Financial – 2018 Budget Document
Mayor David McDaniel noted that the budget hearing for the proposed 2018 budget document was held earlier in the evening with no opposition from the public voiced. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the 2018 budget document as published and presented. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Special Project
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, updated Council on the bids for concrete work for the residence at 11th Street and Dorrance. The City’s street contractor, Vogt’s-Parga Construction, has provided an estimate of $2,235 with that cost to be split between the Community Development Block Grant and the City. Mr. Driggs was instructed by Council to obtain bids from local contractors to compare costs. Only one bid was submitted by the time of the Council meeting in the amount of $850. If the City chooses to accept this bid, it would be outside of the grant and designated street project. Mr. Driggs recommends the City accept the local contractor’s bid since it would be less than the amount the City would pay under the estimate from Vogt’s-Parga Construction and it would keep the work local. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to accept the bid from Fox Construction in the amount of $850 to complete the concrete work at 11th Street and Dorrance. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Special Project
Mr. Driggs continued by presenting the Change Order Justification Report for the Street Improvement Project. The report will be considered for approval at the next council meeting.
Public Works: Violation
Council reviewed two bids for the demolition of the residence on 12th Street destroyed by fire. City Attorney Olavee Raub reported there may be a prospective purchaser of the property and the City may not need to proceed. Ms. Raub requested the item be placed as a status update for the next Council meeting. No action was taken.
Museums: Contracts
Mayor David McDaniel requested consideration of the proposed revisions to the lease agreements for the Chrysler Museum and Railroad Museum be tabled until the respective boards can meet with City representatives.
NEW BUSINESS
Sewer/Sanitation: Accounting/Billing
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the resolution amending the fixed percentage increase to the utility rates per the approved 2018 budget. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 537 as presented. The motion carried 5-0.
Municipal Court: City Code
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1422 incorporating the 2017 edition of the Standard Traffic Ordinance. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Municipal Court: City Code
Council member Bob Redger moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1423 incorporating the 2017 edition of the Uniform Public Offense Code. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: Committee
Mayor David McDaniel reviewed a letter from the League of Kansas Municipalities providing the City an opportunity to register a voting delegate and an alternate voting delegate to represent the City at the League’s Annual Conference in September. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to elect David McDaniel as the LKM voting delegate. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner then moved to elect Jolene Niernberger as the LKM alternate voting delegate. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0, with Council member Jolene Niernberger abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the cost of labor and materials for repairs to the street at 11th Street and Washington due to the recent water main break. Mr. Scheuerman estimated that it cost the City $3,285 more in labor and sand to re-lay the brick on the street, rather than just leave as concrete. Mayor David McDaniel requested the City have the Stockton prison inmates help clean the brick stockpile the next time they are in town working for the City.
Dane Bailey, Kansas Department of Agriculture, has contacted Mr. Scheuerman regarding updating the floodplain maps sometime this year. The maps have not been updated since 1983.
Public Works: Training
Council member Dena Patee moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman to attend the Kansas Association of Floodplain Managers conference in Lawrence on September 5-7th. The motion carried 5-0.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Department’s Monthly Activity Report for July and the August staff calendar. Chief Yates noted the VFW has a flag disposal box to ensure retired flags are disposed of properly. Since the VFW is often locked, Chief Yates asked Council to consider placing the flag disposal box in the hallway at City Hall. Council member Dena Patee moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to place the flag disposal box at City Hall. The motion carried 5-0, with Council member Bob Redger abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the monthly financial statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit Worksheet for April, May and June.
The draft minutes were reviewed from the July meeting of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals.
The swimming pool will close August 12th for the 2017 season.
The public hearing on the 2018 Waterline Project will be August 21st at 7:00 p.m.
Ms. Burton asked if Council wanted to participate in the LUCA project for the United States Census Bureau. The Local Update of Census Addresses Operation helps ensure the accuracy and completeness of the City’s address list for the 2020 census. It was the consensus of the Council to not participate due to the time intensiveness of the project.
Personnel: Exit
Ms. Burton reported that Sharon Disney has resigned from her position as Clerk II. The Clerk’s office is currently accepting applications for her replacement.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported she has still been unable to locate the owner of the property cited for code violations on Fauteux Street. The City may have condemnation procedures forthcoming on the property.
The citizen’s claim for damages has been submitted to the City’s insurance policy for review.
Ms. Raub has received two bids for the survey of the golf course boundaries and will include the bids in the packet for the next Council meeting.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel announced the League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Conference will be September 16th – 18th.
The City’s contract for janitorial services will be considered at the August 21st meeting. Minor revisions have been made to the contract.
Council member Jolene Niernberger suggested that agencies that receive funding from the City submit articles to the City’s quarterly publication, The Town Crier, to provide updates on happenings in their organizations.
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner revisited the idea of holding a committee volunteer appreciation event.
General Government: Work Session
Mayor McDaniel would like to hold a work session at 7:00 p.m. on August 15th to finalize the Capital Improvement Plan.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
A public hearing will be conducted tonight during the Hays city commission meeting for the city’s 2018 budget. City Manager Toby Dougherty will first review the budget highlights.
Following that, commissioners are expected to adopt the $38,058,556 budget which keeps the mill levy at 25.
In other agenda items, new employees and those who have been recently promoted will be introduced to the commission by city department heads.
HPD Community Night Out Aug. 4 at the Hays Aquatic Park
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The weather was a little cooler than last year for the second annual Community Night Out hosted by the Hays Police Department at the Hays Aquatic Park.
Chief Don Scheibler was worried when he woke up that morning. The overnight low had dipped into the upper 50s and the weather forecast called for an overcast sky.
“I called the swimming pool and they said they’d turn on the heaters in the water,” Scheibler said while watching residents enjoy the pool in what turned out to be an 80 degree day.
Two on-duty officers check out the fun.
This year’s event was organized by HPD Sgt. Chris Hancock, who’s been on the force for eight years.
“Just a chance for us to serve some supper to the community and give them a free night of swimming,” Hancock said. “The Hays Recreation Commission was very gracious in offering up the pool for three hours and help us out in doing that.”
Hancock and about a dozen other police officers helped serve up free hot dogs and hamburgers, chips, cookies and drinks to the estimated 450 people who attended.
“It’s great,” Hancock said with a smile. “We get to talk to the folks when they come through the line. A lot of the people we know, a lot of people we don’t know.
HPD officers serve up hot dogs and hamburgers.
“This way if we come to their community, whether it’s to help them or we’re just patrolling through, it gives them a face to say ‘Hi’ to. And they see us in some plain clothes, not a uniform.”
Those plain clothes worn by the officers included white T-shirts emblazoned with the HPD badge logo and a U.S. flag. The T-shirts, in adult and youth sizes, were also given away to participants.
Hancock said children are sometimes afraid of fully-uniformed police officers who may look intimidating and the Community Night Out can help kids overcome those fears.
“I think seeing us without our uniforms on helps out a lot with that,” he said. “It allows them to see we don’t always wear a badge and our tool belts and things like that. They get to see us for who we are without the uniform on. It’s a lot of help in our interactions, whether it be outside a baseball game or walking through their neighborhood.”
HPD Lt. Ron Rounkles (Ret.)
Manning the large portable grill in the parking lot were two retired officers, Lt. Ron Rounkles and Investigator Bill Lovewell. Rounkles had hot dog duty while Lovewell flipped the burgers.
“They’re donating their time helping us out here cooking. They helped us out last year and did a great job. They’re both self-proclaimed ‘renowned cookers’ according to their families, and themselves,” Hancock added with a laugh.
HPD Inv. Bill Lovewell (Ret.)
Sponsors for the Community Night Out were Fraternal Order of Police Hays Lodge 48, Pepsi, Phaze 2, Walmart, Nex-Tech and the Hays Recreation Commission.
