By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Newly hired and recently promoted employees of the city of Hays were introduced to the city commission Thursday night.

WATER RESOURCES
Ky Scheibler-New Water Plant Operator
Scheibler previously worked for the Hays Parks Department from 2012 to 2016, and the water plant in 2016 and 2017. He recently moved back to Hays from Garden City.

POLICE
Ciarra Rupp-Promoted to Office Manager
Rupp started in the city manager’s office as a receptionist. She went to the Hays Police Department in 2012 as an administrative assistant.
Kolleen Dome-Promoted to Municipal Court Clerk
Dome started with the city in 2009 as a records clerk. She takes over the position previously held by Patty Wolf who recently retired.
Mason Seery-New Police Officer
Seery is from Cedar City, Utah, and has family in the area.
Derrick Crisenbery-New police officer
Crisenbery previously worked in the oil field and retail industry in Hays. He is a U.S. Army veteran.

DISPATCH
Alanna Hansen-New Dispatcher
Hansen is a Hays native and Fort Hays State University student majoring in criminal justice.
Madeline Sweet-New Dispatcher
Sweet is a former rural mail carrier in Ellis County and lives near Victoria.
Abigail Rivera-New Dispatcher
Rivera is a graduate of Liberal High School and lives in Ellis.

PUBLIC WORKS
Brayden Dreher-New Maintenance Worker in Service Division

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

After requesting funding from the city of Hays for the first time in two years, Grow Hays will receive a little more than it asked for.

Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, made a $100,000 funding request from the city’s proposed 2020 budget during a presentation in June.

During last week’s work session, commissioners agreed to Mayor Henry Schwaller’s suggestion not to renew the $45,000 city contract with business recruiter Retail Strategies for a third year, resulting in a savings of $42,500 in the economic development fund this year.

“They told us what we needed to know. … We know our trade area, we know who lives here, we know what they buy and what they’re seeking.

“We’re done. They can’t recruit anybody and we haven’t heard from them in a year,” Schwaller said.

“That’s where I’m at,” said Shaun Musil, vice mayor.

“We may see some impact on our retail side from additional work being done by Grow Hays,” Commissioner Sandy Jacobs said. Grow Hays was formerly the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development.

“We have $42,500 for economic development in the 2019 budget that is not spent,” Musil pointed out. “I’d like to offer that to Grow Hays this year and possibly that same amount next year.”

Jacobs went further, offering the remaining $42,500 this year plus the total economic development budget of $87,500 in 2020 “since we’re not going to renew with Retail Strategies,” she said.

The total would be $130,000 to Grow Hays over the 2019/2020 budget cycle. All the commissioners agreed.

“We would also hope that their solicitation of investment from local businesses increases as well,” added Phelps.

The commission will vote on the $42,500 expenditure for 2019 at their meeting tonight.

Commissioners also gave their consensus to the following funding requests:

• CARE COUNCIL – $168,000, up from $164,000
• Fort Hays State University Scholarship Program – $100,000
• Downtown Hays Development Corporation – $50,973
• Ellis County Historical Society – $12,000
• Hays Arts Council – $12,000
• Wild West Festival – $9,500

“That $100,000 investment is realized over and over during the school year,” Phelps said of the FHSU allotment.

Mellick praised DHDC for asking for 5% less this year.

“I’m happy with that. I think that’s showing some restraint in not thinking this is an entitlement,” Mellick said.

“They do good things. … We’ve given them lots of money over the years and lots of opportunity, and they have ran with that money well. But they need to slowly – to a certain extent – become a little more self-funded.”

The Ellis County Historical Society is working on a strategic plan, which could include a new building. The museum is housed in the First Presbyterian Church, 100 W. 7th, located in the city’s historical district. Mayor Schwaller noted it would require a resolution from the city commission to raze the church.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The four tennis courts in Hays Municipal Park need to be resurfaced. It hasn’t been done since 2004.

City commissioners will consider a low bid Thursday for the work, which includes converting one court to two pickleball courts.

“We have a lot of people interested in pickleball,” said Jeff Boyle, director of parks. “Hays Rec actually has tournaments there. It’s very popular and I think it’s a good thing for us to try.”

Pickleball is similar to tennis but uses a Wiffle Ball and small paddles on shorter courts. An eight-foot-high net will divide the fourth Municipal Park tennis court into two pickleball courts.

“As you get older it’s really a good sport to stay active because you can play it to any level you want,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs. “But I’ve noticed there’s a lot of young people getting involved as well, so I think it’s pretty cool.”

Commissioner Eber Phelps, a tennis player, was not as enthusiastic.

“Not to rain on your parade, but I’m just gonna call your attention to what’s going to happen,” he said.

“You bring in a new activity. Then you’re gonna have all your tennis players complaining.

“I’ve played on those courts for years. People come down there and want to play tennis using a volleyball. They wanna play tennis using Frisbees, or whatever. It’s lit up at night and it’s a great place to come skateboard, rollerblade, drive remote control cars.

“They really don’t understand tennis court etiquette.

“I’m not gonna put down the pickleball, but I’ll bet you, you get that going down there and you’re gonna have some issues between the two,” Phelps predicted.

Boyle said his staff discussed whether the change would “put out the tennis players.”

“There’ve been times where all four courts have been played on, and there’s been times when it’s just one court,” Boyle noted. “Tennis seems to have dropped off dramatically. I’m not discarding the sport. It sure seems we have plenty of courts when I go by.”

Other agenda items for the July 25 city commission meeting include a final review of the proposed 2020 budget and setting a public hearing date.

The 2019 Water$mart Landscape awards will also be presented.

The agenda is available here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It was cooler than usual Monday night in Hays.

The temperature dropped low enough to set a new record low for July 22 – just barely.

According to official records from the K-State Agricultural Research Center, the overnight low was 52 degrees.

That beats the previous low for July 22 of 53 degrees set exactly 100 years ago in 1919.

Monday’s high in Hays was 83 degrees.

One year ago it was 89 degrees with an overnight low of 69 degrees.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays is among 23 Kansas towns selected for grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for projects to improve intersections and roads.

Norton, Colby and Phillipsburg will also receive KDOT grants.

KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.

John Braun, project manager for the city of Hays, says the Hays award of $1 million will be used for reconstruction of south Vine Street/Highway 183 in state fiscal year 2021 – a $4 million dollar project.

“This will start south of 13th Street – about where McDonald’s is – south through the intersection with the Highway 40 Bypass.

“It will also involve adding pedestrian crossings at 8th and Vine.”

The city applied for the grant in March, according to Braun.

“The pavement is starting to get really bad. We did a concrete patch 15 to 18 years ago. After consulting with engineers and with KDOT about doing a patch again, we decided it would be money better spent to completely replace the pavement,” Braun said.

The city of Hays will provide $3 million in matching funds for the grant, which is in the Capitol Improvement Projects portion of the city’s budget.

The work will be a KDOT project.

“It would be coordinated with KDOT with a KDOT bid letting in Topeka and they would manage the project,” Braun explained. “We would get it designed and then basically turn it over to them, paying our share up front.”

The cities will receive a combined total of approximately $18 million in funding under the CCLIP for the 23 projects. The total includes $7 million in state fiscal year 2021 and $11 million in state fiscal year 2022.

“KDOT was able to add $5 million into the CCLIP because of the additional $50 million that the governor provided as a one-time transfer from the State General Fund,” said Deputy Secretary Lindsey Douglas in a Tuesday news release. “Communities then provided an additional $6.5 million in matching funds to create a total of $11.5 million beyond the initial plan to expand the amount invested in various projects.”

Under the CCLIP, a city is required to contribute up to 25 percent of the project cost based on its population, though some cities contribute significantly more. Cities under 2,500 in population aren’t required to provide a match. Projects in this program may fall into one of three different categories including Surface Preservation (SP), Pavement Restoration (PR) or Geometric Improvement (GI).

SP projects involve maintenance work such as resurfacing and are funded up to $300,000 per project. PR projects typically involve full-depth pavement replacement without changes to the overall geometric characteristics and may also address drainage issues. GI projects address geometric issues such as adding turn lanes, improving intersections or modifying the lane configuration to address capacity. The PR and GI categories are funded up to $1 million per project.

For the state fiscal year 2021, the city, category and amount awarded include:

Concordia                 Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Gardner                     Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Hays                       Pavement Restoration             $1,000,000

Independence          Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Norton                   Geometric Improvement        $1,000,000

Pratt                            Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Winfield                     Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

For the state fiscal year 2022, the city, category and amount awarded include:

Cimarron                   Pavement Restoration                    $800,000

Colby                       Surface Preservation                $300,000

Dodge City                Geometric Improvement                 $1,000,000

Ellsworth                   Geometric Improvement                 $600,000

Emporia                     Geometric Improvement                 $600,000

Garden City               Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Gardner                     Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Garnett                       Pavement Restoration                    $1,000,000

Herington                  Surface Preservation                      $300,000

Lyons                         Surface Preservation                      $300,000

McLouth                    Pavement Restoration                  $500,000

McPherson               Geometric Improvement               $1,000,000

Minneola                   Geometric Improvement               $1,000,000

Newton                      Surface Preservation                      $300,000

Phillipsburg        Pavement Restoration             $1,000,000

Yates Center             Surface Preservation                      $300,000

SHESC

SALINA – Taking a new direction in education is like being the first explorers on a jungle safari – the way is uncertain and difficult, with no clear end in sight.

On July 16 and 17, Smoky Hill Education Service Center (SHESC) helped guide about 40 educators through such a change – the Kansans Can School Redesign Project – with its annual “Teacher Safari” workshop at the Rolling Hills Zoo.

One attendee was Craig Batchman, history and government teacher in Sylvan Grove USD 299. He recently moved to the area and said that Teacher Safari came highly recommended.

“One of the other teachers had taken this workshop and said it was really good information,” Batchman said.

The Kansas State Department of Education launched the Redesign Project in 2017 after extensive conversations and surveying of Kansans and Kansas educators. The project is focused on moving schools toward the Kansas Vision for Education – “Kansas leads the world in the success of each student” – and designing Kansas education to meet five outcomes to accomplish that vision.

The outcomes are: measuring social-emotional growth locally; kindergarten readiness; individual plans of study based on career interests; high school graduation; and post-secondary success.

A central focus of the Teacher Safari workshop was helping the educators discover a personal “why” within the more formalized process of Redesign, which has been rolled out gradually to school districts since its introduction.

Darla Smith, SHESC assistant director and a co-presenter with Lori Scuitte, said that identifying a personal motivation would bring more passion and a richer curriculum within Redesign. For Batchman, for example, the “why” was having his students become better citizens.

With the unique zoo setting, of course, the workshop took advantage to allow unique connections. For example, just as the zoo was mapped out on paper first, then continued to grow and expand after the initial construction, Redesign benefits from a plan on paper, with the willingness to grow, change and expand with new opportunities.

And, of course, there were some opportunities to enjoy the location – meeting some real-life Eastern screech owls in person, exploring the museum and taking the tram through zoo exhibits as well!

Learn more about Smoky Hill ESC at www.smokyhill.org and about the Kansans Can School Redesign Project at www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/Communications-and-Recognition-Programs/Vision-Kansans-Can/School-Redesign.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners are proud of the Hays Fire Department.

Commissioner Eber Phelps Thursday night suggested a letter of commendation and thanks should be sent from the commission to the city fire department for their recent assistance to the Plainville Fire Department.

HFD took on fire coverage in Plainville to allow its firefighters to attend the funerals of two retired PFD chiefs.

“I thought it was great that we had our firefighters and a truck over there to stand guard on the city of Plainville while they paid tribute to fire chiefs,” Phelps said.

The commission noted the Hays Fire Department has performed such coverage assistance in other towns.

Below is the Hays Fire Department’s Facebook post about its assistance in Plainville.

“It’s a task no department ever wants to take on, but it is an honor to help out our brothers and sisters in Rooks county as the Plainville Fire Department lays to rest two retired chief officers. Your Hays firefighters sent an Engine and 3 firefighters to cover calls for the City of Plainville during the funerals of Retired Chief Keith Mongeau and Retired Assistant Chief Bob Wise. Covering for the Plainville Fire Department allowed their firefighters to attend the funerals without worry of being interrupted by calls.The Hays Fire Department sends our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Chief Mongeau and Asst. Chief Wise.”

In May 2019, two representatives from the Sister Cities of Hays, Kansas board joined the Fort Hays State University delegation on a trip to China. Sister Cities of Hays is a member of Sister Cities International, the oldest and largest organization of citizen diplomats in the nation. Hays’ sister cities include Santa Maria de las Misiones, Paraguay, and Xinzheng, China.

The purpose of this trip was to participate in the annual commencement ceremonies for Fort Hays State University’s partner institutions. This year marked a major milestone as the delegation celebrated 20 years of partnership with Sias International University.

Mehran Shahidi, director of intercultural integration at FHSU and Brittney Squire, Forsyth Library outreach specialist at FHSU represented Sister Cities and the city of Hays on this trip. During the visit, Shahidi and Squire, along with FHSU President Tisa Mason, and Cindy Elliott, FHSU Assistant Vice President for Global Partnerships and board member for Sister Cities International, met with members of the Xinzheng Municipal Government in the Henan Province of China.

There they met with the Mayor of Xinzheng, Mr. Zhifeng Ma. During this meeting, there was an exchange of information about the city of Hays, FHSU, and the city of Xinzheng. In a discussion about possible collaboration opportunities between the two cities, several items of interest were presented including cultural exchange programs, economic development, telemedicine prospects and artificial intelligence.

“Through this meeting and a previous one with Mayor Ma, I have really noticed the purpose of establishing friendships through one on one relationship — one individual and one community at a time. The conversation and the enthusiasm among all of us once again reminded me of President Eisenhower’s belief that friendship through individuals and communities would make the difference,” said Shahidi.

Shahidi and Squire also presented Mayor Ma with a proclamation from Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller. The proclamation reinforced the desire to maintain a positive relationship and cultural exchange between Hays and Xinzheng. Gifts were exchanged by both parties including items which are native to both areas.

“We were given such a warm welcome in China from our very first stop in Xinzheng. I was so impressed by the Chinese hospitality, and I only hope Hays, Kansas can return the favor one day soon by showing off our own Midwestern charm,” said Squire.

Mayor Ma was invited to bring a delegation to Hays. The Sister Cities board will continue to maintain communication with Xinzheng representatives in order to arrange a visit in the future.

Hays Sister Cities is a committee of local citizen volunteers with a passion for international collaboration. For information on Hays Sister Cities, email [email protected] or find the group on Facebook.

– SUBMITTED –

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The proposed 2020 budget for the city of Hays includes an increase in the solid waste fee for Hays customers.

The last time the fee increased was in 2006 in anticipation of the move in 2007 to a new automated collection system using blue polycarts. The rate was set at $15.20 thirteen years ago and hasn’t changed since then.

“We’re at the point where we’re eating into our reserves every year and that’s not very good for sustainability,” says Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, “so a rate increase is required.”

The city’s Solid Waste Fund is an enterprise fund, acting like a business.

“Expenses necessitated by the fund are covered by the rates,” Dougherty explained. “The Solid Waste Fund doesn’t get subsidized by the General Fund or any form of taxes. It is solely based off user fees. And right now user fees are not supportive of the overall cost of the fund.”

Dougherty attributes the need for a rate hike to the increase in the cost of living. “Fuel increases, higher hauling and sorting fees for recyclables, salaries, and higher tipping fees at the Ellis County landfill are all factors,” he said.

Revenues from the sale of paper/cardboard recyclables have also been declining, from $63,000 in 2011 to $5,000 in 2018. The city must to pay another entity to take the rest of the recyclables.

“That’s the state of the recycling market. We’re lucky it doesn’t go into a landfill. We’ve gone from getting $60- to $70-thousand dollars a year, to paying $18,000 a year to have our recycling hauled off.”

Paper/cardboard recycling from Hays goes to Tamko in Phillipsburg where it is used in the manufacturing of roof shingles. The rest of the co-mingled recyclables – glass, plastic and aluminum – go to Stutzman’s recycling facility near Hutchinson, where it is sorted and sold to other commercial recyclers.

During tomorrow’s work session, city commissioners will consider a recommended series of annual rate increases over five years rather than one large rate increase.

The recommended rate increases are 15% to $17.48 starting August 2019. Further smaller increases are recommended annually in 2021 through 2024 of 5%, 3%, 2%, and 2%.

Public Works Director Jesse Rohr will present several other options for the commission at their July 18 work session.

Solid Waste services include refuse collection, recycling collection, compost operations, annual alley cleanup, and tree disposal for customers.

Commissioners will also look again at the funding requests in the 2020 budget by outside agencies, including Fort Hays State University city scholarships, Grow Hays, Care Council and Downtown Hays Development Corporation.

The July 18 agenda is available here.

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