By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It was one of two events Thursday evening for new Hays USD 489 Superintendent John Thissen as he introduced himself to Hays city commissioners at the invitation of Mayor Eber Phelps.

“I’ve never been to so many meetings in just five weeks,” Thissen quipped as he spoke during the citizen comments portion of the meeting.

“Hays has been very welcoming and it’s been a very easy transition,” he said. Thissen’s contract started July 1.

Thissen came to Hays from Herrington USD 487, where he had served as superintendent since 2007. Thissen replaced Dean Katt who resigned at the end of June to move to Independence, Mo., to work in the school district’s human resources department.

“From my nine years experience at Herrington, I come here and kind of have it in mind that a school district has to end up working with the city in so many different ways,” Thissen said to the Hays city commissioners.

In fact, in Herrington it was so easy, Thissen explained, “we ended up co-habiting the building. Half of the building was the city office and half of the building was the school district office…I had many meetings with the city manager.”

He talked about “the understanding and how it all really worked together” between the city of Herrington, the schools, the medical community, service organizations and businesses.

“I know it’s a small community,” Thissen acknowledged, “and it may have been a lot easier in some ways with it being simpler, but at the same time it just seemed that’s the way you did it.

“Coming here to Hays, I’m trying to learn the connections and establishing those lines of communication.”

Thissen said he was “very excited to be a part of the Hays community.”

“I’m doing all I can to end up making sure the community is a healthy, vital community. I do know the base of that is having leaders who have integrity and have a vision for the future of the community, with the people being the full purpose of what our work is all about,” Thissen said.

“The combined efforts is what’s going to do that.  I know that’s a little more complicated than putting up walls around the various organizations, but that doesn’t work very well.  It’s a necessity to end up working together and communicating,” he concluded.

Thissen also told the commission he has an upcoming meeting with City Manager Toby Dougherty and he hoped it will be come a regularly scheduled talk.

The commissioners liked that idea and thanked Thissen for coming to their meeting.

“It means a great deal,” said Commissioner Henry Schwaller. “In December, I asked that we meet with your body–the school board–and the county commissioners on a regular basis…but nothing has come of it.

“I believe you’re right,” Schwaller continued. “There’s a lot of things we do well if we do them together. We get a lot more accomplished. I extend that offer to the school board again (and to Ellis County.”)

Thissen nodded his head in agreement as Schwaller spoke.

“I don’t come here with any ideas of what’s changing,” Thissen replied. “It’s a matter of understanding what is here and gather information from many different people, and then working from that to say maybe a year from now, I have an idea of what is really of interest to change, or really focus on.”

He talked again about the variety of meetings he’s had since moving to Hays, including a tour of First Care Clinic. “What’s been built up there is fantastic for this community. I’ve also been invited to go to LINK (Living Independently in Northwest Kansas.) There’s just so many connections that are so good for the community.”

“Hays is really a vibrant community,” Thissen added.

(Video by Cooper Slough)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“It was so great to see it all come together. It was amazing!”

Ellis County Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Executive Director Jenny Bates’ smile was ear to ear as she reflected Wednesday evening on the success of the inaugural Hays Duck Derby at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP).

It’s a new fundraiser for BBBS and will replace the annual Christmas 4 Kids telethon held in early December.

All 5,000 bright yellow toy ducks were sold for the derby races and there were 15 cardboard canoes whose builders paid an entrance fee to the Soggy Bottom Challenge, according to Bates. Children under 13 also purchased ducks for a separate Duck Dash.

All proceeds, including those from the hot dog feed held just west of HAP under the shady trees on the lawn of Early Childhood Connections, go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.

“A little more than $45,000 was raised,” Bates was able to announce late Thursday afternoon. “I just can’t believe it!”

“This funding helps us match kids (Littles) in our program who need a volunteer (Bigs)–a special person in their life–just to help them with everyday things that they’re going through,” said Bates. “This fundraiser helps us to be able to do that–screen volunteers, make the matches and then support the matches throughout their entirety.

“Our longest match right now is 10 years. It’s amazing the things we get to see every day in our office, and the impact it’s making on kids here in our community.”

Still, added Bates, “there are 40 kids waiting to be matched with a Big Brother or a Big Sister. We always need more volunteers.”

Volunteers were swarming all over the Hays Aquatic Park last night, with a large contingent from the Hays First Methodist Church and its youth group.

“We had no idea what to expect for this first time,” Bates said with a delightful laugh.

Bates said the HAP employees counted 650 people coming through the front entrance of HAP and another 300 or so people went through the east gates where the cardboard canoes were on display in the parking lot before the event started.

It was a long list of contributors read throughout the evening by emcees Gary Shorman and Mike Koerner of Eagle Communications, and Nancy Jeter. Jeter retired in December as the BBBS executive director and still serves as a volunteer. She came up with the idea of the duck derby fundraiser.

Bates thanked them all.

“We couldn’t have done without them–so many donors, volunteers and great partners who support Big Brothers Big Sisters,” she said.

Check back with Hays Post for more coverage of the fun and excitement at the Hays Duck Derby.

DUCK DASH WINNERS
1. Carrico Bike – Kylie Leiker *
2. Carrico Bike – Isaac Moreno *
3. Carrico Bike – Jess Schwein *
4. McDonald’s Happy Meal Every Week for 1 year – Rocquel Clingingsmith
5. 2017 Season Pass to Hays Aquatic Park – Gail Kuehl *
6. 8 Miniature Golf Passes to Precision Valley – Caleb Ridder
7. Family Night Out Bowling to Centennial Lanes – Timothy Huls *
8. Sternberg Museum Family Membership for 1 year – Sam Allen *
9. Yellow Duck Alarm – Gail Kuehl *
10. Jumbo Inflatable Duck – Emily McEwan *
Happy Meal with Dessert –
11. Judith Isbell *
12. Nichole Dreiling *
13. Emma Kessler *
14. Cameron Daughtee *
15. Steve Paul *
16. Steve Paul *
17. Nelson Handle *
18. Isaac Martinez *
19. Georgia Weems *
20. Zach Chance *
21. Shaun Musil *
22. Jenny Molstad
23. Jenny Molstad
24. Lanie Garcia
25. Connor Schmidt
26. Erin Ruder *
27. Willow Swagerty *
28. Reilly Leiker *
29. Kinley Sprenkle *
30. Alleynah McVey *

SOGGY BOTTOM CHALLENGE AWARDS 
Best of Show Award: Lang Diesel
Spirit Award: Downing-Nelson Oil – Miss Liberty
Titanic Award: Paul-Wertenberger Construction

SOGGY BOTTOM RACES
Race # 1 Challengers: Hays Hobby Shop, Bank of Hays, John O. Farmer Oil, Williams Real Estate, Happy’s Auto, Paul Wertenberger Construction
Winner of Boat Race #1: John O. Farmer

Race # 2 – Challengers: APAC, Downing-Nelson Oil, Glassman Corporation, Western Well, Lang Diesel
Winner of Boat Race #2: Glassman Corporation

Race # 3 – Challengers: Lifetime Dental, Northwestern Printers, Walmart, Ellis County Sheriff
Winner of Boat Race #3: Ellis County Sheriff

Boat with the fastest time and overall winner with Naming Rights for next year’s Soggy Bottom Challenge:
John O. Farmer

DUCK DERBY WINNERS
Duck #14 – Honora Freshwater Pearl Bracelet (3) – Diamond R Jewelry (Dustin Roths)
Winner:  Rebecca Kuehl

Duck #13 – $100 Gift Card, Pullover & Bag from Hays Car & Truck Alignment (Jim Werth)
Winner: Kathy Harper

Duck #12 – Adams Blue 10.5 Rt Hand Driver golf club – Precision Valley (Landon Paul)
Winner:  Scott McGrath

Duck #11 – Country Stampede 2017 tickets – 4) multi tickets (Jeff Copper)
Winner: Don Burlison

Duck #10 – Kansas City Royals Tickets (4) – Eagle Radio (Todd Lynd)
Winner: Pam Mayers

Duck #9 – Colorado Rockies Tickets (4) – Eagle Communications
Winner: Ann Stivers

Duck #8 – Adidas Sunglasses – Dr. Michael Hattan & Dr. Anthony Taylor
Winner: Raleen Grandy

Duck #7 – $250 Walmart Gift Card – Walmart
Winner:  Shelli Jones

Duck #6 – Yeti 30 Hopper Cooler & 2 Yeti Cups – Jeff Copper
Winner: Marty Patterson

Duck #5 – Bronson Traeger Grill – sponsored & presented by Crawford Supply (Mark Washburn)
Winner: Kenton & Carol Oliff

Duck #4 – Porta-Bote – sponsored & presented by Mid Kansas Auto Auction (Trevor Ottley)
Winner:  Ronan Sramek

Duck #3 – Sprint Center Suite for Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Game. Includes tickets for 12 & 2 parking passes; Sponsored by Sizewise
Winner:  Alan Moore

Duck #2 – 1 week vacation to cabin in Black Hills South Dakota sponsored & presented by Randy & Tammy Walker
Winner:  Dirae Boyd

Duck #1 Grand Prize – 2014 Red Ford Fiesta, 10,000 miles and still under warranty.  Sponsored & presented by: James Motor Company (Stan Dreiling), Hays Chevrolet (Wayne Kieffer), Auto World (Dick Werth), Car Zone (Greg Werth), Lewis Automotive Group of Hays (Ross Harms), Happy’s Auto (Camron Walter), Mid Kansas Auto Auction (Trevor Ottley)and Lang Diesel (Brian Lang)
Winner:  Al Downing

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission wants to modify the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), commonly referred to as the three-mile boundary, around the Hays city limits.

Ellis Co. Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes and Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty met several times to discuss possible modifications to the boundary and then presented it to the Planning Commission July 18.

Ellis County adopted countywide zoning in 2006 after which the city and county commissions signed an ordinance/resolution defining the current ETJ.

As Dougherty pointed out to city commissioners during their work session last week, Ellis County can unilaterally make changes to the city of Hays’ ETJ. Within the ETJ, the city has control of zoning and platting.  The county has control of everything in unincorporated areas or not controlled by an ETJ. The city of Ellis also has a three-mile ETJ.

The proposed boundary change removes 19 square miles “yet still protects Hays and its potential growth areas for a long time to come,” Dougherty told the commission.

The east edge was left as is. “We don’t feel the east side warrants any change because this is a pretty active growth area for the city,” Dougherty said. “This boundary we feel should stay the same.”

The southwest side of the current boundary is state-owned property, either by Fort Hays State University or Kansas State University.

“When the commission discussed the Blue Sky Acres rezone request, one of the comments made was it’s highly unlikely we’re ever going to develop south and west of the state-owned property.  That’s why we changed the boundary, taking out of the ETJ the privately-owned land on the opposite side of that state-owned land.”

In the northwest there are flood plain issues, and to the far north is an industrial area and a feed lot.

“Highly unlikely we’re ever going to want to annex that into the city,” Dougherty said, “so your potential for growth is limited there.”

The active growth of the city, Dougherty predicted, is “probably going to be along the areas where infrastructure can be extended,” as he pointed to areas immediately north of the city limits.

“There’s absolutely nothing scientific about this,” he cautioned. “This is just us sitting around going through the map.”

And it can change.

“The reality is, this is not an immutable boundary. It can be changed, as evidenced by the fact it was adopted in 2006 and we’re talking about the possibility of it being modified now.”

“If Hays was to experience a residential growth spurt north of Walmart, north of 48th Street, you can always revisit the county and ask them to possibly modify it to accommodate that.”

The county is the entity that sets the three-mile boundary, Dougherty reminded city commissioners. “The city commission has a voice in the process but the decision is theirs to set the three-mile boundary.”

Commissioner Lance Jones said he saw “no issues at all with it.”

“I was just looking at a map that shows how much developable area is in the city of Hays already. With the city population at 21,000 right now and we expand out to that new blue line, you’re probably talking over 100,000 people and I don’t see us getting there any time soon,” Jones said.

Vice-Mayor Sean Musil agreed with Jones, but  also added, “In talking to developers, I think we’re going to be up north there a lot quicker than what we think.”

Dougherty agreed it was a possibility, while also noting nearby industrial and commercial areas that would have to be “leapfrogged” around.

“We have time to make course corrections if it does happen.  If we start seeing a lot of plats, a lot of movement in that area–significant investments in infrastructure–we have time to ask the county for a modification to allow for that, for any part of it.”

“I think this is completely reasonable,” concluded Commissioner James Meier.

Dougherty will return the commissioners’ comments to county administrator Smith-Hanes.

The proposed boundary change would not affect the current makeup of the Planning Commission.  Members consist of six city of Hays residents and three members who live within the three-mile extra territorial jurisdiction.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the meeting.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Swimmers must practice.

Swimming events in the 2016 Summer Olympics start Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. The athletes have been practicing for years.

The Hays Duck Derby is Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the Hays Aquatic Park. The ducks practiced Thursday evening.

Five-thousand yellow toy ducks will be participating in the inaugural Hays Duck Derby fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County  5:30-8:30 p.m.

Duck racers can adopt just one duck for $5, or incrementally adopt more ducks for more money, all the way up to an entire 25-duck colony for $100.

There will be two heats of 2,500 ducks per heat, launched into the HAP Lazy River. The top 500 ducks in each heat will compete in a Championship Race to determine the winning ducks for prizes.

Prizes will be awarded to the first 14 ducks crossing the finish line of the Championship Race.

Grand Prize is a bright red 2014 Ford Fiesta donated by James Motor Company, Hays Chevrolet, Auto World, Car Zone, Lewis Automotive Group of Hays, Happy’s Auto, Mid Kansas Auto Auction and Lang Diesel.

A separate Duck Dash 4 Kids will be held for children younger than 13. Their brightly colored ducks are available for $2 and will compete for kid-friendly prizes.

More family fun includes free swimming in the zero entry pool starting at 5 p.m. and a hot dog feed starting at 5:30 p.m. for $3 per person.  Quacktivities–kids games–include a hula hoop contest and duck waddle races.

Winners will be announced at the Duck Race Awards Ceremony following the Championship Race. Winners do not need to be present to win.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The original location proposed for the westbound I-70 Welcome to Hays marker must be changed after the Federal Highway Administration told the Kansas Department of Transportation it cannot be placed in the KDOT right-of-way.

Convention and Visitors Bureau Director (CVB) Rick Rekoske told city commissioners Thursday night two alternate placements were considered. Rekoske recommended placement of the 18′ by 10′ limestone monument on private land on the north side of I-70, “just 11-hundred feet east of the original location” and outside of the KDOT right-of-way.

The city would have to purchase a permanent easement to use the private land. “John Braun (assistant public works director) reached out to the landowner about this and he was actually pretty excited about having the welcome sign on his property,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty. ” A kind of hometown pride,”added Commissioner James Meier.

Although the city owns the land for the alternative site on the south side of I-70, Meier and the other commissioners prefer the north site.

“I think to put it in this other location, you’d have to enlarge the sign to make it actually clear and visible which would add more cost than gaining the easement,” Meier said. “I think we’ll still have better visibility on the north side.”

Utilizing the private property on the north side of I-70 will require the acquisition of a permanent signage easement at a one-time cost of $1,645, plus the cost to erect a barbed wire fence around the sign to keep livestock away from it.

The monument project was approved by the commission in March.

Dougherty explained to the commission he can enact the easement purchase for the north location.

“We have money in CVB to handle the added costs for it so we don’t need to go back and do another action item. It’s all within my spending authority,” said Dougherty.

There are no changes to the eastbound sign planned near Arnhold Park on the south side of the interstate.

Rekoske said the monument project, to be done by Tobin Rupe Stoneworks of Wichita, should be completed by Oct. 31. Total project cost is about $57,000.  The money comes from the CVB budget and is generated by the guest bed tax.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the work session.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

If you’ve driven over the areas, you’ve probably noticed some recent maintenance work on parts of Canterbury and 27th Streets in Hays was not successful.

As part of the 2016 Street Maintenance program, diamond grinding was performed last month on sections of the concrete pavement on Canterbury between 12th and 13th and on 27th from Vine to Sherman.

The company hired to do the work made two passes to grind off bumps and make the pavement smooth but was unable to achieve the level of ride improvement expected by the city, according to Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood.

The city decided to have the company–APAC’s grinding subcontractor Interstate Grinding of Garden City–halt its work before the project was completed.

“They weren’t able to grind enough off to really have an effect on the streets, so if you’re driving those areas today, they’re still pretty bumpy,” Wood said.

The city did not pay the company the entire amount due in the contract agreement. “We ceased the contract. We didn’t pay them the full amount”, he said.

City staff is recommending a contract be made with the next low bidder, West Fork LLC, Iowa, to redo the work. “Actually, their equipment is a little bit larger,” Wood added, and they’ve done some work in the community in the past.”

The $168,080 cost would come out of Special Highway Funding.

Commissioners will discuss the situation at their work session tonight. The August 4 agenda can be viewed here.