By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Steady.”

That’s how Ellis County poll worker Sandra Bainter described the flow of voters into the Hays American Legion, 1305 Canterbury, this morning at 8:30 a.m.

“I hope it stays this way all day.”

The polls are open Aug. 2 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. in Kansas for the primary election.

For the first time, Ellis County poll workers are using new electronic tablets to verify the identification of voters.

“They’re a lot faster,” said Barbara Zimmerman, who’s worked the elections for at least five years.

The EA Tablet by Lenovo quickly scans the bar code of an inserted Kansas driver’s license or other ID. The poll worker verifies the scanned information verbally with the voter, who then signs their electronic signature on the tablet. Another machine then prints out the pertinent information about the voter, including which precinct they live in and political party affiliation. The voter hands the paper printout to another poll worker who sets the voter up at the electronic or paper ballot booth, whichever the voter prefers.

Another poll worker said the speedy process “will really make a difference in November during the general election” when there is likely to be a larger voter turnout.

Two Ellis County Commission races are being closely watched today.

There are two Republicans vying for each seat. The District 2 race features incumbent Barb Wasinger against Al Ackerman. Dean Haselhorst, District 3 incumbent, faces challenger Ron Adams.

Check with Hays Post tonight for election results and reactions of the candidates.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

You may not want to think about it, but it’s here.

Hays USD 489 has issued its enrollment schedule for the 2016-2017 school year.

Online enrollment begins Mon., Aug. 1, for Hays High School, Hays Middle School and the elementary schools. Parents and guardians of students new to the district or kindergartners are urged to contact their respective school offices as soon as possible.

On location enrollment will be held Wed. and Thu., Aug. 3 and 4. HHS Freshmen and New Student Orientation is scheduled for Fri., Aug. 12. USD 489 classes start Wed. Aug. 17, with a half-day session. The HHS web site lists a full day of classes.

Enrollment for The Learning Center is always available online. Early Childhood Connection is now enrolling students Monday through Friday by calling (785) 623-2430.

If there are conflicts families cannot avoid on the enrollment dates, they should  contact the HHS office at (785) 623-2600 to make other arrangements.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

In a short meeting Thursday night, Hays city commissioners set Aug. 11 as the date for a public hearing of the 2017 budget.

It was one of the final opportunities for commissioners to review the proposed budget of $38,972,262. The mill levy will remain at 25.000 where it has been for many years.

City staff started work on their department budgets in late March. No new employees will be hired next year and there will be no pay raises for current employees.

The public hearing will be held during the regular city commission meeting Thu., Aug. 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall. The approved 2017 budget must be submitted to the Ellis County Clerk by Aug. 25.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the July 28 meeting.

ELLIS–A number of recent complaints from the public about Ellis Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman prompted city council members to consider whether Scheuerman should wear a body camera while on duty. The discussion took place during the July 18 city meeting, with no action taken.

Fire Chief Denis Vine reported the Ellis Fire Department has its first female member. Brianna Witchey is the newest Ellis firefighter.

Council members agreed to approve a change order relocating a fire hydrant on a resident’s property at her request. The fire hydrant was installed in her yard as part of the city’s waterline improvement project. The $5,800 cost will come from USDA funding.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes July 18, 2016

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Denis Vine, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman and City Attorney Olavee Raub were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Larry Parke, Buck Driggs, Sylvia Kinderknecht, Glen Keller, Brandon Tippy, Maysyn Tippy, Aaron White, and Cheryl Kinderknecht.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on July 5, 2016, and Bills Ordinance #2001. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Brandon Tippy spoke to Council regarding a recent code violation he received.
Cheryl Kinderknecht distributed a formal funding request letter on behalf of the Tourism Task Force.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Aaron White provided an update on current Ellis County Coalition projects and developments and also presented the Coalition’s 2017 budget request in the amount of $4,000. Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
Sewer: Petition
Larry Parke asked for Council consideration on extending the City sewer line to his property on Spruce Street. Council took no action being the Public Works Director and City Attorney were both absent.
Fire
Fire Chief Denis Vine gave his monthly Fire Department report. Ellis will host a mutual aid drill on September 17th. The scenario will be a tornado hitting Ellis. Council member Gary Luea inquired about reports of firefighters running stop signs and disobeying speed limits when responding to a fire call. Chief Vine stated firefighters still have to follow all traffic laws.
Fire: Entry
Chief Vine noted that Ellis Fire Department has made history – Brianna Witchey is the newest member of the Department. Ms. Witchey is believed to be the first female firefighter to serve on the Department.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: Contracts
Council reviewed and discussed an updated Eagle Communications proposal for the installation of WIFI at City Hall. The latest proposal excludes the City Shop area. After further discussion, Council directed City Clerk Amy Burton to contact Golden Belt Telephone for an additional proposal to consider.
Sanitation: Special Project
Council discussed a special pickup charge in which a volunteer group cleaned up a resident’s property on Maple Street. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman noted in his memo to Council that he visited with the group’s supervisor and the group has no funds to pay the bill, nor does the resident. After additional discussion, Council member John Walz stated he would personally pay the $60 charge for the resident. Council member Bob Redger suggested the City set up a separate fund whereby the City could use funds in that account to help pay special pickup charges in these situations. City Clerk Amy Burton will contact another City that operates such a fund to gather more information on determining qualifications for the resident to be eligible for aid and also how they fund the account. Council reiterated that the volunteer organizations and the residents need to know ahead of time that charges apply to the special pickups.
NEW BUSINESS
Water: Special Project
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the first Contractor’s Pay Estimate for the Waterline Improvement Project. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve Contractor’s Pay Estimate #1 and authorizing the Mayor to sign the pay document. The motion carried 6-0.
Water: Special Project
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, presented a request from the resident at 13th Street and Dorrance to relocate the fire hydrant placed in her yard as part of the Waterline Improvement Project. The placement of the hydrant was included in the initial project plans with no opposition until now. APAC has quoted $5,800 to relocate the hydrant. Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the change order from APAC to move the fire hydrant to the north side of the property in the amount of $5,800, with funds to come from the USDA funding. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. Council instructed Mr. Driggs to consult with Fire Chief Denis Vine to ensure the hydrant placement will still be accessible for the Fire Department.
Sewer: Special Project
Council reviewed the fourth set of Pay Applications for work performed to date on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to approve Pay Application #4 to APAC in the amount of $243,102.24. The motion carried 6-0.
Council member John Walz then moved to approve the invoice from Northwest Kansas Planning & Development in the amount of $4,000 for work performed to date administering the KDHE loan. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Council member John Walz moved to approve Payment Request #4 to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment in the amount of $247,102.24. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Council member John Walz moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the necessary pay documents for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Licenses/Permits
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Application for License to Sell Cereal Malt Beverages for the Ellis Volunteer Fire Department, pending successful background check. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Tourism: Committee
Council discussed whether to formally create a City Tourism Committee or to have the volunteer group continue as a task force. By creating a formal committee, Council would have more control of funds and projects, and members would serve under the appointment of the Mayor with Council’s approval. After further discussion, Council member John Walz moved to direct City Attorney Olavee Raub to draft a resolution creating a Tourism Committee with seven members to serve in staggered two year terms. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest and Council member Gary Luea voting opposed.
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Council considered two bids for a high service pump for the Water Treatment Plant. Council member John Walz moved to accept the low bid from Layne for a high service pump and installation in the amount of $11,008.11, with funds to come from the Water Depreciation Reserve fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Public Works: Acquistion
In light of recent complaints against Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, Council discussed if Mr. Scheuerman should wear a body camera while on duty. Mr. Scheuerman is in favor of the idea and is willing to cover the $475 cost out of his department budget. Council directed several questions to Police Chief Taft Yates regarding the battery life and effectiveness of the body cameras. Chief Yates stated he wasn’t in favor of Mr. Scheuerman wearing a body camera at first; however, the Public Works Department encounters similar accusations and hostilities as the Police Department, and the cameras do tend to calm people down. Council took no action on the purchase.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Council reviewed the Comparative Water Report for the period May 10th to June 10th. Council expressed appreciation to the Public Works Department for keeping the burn pile open over the weekend for residents to deposit limbs and branches after the storm.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates gave an update on the Police Department. Chief Yates reported the individuals responsible for damaging the toilet at Chrysler Park have been located and they are paying restitution and performing community service for the crime.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton noted the Ellis Recreation Commission’s 2015 Financial Statements have been included in the packets as requested. The June Health Insurance Savings report was reviewed. Ms. Burton reminded Council of the budget work session on July 19th at 6:30 p.m.
Water: Financial
Ms. Burton reported that she has been in contact with Gilmore & Bell regarding the issuance of General Obligation bonds for the Waterline Improvement Project. Council should have a bond resolution for approval at the August 1st meeting.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel reminded Council of the KOMA/KORA training in Hays on August 5th.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners have been reviewing the proposed 2017 budget for the past month. After some discussion during last week’s work session, they agreed to keep outside agency funding requests at the 2016 level.

“It’s going to be very difficult for us to spend more money given the very tight budget situation that we face,” said Commissioner Henry Schwaller.

Three groups–Fort Hays State University Scholarship Program, Ellis County Historical Society and Hays Arts Council–had each asked for an increase in city funds for 2017.

City Manager Toby Dougherty told commissioners the Hays Public Library modified its mill levy request.  The HPL board had approved its preliminary budget before the city received its assessed valuation from Ellis County.  According to  Dougherty, HPL then “found out it was in danger of losing some state grant money for books and so submitted another (higher) request to make sure it was in conformance with the state.”

The net effect, explained Hays Finance Director Kim Rupp, was an increased 1/4 of a mill–about $51,000.

Commissioner James Meier asked what adjustments then had to be made in order for the city’s mill levy to remain at 25.

“In the employee benefit fund, the contingency line dropped by that $51,000,” Rupp explained. “The library can go to six mills, as well as one mill on their employee benefits. They’re now at 5.623 and 0.823. So if you maintain the city’s 25 mill levy, you have to reduce an employee benefit fund and/or subsidize with general fund money.”

Funding for the Hays Public Library funding is required by state law and charter ordinance, according to Dougherty. “You have a charter ordinance that says the library can ask for up to six mills for general operation and one mill for employee benefits,” he reminded commissioners.

Keeping the city’s mill levy at 25 “is a goal; it’s not codified,” Dougherty added. “The 25 mill goal  was developed with the library being a part of that.”

Dougherty reviewed the proposed budget highlights at an earlier meeting.

“Again, a levy of 25 mills, which we have maintained for many years now,” Dougherty pointed out, ” and the budget is balanced.

“We are putting money into reserves which helps us pay cash for street programs and buy down debt, things like that.”

No full-time employees will be added next year and there will not be a salary increase for current employees.

“Sales taxes are declining.  We’re very aware of that, so at this point we didn’t feel it was prudent to budget salary increases,” Dougherty explained.

However, city staff has been “challenged to find me money for raises next year. Even if we go through a continued downturn in sales tax, I want to try to find money for raises. I don’t want to go two years in a row without that. I’m confident city staff is going to come back with ways to save money, find money for raises next year,” he added.

The local sales tax, which funds the city’s general fund, is projected to be down about $250,000.

“Overall revenues for the general fund (are) down about $275,000.  But if you look at total operating expenditures, they’re down about $300,000. That’s our reaction to the (declining) sales tax.  Revenue will be down about $275,000; we’re gonna cut $300,000 of operating expenditures to make sure we stay under the budget,” Dougherty emphasized.

The 2017 street maintenance program is fully funded and the reconstructions of 8th Street and Allen Street have been moved up in the Capital Improvement Plan.

“We’d originally planned for those in 2018 and 2020, and right now we’re looking at 2017 and 2018 for those two projects. They’re our top two priority projects right now,” he said.

City commissioners will continue reviewing the proposed 2017 budget at their meeting tonight and consider setting a public hearing date of Thu., Aug. 11.

Click here to see the complete July 28 agenda.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Beautification Committee, comprised of local volunteers who work with the guidance of ex-officio board member Jeff Boyle, Hays Director of Parks, has changed its annual recognition award.

For many years, a Commercial Improvement Award was presented to Hays businesses that “updated their landscaping and made it pretty,” according to Boyle.

“Sometimes that award involved a lot of plants and flowers that may not necessarily be water-efficient or drought-tolerant,” Boyle recently told city commissioners.

“In light of the recent drought and the direction we’re going here in the city of Hays, the Beautification Committee met and discussed having a different type of awards system each year.

“What we came up with is called the Water$mart Landscape Award,” Boyle said, “and what we’re trying to do is promote (water) conservation throughout the community and highlight those locations that are doing water-smart things with their landscape areas.”

The first two Water$mart awards, one for commercial landscaping and one for residential landscaping, were presented to the winners earlier this month.

Boyle outlined what the HBC committee members look for in making the awards.

“The program principles include planning and design, low water use plants, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation or lack thereof, soil amendment and proper use of mulch, and proper maintenance of these landscape items.”

The landscapes must be in the Hays city limits and established for at least one full year to be considered as a nominee.

“We want to make sure they (property owners) are going to continue maintaining it and keeping it looking nice,” Boyle explained.

The HBC members first went on location to view each nominee and then declared two winners.

Gene and Joann Fleharty were the winners of the residential award. HaysMed won the commercial award.

“The Fleharty yard basically has everything that we’re looking for,” Boyle said. “Beautiful buffalo grass — which is drought tolerant. All the plants, shrubs and trees are drought tolerant. The backyard has a very nice wildflower display. Back in the corner are cedar trees with wildlife bundle plantings for bringing in wildlife.

“Just an absolutely beautiful location with very minimal if any water requirements,” he added. “This is exactly what we like to see in Hays from a water conservation standpoint.”

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Kevin Huser is on a mission to rebuild the livestock judging team at Fort Hays State University.

Judging from the response to participating in a summer project he offered to students interested in joining the team, the Ellis County native is well on his way to accomplishing that goal.

Five FHSU students showed up at the Ellis County Fairgrounds Friday morning, July 22, to help with the 4-H judging contest at the annual county fair.

One of those was Michael Dix from Stockton, who decided to return to college when he heard about the return of Fort Hays State’s judging team.

Dix had attended Colby Community College right out of high school and was a member of its judging team for two years. He received scholarship offers to judge at four-year schools, but they were all out of state. So Dix, a biochemistry major, tried one semester at another Kansas university before returning home to the family farm.

“The more I was away from the farm, the more I missed it,” said Dix, who laid out of school for a semester.

However, Dix’s mom, Andrea, is a junior high math and science teacher in Stockton, “and she’s pretty big on education,” he said, “so I knew I would probably finish college.”

That opportunity came earlier than he expected when his high school FFA advisor told him this spring about the return of FHSU’s livestock judging team.

So Dix got in contact with Huser. Come fall, Dix will be back in college, at Fort Hays State, with a new major — animal science — and plans to be part of the livestock judging team.

“I’m really looking forward to judging again,” said Dix, who grew up judging in FFA and in 4-H, where he was a member of the Livewire 4-H Club in Rooks County, then went to college for more of the same.

“We have a number of students who want to judge,” said Don Benjamin, interim chair of the FHSU agriculture department. “We want to satisfy that need and give them the opportunity to compete.”

Fort Hays State’s ag department had a long history of livestock judging teams until the last couple of years when there weren’t enough students interested to field a team of five.

Last spring, Benjamin had asked Huser, an FHSU alum and former livestock judging coach, to teach livestock judging at his alma mater.

Once on campus, Huser — a Victoria farmer who owns his own construction company — set the wheels in motion for resurrecting the livestock judging team.

He recruited several students on campus and got the word out. The response was so positive that Huser has a full slate of contests scheduled for the 2016-17 judging team.

“In the fall, we will go through livestock evaluation courses and get ready to compete in the spring,” Huser said. “As an alum, I’m excited with what they’re trying to implement at Fort Hays State.”

Fort Hays State already has about a dozen students interested in joining the team this fall.

“I am so looking forward to this,” said Sarah Bellar, an agriculture business major from Howard. Bellar, like Dix, grew up around 4-H and FFA, where she judged for many years.

Bellar is working at FHSU’s swine unit at the University Farm for the summer and was glad to help out at this week’s fair.

“I miss showing animals, so I’m glad to get back into it,” said Bellar, who, in addition to Friday’s livestock judging, also helped out with the 4-H beef show the night before.

“I thought this would be good experience for our students,” Huser said, “and be a good thing, helping out the 4-H’ers, at the same time.”

Getting the livestock judging team back up and running at FHSU, Benjamin says, is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

“Our department is going to be up 20, 25 students this year,” Benjamin said. “Besides being very economical, and a great education, one of our strong points is the experience they receive here. You can’t teach experience. The only way to get them experience is to get their hands dirty. And they can do that here. Having a livestock judging team will add to that experience.”

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

During the three days fireworks were allowed to be sold and used in Hays, the city fire department answered 25 calls but only one of those was related to fireworks use.

“We had a minor fire July 3 in some outdoor vegetation at 5th and Elm the firefighters put out with a fire extinguisher,” Fire Chief Gary Brown reported to Hays city commissioners last week. “We didn’t respond to any 911 calls about fireworks injuries,” he added.

Brown called it “a very good record for our community” while also acknowledging the wet weather played a role.

“There was an awful lot of fireworks use around town and obviously the rain kept some of the minor fires from starting. But we do give a lot of credit to the people using the fireworks safely.”

There were 10 fireworks stands in Hays which were checked daily by the fire department.

“We provided a handout with the rules about fireworks use including cleaning up after yourself,” Brown said.

“Both the police chief and I think that the people were very careful  and tried to respect each other and use the fireworks properly.”

The annual Wild West Fest was also held during the long holiday weekend, “an extremely busy time for the Hays Police Department,” said Chief Don Scheibler.

HPD received 41 fireworks complaints.

“The majority of those occurred on the Fourth of July between 11 p.m. and midnight, when people were trying to get rid of those last fireworks,” Scheibler said with a chuckle.

“Really, fireworks for the Hays Police Department have become a non-issue. The community, as Chief Brown mentioned, are very responsible, very respectful, and for the most part, very patient. They wait until the curfew hour is passed before we start getting a lot of complaints.”

Fireworks were allowed to be sold and discharged in Hays between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. July 2 through July 4.

Scheibler credited the city commission for the quiet holiday.

“I think the real important reason for that happening is because of the commission.  Early in the year you decide if we’re going to have fireworks and they already know what days and what time–it’s a consistent time–so the whole public knows. I think you played an important part in helping HPD and HFD making this a safe and somewhat peaceful weekend,” Scheibler said.

“Maybe I’m getting older, but the fireworks do seem louder.”

The commissioners laughingly agreed.  “It’s not your imagination,” said Mayor Eber Phelps.  “I don’t recall my windows rattling like that.”

Commissioner Henry Schwaller asked the rest of the commission “do we want to take any action in the future about these really loud aerials?”  The city previously had an ordinance allowing only ‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks. “It was very unenforceable and we never knew what that meant. Is there any way we could regulate aerials?,” Schwaller asked Chiefs Brown and Scheibler.

“You’ll remember we tried limiting what was allowed…and the city attorney did a very good job in crafting a very limited ordinance,” Brown answered. “And we tried policing all the fireworks stands in the city to make sure the aerials weren’t being sold. But they can just hop in their car and drive a safe distance (outside city limits) and buy those things and bring them back.”

“The challenge will be as long as the state of Kansas allows those aerials to be sold, there’s a possibility those will be in town,” Scheibler added. “It would reduce the number but we’d still have that problem.”

“I know people who every year we allow fireworks, they buy theirs online,” said Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil. “I don’t know how you guys would ever enforce that.”

“I didn’t get very many emails or complaints this year,” Musil said as he knocked on the wood commissioners’ desk.

“Somebody actually came up to my wife and said ‘the city did a good job of enforcing–people quit at 11 o’clock.’  Well, we didn’t enforce that; people did it themselves.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s a lemonade kind of day.

Sales were brisk Thursday morning in Hays by youngsters in the Summer Blast Day Camp who positioned their lemonade/baked goods stand in the shade near the front entrance of the Hadley Center, 205 E. 7th.

Customers were lured in by brightly colored posters waved at passing traffic and there was good foot traffic as well, with people going in and out of the Hadley Center. Even one Hays Police officer stopped his patrol car for a quick visit with the group and bought a refreshingly cold glass of lemonade.

Just 25 cents a cup, although nearly everyone was donating much more, especially when it came to the baked goods available for a free-will offering.

Proceeds will be given to the local cancer support group “Your Voice Through Cancer” for cancer research.

“We voted on it,” explained one girl working as the cashier.

Help with doing the math and making change–“How many quarters are in a dollar?”–was given by the camp directors Beth Bohuslavsky and Macy Younger.

Summer Blast Day Camp is operated by Eileen Phelps.

Hays is in a Heat Advisory issued by the Dodge City National Weather Service through Friday afternoon. Today’s high is expected to reach 105 degrees with heat index values as high as 108 degrees.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s likely to be the last discussion by Hays city commissioners of the draft Unified Development Code (UDC) during their work session Thu., July 21. Brett Keast of Kendig Keast Collaborative will present the final rewrite of the zoning and subdivision regulations to the commission.

The Hays Area Planning Commission recommended adoption of the draft UDC following its May 16 public hearing.

According to Assistant Hays City Manager Jacob Wood, the updated regulations are comprehensive and the product of work ongoing since June 2014.

The regulations are substantially modified from the first draft presented more than a year ago.

In a memo to commissioners, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty wrote “City staff has been very happy with the process to date, especially the engagement and involvement of the various stakeholder groups. City staff feels the draft UDC represents the needs of the community and stakeholders and protects the long-term interest of the community at large.”

Dougherty added staff recommends approval of the regulations which would be adopted at a later regular meeting.

Other agenda items include another look at the proposed 2017 city budget.

The commission work session is at 6:30 p.m. Thu. in Hays City Hall.  The agenda can be seen here.

City of Ellis

ELLIS–The city’s water samples are en route to Topeka as of about 11 a.m. today, Wed., July 20.

As soon as we receive clearance from the State that the water is safe to consume, we will notify everyone. Right now our best estimate is Thursday morning.

Until then, the city remains in a BOIL WATER ADVISORY until cleared by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

RELATED STORY–Ellis was without water much of Tuesday because of a water main break.