Wednesday’s storm caused some minor damage at the Hays Regional Airport. (Photos courtesy Nathan Marcucci)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Wednesday morning’s storm with 80-plus-mph wind caused widespread damage across Hays, including the Hays Regional Airport south of town.
Construction materials from the HaysMed building on south Commerce Parkway (the former NEW call center) was blown east onto the nearby airport runways, according to Airport Manager Nathan Marcucci.
“Most of it was Styrofoam, but it still blew all over the airport,” Marcucci said.
Problems were compounded as other heavier debris “broke out a lot of the airport runway lights” and the airport was also without power early Wednesday morning.
“That turned off the navigation information for pilots so commercial flights had to be canceled,” Marcucci said.
By late afternoon, the airport’s automatic weather communication was back online, and planes were able to fly in and out of Hays. Most of the broken runway lights had also been replaced or the work was “in progress” by then.
Saturday, July 9, was a busy day for the contestants in the 2016 Ellis Co. Rodeo Pageant. Winners will be announced Tue., July 19, during the first of two nights of KPRA Rodeo action at the Ellis County Fair.
(L to R) Cadence Dickey-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess, Leigh-Anne Poe-2015 El-Kan Western Riders Princess, Lauren Rumbaugh-2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas (with black hat), Callie Betts-2016 LIttle Miss Ambassador, Jaylinn Pfeifer-Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen contestant, Codmee Wertj-2016 Little Miss Ambassador, Jaelyn Himmelberg-Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess contestant, Payton Welsh-2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, Kelli Buxton-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen holding Ava Cunningham-2016 Little Miss Ambassador
Judges Bronc Barrows and Dixie Balman talk to contestant Jaylinn Pfeifer, Ellis.
Kelli Buxton–2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen
Every rodeo queen should know her horsemanship, of course, and the young women and their horses performed early in the morning before the day’s heat kicked in. The Queen and Princess candidates were required to take their horses through a specific pattern, the Queen’s Run and the Flag Run in the Ellis County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena.
The remainder of the pageant, Talent/Speech/Modeling and Impromptu Question, Personal Interview, and Written Test on Rodeo Knowledge, took place in the the air-conditioned auditorium at the K-State Agricultural Research Center. Taking on the tough job as judges were Dixie Balman and Brenda Meder, Hays, and Scott “Bronc” Barrows, WaKeeney.
(L to R) Cadence Dickey-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess, Leigh-Anne Poe-2015 El-Kan Western Riders Princess, Lauren Rumbaugh-2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas (with black hat), Callie Betts-2016 LIttle Miss Ambassador, Jaylinn Pfeifer-Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen contestant, Codmee Wertj-2016 Little Miss Ambassador, Jaelyn Himmelberg-Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess contestant, Payton Welsh-2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, Kelli Buxton-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen holding Ava Cunningham-2016 Little Miss Ambassador
Competing this year were Rodeo Queen contestants Hailey Fisher – Plainville, 15, and Jaylinn Pfeifer – Ellis, 15, and Rodeo Princess candidate Jaelyn Himmelberg – Lawrence, Neb., 10. Little Miss participants were Callie Betts – Ellis,7, Ava Cunningham – Ellis, 2, and Cidnee Werth – Munjor, 5.
The Rodeo Queen will be awarded prizes including her choice of a $500 scholarship or a trophy saddle, the Queen tiara and sash, belt buckle, trailer decal and publicity photos. The Queen Runner-up will receive a trophy bridle bag. A trophy halter will be awarded for Queen Horsemanship with a leather padfolio for Queen Public Performance.
The Rodeo Princess will get a trophy breast collar for her horse, the Princess tiara and sash, belt buckle, trailer decal and publicity photos.
Awards will also be given as determined by contestants, judges and the pageant committee for Most Photogenic, Miss Best Hair, Miss Best Horse, Miss Best Boots, Miss Congeniality, and Miss Best Dressed. Each contest received an event participation package.
The outgoing rodeo royalty are 2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen Kelli Buxton and 2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess Cadence Dickey, who were at Saturday’s pageant.
Also in attendance at the pageant were Lauren Rumbaugh, 2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas, and Payton Welsh, 2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, both who will also be at the July 19 rodeo performance.
The 2016 Ellis Co. Rodeo Pageant committee members are Becky Pokorny, Stephanie Eckroat, Chantelle Arnold, Chelsea Dickey, Edna Hansen, Michele Springer, Kelli Buxton, Lakin Eckroat, and Cadence Dickey.
Cleanup is underway in Hays following an early morning storm which caused damage across the town. Hays Post talked with homeowners and USD 489 maintenance employees as they began picking up the pieces.
Midwest Energy employee Rich Augustine said MWE has been responding to numerous calls of downed power lines and broken gas meters “sometimes in the same location.” The gas lines have “automatic shutoffs when excessive flow is detected,” according to Augustine, “as a safety feature.”
Saturday, July 9, was a busy day for the contestants in the 2016 Ellis Co. Rodeo Pageant. Winners will be announced Tue., July 19, during the first of two nights of KPRA Rodeo action at the Ellis County Fair.
(L to R) Cadence Dickey-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess, Leigh-Anne Poe-2015 El-Kan Western Riders Princess, Lauren Rumbaugh-2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas (with black hat), Callie Betts-2016 LIttle Miss Ambassador, Jaylinn Pfeifer-Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen contestant, Codmee Wertj-2016 Little Miss Ambassador, Jaelyn Himmelberg-Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess contestant, Payton Welsh-2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, Kelli Buxton-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen holding Ava Cunningham-2016 Little Miss Ambassador
Judges Bronc Barrows and Dixie Balman talk to contestant Jaylinn Pfeifer, Ellis.
Kelli Buxton–2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen
Every rodeo queen should know her horsemanship, of course, and the young women and their horses performed early in the morning before the day’s heat kicked in. The Queen and Princess candidates were required to take their horses through a specific pattern, the Queen’s Run and the Flag Run in the Ellis County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena.
The remainder of the pageant, Talent/Speech/Modeling and Impromptu Question, Personal Interview, and Written Test on Rodeo Knowledge, took place in the the air-conditioned auditorium at the K-State Agricultural Research Center. Taking on the tough job as judges were Dixie Balman and Brenda Meder, Hays, and Scott “Bronc” Barrows, WaKeeney.
(L to R) Cadence Dickey-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess, Leigh-Anne Poe-2015 El-Kan Western Riders Princess, Lauren Rumbaugh-2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas (with black hat), Callie Betts-2016 LIttle Miss Ambassador, Jaylinn Pfeifer-Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen contestant, Codmee Wertj-2016 Little Miss Ambassador, Jaelyn Himmelberg-Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess contestant, Payton Welsh-2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, Kelli Buxton-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen holding Ava Cunningham-2016 Little Miss Ambassador
Competing this year were Rodeo Queen contestants Hailey Fisher – Plainville, 15, and Jaylinn Pfeifer – Ellis, 15, and Rodeo Princess candidate Jaelyn Himmelberg – Lawrence, Neb., 10. Little Miss participants were Callie Betts – Ellis,7, Ava Cunningham – Ellis, 2, and Cidnee Werth – Munjor, 5.
The Rodeo Queen will be awarded prizes including her choice of a $500 scholarship or a trophy saddle, the Queen tiara and sash, belt buckle, trailer decal and publicity photos. The Queen Runner-up will receive a trophy bridle bag. A trophy halter will be awarded for Queen Horsemanship with a leather padfolio for Queen Public Performance.
The Rodeo Princess will get a trophy breast collar for her horse, the Princess tiara and sash, belt buckle, trailer decal and publicity photos.
Awards will also be given as determined by contestants, judges and the pageant committee for Most Photogenic, Miss Best Hair, Miss Best Horse, Miss Best Boots, Miss Congeniality, and Miss Best Dressed. Each contest received an event participation package.
The outgoing rodeo royalty are 2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen Kelli Buxton and 2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess Cadence Dickey, who were at Saturday’s pageant.
Also in attendance at the pageant were Lauren Rumbaugh, 2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas, and Payton Welsh, 2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, both who will also be at the July 19 rodeo performance.
The 2016 Ellis Co. Rodeo Pageant committee members are Becky Pokorny, Stephanie Eckroat, Chantelle Arnold, Chelsea Dickey, Edna Hansen, Michele Springer, Kelli Buxton, Lakin Eckroat, and Cadence Dickey.
A Kansas board has approved a temporary rule requiring county election officials to throw out votes in local and state races cast by tens of thousands of people who register at motor vehicle offices without proving U.S. citizenship.
At least 147 people in Ellis County are affected, according to Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus.
“Our direction from the Secretary of State’s Office right now–which we’re moving forward with because election day is around the corner–is those people have to vote a provisional ballot,” Maskus said. “Then we will go over those provisional ballots before the canvass (by the Ellis County Commission) and those votes would only count with the federal candidates.”
The State Rules and Regulations Board met this morning, Tuesday, July 12, to consider a proposed temporary rule sought by Secretary of State Kris Kobach that counts only the votes cast for federal offices. Those voters would be given a provisional ballot.
The move comes after a federal appeals court upheld U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson’s preliminary injunction ordering Kansas to allow qualified voters who registered while getting their driver’s licenses to vote in the upcoming races for president, U.S. Senate and House.
The State Rules and Regulations Board’s action Tuesday came only a day before Kansas opens advance voting for its Aug. 2 primary.
The rule sought by Kobach will be in effect for 120 days, through the Nov. 8 general election.
The affected voters registered at motor vehicle offices without providing citizenship papers as required by a 2013 state law. About 17,000 are in that category.
Civil rights groups recently demanded in an open letter that Kobach rescind his instructions to local election officials to throw out votes cast in upcoming local and state races by tens of thousands of people who registered at motor vehicle offices without providing proof of U.S. citizenship.
The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, Micah Kubic, says Kobach is “deliberately creating chaos” for voters and “acting out of petulance.”
“To disregard the court’s ruling and knowingly operate an illegal system would show a troublingly cavalier attitude towards the rule of law, as well as disrespect for voters themselves,” the letter said.
Kobach called the ACLU’s letter “nonsense,” citing the federal court ruling requiring the state to allow voters who registered at motor vehicle offices to vote in the federal elections.
“It is the judge’s order that carves out a special category of voters,” Kobach said in an email. “Kansas law requires all others to follow our proof-of-citizenship law. I will continue to enforce and implement Kansas law.”
Kobach has championed the documentation requirement as a way to prevent non-citizens from voting, particularly immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Critics contend the requirement suppresses turnout.
ELLIS–Ellis High School is getting some financial support from the Ellis Police Department to fund the purchase and installation of security cameras in and around the school.
Council members approved the $2,000 request by Police Chief Taft Yates and EHS Principal Corey Burton during their July 5 meeting.
In other business, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman advised the council of a letter from Kansas Rural Water Association regarding rising THM levels in the city’s water level.
Scheuerman said he and the KRWA question if the timing of the water sample testing may be affecting the results.
Trihalomethanes (THM) are a group of four chemicals formed along with other disinfection by-products when chlorine or other disinfectants used to control microbial contaminants in drinking water react with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter in water, according to the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA).
The complete meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes July 5, 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 Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Ron Keithley was unable to attend the meeting; therefore, his agenda item under Special Order will be removed.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Dan Pyle, Buck Driggs, Doreen Timken, Sharon Disney, Glen Keller, Brandon Tippy, Pauleen Edmonds, Nan Brown, Dena Patee, Corina Cox, Travis Kohlrus, Guy Windholz, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Margie Mickelson, Steve Ferland, Tammy Schumacher, James Miller, Todd Walker (arrived 8:00 p.m.), and Charlene Weber (arrived 8:10 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on June 20, 2016 and Bills Ordinance #2000. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor David McDaniel noted that due to Council’s admonishment of allowing a resident additional time during Public Comments, the 5-minute limit will be enforced without exception.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Aaron White with the Ellis County Coalition was not in attendance to present the Coalition’s 2017 Budget request.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Dan Pyle presented the 2017 budget request for the Ellis Recreation Commission. The Commission requested $5,000 to upgrade the Creekside Park dugouts. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Travis Kohlrus presented the 2017 budget request for the Tourism Task Force. The Task Force is requesting $16,000 out of the transient guest tax funds to establish a twelve month marketing campaign for Ellis tourism. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation. Mr. Kohlrus also inquired if the Council wanted to continue with the volunteer group acting as a task force, or formalize into a City committee.
Public Works: Personnel
Brandon Tippy read a prepared statement regarding a recent interaction with Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, updated Council on the Waterline Improvement Project. Mr. Driggs proposed a change order adding a flushing hydrant and additional waterline in the Baughman Street area. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to accept the proposed change order for the Waterline Improvement Project at a cost not to exceed $8,500, with funds to come from the USDA loan proceeds. The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed.
General Government: Contracts
Tammy Schumacher and James Miller presented three options for installing WIFI in City Hall, including leasing or purchasing the equipment. Council discussed whether the City Shop needed to be included in coverage. Council asked Ms. Schumacher to present an additional proposal excluding the City Shop so they can consider additional options.
NEW BUSINESS
Street: Financial – CDBG Funds
Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning & Development, provided a timeline of events to initiate the Community Development Block Grant funding process for the Street Improvement Project. Once Council approves the Environmental Review Report, notice is published in the paper and the public is given a 14-day comment period. At that point, the City may then make a request for the release of funds from the State and another comment period is given to the public. Once the second comment period passes, the City may let the project for bids. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the Environmental Review Report for CDBG Project No. 16-PF-016. The motion passed 6-0.
Executive Session
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 15-minute executive session was proposed starting at 8:17 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with City Attorney Olavee Raub, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, and Steve Ferland present. The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed. The Council returned to open session at 8:32 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Clerk: Accounting/Billing
City Clerk Amy Burton entertained questions from the Council regarding the monthly utility billing and delinquent shutoff process. An unusual number of residents stated they did not receive their past due notices for June. Ms. Burton did visit with the Post Office regarding the issue and the Clerk’s office will watch to see if a problem continues to occur.
Sanitation: Special Project
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman requested guidance from Council on how to handle special pickups requested by volunteer groups rather than the resident. Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to obtain permission from the resident before performing the special pickup, and to let the volunteer groups know ahead of time that there are sanitation fees involved. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to not bill the resident at 1406 Maple Street for special pickup charges due to not having the owner’s permission prior to the pickup. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion failed 2-4, with Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and Bob Redger voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Bret Andries, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, and John Walz voting opposed. Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to contact the volunteer group supervisor to see if funds are available for the sanitation charges.
Water: Repair/Acquisition
Mr. Scheuerman presented two bids for the purchase of waterline valves to replace several of the inoperable valves in the infrastructure. Council member John Walz moved to accept the low bid from Municipal Pipe Services in the amount of $16,800, with funds to come from the Water Depreciation fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Police: Special Project
Police Chief Taft Yates presented a request from Ellis High School Principal Corey Burton for financial support to partially fund the purchase and installation of security cameras in and around the school. After further discussion, Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the request from Ellis High School for $2,000, with funds to come from the Police Department budget. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member John Walz abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water
Mr. Scheuerman explained a letter received from Kansas Rural Water Association regarding rising THM levels in the City’s water supply. Depending on the results of the latest monitoring test, KDHE may require the City to issue a public notification of the rising chemical levels for the second, and perhaps even the third, quarters for 2016. Mr. Scheuerman and the representative from KRWA question if the timing of the sample testing may be affecting the results.
Ground Water Associates has requested an extension from the Division of Water Resources for additional time to provide information regarding the City’s pending application for water rights.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for June and the July staff calendar. Chief Yates reported no major fireworks issues, but reminded residents to please clean up the streets of fireworks debris.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the updated Roster of Appointments for the City’s internal committees and several other external boards and committees with City representatives.
The Monthly Health Insurance Savings Report was reviewed.
The 2016 General Obligation Refunding bonds will close on July 6th. The projected savings on the refunding of the 2006 General Obligation and Revenue bonds is approximately $650,000.
General Government: Special Meeting
Ms. Burton will check with Galen Pfeifer, Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, regarding scheduling a budget work session either July 12th or July 19th. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner noted she will be out of town the week of July 11th.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub noted she will be absent the August 1st Council meeting. City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler will attend the meeting in her absence.
Ms. Raub reported she will draft a policy offering procedures for investigating department complaints outside of the Police Department, which is under a separate Internal Affairs policy. She noted the Internal Affairs policy should be updated as well.
Mayor Update and Announcements
General Government: Special Meeting
Mayor David McDaniel reminded Council of the Facility Tour Work Session at 1:00 p.m. on July 9th. Council will meet at City Hall to start the tour.
The League of Kansas Municipalities training session on KOMA/KORA is August 5th in Hays. All Governing body members are encouraged to attend.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bret Andries moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m.
HaysMed has earned a three-year term of accreditation in Breast MRI as the result of an extensive review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Breast MRI offers valuable information about many conditions and compliments other imaging methods such as mammography or ultrasound.
The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of patient safety and imaging quality.
Members of the team are: Christy Gillogly, Riana Bates, Amy Feldt, Tania Deets and Chad Heslet.
It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards, following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.
The Breast Care Center at HaysMed is also a designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.
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 Orientation is scheduled for Fri., Aug. 5. USD 489 classes start Wed. Aug. 17, with a half-day session.
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 in late July to make other arrangements.
DHDC members and FHSU representatives updated their proposal for a downtown pavilion at Thursday’s city commission work session.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
At the request of Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil, proponents of an open-air pavilion in downtown Hays returned to city commission chambers Thursday night to discuss revisions to the Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC) proposal, and to further clarify the city’s expected participation, either financial or in-kind labor.
A major sticking point is a lease with Union Pacific Railroad for its property at the east end of Union Pacific Park, 10th and Main.
What was first proposed violates a city ordinance, according to Hays City Attorney John Bird.
“We have an ordinance that says certain provisions can’t be in our contracts in the city of Hays unless you have bid it or waived it ahead of time…not after the fact. In this case, UP is the vendor basically selling us the right to use their land,” Bird explained. “There are numerous provisions in it (the lease) that would violate that ordinance.”
DHDC Executive Director Sara Bloom
DHDC Executive Director Sara Bloom said her office is working with a new regional Union Pacific representative who is open to renegotiating the lease.
“He’s very open to the project and been very helpful so far. He has stated that he is willing to work with the city of Hays to revise the lease as long as he’s working with the city of Hays,” Bloom told commissioners. “If the DHDC were to be the ones to sign the lease–we’re small fries–he could care less. He’s not going to revise a darn thing. If the city of Hays agrees to this project and they say they want to take this on, the Union Pacific railroad is willing to renegotiate that lease–to what extent, we have no idea.”
“If we want this to move forward, we all need to agree (first) to the issues in the lease,” said Musil.
Hays Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil
DHDC has said the organization will pay the property lease, originally estimated at $5,244 annually. Musil is in full agreement, “no matter what the price would go up to.”
“I don’t want future commissions to have to pay for something that they didn’t have nothing to do with.”
The project total cost is estimated at $190,676 and would also include a public restroom, for which DHDC earlier said it would be gifting almost $50,000.
“The restroom facility I personally think it should be closer to UP Park. I think it would be more convenient for downtown (patrons),” Musil said. “Out of this whole project, I think this is the most needed thing in our community.
Musil wants DHDC to pay for the sidewalk construction–estimated at $10,400–with the city donating labor. “That’s similar to what we did with the Hays Dog Park,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty.
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty
Dougherty said he would probably recommend any costs to the city for the project be paid for with the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) transient guest tax.
“Transient tax dollars are used to promote the community, draw visitors to town, facilitate visitors while they’re in town, and provide amenities to visitors,” Dougherty explained. “Downtown Hays is promoted as a destination. Transient guest tax dollars can be spent on capital improvements like this. CVB has a decent contingency for something like this.”
Bloom informed commissioners DHDC has changed its timeline and decided “this will most likely be a two year project.” DHDC has been working with the Fort Hays State University Construction Management program to develop a plan for building the open-air metal roof pavilion.
Site plan for proposed downtown Hays pavilion in the east end of Union Pacific Park, 10th and Main
“So when the UPRR lease is signed and the project is approved, we would go ahead and do the smaller stuff on the property,” Bloom explained. “We would level the ground, remove the concrete pad. We can get the bathroom in right away. We could do the (safety) fence. We could do a lot of those little things that doesn’t require Fort Hays State University students to be there, so that when they do start the project in August 2017, everything is done except for them erecting the pavilion.”
No action can be taken during a city commission work session; the pavilion discussion will continue at next week’s regular commission meeting.
Ellis Co. Clerk Donna Maskus talks to the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce about the 2016 elections in Kansas.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The books close next Tuesday, July 12, to register to vote in the Aug. 2, 2016, primary election and Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus is spreading the word.
Kansans can register in person at their local county clerk’s office, other designated sites, or online at www.voteks.org.
There are 18 locations in Ellis County where residents can register to vote. They include the city offices in each incorporated town, the city libraries, and in Hays — Fort Hays State University Memorial Union, Kansas driver’s license office, Ellis Co. Health Dept., Ellis Co. Clerk’s office and other governmental offices.
The only time you need to re-register is if you change your name, move, or you want to change your political party affiliation.
For the last election in Ellis County — the bond issue for Hays USD 489 — only two polling places were opened in “order to save costs for the school district,” Maskus explained. For the Aug. 2 primary election, all 10 polling locations will be used.
“I give high praise to the Ellis County Public Works Department,” Maskus said. “They do an outstanding job in setting up all of our polling sites each election.”
She also thanked the 40-plus election board workers, whose day extends well beyond the hours the polls are open — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There are currently 17,743 qualified voters registered in Ellis County, according to Maskus — 8,213 Republicans, 4,360 Democrats, 171 Libertarians and 4,999 Unaffiliated. The numbers “change often until the voter books are closed,” she noted.
Advance voting in the county clerk’s office, 718 Main, starts Wednesday, July 13, and must be returned to the county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. election day. Maska’s office has already sent out ballots to federal service workers — 45 days in advance of the election — who can vote via the internet.
Ellis County will use some new equipment at the voting sites beginning with the Aug. 2 election. County commissioners approved the purchase of “election tablets” for poll workers, which Maskus says will “make it so much more efficient as the voters come in and getting that ballot ticket out to them, showing what that voter is qualified to vote on.”
The electronic voting booths used by Ellis County are tested regularly.
Voters may use a paper ballot booth or one of 69 touch-screen electronic voting booths.
“We go through a lot of logic and accuracy testing of those machines every five months,” Maskus said. “It’s an intense process they go through before each election so we know they can tally each vote they are given.”
Every vote is tallied, “including Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. You can come in our office and look at those abstract books — the different votes are quite interesting. You might even find that somebody put your name down,” she said with a grin. Results are unofficial until canvassed by the Ellis County Commission.
There’s still time to file with the county clerk as an Independent candidate for a local or county race in the Nov. 8 general election. Deadline to file, which must be by petition, is noon, Monday, Aug. 1.
Voter registration books close Oct. 18 for the Nov. 8 general election. Maskus encouraged residents with any questions to call her office at (785) 628-9413.
More information about a proposed outdoor pavilion in downtown Hays will be reviewed by Hays city commissioners during their July 7 work session.
Commissioners heard a presentation May 5 by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC) in conjunction with a group of Fort Hays State University students led by Asst. Prof. Kris Munsch of the Department of Applied Technology.
The city asked DHDC to further clarify the city’s expected participation, either financial or in-kind labor, in the proposed project. After providing the additional information, DHDC is awaiting further input and direction from commissioners, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty.
Also for review during the work session is a contract award for the city’s pavement condition assessment.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main. The complete agenda can be seen here.
Some city workers spent much of their July 4th holiday repairing a major water leak near 10th and Milner.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
One Hays resident said he noticed Monday morning “the water pressure was low” when he took a shower.
The reason? There was a major water leak at 10th and Milner, which a city water department worker described as the biggest leak he’d seen in his 15 years on the job.
“The city water tower near the Sternberg Museum of Natural History was nearly drained, with millions of gallons of water lost,” according to Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood. He said employees were still calculating the total amount of water loss as of mid-morning Tuesday.
Early morning on July 4, workers at the city water plant noticed a dramatic and fast drop in the water level of the distribution system — about 5,000 gallons a minute. An alert was sent at 6:27 a.m. through the city’s Nixle notice system from Utilities Division Asst. Director Jeff Crispin to residents that workers were trying to find the leak and asking residents to curb water usage.
It took a while to find the leak.
“Usually, when you have a leak that size, it’s pretty easy to spot,” said Wood, “and people will call in telling us where it’s at. There’s water running along the curb and in the street.”
Monday’s leak caused the loss of millions of gallons of water from the Hays water tower near Sternberg Museum.
This time, however, the leak was less visible. It was in a secluded area near 10th and Milner, between the back of an APAC equipment lot and the railroad tracks.
“It was not evident right off the bat where the leak was,” Wood explained, “and it took several hours to actually find and locate.”
It was also a big leak.
“It was in a 12-inch main (line). The split was on the underside of the pipe and it was about 6 feet long — a pretty large water leak.”
Another Nixle alert was sent when the leak was found and isolated, advising residents water was shut down from Ninth to 11th streets between Vine and Pine streets, and asking residents to continue conserving water.
Nearly 12 hours passed between the time the public was first notified of the leak and then notified it had been repaired.
A final Nixle alert was sent at 6:17 p.m. alerting residents the utilities crew had fixed the leak and full water service was being restored. The city asked residents to continue conserving water through Tuesday morning.
Water still standing Tuesday morning between APAC and the railroad tracks
“During that entire time, we were losing quite a bit of water, and it takes time to build the system back up,” Wood said. By 10 a.m. Tuesday, “there should not have been any issues with water pressure or volume in the city’s two water towers.”
The pipe that ruptured was old.
“I don’t know when it was put in. It had to be quite some time ago because, in that area, there’s been stuff built up and around it and typically that wouldn’t happen. If the city put in a new water line, we wouldn’t allow you to build that close to it,” he said.
Workers were surprised there wasn’t much build-up or corrosion inside the pipeline.
“Typically over time, even though the line may be 12 inches (in diameter), there’ll be build-up and there really wasn’t very much,” Wood said.
“It’s just one of those things that happens with water lines,” Wood said, “a couple of holes that split together. It’d probably been leaking for quite some time.
“There are water lines leaking all over the city of Hays that we don’t know about, just not big or dramatic enough to impact or cause a problem with the distribution system.”
Wood said there are employees 24 hours a day at the city water treatment plant, 1200 Vine, to monitor the water distribution system. There is also a system with alarms and alerts that will send out messages if something is wrong.
Problems were compounded as other heavier debris “broke out a lot of the airport runway lights” and the airport was also without power early Wednesday morning.
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ELLIS–Ellis High School is getting some financial support from the Ellis Police Department to fund the purchase and installation of security cameras in and around the school.
HaysMed
By BECKY KISER
By BECKY KISER
“It’s just one of those things that happens with water lines,” Wood said, “a couple of holes that split together. It’d probably been leaking for quite some time.