By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The long July 4th holiday weekend started out wet and cool in Hays.

Friday’s high was 81 degrees with 0.68 inches of rain in Hays, according to the K-State Agricultural Research Center.

Another 0.52 of rain fell Saturday with a high of 82 degrees.

There was a trace of precipitation measured both Sunday and Monday, with a considerable jump in the temperature. Sunday’s high was an unseasonably cool 75 degrees; Monday, July 4th, the high was 95 degrees.

Total rainfall in Hays so far this year is 17.17 inches.

ELLIS–Three more non-profit groups will request funding in 2017 from the city of Ellis. Representatives will appear at tonight’s city council meeting and a 2017 budget work session will be scheduled.

Council members will also hear an update on the waterline improvement project, consider a partnership with Ellis High School for security cameras, and discuss utility billing and the shutoff process for delinquent customers.

The complete agenda follows.

AGENDA July 5, 2016 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on June 20, 2016
b) Bills Ordinance #2000
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis County Coalition
b) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis Recreation Commission
c) 2017 Budget Request – Tourism Task Force
d) Discuss Land Drainage Issues – Ron Keithley
e) Discuss Concerns with Public Works Department – Brandon Tippy
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Update on Waterline Improvement Project and Consider Approval of Project Change Order – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
b) Consider Contact for Installation of WIFI at City Hall
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Environmental Review Report for CDBG Street Project – Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning & Development
b) Discussion on Utility Billing and Delinquent Shutoff Process
c) Discuss Policy on Special Pickups and Consider Approval of Special Pickup
d) Discuss Purchase of Waterline Shutoff Valves
e) Consider Request for Partnership with Ellis High School for Security Cameras
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Discuss KDHE Compliance Letter
(2) Update on Water Exploration
(3) Department Update
2) Police
(1) June Monthly Activity Report
(2) July Staff Calendar
(3) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Updated Appointment/Committee List
(2) May Health Insurance Savings Report
(3) Schedule Budget Work Session
(4) Department Update
4) Attorney
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Facility Tour Work Session July 9th
(2) KOMA/KORA Training August 5th
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Kansas Farm Management Association, part of Kansas State University’s Agriculture Economics Department, released its annual member data June 15. Net farm income plummeted last year to $4,568, less than five percent of the 2014 average of $128,731.

“It’s a huge, huge, significant difference,” said Ellis County Extension Agriculture Agent Stacy Campbell. The 2015 level was the lowest average level of nominal net farm income since 1985.

Farmers pay to be in the association and “receive extensive help with record keeping,” Campbell explained. “The whole point is to figure out just what it’s costing to produce a bushel of wheat or corn, or a calf, to where you can try to get leaner and hone down where you can cut some expenses and try to have a little profit margin.”

In 2015, northwest Kansas farms averaged a loss of $2,972, while southwest Kansas farms fared best in the state, with net farm income of $37,423.

U.S. beef cattle prices dropped from an average $166 per hundredweight (cwt) in January 2015 to $132 by January 2016 – the largest one-year drop on record, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Grain prices also dropped significantly over the past four years.

“I think that’s why sometimes the public thinks it can’t be that bad for the farmer and they say the farmers are always complaining. Yeah, you can have a few good years, and it seems like there’s some really bad ones. Last year was not a good year,” Campbell said.

“It’s not that they can’t produce it most of the time; it’s just the marketing of it. It’s really frustrating and nobody’s got the answer.

“Guys try it. When you’re a dryland farmer, you can’t forward-contract too much of your crop–that’s when you can set the price a year out when it’s maybe better–but you have to deliver those bushels. If you can’t, you gotta go out and literally buy those bushels for the elevator or whoever you forward-contracted with,” he explained.

This year’s wheat harvest may be one for the record books with reports of 60 to 100-plus bushels an acre in Ellis County. However, “when you have great crops, that’s what happens,” Campbell said, “the law of supply-and-demand.”

Thursday’s closing cash price for wheat at Midland Marketing in Hays was $3.03 a bushel.

According to Campbell, the wheat price “a few months back wasn’t great, but it was still well over $4 a bushel and teetering around $5 during the winter.

“It’s a very tough game to play,” he added.

Not all Kansas farmers are KFMA members, but the annual report can be viewed as a reflection of financial conditions for farmers across the state, especially when comparing one year to the next. The data presented in the 2015 analysis came from 1,159 KFMA member farms and ranches.

ELLIS–About 26 percent of the water valves in the Ellis water system do not work.

City council members found out about the problem at their June 20 meeting during an update of the city’s waterline improvement project.

Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, also told the council the city’s existing water line maps of line locations, valve locations and line sizes have been sometimes inaccurate. The council approved purchasing additional water valves not to exceed $25,000. Ellis will utilize federal USDA funding for the valves.

In other business, funding requests from several non-profit groups were heard during the June 20 meeting of the Ellis City Council. No action was taken. The requests will be considered during the city’s 2017 budget meetings.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes June 20, 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, and Bob Redger. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Denis Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member John Walz was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
It was the consensus of Council to add two executive sessions at the end of the meeting.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Buck Driggs, Chad Pritchett, Pauleen Edmonds, Glen Keller, Nickole Byers, Margie Mickelson, Guy Windholz, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Dena Patee, Swede Swenson, and Sharon Disney.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on June 6, 2016 and Bills Ordinance #1999. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Nickole Byers read a prepared statement pleading with community leaders to become more involved and to consider adequate funding of organization budget requests. Mayor David McDaniel allowed Ms. Byers additional time during Public Comments to completely read her statement.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Tourism: Special Projects
Chad Pritchett, Tourism Task Force representative, updated Council on the Planes, Trains and Automobiles event held in June. The event was a great success and Mr. Pritchett thanked the Governing Body for their support.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Cheryl Kinderknecht presented the 2017 budget request from the Ellis Alliance. The Alliance is requesting $14,000, an increase of $1,500 from 2016. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Dena Patee presented the 2017 budget request from the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home & Museum. The Chrysler Museum is requesting $17,500, an increase of $2,500 from 2016. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Pauleen Edmonds presented the 2017 budget request for the Ellis Community Foundation. The Foundation is requesting consideration for $10,000 in funding, the same amount as 2016. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Glen Keller, Chairman of the Ellis Railroad Museum, presented a budget request of $16,000 for consideration in the City’s 2017 budget, the same amount as last year. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Fire: Policy
Council reviewed the proposed ordinance and corresponding policy on automated fire alarm systems. Council discussed administration of the provisions included in the ordinance relating to registration and renewal for residents who own an automated fire alarm system. After further discussion with the City Attorney, no action was taken on the proposed ordinance. Being no action was taken on the ordinance, Council requested minor revisions to the proposed policy. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Fire Department Policy to Respond to Automated Alarm Systems, with revisions removing reference to the proposed ordinance. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
General Government: Financial
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the 2015 audit report as presented by Adams, Brown, Beran, & Ball at the June 6, 2016 regular meeting. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Streets: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman had an opportunity to purchase millings at a discount from Venture Corporation while they were in town working on another project. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to ratify the purchase of approximately 1,200 ton of millings at $5.00 per ton from Venture Corporation, with funds to come from the Capital Improvement – Streets fund. Council member Gary Luea seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Sewer: Special Project
Council reviewed the third set of Pay Applications for work performed to date on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve Pay Application #3 to APAC in the amount of $125,354.35. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. Council member Jolene Niernberger then moved to approve Payment Request #3 to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment in the amount of $125,354.35. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Clerk: Acquisition
Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber presented two bids for 40 cases of copy paper for the Clerk’s office. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the purchase of 40 cases of copy paper from Tri-Central Office Supply in the amount of $1,491.60. The motion carried 5-0.
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, gave an update on the Waterline Improvement Project. Mr. Driggs reported that the City’s existing water line maps on line locations, valve locations, and line sizes have been sometimes inaccurate. Approximately 26% of the City’s water valves do not work, and Mr. Driggs is asking Council to consider purchasing additional valves to replace some of the valves that are not working, or to add valves to better isolate areas of town. The valves would be replaced in areas already affected by construction in the current waterline project. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the purchase of additional valves not to exceed $25,000. The City will utilize USDA funding for the additional valves. Mr. Driggs will report to Council the placement and actual cost of the valves at a future Council meeting. The motion carried 5-0.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported he has visited with Ellis County about possibly leasing their tandem truck, with any rents paid to be applied towards a possible future purchase by the City. The City would pay the County $145 per day of use. The truck would replace the City’s 1991 Ford Tandem truck that the engine went out on last year. Council member Gary Luea moved to approve leasing the tandem truck from Ellis County at a rate of $145 per day of use, with rents to be applied to a possible future purchase. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner requested the agreement between the City and County be put in writing. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 4-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman reported the City’s water disinfection byproduct (DBP) levels have risen over the last two years. The City will continue quarterly testing and monitoring of the levels per KDHE requirements.
Council reviewed the latest report on well levels.
Sanitation: Special Project
Mr. Scheuerman updated Council on the cleanup of the property subject to the environmental hearing at the June 6th Council meeting. Council discussed the sanitation fees involved with the cleanup and whether the fees should be charged to the resident. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion for the City to absorb the $151 in sanitation fees for the cleanup of 300 E. 11th Street. The motion carried 3-2, with Council members Bret Andries and Gary Luea opposed.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates provided an update for his Department. Officer Smith began the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center today and all officers have completed their annual 40 hours of training, including firearms qualifications.
Chief Yates explained why barricades were placed in certain areas around town due to high water levels caused by the recent thunderstorm.
Council inquired on the circumstances leading to the impoundment of two dogs, one who was found to have bitten an individual. City Attorney Olavee Raub also briefed Council on the dangerous dog proceedings relating to the case.
City Clerk
Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber presented the audit reports for the City’s related entities. The minutes from the recent Cemetery Committee were reviewed.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub updated Council on pending environmental violation cases currently being handled in her office.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel read a letter addressed to the Ellis Police Department thanking them for their prompt actions relating to a situation with a family member.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 15-minute executive session was proposed starting at 10:00 p.m. Mayor McDaniel called for a motion to recess. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with the City Attorney and Public Works Director present. The motion carried 5-0. The Council returned to open session at 10:15 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session to discuss land acquisition. A 5-minute executive session was proposed starting at 10:16 p.m. Mayor McDaniel called for a motion to recess. Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to recess to executive session to discuss land acquisition with the City Attorney and Public Works Director present. The motion carried 5-0. The Council returned to open session at 10:21 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:23 p.m.

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Seventeen students from Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China, visited Fort Hays State University’s campus for cultural and academic experience.

The students arrived in the United States on June 19 and stayed a day in Los Angeles before coming to Hays on June 20. While in Hays, students attended lectures by FHSU faculty on such topics as global challenges, leadership, sustainability, wind energy, tourism and hospitality management, business ethics, and entrepreneurship.

The students were also in Hays on a “fun” level. Students were able to go to a rifle range to learn about firearms and to experiment with shooting a shotgun. They toured the FHSU farm and went mini golfing.

The Office of Internationalization and Global Partnerships hosted the students, who are studying in the FHSU program in Shenyang, which enables them to earn an FHSU degree while studying in China.

“The main goal was to provide an American educational and cultural experience along with some fun activities,” said Philip Wittkorn, director of operations for Chinese partnerships.

The students were in Hays for four days before visiting the Capitol in Topeka. The scholars also visited Kansas City, where they shopped, went to Worlds of Fun and took part in the KC Zipline before flying to the east coast, where they will spend a week visiting Washington, D.C., New York and Boston before flying back to China on July 2.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Fireworks go on sale in Hays Saturday, July 2, and will continue to be sold through Monday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. Discharge of fireworks in the city limits is allowed the same three days from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

At last week’s city commission meeting–as the area wheat harvest got underway–Hays Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil urged residents to be cautious when using their fireworks.

“I just hope people are smart.  Since I’ve been on the commission it’s a no-win situation whether we have them or not,” Musil said.

He supported the decision of Ellis County Commissioners–at the recommendation of Fire Director Darin Myers–not to allow fireworks to be discharged in the county’s rural, unincorporated areas.

“I think the county had a smart idea not allowing fireworks out in the county…for safety, it’s  the best thing to do.

“I just hope people are actually able to go out and enjoy July 4th but also realize it’s dry out there and harvest is going on, and that’s very important to our economy. I hope the farmers are successful.

“No matter what, some people aren’t going to be happy that other people are shooting fireworks. I really hope they take their neighbors into consideration.

“If you are shooting them off, obey the law. This is probably not a fun time for our police officers or our firefighters,” Musil added.

According to the Hays Municipal Code “persons using fireworks are responsible for cleaning up all debris.  Those found in violation of the Hays City Code may be fined up to $500 and 30 days in jail.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Lots of frustration right now.”

That’s how Stacy Campbell, Ellis Co. Extension Agriculture Agent describes the area wheat harvest, as he admits it’s hard to complain about rain in a locale that perpetually needs more moisture.

However, the past few days of intermittent rain is slowing down harvest, which Campbell said local grain elevator managers estimated is about 50 percent complete.  Although cutting is temporarily halted, much of what’s been harvested is good–very good.

“We need a little bit of wind and some more sunshine,” Campbell said Wednesday morning, “and no more little showers.”

There were showers early Tuesday afternoon in Ellis County, ranging from just a trace to 0.35. Early Saturday evening a severe thunderstorm brought 0.70 to two inches across the county. The National Weather Service in Dodge City is forecasting rain through Saturday.

The wheat that’s been harvested so far “may have historically high yields,” according to Campbell. “This may go down in the record books this year.”

“Eighty-plus summer fallow wheat, there’s even some 90 and 100-bushel wheat.  Even continuous crop is doing 70.  Guys that planted wheat after corn last year are even doing 60 bushels,” Campbell said, although he recognized that’s not true for every Ellis County farmer. “Obviously, somebody out there had hail and with all this rain some of the wheat got tall and fell over. It’s not picture-perfect across the county, but really, really good yields.”

Unfortunately, as the law of supply-and-demand kicks in,  the price for wheat keeps going down.

“Yesterday in Hays (June 28) the wheat price finished at $3.09 a bushel,” Campbell reported.  “A few months back it wasn’t great, but it was still well over $4 a bushel and teetering around $5 during the winter. That’s what happens when you have great crops. That’s why farming is such a challenge.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The change application for the Edwards County R9 Ranch, the long-term water supply project for Hays and Russell, was submitted to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (DWR) six months ago. Revisions have been under review since then. Hays and Russell are asking to transfer their water rights from irrigation use to municipal use, and would be the first cities in Kansas to do so under the state’s Water Transfer Act.

City Manager Toby Dougherty told commissioners last week the latest correspondence from DWR Chief Engineer David Barfield–resulting from a meeting in late March–had five points Pope wanted addressed before the request moves further.

Dougherty outlined the response from Hays and Russell.

The five points are:

1. Consumptive use analysis–Hays and Russell have 8,039 acre-feet of water rights at the R9. DWR is proposing 7,604 acre-feet per year–a little less because during irrigation some of the water goes back into the aquifer.  Hays/Russell acknowledge the DWR amount.
2. Justification for proposed municipal use, proposed amount, and project phasing–Typically, DWR uses a 20-year planning horizon when developing a new source of water.  Hays/Russell are requesting a 50-year plan.

3. 

   Flexibility in locating points and rates of diversion–40+ spots where water is pulled out of the ground will be combined into 12 municipal wells.  Hays/Russell are requesting flexibility in the 300-foot radius at points of diversion. The cities have already agreed to place no new municipal wells within one-half mile of existing wells owned by others.

4. Long-term sustainability of the project and effects to the area–There is an authorized rate of water the cities can pull out of the ranch.  DWR is interested in what they determine is a “safe yield,” a sustainable yield year after year, although safe yield is not an issue in the Change Application process. The cities are looking at an intensive groundwater model looking at different runs of rainwater and runoff.  DWR wants to review the results of Burns and McDonnell’s refinement of the GMD model.  The cities agree.
5. Basin stakeholders’ desire to have their concerns heard prior to a decision–DWR intends to hold a public meeting in the Arkansas River Basin prior to making a decision about the Change Applications.  The cities have no objection to the meeting but might not present comments or attend.

Dougherty added he “expects a quicker turnaround to the city’s response letter because we’re getting down to smaller and smaller issues.” He hopes to hear back from DWR within a month and will then provide city commissioners with another update.

David Traster, Wichita, is the R9 Ranch Project attorney.

The estimated cost to develop the R9 is $72 million. Hays, which owns 82 percent of the ranch it purchased in 1995, enacted a sales tax in the mid-1990s to help fund the project. The city of Russell owns 18 percent of the R9 Ranch.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Saturday’s early evening thunderstorm in Hays blew in from the south and then switched to come from the north. Several broken tree branches were reported around town along with minor street flooding.

The official rainfall amount in Hays as recorded at the K-State Agricultural Research Center was 1.88 inches. Saturday’s high temperature was 96 degrees. Sunday was cooler with a high of 88 degrees and another trace of precipitation recorded.

So far in June, Hays has had 2.81 inches of rain. The total rainfall for the year as of June 27 is 15.25 inches.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“That’s good news. Hopefully that trend continues.”

So said Hays Mayor Eber Phelps following Thursday’s report from Finance Director Kim Rupp showing an increase in sales tax collections for the city. “Everybody sat up when they heard we finally had an increase in sales tax (revenues),” Phelps said.

In his monthly financial report for May 2016, Rupp noted that month-to-date general fund sales tax collections were at $611,927, an increase of $11,689 as compared to last year.

“That ends a four month slide in sales tax,” Rupp pointed out, although “eight of the last twelve months experienced a notable decrease in sales tax receipts.”

Year-to-date general fund collections are $2,960,302, down $117,404 or -3.81% as compared to the same time last year.

Commissioner James Meier was curious why the city’s sales tax collections are down less than those for Ellis County which is looking at a 10 percent decrease during the past two years. “How do you reconcile that?,” Meier asked.

“The county is more than just Hays,” Rupp replied, “so outside the (Hays) city limits, sales are doing a little worse.” The city’s general fund money comes from sales taxes.

One notable area of increased revenue compared to May 2015 was water and sewer revenues. Vice-mayor Shaun Musil wondered if related infrastructure replacement could be sped up.

“We should be able to,” Rupp responded. “In sewer, it was around September/October 2015 that we did a rate increase, and then we did another rate increase on Jan. 1, 2016. Water was one increase on Jan. 1, 2016. We’re pretty much on track of what we thought where we’d be, even with the dip in consumption. The way we’re looking at projecting 2016 and budgeting for 2017, we should be able to put away what we thought we could (to pay for infrastructure replacement.)”

“And you’ll see that in the 2017 budget when it’s presented,” added City Manager Toby Dougherty. “The Capital Improvement Plan will have a lot more projects year after year after year because now we know we should have the revenue to cover those.”

Water and sewer revenue were up 2.88% and 29.74% respectively, or a combined $55,000 as compared to May of 2015 despite water consumption being down 9.6%. Year-to-date water consumption is down 6% while total water revenue is up 5.75% and sewer revenue up 30.2%.

Commissioner Lance Jones was absent from the meeting.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Fireworks go on sale in Hays next week, Saturday, July 2, and will continue to be sold through Monday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. Discharge of fireworks in the city limits is allowed the same three days from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

At last week’s city commission meeting–as the area wheat harvest got underway–Hays Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil urged residents to be cautious when using their fireworks.

“I just hope people are smart.  Since I’ve been on the commission it’s a no-win situation whether we have them or not,” Musil said.

He supported the decision of Ellis County Commissioners–at the recommendation of Fire Director Darin Myers–not to allow fireworks to be discharged in the county’s rural, unincorporated areas.

“I think the county had a smart idea not allowing fireworks out in the county with harvest going on.  For safety, it’s  the best thing to do.

“I just hope people are actually able to go out and enjoy July 4th but also realize it’s dry out there and harvest is going on, and that’s very important to our economy. I hope the farmers are successful.

“No matter what, some people aren’t going to be happy that other people are shooting fireworks. I really hope they take their neighbors into consideration.

“If you are shooting them off, obey the law. This is probably not a fun time for our police officers or our firefighters,” Musil added.

According to the Hays Municipal Code “persons using fireworks are responsible for cleaning up all debris.  Those found in violation of the Hays City Code may be fined up to $500 and 30 days in jail.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Ellis County commissioners have signed off on the new job description and title “Director of Fire and Emergency Management.”

In May, Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes announced transitions among several appointed department head positions, impacting five departments. The changes are estimated to save Ellis County nearly $100,000 in fiscal year 2017.

The Emergency Management Department, once headed by Bill Ring, is merging with the county’s Rural Fire Department. Ring has been appointed Public Works Director. Current Rural Fire Director Darin Myers will assume responsibility of Emergency Management.

The new job description is “based on the job description Evergreen Consultants did for the Fire Director,” Smith-Hanes explained, “and then we took pieces out of the Emergency Management Coordinator position and added them in, and then Darin reviewed it.”

Commissioners were pleased with the detailed description and noted it had been reviewed by Ellis County Counselor Bill Jeter.

Although the new position and job description have been approved, Smith-Hanes noted the job description “will be coming back to the commissioners later in the year as part of a larger package of job descriptions.”

“We’ll need a motion (to adopt them all) at that time,” he said.

Myers will have two years to earn his additional certification as a Kansas Certified Emergency Manager.

The other transition involves the county Health Department and EMS.

Longtime Ellis County Health Administrator Robert “Butch” Schlyer announced his intention to retire at the end of the calendar year. County Emergency Medical Services Director Kerry McCue will assume a combined role directing both departments.