BRIT was the only group to make a bid. The quote is $196,220, a 4.9 percent increase.
In other business, an update of conservation incentive and rebate programs for 2016 will be given by Johnny O’Connor, director of utilities and Jason Riegel, water conservation specialist.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main Street. The complete agenda is available here.
Along with the usual–KPRA rodeo, car races, truck and tractor pulls, the Pride of Texas Carnival and a demolition derby–this year will include several new activities and events at the Ellis County Fairgrounds July 16-23.
Little Texas
With the theme “Heroes in the Heartland,” the featured musical attraction will be a concert Fri., July 22, by country group Little Texas.
As the band neared Hays on Aug, 9, 2011, American flags greeted them at every turn — they were just ahead of the funeral procession for the fallen soldier. Nichols, a ’98 graduate of Thomas More Prep Marian High School, was killed Aug. 6, 2011, while serving with the 158th Aviation Regiment in Afghanistan.
Nichols’ family will attend the Little Texas concert in his honor, Pfannenstiel said, and will meet with the band members.
Of course, the fair focuses on 4-H, whose members are busy working on their projects. One major change this year for them and open-class participants is a new system for fair entries.
“I’ve been working on it since January and we’ll be rolling it out,” Pfannenstiel said.
“Everyone pre-enters to the fair online on the computer and we’ll print entry tags. This year will be a trial year to work out all the bugs but it will be good. It’ll help us on entering the results and getting them published to the media quicker.”
Also new is the July 19 Old Timers Showmanship Contest–for those age 19 or older–which will be a fundraiser for the Ellis County 4-H Council.
“So if you know someone with some animals out there already and you want to try showing a pig, goat or beef, you can come out and show. It’s $15 to enter,” she explained, “and you can win some of the money back and the rest will go to the 4-H Council.”
One change fair attendees will surely notice is new bathrooms.
“We’re in the final phase of getting those finished–finishing plumbing and putting up the partitions,” Pfannenstiel reported. “They’re looking great. We had a business donate an air conditioning and furnace system to us as a fair sponsorship for the next few years, so that was really nice. We’ve had lots of good help, lots of good volunteers out there working on that so it will be a nice addition to the fairgrounds.”
Commissioners assured Pfannenstiel the county would again help with building the demo derby pit and the tractor pull track as it has in past years.
More information and ticket locations for the 2016 Ellis County Fair is available on the website and Facebook.
Longtime Ellis Co. Health Administrator Butch Schlyer will retire at the end of the year.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Last month, 397 medical boxes were set up and/or refilled for inmates in the Ellis County Jail. All that was done by soon-to-retire Ellis Co. Health Administrator Butch Schyler.
“There will be lots fewer since the new medical company took over last Thursday,” Schyler told county commissioners Monday night. “They were going to make some rapid changes.”
Advanced Correctional Healthcare is the new medical care contractor for the jail after the commission approved an annual contract in May for $99,968.14. “They needed 90 days to set up and Butch filled that gap,” said County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes.
Schyler said he talked to an Ellis County jailer Monday who told him the company has “drastically cut down on the medications the inmates were taking.”
“Of course, they did anticipate inmates not being happy with that…they said it would take about eight weeks to get through this whole curve before everyone settles down. When they’re providing their own pharmacy, they’re gonna watch what meds and how much they’re giving to people,” Schyler explained, “and they started right away with that.”
Advanced Correctional Health Care, based in Peoria, Illinois, provides medical services for 268 counties in 17 states, including 24 counties in Kansas.
Schyler will retire at the end of the calendar year. Ellis County Emergency Medical Services Director Kerry McCue will assume a combined role directing both departments.
Ellis County is looking at options for making building project bond payments as sales taxes decline.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The Ellis County Public Building Commission needs to pay some change orders for ongoing work at the recently remodeled courthouse/Law Enforcement Center in Hays, but doesn’t have the money to do that.
Ellis County Commissioner Barb Wasinger — who, like all three commissioners is also a PBC member — has suggested the payment, as well as bond payments for that project and the new Ellis County Emergency Services Center, come from the “unexpected wind farm project money.”
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes has suggested rents for the two buildings be increased.
The bills will appear as accounts payable on the PBC agenda of its second meeting of next month, scheduled for July 11.
Sales tax revenues have declined 10 percent the past two years, according to Treasurer Ann Pfeifer. In May, she warned Ellis County commissioners the county might have to transfer money from the general fund to make the bond payment on the courthouse/LEC and Ellis County Emergency Services building projects because of a timing issue. She said the PBC, which was created to manage the county building upgrades, would then pay back the money later in the month when it receives money from the sales tax fund.
“PBC actually doesn’t actually have funds available to pay those change orders that will be coming,” Smith-Hanes told county commissioners Monday night. “PBC’s sole source of revenue was the bond proceeds, and then the funds to pay back those proceeds are lease payments of the buildings to Ellis County.
“I need the PBC to request of Ellis County that we up the rental amount of those buildings in an amount sufficient to cover the change orders that will be incurred in July,” he said. “It’s really just an accounting mechanism recommended by our auditor,” Smith-Hanes explained Tuesday morning.
The increase request would be considered by Ellis County at its July 5 meeting.
Wasinger requested that “Ellis County use the money that has been put aside from the (Buckeye) wind farm project that we weren’t expecting and put it into the PBC account to not only pay for those change orders, but also set aside wind farm money for bond payments that are upcoming, so that we don’t have to dip into the general fund or into the taxpayers’ pockets.”
Commission Chairman Dean Haselhorst, who is also president of the PBC, agreed it was a good idea “because last year we got that (wind farm) payment.” The 200-megawatt Buckeye Wind Energy Center operated by Invenergy LLC northwest of Hays went online in October. Ellis County and Buckeye signed an agreement for payments in lieu of taxes, and the first $600,00 has been paid to the county.
Smith-Hanes said he had verified Monday afternoon with Pfeifer the wind farm payment is set aside in a special account.
“So we can bring that up on July 5 and figure out how those funds offset these increased payments,” Wasinger added.
Although many residents reported more, the official rainfall in Hays during Friday night’s severe weather was 0.92 as recorded at the K-State Agricultural Research Center.
It was the first significant rain for the month, with the June total at 0.93.
So far this year, 13.37 inches of rain has fallen in Hays.
HFD Shift Lt. Tyler Brungardt tosses the baseball to a young Hays Larks fan while HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood acts as catcher. The men enjoyed the impromptu game of catch before being honored on the field as part of First Responders Night at Larks Park Saturday. (Photos courtesy Justin Choitz)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The weather was much more favorable Saturday evening than it was Friday in Hays.
Local emergency responders were busy as a slow-moving severe thunderstorm traveled through the area, bringing high wind, lots of lightening and some hail. A Flood Warning was in effect for Ellis County until 9:15 a.m. Saturday.
Many of the first responders were back in action again Saturday night, although in a much more relaxed environment.
Postponed until tonight were the First Responders Night activities as part of the Hays Larks game.
The Larks had to postpone Friday’s opener in their three-game series with the Bethany (Oklahoma) Bulls. The game is being made up as part of a 6 p.m. doubleheader in Larks Park.
The Hays Baseball Association and Hays Larks Baseball hosted the fifth annual First Responders Night. Everyone was invited to attend the game to help pay tribute to law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers and all first responders for their commitment and contributions to our community.
HFD Lt. Brungardt waits for a pitch.
Two first responders, Hays Fire Department Shift Lieutenant Tyler Brungardt and Hays Police Lieutenant Tim Greenwood, took time to toss the baseball with a young boy before the men were invited onto the field to be recognized for First Responders Appreciation Night.
Hays Firefighter Justin Choitz, who took the pictures of the “impressionable Larks fan” said “Lt. Brungardt interacts well with young people.”
Brungardt gets ready to return the toss.
“We are honored to recognize the hard work of these outstanding members of our community,” said Ken Windholz, president of the Hays Baseball Association. “These men and women have dedicated their lives to providing safety and security for us and we are pleased to pay tribute to them and their families.”
Admission to the game was free. The game is being sponsored by Invenergy and Platinum Group.
The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:30 p.m. for Ellis County. A Flash Flood Warning continues until 9:30 p.m.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
KSC051-180230-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0161.160618T0139Z-160618T0230Z/
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
839 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
ELLIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS…
* UNTIL 930 PM CDT
* AT 838 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED VERY NEAR
TOULON…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS.
SOURCE…EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
IMPACT…EXPECT DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
HAYS…VICTORIA…WALKER…CATHERINE…YOCEMENTO…MUNJOR…
EMMERAM AND TOULON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.
Ellis (Photo courtesy MWE)
Meanwhile, the lights are back on in Ellis, according to Midwest Energy. Apparently the problem was a broken insulator, likely wind-related.
At 8:23 p.m., emergency responders were working the scene of a semi-truck reportedly jack-knifed at I-70 and the Vine Street exit, blocking traffic at the eastbound on-ramp.
Reports from the scene indicate the disengaged load–a wind turbine tube–is still intact on the trailer and blocking the roadway.
Traffic is being diverted.
The NWS in Dodge City has extended the Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Ellis County until 9 p.m. A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 9:30 p.m. for EAST CENTRAL TREGO COUNTY and WEST CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY.
——
The Hays Fire Department is responding to a report of a downed power line at 505 W. 6th in south Hays. Midwest Energy has been notified.
Other emergency officials are responding to another report of a westbound semi-truck blown over by high wind at mile marker 163 on I-70–near the Toulon Exit east of Hays. The westbound passing lane is blocked by the vehicle. Reports from the scene indicate the male truck driver was not injured.
7:45 p.m. According to the Midwest Energy outage viewer, there are also several rural outages northeast of Hays.
—–
Electricity is out from the the Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex on the west side of Hays west to Ellis.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING UNTIL 8PM CDT FRI AT 726 PM CDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF MCCRACKEN… MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH.
HAZARD… UP TO TWO INCH HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.
SOURCE… RADAR INDICATED.
IMPACT… PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OUTDOORS WILL BE INJURED. EXPECT HAIL DAMAGE TO ROOFS… SIDING… WINDOWS AND VEHICLES. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS… SIDING AND TREES.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… HAYS… ELLIS… LA CROSSE… VICTORIA… WALKER… CATHERINE… OTIS… BISON… SCHOENCHEN… MCCRACKEN… OGALLAH… LIEBENTHAL… RIGA… YOCEMENTO… MUNJOR… CEDAR BLUFF… TOULON… ANTONINO… LORETTA AND EMMERAM. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.
——-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
709 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016
…SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RUSH…NORTHWESTERN PAWNEE…
SOUTHERN TREGO…SOUTHWESTERN ELLIS…NORTHEASTERN LANE AND NESS
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT…
AT 708 PM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR LA CROSSE TO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RANSOM
TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF PENDENNIS. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTH AT 15 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
Hail in Ellis (Photo courtesy Cheryl Kinderknecht)
At 6:52 p.m. minor flooding continues in Ellis with 2 inches of rain reported. Sheriff’s deputies are patrolling the streets. At least 500 residences are without power according to the Midwest Energy outage map.
At 6:32 p.m., minor flooding was reported in Ellis.
————–
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Ellis and Trego Counties until 9:30 p.m. tonight. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for both counties until 7:15 p.m.
According to Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates, power is out in the town of Ellis.
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
625 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR…
EAST CENTRAL TREGO COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS…
WEST CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS…
* UNTIL 930 PM CDT
* AT 624 PM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING
HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. UP TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAVE
ALREADY FALLENIN SOME PLACES. FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN
SHORTLY.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE…
HAYS…ELLIS…OGALLAH…RIGA AND YOCEMENTO.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
WARNED AREA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.
PLEASE REPORT FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHEN YOU
CAN DO SO SAFELY.
The city of Hays is anticipating a five percent increase in its 2016/2017 commercial insurance premium. The current policy for liability and property insurance with BRIT Insurance expires July 1, 2016.
“We’re not entirely unhappy about it,” Hays Finance Director Kim Rupp told city commissioners during their Thursday night work session. “We’ve experienced about a five percent decrease over the past couple of years so this increase isn’t terrible.”
Christina Pyle with the city’s insurance broker, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., explained how market factors resulted in just one quote–by BRIT. Six other companies declined to bid primarily “due to the aggressive pricing BRIT is providing,” she said.
“The city has just had a couple of property claims and a couple of auto claims that have knocked the loss ratio up a little bit higher…and also with the market in this part of Kansas–with the wind and hail–(BRIT) did have to get a little bit of rate (increase) this year,” Pyle concluded.”
That increase is 4.9 percent or $9,197 more than the prior period. Total cost is $196,220.
Pyle called it a “flat renewal” and also offered some better news.
“We were able to save pretty significant money on the cyber liability side. We moved the coverage from AIG to a company called BCS Insurance. It’s actually a program that Gallagher developed specifically for cyber liability. It saved about $5,000 and is very good coverage,” Pyle said.
Shaun Musil, Hays vice-mayor
Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil was a little concerned there was just one bid. “I think it’s unfortunate we didn’t have any bidders, but I guess maybe it’s good that we’re low enough that they can’t beat that.” He encouraged Pyle to “keep an eye on it. Having several bidders is always a good thing.”
Commissioners agreed to move forward with the recommendation to renew the BRIT insurance policy. It will be considered at the June 23 regular commission meeting.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from Thursday’s work session.
By BECKY KISER
Also new is the July 19 Old Timers Showmanship Contest–for those age 19 or older–which will be a fundraiser for the Ellis County 4-H Council.
Although many residents reported more, the official rainfall in Hays during 
At 6:52 p.m. minor flooding continues in Ellis with 2 inches of rain reported. Sheriff’s deputies are patrolling the streets. At least 500 residences are without power according to the 
