By MADISON CREES
HHS Guidon

It is said that hard work and dedication pays off, and perhaps no one knows that better right now than the Guidon’s very own senior Anniston Weber.

The Co-Editor-in-Chief was recently awarded another honorable title as Kansas Scholastic Press Association Student Journalist of the Year for 3A/4A.

“I found out about it through a friend who sent me the links to the award after browsing the KSPA website,” Weber said. “I really want to be a journalist after high school so I figured ‘Hey, if I can potentially win this award then maybe it’ll prove that I’m gonna go somewhere with this journalism thing,’ especially since I’m from a small school in Midwestern Kansas.”

The award called for a well rounded journalist who understood journalistic qualities and abilities.

“I considered myself a decent candidate for this award just because of the sheer amount of time and effort I put into everything I submitted,” Weber said. “I didn’t necessarily expect to win but I had a good feeling after I submitted all of my materials.”

Weber created an online portfolio that showcased her writing and multimedia abilities. She started working on it in November and it took her until late January to finish it. In the portfolio were different example stories that Weber had written for categories such as Law and Ethics, News Literacy and Entrepreneurship from her total high school journalism career.

While Weber excels in and is dedicated to journalism now, she wasn’t always so keen on the idea of reporting.

“When I was a freshman I was involved in Spring Play and some of the people I enjoyed being around were planning on being in Newspaper,” Weber said. “So, I thought it was worth a shot to submit an application to be on the Guidon. After my sophomore year of being a journalist, I didn’t think I was going to continue.”

The future JoY recipient even wanted to drop at semester her junior year, but then something changed, and even she can’t explain it.

“Junior year, I really found an intense passion for posting online stories and covering as much news as I possibly could,” Weber said. “My aspirations for being a journalist really took off from then. Now as an Editor-in-Chief I see how running a newspaper works and just how great of an opportunity it has been to be a part of this team.”

Being on the team and winning this award even inspired Weber to pursue journalism as a career path.

“This all means so much to me,” Weber said. “This, to me, shows that other people see my work and think it’s just as good for me to continue with it, like I do. I’m looking forward to reading all the feedback the judges gave me on my portfolio and essay to see how I can advance myself as a journalist even more so than I have.”

Weber looks towards her feedback more than the actual award currently as she was surprised by the announcement and feels the whole situation hasn’t quite sunken in yet.

“Mr. Gasper decided to tell the entire Newspaper class that the administrators were coming in to observe our class,” Weber said. “Which, I thought, was a little strange. He then received flowers from his ‘wife.’ That wasn’t as strange because it is right after Valentine’s day but, then I left the room for a few minutes.”

When Weber arrived back, everyone was in their seats waiting for her.

“I sat down and was told I had won,” Weber said. “I got to stand up and take pictures with the principals and Mr. Gasper. The feeling did not sink in as I held my certificate, and still hasn’t.”

Weber will also be recognized at the KSPA state competition in early May, as well as receive a $750 cash prize that she will put towards college.

“I think it will be nerve wracking to have it announced,” Weber said. “Nerve wracking, but fulfilling as I did put so much into this. It’s so nice to be recognized by a large group of people for something you have dedicated yourself to.”

The whole situation is very emotional for the graduating senior.

“It’s such a great feeling to be recognized for something you spent so much time on and put so much of yourself into,” Weber said. “Journalism has become something that I don’t see as work. I see it as something I genuinely enjoy going out and doing. And not just writing, but going out and getting quotes and taking pictures—the interactive stuff. I enjoy the whole package now. It’s kind of like a dream job because they always tell you if you enjoy what you’re doing it’s not really work and I think that’s pretty accurate.”

Hays Post

A Hays service center that has been in operation for more than four decades at the southwest corner of the mall property soon will be vacant.

G&L Tire and Automotive will relocate from the Big Creek Crossing outlot to the former Midland Marketing service center at the corner of Eighth and Oak.

“Midland Marketing will be closing the service center, but we will still provide fuel and service to their customers,” G&L owner Alan Leiker told Hays Post on Wednesday. “We truly believe that things happen for a reason, and we want our current customers to know that we might be in a different location, but can still expect great service from G&L Tire.”

Leiker said G&L will purchase the former Midland building and be open for business on May 1. The business formerly had rented its building via a sublease from JCPenney.

That lease is scheduled to expire in April, and Leiker said renegotiation terms offered by the mall’s owners were unfavorable. Big Creek Crossing is managed by Omaha-based DP Management and owned by New York-based GJ Realty. Leiker said GJ Realty owner Gabriel Jeidel contacted him June 2016 to begin negotiation of a new lease.

“I stated that we had been here for 20 years, wanted to stay in the property and liked the location. After numerous emails and phone conversations we couldn’t strike a deal. Ultimately, it came down to cost,” Leiker said. “In our opinion, we are being squeezed out.”

The new lease offer was “absurd,” he said, noting G&L would be required not only to pay rent, but also property taxes and upkeep on the 44-year-old building — adding there are several “major” maintenance issues at the building that need to be rectified.

Josh Vickery of DP Management said the terms offered were fair. He said talks between JCPenney and GJ Realty recently reverted control of the lease back to the owner.

“G&L had a term with JCPenney that was well below what market rate was,” he said. “I just know (GJ Realty) wanted a market-rate lease there, and they just couldn’t come to a number that works for everyone.”

“In a 10-year period, we could have bought a lot north of town and built a new beautiful building for the same cost as he was expecting us to pay in the same time period for a building 40-plus years old,” Leiker said. “In addition, we would have something of our own.”

Vickery said there are no current prospects for that location, but all options are on the table.

“Quite frankly … we feel that being on that corner, it’s a worth a lot more than what has been paid in the past,” he said. “It’s already showing a bunch of interest from national retailers. It’s in a stellar location.”

G&L has been in operation since 1997, when Ruder tire was purchased from Dave Ruder. Ruder was sub-leasing the property from JCPenney, which had closed its service center in 1983. The original JCPenney service center opened in 1973.

Leiker also questioned the commercial improvement district fund, which assesses an additional 1 percent sales tax on purchases there to help with physical improvements at the aging shopping center.

While several interior and exterior improvements have been made at Big Creek Crossing, Leiker said his site did not benefit.

“I contacted the mall management to find out what improvements they were going to do to my building, since I have been collecting 1 percent sales tax for them, and I was told nothing,” he said. “The only thing we received was repaving the parking lot around my building, but only after I complained.”

Vickery said the outbuilding simply was never part of the redevelopment agreement between the shopping center and the city of Hays when the CID was approved.

The lease between G&L and GJ Realty expires at the end of April, Leiker said.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A development group that has built three income-qualified housing complexes in Hays hopes to build another one.

The Overland Property Group, Leawood, wants to redevelop the Fort Hays Trailer Park, 615 E. 5th, and construct a 48-unit multi-family apartment complex. The initial plan is to build two and three bedroom units similar to current properties on South Main and near Larks Park.

Assistant Hays City Manager Jacob Wood says as part of the process in applying for state low-income housing tax credits, Overland Property Group requires a Resolution of Support from the city.

Overland Property Group has built income-qualified housing in three phases in Hays. Phase 1 in 2006, is on the southeast corner of 5th and Main. Phase 2 in 2010, is across Main Street to the west. Phase 3 in 2012, is immediately north of Larks Park on Fourth Street. The city commission authorized support resolutions for each project. Commissioners also authorized a resolution of support for a failed attempt at a project on East 22nd Street in 2014.

Regarding the new proposed development “The Reserves at Stonepost,” Vice President of Development Matt Gillam wrote in a letter to the city “we have gone to great lengths to find and secure a site in Hays that meets all our stringent qualifications but also is in line with the city’s for responsible new and infill development.” Gillam estimated a $6 million construction cost.

 

According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the Fort Hays Trailer Park is “currently in very poor condition and the city has a long history of abating properties on the site that are in violation of our Code of Ordinances.”

City staff is supporting the project calling it “very beneficial to the community” and that it “would greatly enhance the area” in south Hays.

Commissioners will find our more about the housing proposal during their Thu. work session. See the complete agenda here.

 

 

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

This Valentine’s week, Dillons stores and Kroger stores are spreading a little cheer and love by delivering single-stem roses to area retirement homes, hospices, schools and community homes nationwide.

Since late January, Dillons stores in Kansas have been collecting donations by asking its customers to pay a little extra to purchase roses to go toward the charity. This year, 30,000 roses were purchased in Kansas, with 594 roses being bought in Hays. All roses will remain local.

“Dillons is just the middle man,” said Don Koerner, Dillons store manager. “The people of Hays who shop with us, they are the ones who truly are the heroes and the ones who donated.”

Koerner is responsible for giving out the roses in the Hays area, which started Monday at Centennial Towers with deliveries to 125 residents.

“This makes their day. The people here (Centennial Towers) are so appreciative of anything and the people who try to make their day better,” Koerner said.

Jodi Steltz, Centennial Towers manager, said residents always look forward to Valentine’s and begin talking about it weeks before.

“These flowers absolutely mean a lot to these residents. Every single year, they look forward to this,” she said.

Centennial Towers has an annual Valentine’s Party with cakes, cookies and other treats. This year, residents also celebrated the retirement of Don Raider, maintenance man at Centennial Towers for over 20 years.

“This, all around, is just a special day for these residents,” Steltz said.

For Koerner, he has a soft spot for Centennial Towers as his father used to be a resident.

“My dad lived here for four years, and I used to come up and see him and visit with the different residents,” Koerner said. “They are all new residents now, but they are very appreciative of it and a lot of them still shop at Dillons and I see them all the time.”

On Tuesday, Koerner delivered the rest of the flowers to the remaining six locations — Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home, Sterling House Living Center, Via Christi, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, HayMed and Windam Place Senior Living.

“Everybody enjoys these flowers. It really is just a nice gesture to give back,” Koerner said.

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

On Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education decided not to approve the Facility Improvement Planner contract due to state budget cuts most likely coming to public education.

According to USD 489 Superintendent John Thissen, $127 million could be cut from the state’s public education budget, which would hit Hays in the the range of $680,000.

“That is for this school year,” Thissen said. “I’m not talking about next.”

This prompted USD 489 to rethink approving the contract of Performance Solutions. The district has already approved the contracts for a architectural firm and a construction manager at risk firm this school year.

Thissen did mention, in speaking with the board lawyer Bill Jeter, that there is a new proposal that would not cut school funding at all this year.

‘That’s just one proposal. All the rest still have cuts,” he said.

Even with the new proposal on the table for the state Legislature, Thissen still felt it was “probable” that there would be cuts handed down for this school year.

“It doesn’t look like it will be as much as we thought, but I still think its probable that there will be cuts before the end of the year,” he said.

Thissen followed that up by saying it would be difficult for him to recommend any more purchases until the budget is decided upon.

Board members unanimously agreed with the Thissen, and the contract approval was put on hold.

“The way the contract is written up, we can table it for three months or six months,” Thissen said. “It can even go into the next school year. It’s not a matter of anything having to start over again.”

Thissen added it was still a goal to have a facility improvement planner.

“It’s what we listed at the beginning as one of our goals for the capital outlay so we can just re-evaluate it at a later time. We just don’t know the cuts that will be handed down yet,” he said.

With the pending budget cuts, most districts, according to Thissen, can pull money out of contingency funds, but that is not the case for Hays.

Thissen said Hays only has $330,000 in its contingency fund.

“For Hays, that’s extremely minimal. It’s just really not much at all,” he said.

Thissen did not recommend using any of the the money from the contingency fund to help pay for the facility improvement planner.

“Its a strange way to budget but, when you only have a couple months of a school year left and cuts, it’s what you have to do,” he said.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Enrollment at NCK Tech College in Hays has grown steadily since 2012. A new partnership program between the two-year school, which also has a Beloit campus, and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan is attracting more students, particularly those who need the most support.

The Hansen Career Enhancement Scholarship is an integral part of the program designed to help non-traditional students upgrade their skill sets.

“We’re so fortunate in northwest Kansas to have the Hansen Foundation,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks, Beloit. “Everywhere you look, in all communities, they’re really making a difference.”

“We started a program last year. We were granted $100,000 by Hansen and they liked what we did. So they gave us another $100,000 to continue with the pilot program.”

He gave the Hays city commission an example of someone who might best benefit from the program.

“Say somebody is working at a convenience store or as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). They’re working at a job that doesn’t have much upward mobility. They have the capability but for whatever reason, they’ve just been stuck in the rut of life.

“This is designed to help pay for not just books, tuition and all that, but also to help them with daycare expenses, any living expenses they have that would be a barrier for getting access to education,” he explained.

The program has worked well, according to Burks, who called it “a humbling experience for me.”

“It’s amazing what some of our students go through to gain access to education. We have five students we’ve been able to really help out.”

Burks wants to spread the word about the Career Enhancement scholarship and attract more eligible students.

“If you know somebody like this who could really use a hand-up, we’re very interested in helping and talking to them.”

The 10 largest programs at NCK Tech, including the Beloit campus, are nursing, diesel, automotive technology, heavy equipment, welding, business management, electrical technology, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and agriculture equipment technology.

The largest growth programs last year were diesel, heavy equipment, business management, PHAC and ag equipment tech. Burks said the heavy equipment program is “basically the only one in the state that does bulldozers, excavators and scrapers.”

For more information, contact NCK Tech in Hays at (785) 625-2437.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A hearing for proposed legislation concerning Kansans with certain disabilities relating to vehicle registration is scheduled Wed., Feb. 15 in the Kansas Senate.

Senate Bill 74 was introduced Jan. 24 by 40th Dist. Sen. Rick Billinger (R-Goodland) and then referred to the Transportation Committee the next day.

Billinger, a freshman senator, introduced the bill in the aftermath of the Aug. 18, 2016 death of Hays resident Joey Weber. The 36-year-old man, who had autism, was shot and killed by a Hays police officer during a brief struggle following an attempted traffic stop for an expired license tag. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation determined  HPD Sgt. Brandon Hauptman acted in self-defense.

“This bill is to hopefully make sure such a tragedy never happens again,” Billinger told the audience at Saturday’s legislative coffee presented by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

SB 74 has four parts to it. All are voluntary and optional. Deaf and hard of hearing persons, military veterans and registered offenders in Kansas are also addressed.

The bill is focused on any Kansas resident who “needs assistance with cognition, including, but not limited to, persons with autism spectrum disorder, or is responsible for the transportation of such a person, may request that such information be included as part of the vehicle registration.” That person must submit “satisfactory proof (of needing) assistance with cognition” to the state director of vehicles.

People who are “deaf or hard of hearing may (also) request…a driver’s license which is readily distinguishable from drivers’ licenses…,” according to the propose bill. Kansas veterans “may request…a driver’s license which shall include the designation “VETERAN” displayed on the front of the driver’s license at a location to be determined by the secretary of revenue.”

“If someone who has autism or a similar type situation, they can apply to have a line item put on the registration of the vehicle that says this person has special needs,” Billinger explained. “We can also have it put on the driver’s license. In addition to that, a decal can be put on the license plate.”

Billinger has also drawn up an amendment that will be placed in the bill.

“We’re also going to offer a placard, similar to what you have hanging on your visor to park in a handicapped parking stall. It would be placed either on the sun visor or on the dash.

“In Joey’s case, the car he was driving wasn’t his. He was driving his father’s car because his pickup had mechanical problems. So, if this bill had been in effect, that automobile may not have had it on the registration, although it could have because it was his father’s car.

“Obviously, the police officer never got to Joey’s driver’s license, so that wouldn’t have done it.

“So, hopefully, the decal on the tag would have. When the officer gets ready to run that tag, he would have seen than decal and realized ‘special needs here.’  The placard could have been hanging where it would be visible.”

Billinger realizes some people may not want to put the decal on their car tag “for fear of maybe being targeted. That’s why we decided to offer the placard. That was one of our concerns about putting it on the license plate.”

“All four are optional. If people choose to, they can do this. If they don’t, they don’t. It’s not a mandate,” Billinger stressed. “We’re hoping with the four options, we’ll never have another incident like this happen.”

111th Dist. Rep. Eber Phelps, (D-Hays), a lifelong Hays resident, called it “one of the most unfortunate incidents that ever happened in Hays.”

Phelps said he had discussed the bill with Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler, who was in the audience at the Ellis Co. Administrative Center. Following the investigation of Weber’s death by the KBI, Scheibler said he “told the Weber family he will support their efforts for a law that would add special needs information to vehicle registration but said he believes it must be voluntary.”

“Unfortunately, in this incident with Joey, he was driving a vehicle with an expired tag…nevertheless, I support this legislation. There was similar bill introduced in the House (HB 2016)  by Rep. Gail Finney from Wichita. If it can save other people down the road, I’m all for it and I will be supporting it. If the companion bill comes over from the Senate, I will support that as well.”

The House bill has been also been referred to its Transportation Committee, of which freshman 117th Dist. Rep. Leonard Mastroni, (R-LaCrosse), is a member.

“I support the Senate bill as well,” said Mastroni. “The House does have a companion bill. Sen. Billinger and John Weber (Joey’s father and an Oakley resident) came in and testified to the Transportation Committee. Between the two, I’m sure we’re going to get this taken care of.”

“We’re scheduled to work on this Tuesday,” added 110th Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), calling Weber’s death “extremely unfortunate.”

“We’ll pass it out of committee and then it’ll move forward. Hopefully, we can get this fixed.”

Both bills are known and cited as “Joey’s Law.”

Saturday morning’s first in a series of the HACC legislative coffees featured three new faces: Sen. Billinger, Rep. Mastroni, and the return of Rep. Phelps, who previously served 16 years in the Kansas House. Much of the forum addressed the state’s budget deficit. Hays Post will have more detailed information from the legislators later in the week.

HACC Executive Director Tammy Wellbrock, who served as forum moderator, says the next legislative update will be in March. A date has not been scheduled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A longtime rebate program for replacement of deteriorated sidewalks on residential properties in Hays will be expanded to include commercial properties.

City commissioners unanimously approved the expansion Thursday night while stressing that requests from homeowners will come first.

“This is part of the overall street maintenance program,” City Manager Toby Dougherty reminded commissioners. “So you have a budget amount ($20,000). If we were to go over that, and it was all commercial-driven, we’d probably come back to you and have a conversation. If we just had some nice usage and some residential rebates drove it over, we would pay those out for the year and not have a budget violation. But we would come back to you during the budget process the following year and say ‘let’s up it to $25,000, or do you want to cut the commercial side back down?’

“If you’re worried about residential getting shut out, please don’t. We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” Dougherty said with assurance.

Mayor Shaun Musil, who first suggested the revision, and Commissioner Sandy Jacobs want the city to step up its education about the sidewalk rebate program.

“I know we send it in their bills, but a lot of people don’t look at their bills; they just pay them online,” Musil acknowledged. “We stepped up our water conservation education a few years ago and I think it definitely helped. So, I’m gonna do my best to see what I can do and maybe together we can come up with some ideas on educating not only the commercial businesses but also the homeowners. I think it would benefit them more than anybody.”

Commissioners liked the suggestion from city staff to limit rebate requests to 1,500 square feet, about 375 linear feet.

“In the last 10 years, the largest residential use we’ve had by a single customer was 1,104 square feet so this would still cover almost any residential property in the city,” reported Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood, “but it will still be limiting for commercial customers.”

The amount of reimbursement is based on the current cost locally for concrete by the square foot for a 4-inch pedestrian sidewalk.

The city has budgeted $20,000 for the sidewalk replacement program the past few years, although the entire budget has not been expended:

BUDGET                                                             AMOUNT SPENT
2014-$20,000                                                        $ 6,241
2015-$20,000                                                        $13,106
2016-$20,000                                                        $ 5,190

Property owners are responsible for upkeep of their sidewalks. The rebate program is for replacements only, not new sidewalk construction.

Hays High School has announced candidates for the 2017 Indian Call.

Crowning will be Friday night between the girls’ and boys’ basketball games.

Seated on floor: Sage Markley, Tyrone Winn. Back: Hannah Pfannenstiel, Payton Markley, Trey Blackmon, Dylan Flegler, Kara Brooks, Ethan Shippy, Katie Brungardt, Ryan Fort, Marissa Dinkel, Angel Bryant

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“It is what it is,” sighed Hays City Commissioner Lance Jones.

City officials still don’t fully understand why the Wichita firm CDM Smith “absolutely dropped the ball,” failed to meet several deadlines, and ran $3 million over the $27.6 million budget for the Phase 1 design services and development of a GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) to rebuild the city’s aging wastewater treatment facility.

The Hays wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was built in 1953. The rebuild to meet stricter state and federal effluent discharge requirements is being financed by the city’s State Revolving Fund loan from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The work was to have been completed by July 1, 2018. KDHE has agreed to extend the deadline until August 1, 2019.

On the recommendation of Water Resources Director Johnny O’Conner and Project Manager Stan Christopher of HDR Engineering, city commissioners voted unanimously Thursday night to authorize a Request For Proposals (RFP) for lump sum proposals to the remaining two design-build finalists, Burns & Mac/CAS Construction and Black & Veatch/Garney, for the Phase 2 construction agreement.

“(CDM) is a world-wide company,” Mayor Shaun Musil pointed out. “What frustrates me, you guys (city staff and HDR) worked your butts off to make sure that we weren’t overpaying. You just wonder how many other cities they’re doing this to. We have no choice. We have to move forward with this.”

City Manager Toby Dougherty echoed the mayor’s frustration. “We had a very competitive short-listing process. CDM had people on site the most. Between Round 1 and Round 2 of proprietary meetings, they are the ones that continued to invest the time and the money and effort to find ways to save costs. They earned it (the contract award), and earned it in a way that made us think they would follow through,” Dougherty said.

“I think the capability was there. I think the ball was dropped on their end during the project, on the execution side, as Stan mentioned. It wasn’t a matter of capability. It was a matter of getting the job done.”

Although he thinks there was “a legitimate effort to offer the city more than you said you needed, they just lost control,” Christopher reiterated. “They lost control at the execution and didn’t know where they were and didn’t get the resources they needed to complete it.” He added that he understands “everybody in their Wichita office is gone now.” Christopher reported last week the CDM Wichita vice-president, who addressed the city commission Dec. 10, was fired four months into the Hays project.

“I do remember sitting here and them talking about being able to come in under budget and under schedule,” said Commissioner Jones. “Then when they came back at the 30% (design submittal/cost estimate) they kept adding all these things like effluent water tanks. I didn’t speak up because they came in around the budget, and thought, well, we’re getting this extra stuff.

“But we made it very clear that this was our price ($27.6 million). I was very surprised when we came back last fall and got wind of all this. I kept hoping this big of a company would come back and make it right with us….they would lose money…but I was hoping they would be able to still make the budget.”

Jones commended city staff for their efforts, and the other commissioners nodded their appreciation.

“I’m glad we pulled the reins when we did,” he declared. “It’s very upsetting but we have to move forward.”

CDM began work Jan. 2, 2016. The city terminated its contract with the company Aug. 18, 2016, after a meeting Aug. 9 in which the final Phase 1 proposal from CDM was a GMP of $30,748,102.

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

In the first week of his presidency, President Donald Trump signed many executive orders, one of which was a 90-day temporary travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries.

Since then, Homeland Security has suspended the implementation of the travel ban after a ruling by a federal judge, but it has still forced Fort Hays State University to look at and make some changes to how they handle the visas and the green cards of its employees.

“In light of some of that and the current legislation that is pending and stuff federally, we have pseudo-adjusted our timelines for visas and green cards,” said Kerry Wasinger, FHSU general counsel.

In the past, when FHSU would first hire a faculty member needing a visa, then they would go through the application process for a H1-B, which is a type of visa that lasts for three years, according to Wasinger. Following the three years, FHSU would apply for an extension for another three years.

“The reason for that is that they would be in the sixth year of their tenure process,” Wasinger said. “After that, we determined if we wanted to sponsor a green card, which is their permanent residence card.”

Due to the changes, FHSU will still have its employees needing a visa go through the H1-B application for the three years and will still extend for the following three years, but now will not wait as long into the second three years to decide to sponsor a green card.

“At this point in time, it’s taking way too long, and we are going to end up losing faculty,” Wasinger said.

RELATED: Should the travel ban be reinstated? Take the Hays Post poll.

In the last two months, Wasinger has found the approval process is taking longer than usual, which is another reason the university changed its process.

“We don’t want to be a month before the end of the semester and, all of a sudden, someone does not have work authorization,” she said.

FHSU does not have any faculty on visas from the seven countries on the temporary ban list so do not have any faculty fully affected. But it does have three faculty members with green cards from the countries on the banned list.

“The green card holders are pseudo-affected,” Wasinger said.

The faculty with green cards are only affected in such as sense that they cannot visit their home country, but are not on any deportation lists, according to Wasinger.

“They are affected, but not to the same degree as the visa holders,” she said.

FHSU also has no students with visas from the seven countries on the list.