By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board rejected a $129,000 bid to replace a clock and intercom system at Hays High School.

The bid also included installing new wiring and cable for a new phone system and security cameras that were set to be purchased at a later date.

The clock, intercom and phone systems are original to the building and are outdated, said Rusty Lindsay, building and grounds director.

The phone system software is no longer supported, and the school has had problems with the system.

As the district looked at replacing the phone system, HHS began having problems with the HVAC system. The HVAC system failed this year because of a problem with the clock system.

Lindsay said the more serious problem is the phone system, but the district does not have money in the budget this year to replace it.

Superintendent John Thissen said, “We also know there is the possibility we could get into the school year next year and have a catastrophic issue with our phones. That is a possibility, so they are just trying to ready it so it will be as quick or fast as possible when that time comes when we have the money or we feel we have to do something.”

Lindsay said he planned on coming back to the board in the fall with options to replace the phone system, but he said regardless of what the district does to replace the phone system, the infrastructure covered on this bid has to be in place to install a new phone system.

Board member Lance Bickle asked if the facilities staff could install the cable.

The facilities staff is already committed to replacing more than 500 interior locks throughout the district buildings this summer. Scott Summers, technology director, and other staff are also going to be occupied with renovations at the Oak Park Medical Complex.

“A few weeks ago I din’t vote for the technology to move ahead the $250,000 for the iPads for the middle school,” Board President Mandy Fox said. “It wasn’t that I didn’t think we need those. It wasn’t because I don’t think that was something that didn’t need to be fixed. My problem on voting on some of these things to move forward is that I don’t understand that these are the greatest needs for that building or the district at this point in time.”

Lindsay said from a buildings and grounds perspective there is a need to take care of this issue at HHS.

“We are trying to address three other systems at the same time,” he said. “HVAC is something I have been coming in and talking to you about, and there is a great need there. Part of this system that we are replacing is the control part of the that. My failures this year have been on that side of it.”

The entire HVAC system went down earlier this school year because of one relays connected with the clock system failed, he said.

“In terms of total systems in that building,” Lindsay said, “this is my first step. It is my highest priority in terms of taking the next steps for it.”

Fox said, “It goes back to a facilities plan. I need a ranking system. When I go to work every day, I have a list. This is the most important thing and then this and then this. I fail to conceptualize that for the district. Not even on academic needs, just facilities. I need a list. If this doesn’t get fixed, we can’t operate.”

Lindsay said the problem is the facility needs are dynamic. He gave the example of roofs. The roof replacement at Roosevelt had to be moved up because of a more rapid deterioration in that roof.

“That is part of the problem of having systems that are all about the same age throughout the whole entire district,” he said. “You might have a plan that is static for you at that moment, but then it becomes dynamic because you have another system failure and that changes everything that you planned.”

Board member Sophia Rose Young also said she wished she had a better idea of what was happening with facilities.

Fox said to Lindsay, “I don’t like to put out fires. I like to plan. But I know you have been put in a position where you are putting out fires.”

Lindsay said he has a five-year capital improvement plan, some pieces of which are on schedule and other pieces are not.

Fox asked for estimates on the full phone and camera system. She said she thought the project needed to be done but said she needs more information. Lindsay agreed to bring back estimates.

The vote on the bid was 3-2. Commissioner Greg Schwartz was absent and Luke Oborny recused himself because he is employed by Nex-Tech, the low bidder on the project. A motion needs a majority of the seven members to pass, which is four votes.

Secure entrances

In other business, the board approved a project to add secure entrances at HHS and Hays Middle School. The district has received more than $86,000 in grants for the project. The district’s portion of these projects is $16,693. The district hopes to have the entrance project completed this summer.

The entrances will funnel visitors through the schools’ offices after the start of the school day.

Oak Park Complex

The board heard an update on the Oak Park Medical Complex renovation. They also briefly discussed renaming the facility, but no names were offered at this time.

By JOE BURNS
Washington County (Neb.) Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise

ARINGTON, Neb. — Volunteers from as far away as Hays gathered Saturday morning to squeegee mud, power wash chairs and clean up other remnants and debris from flooding in the village of Arlington and at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

The Washington County Fair Board and the Village of Arlington officials joined forces for a cleanup day.

Fair Board President Jason Cloudt said that once the floodwaters receded, Fair Board members and associate members initially concentrated on the Rybin Building and buildings with drywall to get them dried out.

On Saturday, the board’s goal was to expand the cleanup into all or at least the majority of the buildings, playground and garden spaces. Throughout the morning, teams of volunteers scooped out and power washed mud and water from the exhibit buildings and cleaned up debris.

Cloudt said he was pleased with the hard work and efforts of the nearly 100 volunteers. The majority of the volunteers who were raking, cleaning and spraying were from the greater Washington County area.

Then there was Connie Smith, who drove from her home in Hays on Friday to take part in the cleanup.

Smith said she was at home watching television and saw a story about a nurse who wanted to help Nebraska flood victims.

“I looked at my TV and said, ‘I can do that. There’s nothing holding me back,’” she told herself.

Smith contacted pastor Glen Hudson at Country Bible Church in Blair, who encouraged her to help. Smith drove from Kansas to Blair on Friday and planned to return home after the weekend. At the end of the month, she plans to travel with a team to continue to help.

After meeting at the fairgrounds to receive marching orders and grab a bite of breakfast provided by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, some of volunteers drove to Bell Creek Park to pick up corn stalks and flood debris along walk ways.

Arlington Board of Trustees Chairman Paul Krause said he was excited to see so many people out helping. He was also thankful for all of the people donating their personal equipment as well as time.

Both Cloudt and Krause expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Community Emergency Response Team in organizing the day and keeping track of volunteer hours.

The hours contributed by volunteers will help to meet the local cost of the cleanup.

County Emergency Manager Dan Douglas said the volunteer hours are trackable. He said that FEMA, the state and the local “entity” each pay a percentage of the cost of the cleanup. The volunteer hours can be used to help meet the local percentage cost.

Washington County Cares and Washington County Long-Term Recovery provided scrubbers, brushes and cleaning supplies as well as drinks and snacks for workers throughout the day.

The Salvation Army Disaster Relief mobile feeding unit arrived before noon to provide lunch for all of the volunteers.

A second cleanup day is already planned for this Saturday.

Washington County 4-H members will use their “Lend-A-Hand Service Day” to work at the fairgrounds. The service day will begin at 9 a.m. at the Rybin Building.

Republished with permission

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Sen. Rick Billinger (R-Goodland) doesn’t expect any proposal to expand Medicaid in Kansas to pass in the senate.

“I don’t think there’s 24 votes to get it out of committee. There may be, and if you get it out, it takes 27 votes to get it above the line. I don’t think either one is very realistic at all,” Billinger said. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

The state senator joined other local legislators Saturday in Hays for a forum hosted by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Kansas House has passed an expansion bill but two of the three state representatives at Saturday’s event voted against it.

Hays Republican Barbara Wasinger said she voted no because the problems with KanCare need to be fixed before it’s expanded. KanCare is the program through which the state of Kansas administers Medicaid.

“Right now what needs to be done is raising the reimbursement levels. The physicians, the hospitals will get more money just by raising the reimbursement levels to start with,” said Wasinger.

All the studies Wasinger has looked at indicate the “big hospitals will get all the money. Rural hospitals will get $30,000, maybe $40,000. That’s not gonna save them.

“We need to do something about our health care system and there’s great conversation with the Kansas Medical Association people, with the hospitals, that we need really need to take a look at what our health care delivery system is. How do we fix it?

“People are waiting all the time to get in to see doctors. If we add more people right away, we’re going to bump even more people further back on the waiting list.

“There’s so many issues that we need to address to make sure that any expansion helps everyone, not just KU Med Center, Via Christi.

“What rural Kansans need are pockets of health care that can help them right now and doctors that can take their claims, and that’s not happening.”

Wasinger said her vote was not a vote against rural Kansas, nor a vote against the health of rural Kansans.

“Let’s look at this. Let’s fix this and then go from there.”

Also voting against Medicaid expansion was Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra).  “We can’t afford it.”

Rahjes agreed with First Dist. Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend), who also participated in Saturday’s legislative forum. “We need a real discussion about rural health care,” Rahjes contends.

Rep. Leonard Mastroni (R-La Crosse) voted in favor of the bill. The majority of his constituents in the 117th District – comprised of eight counties – supported Medicaid expansion in a survey by Mastroni.

There are six critical access hospitals in the 117th District.

“According to a KHA (Kansas Hospital Association) study, Medicaid expansion would bring another $142,000 to our little critical access hospital in La Crosse,” Mastroni said. “I think that is a significant amount to help our rural hospitals.”

Pawnee Valley Hospital of Larned, part of the KU hospital system, is the largest critical access hospital in Mastroni’s district. An additional $450,000 would come to that hospital is Medicaid is expanded.

Mastroni is concerned about how long small hospitals can continue to afford accepting patients who can’t pay for their medical services.

“That’s a huge problem. It falls directly onto the shoulders of the local counties when that happens.”

As a former Rush County commissioner and judge, “Medicaid expansion is very important to me,” Mastroni stressed.

Both Mastroni and Wasinger joined a Tuesday tour of HaysMed with Kansas Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers.

The Democratic team of Rogers and Gov. Laura Kelley are advocating for Medicaid expansion. Kansas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

As Ellis County officials wrestle with the potential for some difficult budget decisions in the coming years, commissioner support for a county-wide sales tax continues to gain traction.

At Monday’s county commission meeting, all three commissioners expressed interest in bringing a county-wide sales tax to the voters.

The county’s major source of revenue is property tax based on assessed valuation and a sales tax would serve as an alternative funding source. Any proposed sales tax would need to be approved by the voters.

County sales tax can be set in quarter-cent increments up to 1 percent.

County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said Monday, based on tax collections in 2017, a quarter-cent sales tax would have generated about $1.55 million.

Commissioner Dustin Roths said he would be in favor of a quarter-cent sales tax that would go to fund Emergency Medical Services.

“Something that we provide that none of the municipalities provide on their own, (and) something that we could possibly market as a county when we are trying to attract people to use our communities in Ellis County for retirement communities,” Roths said.

Under state statute, the county could keep all the revenue of a sales tax specifically defined for health services.

Roths said with the annual EMS budget approximately $3 million, the additional $1.55 million from the sales tax would free up funds to go to fund other county departments.

Commissioner Butch Schlyer said he believes the county needs to do something.

“Following the next couple of budgets that we are going to be doing and the public sees the draconian cuts we’re going to be making, there might be more appetite for a sales tax with the voting public,” Schlyer said, “because it’s going to get bad before it gets any better.”

Schlyer and fellow Commissioner Dean Haselhorst both appeared to be in favor of a half-cent sales tax, but Haselhorst said he is not in favor of a tax that would not be shared among the other cities within the county.

“I know Victoria has projects they want to do. I know Schoenchen has projects they want to do. … Ellis is the same way,” Haselhorst said. “I just think it’s a good way going forward to work with not only the city of Hays but our outlying communities.”

Haselhorst said he would rather pay sales tax than property tax, a statement Schlyer and Roths agreed with.

If the sales tax is divided between the four cities within Ellis County, the percentages are based on population. The city of Hays would collect the largest share at 49.12 percent, Ellis County would get 41.65 percent, Ellis’ share would be 5.75 percent, the city of Victoria would get 3.06 percent and Schoenchen 0.41 percent.

“The only way I will vote for a sales tax is if the city of Hays gets their share, Schoenchen, all of them,” Haselhorst said.

Haselhorst said he does not believe the voters will support a sales tax that only benefits the county.

“I think that’s going to crash quicker than you can imagine,” Haselhorst said. “If we’re going to say Ellis County is going to keep it all, that’s going to crash. It may not, but I feel it’s going to crash.”

The idea of what is palatable to voters was a topic that weighed heavily on Monday’s discussion.

Roths said he believes that voters may be more open to passing a sales tax if it helps keep the current level of EMS service that is being provided.

He added that it will be an even more difficult discussion if the sales tax doesn’t pass and the commission is forced to look at scaling down — or eliminating some services.

“That would be just governing based on the idea that we don’t use those ambulances enough, but all we know that the people of Ellis (and) the people of Victoria are emotional about wanting to keep their things and that’s why we don’t ever like talking about them,” Roths said.

Commissioner Haselhorst said he would like to see the revenue earmarked for the Road and Bridge Department and EMS.

“Over the next 10 years, (Public Works Director) Bill Ring’s going to need $10 million to fix roads and bridges, if not more,” Haselhorst said. “Every year, (former Public Works Director) Mike Graf (and) Bill Ring always volunteered money out of money and, by doing that, we’ve created a shortfall for Bill.”

Schlyer said he doesn’t know if people in the city would support a sales tax that helps fund repairs to roads and bridges within the county.

“I don’t know that a lot of the people living in the city really care about what bridges we have to fix out here in the far ends of the county,” Schlyer said. “It could be much harder for people to vote for a sales tax when they never really see the result of that tax.

“I just felt like EMS would be a much easier sell to the public,” he added. “If we reach a point to where we say we’ve got to close up an ambulance in Ellis or Victoria, people are going to scream at us.”

Haselhorst was a member of the commission in 2013 when voters approved a sales tax passed to pay for construction of the Emergency Services building in Hays and the remodeling projects at the jail, courthouse and administrative office.

“It’s all about communication and being up front with the people and letting them know what we’re doing,” Haselhorst said. “Maybe they don’t get to the county very often, but the first time they go across country to Cedar Bluff Lake and they can’t get there because we closed the Golf Course Road because the bridge is out, I think that will be eye-opening.”

He said the potential success will be determined by how the commission, employees and county administrator Smith-Hanes “sells” it.

“Just to clarify, Mr. Chair, Phil will not be selling anything,” Smith-Hanes said. “Phil will be providing unbiased information to residents.”

In order for revenue to collection begin on Jan. 1, 2020, a special election would have to be called by the middle of September. If the vote was held during the next general election, in November 2020, a sales tax would go into effect April 1, 2021.

The commission plans to reach out to the city leaders of Hays, Victoria, Ellis and Schoenchen to get their input.

But all three commissioners stressed they needed to move forward with the budget process as if the vote would fail.

“We could take this to a vote, to the public and it may not pass,” Haselhorst said.

Roths added, “We have to basically govern this county like it will not pass until it does.”

The Fort Hays State University Alumni Association has welcomed Trent Rose to its staff as the communications coordinator.

“I’m excited to be a part of the FHSU Alumni Association,” said Rose. “I look forward to continuing to serve the university in this new role and providing service to many alumni and friends of FHSU.”

Rose is a two-time graduate of FHSU, receiving a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2002 and a master’s degree in communication studies in 2016.

Prior to joining the Alumni Association staff, Rose worked as an administrative specialist in the Provost Office at FHSU, and from 2005-2011 was an instructor and sports information director for Colby Community College.

“I am delighted to welcome Trent aboard,” said DeBra Prideaux, executive alumni and governmental relations director. “His expertise in the communication arena, including content management and social media and background in higher education, equip him to make a significant contribution to the growth of the association. He will be a tremendous asset to our team.”

Rose will be responsible for maintaining the Alumni Web presence, social media, publication of news releases, the bi-monthly e-Newsletter FHSU TigerTalk and the association’s pages in the university’s magazine, ROAR.

Established in 1916, the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association serves FHSU graduates by identifying needs and providing solutions. More than 69,000 graduates live throughout the United States and in 80 countries. For more information, contact the Alumni Office at 785-628-4430, toll free at 1-888-351-3591 or by email at [email protected].

HFD

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Wed., April 10, 2019 in the area of Ash St. to Allen St. between 1st St. and 10th St. This is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

FHSU University Relations

Local students are among the 25 who will serve as VIP Student Ambassadors for the 2019-2020 academic school year at Fort Hays State University.

Three returning ambassadors will be joined by 22 new ambassadors.

Ambassadors serve as official representatives for FHSU at a variety of special events, including Homecoming, athletic activities, presidential dinners and other gatherings. Students must be full-time undergraduate students with a minimum 2.5 grade point average and be able to assist with nine to 10 events per year.

Ambassadors, with classifications, majors and high schools, are listed by hometown.

COLWICH: Cole Murray, a junior majoring in health and human performance (sport and exercise therapy), is an Andale High School graduate.

COZAD, Neb.: Graham Applegate, a senior majoring in management, is a Cozad High School graduate.

DODGE CITY: Crystal Rojas, a sophomore majoring in political science, is a Dodge City High School graduate.
Ryan Schultz, a senior majoring in psychology, is a Dodge City High School graduate.

ELLIS: Haley Reiter, a sophomore majoring in tourism and hospitality management, is an Ellis High School graduate.

GREAT BEND: Allison Muth, a junior majoring in organizational leadership, is a Great Bend High School graduate.

HALSTEAD: Layke Heimerman, a junior majoring in communication, is a Halstead High School graduate.

HAYS: Morgan Choitz, a junior majoring in art, is a Thomas More Prep-Marian High School graduate.

LITTLE RIVER: Brady Stephenson, a KAMS student, will graduate from Little River High School.

MCCOOK, Neb.: Brenna Erdman, a junior majoring in psychology, is a McCook High School graduate. She is a returning VIP.

OMAHA, Neb.: Caden Frank, a junior majoring in organizational leadership, is a Millard West High School graduate.

OLATHE: Natalie Miller, a sophomore majoring in political science, is an Olathe High School graduate.

OSBORNE: Olivia Engler, a junior majoring in finance, is an Osborne High School graduate.

OSCEOLA, Neb.: Bradley DeMers, a junior majoring in history, is an Osceola High School graduate.

OTTAWA: Brandon Pfizenmaier, a sophomore majoring in accounting, is an Ottawa High School graduate.

PARK HILLS, Mo.: McKenzie Cunningham, a senior majoring in communication, is a Lesterville High School graduate.

PRATT: Jorja Elliott, a KAMS student, will graduate from Pratt High School.

RIVERTON, Neb.: Bailey Lewis, a senior majoring in accounting, is a Red Cloud High School graduate. She is a returning VIP.

SMITH CENTER: Galen Allen, a senior majoring in management, is a Smith Center High School graduate.

STILWELL: Kimberly Stone, a sophomore majoring in political science, is a Stanford Online High School graduate.

TOPEKA: Avary Huff, a junior majoring in tourism and hospitality management, is a Seaman High School graduate.

ULYSSES: Tyra Jo Hayden, a senior majoring in elementary education, is a Ulysses High School graduate.

WICHITA: William Barfield, a sophomore majoring in communication, is a Wichita East High School graduate.
Jackilyn Dougherty, a senior majoring in organizational leadership, is an Independent School graduate. She is a returning VIP.
Kaytee Wisley, a senior majoring in political science, is a Wichita Southeast High School graduate.

KDOT

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation announces the Kansas winners of the 2019 International Aviation Art Contest. The theme for this year’s contest was “My Dream to Fly.” The art contest is designed to challenge young people to illustrate the importance of aviation through art. Artists ages 6 to 17 were eligible to submit art that celebrates the adventure and excitement of aviation.

The first-place winner in each age group receives a prize package from the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education (KCAE), which includes a drone and a tablet among other prizes.

“This is an opportunity to demonstrate the impact of aviation in a fun and interactive way and to foster a new generation of aviators,” said Lindsey Dreiling, Deputy Director of KDOT Aviation and President of KCAE.

2019 Kansas winners are:

1st Place:
Abilene Zhang, Christ Lutheran School, Overland Park
Brittney Gillespie, Mulvane Middle School, Mulvane
LeeAnn Skinner, Lawrence Virtual School, Topeka

2nd Place:
Kaylen Foss, Derby Middle School, Derby
Trinity Bayliff, Mulvane Middle School, Mulvane
Isaiah Doherty, Haven Grade School, Haven

3rd Place:
Ashlee Taylor, Burrton High School, Burrton
Abraham Zhang, Christ Lutheran School, Overland Park
Liam McLoughlin, O’Loughlin Elementary, Hays

To see all the artwork, go to the KDOT Aviation page.

KDHE

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Bureau of Waste Management has announced the recipients of waste tire recycling grants. These annual solid waste grants are awarded to municipalities and school districts across the state. The grants total nearly $379,000 for 2019.

The waste tire recycling grants go toward funding safe surfacing at playgrounds, running tracks, picnic tables and benches made from waste tires.

This year’s 46 individual waste tire recycling grants range from $349 to $75,000. The grants are funded through a 25-cent tax paid on the purchase of new tires. The list of grantees can be found at https://www.kdheks.gov/waste/grants/SFY19WTGSpreadsheetFinal.pdf.

For more information on KDHE’s waste reduction grant opportunities and application procedures, visit www.kdheks.gov/waste.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 22 mph.

WednesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 82. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 22 mph.

Wednesday Night A chance of rain before 4am, then a chance of rain and snow. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Windy, with an east wind 17 to 26 mph becoming north northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

ThursdayA chance of snow before 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 11am, then a chance of rain after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Very windy, with a northwest wind 31 to 38 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Very windy, with a northwest wind 27 to 32 mph decreasing to 21 to 26 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph.

FridayMostly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy.

Friday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 27.

FHSU University Relations

The public is invited to Fort Hays State University at 10 a.m. Thursday when the largest single gift ever made to the university is announced at a news conference in the Memorial Union’s Sunset Atrium.

FHSU President Tisa Mason, President Emeritus Edward H. Hammond, Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke, and FHSU Foundation President and CEO Jason Williby will celebrate and honor the lives of donors Earl and Nonie Field and present details on how the Fields’ gift will be used to improve the lives of FHSU students for generations to come.

Beverages and light refreshments will be provided immediately following the news conference.