The Final Master Order for the R9 Ranch long-term water project is off the desk of the Chief Engineer of the Division of Water Resources (DWR), announced Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller on Thursday night.
“He (David Barfield) finished the order as he said he would. It is now under consideration by Division of Water Resources attorneys and then we will get to look at it as well,” Schwaller said at the end of the city commission work session. “Once that Master Order is reviewed, it will be issued.”
“It will become official,” added City Manager Toby Dougherty, “and the start of the Water Transfer (Act) is contingent upon an approved change order.”
“So, we cannot start that process until it is approved.”
The Final Master Order is set up to be contingently approved with a clause that if the cities of Hays and Russell are not successful in negotiating the transfer process, none of the changes will take effect, Dougherty explained.
The next step, he said, is for the cities to “start pressing the three agency heads to begin moving forward with the water transfer process.”
By state law, once the Final Master Order is issued, the Water Transfer Act will be triggered. The act still requires approval within 18 months from a three-person panel consisting of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary or the KDHE Director of the Division of Environment, the head of the Kansas Water Office, and the chief engineer of the KDA/DWR. The state agriculture department oversees the Division of Water Resources.
“So one step is down. Two more to go. We’re very excited about that,” Schwaller added.
The Hays Public Library has hired Jeremy Gill to serve as the Kansas Room coordinator. In this role, Gill will oversee the Dorothy D. Richards Kansas Room.
Gill previously worked at Thomas More Prep-Marian and for the Fort Hays State Historic Site. He graduated from Fort Hays State University with both his bachelor’s and master’s in history.
“I am passionate about local, regional, and Great Plains history and am excited to assist patrons with research questions pertaining to these topics,” Gill said.
He also said he wants to improve access to resources and develop new programming for the library. Gill began working at the library on March 4.
The Dorothy D. Richards Kansas Collection contains nonfiction and fiction books about the history of Kansas and the West. Genealogy resources are available, as well as, a special collection having to do with Volga German families. In addition, there is microfilm of Ellis County newspapers and Ellis County Census Records.
Kylie Geist, RN, and Ann Arnold, RN, were recognized as HaysMed DAISY Award winners.
Geist works on the acute care unit, and Arnold works in the special nurse services unit.
Geist and Arnold were selected from a group of blinded nominations voted on by the HaysMed Practice Committee. The Practice Committee consists of staff and supervisors from a variety of departments across HaysMed. Nominations are received from patients and family members, physicians, volunteers and associates for nurses in inpatient, outpatient and clinic settings.
“Their nominations epitomize teamwork, leadership and customer service,” said Terry Siek, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at HaysMed. “We are so fortunate to have nurses of (their) caliber and dedication working at HaysMed.”
Arnold
The DAISY Award is a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. HaysMed is proud to be a DAISY Award Hospital Partner, recognizing one of our nurses with this special honor every quarter.
To nominate a HaysMed nurse for the DAISY Award online, go to www.haysmed.com/daisyaward. For more information, call (785) 623-2388.
Are you detail-oriented and enjoy supporting your fellow coworkers? Would you like to have a vested interest in your company where you will see your efforts benefit the company and the community? If so, we are looking for you at Eagle Communications!
Eagle Communications is 100% employee-owned and we are hiring for a full-time Administrative Assistant. This person would be instrumental in the corporate office’s day-to-day operations. The position is located in Hays, KS.
Responsibilities:
– Answering phones and receiving the public.
– Data processing, recordkeeping, and filing.
– Developing and maintaining documents and forms.
– Providing support to management and employees.
– Planning and coordinating company meetings and events.
– Supporting community outreach efforts.
– Maintaining internal communications through emails, newsletters and social media.
– Scheduling conference rooms and corporate vehicle.
– General office upkeep including ordering supplies, mailing and shipping.
– Basic accounting and bookkeeping functions.
Qualifications/Experience:
-Two years related experience preferred.
– Familiar with Microsoft Office programs and Adobe Acrobat.
– Previous accounting or bookkeeping experience preferred.
– Knowledge of office equipment such as printers, copiers, and fax machines.
– Proper phone etiquette.
– Ability to speak and write clearly and accurately.
– Demonstrated proficiency in typing and grammar.
– Multi-tasking capabilities.
– Interpersonal skills and create a positive experience for others.
– Desire to be proactive and creative.
Salary:
Compensation is commensurate with experience, along with a competitive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), paid vacation, and employee stock ownership plan.
Other information:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The selected candidate will be required to pass a criminal history background check and motor vehicle check. Eagle Communications is an Employee-Owned company and an EEO employer.
Last year was the third wettest year on record for the city of Hays.
In 2018, Hays received 37.55 inches of moisture, just a quarter-inch shy of 37.99 inches that fell in 1993 – the second wettest year.
Official daily records have been kept by the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town since 1868.
Still, the abundant moisture does not mean an end or even slowdown of the city’s water conservation programs started in 1992.
Holly Dickman, Hays water conservation specialist
“We’re in really great shape right now. The seasonal drought outlook is good for us showing no drought at least through April,” said Holly Dickman, Hays’ water conservation specialist. “The soils are very saturated right now.”
She presented a wrap up of the water conservation programs in 2018 to city commissioners last week and talked about what will be done in 2019.
The high efficiency toilet rebate program was the most popular in 2018 and Dickman expects the same this year. Most of the rebates were for residences.
TOILET REBATES 2018
449 toilets replaced at a cost of $38,200 to the city
289 replaced in 2017
Potential 2,934,853 gallons of water saved
WASHING MACHINE REBATES 2018
91 washing machines replaced at a cost of $9,100 to the city
89 replaced in 2017
81% of machines had Integrated Water Factor (IWF) of 3.2 gallons or less
Potential 691,849 gallons of water saved
URINAL REBATES 2018
3 urinals replaced at a cost of $900 to the city
Potential 191,625 gallons of water saved
Urinal rebate eliminated for 2019
TURF CONVERSION 2018
9 turf conversions of 12,734 sq. ft. at a cost of $9,023 to the city
26 conversions in 2017
Average rebate of $931.40
Pending conversions of 18,864 sq. ft.
LOW FLOW SHOWER HEAD PROGRAM 2018
146 shower heads distributed
103 distributed in 2017
Potential 852,640 gallons of water saved
Last year was slow for turf conversions due to the plentiful rain. Several pre-inspections are pending. Property owners have one year to complete the work.
The urinal rebate is not a popular program according to Dickman and has been eliminated for 2019. She noted the Golden Q Sports Bar & Grill was the sole participant last year.
“If there is a commercial business that would like to replace their urinals, I encourage them to contact me. There are other ways we can help facilitate that,” she added.
Notable projects of 2018 included the change out in Jan. of 98 toilets by the Fort Hays Inn, 2524 Vine, to models with a 1.28 gallon per flush (gpf).
In 2017, the motel used an average 7,890 cu. ft. of water per month. In 2018, that was reduced to 2,704 cu. ft. per month.
Tiger Mart convenience store, 335 W. 8th St., changed out a water-cooled ice machine for an air-cooled model in Aug. Average monthly water use for the ice machine was reduced to 620 cu. ft. from 2,400 cu. ft.
“Those are phenomenal,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs.
Commissioner James Meier agreed. “Of course, we’re excited about the water savings, but the monetary savings. Think what that means to them. That has to be thousands of dollars.”
(Click to enlarge)
Dickman shared a list of 18 types of education and outreach she uses, “in all ways, shapes and forms,” saying it all comes down to communication. “The more variety, the better.”
Dickman also noted the revamped city of Hays website includes a blue topic button on the front page and a featured column for water conservation information.
A new mascot, Water$mart Wally,” was created last year and first introduced to the Lincoln School third-graders.
The city of Hays and KSU Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds will host a free World Water Day Fun Fest for children 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Thu., March 14 in the lobby of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive.
The Hays High School Hope Pantry was the recipient of the Young Children Priority One Project.
Kiwanis clubs from across the state collected donations to benefit the HHS Pantry.
Melissa Romme, president of the Kiwanis Club of Hays, presented checks, cash and gift cards totaling more than $1,000, as well as numerous non-perishable food and hygiene items.
The USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence recently donated $475 to the USD 489 Hope Pantry.
The donation will be used to aid the Hope Pantry in purchasing food items for spring break food boxes that will be distributed to families in need.
Sixty USD 489 families will receive food boxes this week for students who may not otherwise have sufficient food to eat over the extended break.
Several board members volunteered to help package the boxes before they were sent to the schools.
NCK Tech held its 13th annual GMAW welding competition on the Beloit campus. Participants for the college division included students from both NCK Tech Beloit and Hays campus, Salina Area Technical College, Central Community College of Hastings, NE and Hutchinson Community College.
The competition allows students to demonstrate their skills in blueprint reading, fabricate various weldments and highlight their ability to weld in all positions using the GMAW process. A written test also was given to evaluate technical knowledge of the GMAW process.
NCK Tech students from the Beloit campus placed eight students in the top ten. Those students include 1st Chase Mueller (Ellsworth), 2nd Joel Gifford (Fall City, NE), 3rd Devin Princ (Beloit), 4th Gavin Siebold (Clay Center), 5th Kody Odle (Stockton), 9th Tyler Lovell (Yuma, CO) and 10th Chris Erickson (Downs).
The high school competition had over 30 schools and 100 competitors.
McPherson High School took first place followed by Hays High taking second place and Beloit High School with third place. Area students placing included Matt Fross (3rd) Hays High School, Ryan Broeckelman (4th) and Jacob Burks (10th) Beloit High School.
The annual event could only take place with support from various business and industry leaders along with volunteers from the college.
Both campuses of NCK Tech offer a nine-month certificate program. Applications are now being accepted for 2019-2020 school year. For more information visit www.ncktc.edu.
By MARK TALLMAN Kansas Association of School Boards
What do Kansans want for their children?
Commissioner of Education Randy Watson and Deputy Commissioner Brad Neuenswander told 600 educators at the Kansans Can and Do Symposium on Tuesday that the State Board of Education tried to sum it up as follows: they want kids to be happy, have a sense of fulfillment, give back to others and have at least two educational credentials: a high school diploma and a postsecondary degree or certificate that allows them to earn a middle class living.
Those goals are embodied in the State Board’s Kansans Can outcomes, which call on all school districts to raise the high school graduation rate, increase postsecondary success, improve kindergarten readiness, provide each student an individualized, career-focused plan of student, and address social and emotional needs.
Those goals reflect the input of over 2,000 Kansans in meetings around the state four years ago, when 70 percent of community members and 81 percent of business leaders said non-academic skills are the biggest needs of students, as well as the on-going responses when parents, educators, community members are polled.
The problems: suicide rates by youth are rising. Thirteen-percent of seniors last year failed to complete a diploma. Less than half of Kansans are completing a credential beyond high school.
The reason, said the two leaders, is not a lack of effort, but that schools “are out of balance.” Schools are still structured around academic content with too little formal attention to the non-academic skills parents and employers says are important and leaving too many students unengaged or damaged by non-school factors.
The answer, they said, is the Kansas school redesign process. “The system is begging us to do something different,” said Watson. “It’s not the students that have to change. It’s the adults.”
The first wave of the State Board’s school redesign process, the seven-district, 14-school Mercury phase, launched this year. The second round, Gemini 1, 21 districts launched this year or no later than the spring of 2020. In February 2018, KSDE announced the third phase – Gemini II: The Space Walk Begins. Nineteen school districts were selected as participants for Gemini II in April 2018. With that announcement, Kansas has 47 districts and 110 schools taking part in school redesign. Applications are underway for the Apollo round, which will be begin implementation in the fall of 2020.
To address the five Kansans Can outcome, the schools in the redesign process must address the following four principles: (1) Student success skills, (2) Personalized learning, (3) Family, business, and community partnerships, and (4) Real work applications.
According to the Commissioner, those four principles will eventually be merged in the still-new state accreditation system called KESA (Kansas Education Systems Accreditation). “At some point, redesign stops being redesign, because it is what everyone will be doing,” he said.
The two leaders cautioned that there is no single path to effective school design. “We (at the state education department) don’t have the answers,” said Neuenswander. “Our goal is to remove roadblocks and help lead you through a process that matches the goals of your community with your students’ needs.”
“Look at models for ideas, not to copy,” advised Watson.
Mark Tallman is associate executive director for advocacy and communications for the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Randy ClinkscalesA few weeks ago, I cooked a ham and invited two of my sons over to have dinner with my wife and I. When we got to the table, my son Josh told a story.
The day before, he had received one of those emails—the kind that you open up and your computer is instantly filled with a virus. He has warned me about those emails.
Despite that, after looking at the email he decided to open it. It contained an attachment. After examining it closely, he decided to open it as well.
At dinner Josh read us the email. It was from a woman in Michigan. Her son is in the first grade, and he had brought home a book from school that he was to read to her for his homework. The attachment to the email was a photograph of the inside of the book. In it was a note that said, “To Josh Clinkscales, Valentine’s Day 1990, Grampy and Grammie Stucky.”
When all of us sitting at the table looked at the page, we instantly recognized Grammie Stucky’s handwriting. Grammie was my wife’s mother, Josh’s grandmother.
There was just a moment of silence and pause, of astonishment, but also of reflection.
In my office, we work with a lot of families dealing with significant chronic illnesses. With those families, a care coordinator (usually a social worker or registered nurse) works with that family to help deal with the aging or chronic illness progress. Usually, we work with those families for the remainder of their lifetime. At the passing of a client, we meet with their family for a final meeting.
By this point, we have become in many ways part of the family. I am always astonished at what I hear from those meetings: reflections of the joy of remembering, stories, and lessons. While there is certainly a sense of loss, there is also a sense of recognition of the importance of the person in the family, and the warmth that brings.
So many of my clients have had such strong, positive influences on not only their children, but their grandchildren as well. They live on through the lessons they have passed on. They live on through their expressions of kindness during their lives. They live on through the moralities that they have taught, both in words and by deeds. They live on through their influences that will not only affect their children and their grandchildren, but generations to come.
When we were sitting at the dinner table looking at that book, with the handwriting of Grammie Stucky, we really felt the presence of Grammie and Grampy in the room as if it were 1990 all over again. It was as if they were standing over us, smiling. We could feel the warmth of the glow of their presence, and we all knew that they were still with us.
Our lives mean more than the property we pass onto our family on our death. Our lives are those lessons, experiences, and stories that we pass on. My lesson from Grammie and Grampy is that the way that I treat my family greatly influences how they will remember me, and how they will treat others.
How did the woman find out about Grammie and Grampy? Apparently the book had been purchased on Amazon. When she read the inscription she started doing some research and found Grammie Stucky’s obituary and it all made sense. She even noted that they got the book in February, the book was from February of 1990, and Grammie had passed away in February of 2017.
The world sure seemed smaller and warmer than it did the day before.
Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.
Friday Night A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. East southeast wind 13 to 16 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 45. Windy, with a west northwest wind 13 to 18 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.
Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 7 to 16 mph.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 43.
Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 21.
MondayA chance of snow before 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 11am, then a chance of rain after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
HUTCHINSON – The TMP-Marian Monarchs hit a season-high nine three-pointers and shot a season-high 67% from the floor while holding Maur Hill Mount Academy to just 34% as the eight-seed Monarchs upset the number-one seed Ravens 73-51 Thursday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson.
Bill Meagher postgame interview
The two teams traded baskets in the early minutes of the first quarter and a three-point play gave the Ravens a 6-5 lead with under 5:45 to play in the first quarter but the Monarchs answered with a 10-2 run sparked by a Ryan Karlin three to give TMP a 15-8 lead. They lead 15-11 after one quarter.
Maur Hill was able to close the deficit to just one at 17-16 early in the second quarter before Ryan Stoeklein connected on his second of four-first half three’s and added a two-point jumped to put TMP up 22-16.
In that second quarter the Ravens outscored the Monarchs 20-19 thanks to Zachary Schwinn. He scored 11 of his game-high 19 in the quarter helping the Ravens closed the gap to 34-31 at the break.
In the third quarter, with the Monarchs leading 39-37, TMP finished the quarter on a 11-1 run to take a 50-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Monarchs made 17 of 18 free throws to secure the 73-51 win.
Game highlights
Ryan Karlin led two Monarchs in double-figures with 17 and Ryan Stoecklein added 14, all in the first half.
The Monarchs improve to 14-11 on the season and will take on Girard who downed Kingman 57-40.
Hays Public Library’s Little Free Library at Seven Hills Park. Ellis plans to implement a similar community book exchange.
ELLIS – Visitors to three parks in Ellis will soon be able to enjoy a community book exchange program.
City council members Monday approved the provision of materials and installation of the boxes by the Public Works Dept.
Todd Keller of the Washington Grade School PTO presented the presented the idea to the council during their meeting. The PTO helped finance the cost of the materials for the boxes, and a woodshop class constructed the boxes.
The council also accepted a low bid of $2,000 from Luke Karlin for replacement of the swimming pool house roof.
In other business, a lengthy discussion was held about establishing an emergency snow route. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman was directed to design such a route while City Clerk Amy Burton will research applicable traffic ordinances in other Kansas towns.
The complete unofficial meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
March 4, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Steve Ferland, Martin LaBarge, and Jolene Niernberger. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, and Police Chief Taft Yates. Council member Bob Redger and City Attorney Olavee Raub were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel requested the addition of Consideration of Emergency Sewer Repairs under New Business.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Glen Keller, Steve Homburg, Barbara Perkins, Cameron Reed, Todd Keller, Vernie Pritchett, Travis Roland (arrived at 7:50 p.m.), Jake Schartz (arrived at 7:57 p.m.), Jason Armstrong (arrived at 7:58 p.m.), and Brad Leiker (arrived at 8:05 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 18, 2019 and Bills Ordinance #2064. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Vernie Pritchett expressed her support of the City’s swimming pool project. Ms. Pritchett works as a Foster Grandparent at Washington Grade School and believes the swimming pool is an important activity for our youth.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Parks: Special Project
Todd Keller, Washington Grade School PTO, presented a sample “book box” for use in a community book exchange program. The PTO helped finance the cost of the materials for the boxes, and Mr. Carroll’s woodshop class constructed the boxes. Mr. Keller is requesting the City’s assistance with allowing the boxes to be placed in three City parks and for Public Works’ assistance in mounting the boxes. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to support the placement of the book exchange boxes in Swimming Pool, Play World, and South Walnut parks, and for the Public Works Department to provide the materials and installation of the boxes in the respective parks. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Swimming Pool: Repair/Maintenance
The City solicited sealed bids for labor to remove the old shingles at the pool house and to replace with metal roofing. Mayor David McDaniel opened the following bids: Eck & Eck Construction – $4,200.00 and Luke Karlin – $2,000.00. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to accept the bid from Luke Karlin in the amount of $2,000.00 to replace the roof at the swimming pool, with funds to come from the Capital Improvement Fund. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Parks: Event Request
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Public Property Permit Application and the Event Request for Traffic Control for the Chrysler Car Show to be held at Chrysler Park on June 1, 2019. Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Policy
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the revisions to the Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank Program as presented. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The revision specifies that newly eligible employees have ninety days to enter the program once the required hours are accumulated.
General Government: Policy
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Small Cell Aesthetic Standards with the minor revision noted on Page 3. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Sewer: Repair/Maintenance
The update on the status of obtaining right-of-ways for the Cedar Lane lift station project will be tabled due to the City Attorney’s absence.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two bids for the purchase of a Skid-Steer loader, with the recommendation to accept the low bid from Bobcat. The current machine is 20 years old and has a severe hydraulic leak. After discussion, Council member Martin LaBarge moved to accept the bid from Bobcat for the S595 T4 Skid-Steer loader in the amount of $37,688.79, less trade-in of $7,500 for a total price of $30,188.79, with funds to come from the Special Machinery Fund. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Mr. Scheuerman continued by presenting bids for the purchase of a jack hammer attachment for the skid-steer loader. He recommends the low bid from Bobcat. The current attachment is ten years old, and Mr. Scheuerman stated that no repairs have been needed to the equipment thus far. Council member Steve Ferland moved to accept the bid from Bobcat for the NB160 jack hammer attachment in the amount of $5,212.84, less trade-in of $1,500, for a total price of $3,712.84, with funds to come from the Special Machinery Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner questioned if the funds would be better utilized on a piece of equipment that needs replaced more urgently. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 3-2, with Council members Steve Ferland, Jolene Niernberger, and Bret Andries voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Martin LaBarge and Holly Aschenbrenner voting opposed.
NEW BUSINESS
Parks: Event Request
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Public Property Permit Application from the Kohl family for the use of Chrysler Park on July 19th and 20th for a family reunion. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Economic Development: Policy
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Application for New Retail Business Incentive Partial Sales Tax Rebate for Auto Standard, LLC. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Policy
Council entered into a lengthy discussion regarding the establishment of an emergency snow route. Currently, the City only has primary snow routes for clearing snow. Council member Martin LaBarge stressed the safety factor of having an established route, and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman concurred by stating he has witnessed numerous close calls of vehicles not giving staff adequate space to maneuver the big equipment. Establishing a designated route would prohibit vehicles from that roadway until the snow was cleared. Council discussed various factors such as traffic control, ticketing violators, contracting with a towing company, signage, and the possible route itself. Council requested Mr. Scheuerman provide a proposed emergency snow route at the next Council meeting and for City Clerk Amy Burton to request sample ordinances from the Clerk’s List Serve.
Personnel: Policy
City Clerk Amy Burton presented a proposed revision to the Personnel Policy. The Public Works Department has requested Council remove the stipulation that treatment of the streets for adverse conditions is always treated as a one-hour minimum scheduled call-out. By removing the stipulation, call-outs will follow the already established “scheduled” or “emergency” provisions, whichever the case may be. Council member Martin LaBarge moved to remove the stipulation that treatment of adverse street conditions is always calculated as a one-hour minimum call-out. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Campground: Special Project
The Ellis Alumni Association has requested a donation for their annual golf tournament. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to donate two – two-night stays at the Lakeside Campground. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman requested ratification of the invoice from Flatlander Dirt Works, LLC. The company hauled one extra load of street material than needed due to miscommunication with APAC on the amount of rock previously hauled. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner questioned why the City should pay for the overage when it was the contractor’s error. Mr. Scheuerman explained the City will use the extra rock either this year or next; it just wasn’t needed for the current project. Council member Bret Andries moved to ratify the invoice from Flatlander Dirt Works, LLC in the amount of $11,479.20, an overage of $229.20. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed and Council member Steve Ferland abstaining.
Sewer: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman informed Council of a sewer line problem in the area of 10th and 11th Streets from Spruce to Monroe. The sewer line backed up earlier today, with a similar issue in early February. Both times the sewer line was jetted to clear any obstruction. Mr. Scheuerman presented two bids to camera the sewer line to determine what is causing the issue. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to accept the low bid from Utility Maintenance Contractors, LLC to camera the sewer line at an amount not to exceed $3,000, with funds to come from the Sewer Depreciation Reserve fund. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) has submitted a letter stating the City has received a Class 6 rating for 1&2 family residential properties and a Class 7 rating for commercial and industrial property. The rating will apply to new buildings receiving a Certificate of Occupancy after January 1, 2019.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for February and the March Staff Calendar.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the draft minutes from the recent Campground Committee meeting.
The Swimming Pool Committee has drafted an informational flyer explaining the grant project for a new swimming pool. Council requested Ms. Burton contact the engineer to gather more details of the proposed new pool to include in the flyer. The Committee hopes to include the flyer with the April 1st utility bills.
Ms. Burton informed Council of the need to develop a policy at the auditor’s request regarding donations. The City receives numerous donation requests each year, and it would be helpful to have criteria to follow.
The annual Community Blood Screening will be March 6th from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. in Council chambers.
Darin Myers, Ellis County Emergency Manager, has requested Council attendance at an Incident Command Overview course on March 27th in Hays.
Ms. Burton met with the City’s health insurance administrators and reported that the City’s premium costs for the year are .87% below projections.
Attorney
None
Mayor Update and Announcements
None
Executive Session
Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman. Council member Steve Ferland moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 9:51 p.m. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
Executive Session
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 5 minutes to discuss personnel in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 9:57 p.m. Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
Executive Session
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 5 minutes to discuss personnel in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 10:02 p.m. Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bret Andries moved and Council member Steve Ferland seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:03 p.m.
