SHERMAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Thursday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Chevy Impala driven by Trina E. Brutsche, 63, Goodland, was southbound in the 600 Block of Caldwell three block east of Main Street.

The Chevy struck Ernest Garza, 53, Goodland, who came from the west side of the street.
Garza was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center. Brutsche was properly restrained at the time of the accident and not injured, according to the KHP.

Today Partly sunny, with a high near 35. South southeast wind around 6 mph.

Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. East wind 3 to 6 mph.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 19. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

SundaySunny, with a high near 41. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon.

Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 20.

MondaySunny, with a high near 43.

ELLIS – City leaders in Ellis are talking about how to help local businesses thrive.

One proposal is a retail sales tax rebate.

During Monday’s city council meeting, members discussed the definition of a new business, and whether to allow businesses that opened in 2018 and are not under a current business incentive policy into the new program.

New retail businesses would be allowed to choose the sales tax rebate program or the existing utility incentive program.

The discussion will continue at the next city council meeting.

In other business, City Attorney Olavee Raub reported the second real estate contract for the water exploration project has been received.  The city hopes to finalize the purchase by the end of the year.

The complete Dec. 3 meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

December 3, 2018

 

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Susan Eaton, Jolene Niernberger, Dena Patee, and Bob Redger.  Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates (arrived at 8:40 p.m.), and City Attorney Olavee Raub.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

None

PUBLIC PRESENT

Martin LaBarge, Steve Ferland, and Gary Luea.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on November 19, 2018 and Bills Ordinance #2058.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

None

SPECIAL ORDER

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Parks: Special Project

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that no bids were received from contractors for construction of the South Park bathrooms.  Prior to requesting the entire project be bid out, Council had asked Mr. Scheuerman to present individual bids for materials and labor for the City to construct the bathrooms.  Those bids totaled $19,200.  Mr. Scheuerman noted he would like to revisit the construction project in the spring; however, updated bids may need to be obtained.  Council expressed concern that the individual bids have already been made public.

General Government: Policy

City Clerk Amy Burton and City Attorney Olavee Raub presented the proposed Retail Sales Tax Rebate Policy.  Council discussed the definition of a new business, and whether to allow businesses that opened in 2018 and are not under a current business incentive policy into the new program.  New retail businesses will be allowed to choose the sales tax rebate program or the existing utility incentive program.  Council suggested several revisions to the policy for further consideration at the next Council meeting.

Sewer: Repair/Maintenance

Mr. Scheuerman discussed possible options for the use of budgeted funds for investigation into the City’s inflow and infiltration (I&I) issue at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  An engineer has suggested the use of a flow meter during dry and wet periods to compare water amounts flowing through a particular area to try to narrow down where the I&I may be occurring.  Mr. Scheuerman would like to wait until next year to hire a service contractor in order to combine the budgeted funds for 2018 and 2019 in hopes to get a reduced fee to camera more linear feet of sewer line.  It was the consensus of Council to allow Mr. Scheuerman to obtain quotes for five flow meters.

NEW BUSINESS

General Government: Licenses/Permits

Council member Dena Patee moved to approve the Application for License to Sell Cereal Malt Beverages for Rich’s IGA, Weber’s Service & Repair, and Love’s Travel Stops.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

Sewer: Acquisition

Council member Dena Patee moved to approve the purchase of polymer from Brenntag for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $5,620.20, with funds to come from the Sewer Utility fund.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reminded residents that City Code prohibits residents and snow removal contractors from pushing or piling snow onto City streets.  Council then discussed the desired specifications for the two pickups to be purchased in 2019.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Department’s Monthly Activity Report for November and the December Staff Calendar.  Chief Yates reviewed an email from Ellis County Emergency Manager Darin Myers regarding a grant for the 911 Emergency systems.

City Clerk

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the October Health Insurance Savings Report.  The City’s Christmas Party will be January 5^th at the VFW Hall.

General Government: Financial

The Clerk’s office has experienced an influx of insufficient checks returned for various payments.  This is putting a strain on the Petty Cash fund, where the insufficient checks are accounted for until collected.  After further discussion regarding procedures and the use of the fund, Council member Bret Andries moved to direct City Attorney Olavee Raub to draft an ordinance increasing the Petty Cash Fund to $2,500 effective December 1^st, and to authorize City Clerk Amy Burton to increase the Petty Cash fund immediately due to the emergency situation of lack of funds available.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

Attorney

City Attorney Olavee Raub reported that the second real estate contract for the Water Exploration Project has been received.  Ms. Raub has started preparing the closing documents and hopes to have the land purchase finalized by the end of the year.

Ms. Raub provided information regarding the possible ordinance suggested by the League regarding small cell communication antennas that was discussed at the last meeting.  The FCC has adopted new rules limiting state and local control; however, governments have the ability to adopt an ordinance specifying aesthetic requirements.  Ms. Raub will provide additional information in the Council packets for the next meeting.

Mayor Update and Announcements

None

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried 6-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

FHSU University Relations

Spring commencement 2019 at Fort Hays State University will see a change in the program: Friday’s commencement ceremony will become a morning affair.

“The Commencement Committee, in conjunction with the Commencement Task Force created by President Mason, made this recommendation based on feedback from students, families, faculty and staff,” said Registrar Craig Karlin.

FHSU President Tisa Mason appointed the task force earlier this year to consider issues of convenience and comfort. The commencement site, Gross Memorial Coliseum, is not air conditioned and temperature can become an issue on a May evening.

“Anyone who attended the Friday ceremony in the past knows the temperature rises to a dangerous level in Gross Memorial Coliseum during the evening event,” said Karlin. “We hope to provide a safe and more enjoyable venue for all in attendance by taking advantage of cooler morning temperatures.”

Both spring 2019 commencement ceremonies, Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, will begin at 9 a.m.

More information, including which colleges attend on which day, is available HERE.

Another change coming next year, said Karlin, is a fall ceremony for all graduates. That graduation ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13.

“The intent is to provide a more convenient ceremony for the growing number of December graduates,” said Karlin. “This, in turn, will help reduce crowd sizes at the May ceremonies, which have become increasing large as the university has grown.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners will get their first look Thursday at proposed plans for $1.1 million in street maintenance projects next year.

During tonight’s work session, staff will present plans for seal coat, rejuvenator, micro-surfacing, diamond grinding, curb and brick repair, major rehab, sidewalk improvements, and in-house crack seal and asphalt repair during 2019.

The project will be funded by state and city monies.

“We get money from the special highway tax every year,” explained Jacob Wood, assistant city manager. “We get about $500,000 from that. It’s part of your gas tax that you pay to the state and comes back to the city.”

Most of the remaining half million dollars will come from the city’s general fund, along with some minor revenue sources.

Major street improvements such as the recently completed Allen Street are not part of the annual maintenance program.

“This is the just the minor stuff like chip sealing and filling potholes,” Wood added.

He noted that potholes are fixed year round, although this is an especially busy time.

“It’s just a weather thing this time of year. When it gets cold and hot, water freezes and thaws and creates those things. We have crews out right now trying to repair those potholes.”

Also on the Dec. 6 agenda is an update of the city’s boundaries after several properties were annexed into the city limits.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Ellis County Fire and Emergency Management will be testing tornado sirens across the county Thursday afternoon, said Darin Myers, department director.

Every siren in the county will be tested over the next few hours, he said.

On Thursday, incumbent 111th District State Rep. Eber Phelps, D-Hays, announced he would not contest the results of a razor-thin general election loss last month.

After a recount, Phelps was defeated by Republican Ellis County Commissioner Barb Wasinger by 35 votes.

—————–

Here is Phelps’ statement:

The result of the recent election for the 111th District state representative is another example of the old adage that every vote counts. With a mere 35 votes separating me and my opponent it is clear the adage still holds true.

It is essential that everyone from the candidate to the electorate should feel confident that an election was accurately conducted without question. In the case of the 2018 local house race that has not been the case due to the use of questionable and outdated voting machines.

It seems incongruous for votes cast on paper ballots to have voted convincingly for me; votes on the two machines at the clerk’s office to have voted more than 50 percent% for me; voters at most of the precincts who voted via machine to vote for me; yet in two of the precincts where I had won the paper and early votes, my opponent recorded enough votes on machines that appear not to have been calibrated and which malfunctioned during election day to make up a deficit of nearly 200 votes and finish 35 votes ahead.

Thus, a lengthy effort was implemented to ensure that all votes could be verified. In the days and weeks since the canvassing of votes a number of supporters indicated they were planning to contest the election results because they were not confident that the machine vote count was accurate.

Today, I have called several individuals and asked that they not contest the results, even though many questions still remain. Those questions center on the use of electronic voting machines. The voting machines used in Ellis County are beset by many problems due to length of time in service and the difficulty in verifying a ballot which is why I have always opted and will continue to request a paper ballot. I continue to receive reports that people thought they were voting for me but the machines instead showed a vote for my opponent. It does appear that the machines in Ellis County are outmoded, not allowed to be purchased in Kansas anymore, and have been poorly maintained for many years.

I would’ve preferred to follow the wishes of my supporters and contested the results but the difficulty in obtaining information from the county clerk in a timely manner thwarted that effort. With the start of the session nearing, I felt it more important to have representation in Topeka in place at the start of the session. I will continue the quest for accurate elections with a request to the county to simply do away with the voting machines and go back to the reliable and accountable paper ballot. There is no need to spend thousands of dollars purchasing a new system when we have a reliable way to conduct honest and accurate elections.

To those who participated in my campaign in one way or another and cast a vote in my favor not only this past November but in years past, I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation. Your support has been humbling and I will be forever grateful for your confidence. My interest in state government will remain with me and I will continue to be a voice for Ellis County and western Kansas.

State Rep. Eber Phelps, D-Hays

MANHATTAN – On Tuesday, more than 400 Farm Bureau members of Kansas wrapped up business for their farm organization at Kansas Farm Bureau’s 100th annual meeting.

The policies adopted will now become the organization’s road map for the 2019 legislative session.
Topics of discussion included rural broadband, fence law and water.

Montgomery County farmer Richard Felts was re-elected as president. Others elected to the board of directors include:

• George Pretz, Miami County
• Steven McCloud, Harvey County
• Doug Zillinger, Phillips County
• Joe Jury, Gray County
• Kevin Holle, Rawlins County

Other activities included a host of agriculture-related workshops and speakers including American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President and Kansan Dale Moore, Executive Director of Communications at AFBF, Mace Thornton and Vice President of Private and Public Partnerships for The Outreach Program, Rick McNary.

Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, along with Representatives Roger Marshall and Ron Estes addressed the organization’s membership Sunday evening during the kick-off banquet. On Tuesday, members heard from Lynn Rogers, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas-elect.

The Ellis County Historical Society, 100 W. Seventh, will host a Christmas Open House on Friday.

Omer Knoll, local Volga German artist, will kick off the evening at 6:30 p.m. with a talk about his life and works. We will display our new acquisitions of his work, including a never-before-seen bronze portrait of the Leo Dreiling family, as well as pieces from Mr. Knoll’s private collection. Knoll is well known for his rendering of the Fish-within-a-Fish, a large fossil found by George Sternberg. He also sculpted publicly respected busts of John F. Kennedy, Dr. Michael DeBakey, and Leo and Albina Dreiling.

New this year, we will offer guided tours of the exhibit gallery. These aren’t your normal museum tours! Be prepared to laugh as Bryan “Buzz” Snyder-Brown, local comedian, tells about his favorite stories from Ellis County. Join Buzz for tours at 7:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. We discourage children from attending the latest tour to leave room for a little adult humor.

Mary Kay Schippers, local author, will be in our Museum Store to promote and sign her new book, “The Return to the Family Farm: still learning life lessons.” This is the third installment in Schippers’s series preserving the legacy of her family farm. Previous installments are “A Year on the Family Farm,” and “Another Year on the Family Farm.” All three titles will be available for purchase.

The following musicians also will appear through the evening in the Stone Church: Wayne & Tammy Lang at 7 p.m., Ellis Junior Choir at 8 p.m., and Randy Mader from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available.

Ellis County Historical Society, founded in 1972, collects, preserves, and exhibits items and documents that illustrate the history of Ellis County.

— Submitted

FHSU University Relations

To kick off the holiday season, Fort Hays State University is inviting the public to the annual tree lighting ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6, in front of Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus.

The event will include hot cocoa, carols and cookies. Sleigh rides, Santa and other holiday fun activities will be available for families and students.

The event is sponsored by FHSU Greek life, the Office of the President, the International Student Services Office, campus intramurals, FHSU Athletics, the University Activities Board, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Excellence, and Wendy’s Restaurants.

The event is free and open to the public.

Shopko announced Wednesday plans to close 39 stores across the country, including six in Kansas, according to a media release.

The Green Bay, Wis.-based retailer is closing the locations, most of them Shopko Hometown stores, after a liquidation sale.

The sale starts on Dec. 7. The stores are expected to close at the end of the February include locations in Russell, Phillipsburg, Larned, Clay Center, Lyons and Anthony.