Three full days of Freedom Fest are underway in Russell.

Residents gathered today at the Russell VFW for the Community BBQ, featuring a patriotic program at noon.  The Russell Fire Department performed the flag folding ceremony.

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution sang a medley of patriotic songs, including the Kansas state song:

An oversize birthday card marking favorite son Bob Dole’s 90th birthday is on display this holiday weekend for Russell residents to sign their names and good wishes.

The city is also observing Russell Oil Days.

 

 

 

Kansas has the nation’s second best and most cost-effective highway system, according to a new report by a libertarian research group.

The Reason Foundation listed Kansas second only to North Dakota on its annual highway report, which is based on 11 factors including spending, pavement conditions and highway deaths.

The rankings are largely based on information the state sent to the federal government that reflects spending and conditions from 2008 and 2009.

The study results follow a move by lawmakers this year to merge management of the Kansas Turnpike Authority into the Kansas Department of Transportation, a move some lawmakers from both parties warned could hamper the historically well-run Turnpike. It also follows the 2010 sales tax increase that channels four-tenths of a cent toward long-term highway improvements.

The nonprofit foundation, which lists David Koch among its trustees, says the 10,607 miles under the state of Kansas’ control have moved up one notch since the last two highway reports.

Kansas didn’t rank No. 1 in any single category, but it did well in almost all of them, the report shows.

“…there was only one area in which it did not best the U.S. average: its fatality rate was 15 percent higher than the national rate,” the study says. “And Kansas was able to achieve this performance in spite of spending 24 percent less than the U.S. average per-mile spending.”

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has agreed to pay a $477,500 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at three road construction sites that are located near Lawrence, Manhattan, and Pleasanton, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA Region 7 inspected the U.S. Highway 69 project near Pleasanton in November 2008, the U.S. Highway 59 project near Lawrence in August 2010, and the Kansas Highway 18 project near Manhattan in May 2012.

Violations included the failure to install or implement adequate stormwater control measures, including the failure to timely stabilize disturbed soils, the failure to properly maintain stormwater controls, the failure to develop an adequate stormwater pollution prevention plan and update the plan as appropriate, and the failure to maintain the plan and other records on site

EPA documented hundreds of violations based on site inspections and information requests.

The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. Once it is published in the Federal Register, a copy of the consent decree will be available on the Justice Department website at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

City of WaKeeney

408 Russell Ave., WaKeeney KS 67672

Regular Meeting Agenda Tuesday 7/2/13 at 7:00 PM

I. Roll Call

II. Approval of minutes of last meeting

III. Petitions, requests, complaints, guests, etc.

1. Angel Shaver, 209 N. 3rd Street. Ms. Wheelchair Kansas

2. Jody Zeman, Director, Trego County Economic Development

 

IV. Report of City Officers / Department Heads

1. City Administrator

a. Sale of city owned property (Galen Olson)

b. Subordination agreement for Golden Belt Bank for Darlene William CDBG rehab grant

c. Street name sign sample

d. Review of draft 2014 city budget

e. Review of June 2013 warrants

 

2. Mayor

a. Picnic table quotes for Pool Park Shelter

b. LKM Annual Conference – October 12-14, 2014 in Overland Park

 

V. Old / New Business

VI. Executive Session (if needed)

VII. Adjournment

 

Hay harvesting on right-of-way along state and federal highways without a permit is illegal and is trespassing, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

Haying permit applications are available at KDOT District and Area offices and are good for one year or a specific haying season. From April 1 to the end of each year, permits to harvest are issued in the order for which they are received.

Permits can be canceled at any time by either party and all operations shall be in accord with requirements and guidelines set by KDOT. Any person, firm or corporation wanting to mow or bale hay will need to submit a permit application to the KDOT office in their area.

For additional information, contact the Hays Area KDOT Office: (785) 625-9718.

A Ulysses native and former Miss Kansas contestant is using her interest in energy and water conservation as a new program director for the Climate and Energy Project based in Hutchinson.

Cassi Reimer comes to CEP from a recent position in North Carolina as an outdoor educator with Mountain Trail Outdoor School.  She also worked at Penn State University’s Environmental Center.

Reimer graduated from Southwestern College.  While there, she competed in the Miss Kansas pageant where her platform focused on energy efficiency initiatives.

Reimer will lead the Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission and coordinate an expanded version of the Take Charge Challenge. Her interest in energy and water use was fostered as a young person growing up on a farm in the southwest part of Kansas – where saving water and soil health was a way of life for her family.

The Climate and Energy Project seeks to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in America’s Heartland through the ambitious deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy, in policy and practice.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for boaters under the influence during Operation Dry Water June 28-30.

Operation Dry Water is part of a national effort to reduce accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence (BUI) of drugs and alcohol, and educate recreational boaters about the dangers of BUI.

During Operation Dry Water, officers will be out in force looking for boaters whose blood alcohol content exceeds the state limit of 0.08. The weekend will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, life jacket checks, and boater education. Impaired boaters can expect to be arrested or face other serious penalties. In Kansas, the consequences for BUI include fines, jail, and loss of boating privileges.

During the 2012 Operation Dry Water, eight arrests were made for BUI offenses.

“We are dedicated to keeping boaters safe on our waters. Boating is a safe and enjoyable pastime when people stay alert and follow the rules,” said Kansas boating law administrator Major Dan Hesket. “Many factors contribute to the way alcohol affects a person on the water, such as the sun, wind, glare, dehydration and wave motion, causing a person to become intoxicated three times faster than on shore.”

Last year Kansas recorded 27 boat accidents, of which two resulted in a fatality, 12 resulted in injuries, and 13 involved only property damage. Property damages were estimated at $112,321.

Kansas Interim Secretary of Administration Mark J. McGivern today announced that as of Monday, July 1, 2013, properly licensed firearms will be allowed in all State office buildings not exempted by law. The 2013 Kansas Legislature passed a measure permitting concealed carry of guns in public buildings with certain exceptions, and McGivern said his agency is complying with the intent of the new law.

“The Kansas Legislature clearly indicated the belief that properly licensed individuals should be allowed to exercise their right to carry concealed firearms in most public buildings,” said McGivern.

The new law stipulates that concealed carry is permitted in any state or municipal building “unless such building has adequate security measures to ensure that no weapons are permitted to be carried into such building . . . .” Although the State could exempt itself and prohibit concealed carry until January 1, 2014, the Department of Administration is not exercising an exemption for state-owned buildings.

The law defines a state or municipal building as “a building owned or leased by such public entity.”  The Department of Administration interprets the definition of a building leased by the State to include free standing buildings in which the State is the sole tenant.

In order to get clarification from the Attorney General on how the law should be applied to leased premises within a building where the State is not the sole tenant, the Department of Administration will exercise a six-month exemption for those properties.  McGivern said those buildings shall operate as they had prior to July 1, 2013.

State correctional facilities, courtrooms and law enforcement agencies are generally exempt from the new law.  Certain State health care facilities and post-secondary educational facilities may notify the Attorney General of six month and four-year exemptions to the law. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs have exercised six month extensions for their health care facilities throughout the state.

 

 

As part of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is providing a forum and survey to learn more about what park-goers want. Public input is desired on topics including managed park use, issues and needs, and the types of experiences park-goers hope to have in the future.

Public input gathered from the forum will be shared with the State Outdoor Recreation Plan Advisory Committee at their September meeting. The online forum, moderated by Dr. Sid Stevenson of Kansas State University, will focus on four topics during specific time frames:

June 21-July 4: Which outdoor recreation facilities are most in need of renovation or replacement at state and federal parks in Kansas to best enhance outdoor recreation experiences? Specific examples are welcomed.

July 5-July 18: Share a story of a meaningful outdoor recreation experience that you or your family had in Kansas and how the site where that experience took place contributed.

July 19-Aug. 1: Which of the following local outdoor recreation experiences would you like most to be within walking distance of your home (if you live in town)? Trails, picnic areas, sports venues, natural areas, playgrounds, etc.

Aug. 2-Aug. 15: Improved access to natural outdoor experiences, particularly those that are water-based, is important for urban dwellers. Please provide suggestions on how this can best be achieved and examples of success stories.

The Kansas Outdoor Recreation Needs and Issues survey, which is being offered in conjunction with the forum, will assist outdoor recreation planners and agency decision makers in developing strategies to address important issues facing outdoor recreation in Kansas over the next five to 10 years. Participants should expect to take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete the survey.

SCORP serves as a vision for outdoor recreation in Kansas. It is designed to meet the requirements of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCF) which requires states to have an approved State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan on file with the National Park Service.

For more information, visit ksoutdoorrecreation.blogspot.com.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Kansans that when lighting fireworks, they are playing with a type of explosive and there is no such thing as totally safe fireworks.

“Fireworks are comprised of dangerous chemicals and combustibles that can destroy property and injure people,” says Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal. “These deceptively simple objects explode, throw hot sparks through the air, and can often reach temperatures hotter than 1,200 degrees.”

During the week of the July 4^th celebrations in 2012, there were 197 reported fireworks-related injuries in Kansas.

Damage to personal and commercial property is another hazard of shooting fireworks. In 2011, there were 26 structure fires, 10 vehicle fires and 199 miscellaneous fires directly related to fireworks from around the state between May 1 and August 31. The total property loss from these fires was $408,125.

“The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend an outdoor public display conducted by specially trained pyrotechnic professionals, ” says Jorgensen.