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Category: Local

City Commission Approves Special Use Permits for Tattoo Studios

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Junction City Commission at work

The Junction City Commission has approved special use permits for two tattoo studios downtown.

One is for a brand new tattoo studio at 924 North Washington Street. Planning and Zoning Director Troy Livingston reported that Todd Godfrey is the new owner at that location. Livingston stated, “That building’s been vacant for quite some time. He’s going to renovate it. I believe he’s already started with the hopes of putting a tattoo parlor in there. he’s got a partner that he’s going to be doing business with. That would be nice to get that facility back up to standards and get things rolling like they should, generate some tax revenue.”

The Commission also approved a special use permit for the relocation of a tattoo studio on 7th Street to 703 North Washington Street.

 

No Merger Between Geary Community Hospital and Salina Regional Health Center

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Aerial View of Geary Community Hospital

Exploratory merger talks between Geary Community Hospital and Salina Regional Health Center have come to an end with a decision not to proceed any further.

According to Michael Terry, CEO of Salina Regional Health Center, “After review of the study, the board has decided that is not the right time for the Salina Regional Health Center to continue down the path of negotiations with Geary Community Hospital. We continue to wish them success in the future.”

Geary Community Hospital CEO, Joe Stratton , remarked, “Over the past year Salina Regional and Geary Community Hospital have spent a notable amount of time in the study of a potential partnership, yet in the end we’re just not able to move ahead.”

The exploratory phase began in August 2017 to examine the potential of a long-term strategic alliance between the two hospitals.

The due diligence was completed by Eide Bailly LLP, a regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm. A consultant with Eide Bailly presented its study to the Salina Regional Board of Trustees at its November 15th Board meeting.

Military Retirees immediately eligible for IMCOM security jobs, no waiver required

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Military members who have retired within the past 180 days are now eligible to apply for one of the vacant Army Installation Management Command security guard positions at Fort Riley without requiring a waiver.Most Department of the Army civilian positions require the retiree to have been retired over 180 days or request a waiver to apply. In October, IMCOM Headquarters waived this requirement specifically for security guard positions. Directors and garrison commanders now have the authority to approve the appointment of recently retired members of the Armed Forces applying for those positions.

“The 180-day waiver is a very powerful tool in our ability to timely hire recently retired service members,” said William Paskow, chief of police. “It is a positive factor for the individual, as they are eligible for federal employment immediately after retirement. Additionally, it provides the hiring agency a broader pool of qualified candidates that are eager to continue serving the nation.”

Soldiers have filled many of these positions and those are now being converted to civilian manning. This allows more time for Soldiers to receive the training needed to be prepared for any mission, any time, in any part of the world.

“Our Soldiers spend time learning job skills, discipline, time management, teamwork, perseverance and leadership including hands-on education and field instruction,” said Col. Stephen Shrader, garrison commander. “This all takes time and we want them to be highly trained so they can be ready to fight tonight.”

Positions for all shifts will be hired and training will be provided to selected candidates. In addition to the 180-day waiver, additional incentives may be available for selected applicants if funds are available.

“A group retention bonus of 10 percent and a recruitment incentive up to 10 percent may be available for applicants who meet the requirements,” said Mark Dombrowski, Directorate of Emergency Services security branch chief.

For more information or to apply, visit
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/513036900 or call the Civilian
Personnel Advisory Center at 785-239-6004.

City Commission Supports Camso Project

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The Junction City Commission has taken action to support Camso.

The governing body authorized the issuance of a taxable industrial revenue bond totaling up to $6 million for a project where the company will put a local operation in the I-70 Industrial Park. They will manufacture tracks for agricultural equipment.

City Manager Allen Dinkel confirmed the city is not liable for repayment of the bonds. He noted that the  City will own the building during the IRB process and the owners of the building are going to make a payment in lieu of taxes in an amount equal to the 2017 taxes. “They will for the next 10 years, we’ll get a pilot payment. It’ll go to all the entities just as it does now. What the IRB does is it locked in the taxes for a 10-year period.”

The City Commission voted during their meeting Tuesday night to issue the taxable industrial revenue bond.

Shop Local!

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Junction City Mayor Pat Landes

Shop local is a key message coming from the Tuesday night Junction City Commission meeting.

Mayor Pat Landes has signed a proclamation declaring this coming Saturday ( Nov. 24 ) Small Business Saturday in Junction City. The mayor told the city commission audience it’s easy in this day and age to purchase items online.” A lot is lost when you do that, when you don’t give a fair shot to the local guy that pays rent, pays taxes, has employees working for him. doing his best he can to make things work or you can save two bucks by buying it online.”

Landes noted every dollar spent in Junction City supports families and businesses and all sorts of things in town. “So that dollar that you spend gets recycled time and time again by spending it local.”

The proclamation was issued as the Christmas holiday season approaches.

Thanksgiving Meal Options

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Geary Community Hospital will not be hosting a  community-wide Thanksgiving meal in the Bistro this year. If you are seeking a place to get a good Thanksgiving meal they have, however, compiled some options.

There is a free Thanksgiving breakfast at the Junction City Municipal Building, provided by Community Servants, Inc. You must be registered and bring your ticket with you. If you are interested you can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/attend-free-thanksgiving-day-breakfast-november-22-2018-tickets-52191358759. Veterans and 55+ will be served beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. for all others.

There is a free Community Thanksgiving dinner at the First Presbyterian Church, 113 West Fifth Street from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. If you are homebound, call to request a delivered meal by 4 p.m. Tuesday at 785-762-2780. Provide your name and address.

The Cracker Barrel restaurant will be open on Thursday and they will be serving a “Homestyle Turkey N’Dressing Meal” beginning at 11 a.m. for $10.

 

No Trash / Garbage pick-up by the City on Thanksgiving Day

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The Junction City Public Works Director Ray Ibarra has announced that there will be no trash / garbage pick-up by the City of Junction City on Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

However, trash / garbage pick-up will be done the next work day. For example Thursday’s pick-up day will be Friday and the Friday pick-up day will be Saturday.

In order to ensure pick-up your trash should be set out by 6 a.m. Friday. Carts should be removed from the curb-alley by the following day of their scheduled pick-up.

D.E. Lacer Featured in American Pickers

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D.E. Lacer

D.E. Lacer of Lacer Motors in Junction CIty was featured on the History Channel program American Pickers Monday evening.

A crew from the show came to the Junction City area about four months ago and filmed a segment on the classic car collection owned by D.E. Lacer. The collection was put together over the years by his parents, L.L. and Darlene Lacer. “It was more about my mom and my dad, the story behind the collection. That’s one thing about American Pickers, they kind of make it more about the story of the collection, not so much the collection which made me happy.”

D.E. enjoyed his time on the program. which consisted of a segment approximately 20 to 25 minutes in length. “I did, it was kind of fun. Plus it was good for Junction CIty to bring something like that to Junction City.”

The car collection at Lacer’s auto warehouse ranges from a 1955 Manta Ray to a 1964 Cadillac Coupe DeVille.

Shefelton, Martinez Elected

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The November election is over.

On Monday announcements at the Geary County Commission meeting included Robert Shefelton Jr. elected as the Clerk for Lyon Township and Henry Martinez the Clerk for the Smoky Hill Township.

Shefelton was one of six people who received one vote in the general election so straws were drawn to determine the winner. The others were Michele Brethour, Terry Seaman, Tiffany Havener-Cook, Kurt Janke and somebody named only Marshall on the ballot.

Martinez was elected via a coin flip. Martinez and Cori Jackson had both received two votes.

Both Martinez and Shefelton were elected to four-year terms.

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