The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has adopted a bond resolution which officials confirm will keep the local property tax levy from rising as the school district builds a new Junction City High School.

Public Finance Investment Banker Dustin Avey of Piper Jaffray & Co. said one of the biggest components of the bond project was no increase in the mill levy for the school district. A key part of that was locking in long term interest rates for USD 475. “The resolution approved this evening authorizes us to proceed with that process to secure interest rates. Interest rate volatility is certainly unknown but it is certainly out there. Rates are nearing historical lows of the last 30 years so there may not be a better time to put the district in a position to make sure those rates get locked in so we can meet its mill levy commitment.”

The plan is to lock in interest rates early next week for a 25-year period.

The bond resolution includes taxable bonds totaling $41.5 million, non-taxable funds of approximately $26 million, the state match with the non-taxed bonds for the high school project, and the refinancing of two earlier bond issues….series 2005 and 2007. Superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt stated all of that will ensure the property tax levy does not have to be raised for the new high school.

The Board of Education voted 5-1 for the bond resolution, but one member Dr. Anwar Khoury was opposed. He wanted another month to get a second opinion from another firm. But Board member Brian Field arguing in support of the resolution, noted if the BOE passed this resolution now they could keep their word on the property tax levy, and if they did not they would run the risk of not being able to do that.  The majority of the Board members agreed with the latter position.

The Geary County Commission sitting as the Board of Canvassers on Monday reviewed the votes from last week’s general election for city commission, city council, and school board races plus the bond issue question for a new Junction City High School.

The school question passed 1,887 to 1,479 votes, meaning the State of Kansas will pay 47% of the cost of a new high school. The remainder of the funding will come from federal heavy impact aid money to be received by Geary USD 475.

A total of 3,488 ballots were cast in all races combined, resulting in a voter turnout of 21.81%.

In the Junction City Commission race three were elected including Tim Brown as the top vote getter with 1,663 votes followed by Jeff Underhill with 1,345 and Nicholas Allbritton with 1,025.

In the USD 475 Board of Education race for a four-year term three were elected including Sarah Talley as the top vote getter with 1,978 votes followed by Rina D. Neal with 1,738 and David S. Walker with 1,498. In the race for a two-year unexpired term on the USD 475 Board of Education LaDonna Junghans was elected with 1,728 votes.

In the Milford City Council where two were elected Mike Overbay received 45 votes and Joey King 40 votes.

In the race for mayor in Grandview Plaza Rick Geike finished with 65 votes as the top vote getter.

The Board of Canvassers reviewed the provisional ballots from the election, but there were no changes in the outcome of any race or question, only in vote totals.

Farm Bureau Financial Services employees in Manhattan has recognized two veteran colleagues for their military service, presenting them with handcrafted quilts.

Jeremy Roush and Viola Moore were presented with the quilts during an event at the company’s offices in Manhattan on November 10. The quilts, which were handcrafted by fellow employees at Farm Bureau Financial Services, were given to Roush and Moore in honor of Veteran’s Day on November 11, 2017.

Jeremy Roush, a maintenance technician who has been with Farm Bureau Financial Services for two years, said, “It’s an absolute honor to work for a company that recognizes my veteran status in such a thoughtful way.”

“Words cannot describe how much I appreciate this quilt,” said Moore, a commercial services coordinator who has been with Farm Bureau Financial Services for 22 years. “I would like to thank my colleagues for all of their work on this very special gift.”