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UPDATE: Geary County Issues Withdrawl Notice from Chamber of Commerce Master Agreement

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UPDATE:

Financial concerns are a key part of the reason behind a Geary County decision to issue a notice of withdrawal from the consolidated Chamber of Commerce master agreement.

The Geary County Commission has sent a letter to city and chamber of commerce officials ahead of a July 1st deadline. This does leave time for discussion and negotiation because a withdrawal would not become effective December 1st.

Commissioner Keith Ascher said when he campaigned for office the concept of consolidation was fine, but from a closer viewpoint there are now some issues. The biggest one is financial. He discussed the declining transient guest tax revenues which are paid by users of hotel lodging facilities. “In an email last Friday that I received, we all received, we got some disturbing news that they were down again which should have been an up month. That timeliness prompted us to have some serious discussion on what to do. That’s what led to our motion and vote.”

Ascher added several factors play into the decreased numbers and one of them is more competition in the outlying areas.

Ascher noted there needs to be a better job of focusing on the marketing and promotion of tourism, conventions and the outdoors. He said the County is strapped to have the money because the transient guest tax numbers are down, county contributions to the Chamber to participate in the consolidation are steadily increasing so they’re “being squeezed on both ends.”

If there were concerns the County was required to submit a letter by July 1st. Ascher explained it buys tome time for discussion and they’re willing to have meetings with Chamber officials to see what can be found. The final date for any action to withdrawal from the consolidated agreement would be December 31st.

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Geary County has issued notice to withdraw from the master agreement for the consolidated Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Geary County Commission, through a letter drafted by their legal counsel, gave notice on Tuesday to Chamber and Junction City officials of their intention to withdraw from the agreement on December 31st. The notice was given prior to a requirement that the notice must be given on or before July 1st.

JCPost.com talked with Chamber Board President Stan Hambright and Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald Tuesday night to see if they know why the County wants to withdraw. They do not, but Fitzgerald is taking a wait and see attitude. “Well the only thing that I know is like we stated earlier, we got that letter hand delivered to us today and we’re just going to have to see what the County does as far as their negotiations back with the Chamber, and we’re just going to have to wait and see how that’s going to turn out.”

Fitzgerald announced during a Tuesday evening City Commission budget session that the letter had been received, and read it publicly during the meeting.

JCPost.com was able to contact Geary County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett at his residence. He chose not to comment on the reason for the desire to withdrawal, but said that he did not vote for it. Other members of the county commission, Keith Ascher and Charles Stimatze, have not yet been contacted.

In 2016 the county commission which then consisted of Bennett and two now former members, Florence Whitebread and Larry Hicks, expressed a desire for the county to withdraw from the master agreement with Whitebread and Hicks wanting discussion. At that time Bennett strongly supported maintaining a consolidated chamber. There were discussions and negotiations, and eventually the county voted to approve the master agreement.

Four agencies are under the consolidated chamber umbrella including the Membership Enhancement Division, the Military Affairs Council, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Economic Development Commission.

 

 

Buckle Up or Pay Triple the Fine, Starting July 1

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TOPEKA, Kan. (June 27, 2017) – AAA Kansas wants to remind motorists caught not buckling their seat belts in the state that they will need to dig deeper into their wallets, starting July 1, 2017. Traffic fines for seatbelt violations rise from $10 to $30 that day, thanks to a new law passed by the Kansas legislature and signed into law in May by Governor Brownback.

The law, passed as Senate Bill 89 (SB 89), triples the fine for a person 18 years and older who is not wearing a seat belt in a passenger car when that car is in motion. The new law directs $20 from each $30 seatbelt violation fine to the Seat Belt Safety Fund, which will be administered by the Secretary of Transportation and fund an expansion of the student-driven Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) program, making it available to every high school in Kansas.

“Our first preference is for everyone to simply wear their seatbelts whenever they are in a moving vehicle; seatbelts are proven to help limit injuries and deaths in crashes,” said AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward.

“AAA Kansas strongly supports this new law, in hopes that the higher fines will provide more of a deterrent to not wearing seatbelts,” Steward said. “An additional positive is that the law assures seatbelt education will be available to Kansas high schoolers through the effective SAFE program in the years ahead, funded through voluntary contributions from adults who choose to violate the seatbelt usage law.”

The positive impact of safety belt usage is significant. In 2016 in Kansas, 435 people died in motor vehicle crashes, making it one of the top ten causes of unintentional death in Kansas and the number one killer of teens. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), more than seven out of 10 (71 percent), on average, of all people killed or seriously injured in Kansas crashes are unrestrained.

Seatbelt Quick Facts

  • Seat belt use continued to be higher in the States in which vehicle occupants can be pulled over solely for not using seat belts (“primary law States”) as compared with the States with weaker enforcement laws (“secondary law States”) or without seat belt laws. Kansas is a primary seatbelt law state. (Source: NHTSA)
  • Nationally, seat belt use in 2016 reached 90.1 percent, up from 88.5 percent in 2015 (Source: NHTSA)
  • As of 2016, Kansas had an 87% seat belt usage rate. (Source: KTSRO)
  • Women are more likely to be belted than men.
  • Trucks, which account for about one in five vehicles observed, produce a substantially lower belt use rate (75%) than other vehicles (91%-93%).
  • Male truck drivers are the lowest single category of belt users (73%).
  • Rural counties tend to produce a lower belt use rate than urban counties.
  • The more “local” the trip, the less likely occupants are to be buckled up.

Forever a Big Red One Soldier – Victory with Honors for Brig. Gen. Pat Frank

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Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank and wife Jennifer accepting well wishes from guests at ceremony

Fort Riley and the First Infantry Division bid farewell to Acting Senior Commander Brigadier General Patrick D. Frank, but not before sending him off with a Victory with Honors ceremony.

Frank assumed duties as the Acting Senior Commander in October 2016 having previously served as the Deputy Commanding General for Support for the First Infantry Division (1ID).

A native New Yorker, Frank’s heart lies in Kansas.

“The intersection of Army values and Kansan values are what make Fort Riley such a special place to serve,” said Frank. “It is tough to leave the First Infantry Division.”

He and his wife Jennifer asked to come back to Fort Riley after previously serving in the 1st Infantry Division.

“I served as a Battalion Commander in combat with the Big Red One, I put battle streamers on the colors of the 28th Infantry Regiment – the Black Lions, that means a lot to me,” said Frank. “To look [in the crowd] and see those veterans that you served with when you were a Battalion Commander, a Lieutenant Colonel – that’s what it means to be a Big Red One soldier.”

The Victory with Honors ceremony ended with over 100 guests in attendance lining up to give Brig. Gen. Frank  and his wife Jennifer their well wishes.

“Those people that came through the line today, they’re all the supporters of the 1st Infantry Division, so all of our families that live off post, our soldiers that live off post – they take care of them, they bring them into their communities and make them feel like they’ve been neighbors there for 20 years; that’s why it’s important for us to tell the community how much they mean to this Division.”

British Army Major General Doug Chalmers, Deputy Commanding General III Corps in Fort Hood, Texas, presided over the ceremony. He noted that Brig. Gen. Frank had a unique ability to connect with the community through his strong interpersonal skills and humble nature.

Frank will next serve as the Deputy Commanding General of the Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Taking his place as the Acting Senior Commander is Brigadier General William A. Turner, the Deputy Commanding General for Sustainment of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad.

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County not in favor of special election to raise mil levy

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Geary County Department heads have been making tough decisions on their needs as the County prepares its 2018 budget.

Ben Bennett, County Commission Chairman, said there were cuts made in almost every department, but the County does not anticipate the need for a special election to increase the property tax levy.

“We have to make that decision this week and we’re in a position to do that; so if we come in to the point where we would need something like that, we would have to go back to the drawing board and make some additional cuts because we’re not going to ask for an election.”

A new state law would allow for a small increase in the tax levy, but anything beyond the allowable amount would require voter approval.

Bennett has made it clear that the County Commission wants to keep the levy the same or possibly lower.

County Addresses Complaints on Road Hauling Concerns for Westar Energy Project

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Some of the private company vehicles doing the early hauling work for the major Westar Energy substation project on Hawkinsmith Road in southeast Geary County have been traveling too fast.

Complaints were received from the public, with dust and safety concerns being part of the problem. That was confirmed by Geary County Commission Chairman Ben Bennett following a briefing from County Public Works this week. But Bennett also confirmed the issue has been addressed. “They did some tree trimming and some road work on the haul route. They’re also going to put down another layer of the dust control here in the first of August, I guess is when they’ll do that.”

A portion of the haul route to bring in materials and equipment for the project involves the use of a gravel road.

Nursing Shortage for Geary Community Hospital

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A nationwide nursing shortage is no stranger to Geary Community Hospital in Junction City.

The Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees was informed Tuesday that there is a nursing shortage at GCH. It is a challenge to retain qualified experienced nurses. Some do not want to work nights, weekends or on holidays, while there is local competition for their services. Higher pay elsewhere and moves by some nurses out of the area are also factors.

Dr. Joseph Stratton, Geary Community Hospital CEO, said there has been a nursing shortage at the hospital for about the last two years, and that’s not unique to this area of Kansas. “And so it’s been a struggle and we’re always looking for good nurses, and they’re so important to us. But we have to compete with all the area hospitals and other medical services, as well as Irwin Army Hospital, and the VA Clinic. Some of the nurses have left to go there and I think we probably lost at least six news there. ”

Stratton added it is a struggle. “We just can’t pay the same, and give the same benefits they do through the VA and Irwin Army.”

The Board was informed 34 nurses have left Geary Community Hospital since January. Seventeen percent of those went to Irwin Army or to locations such as the VA Clinic, or to other clinic, radiology or nursing jobs. Seventeen percent moved out of the area, and 12-percent relocated with a military member.

Moran: Senate healthcare bill missed the mark

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WASHINGTON – Republican leaders Tuesday abruptly delayed the vote on their health care bill until after the July 4th recess.

The GOP faced five defections from its ranks just hours after the Congressional Budget Office said the bill would force 22 million off insurance rolls.

 

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran said, “The Senate healthcare bill missed the mark for Kansans and therefore did not have my support.  I am pleased with the decision to delay the vote.

Now is the time to take a step back and take the full legislative process to work. I remain committed to continuing conversations with patients and providers in Kansas to find a path forward that truly replaces Obamacare with a plan that makes certain Kansans will have access to more affordable and better quality healthcare.”

 

JCPD arrest report

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In the 24 hour period on Monday, June 26th the Junction City Police Department (JCPD) reported that there were 56 calls for service with 11 citations issued and 5 arrests.

Officers reported the arrest of 27 year old Richard T. Wieting at a 2007 N. Madison Street location just after 11:00 pm for alleged indecent solicitation of a child and electronic sexual solicitation of a minor. Due to the nature of the crime, no additional information is available.

The JCPD also reports the arrest of 23 year old Tiara C. Singletary at a 1509 N Monroe Street location for alleged identity theft, criminal use of a financial card, and deprivation of property. Officers allege the reported charges occurred at 1808 N Washington Street in Junction City.

Assessed property valuation reduced by $3 million

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The assessed property valuation in Junction City has decreased by $3 million. Last week, County Commissioners announced that the County property valuation incurred a $2 million loss.

Allen Dinkel, City Manager, said that the City’s assessed valuation is received from the County.

“It’s based on the property values, ours went down $3 million and the County went down $2 million – and I know [you] are thinking [the County’s] should have went down more because they’re larger, but ag land probably increased a little bit because it’s a different formula,” said Dinkel.

Dinkel noted that the number is provided to City officials through the County Appraiser.

In order for the mil levy to stay the same in Junction City, some expenses will have to be cut. City Commissioners will have their final budget session for the 2018 budget on Tuesday (june 27th) evening.

Officials have not yet indicated where cuts will be made in the 2018 budget.

Severe thunderstorm moves through Geary County, potential for storms tonight

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A slow moving severe thunderstorm passed through Geary County this afternoon.

The first severe thunderstorm warning came just before 1:00 pm.

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, said that Milford Lake area received the brunt of the storm.

“Everything [was] over Milford Lake the north area by the dam and to the north of that,” said Berges who confirmed quarter sized hail around the base of the dam.

Continuous cloud to ground lightning was the primary threat of the storm; Berges confirmed no fire or damage due to lightning.

Junction City experienced rain and lightning with the storm.

According to the National Weather Service in Topeka, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop late tonight. The stronger storms across north central Kansas may produce small
hail and gusty winds.

There will be chances for strong to severe storms Wednesday through Thursday night. The potential exist for several rounds of storms, with locally heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.

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