USD 383 Board of Education

July 29, 2009

Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

The board voted 6-1 to discontinue the program at Ogden Elementary School which provided free school meals to all students.  A federal program had reimbursed the district for the costs of meals for students who qualify for free and reduced students.  The number of students at Ogden who qualify for free and reduced meals has declined, resulting in a decrease in reimbursement dollars such that the program will no longer pay for itself.  Curt Herrman was the dissenting vote.  

Board members discussed the "request for qualifications" (RFQ) document for the Construction Manager At-Risk (CMR) approach being considered for the high school construction projects.  The board discussed the pros and cons of allowing the CMR to self-perform any of the work.  The board, the project architect, and the district's project manager will have oversight of the CMR, even for work that is self-performed.  The board approved 6-1 the RFQ and to allow the CMR to self-perform work.  Walt Pesaresi voted "no."

The board discussed the 2009-10 budget and looked at reducing building supply budgets by 10%, not filling an administrator position, and reducing the Summer School budget.  The district's overall budget will decrease by $1.8 million due to decreased state funding.  The board had directed administration to develop different options for the capital outlay mill levy and the corresponding projects the different mill levies would fund.  Nancy Knopp thought that given the condition of the economy, the capital outlay mill levy should stay flat.  Other board members expressed an interest in increasing the capital outlay mill levy because the public had told the board during the bond campaign that it wanted to see facilities maintained.  The board approved 6-1 to develop a budget using a capital outlay mill levy of 5.5 mills, which was an increase from the current 3.27 mills.  Mrs. Knopp voted "no."

Riley County Commission

Joan Strickler, observer

All Commissioners present, Johnson presiding.

Considerable concern was expressed regarding a power outage occurring last Tuesday that affected, not only communications within county offices, but caused flooding in the basement of the courthouse. Sump pumps ceased working in the courthouse causing damage to storage files and equipment. Overall the outage resulted in approximately $17,000 in damage to county property. It was agreed to provide an emergency generator for the courthouse to keep sump pumps operating during power outages, and to develop a plan of action for personnel to use when similar problems develop in the future.

Commissioner Kearns offered a motion to enter into a partnership agreement with the federal government to assist with the U.S. Census. Motion passed.

Counselor Clancy Holeman gave an overview of problems related to giving permission for the Konza Music Festival to be held August 7 and 8 on private agricultural land. Such activities are not considered a lawful use under the zoning regulations. While the Festival could qualify for a conditional use permit, time considerations now make that impossible. The Commissioners could consider passing a resolution allowing the progam to take place, but, in doing so, would set up a process that could be used anytime by other parties. A Festival organizer, Evan Tuttle, offered to withdraw the request and take the actions needed to be able to hold the event next spring.

Commissioner McCulloh reported County Treasurer Eileen King has been named president-elect of the National Treasurer’s Association.

Park Director Rod Meredith provided a report on actions necessary to post speed limits on public roads. If the Commission wishes to lower speed limits relating to CICO Park, an engineering analysis utilizing vehicle traffic counts and speed studies would have to be performed. If the study indicates a need, the Commissioners would be required to pass a resolution to make the posting enforceable.

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Riley County Commission July 27, 2009

Submitted by Joan Strickler

Commissioner Johnson chaired, Kearns present. Commissioner McCulloh was attending a meeting of the National Association of Counties in Kansas City.

Commissioner Kearns raised the issue of a need to restrict speed on roads in parks to 20 miles an hour or less. He also suggested consideration be given to extending the period for motor vehicles to be registered from one to two years as a potential cost saving measure. It was agreed these topics should be discussed at the intergovernmental luncheon scheduled at noon.

County Counselor Clancy Holeman addressed plans to hold a Konza Music Festival on August 7 and 8. The event has been advertised as a fund raiser for the Manhattan Music Coalition. The location proposed for the festival is on land zoned agricultural and, as such, is not a permitted activity under County zoning regulations. Permission might have been granted if the group had applied for a conditional use permit, but time considerations now are too short for that process to take place.

Holeman said, should the group go ahead with the festival without permission, they could be subject to a misdemeanor offense and be fined up to $500 a day. It would be possible for the Commission to give permission for the event through signing a memorandum of agreement, but he cautioned this would break from the usual route of the conditional use permit and the requirements set out by that process.

Concerns raised primarily focused on safety issues. Does the group have liability insurance? How will access of minors to liquor be restricted? Other potential problems mentioned involved sanitary conditions, ambulance service, lighting, number of cars involved and provisions for safety in inclement weather.

The group has been invited to present its proposals to the Commission at the next meeting on July 30.

County Commission

County Commission meeting, Monday, July 20, 2009
Julie Merklin observing

All members were present.
The Board discussed a proposed regional planning group to include Riley County, Manhattan, KSU, Geary County, Ft. Riley and several other area entities. It would be funded by these entities in proportion to their population, the budget to be between $350,000 and $400,000. It would function as a point of contact between the participating groups and the agencies or entities that offer grants. It was decided that a work session should be held to investigate all of the possible ramifications of a regional planning group.

Clancy Holeman said that the Riley County Prescription Card is now available. It is free of charge, with no age or income limits. This card offers an average of 20% savings on regular priced common prescriptions and also a savings of up to 50% on 90 day supplies through mail service. Other savings are also available. Information at participating pharmacies, a list of which is available at www.rileycountyks.gov

Johnette Shepek presented the proposed budget for 2009-2010. The proposed mil levy is 31.234 which is 1.165 mils higher than the 2008-2009 year. This is necessary to make up for the expected revenue shortfall.

County Commission meeting Thursday, July 23, 2009
Julie Merklin observing

All members were present.
Karen McCulloh told the Board that she is looking forward to the National Association of Counties meeting in Nashville July 24-28 and hopes to bring back many ideas, especially concerning energy conservation..

The 4H Queen and King presented a cookie jar of prize winning cookies to the Commission and thanked them for their support of 4H.

Johnette Shepek updated the Commission on Capital Improvements, County Building, Economic Development and ½ cent Cent Sales Tax funds.

There was a presentation of plans for 7 wind turbines at the county shop site, 6215 Tuttle Creek Boulevard. It would be a research project of KSU which is applying for grant money from the US Dept. of Education. There are several varieties and power ratings proposed. Questions were raised about whether the turbines would encroach on land possibly to be used in the future for the county fair grounds as well as concerns about Fort Riley and their radar. There are also planning and zoning actions that the County will have to take. The Commission was supportive of the concept in general.

Riley County Law Board

July 20, 2009
Bob Kruh, Observer


Aside from routine items, the Board approved a proposal to establish a Community Advisory Board. Like such bodies in many other communities, this group is intended to assist the Director of the Riley County Police Department by 1) serving as a communications link between the Department and the public, 2) helping improve public understanding of the Department's role, and 3) advising the Department on issues, opportunities, and policies. Soon to be established, it consists of twelve members from the area, who will operate under recently completed bylaws and whose minutes will keep the Law Board informed of their deliberations. Importantly, the CAB is only advisory, and it has no power to establish policy nor to have a role in RCPD operations.

USD 383 Board of Education

July 15, 2009

Kathy Dzewaltowski, Observer

Regular meeting:

The board discussed the "request for qualifications" document for the Construction Manager At-Risk (CMR) approach that is being considered for the high school construction project, with the focus being whether the CMR will be allowed to self-perform any work.  Board members were in agreement to remove self-performance language from the request for qualifications document and will include it in the "request for proposals" document for the CMR.  Board members were also in agreement that a decision about self-performance needs to be made by August.  

Due to the number of students who have qualified for free and reduced school meals, Ogden Elementary has been able to provide free school meals to all students for the past 10 years through a federal program that reimburses the school district for the costs.  This coming school year, the food service director estimated that the number of students who will qualify for free and reduced meals will have decreased, resulting in a decrease of reimbursement dollars and an increase in costs to the district to continue the program.  Administration recommended discontinuing the program.  Board members were concerned about discontinuing the program so close to the start of the new school year and concerned about notifying families of the change.  The board decided to discuss the item further at its next meeting.

The board discussed the 2009-10 budget.  The district's general fund will decrease $1.8 million due to decreases in state aid and special education funding.  The district will be receiving stimulus funds and some additional Title I funding that will help balance the decrease.  The board also discussed the capital outlay mill levy and looked at two options:  one would put the mill levy at 3.27 mills and the other would set the mill levy at 4.5 mills.  Board members expressed that during the bond campaign, the public said it wants to see the district's facilities maintained.  Pete Paukstelis said he would like to consider a 5.5 mill levy for capital outlay, and Curt Herrman was interested in increasing the Local Option Budget.  The board directed administration to develop options for the Local Option Budget, the capital outlay mill levy, and a list of priorities.

The board approved a change to the Open Door Handbook which would require the home district of out-of-district students who are 16 or 17 years old and who enroll in USD 383's program after the official count date to pay $200 per half credit.

County Commission mtg July 9, 2009

All commissioners present.
Jennifer Wilson, Extension, announced plans for County Fair.
Lyle Butler, Chamber of Commerce, updated Commission on Economic Development activity. Three very good business prospects are continuing to mover forward with plans to come here. They involve high-tech, high paying jobs, but are not yet allowing public identification. American Eagle begins service from Manhattan airport on August 25, flight arriving at 2:45, with ribbon-cutting ceremony. Butler said a national news magazine has completed local interviews for an article featuring Manhattan (and other places) in September issue. The US Department of Labor has moved Manhattan area from "microarea" to Metropolitan area.. This includes areas in addition to Riley County. The NBAF construction and new hospital at Ft. Riley are the two largest construction projects in our immediate future. In answer to a question from McCullogh, Butler said the site of the proposed "Welcome center" at Hwy 177 and I-70 has been cleaned and cleared. Getting water to the site is still the greatest barrier to further progress.
Eileen King, Treasurer, gave her monthly financial report. Investment income is down, at half year 28% of whole year budget. Sales tax collections are down from last year, but at 60% of whole year budget. Among 25 top sales tax contributors, cars and retail are down, but groceries and utilities are up.
Clancy Holeman received approval from Commission to submit only three items for special support to the Kansas Association of Counties, in the coming Legislative session. Other items will also be mentioned as needing attention. Kearns will attend the KAC meeting on July 17 (all day) in Topeka.
Greg Vahrenberg, Managing Director of Piper Jaffray, explained the bond rating process. Riley County is rated by Moodie's. Our rating is AA3, exceptionally high for government entities. Criteria for ratings include general economic conditions, management practices, ratio of bonds to tax base, speed of payout of principal, etc.
After lunch, Pat Collins, Director of Emergency Services, was granted funding for replacement of the Console for Manhattan City Fire Department (making intercommunication among emergenty services easier) and for replacement of a repeater. Both approved 3-0.
A budget hearing following will be covered by Manhattan Mercury.
Submitted by Lyndal Nyberg, Observer.

Riley County Commission mtg July6, 2009

All Commissioners present.
Doug Messer, Assistant Fire Chief, reported that there was only one reported incident over the July 4 weekend, a small grass fire near Ogden on July 1.
Commissioner McCulloh announced that the Hazardous Waste trailer would be at Howie's on Saturday, July 13. Large items should be taken to the site on North Tuttle Creek Blvd. She said the quarterly pickup of hazardous waste for the 10-county area amounted to 23,000 pounds, including 8,175 pounds from Riley County.
Leon Hobson, Director of Public Works, updated the Commission on current projects.
Monty Wedel, Director of Planning and Development, led a work session on the Wildcat Creek bank stabilization project. FEMA is conducting a 2-year study using LIDAR sensing data, to revise the flood plain map of the area.
Commissioners approved (3-0) a change order request for the LEC expansion project, an additional cost which was not the fault of the present contractor.
Leon Hobson led a public hearing on the KDOT five-year plan. Commissioners approved the addition of one more project to the "waiting list" in case additional moneys become available from either the State or the Federal sources. (3-0)
Commissioners agreed (3-0) to allow an entity to issue bonds in the amount of $90,000 and sell them to a Wichita bank. The rate of 5.865% was considered suitable for such a small amount.
Other items handled at this meeting were not directly related to League positions.
Adjourned. Submitted by Lyndal Nyberg, Observer.

RILEY COUNTY-MANHATTAN
BOARD OF HEALTH
JUNE 24, 2009

Sue Cohen Observer


Updating the financial situation for 2009-2020 was the main focus of the board meeting. The loss in funding for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2009 is
$82000. Administrator Charles Murphy has had to trim staff some of whom had
been with the Health Department 20 years. “A tough thing to do”. An unexpected
cut came when KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) discontinued
an expected grant because Manhattan had successfully passed a no smoking ordinance and thus the grant money was to go to other places. Other grants will
kick in in January for support for child care and other grants are being written , one of which centers on other preventive health measures and also one dealing with
chronic diseases, a federal program and probably a slow process. Federal money from EPA will be minimal this year and there is very little money from the State of Kansas for Public Health. Administrator Murphy stated Kansas was either 4th or 6th from the bottom of the states in support for Public Health.
The board also acknowledged the 23 year services of Sharon Wolff who is retiring in mid July.

USD 383 Board of Education

July 1, 2009

Kathy Dzewaltowski, Observer

Work session:

The work session discussion focused on developing "requests for qualifications" for the Construction Management At-Risk approach that the board is considering for the high school construction projects.  Board members were undecided as to whether to allow the firm that is hired to be able to self-perform work.

Regular meeting:

The board broke from its tradition of electing the vice president (Susan Marshall) to be the new president, and instead, board members elected Nancy Knopp with a vote of 6-1 to be the new president.  The board elected Susan Marshall to serve again as vice president with a vote of 6-1.  Mrs. Marshall was the dissenting vote in both instances.  Mrs. Knopp is entering her 11th year of serving on the school board and previously served as board president in 2001-02 when the board closed two schools due to budget concerns.  Dave Colburn, who nominated Mrs. Knopp, said he felt she deserved the opportunity to serve as president under better circumstances.

The board was presented with schematic plans for the construction projects at Amanda Arnold and Ogden Elementary Schools.  Both plans included "safe rooms," which board members had previously expressed concerns about including in any plans due to costs and due to equity issues.  The board will be provided information about the costs in a few weeks after plans are finalized.  Board members approved 7-0 the schematic designs for both Amanda Arnold and Ogden.