Category Archives: Government

Food, Government, Kansas

Kansas Issues Fish Consumption Advisories for 2021

Leave a comment

 

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) are issuing fish consumption advisories for 2021.  The advisories identify types of fish or other aquatic animals that should be eaten in limited quantities or, in some cases, avoided altogether because of contamination.  General advice and Internet resources are also provided to aid the public in making informed decisions regarding the benefits as well as the risks associated with eating locally caught fish from Kansas waters.

 

Definitions:

 

Bottom-feeding fish:  buffalos, carp, carpsuckers, bullhead and channel catfish, sturgeons, and suckers.

 

Predatory fish: blue catfish, crappies, drum, flathead catfish, largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, perches, sunfish, white bass, wiper, striper, walleye, saugeye, and sauger.

 

Shellfish: mussels, clams, and crayfish.

 

Serving size (skinless fish fillets before cooking):

 

Adults and Children age 13 and older = 8 ounces

Children age 6 to 12 = 4 ounces

Children younger than 6 = 2 ounces

 

Statewide advice for consuming locally-caught fish because of Mercury

 

The eating guideline tables below contain recommended consumption limits (based on mercury levels) for different kinds of fish and sizes (given in inches) caught in Kansas.  The limits are protective of sensitive populations which includes women who are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant, and children younger than 17 years old.  Kansas encourages anyone who regularly consumes fish to carefully consider the types and amounts they eat, including store-bought fish.  For specific questions or concerns about mercury in Kansas fish please contact KDHE.  For information about fish caught in other states, store-bought fish, and other seafood please visit (https://www.epa.gov/choose-fish-and-shellfish-wisely).  By making informed choices consumers can enjoy the health benefits associated with eating fish without ingesting unhealthy amounts of mercury.

 

*Eating Guideline Charts

 

Bottom-Feeding Fish Size/Inches Servings/Month
Bullheads All Sizes 4
Channel Catfish < 20 8
  > 20 4
Common Carp All Sizes 6

 

Predatory Fish Size/Inches Servings/Month
Crappie All Sizes 8
Flathead Catfish < 20 4
  > 20 2
Freshwater Drum All Sizes 4
Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass All Sizes 2
Sunfish (Bluegill, Green, Redear, etc.) All Sizes 4
White Bass, White Perch, Wiper, Stripped Bass < 20 8
  > 20 4
Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye < 20 8
  > 20 4
     

 

*KDHE and KDWPT will provide advice for other commonly-eaten fish such as buffaloes, blue catfish, and suckers as more data become available. For species not listed Kansas recommends a limit of 4 servings per month.

 

How to Use the Eating Guideline Charts

 

Example: Crappie have a recommended limit of 8 servings per month. Within a months’ time, if you eat 4 servings of crappie, then eat no more than ½ the recommended monthly limit of any other type of fish.

 

Type of Fish Number of Servings Proportion of Monthly Limit
Crappie 4 1/2
Channel Catfish > 20 inches 2 1/2

 

 

 

Waterbody specific advisories for all consumers

 

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish and catfishes to 4 servings per month from the following location because of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):

 

  1. Cow Creek in Hutchinson and downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River (Reno County);
  2. The Kansas River from Lawrence (below Bowersock Dam) downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River (Douglas and Leavenworth counties);
  3. The Little Arkansas River from the Main Street Bridge immediately west of Valley Center to the confluence with the Arkansas River in Wichita (Sedgwick County).

 

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish and catfishes to 1 serving per month from the following location because of PCBs:

 

  1. K-96 Lake in Wichita (Sedgwick County).

 

Kansas recommends not eating specified fish or aquatic life from the following locations:

 

  1. The Arkansas River from the Lincoln Street dam in Wichita downstream to the confluence with Cowskin Creek near Belle Plaine (Sedgwick and Sumner counties); bottom-feeding fish and catfishes because of PCBs.
  2. Shoal Creek from the Missouri/Kansas border to Empire Lake (Cherokee County); shellfish because of lead and cadmium.
  3. The Spring River from the confluence of Center Creek to the Kansas/Oklahoma border (Cherokee County); shellfish because of lead and cadmium.
  4. Antioch Park Lake South in Antioch Park, Overland Park (Johnson County); all fish because of the pesticides dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane, and dichlorophenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs).
  5. Arkalon Park Lakes in Liberal (Seward County) – Kansas recommends not eating fish or other aquatic life because the lakes are sustained solely by treated municipal wastewater.

 

General advice for eating locally caught fish in Kansas

 

  1. Sensitive populations should consider restricting their total mercury intake for both supermarket fish and locally caught species. Concerned parents and other persons may wish to consult with a physician about eating fish and mercury exposure.
  2. Mercury exposure can be reduced by limiting the consumption of large predatory fish.  Larger/older fish of all types are more likely to have higher concentrations of mercury.
  3. Avoid the consumption of fish parts other than fillets, especially when eating bottom-feeding fish and catfishes.  Fatty internal organs tend to accumulate higher levels of fat-soluble contaminants such as chlordane and PCBs than fillets.
  4. Consumers can reduce their ingestion of fat-soluble contaminants such as chlordane and PCBs by trimming fat from fillets, and cooking in a manner in which fat drips away from the fillet.
  5. Avoid subsistence level (relying on wild-caught fish for daily nutritional needs) fishing activities in large rivers within or immediately downstream of large urban/industrial areas and wastewater outfalls.  Fish in these areas are more likely to contain traces of chemical contaminants.
  6. Kansas recommends not eating fish or aquatic life from surface waters sustained solely by municipal or industrial wastewater because of unknown, yet potentially present pathogens, metals, organic chemicals or other emerging contaminants.  This advisory includes consumption of any aquatic life present in wastewater outfalls, waste treatment lagoons or stormwater detention ponds.
  7. In waterbodies where watches or warnings related to harmful algae blooms have been applied, fish should be consumed in moderation and care taken to only consume skinless fillets.  Avoid cutting into internal organs and rinse fillets with clean water prior to cooking or freezing.

 

 

Internet resources from KDHE, KDWPT, EPA, FDA, and the American Heart Association

 

To view the advisories online and for information about KDHE’s Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring Program please visit our website at: http://www.kdheks.gov/befs/fish_tissue_monitoring.htm

 

For information about harmful algal blooms, including current watches and warnings, visit this KDHE website: http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm

 

For information about fishing in Kansas including licensing, regulations, fishing reports and fishing forecasts please visit the KDWPT fishing website: http://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing

 

For general information about mercury in fish, national advisories, and advisories in other states please visit this EPA website: http://www2.epa.gov/choose-fish-and-shellfish-wisely

 

For information about the health benefits vs. the risks of including fish in your diet please visit this American Heart Association website: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/05/25/eating-fish-twice-a-week-reduces-heart-stroke-risk

 

For technical information regarding the EPA risk assessment methods used to determine advisory consumption limits please visit: http://www2.epa.gov/fish-tech

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Jan. 12

Leave a comment

January 12, 2021                                            Tuesday 9:00 am

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.

 

Also present were the following; (some were present for a portion of the meeting and some were present for the entire meeting, Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Jody Hoener, Mr. & Mrs. Clint Walker, Nancy Van Etten, Michael Hoyt, Anne Dare and Shane Walker.

 

Clifton made a motion to reorganize and elect Lynne Oharah as the Commissioner Chairman, Jim Harris seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Road & Bridge Director Eric Bailey met with the Commissioners; he said there were limbs down due to ice on the trees on January 1st, he said they are chipping and burning limbs from this storm.  Jim Harris complimented Road & Bridge on the work they did on the roads in the ice/snow storm.

 

Eric reported they are still having issues with the hydraulic pumps on the dump trucks, he said a new pump lasted just over 3 hours.  He said they had a conference call between him, Hillbilt & Tri-Star, Hillbilt rode around with the County and the truck shut down again, there is also an issue with the control box.  Lynne told Eric to keep track of the amount of time spent dealing with the mechanical issues.

 

Eric reported that Schwab Eaton has been doing the annual bridge inspections; he said there are three bridges of concern… a bridge on 215th over the railroad tracks, a bridge at 85th & Xavier, and a bridge on Jayhawk.  Eric said they are cleaning brush under the bridge at 235th & Valley and working on a sidewall at 85th & Xavier.

 

Eric said the motor for the rock crusher is at Berry Tractor for repairs; he said they are getting low on the rock supply.  Eric said they bought coal patch by the ton to fill potholes with.

 

Eric reported they had three internal candidates for the Road & Bridge office manager; he said he interviewed all three and said Jennifer Hawkins was selected and will be starting on 1/19/2021.

 

An employee had an accident in the belly dump trailer on 1/11/2021.

 

At 9:20 am, Clifton made a motion to go into an executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss a specific employee, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:30, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Patty Love).  Clifton made a motion to reconvene in open session, Jim Harris seconded and all approved, no action was taken.

 

At 9:31 am, Clifton made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss an employees performance, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:46am, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners).  At 9:46, Clifton made a motion to come back into open session, Jim seconded and all approved, no action was taken.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to eliminate the times stamps on the agenda, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Kendell Mason met with the Commissioners to discuss a real property relief application for a home that burnt down in March of 2020; Clifton made a motion to approve the real property relief application for M&RC rentals for a property at 306 S. Steen, Jim seconded and all approved and signed the application.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 06-21, a resolution regarding patron participation and public forums, Jim seconded and all approved and signed the resolution.  Justin Meeks suggested having a time on the agenda for public comment and for County Counselor.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 05-21, a resolution naming P. K. Gugnani as the public health officer for 2021, Clifton seconded and all approved and signed the resolution.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 04-21, a resolution designating depositories and the official publication carrier, Jim seconded the motion, Clifton questioned if Landmark was the main bank and how it was selected, Lynne said yes and said it had been the main bank for several years; Lynne and Jim were in favor of the motion, Clifton was against the motion, the motion passed.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 03-21, a resolution for reimbursement of travel expenses; Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 02-21, a resolution concerning the waiver of generally accepted accounting principles, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 01-21, a resolution naming the County holidays for 2021, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to nominate Clifton to serve on the SEK Juvenile Detention board, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Clifton made a motion to nominate Lynne to the SEKRPC board, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to nominate Jim Harris to the Mental Health board, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Jim made a motion to nominate Lynne to serve on the BEDCO board, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

At 10:06 am, Clifton made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, to discuss pay and leave time, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:16, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Kendell Mason).  At 10:16, Clifton made a motion to come out of executive session and go back into open session and said there will be action, Jim seconded and all approved.  Lynne made a motion to extend the Federal leave benefits for the County employees that had not used the benefits in 2020, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Register of Deeds, Lora Holdridge met with the Commissioners to give an end of year review; she said they had the best year in 3 years, (even with COVID), she said in 2020 $121,025 was deposited back into the County general fund, in 2019 $94,979 was deposited back into the County general fund and in 2018 $82,103 was deposited back into the County general fund.

 

Nancy Van Etten, Lake Advisory Board, met with the Commissioners; she said there is a meeting on 1/16/2021 at 9:00 am at the City Hall, she asked for an update on the inter-local agreement regarding the sewer district and asked that the Commissioners appoint someone to the lake advisory board.  Justin said he had conversations with the City and hoped to have the service contract finalized by the end of February, he said there is plenty of capacity for single family homes on the lake to connect to the sewer district.

 

Dave Bruner and Robert Leisure met with the Commissioners to discuss EMS.  Dave Bruner asked the Commissioners to approve the medical director contract with Dr. Burke; Clifton made a motion to accept the EMS medical director agreement as written, Jim seconded and all approved.  Clifton moved to allow Lynne to sign the EMS service agreement, Jim seconded and all approved.  Clifton made a motion to accept as written the memo of understanding, Jim seconded and all approved.  Robert Leisure reported that the company was building the new EMS vehicle; he said they still had time to decide if they wanted 6 or 7 total vehicles in their EMS fleet.  He reported that in 2020 there were a total of 2,321 calls – 1702 were transports and 611 were transfers.  He said an average year for calls is 2,400.  Justin Meeks briefly discussed the memo of understanding; he said the 2021 budget is the same as the 2020 budget, but said there may be a possible increase in 2022.

 

At 10:35, Lynne made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, regarding contract issues, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:51, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners).  At 10:51, Clifton made a motion to come back into open session, Jim seconded and all approved.  No action was taken.

 

Lynne said the Commissioners had been working on a budget director position for the County and said Justin had put together a contract for this position.  Justin said creating this contract was a joint effort between the City, himself and Susan Bancroft, he said the base pay for this part-time position is $60,000 and said this position includes benefits (which will be reimbursed back to the City of Fort Scott); Lynne said this is not an Interlocal agreement.  Lynne said the County had incidents where they had to hire an outside person to do an audit of the accounts, that person recommended to do this to increase transparency and help the workings between departments.  He said this person could be beneficial to have for budgeting issues, he said not having to pay an outside firm for budget issues could save $20,000.  Justin said this person could help with HR issues and give support when needed.  Clifton said the County is a very large organization and said this person could come in and solve some issues; he said we weren’t just dealing with gravel roads anymore.  Clifton said he was tired of his taxes going up and said we had to move forward and put this organization in the 21st century, he said he was tired of status quo, he said we are a large organization that is somewhat disjointed.  Jim Harris said he had concerns over this position, he said he had gotten the impression that they hadn’t involved any other elected officials during the dialog of this position and said he didn’t see a job description for this position.  Jim said the elected officials needed to be brought into the conversation and make sure they are all on the same page.  He questioned what the duties of this position were and asked if this meant a reduction in force.  Lynne said there had been a large sum of money not moved into the correct account, Jim said they haven’t been transparent and said he wasn’t ready to make a decision on the position, he said he did support the position.  Lynne said this is a one year contract.  Clifton made a motion to accept the engagement letter as written, Lynne seconded and Jim abstained from the vote, motion passed.

 

Monica Murnan with Greenbush called the Commissioners to give a SPARK update; she said as of January 6, 2021 Bourbon County had all of the required documents submitted to the State and said the grant had been zeroed out.  She said it was unknown if there would be any future grants for the County due to COVID.  Monica thanked Ashley in the County Clerk’s office for all of the work she did with the grant.  Greenbush will be providing the County with a flash drive with all the grant information on it; Jody Hoener questioned who at the County would receive the flash drive, Lynne suggested the new business director get the flash drive, Jody suggested giving it to an elected official, Justin said the flash drive should go to Kendell’s office.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss a work session, Jim seconded and all approved.  Clifton said the City has requested a work session with the County on January 14th at 5:00 pm at City Hall, Clifton made a motion to allow all of the Commissioners to attend the work session, no business will be conducted, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

At 11:16, Clifton made a motion to go into a 20 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency regarding the County Counselor position, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 11:36 am, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks).  At 11:36, Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session into open session, Clifton seconded and all approved.  After the session, Justin Meeks said he had enjoyed his job the past 3 years, but said it had come with a lot of pressure when dealing with the EMS, hospital, COVID and the windfarm.  He said his goal is to revert back to being the County Counselor and said he wouldn’t take on any administrative functions. He had a one year contract effective 1/12/2021 to agree to work 20 hours a week for $75/hour, he said if he works over the 20 hours he would bill $100/hour for hours over 20.  Justin said his goal is to step further back and eventually work less hours.  Justin said this is a one year agreement and said the Commissioners could terminate it at anytime.  Clifton made a motion to accept the engagement letter and to allow Lynne to sign it, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to terminate the last scheduled executive session, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

The Commissioners decided to allow time on the end of each agenda to allow for public comment.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda for public comment for a total of up to 10 minutes (3 minutes per speaker), Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Anne Dare said that the public will be surprised when they see the numbers for the part time position created.  Michael Hoyt said he would get Jim Harris a copy of the advisory board documents he had given to the other Commissioners and said he would like to discuss this in the future.

 

Clifton made a motion to discuss the election canvass date and time, Lynne seconded and all approved.  Clifton made a motion that all of the Commissioners attend the canvass on January 14th, 2021 at 10:00 am in the Commission room, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

At 11:47, Clifton made a motion to adjourn, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

 

 

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

January 19, 2021, Approved Date

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Jan. 11

Leave a comment

January 11, 2021                                            Monday 10:00 am

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.

 

Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune was also present.

 

Lynne reported they were having the meeting due to receiving a KOMA complaint; the Attorney General issued an opinion on the complaint, the KOMA complaint included the following allegations… the Commissioners failed to “comply with the statutory requirements for recessing into an executive session, failure to include an attorney in an executive session held for “attorney client privilege”, improperly including a third party in two executive sessions held for consultation with an attorney; and holding an executive session for personnel matters of nonelected personnel that did not pertain to an identifiable employee.”  Justin Meeks said the County did have technical KOMA violations, he said the Commissioners need to include in their motions for an executive session the reason for the executive session, plus additional details for the session, include a K.S.A. when making a motion to go into executive session, the exact start and stop time of the session and make a motion when coming back into open session.  Justin said the Commissioners went into an executive session for windfarm discussion for attorney client privilege but should have gone in for proprietary information instead.  Justin reported that Nick Ruhl had already signed the consent order from the office of the Attorney General, Lynne signed during the Commission meeting, Jeff Fischer said he would have to review the consent order before signing; he said if Justin had shared this before the meeting, he could have reviewed it.  Jeff told Justin he saw this complaint for the first time in October/November timeframe, and at that time Justin said he would take care of this.  Jeff read a portion of the consent order and said he would not sign this. If the Commissioners participate in KOMA training, the $50 penalty for each Commissioner for the KOMA violation will be waived, (Justin suggested doing the KOMA training).

 

This is Jeff Fischer’s last Commission meeting as a Commissioner; he said he had enjoyed serving with this Commission, he said he admired Lynne for his work in preserving the taxpayers interest, and said it was nice to see he advocated for a reduction in the mill levy.  He told Clifton that he enjoyed working with him and appreciated his ability to quickly learn & get to the heart of an issue, he wished him the best.  Lynne said he appreciated the compliment and said it had been a trying time the past two years and said he has tried to save taxpayers money.  Jeff said he could count on him to make decisions for the taxpayers.

 

At 10:22, Clifton made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, concerning medical, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:32am, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jody Hoener and Justin Meeks).  At 10:32, Clifton made a motion to go back into open session, Lynne seconded and all approved, no action was taken.

 

Lynne asked that a 30 minute executive session be scheduled on the January 12th agenda for medical discussion.

 

At 10:33, Clifton made a motion to adjourn, Jeff seconded and all approved.

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

January 12, 2021, Approved Date

Government, Kansas

Child Welfare Settlement Agreement

Leave a comment

Federal Judge Approves Child Welfare Settlement Agreement

DCF looks forward to implementation and continued improvement

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard today applauded the approval of the settlement agreement in the matter of M.B. and S.E., through their next friend KATHARYN MCINTYRE, et al., v. LAURA HOWARD, et al.

“I want to thank Judge Crabtree and the plaintiffs for making this a collaborative process,” Howard said. “We’ve already begun the heavy lifting required of us to address the provisions laid out in the agreement, we know we have much work ahead of us to reinforce our commitment to Kansas children by building an effective child welfare system.”

The class action lawsuit was filed in 2018 by Kansas Appleseed, Lori Burns-Bucklew, Children’s Rights and the National Center for Youth Law against the Governor, DCF, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Governor was later dismissed from the case.

The agreement outlines three categories of requirements for DCF focused on placement stability and access to mental health services. Categories include accountability reporting and implementation, practice improvements and outcomes. See the full list of requirements.

“We know these outcomes are achievable because we’ve already seen the positive results of the hard work DCF employees have put into these requirements,” Howard said. “I believe we can meet the timelines set forward in the agreement and ensure that Kansas isn’t caught up in never ending litigation.”

As part of the settlement work, DCF has already organized a statewide placement stability workgroup of partners and providers to identify and implement improvements. In addition, the agency will soon award a contract for Kansas Family Crisis Response and Support will allow DCF to offer crisis intervention services across the state.

The agency also has increased supports to relative and foster caregivers and will soon issue an RFP for innovations to support placement stability practice improvements included in the settlement agreement.

With these efforts, the rate of moves for children in care has reduced over the past 12 months.

Howard isn’t satisfied.

“We’ve made significant progress in slowing the number of foster youth who run away or don’t have a placement and end up in offices thanks to our enhanced special response team and by building a new child protection framework through new practice models like Team Decision Making and Family Finding. I am committed to seeing this work through until the requirements are completed and being transparent about our progress along the way.”

Fort Scott, Government

New FS City Manager Starts Feb. 1: Jeremy Frazier

Leave a comment
Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.

Jeremy  Frazier was selected by the Fort Scott City Commission in a unanimous vote to become the next city manager in January 2021.

 

He starts in that position next Monday, February 1.

 

He replaces Dave Martin, who retired in October 2020.

 

Frazier will bring new vision and ideas to the city, according to a January 21 Fort Scott City Commission press release.

To view the city’s press release:

Jeremy Frazier To Begin As Fort Scott City Manager on Feb. 1

 

“Jeremy brings to this position over a decade of public sector experience,” according to the press release.

 

Frazier has managed cities of various size towns of from 1,800 people to his most recent in El Reno, Oklahoma, population approximately 20,000 people, according to the release.

 

He will earn $115,000 per year plus benefits as the new city manager.

To view the entire contract:

FedEx Scan 2021-01-20_14-12-31(1)

 

The following is from an email interview with Frazier.

Why did you pursue your career? Was there someone who inspired you?

“I chose to pursue city management as a career because after graduating from college and landing a position with a great company, I found myself financially secure but unfulfilled and lacking passion within my organization.”
“So I put serious thought into what I enjoy, how I could serve others, and how I could create lasting changes in the lives of others. I knew that I felt a calling to public service but was unsure as to how best to execute it. After all, I knew very few public servants at the time.”
“Fortunately, I met some great public servants through the Oklahoma Municipal League such as Missy Dean and the City Management Association of Oklahoma which include Tim Rundel, Eric Benson, Jason Orr, and many others.”
“While the opportunity that I desired did not materialize immediately, I stayed close to the industry and received encouragement from various industry professionals for which I had great respect and admiration.”
“Finally,  a few years later, I was offered an opportunity to serve in a small community of 1,800. There the city manager felt it important that I learn every position and task from code enforcement to billing and collections and public works. At the time I did not appreciate these lessons as I thought I was hired to be more of an administrator, in my mind.”
“In hindsight, this was the best learning experience that I could have ever asked for and I’ve been hooked on public service every since, building upon my knowledge and skills with each community that I’ve served.”
“Now I look forward to bringing my passion for public service, skills, and knowledge to serve the community and residents of Fort Scott.”
What affiliations/community involvement interests you outside of your employment?
“I have served as a board of trustees appointee to a local university, worked closely with local volunteer organizations to perform community projects, served as a member of local civic organizations such as Toastmaster’s International and the Lions Club, and was active with local government organizations such as the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) and the City Management Association of Oklahoma (CMAO).”
“I hope to be active in similar organizations in the state of Kansas. I might also find interest in local home building or restoration non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity and others.”
Frazier said he has been married “nearly 15 years to a wonderful woman and mother and I have two young boys.”
COVID-19, Government

Farm Loans Debt Collections Suspended

Leave a comment

USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus

 

Manhattan, Kansas, Jan. 27, 2021 – Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice. USDA will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice. Additionally, USDA has extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers.

 

Today’s announcement by USDA expands previous actions undertaken by the Department to lessen financial hardship. According to USDA data, more than 12,000 borrowers—approximately 10% of all borrowers—are eligible for the relief announced today. Overall, FSA lends to more than 129,000 farmers, ranchers and producers.

 

“USDA and the Biden Administration are committed to bringing relief and support to farmers, ranchers and producers of all backgrounds and financial status, including by ensuring producers have access to temporary debt relief,” said Robert Bonnie, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary. “Not only is USDA suspending the pipeline of adverse actions that can lead to foreclosure and debt collection, we are also working with the Departments of Justice and Treasury to suspend any actions already referred to the applicable Agency. Additionally, we are evaluating ways to improve and address farm related debt with the intent to keep farmers on their farms earning living expenses, providing for emergency needs, and maintaining cash flow.”

 

The temporary suspension is in place until further notice and is expected to continue while the national COVID-19 disaster declaration is in place.

 

USDA’s Farm Service Agency provides several different loans for producers, which fall under two main categories:

 

  • Guaranteed loans are made and serviced by commercial lenders, such as banks, the Farm Credit System, credit unions and other non-traditional lenders. FSA guarantees the lender’s loan against loss, up to 95%.
  • Direct loans are made and serviced by FSA using funds from the federal government.

 

The most common loan types are Farm Ownership, Farm Operating and Farm Storage Facility Loans, with Microloans for each:

 

  • Farm Ownership: Helps producers purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch, construct a new or improve an existing farm or ranch building, pay closing costs and pay for soil and water conservation and protection.
  • Farm Operating: Helps producers purchase livestock and equipment and pay for minor real estate repairs and annual operating expenses.
  • Farm Storage Facility Loans are made directly to producers for the construction of cold or dry storage and includes handling equipment and mobile storage such as refrigerated trucks.
  • Microloans: Direct Farm Ownership, Operating Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans have a shortened application process and reduced paperwork designed to meet the needs of smaller, non-traditional and niche-type operations.

 

Contact FSA

FSA encourages producers to contact their county office to discuss these programs and temporary changes to farm loan deadlines and the loan servicing options available. For Service Center contact information, visit farmers.gov/coronavirus. For servicing information, access farmers.gov.

 

 

 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender

 

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas COVID-19 Recovery Orders

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Re-Issues, Signs Executive Orders to Promote COVID-19 Recovery

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced she has signed Executive Orders #21-01 and #21-02 as part of her administration’s commitment to protect Kansans and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate effective virus recovery efforts.

E.O. #21-01 allows Kansas employers to continue to withhold income taxes based on the state of the employee’s primary work location, and not based on the state in which the employee is temporarily teleworking as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has altered many aspects of our lives – including how and where we do our jobs,” Governor Kelly said. “This order helps ensure that tax season can go on without a hitch for Kansas businesses that have adjusted working schedules and employee work sites to keep people safe during the pandemic by allowing them to proceed with income tax withholdings as usual.”

Several executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic were set to expire on Jan. 26 in conjunction the expiration of the state of disaster emergency. Because the Legislature enacted Senate Bill 14 to extend the state of disaster emergency until March 31, 2021, certain previous executive orders must also be extended. Under E.O. #21-02, the following executive orders already in place will be extended until rescinded or until the statewide state of disaster emergency expires, whichever is earlier:

  • 20-37 – Allowing certain deferred tax deadlines and payments during state of disaster emergency
  • 20-39 – Extending professional and occupational licenses during state of disaster emergency
  • 20-40 – Temporarily allowing notaries and witnesses to act via audio-video communication technology during state of disaster emergency
  • 20-43 – Temporary relief from certain restrictions concerning shared work programs during state of disaster emergency
  • 20-56 – Amended Licensure, Certification, and Registration for persons and Licensure of “Adult Care Homes” during state of disaster emergency
  • 20-61 – Temporarily prohibiting certain foreclosures and evictions
  • 20-66 – Amended provisions related to drivers’ license and vehicle registration and regulation during state of disaster emergency
  • 20-70 – Provisions related to drivers’ license and identification cards during the state of disaster emergency

“These Executive Orders allow Kansas to continue responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and assist our efforts to keep Kansans healthy, keep businesses open, and get our kids back to school as quickly as possible,” Governor Kelly said.

Today’s actions also affect rules regarding unemployment benefits for Kansans. Executive Order 20-50, which had been in place since June 30, 2020, had suspended the requirement to continue searching for work in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits. That order expired yesterday and will not be extended. Executive Order 20-71, issued previously, waives the requirement that new unemployment claimants wait a week before receiving benefits and will continue in effect because the Legislature did not include a waiting week waiver in the pandemic legislation passed last week.

View E.O. #21-01 here.

View E.O. #20-02 here.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Flags At Half-Staff to Honor Police Chief

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-staff in Honor of Leon Police Chief Jerry Farthing

TOPEKA – In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff in the City of Leon, Kansas, on Friday, January 29, until sunset in honor of Leon Police Chief Jerry Farthing.

“Chief Jerry Farthing served the people of Leon and Butler County well both as the leader of the Leon Police Department and as a volunteer firefighter in Cassoday,” Governor Kelly said. “He was a dedicated public servant and deeply involved in his community. I offer my condolences to Chief Farthing’s friends and family, and the Leon community, during this difficult time. He will be missed.”

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit: https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honor

Fort Scott, Government

New Administration in City of Fort Scott, New Collaboration

Leave a comment
Josh Jones. Submitted photo.

 

There is a new mayor and president, and city manager for the City of Fort Scott in the past week.

 

Josh Jones was selected to replace JoLynne Mitchell on the Fort Scott City Commission on December 1, 2020.

 

Jones became the mayor on January 7, 2021, with Kevin Allen selected to be president, according to the City of Fort Scott commission minutes. Allen was sworn in on Jan. 2020 to the commission.

 

The other city commissioners are Randy Nichols, Pete Allen, and Lindsay Watts.

 

New to the community is Jeremy Frazier, who was selected as the new city manager late last week.

 

The City of Fort Scott has operated under a city commission/city manager form of government since 1975, according to City Commission | Fort Scott, KS (fscity.org) . The city commission consists of a mayor, president of the commission, and three city commissioners. All members of the city commission are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis by the citizens of Fort Scott. The mayor, the president of the commission, and the city commissioners all serve without any compensation.

 

The Fort Scott City Commission elects the mayor and president of the board annually at their first meeting in January, according to the website.

 

The mayor, who has the same authority as the other commissioners, presides over the commission meetings, provides the official signature on documents, and represents the city at official and ceremonial functions. In the absence of the mayor, the president of the commission fulfills the duties of the mayor, according to the website.

 

The duties of the commission are to pass city ordinances and resolutions, establish policies for the city, approve the annual budget, appoint members to city boards and appoint a city manager.

 

 

A little about Jones

Jones owns rental houses in Fort Scott and also manages Bourbon County Cars, a local used-car dealership. He is a life-long resident of Fort Scott.

 

He has been married to his wife, Karen, for 20 years and has twin daughters, Madison and Taylor, who are 20 years old, and one son, David, 15.

 

 

A little about Allen

Kevin “Skitch” Allen was selected last week to be the president.

Allen has had a local construction company for 27 years in Fort Scott.

“Everything from construction dirt work to trash roll-off services and porta-potties,” he said. “I also own several buildings and homes in the community that I rent out.”

He is a 1988 Fort Scott High School graduate. He then attended Fort Scott Community College for two years and then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pittsburg State University.

He has two daughters, Maddie Thorpe and  Jocie Allen, and two granddaughters and a grandson on the way, he said.

 

 

The commission hired a new manager last week.

 

“The commission unanimously selected Jeremy Frazier to be hired as city manager of Fort Scott,” Jones said.  “All five commissioners believe Jeremy is the best fit for Fort Scott and we are very excited to utilize Jeremy’s vision and ideas to move Fort Scott forward.”

Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.

 

 

“Jeremy will start February 1st and (Interim Manager)Jeff Hancock will leave February 3,” Jones said. “Jeff’s leadership and knowledge have been very valuable in the short time he has been here.”

 

To view a bio of Frazier:

https://fortscott.biz/news/jeremy-frazier-t…manager-on-feb-1 ‎

A new collaboration

 

Also new is the sharing of business services with the Bourbon County Commission.

 

“With the new makeup of the city commission and the county commission we feel like now we have the opportunities to save taxpayers money by sharing services,” Jones said.

 

“This will be a case by case basis, so we can evaluate each item and come up with what we believe will save the most money for taxpayers. By joining into an agreement with the county on the Finance/Business Manager need, it will save the city roughly $40,000 per year.”

 

The City of Fort Scott Finance Director Susan Bancroft was hired by the Bourbon County Commission last week to be its’ business manager, part-time.

 

 

 

The City of Fort Scott meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month in the city commission meeting room at 123 S. Main.

Agendas are available prior to the meetings.

Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

 

Government

U.S. Senator Moran’s Weekly Newsletter

Leave a comment
If you are having trouble viewing this email, please view it on my website .

 

 

Image

Resources

To find further resources on how to protect you and your family, visit
coronavirus.gov  or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website here .

Assistance

If you are a Kansas resident and you or your family needs assistance with matters related to COVID-19, please click here .

If your employment situation has been impacted by COVID-19, including reduced work hours, please refer to these resources from the Kansas Department of Labor:

–Response Resources

–Frequently Asked Questions

–Unemployment Insurance Application

–Helpful videos

Federal Informational Resources

–Coronavirus.gov

–Situation Summary

–Prevention & Treatment

–High-Risk Populations

–Pregnant Women Guidance

–Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas Informational Resources

Please visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment here .

U.S. Small Business Administration Resources

–Disaster Loan Assistance

–Guidance for Businesses and Employers

–Eligible Disaster Areas

–Application Link

Veteran Resources

For information on veteran and VA related topics, resources and contact information, please click here .

———–

Phone Calls to Kansans

Mike King, Hutton Construction, Wichita

Rich Felts, Kansas Farm Bureau, Liberty

Gen. Dave Weishaar, Kansas Adjutant General, Topeka

Aaron Eakins, Wichita East High School, Wichita

Jason Wiens, Kauffman Foundation, Roeland Park

Richard Beachner, RF Beachner Contractors, Pittsburg

Jason & Megan Ball, CFO, FHSU Foundation, Hays

Joel Leftwich, Envison, Wichita

 

 

 

Image


 

 

Meeting with Kansans Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution  

Visiting a Vaccination Clinic
This week, I received a briefing from The University of Kansas Health System and toured their vaccination clinic to see how they have readied their facility in order to best serve patients and medical staff. I heard more from hospital personnel about how I can aid Kansas at the federal level in its vaccination rollout and make certain vaccine dissemination to the general public is done in a more effective manner. Currently, Kansas ranks 36th in population and ranks 36th in number of Pfizer vaccines received. Kansas also has approximately 0.874% of the U.S. population and has received 0.838% of the vaccines. As Kansas moves forward with vaccinations, we discussed the need for better communication between federal, state and local entities, as well as greater transparency surrounding the amount of doses hospitals and counties will receive each week.

I was impressed with the way The University of Kansas Heath System continues adapt to the evolving logistics involved in ordering, receiving and preparing the COVID-19 vaccine for Kansans. Thank you to The University of Kansas Health System President & CEO Bob Page, Director of the Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Dr. Tim Williamson, KU School of Medicine Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. Steve Stites, Government and Community Affairs Vice President Kenny Wilk, Chief Operating and Nursing Officer Tammy Peterman and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Kim Dixon for your hard work to vaccinate Kansans.

 

 

Discussing Vaccine Distribution with Ellis County Leaders
I met with leaders from Ellis County in Hays this week to discuss vaccine rollout and the next steps as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be more widely administered across the state. While Ellis County leaders told me of their decision to move vaccinations to a single location in order to most effectively administer the vaccine, they also informed me of the challenges they face as a rural community receiving the vaccine.

Thank you to Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger, Ellis County Health Service Director Jason Kennedy, First Care Clinic CEO Brian Brady, Ellis County Emergency Manager Darin Myers, HaysMed President Eddie Herrman and First Care Clinic Medical Director Dr. Christina Fisher for your feedback and time.

 

Attending the 59th Presidential Inauguration

On Wednesday, January 20, I attended the 59th inauguration ceremony for President Joseph R. Biden to witness this important moment in our nation’s democracy. The inauguration represents the orderly and peaceful transfer of power that is an enduring symbol of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues in this new Congress to create a better future for all Americans.

 

 

Thanking the Kansas National Guard

The Kansas National Guardsmen honorably served their country these past weeks by defending our nation’s capital during the peaceful transition of power. They, and all members of the guard, deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. The decision to remove them from the U.S. Capitol last week without providing the appropriate accommodations was disgraceful and unacceptable.

While I was glad to learn that these dedicated Guardsmen were allowed back inside the Senate Office Buildings and the Capitol Complex, their removal should not have happened at all. I visited with members of the Kansas National Guard who were stationed near the Library of Congress to hear about their experience on Capitol grounds. I will work to make certain our National Guardsmen are treated respectfully during the remainder of their time in Washington, D.C.

 

 

Urging President Biden to Prioritize America’s Veterans

As chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I urged President Biden to work with Congress on behalf of our nation’s veterans. The VA committee has made significant accomplishments for veterans over the last several years, such as allowing veterans in rural states like Kansas greater choice to seek health care where and when it is convenient for them and landmark veterans health care legislation, but there are still many challenges ahead. The VA is in the midst of the greatest transformational change since the end of World War II, and the faithful execution of the laws recently passed by Congress on behalf of veterans is what will ultimately improve the lives of veterans in Kansas and all across the country.

Caring for our nation’s veterans has always been a unifying force during my time in Congress. I expressed to President Biden that it is my hope it will continue to be so under his presidency.

To read my full letter, click here .

 

Protecting American Jobs and Energy Independence through the Keystone XL Pipeline

This week, I joined seven of my Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL pipeline following President Biden’s decision to revoke the cross-border operation permit. This project is expected to provide approximately 11,000 direct high-paying jobs and create up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs, generating tax revenue, increasing renewable-energy demand, reducing emissions and strengthening North American energy independence. Construction of Keystone XL began last year, jump-started by a $1.1 billion investment. Major segments of the pipeline have already been built, including one that crosses the U.S.-Canadian border.

Canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline will cost our country thousands of jobs, raising energy prices and forcing us to become more dependent on foreign countries to supply our nation’s energy needs. At a time when our economy and communities are hurting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we should be focusing on sending people back to work rather than taking jobs away. Despite passing every environmental impact assessment more than five years ago, Keystone XL has been politicized for almost 12 years. Discontinuing construction now is reckless for the hardworking American families relying on the jobs and lower energy costs it will provide them in the future.

 

Calling for Senate Consideration of the Flawed Paris Climate Agreement

Earlier this week, I sponsored a Senate resolution  calling on President Biden to submit the Paris Climate Agreement to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent as required by the Constitution before joining a treaty. In 2016, President Obama entered the Paris Agreement without the consent of the Senate, going directly against the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution states that the President may only enter into an international treaty provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur.

I opposed the Obama Administration’s decision to enter into the Paris climate accord without appropriate congressional input, and again, when the Trump Administration pulled out of the accords, I reiterated that Congress must have a role in consenting to such agreements. I urge President Biden, before he rushes our country back into the flawed Paris Agreement, to submit it to the Senate for consideration in order to avoid making a consequential decision that lacks input from Congress.

 

Thanking Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy

This week, I thanked Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy for his service to this nation and all that he has achieved for our national defense and servicemembers throughout his tenure as Secretary of the Army. His leadership has benefitted the soldiers, Army civilians and veterans across the country who call the Army their family. He has seen our Army through unprecedented challenges, and I know our soldiers are stronger for it.

One of my most memorable experiences in the Senate was visiting 1st Infantry Division soldiers in Germany and Poland (pictured below), followed by our trip to Afghanistan to meet with troops on the front lines of the Global War on Terror. These meetings were the beginning of a productive working relationship that formed into a strong friendship. Since then, I have appreciated his guidance and support during his visits to Kansas and our many discussions in Washington, D.C. He was able to join me in Kansas in 2019 to visit Seitz Elementary School at Fort Riley where he was instrumental in finding the funding for this school during his time as Special Assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates in 2011. The Big Red One soldiers and their families have benefitted from his service. A fitting culmination to his service was the opportunity to lay wreaths together at Arlington National Cemetery, a solemn occasion that I will never forget.

 

 

Remembering Roe v. Wade

For the first time since Roe v. Wade was announced in 1973, Washington D.C. will not host its annual March for Life. This event typically brings hundreds of thousands to our nation’s capital, including hundreds from Kansas, to march peacefully in protest of a decision that has enabled the elimination of more than 60 million children. Abortion rates have declined in recent years, and we must continue building on this success rather than rolling back legal protections for the unborn and their mothers, taxpayers and health care providers of conscience. I thank all who work to make their voices heard to protect the right to life for the most vulnerable of Americans.

 

H onored to Serve You in Washington
It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.

 

Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here . You can also click here  to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C. office.

 

Very truly yours,
Jerry

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click here .

Hays
1200 Main St.,
Suite 402
P.O. Box 249
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 628-6401		 Manhattan
1800 Kimball Avenue,
Suite 270
Manhattan, KS 66052
Phone: (785) 539-8973
Fax: (785) 587-0789		 Olathe
23600 College Blvd.,
Suite 201
P.O. Box 1154
Olathe, KS 66061
Phone: (913) 393-0711
Fax: (913) 768-1366
Garden City
1511 East Fulton Terrace, Suite 1511-2
Garden City, KS 67846
Phone: (620) 260-3025		 Wichita
100 North Broadway,
Suite 210
Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: (316) 269-9257
Fax: (316) 269-9259		 Pittsburg
306 N. Broadway, Suite 125 (rear entrance of bank)
P.O. Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: (620) 232-2286
Fax: (620) 232-2284
Washington, D.C.
Dirksen Senate Office Building | Room 521 | Washington, D.C. 20501
Phone: (202) 224-6521 | Fax: (202) 228-6966

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas COVID 19 Vaccine Dashboard

Leave a comment

Governor Kelly Announces County Vaccine Data Available on Kansas’ COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard

To view the COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, click here.

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly is announcing county vaccination data is now available on Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. A collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the COVID-19 dashboard will be updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 12:30 PM.

“I am pleased to announce county-specific vaccination data is now available on our vaccine dashboard,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “My administration is prioritizing transparency and communication with public health officials and Kansans to deliver vaccines quickly and efficiently. As we progress through Phase 2 of our vaccination framework, I encourage Kansans to visit KansasVaccine.Gov or contact their local public health departments to learn more about signing up for the vaccine.”

As of January 25, Kansas has reported:

  • 132,145 people vaccinated,
  • 157,520 total vaccine doses administered,
  • 255,550 vaccine doses distributed.

To view the COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, click here.

Area News, Government

Ogallala Aquifer Depletion Discussion Feb. 24-25

Leave a comment

Ogallala Aquifer Virtual Summit to Engage Stakeholders in Tackling Tough Questions

This event will be February 24-25, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (CST). Through panels and facilitated workshops, participants will discuss and identify actionable activities and priorities that could benefit producers, communities, and this critical groundwater resource.

 

At 8 a.m. (CST) on February 24 and 25, producers and other water management leaders will grab their coffee cups, fire up their devices, and wade into a series of highly interactive conversations designed to tackle several tough questions faced by communities that rely on the declining Ogallala aquifer resource. For example, what on-farm, district, or state-level decisions and policies could support shifts in water management to ensure future generations will be able to continue to farm and live in the Ogallala region? What can be done so that rural communities remain vital in parts of the region where aquifer depletion means irrigated agriculture will no longer serve as much of an economic backbone in coming years or decades?

 

This event is being led by the USDA-NIFA Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project (OWCAP) team, along with the Kansas Water Office, Texas A&M AgriLife, and the USDA-ARS supported Ogallala Aquifer Program, and support from individuals in all eight Ogallala states. Between the pandemic, an extended period of drought, and lower commodity prices, summit organizers wondered if producers and other water management leaders would be inclined to meet virtually. Together, they assessed that the value of this event, which encourages people to meet one another and exchange a wealth of practical and technical expertise, would not be diminished if held online. In fact, more than ever, having an opportunity to help people connect and hear from one another and from producers in particular on many important dimensions of the water-dependent future of this region, seemed right and necessary. This event will serve as the capstone outreach event for OWCAP, an interdisciplinary, collaborative research and outreach project underway since 2016 involving researchers from 9 institutions based in 6 of the 8 Ogallala states.

 

Topics covered during the summit will include updates on projects, new programs, activities and policies that were inspired at least in part due to an earlier 8-state Ogallala summit event held in Garden City, Kansas in April of 2018. Together, participants will share their expertise and identify opportunities and gaps requiring attention, resources, and expanded collaboration within and across state lines to benefit agriculture and the region’s communities.

 

“The increasing depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer is one of the most daunting water problems in America. Extending and restoring the life of this resource, and, in turn, the economies and livelihoods that depend on it, will require collaboration across a diverse range of water-focused stakeholders and entities,” said Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office. “This summit will provide a unique opportunity to foster and strengthen that collaboration. It will cover emerging innovations, research, and policies as well as help identify opportunities for working together across state lines to address the water-related challenges facing this region and its communities.”

 

Registration for the summit costs $40; the fee for producers and students attending the 2-day event is $20. Participants from each of the eight states overlying the Ogallala aquifer will be represented: South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. A detailed schedule of this event is available at https://www.ogallalawater.org/. Members of the media are invited to attend.