The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start a project that will expand a six-mile section of U.S. 69 in Crawford County to a four-lane divided expressway during the week of March 2.
The expansion project begins north of the U.S. 69/K-47 junction (620th Avenue) and continues north to end three miles north of the Arma city limits. Two lanes will be added to the existing U.S. 69 alignment.
Two-way traffic is being maintained on the existing lanes of U.S. 69 while the new lanes are under construction. Traffic will be switched to the new lanes when the existing lanes are rebuilt. Early project activity includes grading and work on box culverts off the highway.
KDOT awarded the $21.8 million construction contract to Koss Construction Co. of Topeka. According to the project schedule, the new expressway will be open to unrestricted traffic by mid-August 2021.
Persons with questions may contact Bob Gudgen at KDOT-Pittsburg, (620) 308-7621, or Priscilla Petersen at KDOT-Chanute, (620) 902-6433.
KDOT estimates the following cost breakdown during the lifetime of the FORWARD plan from 2021 through 2030 fiscal years. Total cost: $9.9 billion
· Preservation $5.0 billion
· Preservation Plus $300.0 million
· Modernization and Expansion $2.3 billion (not including delayed T-WORKS projects)
· Economic Growth Projects $200.0 million
· Modal Programs $200.0 million
· Cost Share/Strategic Safety/Local Bridge Programs $300.0 million
· Special City County and Highway Fund Distributions $1.6 billion
*KDOT’s estimates assume that the transfers to the State General Fund are phased out by FY 2023 and that the State Highway Fund issues approximately $1.2 billion in bonds.
I prefiled SCR 1601 prior to the 2019 Legislative Session. This is a Constitutional Amendment that would permanently close the “Bank of KDOT”. It was scheduled to have a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, but the chair of that committee cancelled that hearing. The bill was recently moved to the Senate Transportation Committee, the chair of that committee has said that he plans on having a hearing and working the bill.
Find reliable and age appropriate information online with Britannica – Public Library https://kslib.info/ebpublic from the State Library of Kansas. Three levels of learning (Children, Young Adult, and Reference Center) offer continually updated entries, multimedia, primary –source material, maps, and links to expert websites. Double–click any word in the article for the definition to pop up with audio pronunciation. Also available, Britannica – Academic https://kslib.info/ebacademic, includes content that is more scholarly. Another link https://kslib.info/kids takes you to Britannica – School, a PreK-12 resource with multi-media content for all grades and reading abilities.
Every school and home in Kansas has access to Britannica, but if the webpages above ask for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas. Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296.
FLOOR ACTION – February 12, 2020
February 17
The following bills all received unanimous support and were passed Yea: 38 Nay: 0
SB 277 Clarifying the authority of healing arts school clinics to provide healing arts services.
SB 302 Granting the secretary of revenue the authority to set letters and numerals for license plates and removing the requirement that plates be shipped to the county treasurer.
SB 304 Establishing a process by which a reciprocal may convert to into a mutual insurance company.
SB 326 Increasing the age for eligibility to renew drivers’ licenses online to 65.
SB 288 Designating a portion of United States highway 77 as the Cpl. Allen E. Oatney and SP4 Gene A. Myers memorial highway.
SB 315 Providing for the love, Chloe foundation license plate.
February 20
The following bills all received unanimous support and were passed Yea: 39 Nay: 0
SB 285 Extending the existence of the UST redevelopment fund and compensation advisory board to 2032.
SB 306 This bill would exempt motor vehicle odometer reading recording requirements when such recording requirements are exempted by federal law. This would replace an exemption from acknowledgement of mileage for vehicles ten model years and older and for trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 16,000 pounds. SB 306 was introduced by the Kansas Department of Revenue at the request of the Director of Vehicles.
SB 270 This bill would expand the opportunity for the establishment of multi-year flex accounts (MYFAs) for groundwater water right to water right users who do not have historical water use before 2009. The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Chief Engineer testified as proponents of the bill in committee. There were no opponents.
SB 342 This bill would allow drivers’ license renewal notices to be sent electronically should the Department of Revenue get authorization from the license holder to do so. This bill was amended in committee to allow the license holder to opt-out at any time and have any subsequent notices sent by mail.
The following bill received unanimous support and was passed Yea: 37 Nay: 0
SB 305 This bill would increase the bond required for licensure as a dealer of used or new vehicles from $30,000 to $50,000. The bill would take effect January 1, 2021. Senate Bill 305 was introduced by the Kansas Department of Revenue at the request of the Director of Vehicles.
The following bills were passed Yea: 38 Nay: 1 ( I voted in favor of these bills)
SB 287 This bill would amend the Kansas Storage Tank Act by extending the time for certain petroleum storage tank owners and operators to apply for reimbursement for the replacement of single-wall underground storage tanks from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2030. It would also extend from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2030 the time for owners and operators to apply for reimbursement for the replacement of underground singe-wall storage tank systems with a secondary containment system. Finally, Senate Bill 287 would increase the reimbursement limit to an amount no more than $100,000 per facility per replacement work completed on and after July 1, 2020 and before July 1, 2030 and clarifies the $50,000 limit in current law would apply to replacement work completed on or after August 8, 2005 and before July 1, 2020.
SB 286 This bill would amend the Kansas Storage Tank Act by increasing limitations on the liability from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for the Underground Petroleum Storage Tank Release Trust Fund and by the same amount for the Above ground Petroleum Storage Tank Release Trust Fund. Senate Bill 286 also extends the sunset on both funds from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2034.
The following bill was passed Yea: 28 Nay: 11(I voted in favor of this bill)
SB 58 This bill would amend law related to grand jury proceedings summoned by petition to refer to such proceedings as “citizen-initiated,” and would specify such petitions are citizen-initiated throughout the section. Senate Bill 58 would state the person who filed a citizen-initiated petition, and whose name, address, and phone number appear on the petition, is immune from civil liability for any good faith conduct under the section and would clarify that such person would be the first witness called to give testimony should a citizen-initiated grand jury be impaneled. Written-only opponent testimony was provided by the League of Kansas Municipalities, stating concerns over the potential increase of false or insufficient allegations in citizen-initiated petitions.
SPORTS WAGERING
The sports wagering bill, SB 283, left the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs with uncertain odds and a lot of interest still on the table. The bill essentially amends the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act to allow sports wagering to be conducted through existing gaming facilities. The bill does not extend to Kansas Lottery ticket merchants and other retailers and contains several amendments since its introduction. It could be debated on the floor this coming week.
The state would apply a tax rate of 10% on revenue from online sports wagering and 7.5% on revenue made from each of the state’s four licensed casinos. Each casino will be allowed to contract with two betting platforms. The Kansas Lottery would continue to have oversight, which is consistent with current legislation. A bill in the House extends sports wagering far beyond the Senate bill by allowing as many as 1,200 licensed retailers to participate.
FIREWORKS SALES YEAR-ROUND IN KANSAS
On Monday, SB 362, the bill to allow year-round sale of fireworks, was worked in the Committee on Federal and State Affairs. The bill only had two changes made before it passed through committee. The first change stripped out the language regarding bottle rockets, keeping them as an illegal firework. The second amendment aims to extend the selling period for seasonal retailers from June 15th to July 6th to be similar with Missouri statute. The original language had the selling period from June 20th to July 5th. The bill still leaves power to the counties and cities to regulate fireworks and firework sales as each municipality sees fit.
Monday, February 24
Ø Final action: SB 449 — Removing cannabis products that contain up to 0.3% THC from the list of controlled substances listed in schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 398 — Providing a refundable food sales tax credit and discontinuing the nonrefundable food sales tax credit. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 399 — Requiring marketplace facilitators to collect and remit sales and compensating use tax. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 364 — Expanding newborn screening services and increasing transfers from the medical assistance fee fund to the Kansas newborn screening fund. (9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)
Ø Hearing: SB 379 — Authorizing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from certain limitations under the food assistance program. (9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)
Ø Hearing: SB 440 — Providing an additional option to fulfill work participation requirements under the cash assistance program. (9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)
Ø Hearing: SB 420 — Requiring registration as a sex offender for certain violations of the crime of breach of privacy. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 409 — Making permanent the quality care assessment imposed on skilled nursing care facilities. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Final action: SB 255 — Appropriations to the University of Kansas Medical Center; creating the Cancer Research and Public Information Trust Fund. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Discussion and action: SB 271 — Repealing the sunset provision for the high-density at-risk weighting. (1:30, Education, 144-S)
Ø Discussion and action: SB 353— Requiring the allocation of sufficient school district moneys to improve academic performance of underachieving students. (1:30, Education, 144-S)
Tuesday, February 25
Ø 10 a.m. session, on floor all day.
Wednesday, February 26
Ø 10 a.m. session, on floor all day.
Thursday, February 27
Ø Turnaround Day! All bills from non-exempt committees must be heard by their house of origin or are considered dead for the session.
Ø 10 a.m. session, on floor all day.
Friday, February 28
Ø No session! Enjoy the first break of the 2020 Legislative Session. We will see you on March 4!
Thank You for Engaging
Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.
Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.
Richard Hilderbrand Kansas State Senator District 13
Community members are invited to a Legislative Update Coffee hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place on Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Empress Event Center in Downtown Fort Scott.
Kansas Sentators Caryn Tyson and Richard Hilderbrand and Representatives Trevor Jacobs and Ken Collins will give an update on the current session as well as address any issues or questions presented from the audience.
If you have a particular item you would like to have addressed and plan to attend, you may email the Chamber at [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27th.
The general public is invited and encouraged to attend this Legislative Update on Saturday, February 29th. Coffee, juice and light breakfast refreshments will be served.
The event is being sponsored by the Fort Scott Professional Building and Empress Event Center.
For more information please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
You may have seen reports on the Gallup ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll conducted in January, stating that 86% of American’s are satisfied with their personal life and that confidence in the U.S. economy is at a 20 year high. We are blessed to be in Kansas, the heartland of America.
Legislation 101 Senate Bill (SB) 294, the bill we are following in these updates, that brings transparency to your property tax increases, did not have any movement to date. Hopefully, the majority leader will bring the bill above the line for a debate on the senate floor. We are almost to the half-way point of session, known as turnaround. Bills that have not been in an exempt committee or passed the originating chamber before turnaround will die. SB 294 is an exempt bill because Tax is an exempt committee. Therefore, it could be worked on the Senate floor after turnaround. I’ll keep you posted.
Kansas law allows for online driver license renewal under certain conditions. SB 326 would change the upper age limit for online renewals from 50 to 65 years of age. The bill passed 39 Yes to 0 No.
SB 342 would provide Kansans an option to receive electronic notification for driver’s license renewal notices. I offered an amendment to the bill in committee that would allow you to op-out of electronic notifications, so that future notices would be sent by mail. The amendment passed without objection. The bill passed the Senate 39 Yes to 0 No.
SB 58 would allow a citizen to file a petition requesting a district court grand jury. A judge would review the petition. If a judge finds the petition is in proper form a grand jury will be called within 60 days. If the petition is denied, the person who filed it can appeal the judge’s decision not to summon a grand jury. The bill passed the Senate on a vote of 28 Yes and 11 No. I voted Yes.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
The Legislative Update Coffee will be held at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main St., Fort Scott, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m (parking & entrances in both front and back of building).
State legislators Senators Richard Hilderbrand and Caryn Tyson and Representatives Trevor Jacobs and Ken Collins will give an update on the current session as well as address any issues or questions presented from the audience.
If you have a particular item you would like to have addressed and plan to attend, you may email the Chamber at [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27th.
Coffee, juice & light refreshments will be served.
The public is invited to be a part of planning for community economic and fiscal health on Feb. 25 from 6-7 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the River Room Event Center, located above Luther’s BBQ at National Avenue and Oak Stree.
“Tuesday evening is a presentation and the actual workshop is on Wednesday,” Fort Scott Community Development Director Robert Uhler said.
Smart Growth America is coming to Fort Scott.
Smart Growth America empowers communities through technical assistance, advocacy and thought leadership to create livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity, according to its’ website:
“We first met the Smart Growth people when we went on our first trip to DC in March of 2019, working with Strategic Implementation plan,” Uhler said.
“Smart growth policy can help communities save money now, reduce their liabilities for the future and use targeted investment to spur economic development,” Uhler noted. “The ‘planning for economic and fiscal health’ workshop draws on successful private and public sector lessons to help local leaders foster smart growth communities that cost their taxpayers less to build, run and maintain.”
“This workshop first brings you the latest lessons in how smart growth saves money for local governments, makes money for businesses and is integral for the long-term fiscal and economic health of the community,” he said. “Using an interactive and hands-on method, the workshop then shows how to apply these lessons in your community.”
The first half of the technical assistance workshop on Wednesday focuses on how approaches save the community money, including increasing tax revenues and reducing tax burdens, attracting new businesses, increasing the efficiency of the labor market, providing greater stability in times of uncertainty and rising energy costs, investing public funds to stimulate private investment, increasing local capital circulation and providing a foundation for long term fiscal and economic health and competitiveness, according to information provided by Uhler.
Participants also learn how to overcome barriers to starting community smart growth including a lack of understanding of the relationship between development and municipal costs and revenues, the importance of growing small and mid-size businesses and the role of nearness to value creation, according to info provided by Uhler.
In the second half of the day, the technical assistance team joins participating community members to look at the community’s economic development plans and projects to evaluate how the current situation compares to smart growth principles.
Working with the community, the team will create specific changes to strategy and identify next steps in planning for fiscal and economic health that makes sense for the community, which may include suggestions for changes to the capital budgeting process, permitting process, regulatory framework and direction of economic development incentives, according to the information provided.
A follow-up memo will measure progress and leave the community with further next steps.
Robert Uhler. Submitted photo.
The hoped outcome is better understanding of how we prepare and plan for growth in our community, Uhler said.
Rachel Pruitt, is the Fort Scott Economic Director.
The local people who have been involved in the presentation and workshop planning process are FS Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt, FS Tourism Director Alley Turvey and Uhler.
Ally Turvey is the tourism director in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
The Bourbon County Government has taken possession of the former Mercy Hospital.
Officials Introduce Innovative Healthcare Model
Mercy donates building and 1 million dollars toward a sustainable approach to rural healthcare.
Bourbon County and City of Fort Scott officials are committed to improving the quality of life for each member of the community, increasing access to affordable quality healthcare, and remaining vigilant stewards of taxpayer dollars. For years Fort Scott, KS was renowned for its healthcare. Mercy Hospital was an integral part of our health system from primary care to community benefit to leadership involvement.
What remains today are the caring professionals, ambitious leaders, beautiful hospital campus, and the ingrained culture of ensuring community health needs are addressed appropriately.
Bourbon County Commission will be partnering with our community healthcare partners, The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and Ascension Via Christi, and higher education partner, Fort Scott Community College, in transforming our approach to rural healthcare. Bourbon County will be taking ownership of the previous Mercy Hospital Building.
With Ascension Via Christi and CHC/SEK occupying a portion of the facility, the county is working with other health service agencies to supplement the community’s health care needs by housing them in the remainder of the move-in ready space.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd., operates the clinic at the former Mercy Hospital building.
For the common good of the community, the building will be repurposed into a collaborative effort that will be here for decades to come.
Ascension Via Christi President, Randy Cason, states, “This is exciting news for Fort Scott and the surrounding communities. Ascension Via Christi is eager to continue working with our community partners here to help to find solutions for the healthcare needs of this more rural area.”
Ascension Via Christi operates the emergency department at the former Mercy Hospital building.
Mercy Health Southwest Missouri/Kansas Communities has submitted a draft donation agreement to donate the building and one million dollars to Bourbon County for use of building maintenance and operations. This donation allows healthcare entities to lease space in the healthcare mall at market-rate. A standardized market-rate lease has led to discussions with healthcare organizations to expand services not otherwise offered.
Administration from Bourbon County and The City of Fort Scott will work together, develop a regulatory board and long-term lease agreements moving forward.
“This project is much more than just saving a building,” Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director, “Preserving this asset allows our community to no longer be victims of circumstance, but to assume responsibility for our community’s healthcare destiny. It creates a sustainable healthcare model under one roof.” There is little doubt in the concept’s success with the right amount of support and will be used as a model shaping rural healthcare policy across the nation.
Contact information:
Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director
10:30 Executive Session, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship (Lynne Oharah, Jeff Fischer, Nick Ruhl and Justin Meeks)
Court of Appeals Nominating Commission to interview applicants February 24 and 25
The Court of Appeals Nominating Commission will convene February 24 and 25 to interview 19 applicants to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals created by the April 3, 2020 retirement of Judge G. Joseph Pierron Jr.
Interviews will be in a meeting room in the Kansas Judicial Center, 301 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. The Commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Monday, February 24, and interviews will start at 9 a.m. Interviews will continue at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25.
Interview Schedule
Monday, February 24, 2020
8:30 am
Meeting Convenes
9:00 am
Daniel Cahill
9:30 am
Kristafer R. Ailslieger
10:00 am
Lesley A. Isherwood
10:30 am
Break/Exec. Session
10:50 am
Angela D. Coble
11:20 am
Randall L. Hodgkinson
11:50 am
Diane H. Sorensen
12:20 pm
Lunch break for Commission [Exec. Session]
1:30 pm
Steven J. Obermeier
2:00 pm
Suzanne Valdez
2:30 pm
Amy Cline
3:00 pm
Break/Exec. Session
3:20 pm
Dennis D. Depew
3:50 pm
Russell J. Keller
4:20 pm
Break/Exec. Session
4:40 pm
Adjourn for the day
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
8:45 am
Meeting Convenes
9:00 am
Sarah J. Loquist-Berry
9:30 am
Marcia A. Wood
10:00 am
David J. Rempel
10:30 am
Break/Exec. Session
10:50 am
Carl A. Folsom, III
11:20 am
Natalie A. Chalmers
11:50 am
Lunch break for Commission [Exec. Session]
1:10 pm
Kristen D. Wheeler
1:40 pm
Michael P. Joyce
2:10 pm
Stephen O. Phillips
2:40 pm
Break/Exec. Session
3:10 pm
Reconvene for deliberations/voting
4:00 pm
Adjourn for the day
The nominating commission will conduct its work in accordance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act and Executive Order 18-08. Additional details can be found in the Guidelines for Interviews. (attached as PDF)
Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-01 on Tuesday, January 28 establishing the Court of Appeals Nominating Commission. Under Kansas law, the Governor appoints judges to the Court of Appeals subject to confirmation by the Senate. The Commission will review each applicant’s background and qualifications, conduct interviews and then submit three nominees for the Governor to consider.
