WHO: Governor’s Administration, Kansas Water Office
WHAT: The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas
WHEN: Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8
WHERE: NEW LOCATION – Hyatt Regency, 400 W Waterman Street, Wichita, KS
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
Information: The eighth annual Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas will address relevant and current water resource issues as well as the continued implementation of the Kansas Water Vision and integration into the Kansas Water Plan to ensure Kansas water needs are being met, now and in the future.
There will be keynotes the morning of Day 1 including Jill Wheeler, head of Sustainable Productivity for Syngenta in North America; Lt. Governor Rogers; Matthew Lohr, Chief NRCS; and Rollin Hotchkiss, BYU. There will be breakout sessions in the afternoon.
Topics include:
Sustainability Across the Supply Chain
Flooding Impacts
Groundwater Quality
The Arbuckle
Reservoir Sediment Management
The fourth Water Legacy Award will be presented at the conference Tuesday morning and ‘Be the Vision’ nominees will be recognized as well.
To view the brochure for a current list of speakers and panelists visit: www.kwo.ks.gov
Day two will build on the water policy and vision implementation discussions from the previous day with technical presentation posters and talks. Graduate and undergraduate students will present their research posters.
This event is open to credentialed members of the media.Please RSVP to the Kansas Water Office by phone (785) 296-3185 or email Katie Patterson-Ingels, Communications Director at [email protected].
The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is hosted by the KWO and K-State /Kansas Water Resource Institute. Major sponsors for the event include 96 Agri Sales, Inc., Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.
Second meeting for the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion concludes
The second meeting for the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion concluded this afternoon. The bipartisan group of policy experts, community leaders and stakeholders is studying Medicaid expansion from the 36 other states that have expanded to determine the best version for Kansas.
The meeting began with Cindy Mann, partner at Manatt Health, who presented information on the national overview of the Medicaid expansion population. The occupations with the largest number of workers covered by Medicaid are service workers such as cashiers, nurse and health aids and retail salespersons.
Hemi Tewarson, director at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, gave a brief overview of Section 1332 waivers, the way they have been implemented in states and how they interact with Medicaid 1115 waivers.
The Council is tasked with identifying three to five guideposts or goals for responsible, sustainable expansion in Kansas. The Council will supplement the legislative work that is already underway.
The Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion’s next meeting is Dec. 12.
Most people in the state are hoping for less snow this winter, but regardless of what Mother Nature has in store, the Kansas Department of Transportation has done its best to be prepared. Parts of Kansas have already received some snow, and more is expected this week.
Field employees have conducted snow and ice training during October, routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment has taken place and all KDOT storage facilities across the state are filled with a total of about 200,000 tons of salt and sand, according to KDOT Maintenance Bureau Chief Clay Adams.
“It’s important to review procedures like making salt brine, putting on tire chains and loading materials as well as basic snow and ice removal operations,” Adams said. “Whether it’s a harsh or mild winter, KDOT wants to be ready to go.”
KDOT uses salt brine in three ways.
“Spraying salt brine on bridge decks helps keep frost from forming on cold damp mornings,” Adams said. “Using salt brine to prewet salt as it’s being dispersed from the trucks can be very effective by putting a coating of brine around the salt, which helps the salt stick to the pavement and activates the salt so it can melt the ice. Treating roads with brine prior to a snowstorm will help prevent the snow from sticking to the pavement.”
Salt brine is not effective if it’s extremely cold, windy or predicted to be a dry snow. However, in specific situations, salt brine helps in the removal or reduction of snow and ice on highway surfaces and makes it easier to plow the snow, Adams said.
While KDOT crews are focused on their efforts to clear the highways, KDOT Director of Safety Catherine Patrick reminds motorists to never pass a snowplow on the right side, slow down and use caution. Numerous KDOT trucks have been struck by motorists in years’ past, which puts people in danger and takes trucks out of commission. In fact, in February, five snowplows were hit in the Kansas City metro area in less than 24 hours.
“Check the forecast before you leave if there’s inclement weather. And when you see our crews out there working, please give them plenty of room,” Patrick said. “We’ll be out there day and night treating the highways and working to clear the roads as quickly as possible.”
TOPEKA – The Cold Weather Rule, designed to help Kansans who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during the winter months, will begin on November 1 and remain in effect through March 31.
The Kansas Corporation Commission, the agency that regulates public utilities in the state, encourages Kansans who are past-due on their utility bills and at risk for disconnection to prepare for the colder weather by contacting their utility company to make the necessary payment arrangements.
The Cold Weather Rule was first enacted by the Commission in 1983 to prevent utility companies from disconnecting a customer’s natural gas or electric service during periods of extreme cold. Utility companies are prohibited from disconnecting a customer’s service when temperatures are forecast to be at or below 35 degrees within the following 48 hour period.
The Cold Weather Rule also requires utility companies to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow consumers to maintain or re-establish service. Any residential customer with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements; however, it is the customer’s responsibility to contact their gas or electric company to make those arrangements.
Payment plan terms to maintain or restore service require that customers agree to pay 1/12th of the total amount owed, 1/12th of the current bill, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fee, plus any applicable deposit to the utility. The remaining balance must be paid in equal payments over the next 11 months, in addition to the current monthly bill.
The Cold Weather Rule applies only to residential customers of electric and natural gas utility companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction. More information about the Cold Weather Rule is available on the Commission’s website (http://www.kcc.ks.gov/consumer-information/cold-weather-rule). Kansans may also contact their local utility company or the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at (800) 662-0027.
KDA Offers Reimbursement to Specialty Crop Growers
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for reimbursement to Kansas specialty crop growers who attend an educational conference with a primary focus on specialty crops. Qualifying conferences may include sessions about production practices, specialized equipment and technology, pest and disease management, specialty crop marketing practices, or business principles for specialty crop producers.
Applicants who apply for the reimbursement will be required to attend the conference and to complete surveys before, immediately after, and six months post-conference prior to payment being issued. Conferences not eligible will include those within the state of Kansas and the Great Plains Growers Conference. KDA will reimburse Kansas specialty crop growers up to $850 each in order to offset the cost of their conference registration, mileage/flights, hotel, meals, etc. The award is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for application is December 15, 2019.
Examples of conferences that may be eligible for applicants to attend include, but are not limited to:
North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference; January 19-22, 2020; San Antonio, Texas
North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association Conference; March 3-6, 2020; St. Louis, Missouri
Great Lakes Expo Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Conference; December 10-12, 2019; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention; February 28-30, 2020; Hershey, Pennsylvania
Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference; January 9-12, 2020; Savannah, Georgia
This program is made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG). The SCBG makes funds available to state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. According to USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
This grant fits KDA’s mission to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. For application details, go to the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/grants. Questions should be directed to Lexi Wright, From the Land of Kansas Program Coordinator, at 785-564-6755 or [email protected].
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2020-2023 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.
The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp
The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes Nov. 6. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-2252.
This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Office of Public Affairs, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).
Kansas Department of Corrections inmates arrive safely in Arizona
A group of inmates being relocated to provide relief for the Kansas prison system arrived safely in Arizona, the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) announced today.
The group of 120 medium- and maximum-custody inmates were transported to the Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz., by secure air transport, paid for by CoreCivic under the terms of a contract with the State.
Specific details about the transportation of inmates to Arizona will not be disclosed due to security and safety concerns.
“The KDOC has sought to relocate offenders who will be successful and most likely to benefit from the programmatic opportunities available through Saguaro Correctional Center”, said KDOC Deputy Secretary of Facilities Management Joel Hrabe.
KDOC used a screening process that identified offenders who have at least 24 months until release, low frequency of visitation, a need for education/vocational programming, and are medically able.
The KDOC has also posted information for family members athttps://www.doc.ks.gov/facilities/out-of-state-inmates which includes specifics on visitation, mail and other essential information. A staff member in KDOC Central Office has also been designated as a resource for families who have questions about their family member or processes.
The KDOC Office of Victim Services (OVS) has also notified registered victims of those transferred.
“The plan we announced on August 9, 2019 was to move inmates sooner, and in larger numbers,” said KDOC Secretary Jeff Zmuda. “We have been exploring all available options to avoid sending anyone out of state, but ultimately concluded this is the appropriate course. It is my hope that this will be a short-term solution and that we will not have to move additional inmates.”
On October 17, 2019, the KDOC had an inmate population of 9,027 male offenders, which the Kansas Sentencing Commission projects will increase to 10,399 by the end of state fiscal year 2029.
Governor Kelly appointed Dr. Stephanie Davis, Lawrence, to the Governor’s Military Council.
The goal of the Council is to pursue initiatives to enhance the quality of life for our servicemen and servicewomen, veterans and their families. Council members help develop outreach opportunities for individuals discharging or retiring from military service to use their talents and skills as members of the Kansas workforce, and promote Kansas as a desired location for all Department of Defense retirees and separating servicemembers.
The Council also looks to optimize the military presence in Kansas. This includes efforts to recruit and retain new missions and force structure, and actively foster close, effective cooperation among the installations and public and private sectors throughout the State.
“Dr. Davis is highly qualified for this position,” Kelly said. “Her experience working in the Veterans Administration and her expertise working with veterans and their families will be an asset as the Council pursues initiatives moving forward. We are fortunate to have her on the team.”
Davis currently works as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for VA Eastern Kansas. Previously, she worked as a psychologist for VA Eastern Kansas and for Christian Psychological Services. Davis received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Iowa. She is a licensed psychologist by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Davis also is the VA Liaison for the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and their Families.
The governor’s appointments to the Council are not subject to Kansas Senate confirmation.
Secretary of Commerce David Toland to Participate in Kansas Economic Development Policy Conference
The Kansas Economic Development Policy Conference begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, at the KU Memorial Union at the University of Kansas. Secretary Toland’s keynote address, titled, “Growing Kansas: A Look at Kansas Economic Development,” will begin at approximately 9:15 a.m.
At 1:00 p.m., Secretary Toland will be participating in a panel titled, “Conversation: Can Policies Spur Economic Development?” along with Rep. Jason Probst, Rep. Don Hineman and Sen. Julia Lynn.
What: Kansas Economic Development Policy Conference
KDOT invites stakeholders to discuss transportation priorities at upcoming Local Consult meetings
A second series of Local Consult meetings hosted by the Kansas Department of Transportation will give citizens a chance to discuss regional transportation priorities and continue shaping FORWARD, the State’s next 10-year transportation program.
“Kansans are ready for the next transportation program to improve safety and grow our economy,” Secretary of Transportation, Julie Lorenz said. “We heard from more than 1,100 Kansans across the State who talked about the importance of completing T-WORKS projects, improving highways and making transit, aviation and rail work better. Now, as promised, we are coming back out for a second round of meetings to discuss specific transportation priorities in each region.”
All meetings will include an opening presentation and use facilitated breakout groups to:
Discuss transportation assets and needs at a regional level and gather feedback on priorities among KDOT’s various programs;
Share draft engineering and economic scores for highway modernization and expansion projects and gather feedback on those scores;
Discuss which highway modernization and expansion projects are regional priorities.
The meetings all will have a similar format, but the content will be specific to the region. KDOT encourages people to attend the meeting within the KDOT district where their community is located.
The Local Consult meetings are scheduled to take place in October and November in Pittsburg, Junction City, Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita, Great Bend, Liberal and Colby. A list of the dates, times and locations are below.
If possible, please contact Mike Moriarty, KDOT Chief of Transportation Planning, at 785-296-8864 or [email protected] to let us know which meeting you plan to attend.
Southeast Region – Pittsburg
Tuesday, Oct. 29
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Pittsburg State University
Overman Student Center
302 E. Cleveland
Pittsburg, KS 66762
North Central Region – Junction City
Wednesday, Oct. 30
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Geary County Convention Center
at the Courtyard Marriott
310 Hammons Dr.
Junction City, KS 66441
Northeast Region – Topeka
Tuesday, Nov. 5
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Capital Plaza Hotel
Maner Conference Center
1717 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66612
Kansas City Metro Region – Kansas City
Wednesday, Nov. 6
9 a.m.-noon
The Reardon Convention Center
at the Hilton Garden Inn
520 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Wichita Metro Area – Wichita
Friday, Nov. 15
9 a.m.-noon
Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center
225 West Douglas
Wichita, KS 67202
South Central Region – Great Bend
Monday, Nov. 18
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Great Bend Events Center
3111 10th St.
Great Bend, KS 67530
Southwest Region – Liberal
Tuesday, Nov. 19
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Seward County Community College
Student Wellness Building
1801 North Kansas Ave.
Liberal, KS 67901
Northwest Region – Colby
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019
1:30-4:30 p.m.
City Limits Convention Center
2227 South Range Ave.
Colby, KS 67701
Governor Laura Kelly’s appointments were submitted today to the Senate Majority Leader’s office in advance of the November 5, 2019, Confirmation Oversight Committee meeting.
The following appointees submitted:
David Herndon (R), Shawnee, Kansas Bank Commissioner
Brad Stratton (U), Overland Park, KPERS Board of Trustees
Kala Spigarelli (D), Pittsburg, Kansas Lottery Commission
Ruth Stevenson (R), Olathe, Banking Board
Rick Wiley (R), Westphalia, Public Employee Relations Board
Dr. Michael Birzer (U), Wichita, State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
Patricia Hudgins (D), Manhattan, State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
Erica Andrade (D), Kansas City, State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
Laurel Michel (R), Salina, State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
In addition, paperwork was submitted on July 10 for:
Jeff Zmuda – Secretary, Kansas Department of Corrections
After the November 5, 2019, Confirmation Oversight Committee meeting, the Governor’s appointments will be voted on by the full Senate in the 2020 Legislative Session.
In three weeks voters will be electing government representation.
In addition, there will be a question to consider on the ballot.
In the November 5, 2019, General Election you will be asked to approve removing a census count adjustment.
“The amendment question seeks to do away with a census count specifically for college students and military personnel to be counted where they come from and not where they are at the time of their vote,” according to a report on KSN TV, Wichita, Oct. 14, 2019. For the whole report click below:
Following is how the amendment will appear on the ballot, followed by the Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab’s explanation of the question.
This is how it will read:
Constitutional Amendment
Vote Yes or No
Explanatory statement. The
purpose of this amendment is to
eliminate the adjustment of
the census taken by the United
States census bureau regarding
nonresident military personnel
and nonresident students when
reapportioning the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
A vote for this proposition would
eliminate the adjustment of
the census taken by the United
States census bureau regarding
nonresident military personnel
and nonresident students when
reapportioning the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
A vote against this proposition
would continue in effect the
requirement for the adjustment of
the census taken by the United
States census bureau regarding
nonresident military personnel
and nonresident students when
reapportioning the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
Shall the following be adopted?
1. Reapportionment of
senatorial and representative
districts. (a) At its regular session
in 1989, the legislature shall by
law reapportion the state
representative districts, the state
senatorial districts or both the
state representative and
senatorial districts upon the basis
of the latest census of the
inhabitants of the state taken by
the authority of chapter 61 of the
1987 Session Laws of Kansas. At
its regular session in 1992, and at
its regular session every tenth
year thereafter, the legislature
shall by law reapportion the state
senatorial districts and
representative districts on the
basis of the population of the
state as established by the most
recent census of population taken
and published by the United
States census bureau of the
census. Senatorial and
representative districts shall be
reapportioned upon the basis of
the population of the state
adjusted: (1) To exclude
nonresident military personnel
stationed within the state and
nonresident students attending
colleges and universities within
the state; and (2) to include
military personnel stationed within
the state who are residents of the
state and students attending
colleges and universities within
the state who are residents of the
state in the district of their
permanent residence. Bills
reapportioning legislative districts
shall be published in the Kansas
register immediately upon final
passage and shall be effective for
the next following election of
legislators and thereafter until
again reapportioned.
(b) Within 15 days after the
publication of an act
reapportioning the legislative
districts within the time specified
in (a), the attorney general shall
petition the supreme court of the
state to determine the validity
thereof. The supreme court,
within 30 days from the filing of
the petition, shall enter its
judgment. Should the supreme
court determine that the
reapportionment statute is invalid,
the legislature shall enact a
statute of reapportionment
conforming to the judgment of the
supreme court within 15 days.
(c) Upon enactment of a
reapportionment to conform with
a judgment under (b), the
attorney general shall apply to the
supreme court of the state to
determine the validity thereof.
The supreme court, within 10
days from the filing of such
application, shall enter its
judgment. Should the supreme
court determine that the
reapportionment statute is invalid,
the legislature shall again enact a
statute reapportioning the
legislative districts in compliance
with the direction of and
conforming to the mandate of the
supreme court within 15 days
after entry thereof.
(d) Whenever a petition or
application is filed under this
section, the supreme court, in
accordance with its rules, shall
permit interested persons to
present their views.
(e) A judgment of the supreme
court of the state determining a
reapportionment to be valid shall
be final until the legislative
districts are again reapportioned
in accordance herewith.
KEY POINTS
The following is provided by Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason, who sent info from the Kansas Secretary of State to explain the amendment.
Kansas is the only state in the nation that adjusts its census numbers.
Adjustment is estimated to cost $835,000 in 2020.
In the 2010 adjustment, approximately 13,000 people, out of 2.9 million, were affected.
Eliminating the adjustment would give lawmakers an additional legislative session to complete redistricting.
Legislative and State Board of Education districts would be drawn using the same numbers as congressional districts.
The Legislature supported eliminating the adjustment with bi-partisan super majorities.
Summary:
A Proposition to amend section 1 of article 10 of the constitution of the state of Kansas.
In 2019, the Legislature passed a constitutional amendment (SCR1605) with a bipartisan super majority to eliminate a provision in the Kansas Constitution requiring Kansas to adjust census numbers for military personnel and college students. Intended to slow the impact of urban migration from rural Kansas to the more populated, eastern half of the state, the requirement has, historically, had the opposite effect by marginally increasing population numbers for urban areas.
The adjustment is antiquated, burdensome and expensive because it requires the Secretary of State’s office to contact every college student and member of the military residing in Kansas to determine their official residence. Keep in mind, the U.S. Census Bureau is responsible for counting individuals where they reside in the United States. They expend significant resources in communicating with Americans on the importance of the Census. Kansas is essentially asking students and military personnel the same question – at a cost of at least $835,000 – in a manner contradictory to what is asked by the Census Bureau.
