4 Greeley County Republican • Tribune, Kansas • Wednesday, February 12, 2020

I wanted to draw community members’ attention to a couple of upcoming regional events.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) will host a regional workshop at the Wichita County Community Building in Leoti on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. This is one of six regional workshops which are being offered this year to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers. Registration is now open at a cost $20 per participant to cover the cost of lunch. Lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register by February 21. Registration for the workshop, along with the other February regional farmers’ market workshops, can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or at your local extension office.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture will host a Regional Agribusiness Development Workshops in March 4, 2020 at the Colby Community College Student Union in Colby to provide Kansas rural communities with resources and current business development and organizational contacts to assist with recruiting, retaining, and growing ag businesses in their communities. Three other workshops will be held in Parson, Ashland, and Manhattan. Featured speakers at the events will represent the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Commerce, and local economic development organizations. The workshops will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will include a meal. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required to ensure sufficient food and material.

****I spent a few days in

Topeka last week, taking part in the Western Kansas Rural

Economic Development Alliance’s (wKREDA) legislative mission event and visiting with legislators about the issues that matter to our region and our community.

The topics included in wKREDA’s official position paper include:

- Supporting the Kansas Department of Commerce and other agencies who work on behalf of statewide economic development interests (including the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism and the Kansas Department of Agriculture)

- Advocating for the partial reinstatement of the former Enterprise Zone Sales Tax Exemption on the construction of new businesses in rural Kansas, now called the Spur Kansas Growth Act

- Supporting rural broadband access

- Supporting Network Kansas and the work they do in and for rural communities

- Supporting housing programs, especially the Moderate Income Housing Program

- Advocating for the preservation of the Community Service Tax Credit Program

- Supporting the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit

- Supporting Rural Health Care

- Restoring transportation funding

- Considering additional rural tax incentives, such as a “rural deal-closing” fund

- And exploring new and emerging market opportunities.

Additional conversations in Topeka revolved around the future of the Rural Opportunity Zone program as well as the proposed move of agriculture business development responsibilities from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Commerce.

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State RepresentativeDon HinemanFebruary 9, 2020

Abortion LegislationLast week’s legislative

activity was dominated by two topics, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win, and abortion legislation. Legislative leadership cancelled legislative activities Wednesday so that members and staff could attend the Chiefs victory parade. The rest of the week was consumed by the latter issue.

Last June the Kansas Supreme Court issued a ruling which determined that women have a right to control their reproductive systems, in other words the court ruled that they have the right to decide on the grave and tragic matter of whether to have an abortion. This has triggered concern that some of the pro-life legislation passed by the Kansas legislature in recent years to restrict the practice of abortion may at some point be found to be unconstitutional. In response, identical resolutions to amend the Kansas constitution were drafted in the Senate and House, reserving for the legislature the authority to regulate abortions. The Senate passed their version and sent it to the House, which last week had debate and final vote on the resolution. The resolution failed to achieve the constitutionally-required two-thirds affirmative votes. The measure fell four votes short, and I was one of those voting nay.

My twelve-year legislative career has been marked by a strongly pro-life voting record. My nay vote on the resolution was very difficult, but in my opinion necessary.

We amend the constitution for only the most serious and grave matters. And that being so, I believe it is essential that proposals to amend the constitution must be put before the voters of Kansas in a November general election, when citizen participation is at its highest. The resolution defeated by the House on Friday would have placed the amendment on the August primary election ballot, when citizen participation is traditionally much lower than in the general election. There have been calls by the proponents of the amendment to “let the people decide”. I agree. This issue is so critical that it is indeed time to let the people decide. But that call appears rather insincere when the proponents of the resolution insist that it must be on the August primary ballot. Why should a subset of Kansas voters decide the matter for all, rather than the much larger population of Kansas voters who will participate in the November election?

This will not be the end of discussion. Options remain. In particular, the House version of the resolution is still alive in the House. It is my fervent hope that we House members will now amend the measure, so that the question is put before the voters in the November election. On an issue as unfortunately controversial as abortion is, maximum citizen participation is essential. Some might fear the outcome of that vote. I do not. This is Kansas, after all, and Kansans have always valued life. I have full confidence that the voters of this great state will again make that choice if we place the question before them in November.

Don’s Legislative Update

Unified Greeley County supervisors Monty Moritz, Kirby Kleymann, Alena Ballinger, Corbin Myers and Scott Steele met Monday, February 12, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. in a regular meeting. Also present were public works director Brock Sloan and county clerk Jerri Young.

Kleymann called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. The agenda was approved.

Lisa Moritz, RN, County Health Department nurse, and administrative assistant Melissa Miller entered the meeting for the annual Board of Health meeting.

Kleymann called the Board of Health meeting to order. Lisa first discussed the 2019 Health Department budget and noted that they were over budget by $3,600 but income was over $95,000, so it only cost the county about $60,000 to run the Health Department in 2019. The number of clients has stayed fairly constant, except that the number of those aged 19 and over has increased from 165 in 2018 to 283 in 2019. The Health Department has a reputation for giving “good” shots for immunizations and has attracted more clients, Lisa said. She clarified the flu vaccine process this year, since there was some delay from the manufacturer in getting the vaccine. She said the WIC load is down a little from last year. The school agreement has been going well, Lisa said. They have been doing student screenings on hearing, vision and dental. Lisa and Melissa are in the process of applying for the annual state grants.

A motion was made by Myers to approve a grant support letter. Motion was seconded and approved 5-0.

Lisa listed equipment needs, including a new blood pressure machine. The cost for that will be $1,750. Another need is an alert system for the vaccine refrigerator at a cost of $876. A third type of equipment needed is blood lead testing; however, they don’t now do much of that testing but Dr. Scheffe, the County Public Health Officer, would like them to start doing more. A lead care machine and printer would be $2,300. Lisa also said they would be needing a part-time nurse later in the year. An activity was done to get supervisors’ input on which out of ten Health Department services are most important – WIC women and children’s services, Senior services and immunizations were judged more important than some of the others. A motion was made, seconded and approved to end the Board of Health meeting.

Supervisors approved the purchase of the sensor for the refrigerator 4-0, with supervisor Moritz abstaining. Supervisors approved the purchase of the lead testing machine and printer 4-0, with supervisor Moritz abstaining. Supervisors wondered if the school would pay part of the cost of a blood pressure machine

since it is used frequently for school students. Supervisors then approved the purchase of a blood pressure machine 4-0, with Moritz abstaining.

County treasurer Diane Gentry entered the meeting.

Lon Pishny, a candidate for Kansas State Senate 39th District, introduced himself to the supervisors. Greeley County is in the 39th District. Pishney is a resident of Garden City, but grew up in northwest Kansas. He is now a Finney County Commissioner. He said he is a strong proponent of local control and asked supervisors what would be important for Greeley County. Issues mentioned were high property taxes, funding to replace old infrastructure, seniors moving out of the state due to high taxes, and low salaries. Pishney added that he has heard water issues and expanding high-speed broadband. He spoke about a bill being worked in the legislature now concerning taxes – SB294.

Noxious weed director Barkley Gentry entered the meeting.

Sheriff Mark Rine talked with supervisors about the courthouse security and emergency preparedness plan. Rine updated supervisors on progress made and presented a bid for electronic security locks on all the courthouse doors at a cost of $10,514.00. This would be a protection for the courthouse employees, said supervisors. After discussion, a motion was made by Moritz to approve the purchase of the locks at the price above from DJ’s Lock and Key in Garden City. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

County Attorney Charles Moser entered the meeting.

Community Development Director Christy Hopkins entered the meeting.

Attorney Moser talked with supervisors about the upcoming tax sale, asking specifically if supervisors want to foreclose on or to abate severed minerals on nine particular parcels. Moser said his recommendation is to abate these nine parcels. Concerning the tax sale, certified mailings are going out now, Moser said, and the sale may be in May or June. Some parcels have already been redeemed. Supervisors voted unanimously to abate the nine particular parcels since these are a special case, on a motion by Myers.

Moser exited the meeting.Christy Hopkins talked

with supervisors about the Rural Opportunity Zone program.

Barkley Gentry talked with supervisors about flatbed bids.

Bills were reviewed and approved for GSD for $87,708.03 and for MSD for $37,960.07. Minutes of the January 27, 2020, meeting were approved. Fee reports, sheriff and clerk reports were approved.

Official minutes of supervisors’ meetings are available at the county clerk’s office.

UGC Supervisors meet

LAWRENCE — More than 6,100 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earned honor roll distinction for the fall 2019 semester.

Students from Greeley County named to the honor roll are Morgan Crockett, Tribune, School of Nursing; and Cassidy Hild, Tribune, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

The honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and in the schools of Architecture & Design; Business; Education; Engineering; Health Professions; Journalism; Music; Nursing; Pharmacy; and Social Welfare. Honor roll criteria vary among the university’s academic units. Some schools honor the top 10 percent of students enrolled, some establish a minimum grade-point

average, and others raise the minimum GPA for each year students are in school. Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours to be considered for the honor roll.

Local students earn honors