Thursday , August 4 , 2016 V V V THE GAZETTE , EMPORIA , KANSAS V V V
Page 3
KANSAS STATISTICIAN RUNS EXIT POLL AT WICHITA VOTING STATION
The Associated Press
BATTLE
From PAGE 1
At times , blood and platelets are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in , which impacts the ability to rebuild the blood supply . Right now , the Red Cross has less than a fiveday blood supply on hand . The Red Cross strives to have a five-day supply at all times to meet the needs of patients every day and be prepared for emergencies that may require significant volumes of donated
SCHOOL
From PAGE 1
“ But we ’ re still $ 4 million below where we were in 2008 .”
According to the Kansas Department of Education ’ s assessed valuation report for 2015-2016 , Emporia has
SENATE
From PAGE 1
political disputes over funding for public schools . The state Supreme Court could rule by the end of the year on whether the Legislature is shorting schools on their state aid by hundreds of millions of dollars a year .
Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since the GOP-dominated Legislature slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback ’ s urging to stimulate the economy . That ’ s created concerns among educators about future spending on schools , even as many Republicans see the $ 4 billion-plus a year the state now spends as generous .
Wagle issued a statement saying that while some statistics show a better economy in Kansas — Brownback and his aides cite low unemployment , for example — such data “ do not reflect how everyday Kansans view the direction of the state .”
Bruce leaned partly on his record as a strong advocate of gun rights , having been the key backer of successful legislation to allow Kansans to carry concealed weapons without a state permit . Steve Brady , a 54-year-old Hutchinson business owner , said he
A mathematician whose legal effort to audit voting machine results was rebuffed has surveyed primary voters outside a Wichita polling station to see if the official count falls within her survey ’ s calculated margin of error .
The Wichita Eagle reports that Wichita State University statistician Beth Clarkson set up the anonymous Citizens Exit Poll at Countryside Christian Church in southeast Wichita to validate the accuracy of voting machines used at a polling station in Tuesday ’ s primary elections .
Clarkson went to court to get access to the paper audit trails from voting machines in 2014 after she found what she called inexplicable discrepancies between results of large and small voting stations . A district court ruled Clarkson couldn ’ t have access to those paper trails .
Clarkson then decided to create her own paper trail with an exit poll . Clarkson said she would tally her survey and adjust
blood products .
All those who come to donate during Battle of the Badges are eligible to receive a $ 5 Amazon . com gift card claim code by email . Donors must have a valid email address in their donor profile in order to receive their reward . Food , prepared by local law enforcement officers , will also be served .
“ It ’ s going to be a fun time ,” Vortherms said . “ If you want to meet a local hero — a police officer , a fireman , a deputy — then please come out . We ’ re happy to answer questions and just interact with the
a valuation of $ 40,084 per pupil .
Scheib said the second half of the lawsuit will address if funding is adequate for Kansas Public Schools .
“ I ’ d like to thank Rob and Karen ( Flood ) for all the work they put in getting the budget done ,” Kevin Case , superintendent said . “ We had some tight timelines
voted for Bruce because he “ is doing more positive things .”
But the primary results suggested many Republicans were unhappy .
“ Too many Kansans still feel that the sun is not rising for them and their families , despite what some leaders tell them ,” Wagle said .
Besides Bruce , the conservative senators who were unseated were Tom Arpke , of Salina ; Forrest Knox , of Altoona ; Jeff Melcher , of Leawood ; Larry Powell , of Garden City ; and Greg Smith , of Overland Park . All are Brownback allies .
Some Brownback critics focused more on the Republican primary for House seats . Ousting conservatives would further their goal of building a governing coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats on key education and budget issues .
The House conservatives who lost Republican
SUDOKU SOLUTION for voters who declined to participate . She would then see whether the official count was within her margin of error .
Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman said she welcomed the exit poll .
“ I ’ m glad they ’ re doing it ,” Lehman said . “ It ’ s going to prove that our counts are accurate .”
According to Clarkson , this is a pilot project and she hopes to recruit enough volunteers to cover every polling place in the county in the general election in November .
community . We ’ ll be having hot dogs , fruit cups and kisses from the cops again . If your children want to see a fire truck , please bring them out as we will have the fire trucks there as well .”
Bradford said it was important to donate blood because of the need .
“ Until it affects you personally , many don ’ t stop to think about how important it is ,” he said . “ There ’ s a lot of people I see who donate , who tell me they do it because a loved one needed a blood transfusion at one time . That ’ s what drives people to do it .”
JOHN ROBINSON / GAZETTE
this year and they really did a nice job putting it all together .”
The next step for the budget is publication in The Gazette on Tuesday .
According to Scheib , although the budget is not yet approved by the school board , the only changes which can be made are decreases .
primaries were Rob Bruchman , of Leawood ; Brett Hildabrand , of Shawnee ; Jerry Lunn , of Overland Park ; Charles Macheers , of Shawnee ; and Craig McPherson , of Overland Park .
Three other conservative Republicans trailed , but their races were close . They were Will Carpenter , of El Dorado ; Kasha Kelley , of Arkansas City ; and Connie O ’ Brien , of Tonganoxie .
Democratic Rep . Ben Scott , of Topeka , lost his seat to a former state lawmaker and Topeka-area political veteran , Vic Miller . The district has no GOP candidate in November . — Associated Press writer Roxana Hegeman contributed to this report from Hutchinson .
COMMISSIONERS SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR 2017 BUDGET
By Mary Ann Redeker maryann @ emporia . com
The Emporia City Commission considered and approved many items at their action session Wednesday afternoon in the Municipal Court Room .
Mayor Rob Gilligan appeared by phone and Vice Mayor Bobbi Mlynar conducted the meeting .
Commissioners set a public hearing date for the 2017 budget for 7:05 p . m . Wednesday , Aug . 17 .
“ As you know , we ’ ve been working on the city budget for the past several months ,” City Manager Mark McAnarney said . “ We ’ ve made some changes based on previous discussions and got it down to a 1 mill increase from the previously estimated increase of 2 mills .”
The official notice of the budget will be published in The Emporia Gazette 10 days prior to the budget hearing , at which public comment is welcomed .
Commissioners also approved a resolution to allow the participation of the Hidden Vista housing development in the city ’ s Rural Housing Incentive District . The purpose of this district is to encourage the development in rural cities and counties of Kansas experiencing a shortage of housing . It authorizes direct assistance in the financing of public improvements which will support the housing .
“ Late last year one of our goals was to develop more housing ,” Assistant City Manager Jim Witt said . “ We conducted a housing needs study in December 2015 and found a shortage of desirable housing existed .”
The commission also approved an agreement with the Lake Kahola Homeowners Association .
The objective of this resolution was to reach an agreement acceptable to the city , leadership members of the Lake Kahola Homeowners Association , individuals with the state of Kansas , Department of Agriculture and Division of Water Resources for the controlled discharge of water from the Lake Kahola Reservoir , in efforts to conserve water .
Frank Abart , public works director , had previously provided the commission with an update on the history , current status of the project and the next steps of the process related to the progress of the project , as it allows for the discharge of the water .
“ We have the water rights to all the lake water in the reservoir ,” he said . “ We don ’ t want to waste water . We are metering the water that is released as required by the state .”
Commissioners approved the acceptance of an Emergency Solutions Grant agreement from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation . This application references monies from the Emergency Shelter Grant Program .
This grant approval allows SOS Inc . to receive $ 20,000 and Plumb Place to receive $ 30,000 .
The city of Emporia is the sponsoring agency for the grants and will receive $ 1,351 .
“ The city is responsible for the grant distribution of the grant funding ,” McAnarney said .
A resolution was also passed for the approval of the Annual Solid Waste Plan . The proposed plan was reviewed by commissioners at a previous study session .
“ We are required to develop and maintain a solid waste management plan ,”
MARY ANN REDEKER / GAZETTE
Emporia City Commissioners hear requests for a new recycling baler during their action session Wednesday afternoon in the Municipal Courtroom . The commission also set a date for the 2017 budget hearing , which will be at 7:05 p . m . Wednesday , Aug . 17 .
Emporia gets Creative Fridays on the Arts page T E G
Keith Senn , solid waste manager , said . “ This year was a review of the previous year ’ s plan . We went in and updated the amount of material collected and where it goes to and some charts and graphs . No major changes were made , but updates were made . Each year we are required to go before Lyon and Chase County for approval for this plan , then we send it in to the KDHE for their approval .”
In other business , the commission approved ✦✦The purchase of a new fire rescue truck in the amount of $ 442,370.12 to replace the current one , which is 25 years old .
✦✦The purchase of a new solid waste packer body and chassis in the amount of $ 168,682 , which was under the budgeted cost .
✦✦The purchase of one Max- Pak recycling baler in the amount of $ 72,865 .
✦✦An ordinance for a beer garden for Brickyard 20 Ale House for the Professional Disc Golf Association Tournament .
✦✦A request by Tracy and Michelle Edward to annex five acres of property into city limits located at 2200 W . 30th Ave . The property is zoned agricultural but would allow for the construction of a single-family residence .
The commission will next meet on Aug . 10 for a study session . Items up for discussion are a final review of the 2017 budget , a review of the commission ’ s goals and a request for change in downtown parking between the 700 and 800 blocks of Merchant Street .
THE WHITE CORPORATION 517 Merchant St . Emporia , Kansas 66801
Published Daily Except Sunday and New Years ’ Day , Memorial Day , July 4th , Labor Day and Christmas Day .
Entered at the post office in Emporia , Kansas , for transmission through the mails as periodicals postage paid at Emporia , Kansas .
Daily Edition delivered by carrier in Emporia , $ 8.75 , plus 72 ¢ tax , per month .
By motor carrier delivery in Lyon and adjoining counties inside the trade area $ 120.00 plus tax , per year ; six months , $ 60.00 plus tax ; one month ,
$
10.00 plus tax .
By mail in Lyon and adjoining counties inside the trade area , $ 120.60 plus tax , per year ; six months , $ 60 plus tax ; one month , $ 10 plus tax .
By mail in Kansas outside trade area , $ 124.20 plus tax , per year ; six months , $ 62.10 plus tax ; one month , $ 10.35 plus tax .
By mail outside Kansas , $ 130.80 , per year ; six months , $ 65.40 ; one month , $ 10.90 .
Fax ( 620 ) 342-8108 Subscriptions : ( 620 ) 342-4800
Postmaster : send address changes to : The Emporia Gazette ( USPS 175-800 ) Drawer C Emporia , Kansas 66801