Aquatic Centers Review Committee meets

A review committee met to discuss and examine operations at Wellington's Aquatic Center this week. The Aquatic Center loses nearly $50,000 annually and the committees goal is to review operations and recommend changes which lower the cost. Committee Members are Greg Renn, J.P. Buellesfeld, and Council Members Granger and Nunnemaker.

Hillside Street Bridge bids open

Bids for the Hillside Street Bridge were $24,000 lower than the engineers estimate. The bridge is an ARRA Stimulus Project.

Quiet Zone

City Staff continues to work on options to establish a "quiet zone" along the BNSF Railroad through Wellington. There are many options, many price tags, and many affects on nearby residents. All will be examined before reaching a recommendation.

Derailment cleanup slow

Union Pacific continues to cleanup the derailment debris from the November 2 derailment on Vandenburg north of 21st...wheel have been removed bu the seven grain cars still lay on their side.

City employees raise funds

City employees collected nearly $1000 which will be used to buy Christmas gifts for eight families in the employees "Adopt a Family". Thanks guys...good job!

Railroad agreement for Fair Street approved

The Easement Agreement that allows the City of Wellington to enter BNSF property to begin improvements to the Fair Street underpass was approved at the December 15th Council Meeting. Now that the agreement has been accepted and approved by both parties, engineering can begin to correct storm water drainage and street resurfacing.
The storm water drainage is a major project as it involves everything from Fair and 4th Street to Cherry and 1st. Storm water must take two 90 degree turns in it's flow downstream between these two points which is a big factor in the water backup and subsequent flooding of the underpass.
Storm drainage will be examined along Fair Street from 4th to 1st, and a new culvert is planned for the 1st Street Bridge just east of Cherry. Drainage will be corrected to ensure flooding is remedied before the street surface can be repaired.

Rockfest to be in Lake Afton

Midwest Rockfest has announced it will be having a two day concert next July at their new home at Lake Afton.

City Elections

While City elections aren't until April, the filing deadline is next month. Seats will be open in each Ward...I encourage anyone who has considered seeking office to file. I've posted a link on my website at www.johntracy.net to the City website. You can visit it directly by clicking on this link. http://www.cityofwellington.net/news/City_of_Wellington/article234.html

City Projects on the web

A map of current City projects, along with a listing of their start date and expected completion date has been posted on the City's website. Go to http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=37.291672,-97.396374&spn=0.111712,0.154324&z=13&msid=103410109000520367028.0004755a1c2bb17740c1f to view the map.

Council Work Session lengthy

The City Council met for over two hours Monday evening, discussing several upcoming items and projects.
The restructuring of City Government was discussed including ideas on re-districting the current voting wards, extending current council terms from two to four years, implementing term limitations, and reducing the number of Council Members on the Governing Body. No consensus was reached, and further discussion will take place at a later Work Session.
The Council also discussed the adoption of the 2008 National Electrical Code. Included will be some local amendments to the Code regarding the use of safety outlets, the re-licensing process for electricians whose licenses have expired, and a clause which would prohibit property owners from conducting any electrical work on their own property involving the breaker panel without first taking a test administered at City Hall. The Ordinance adopting the Code is scheduled to be on the agenda the first Council Meeting in December.

Work on Harvey Street to begin

Contractors will start the curb, gutter, and widening process on Harvey Street from Woodlawn to the cemetery on Monday, November 2nd.

Unemployment shows slight decrease

Unemployment figures for Sumner County are down 3/10ths of a percent...not much but it is a start. Sumner County's unemployment rate is 9%...very high versus the state's rate of 6.9%. - Info from Sumner Co. Economic Development

Council Action

At the October 20th meeting, the Council approved a bid for the engineering of one of the U.S. 160 resurfacing projects. This project will resurface U.S. 160 from the corner of 15th & A, west to Pizza Hut, then south to 11th Street. It is expected that bids will be let after the first of the year, then construction will begin soon after that.
The Council also accepted easements from Walmart and USD353 for another U.S. 160 project...the widening of the highway between Speedy's and Walmart. This project is a KLINK grant awarded for the 2011 State Fiscal Year which is from June '10 to June '11.

Donations needed!!!

Wellington has the opportunity to bring in nationally known speaker, Phil Chalmers to the schools and community on Friday the 30th for Red Ribbon Week. He has agreed to re-arrange his schedule to be here. Phil has a powerful message on the use of drugs & alcohol by teens. USD353 has put all the Red Ribbon money towards him, but they are still short. School Resource Officer Bobby Wilson is in charge of the donations; you can contact him at 326-4310. If you can donate, your help would be greatly appreciated. http://www.philchalmers.com/ Thank you.

Harvey Avenue bid approved

Last night, the City Council approved a bid for the widening, curb, and gutter on the East Harvey project. The street will be widened from Woodlawn to Prairie Lawn Cemetery with new curb and gutter installed. Next spring, City Street crews will provide a new asphalt overlay to the street surface. Economic times are tough and construction companies need the business; the engineers estimate for the curb and gutter project was $140,000, but the final bid approved by Council was $109,000; well below budget.
Plans are to have the entire project completed before Memorial Day.

City to consider Vandenburg Ave grant

The City has considered application for a Surface Transportation grant from KDOT to reconstruct Vandenburg Ave. Surface Transportation grants are for major arterial roads within a city, and do not have to be a state or federal highway. The project which is well over $2 million, would be 80% paid by the State if the grant is awarded. The State likes to "spread with wealth" with STP grants, and Wellington has not been the recipient of one since the mid 1990s when Woodlawn Ave was reconstructed from 16th to Harvey. Hopes are high that the grant will be awarded.

Website Update

I've added some matchbook covers to my Historical Photos page. It can be found at http://www.johntracy.net/historic_photos.html.

Unemployment down: Still too high

Even though unemployment figures for Sumner County are down, the county is still tied for fourth place with having the highest unemployment of the 105 counties in Kansas. Wilson County is highest at 11.2%, Montgomery County at 10.9%, Elk County at 10.5%, then Crawford and Sumner Counties tied for fourth place at 9.3%. The State unemployment rate is 7.1%. (Source: Sumner Co. Economic Development).

Fire Prevention Week

October 4th thru 10th is Fire Prevention Week, and the fire department has several activities scheduled. Different programs are planned based on the age group of the audience. Education is geared towards pre-school aged children through adults. For more information, contact the fire department at 326-7443.

Curb and guttering bids to be opened

Bids for the curb and gutter project for Harvey Street from Woodlawn to the Cemetery are scheduled to be opened on September 30th. Replacement of the curb and gutter should be completed this year, with resurfacing of the street scheduled for 2010.

Water tower maintenance this week

Maintenance on three water towers will be performed this week. Monday, the tower on 16th will undergo maintenance, the tower at Mayfield will undergo maintenance on Wednesday, and the Worden Park tower is scheduled for Friday. No loss of service should be experienced with this routine maintenance.

Street projects continue

Repairs to east Lincoln Avenue are nearly complete as Street crews remove some of the packed fill to replace it with asphalt. Crews had to wait for the "road base" to be packed before filling with asphalt to ensure the asphalt didn't sink after settling.

Once completed, temporary repairs will be started to fill the cut made after installation of the "B" Street water line. "B" Street is scheduled for curb and gutter and a new asphalt overlay next year. Officials say the temporary patch is not wasted however, as the materials will be able to be used during the paving process next year.

Warm Up Wellington!

Robert and Eva Patterson are conducting their 2nd Annual, "Warm Up Wellington!" project. The Patterson's collect used winter apparel and distribute it to those less fortunate. They accept coats, hats, scarves, gloves...any item you are no longer using or no longer fits. Eva washes and prepares the items for distribution.

The tentative deadline for this project is October 24th. Go through your closet and see how you can help Warm Up Wellington! This is a great project...if you have a donation, contact them at 326-0859. They can also use hangers as well.

Website updates

I have added new information to my website that might be of interest. I've had to change some of the links to accommodate this, however I attempted to keep the website the same as much as possible.

If you find any broken links or have difficulty finding what you are looking for, do not hesitate to contact me.

www.johntracy.net

As I See It - the 2010 budget

I commend City Staff for their hard work in preparing the 2010 budget proposal. Compiling a budget is time consuming and involves long tedious hours of calculating and adjusting figures. Even though staff did an excellent job in trimming expenditures so that no tax increases were necessary, I still could not support the proposed budget.

Our community has been facing tough economic times for many years now. I am well aware of our population decline; many who have left cite high taxes as one of the reasons. I have also compared Wellington's taxes with neighboring communities, and while we do not have the highest taxes of the Cities around us, we are certainly near the top of the group.

But now we are facing even tougher times. The economic climate nationwide is poor. Cities, Counties, States, our Federal Government, and private industry alike are facing financial difficulties and making drastic cutbacks.

In light of those difficulties, we have chosen not to budget for a wage increase for our City employees next year. I understand that, and I can whole-heartedly support that. But it is my opinion that if times are tough for our employees, times had better be tough all over. There were some planned expenditures included in the 2010 budget that, in my opinion, were not indicative of tough times. And while some municipalities are not only freezing wages but in fact, exercising layoffs, I would not be able to face those employees who serve us, tell them there was no money for raises, while at the same time watching the development of projects that I did not feel were a priority at this time.

As an example, funds are budgeted in 2010 to resurface the 9th Street tennis courts. While the tennis courts are an important part of this community and are showing signs of age, I do not feel that tennis courts rank among services such as public safety, water, electricity, sewer, and our employees. I felt the tennis court project could have been postponed until the economic times turned around. I am not against recreation; I have been a strong proponent in trying to get a skate-board park in town. We have budgeted some funds to start the project, but because of our economic times, I have not pressed the issue forward. A skate-board park would be a great addition for the recreation of our children, but this is simply not the time to start the development.

So in short, I realize times are tough and I agree that we cannot afford to fund raises for our employees. But in my prioritization of necessary City services, I do not rank tennis courts in that group either.

2010 City budget passes

The 2010 City budget passed at the Council Meeting August 18th by a vote of 5-3. Councilmember Craig was absent from the meeting and the resulting vote, after the Public Hearing and discussion, was 4-3, with Councilmembers Granger, Valentine, and myself voting "no". Since Ordinances require 5 votes to pass, the Mayor was then allowed to vote and he cast the fifth "yes" vote. A link to the budget draft can still be accessed from my website at www.johntracy.net.

Street/water projects underway

Work has begun on the "B" Street water line, a project which will replace the water line on "B" Street from 16th to Lincoln. Once the water line project has been completed, the street itself will be renovated the entire route.
Repairs are being made in the 500 block of East 9th where the street was completely renovated with new concrete poured. Currently, concrete is less expensive than asphalt. Once 9th Street has been finished, renovations to Harvey Street, from Woodlawn to the cemetery will begin. The water meters on Harvey have been set back to allow for widening of the street.
Repairs are also underway on Lincoln Street near the cemetery. While repairing potholes, it was found that the street base was in bad condition and needed repair. The entire street and its base were removed, with the holes being filled with base rock. Once the rock has been compacted, several inches will be removed from the top and asphalt will be added. Lincoln Street is scheduled to be renovated next year after a new water line is installed east of Woodlawn.

Sewer rates to increase

At the August 4th Council Meeting, an Ordinance was approved increasing sewer rates for Wellington customers. The rate increase is necessary to cover the costs of recent improvements to the wastewater treatment system. Projects included are the new Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Beaver Creek Sewer Line, the Hargis Creek Relief Sewer, and the "H" Street Sewer Line. (See my Projects page at http://www.johntracy.net/projects.html). The increases will generate nearly a million dollars a year which will be necessary to pay off the debt service incurred because of the system rehabilitation. How will the increases affect you? Costs are based on water usage. A chart showing the base rate, along with rates per 1,000 gallons of water used can be found on the City Clerk's website at http://www.cityofwellington.net/images/content/files/clerk/sewer_rate_adjustment.pdf.

City Codes now on website

With the recent recodification of the City Ordinance manual came the opportunity to provide a digital copy for public viewing and research. The City Codes can be reviewed by clicking on the following link. http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=14514&sid=16

Public Hearing for 2010 Budget

At the August 18th City Council Meeting, a Public Hearing is scheduled to receive input from the citizens regarding the 2010 City Budget proposal. This is an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinion on planned expenditures. I encourage you to attend and make your comments known.

2010 Proposed Budget

The 2010 Proposed Budget for the City of Wellington has been posted on the City's website. You can review the proposal at http://www.cityofwellington.net/images/content/files/clerk/2010_prelim_budget.pdf

Work site utility vehicles to be allowed at Wellington Lake

At the July 7th Council Meeting, the council passed an ordinance allowing "work-site utility vehicles" to be used at Wellington Lake. Examples of such vehicles are the John Deere Gator or the "Mules" sold at agricultural supply stores.

According to the ordinance, the vehicle must be equipped with four low pressure tires, a steering wheel, and a bench or bucket seat. This requirement eliminates the use of three and four wheel ATV cycles which are still restricted and cannot be driven at the lake.

Other restrictions provide that the driver of these vehicles must have a valid drivers license and be at least 18 years of age, vehicles cannot drive on any area other than roadways, and unless the vehicle is equipped with head and tail lights, cannot be driven between sunset and sunrise.

Thanks to the United Country Theurer Auction Team!

Thanks again to the United Country Theurer Auction Team for placing the American flags out for the July 4th weekend. Employees of Theurers annual place flags along all major thoroughfares and in residential yards. The team puts in a lot of hard work and effort, but the results of their work are truly beautiful. Thank you!

City Codes completed

For the last year and a half, the City has undergone "codification", a process by which all ordinances passed by the Governing Body are combined into one code book. The process is now complete, and the City Council approved the new Code Book at the July 7th meeting.

The code book had not been updated since 1993, so the latest version is now current and up to date with all ordinances passed over the 16 years.

A copy of the book is available for public review at City Hall, and one will also be placed in the Public Library for reference. Soon, the city codes will also be available for research and viewing via the internet, on the City's Website.

McDonalds site plan approved

The City Council approved the site plan for the new McDonalds restaurant which is planned for construction next year in the Tapp Development, between Walmart and the Wellington High School.

The developer will extend Boundary Road south from U.S. 160 into the development, then construct a private road east and join the Walmart parking lot. Around these new roadways are three lots, and McDonalds has selected one of the lots for relocation.

Once built, the west-side McDonalds will be closed and the building offered for sale.

"B" Street water line given green light

At the July 7 Council Meeting, bids were approved for the renovation of the "B" Street water line, a water line replacement project that extends from 15th Street, south to Lincoln Ave. The water line is the first step needed before installing new curb and gutter, and milling and overlaying the roadway with new asphalt.

The street, like many others, is in bad shape and in need of a new surface. The water line will be replaced first however, to prevent disturbing the new street surface at a later date. Approximately 65 homes will benefit from this project that was bid at just over $200,000.

Calendar dates corrected

I discovered that the calendar dates on my website were incorrect. I have corrected the calendar to reflect the actual meeting dates. I apologize for the inconvenience.

City to ask KDOT for traffic light

The City of Wellington will ask KDOT once again to survey the intersection of U.S. 160 and Williams Drive (at Walmart) for placement of a traffic light. Around 5,400 cars per day enter and exit Walmart at Williams Drive, causing congestion and safety concerns at the intersection. KDOT has examined the intersection in the past and has cited that it does not warrant traffic signaling. Concerns by Governing Body members as well as a great number of citizens have prompted the request.

City sponsors Fireworks Display

The City of Wellington is sponsoring this years Fireworks Display to be held July 4th at Worden Park. The show starts at approximately 9:45p.m.

The noon Lions Club is offering free parking beginning at 7:00p.m. Enter through the main gain to the ball fields. Bleacher seating is on the west side of the Go-Cart Track. Parking will not be allowed on Hillside from "H" Street to the Worden Park Entrance, and the area will be closed during the display and will not reopen until the display is over. Pets and alcohol are not allowed.

In the event of rain, the event is planned for July 5th at the same time. The private use of fireworks will not be allowed on July 5th, the rain date is ONLY for the fireworks display.

Council receives proposed Capital Outlay for 2010

The Wellington Governing Body received the proposed "Capital Outlay" for the 2010 budget year to begin studying the requested expenditures.

"Capital Outlay" items are non-routine expenditures such as police cars, fire trucks, tractors, etc.

"Capital Improvement" items, on the other hand, are items costing more than $25,000 with a life expectancy of at least 15 years. These items include new buildings, recreational facility upgrades, streets, water and sewer lines, long term vehicles, etc.

Discussion of the 2010 Budget begins on June 30.

Website Update

I've rearranged my home page to make room to add a poll I am testing. If it works properly, I will be conducting other polls regarding City issues in the future.

Public Hearing cancelled

A scheduled public hearing, to discuss the application for stimulus funding to renovate the Memorial Auditorium was cancelled at the June 16th Council Meeting. It was determined that the project is not eligible for stimulus funding, therefore there was not a need for a Public Hearing.

Council passes KDOT Agreement for ARRA Funds

The Council also voted, at the June 16the meeting, to sign the official agreement between the City and the Kansas Department of Transporation, for ARRA Stimulus Funds to rebuild the Hillside Street bridge.

The bridge, just west of TECT-Midwest on Hillside Street, has been slated for repairs for several years now, but has always been cut the funding during budget sessions. While the bridge is safe and adequate, it does not meet todays standards for bridge width, and does not have the necessary guard railings on its sides. The bridge crosses the Rock Island Slough in the northern section of Wellington.

The project is estimated to cost $310,000 which will be paid by a federal stimulus grant.

First steps taken to renovate Fair Street

At the June 16th Council Meeting, the City Council voted to designate the 400 - 500 blocks of South Fair Street as an official "thoroughfare". This action was necessary after an investigation revealed the street to be owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Following the action designating Fair Street as a thoroughfare, the Council voted to issue Bonds in excess of $200,000 to begin the actual renovation. These bonds, coupled with an additional $100,000 in cash on hand, will be used to correct water drainage below the BNSF Bridge, then to resurface the roadway which has become nearly impassible.

For years, storm waters have flooded the underpass and eroded the roadway. The path carries storm water from a large section of eastern Wellington to Hargis Creek. Because the drainage is inadequate, the underpass frequently floods.

The Fair Street underpass carries nearly 1200 vehicles per day, and because of the BNSF Railway mainline and yards, is one of only two passages which connect the entire Rosedale Addition of Wellington with the eastern half of the community.

Past discussions have tossed about the idea of an elevated roadway over the railroad tracks, however estimates for an urban overpass are approximately $4 million dollars.

Coyote Ridge Development to be assessed Specials

After much deliberation and a Public Hearing two weeks ago, property owners at Coyote Ridge will be assessed Special Assessment taxes to pay for water, street, and other infrastructure improvements.

Normally, housing developers pay the cost for instrastructure in their developments, then pass the cost on to the buyers through the sale of the lots. Four years ago however, Wellington, at the urging of a local developer, established a Developers Incentive Policy in which the City absorbed the cost of the infrastructure, then recuperated the cost through Special Assessment taxes. The incentives also allowed for a three year deferment in the payment of those taxes, with Coyote Ridge reaching the end of it's deferment period.

The infrastructure, originally built three years ago, was paid with Temporary Notes. Two weeks ago, the City Council held a Public Hearing before issuing bonds to pay off those Notes. It was at the Public Hearing when objections were voiced by the property owners. Some questioned the high cost, some requested spreading the tax over a 20 year period rather than 15. The savings of extending the term an additional five years amounted to only about $30 per month, not counting the additional interest that would accrue and have to be paid during that extra five years.

After lengthy questioning, listening to comments from the property owners, and deliberating the issue, the Council voted 5-3 in favor of assessing the full cost of the infrastructure over the 15 year period.

As I See It - "It's Time to End the Developers Incentives"

When I was first approached about establishing Developers Incentives in Wellington, I thought it was a good idea. The City takes care of the infrastructure which allows the developer to sell lots at a lower price (hoping to recruit new dwellings), and pass the cost of the infrastructure on through Special Assessments. Deferring the assessments for three years would allow a new property owner time to "get on their feet" before the special tax kicked in.

But then I was told that Wellington was one of the fewest towns around that did not offer some type of incentive to developers. "Incentives are why Derby, Andover, and Mulvane are growing", I was told. So I checked with those communities and found that, like Wellington, they offered no incentives to developers at all. The cost of the infrastructure was paid for totally by the developer and passed on through the price of the parcel or lot. In fact, Derby told me the only thing they offered was "good parks and recreation."

I supported the Settlers Creek Addition through the developers incentives because it was filling a void already within the City of Wellington's City Limits. I thought it would be a good test to determine if the incentives would work or not. I subsequently voted against Coyote Ridge and Crestview Heights Developments, and have been opposed to the Developers Incentives since.

The Settlers Creek Addition is the perfect example. The City paid for the infrastructure for over 30 lots, and to date, less than half a dozen have sold. In the event the developer/property owner fails to pay the taxes and special assessments for the infrastructure, the property will be sold at tax auction and the City could be on the hook for the infrastructure costs. Likewise, Coyote Ridge, a 24 lot development, has only sold ten lots. We are now being told the special assessments are too high, and that likely no more lots will be sold because of the high taxes. If the Coyote Ridge developer/property owners fail to pay their taxes, that development too could be sold at tax auction, again leaving Wellington on the hook for the infrastructure costs.

Even before the economic crisis last fall, it was obvious that lots in these developments were not going to sell like "hotcakes". And now the future of these developments are up in the air.

The City cannot risk any more of your tax dollars gambling on future developments. If the developer wants to risk their money, that is what private enterprise is all about. I will continue my attempts to stop the Developers Incentives, and continue to vote against developments that are built on them.

Public Hearing at the June 16th Council Meeting

The Wellington City Council will have a Public Hearing for community input regarding the application for a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) for renovations to the Memorial Auditorium. The renovations include making restrooms ADA compatible, a new roof, and other remodeling. The grant will be eligible for AARA funding through the U.S. Government. As of yet, I have not seen the plans for the renovation. As soon as they are available, I will post them on my website.

I am opposed however, to any renovations that do not involve "routine maintenance" or making the building ADA Accessible. The citizens made their voice loud and clear last November that they do not want the auditorium renovated into a Recreational Facility.

Agenda Items - June 16

Some of the agenda items included for June 16th include...

Passing an Ordinance for the Special Assessments for the Coyote Ridge Development. According to Development Incentive Policies, the City picks up the tab for the installation of infrastructure (streets, water, sewer, electric),then assesses the cost to the property owners in the form of Special Assessments. Included in the incentives is a three-year deferment on the specials which have now come due. The City issued Temporary Notes to fund the project, and will now issue Bond to pay off the Temp. Notes.

Passing an Ordinance making Fair Street an official "traffic thoroughfare. This is the first step in repairing Fair Street since an investigation determined it to be property of the railroad.

A Resolution issuing Bonds for the purpose of repairing the Fair Street Underpass. The work, estimated at approximately $300,000 includes correcting drainage issues as well as resurfacing the roadway.

A Resolution accepting bids (#1.2 million) for the Beaver Creek Sewer Line. The line will connect the U.S. 160 corridor area with the new Waste Water Treatment Plant. Funding is from a revolving loan account available through KDHE. The loan will be repaid through assessments on those in the "benefit area" who connect to the sewer.

A Resolution establishing the official agreement between KDOT and the City of Wellington for the receipt of AARA Funds to be used for the Hillside Street Bridge project.

Thanks to the City Crews

Thanks to the Cemetery Department, Parks Department, and all other city employees who worked hard preparing the city's cemeteries for the Memorial Weekend. The weather was perfect, and the grass was neatly cut and trimmed. The cemetery was beautiful because of their hard work. They also put in long hours, manning the cemetery to answer questions, direct visitors, and assist them with their needs. Thanks everyone!

Website Updates

I've updated my website...a link has been added to the Take Charge! Challenge website, and I've also added a page showing photos of the Avenue of Flags. What a wonderful sight and a beautiful weekend for the Memorial. Links are in the right-hand column of the homepage.

Proposed 2010-2015 Capital Improvement Plan

The City Council will begin deliberations over the proposed 2010 Capital Improvement Plan next Wednesday night (May 27). I've posted the proposed projects, their proposed years for completion, as well as their estimated costs and funding mechanisms on my website at www.johntracy.net. Please review the plan and provide me with your input.

Budget Meetings

The time of the year is upon us to begin deliberations on the annual budget...on May 27th the Governing Body will meet in a worksession to discuss the six year Capital Improvement Plan...later meetings will be held to discuss the 2010 City Operating Budget. I will post information on the CIP as soon as I digest all of the information...

2008 Tax Comparisons updated

I've updated my report on "How Do Wellington's Taxes Compare to Other Cities?" on my webpage. The 2008 tax rates are made available by the League of Kansas Municipalities. You can review the information at http://www.johntracy.net/reports.html.

Girl2Girl Self-Defense Training

On April 29th at 7:00p.m., Chris and Jenna Rangel will instruct self-defense for girls and women (ages 9+). The event will be held at the Wellington High School Gym. While there are many sponsors (see poster at left), Janie Tuttle of the Sheriff's Department is responsible for organizing the event. For more information, go to http://girl2girlselfdefense.com/.

Upcoming agenda items

At the April 21st Regular Council Meeting, the Council will discuss ordinances approving the plat and developer agreement for the TAPP Development in Short Addition, Section 1. This is the area between Walmart and the High School on the south side of U.S. 160. If approved, Boundary Road will be extended south of U.S. 160 to a private road which will connect the development with the Walmart parking lot. The plat is divided into three lots for the potential of three prospective businesses.
The Council will also review Landfill Coupons for the 2009 season, pipeline agreements with BNSF railway to extend sewer lines below their tracks, the re-plat of properties at the northwest corner of "H" & 22nd Street, and the purchase of electric transformers. A bill has been received for 44 electric transformers at a cost of $50,000.
Finally, the Council will decide to enter into an agreement with KMGA, the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency, to purchase natural gas used for the production of electricity. Natural gas prices have dropped, so there is the potential that the City can produce electricity at a cheaper price than it can purchase it.

Council Member Antonich to host meetings

Council Member Cindy Antonich, Ward 2, will begin hosting monthly constituent meetings on Monday, prior to the first Council Meeting of each month. Meetings will be held at 6:30p.m. at Wellington's Steakhouse. Her next meeting will be May 4th.

Update - Fair Street Underpass

Since the Fair Street Underpass was not selected by KDOT for AARA Stimulus funding, consideration is still given to the Fair Street project. City Manager Collins is meeting soon with representatives of BNSF to seek their financial assistance in this project. My opinion however, and I made this statement official at the April 7th Council Meeting, is that we should proceed with renovations to the Fair Street underpass regardless of BNSF participation. Funds had been placed in reserve to begin "saving" to perform the Hillside Street Bridge project, a project which now will be totally funded by AARA funding. Council Member Granger recommended that those funds be transferred to the Fair Street Underpass project. I recommended that the balance of the project be performed through the issuance of bonds.
Fair Street must be improved...we no longer have a choice. It has become a dangerous stretch of road. Closing Fair Street, in my opinion, is not an option. It is the main thoroughfare for residents in the Rosedale Addition, and to commute east or west to over avenues is at a minimum, a mile out of their way.

Council Worksessions - Explained

Periodically, the Wellington City Council meets to conduct a "work session", a meeting in which City issues are presented and studied. These work sessions are an opportunity to be briefed on potential agenda items, to ask questions, direct further study, and meet with those involved in a particular issue. These meetings are strictly for study and discussion only...no official binding action can be taken. Often times, the word "consensus" is used. In my mind, a consensus is taken among the Council as to whether or not to place an item on the agenda for consideration at a Regular Council Meeting, or for staff to work further in obtaining information, or if the Council is even interested in pursuing a particular issue or not. When the consensus is taken, it is not an official vote on the issue. The issue does not come up on the agenda for the official vote until a later date, if then. Often times, I take information I've learned from a work session to poll my constituents to determine their opinion so I'll know how to vote when the issue does show up on the official agenda.
I compare a work session to a "Committee Meeting" or hearing in the State Legislature. Any Senator or Representative can enter a bill before the legislature. That bill goes before the appropriate committee for further discussion. The committee can then determine if the bill stops there, or if it goes onto the House or Senate floor for deliberation and vote. The only difference I see between a "work session" and a "Committee Meeting" at the State level, is that the State Committee actually takes a binding vote on whether or not that bill is considered for deliberation on the floor.
Confusion over a recent work session ensued after the consensus of the City Council was to instruct staff to draft a contract between the City and the Rockfest Promoters for official deliberation and voting at a Regular City Council Meeting. The consensus was not to allow the promoters to progress with Rockfest plans, but simply to place the contract on the official agenda for consideration. Rockfest promoters apparently took this consensus as the green light, and began advertising Rockfest and distributing tickets. This obviously confused many citizens who thought Rockfest had already been approved.
The Rockfest contract was officially approved at the April 7th Council Meeting. But until that date, there was no "green light" or contract allowing Rockfest promoters to proceed.
Finally, work sessions are open public meetings, just like Regular City Council Meetings, and the public is welcome to attend. Meetings are less formal with City Council members sitting around a table for discussion, and since the meeting is for study and discussion only, public comment is not allowed until the issue is approved to be placed on the agenda.

Council Action

In other Council action, the council unanimously approved a beer license for the Chamber of Commerce to hold a "beer garden" at the Wheat Festival, approved easements for the Beaver Creek Sewer Line, approved an easement and contract with the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad to route a sewer line under the BNGR Railroad tracks, and approved a contract for use of the go-kart track at Worden Park for the upcoming season. I voted against the Worden Park contract as the revenues received from the races will go into the Worden Park Trust Fund as opposed to the General Fund. The General Fund budgets the vast majority of maintenance and expansion costs at Worden Park...I felt it only appropriate to reimburse the General Fund with the revenue money.

Rockfest contract passes

The contract to allow Rockfest promoters to hold a series of open air Rock Concerts at the Wellington Lake passed Tuesday night by a vote of 5-2. Council member Antonich was absent. Those voting against the contract were Council members Granger and Valentine.
While there are opinions on each side of every issue, most have a wide margin and the wants of the majority are clear cut. This is probably the most evenly divided issue I have encountered in my 5 years as a City Council member. I kept a tally sheet on those that contacted me, and began checking my email three and four times a day to keep abreast of opinions. In the end, 56% of my constituents favored Rockfest, with 44% opposed, which is how I voted on the issue. I appreciate each and everyones time and consideration in responding with their opinion.
Discussion was lengthy at the Council meeting, with citizens on both sides of the issue allowed time to speak out.
The first concern will be on June 6th. Three additional concerns are scheduled during the summer, but between each concert is a critique of how the event was handled, if there were any major incidents, if the facilities were left free of trash and in good order, etc. If at any time the City or the promoters are not happy with the way and event was handled, the contract can be voided.

Candidate Forum

Thanks again to the Women of Wellington for hosting this weeks candidate forum. It is extremely vital that we know where our candidates stand on the issues, and an open forum is an excellent means of meeting the candidates. Thanks again for their time and effort in making the forum possible, and also to Studio 55 for broadcasting the forum for those who couldn't attend. The Women of Wellington are truly community minded!

AARA Funds

KDOT has made the decision to fund the Hillside Street Bridge project with the AARA Funds. I am awaiting a report from the City Manager as to the rationale behind the decision. Fair Street has 33% more traffic, was 33% less money than the Hillside Street Bridge, and is in much more dire shape than Hillside. Once a reply is received, I will post it here.

Rockfest?

The debate over Rockfest heats up. A concert promoter has asked the City permission to use a portion of Wellington Lake to host four rock concerts over the course of this next summer. The main focus of debate is on the sale of alcohol at these concerts. Pending public opinion, I have agreed to drafting a contract with this promoter. It can be an excellent tourist attraction to bring visitors to Wellington and Wellington business. Wellington currently allows the sale of beer at the Wellington Golf Club, allows a beer garden at the Wheat Festival, annually approves beer licenses to businesses who sell beer, and allows two supper clubs and three liquor stores to operate in the city. Still, the main focus of this event is on the fact that they will be selling alcohol to concert goers. What is your opinion? Your input is vital, as always. Email me, or call me with your opinion.

Councilmember Antonich to host meeting

2nd Ward Counncil Member Cindy Antonich has announced she will host a 2nd Ward meeting on March 30, 6:30p.m. at Wellington's Steakhouse, Banquet Room A. For more information, she can be contacted at 326-6861.

City to submit three street projects to KDOT

A part of President Obama's stimulus package included money's designated for highway and road infrastructure improvements. The State of Kansas received over $300 million dollars in stimulus funding, the majority of which will go towards State and Federal Highway projects. $8 million dollars however, will be distributed to cities and counties in the KDOT District 5 area (south-central Kansas) for use on local streets and roads. Wellington must compete with city and county governments in 18 counties in District 5, a tough bid for a chunk of the $8 million.
Wellington will submit three projects for considerations; the Fair Street improvement project, the Hillside Street bridge project, and the Vandenburg Avenue project.
Vandenburg is the least likely to be awarded. The total cost of the project is estimated at $2 million which is 25% of the total funds to be distributed among the `18 county area, and selections will be based on how to stretch the funds as far as possible to benefit everyone. The Fair Street project,estimated at $300,000 is the Council's highest priority, and the Hillside Street bridge replacement project at $400,000 will also be submitted. The Hillside Street bridge crosses the Rock Island Slough just west of TECT-Midwest Division.
Deadline for application for stimulus funding is March 20.
For more information on Kansas share of the federal money can be found at http://www.ksdot.org/EconomicStimulus.asp.

WWTP Bid Accepted

The bid on the Waste Water Treatment Plant was accepted by the City Council at the March 3 meeting. The cost of the project dropped further after City Staff eliminated a paved roadway leading to the site and instead, will make arrangements for City Street Crews to built the road instead of the contractor. The total cost of the WWTP construction is $8,720,000, roughly one-third less than the engineers estimate.

Local Email Problems

I've heard reports that there are problems with some email providers being bombarded by hackers and spammers, and that some of my constitutents may not be able to email me at the email listed in the "Contact" section of my webpage. If you have difficulty with "undeliverable" messages or if I do not respond to an email you have sent, please feel free to send an email to my alternate email account at old_smoke_eater@yahoo.com. It is displayed in a special comment section on my homepage.

Bids on WWTP lower than anticipated

Bids have been opened on construction of Wellington's new Waste Water Treatment Plant, and have come in at over $3 million lower than the engineers estimate. Budgeted through a revolving loan program of KDHE, engineers for the WWTP project projected a cost of $12 million for construction of the new facility. The $8.9 million bid is very welcomed relief in today's economy.
Construction of a new WWTP is necessary because the current facility is at its maximum processing capacity (1.25 million gallons of sewage each day) as well as being non-compliant with KDHE regulations which take effect next year. The new treatment plant will meet those KDHE guidelines as well as increasing its capacity by about 40%.
The bids are anticipated being approved at tonights (March 3) regular Council Meeting.

Thank you Women of Wellington!

Thank you, to the Women of Wellington Club who recently sponsored a candidate forum for City Council candidates. It is quite a task to organize and plan a forum, and their event from extremely successful. It is vital to get to know the ideas and opinions of your future representatives. The forum was taped by Studio 55 and is currently being broadcast on Sumner Cable TV's Channel 55. Thanks again Women of Wellington for stepping up to the plate and keeping the citizens informed.

Projects put on hold

The City Clerk has tallied up the projects that were placed on hold by the City Council at last Thursdays workshop. The Council has suspended over 1/2 million dollars in budgeted items, as well as placed $1.7 million in items that would have been completed with a bond issue. Should the economy turn around by the end of the year, the items can be placed back on the table; if not, the items will be postponed until later fiscal years.

State Income Tax Refunds Suspended

I've just received word that the State of Kansas has suspended all state income tax refunds. It is unknown how long the suspension will last, but apparently the action was taken because the State is unsure if it can meet this Fridays payroll. More information to come.

Council discusses economy/cutbacks

At the work session of February 12th, City Council members met to discuss the current economic crisis and made a contingency plan in the event future cuts are necessary. City Manager Collins and staff self implemented a hiring freeze on all non-essential departments (except Police and Fire), limited training and travel to required certification training, and are conserving excess fuel funds that were budgeted at the 2008 fuel prices. Staff will also look, in the future, to determine if temporary seasonal employees will be needed or if the City can manage without them.
The Governing Body reviewed Capital Improvement projects for the year, and prioritized them accordingly. Those project currently underway in which time and funding has already been invested in them, as well as projects which are mandated by State or Federal laws will be left intact. Remaining projects were discussed according to their impact on essential services to the citizens. While no projects were officially cut, those deemed non-essential have been placed on "hold" until such time as the economy returns and the projects can be re-instated, or if the economy continues to worsen, be postponed until a later fiscal year.
A total dollar figure of the impact of the "held" projects will be reported when it becomes available.

Round-About

While I continue to opposed the 15th and "A" Street Round-About Project, an engineer from Transystems met with the City Council at the February 11th work session to present the initial plans for the round-about. I've added a page to my website, including diagrams of the current intersection and diagrams of the proposal. It can be found at http://www.johntracy.net/roundabout.html.

Traffic Engineer reveals initial plans

While plans are not even 50% complete yet, a Transystems traffic engineer revealed the initial layout of the 15th & "A" roundabout to the Governing Body at the February 11th Council Work Session. The plans call to keep "A" Street an open access point to the roundabout (originally would have ended in a cul-de-sac) and to build a new road connecting 15th and 16th Streets that would run just behind the Cobb Liquor Store. Several questions were asked by Council Members about the design. A tentatively time schedule is to have the plans 50% complete in March or April for KDOT inspection, then finalize the plans by the end of the year. Bids will be let for roundabout construction some time in 2010. Check my website for updates: I'll should be posting a diagram of the proposal soon.

Support "Proposition K"

House Bill 2150, also known as "Proposition K", was introduced into the Kansas Legislature by Rep. Steve Brunk (Park City). If passed, the bill would limit property assessment increases to 2% per year, unless property improvements are made. Currently, many government agencies enjoy budgeting and spending the revenues created from higher property appraisals while touting that the "mill levy" was maintained, and blaming higher taxes on the County Appraiser. If passed, Proposition K would place the blame on higher taxes where it belongs, with the taxing entity. Increases in taxes would then have to be justified by the taxing entity, and not just because property valuations rose. For more information on the process of taxation, visit my article "How the Process of Taxation Really Works" at http://www.johntracy.net/files/taxation.pdf. For more information on Proposition K, you can follow the Proposition K link on my homepage, or point your browser to http://www.propositionk.org/?page_id=2. If you support Proposition K, send your letter of support to Rep. Vince Wetta.

Website Updates

I've made some adjustments to my website. Some of the graphics were loading very slowly, so I replaced them so the page would load more efficiently. I also added a "Projects" page to review current and planned City Projects,as well as a "Reports" page so I can provide more information on data and statistics. Please notify me if you find any spelling errors or broken links.

Recession to be topic of Workshop

The Wellington City Council will meet for a special workshop Thursday, February 12th to discuss our nation's recession, and prioritize spending for the 2009 Fiscal Year. Concerned about the economy and layoffs of aircraft industry workers, the Council feels there needs to be a "plan of action" in the event the City needs to curb costs. The consensus of the Council was that projects and expenditures should be cut before layoffs of employees were considered, therefore the 2009 Capital Improvement Budget will be reviewed as well as other contractual and commodity items. The workshop will be held at City Hall beginning at 6:30p.m.

City Elections

'Tis the season for City Elections which are coming up in April. The Mayors seat, as well as four of the eight Council positions are up for election. The deadline for filing is January 27th. For more information on seeking office, visit my website at www.johntracy.net.

Updated Websites

The 2009 Budget Book has been published and the City of Wellington has added it to their website, along with a copy of the 2009-2012 Capital Improvement Plan. Capital Improvements are non-perishable expenditures that have a value greater than $20,000 and a life of at least 10 years. Examples of these expenditures include new buildings, property maintenance and renovations, street repairs, water and sewer line installations, etc. You can surf the City of Wellington website for these documents, and I have also added links from my webpage to the City's website for these documents. A hard copy of the 2009 Budget is also available for reference at the Wellington Public Library.
I have also added a new photograph to my Historical Photos page. I finally found a photo of Fourth Ward School which was located on Poplar between 10th and 11th Streets. The school was an elementary school, and was eventually renamed after President McKinley. The school was replaced by Eisenhower Elementary in the early 1970's.

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping everyone has a happy 2009! Economists are painting a glim picture of the future in our country. A friend of mine who also happens to be a financial advisor informed me that economists predict 28% of all retail businesses will face bankruptsy next year. That is an alarming figure, and one that certainly would prove disastrous in a small community such as ours. This means your Governing Body should look even harder at expenditures to make sure your tax dollars are spent only on vital and necessary services. Any moneys that can be transferred to next years capital improvement funds could save on the taxpayers next year. Your continued input is vital. Contact me with your thoughts and ideas and as always, you are welcome to attend my monthly meetings to stay informed of the issues and provide me with feedback.