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Meeting a week late this
month, the USD 300 Board of
Education members will find
their May meeting to be a real
picnic at least the first of it.
Board members will meet at
the South Central High School
library, their usual meeting
place, at 6 p.m. next Monday and
immediately adjourn the meet-
ing to the Coldwater city park.
There they will "get to the meat
of the matter," joining the
district's bus drivers in a ham-
burger/hotdog cookout.
At 7 p.m the board will re-
convene its meeting in the high
school library, and take up busi-
ness as usual.
One of the big items on the
board agenda will be personnel
changes in personnel. At least
three resignations will come to
the board. One is from a teacher,
one from a secretary, and one
from a supplemental coaching
position.
They will also consider a new
summer weight program direc-
tor for the elementary/middle
school, and a new high school
cheerleader sponsor.
One student's request for
early graduation will come be-
ber wil! hear more and
ab6ut replacing the
boiter atSouth Central Elemen-
taty Middle School and about
soun4system upgrades in the
high school gym and the elemen-
tary/middle school gym and au-
ditorium.
They will also discuss the
district's parent/student hand-
book, the new teacher handbook,
and the certified teacher henri-
book, as well as approve an up-
dated technology plan the.
next five years and the list of dis-
trier goals and objectives for this
year.
Comanche County Commis-
sioners met Monday of this week
instead of Tuesday, having re-
scheduled the meeting because
County Clerk Alice Smith was
to be out of the office at a meet-
ing on the regular Tuesday meet-
ing date.
fore board. During the morning session,
A list of regular reports will the commissioners reviewed the
be presented to the board mem- monthly bills for payment, as
well as meeting with Ronn Lytle
]Kid i and former County Commis-
S DO Say tho sioner Ed Koger.
Lyric and Koger were present
IDarnedest Thingsl to discuss with the commission-
ers their action to pass a resolu-
Art Linkletter, long-time ra- tion authorizing a one-mill levy
dio and television show host and to fund economic development
author, certainly had a multi-fac- in the county. Both voiced op-
eted career, but one of those fac- position to such a mill levy.
ets became his"hallmark"-- his Commission Chairman
television shows and books Duane Huck noted that the rea-
based on kids and how their re- son for passing the resolution
actions to various situations and was to prompt a petition against
saying varied from those of it-- one which has been assured
adults, by Lytle. That petition, if it re-
Sometimes those kids' reac- ceives enough signatures, will
tions were insightful, and often put the matter before the voters
humorous. He authored more of Comanche County to decide
than one book on the topic, and in the August primary election.
one of his television shows was Commissioner Vehna
in fact named, "Kids Say the Basnett said she felt a letter pre-
Darnedest Things." sented to her about the matter by
Coming up with what couldLyric was a threat. In that letter,
be another chapter in that book, Lytle told the commissioners
South Central Middle School how he felt about the matter, and
Kindergarten Teacher Jennifer chronicled his involvement with
Kay had her students complete the economic development foun-
common sayings -- common to dation.
those that have heard them time Lytle also had a number of
and again, questions about the resolution.
But as those youngsters that The group also discussed the
were encountering the "old fact that the commissioners
saws" for possibly the first time, could legally go ahead and give
some new twists were incorpo- the Economic Development
rated into the sayings. Foundation funding equivalent
Those Western Star readers to a mill -- even if the matter is
that find themselves in a hurry voted down by the public.
this week should skip over the "How smart would that be?"
county commission, the school asked Commission Chairman
board, the sports, and even Huck.
Country Gal and The Wilmore "To ignore the wished of the
news and go directly to page 7 voters would be irresponsible,"
and read the kids' "new saws." he said, indicating that he felt the
If you get time, read the rest commissioners would follow the
of The Star. It's pretty good, too, wishes of the voters
but not as good as what the kids Later in their meeting, after
came up with. discussing the matter with Koger
Vol. 122
No. 40, May 4, 2006
(LISPS No. 679-660)
Official Newspaper for City of Coldwater and Comanche Coffnty
Box 518 Coldwater, Kansas67029-0518 (620) 582-2101
eluded in the 12 bills that Adams and Lytle, the commissioners
recommended be written off, voted to adopt the resolution
some date back to 2003, he which would authorize such a
noted. The bills ranged in size levy. That resolution can be
from $33 to $1,045. Commis- found elsewhere in the newspa-
sioners voted to write those bills per this week.
off as uncollectable. In other business, the com-
--Adams noted that the missioners:
county is now just one payment --Approved payment Of
away from paying off the monthly bills in the amount of
county's newest ambulance -- $195,702.08.
the one in Protection. He also --Heard Comanche County
pointed out that he and the com- Road and Bridge Supervisor
missioners had talked at one time Jerry HeR report on plans to re-
about purchasing a four-wheel seal part of the county blacktop
drive ambulance -- but he has north of Protection and part of
no room to put it inside. Adams the blacktop south of Wilmore.
said that he had talked with a --Discussed applicants for
local contractor about the mat- the road and bridge supervisor
ter, and had prepared rough ten- position from which HeR plans
tative plans to expand the am- to retire sometime this summer.
bulance building in Coldwater. . --Approved HeR's request
Commissioners told Adams to that the county sign-making ma-
bring back cost estimates on the chine be loaned to the city of
building addition, as well as a Wilmore.
comparison in costs between --Heard HeR report that the
two-wheel and four-wheel drive road and bridge department is in
ambulances, need of a grader operator.
--Met with Blue Cross rep- --Received a quarterly report
resentative Stephanie Buckman of activities from Register of
who explained a rate decrease in Deeds Guyneth Snyder.
the county's employee health --Received word that the
insurance policy, as well as the county commission, the county
fact that the policy would have airport advisory board, and the
to be changed a year from now. Kansas Department of Transpor-
Several of the courthouse em- tation are named in a law suit
ployees also sat in on the session, filed by Dave Snook regarding
She outlined several changes in a motorcycle accident at the
the plan after one more year, due Comanche County Airport in
to changes in the way Blue Cross 2004. The information was for-
will offer benefits. The basic warded to two insurance compa-
changes were that the first $750 nies -- the one covering the
would have to be paid by the commissioners and the one cov-
employee instead of the first ering the airport authority.
$500 as it now stands. She also --Heard Heft report that he
noted differences in the way em- had a -ton Dodge pickup of his
ployees' benefit years are fig- own that he would like to sell.
ured -- a change which would He offered to sell it to the county,
adversely effect some. but no action was taken.
--Commlssmners voted to Met with Comanche
leave the health insurance pack- County Ambulance Service Di-
age as it now stands until when rector Brian Adams who pre-
they are forced to change it next sented the commissioners with a
year. That means that the em- quarterly report of activities for
ployee-only policy rate will drop the ambulance service.
$10 per month from $566 to --Received a recommenda-
$556 per month. Family plan tion from Adams that about
rates will drop from $1,739 to $10,000 in ambulance bills be
$1,709 per month, written off as tmcollectable. In-
mlC
--Met in executive session
to discuss personnel matters with
County Treasurer Patty Fose.
--Heard the county treasurer
report that the new computer
printer has been installed in her
office and is working fine.
--Met with Nelda Jellison
who spoke to the commission-
ers about a Protection lot which
was on one of the previous tax
sales. She said that she under-
stood that it now belonged to the
county, and could be purchased
from the county, and wondered
how that could be done. Com-
missioners said that the lot
would have to be advertised for
sale, and agreed to advertise it
for sealed bids.
--Voted to appoint June
Kliesen to the Comanche County
Hospital Board.
--Received a quarterly report
of activities and finances from
Comanche County Hospital Ad-
ministrator Nancy Zimmerman.
--Heard the hospital admin-
istrator explain the hospital
board's efforts at recruiting a
new doctor for the county.
--Heard Mrs. Zimmerman
explainthat the hospital board
is in the process of having plans
for expansion of and updating
the hospital drawn up and the let-
ting bids for a construction man-
ager "at risk."
--Agreed to set the first June
meeting for Monday, June 5,
(continued on page 7)
Date High Low Precip.
4-26 67 33 0.00
4-27 81 44 0.00
4-28 71 54 0.19
4-29 71 5'1 0.00
4-30 77 44 0.85
5-1 77 52 0.00
5-2 84 53 trace
