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Tuesday, March 10, 2020
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School groundbreaking in the works By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Iola Elementary School could come in April, as the project nears the end of the planning stage and gets ready to be let for bids, with demolition and the start of construction this summer. Budget projects appear to be on track, with a little bit of a cushion for unexpected expenses or savings. USD 257 board members heard an update from SJCF Architects, the Wichita firm leading the process to build a new elementary school and new science center at the Iola High School campus. SJCF is about halfway through its process to design construction documents. Soon, they’ll ask the
This is an artist’s rendering of the front of the new Iola Elementary School, which will be built at the intersection of Kentucky and Monroe streets. COURTESY OF SJCF ARCHITECTS construction manager, Coonrod and Associates, to send the project out for bids, which will give more insight into the actual project costs. Current projects expect the science center to come in at a total cost of about $6,932,724. That’s about $70,000 under the $7 million budget, but does not include furnishings. It does include things like site
development and demolition, and engineering costs. The elementary school budget comes in at $24,946,476, a bit under the $25 million budget. That number includes about $5.5 million in miscellaneous expenses like $600,000 in land purchases, site development, engineering costs and more. It also includes
about $175,000 for soil remediation. The board also met Monday with representatives from SJCF and the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss the soil remediation process at the new elementary school site. The EPA is working to clean properties throughout Iola as a Superfund site cleanup, after an ironworks foundry and zinc
smelting plants contaminated the soil about 100 years ago. The site of the new elementary school, at Kentucky and Monroe streets, was near those industries and soil testing shows various levels of contamination on the property, but less than initially anticipated. The EPA will clean up the
Council honors Fleming, wrestler
258 BOE discusses projects, hires firm
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola City Councilman Gene Myrick, center, speaks at Monday’s Council meeting in honor of Iola High School wrestler Logan Brown, who captured the school’s first-ever state wrestling championship Feb. 29 in Salina. Also pictured are wrestling coach Jason Bates, right, and Councilman Nickolas Kinder. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
City debates past-due bills policy By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iolans will likely pay a lower late fee for past-due utility bills, and may get one free pass per year to get their services turned back on if they’re disconnected. In a wide-ranging discussion Monday, City Council members debated the cost of compassion versus what it takes to ensure the city continues to operate its utilities as one would a business. In the end, the Council directed city staffers to devise a
new ordinance that would reduce the penalty for past-due utility bills from 5% to 2.5%; and forgive customers a fee associated with reconnecting their utilities if they’re shut off due to lack of payment. The reconnection fee would be forgiven once per year, Councilwoman Nancy Ford suggested, with subsequent reconnections costing $35. (The current fee is $25; $75 for after-hours reconnections.) Council members are expected to vote on the ordinance at their March 23
meeting. CITY administrator Sid Fleming kicked off the discussion by answering questions posed to the Council at its Feb. 10 meeting, including whether the city could adopt other new policies, such as allowing customers to choose which day of the month their utilities were due. The proposals came from a request from Humanity House, a local organization that works with finanSee BILLS | Page A6
Friday has been declared as Sid Fleming Day in Iola, in honor of the outgoing city administrator. Fleming announced earlier this year his resignation, effective Friday. He will become the next city manager in Paola. “I want to thank the mayor and Council for the opportunity to serve,” Fleming said at Monday’s City Council meeting. “I’ve enjoyed cultivating partnerships and living and working in the community.” With Fleming’s departure, Council members announced Monday the appointment of Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock as interim administrator. A search for Fleming’s replacement is ongoing. The Council hopes to have a replacement sometime later this year. Schinstock has been See FLEMING | Page A2
See SCHOOL | Page A3
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Kay Lewis, Humboldt superintendent of schools, said electrical work and heating, ventilation and air conditioning had been installed at the storm shelter under construction at the new sports complex on Georgia Road. Within two weeks, insulation and Sheetrock will be hung as well, along with the ceiling being suspended. According to Lewis, the district was also awarded a $27,788 USDA grant to go toward the purchase of smart boards and other technology. Another USDA grant to support distance-learning is in the works as well, Lewis said. One piece of new business was to approve a Construction Manager At Risk See 258 | Page A3
KU’s Dotson named Big 12 player of year
Humboldt firefighting becomes more comprehensive By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Humboldt council members made two decisions of import Monday night First, they changed the city volunteer fire department protocols for giving assistance in fighting structure fires in rural areas.
Vol. 122, No. 94 Iola, KS 75 Cents
Such aid has been available, but wasn’t triggered until a request from the rural fire components in Logan and Humboldt townships and Fire District No. 4. Now, any time a structure fire is reported within approximately three miles of Humboldt city limits, the city firetruck, which can hold 1,000 gallons of water, will re-
spond. Additional assets may be dispatched. “We said approximately,” reported Fire Chief Sean McReynolds, because if a house is burning a bit farther away, “we’re not going to turn around and go back.” ISO, or fire insurance ratings, will not be affected for Humboldt residents by its department being dispatched to
rural fires, McReynolds said. And, having automatic aid may improve the ISO ratings for rural homeowners. Humboldt has 18 volunteers who answer calls on a first-come, first-out schedule in town and out. City Administrator Cole Herder noted the quick reSee HUMBOLDT | Page A6
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