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THE IOLA REGISTER Tuesday, May 13, 2014
CITY COUNCIL
City opts out of levee study By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
Lincoln’s Got Talent Linclon Elementary students showcased their talents during the Lincoln Talent Show Monday afternoon. Students sang songs, played instruments and even displayed their gymnastic skills. Ilennia Aguirre, above, a fifth-grader, sings a song in Japanese in front of her classmates. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
If money grew on trees, Iola council members may have seriously considered a recommendation from the federal government to study the levees surrounding Riverside Park. As is, it took all of five minutes for council to shoot down the proposal at their meeting Monday night City officials recently received notice from the Federal Emergency Management Association suggesting a feasibility study to determine the efficacy of the earthen structures around the park. The study alone would cost almost $500,000, with nary a shovel of dirt turned. Iola would be expected to shoulder $273,120 of the cost through cash or in-kind labor. Instead, council was prepared to keep on paying about $9,100 a year for insurance on seven structures in the park. Carl Slaugh, city administrator, put their total value at about $6 million, including $2.5 million for the community building and about $1.1 million for the pool and bathhouse. Without improving the
The costs to fix the levees could be astronomical. As long as we’re paying due diligence maybe we can create some protection for ourselves. — Steve French, council member
levees the city most likely will see an increase in their insurance rate, Slaugh said. “We’re already in a higher category because we haven’t done anything to certify the levees since 2010,” he said. Council members were willing to face the music. “The costs to fix the levees could be astronomical,” said Steve French. “As long as we’re paying due diligence maybe we can create some protection for ourselves.” French said perhaps the old railroad bed on the east side of the park should be raised. In the Flood of 2007 waters from Elm Creek entered the park from the east. The study would determine if the current levees meet FEMA standards and if not, what would need to be done. Slaugh said his only concern was if FEMA quits subsidizing insurance expenses for communities like Iola.
He said he had heard of the possibility in the news, referring to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. The National Flood Insurance Program is in arrears because the cost of flood insurance does not reflect the true costs of rebuilding a flooded community. To get on more solid footing, Congress has suggested phasing out subsidizing the insurance and requiring those in flood-prone areas to pay full-risk premiums. The legislation allows for a five-year phase in, according to the FEMA website, but many of the details have yet to be worked out. UPGRADES to Iola’s traffic signals will have to come in baby steps, said Corey Schinstock, assistant city manager. “We can make some imSee CITY | Page A8
USD 257
District accepts food service plan By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
New menus and food preparation methods will be in store for Iola students next year. USD 257 board of education members unanimously agreed to turn those responsibilities over to OPPA, a food management company located in Chesterfield, Mo. Also during the meeting Hollis and Miller Architects representative, Kirk Horner,
broke down the differences between construction delivery methods if the district decides to build a new school or schools. The three options are general contractor, construction management agency and construction management at risk. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Construction Management at risk stood out to the board. With this method the district hires a construction management firm that oversees all areas of
the construction and assumes the risk of problems arise. Horner said it was less of a financial risk to choose this method. The board approved the purchase of a new Kansas Truck (Blue Bird), school bus, for $82,524. A bus barn will also be built for $33,325. Jack Stanley, Iola Middle School principal, discussed the success of the middle school track invitational. This year 20 schools attended Iola’s See USD 257 | Page A2
HUMBOLDT COUNCIL
Incentives to help housing stock By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — City Administrator Larry Tucker reviewed two programs Monday evening that promise to improve Humboldt’s housing stock. One, through a $170,000 Community Development Block Grant, will result in upgrade of nine rental properties. The other will use a $100,000 grant from the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation to make houses affordable.
Rental upgrades will be done to nine properties with five owners. Tucker said he expected remodeling — improvements to such things as heating, air conditioning, windows and general repairs — to take about two years. Owners have pledged to put money into the properties, along with grant proceeds. The KHRC grant will make funds available to make up the difference in sale of a property between its appraisal and sale price. An example, he said, was if a property were appraised at $80,000 but
the owner needed to $90,000 to meet costs involved, grant money would fill the void. Repayment of grant money would be forgiven if the purchaser stayed in the house and met monthly payments for at least five years. Early withdrawal would result in repayment of a percentage of the grant, i.e. 20 percent, or onefifth, after four years. Purchasers will be limited to those earning up to 150 percent of local median income, adjusted for family size. Tucker said that meant income See HUMBOLDT | Page A8
Iola-trained dog now on the job By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
A service dog trained in Iola began its new life as companion for an 11-yearold elementary student in Topeka, Alex White, in late March. Iolan Ron Fry is proud of the role he had in making the dog available. Fry was the primary trainer for the dog, which came to town officially named Redondo but became better known
Quote of the day
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there. — Theodore Roosevelt, American president
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as Iola. “A lot of people in town had a role in helping with the training,” he said, particularly employees at Walmart who adopted the dog as their temporary mascot. Redondo will perform as a service dog for young Alex, replacing one that was hit by a car and killed. The Golden Retriever’s chores include pulling Alex’s wheelchair and as a physical support. Redondo was acquired and See DOG | Page A2
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