Sports: Cespedes wins back-to-back derbies See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
CITY COUNCIL
Iola grapples with money matters By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
A cascade of issues pertaining to Iola’s budget — nearly all of which carry a growing price tag — leaves City Council members with some weighty decisions in the near future. Council members set an Aug. 11 budget hearing to review the city’s 2015 spending plan, which if approved, will bring with it a 6-mill increase for local property owners. The proposal was startling enough to prompt Mayor Joel Wicoff to say it caused him “heartburn” to consider. Meanwhile, the Council directed City Attorney Bob Johnson to draft a sales tax question for local voters in the November General Election. If approved, a portion of an additional half-cent sales tax would support construction of new elementary and high schools. City Administrator Carl Slaugh also told the Council that Iola’s water and wastewater rates should be examined in the near future to generate needed revenues
for upkeep and maintenance, although no specifics were mentioned. And while those issues are fresh in everybody’s minds, the Council will decide soon on a proposal to increase employee wages over the next three years to put Iola more in line with other municipalities. Elsewhere, city council members delayed any action on making up a projected $377,000 budget shortfall for its countywide ambulance service, choosing instead to await word on whether Allen County commissioners will provide further financial assistance. (See related story). THE HIGHER mill levy is
necessary, Slaugh said, to alleviate several issues regarding the city’s 2015 budget. For example, the city’s estimated assessed valuation is forecast to drop from $31.2 million this year to $29.75 million in 2015, or about 5 percent. Slaugh pegged the lost valuation in recent legislation that allowed local industries See IOLA | Page A3
Gabriella Cuebas, left, Parker, Colo., and Brittany Ambler, Bloomington, Ill., lead dozens of children in a song during auditions for the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “King Arthur’s Quest.” REGISTER/KAREN INGRAM
Kids delight in summer theater By KAREN INGRAM The Iola Register
Dragons beware: Missoula Children’s Theatre is back preparing area children for “King Arthur’s Quest.” Auditions for the musical were Monday for children of all ages, kindergarten through 12th grade, and after just five days of rehearsal they will present their show to the public at the Bowlus Fine Arts
Center on Saturday. “We ask a lot of them, but they can do it,” said Gabriella Cuebas, theater actor/director for MCT. “It always comes together at the end.” This is the fifth town in six weeks Cuebas has been to on her Midwest tour for MCT with fellow actor/director Brittany Ambler. They started the summer doing programs in Waco and Crockett, Texas, before moving into Kansas and working with children in
Emporia and Topeka. Later, they will visit communities in Nebraska and Minnesota. “It was hard, at first,” Ambler said of moving around so much. But she and Cuebas have become accustomed to it and now enjoy the travel and getting to meet lots of new people. Each town has its own challenges. “We had 15 kids our first See MISSOULA | Page A6
CITY COUNCIL
City awaits word from county on EMS shortfall By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola City Council members continue to grapple with ways to make up a projected $377,000 budget shortfall for its countywide ambulance service. They agreed Monday — after a frequently spirited debate — to await word on whether Allen County commissioners will help make up the shortfall.
The city has requested the county chip in $189,000 — half the projected shortfall. Until the county decides whether to turn over any of the $446,500 it holds in ambulance reserves, council members weren’t sure how much it would need to generate before the end of the year. As part of its five-year contract with the county, Iola personnel operate ambulance services for the entire county with stations in Iola, Moran
and Humboldt. In exchange, the county agreed to hand over revenues generated from its service to the city, up to $750,000 annually. “Unfortunately, we signed a bad contract,” Councilman Jon Wells said. “We’ve got to eat a little crow.” At their weekly meeting July 8, county commissioners indicated they might kick over some funding, with the provision the city reimburse the county if Iola later aban-
Iola teen plans for future By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Most 17-year-olds are vague about their professional futures. Not Thealvin Minor. He has a very definite idea — coin collecting. “I’d like to start with a professional grading service,” Thealvin said. Or, if that doesn’t materialize, “work with a large coin shop.” Eventually — “maybe by the time I’m 35 or so” — he’d like to be on his own in a shop and dealing at major shows, where a single transaction ranging in thousands of dollars isn’t uncommon. His background, recent and over several years, indicates success. Jon Minor, his father, has been a coin dealer for about 35 years, often full time and
dons the service or otherwise defaults on the contract. The county’s response “doesn’t sit too well with me,” City Administrator Carl Slaugh said. “It’s like we’re expected to pay for the privilege of offering this service, and that’s not really what we’re trying to do.” Council members Don Becker and Bob Shaughnessy agreed. A countywide service shouldn’t be unfairly sub-
also wrapping it around several years of teaching. “I’ve helped my dad at shows since I was 5 and I’ve been collecting since I was about 11,” Thealvin said, noting he has accumulated a substantial collection of Civil War tokens.
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 182
He has added important accomplishments to his resume of late. He recently spent four days at the American Numismatic Association headquarters in Colorado to attend a coingrading and toning semiSee COINS | Page A6
See EMS | Page A6
HUMBOLDT COUNCIL
Past due Humboldt utility bills $25,732 By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Thealvin Minor
sidized by Iola’s taxpayers, Slaugh said, urging the city to reiterate to the county how much is being saved through a consolidated service. “My problem is we’re operating a good, countywide service,” Shaughnessy added. “It’s not just an Iola service; it’s a county service.” Mayor Joel Wicoff recommended the council wait two more weeks to determine
HUMBOLDT — City Administrator Cole Herder told council members here Monday night 41 residents owe $25,732 in past due utility bills. His immediate action is to “work with” those who are behind in their payments by allowing them to pay 20 percent on their accounts in addition to what they owe for current bills. “That way they will be caught up by the time winter gets here,” and gas usage starts to rise, Herder said. Council members approved the motion by 8-0. Humboldt provides gas, water, sewer and trash collec-
To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence. — Mark Twain, author 75 Cents
tion. Electricity comes from Westar. Herder’s approach steps outside a city ordinance, which sets a due date of current utility bills of the 10th of each month. If not met, a letter is sent within five days noting non-payment and a 5 percent penalty is added if payment isn’t made by the 21st. “After that, utilities are turned off unless there is a good reason” to permit the consumer additional time, Herder said. Past due bills for the 41 residents range from a touch over $200 to nearly $1,800. For some, what’s owed is for several months. Herder noted in the past 14 See HUMBOLDT | Page A3
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