Wednesday, July 15, 2020
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An artist’s rendering of the new science and technology building. The project was modified to include a slightly shorter building height and reduced metal overhang, to save costs on masonry and metal. COURTESY OF SJCF ARCHITECTS
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Few answers as schools grapple with reoopening PAGE A6
Building price tag feels pandemic’s pinch By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
The coronavirus pandemic has bumped up the costs for a new science and technology center at Iola High School, which in turn means architects have had to bump down a few of their plans. The changes, though, were minor and do not affect the integrity of the building. The USD 257 school board on Monday approved a maxi-
mum cost of $6,279,196 for the construction. When added to expenses already charged, such as for demolition and dirt work, the total cost of the project will be right at $7,288,693. Project leaders initially hoped bids would be more favorable, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous challenges that increased costs. Among the major factors was higher costs for delivery, masonry and metal.
Bidders were wary to commit to new projects, as they were unsure about the potential impact of the pandemic. The virus already has slightly delayed the project, as officials couldn’t meet in person and had to take more time to schedule virtual meetings. “It certainly had an impact. It’s hard to put a dollar on it,” Terry Wiggers, executive vice president with SJCF, said. “We thought we might see reduced costs in the mechanical work,
but most of the mechanical companies had higher levels of orders during COVID for temporary hospital work.” Coonrod & Associates, the general manager for the project, and SJCF Architects in Wichita worked with bidders to scale down costs. They shaved off savings, for example, by asking for mid-grade instead of top-quality light fixtures; vinyl flooring inSee PROJECT | Page A3
Commissioners talk mask mandate once again By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Trees surrounding the Allen County Courthouse are adorned with yellow ribbons as a sign of support for the Kansas Army National Guard’s 891st Engineer Battalion, which left earlier this month for a yearlong deployment to Kuwait. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
Despite the continued presence of residents in opposition to Gov. Laura Kelly’s mask mandate, Allen County commissioner Bill King held fast to his commitment to follow the advice of health professionals in upholding the order. At Tuesday’s commission meeting King shared an anecdote about a woman from Woodson County visiting with Dr. Brian Wolfe, who said she only wore a face mask while in Allen County but not Woodson County due to their differing face mask rules.
Without the face mask mandate, the woman figured Woodson County was free of the virus. King pointed out that Bourbon County also has a face mask mandate, which means of the four counties covered by the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, Anderson and Woodson have opted out, and Bourbon and Allen are in. King said he was especially concerned about keeping elderly residents safe, some of whom might be confused about the mask order and other COVID-19 precautions. “Our health professionals, we’re listening,” emphasized King.
The mask mandate passed with a 2-1 vote by Allen County commissioners, with Bill King and Bruce Symes voting in favor of it, and Jerry Daniels voting against it. Daniels had expressed his dissenting vote silently during the previous commission meeting, though he said he “respected his colleagues’ decision.” THRIVE CEO Lisse Regehr presented the commission with a contract to empower the nonprofit to organize a steering committee to oversee how $2.4 million in CARES Act funding will be spent See COUNTY | Page A5
ELECTION 2020: ALLEN COUNTY, DISTRICT 3
Symes: Up for the challenge
Brocker: Out to get things done
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Bruce Symes is seeking a second term as Allen County comm i s s i o n e r, representing District 3. S y m e s took office in January 2019 in order to complete the Bruce Symes term of Jim Talkington, who resigned the office in 2018. Symes now looks to be elected to his own full fouryear term. Some of his accomplishments include: Overseeing construction for two ambulance stations, purchasing an ambulance for the county, expanding health insurance
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coverage and retirement benefits for county employees, making improvements to rural fire district facilities and buying rescue boats for the county. Symes also serves on the southeast Kansas juvenile detention board, Bowlus Fine Arts Center commission, county economic development board, and is involved with Iola Industries and the new reopening schools committee. Symes said he continues to be “interested in leading and in being involved in the decision-making processes” for the county, and also looks forward to continuing to learn while in office. “I see [being commissioner] as a responsibility … to keep our county viable,” he See SYMES | Page A3
A businessman and real estate agent by trade, John Brocker is running for county commission District 3, looking to serve his first full four-year term in of- John Brocker fice. “I’ve always promoted things that would help Iola,” he said, and “one of the reasons I’m running is to give back to the community.” “I’ve been involved in politics for a long, long time,” he added, and is proud, for example, of his recent accomplishments on the hospital board.
“We got the hospital change … put it in St. Luke’s hands,” Brocker said. Brocker’s background in business guides his political outlook, and will guide his policies and vision moving forward. “I’m a businessman. I look at everything from a business standpoint,” he said. It’s key, then, he argued, to “run the county somewhat like a business. Otherwise you’re not doing justice for the people that you’re working for.” As a businessman, Brocker is especially concerned about taxes and transparency regarding taxation, having even traveled to testify on the issue at multiple levels. He said he wants to “reSee BROCKER | Page A3
KANSAS TOURISM, CREATIVE COMMONS/FLICKR
State Fair closure won’t hit local plans The closing of this year’s Kansas State Fair — at least the public parts — will have no effect on the upcoming Allen County Fair. In fact, this year’s renditions of the county and state fairs should be comparable in significant ways. The Allen County Fair, which kicks off this weekend See FAIRS | Page A5
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