Sports: Fillies fall in OT See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Council opts to keep ties with lobbying firm By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
An advisory committee’s recommendation for Iola to make better use of its relationship with a D.C. lobbying firm led to a spirited, hourlong discussion about whether the city should continue its contract with Van Scoyoc and Associates. In the end, the majority ruled with (almost) all but Aaron Franklin and Austin Sigg voting to continue the partnership. Councilman Bob Shaughnessy said he could not vote for or against the
Teachers who give early notice will be rewarded By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
School board members approved a policy Monday night that rewards teachers and administrators for notifying the district early in the calendar year of their plans to either retire or leave the school district. “The sooner we know a teacher is leaving, the better our chances of finding a good replacement,” said Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent of schools. “The pool of applicants becomes smaller the longer we wait. “If we are forced to wait until summer, we’re at a disadvantage. “For those who are pretty sure they are going to retire or relocate, we’re hoping this is an incentive to let us know as soon as possible. The teacher shortage in Kansas is real.” Those who notify the district by Feb. 5 will receive a $1,000 stipend, those by March 1, a $500 bonus. The early incentive package is for certified personnel only and will be dispersed in June. The district has 100 teachers and 10 administrators. Of those, “about three to six” leave the district each year, Koehn said. The highest turnover rate is for those new to the profession. When coupled with living in a new town, the rate skyrockets, Koehn said. “We have about a 50 percent turnover rate for teachers who have one to five years of experience and are new to Iola,” Koehn said. The retention rate is higher if Iola is their hometown, he said.
Austin Sigg
Aaron Franklin
measure. Those in favor were Donald Becker, Nancy Ford, Beverly Franklin, Jon Wells and Nancy Zornes. Shaughnessy expressed a desire to see if other entities, including Allen County, would help foot the bill, because they, too, benefit from
its services. Iola pays Van Scoyoc $45,000 annually for its lobbying services. Setting the discussion in motion was a report from citizens advisory committee members Jerry Dreher, Ryan Sparks and former Councilman Steve French. Since last summer, they met a handful of times to look at the city’s relationship with Van Scoyoc. They also were given a list of potential capital improvement projects to hand over to the lobbying firm to deSee LOBBYING | Page A6
Iola OKs Oak Street crosswalk By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola crews will begin work soon to add a crosswalk to U.S. 54’s intersection with Oak Street. The crosswalk was recommended by the Kansas Department of Transportation, stemming from KDOT’s traffic study over a two-day period last October. The report also recommended the city add a cross-
walk somewhere at the old Allen County Hospital curve at First Street. Council members embraced the Oak Street crosswalk plan, voting Monday evening to spend about $7,300 for the necessary curb work and paint. The Council has adopted a wait-and-see approach on whether another crosswalk be added at First Street, notSee CITY | Page A2
CURB fires attorney Testing done at the Iola water plant are done to ensure the water Iolans drink each day is safe to consume. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
Water safety remains priority here By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Horrendous stories coming from Flint, Mich., about lead-laced drinking water shouldn’t give Iolans pause when they turn on a tap. Toby Ross, who manages water purification at the city’s plant on the east bank of the Neosho River, said tests of many kinds are performed on water that flows into Iola to ensure it is safe. For years the Kansas Department of Health and Environment required comprehensive tests every six
months, then, with a constant success rate, test periods were lengthened. Now they’re done every three years. “Our next one is in June,” Ross said. In the last major test in 2013 lead content was 1.4 part per billions, copper 18.93 ppb. In both cases results were far below maximum amounts allowed. The lead threshold for concern is 15 ppb, copper 1,300 ppb. Also, Ross pointed out, “we have clean water in our river (the Neosho), except for a little mud now and then that we can easily handle.”
Chemical pollution caused the problems in Flint, when a new source of cheaper water was secured. “Two things of concern in (raw) water are iron and manganese,” Ross said, because they can cause corrosion. Just to be sure, water is tested most days to determine alkaline and acidity levels, with results used to mark Iola’s point on what’s called the Bayless Curve. If numbers intersect above the ideal level, pipes have a coatSee WATER | Page A2
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas agency that represents residential and small-business customers fired its interim consumer counsel Monday in a dustup over legislation that was introduced after the board discussed shifting its focus to fighting new federal clean air regulations. The Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board’s decision to fire Niki Christopher leaves the agency with no attorneys, The Wichita Eagle reports. At issue is a bill that was designed to keep the board from shifting its focus away from representing small consumers. Last month, board members discussed but later pulled back from a proposal to refocus on fighting new See CURB | Page A2
Campaign’s legal fee payments at issue By ROXANA HEGEMAN The Associated Press
CREST school district has voiced an interest in participating in a regional vo-tech program, Koehn said. Chuck Mahon, superintendent of USD 479, Colony, recently contacted Koehn to
WICHTA, Kan. (AP) — A leading Democratic lawmaker said Monday he planned to file a complaint with a state ethics commission seeking an investigation into the use of donations by Gov. Sam Brownback’s campaign to pay legal fees to criminal defense firms last year. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, also plans to seek an advisory opinion from the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission on the legality of campaign funds as collateral for personal bank loans obtained by a candidate. Three loans from Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer totaling $1.5 million drew
See 257 | Page A6
See FEES | Page A2
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 62
State-bound Marmaton Valley High School’s Jesse Gardner, left, was chosen to take part in the All State Band Clinic in Wichita Feb. 24-27. Gardner, a junior, will play the euphonium. At right, Clara Boyd was selected to the all-state choir, which will perform at the same event. Boyd, a sophomore, was the only Allen County student selected to the choir. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
“Zeal will do more than knowledge.” — William Hazlitt, British critic 75 Cents
Hi: 39 Lo: 29 Iola, KS