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Wednesday, January 26, 2022
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Economic development targets workers, housing By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Lisse Regehr, CEO of Thrive Allen County, speaks to Allen County Commissioners, from left, Bruce Symes, David Lee and Jerry Daniels at Tuesday’s meeting. Regehr gave an update on the American Rescue Plan Act. Citizen Paul Zirjacks observes in back. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
Yes, ARPA can pay for that By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
“Can ARPA pay for that?” has become a common refrain as county leaders debate how to best use $2.4 million federal COVID-19 relief funds. On Tuesday, Allen County Commissioners got the answer: in most cases, yes. They can use ARPA for just about anything. But with requests for the money more than double what the county has, commissioners now want to prioritize county projects over others. “It is wise to spend this money on projects that don’t have many other sources of funding,” Lisse Regehr, CEO of Thrive Allen County, which administers the money for the county, told commissioners. “It is also wise to spend these funds on long-term solutions to problems that will only grow worse without prompt attention.” Regehr gave commissioners an update on final rules from the federal government on how the funds can be used, and offered a list of members of a steering committee to prioritize the requests.
Marmaton Valley bests Blu-Jays
Moran resident George Stephens asks commissioners to reconsider how they distribute wind farm money. He believes the Marmaton Valley school district deserves a bigger share. The county has received about 25 requests for a total of $4.7 million. Requests come from numerous sources, including rural water districts, cities, school districts and other entities. Commissioners instructed Regehr to put together a new list that prioritizes county projects, such as a communications tower, setting up a backup office for the 911 system, restrooms for three county barns, and a courtroom remodel and expansion among others. They also want to use ARPA funds to pay for storm shelters, approved last month at a cost of about
$256,000. Until Tuesday, they weren’t sure if that project would qualify. Regehr said the new rules indicate it would. Commissioner David Lee said the county initially wanted to be able to help everyone, but with requests more than double the available funds, “it might be a good time to keep that money in house and take care of the projects we have.” THE COUNTY has already allocated about $108,000 for administrative fees, architect design fees for the courtroom remodel, and a county See COUNTY | Page A3
Jonathon Goering offered up few surprises, but plenty to chew on this week for Iola and Allen County leaders. Goering, economic development director for Thrive Allen County, gave a year in review for 2021 for Iola City Council members Monday evening, and again Tuesday morning for Allen County Commissioners. Goering noted the biggest challenge facing Allen County’s businesses remains a dearth of workers. With the county’s unemployment rate at a miniscule 2.4% (down from 12% at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic) companies across the board are struggling to find employees, Goering said. As a tool to help the local industries, Thrive — which is paid for its economic development services by the city, county, Iola Industries and to a lesser extent, Humboldt,
Coast Guard searches for 38 lost at sea PAGE A3
State works on megaproject PAGE A6
— has commissioned a workforce study. The study was completed in December, and its results should be due early this year, Goering said. It should give businesses large and small a true sense of the overall health of Allen County’s workforce, indicate opportunities where the labor force is strong and how this part of See REVIEW | Page A4
Republican says gerrymandering is just part of redistricting process By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Rep. Steve Huebert during a four-hour House debate Tuesday defended an obvious attempt by Republicans to gain an upper hand in congressional races through redistricting as simply “a political process.” The Republican from Valley Center was responding to complaints by Democrats about a rushed process that ignored the voices of residents who wanted to keep the Kansas City metro together in a single district, setting the Legislature up for an inevitable court battle over diluting the voting power of Black and
Latino voters. “Gerrymandering, partisan politics, all those different things that are being discussed and talked about right now, are just things that happen,” Huebert said. “They always have and they always will.” The GOP-dominated House advanced legislation along party lines that would install a GOP-drawn map that removes a majority minority population in Wyandotte County from the 3rd District. Democrats, Huebert said, are similarly focused on drawing lines that benefit U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the Democrat who has served the See MAP | Page A4
City helps district save $25K on tennis court lights By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
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Jonathon Goering
A bit of cooperation between the city and school district led to a savings of $25,125. The school district plans to install new lighting at the tennis court near Iola High School. At a previous meeting, maintenance director Aaron Cole asked the board to approve one of two bids for the project, for nearly $59,000. He said the district would need to work with the city to hook up electric services to the poles. That prompted board member Tony Leavitt to ask if the city would be willing to help the district with additional site preparation.
approve a bid from Game Day Lighting for $34,600.76, a savings of $25,125. Leavitt expressed his appreciation for Cole and the city. “It’s good we can work together on these projects,” he said.
USD 257 Board of Education President Dan Willis speaks at Monday’s meeting. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS Cole went back to the city and reached an agreement for help with digging holes and setting the poles on top of concrete columns. The district’s
maintenance crew also could perform some of the work. Cole asked bidders for an update without those costs, and recommended the board
IN OTHER financial matters, the board approved spending up to $800,000 on furniture for the new Iola Elementary School. The actual cost is likely to be around $720,000, but it’s good to have a cushion considering increased costs and supply issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, an architect for SJCF, Allison Le, said. She encouraged the board to approve ordering the furSee BOARD | Page A3
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