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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Oil pipeline a big boon for area taxpayers By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
The financial impact of having Enbridge, Inc., build a pipeline to carry oil through Allen County is being felt in positive ways by local governing bodies. The pipeline and its mammoth pumping station southeast of Humboldt, along with increases in other utilities, bumped up countywide valuation by more than $45 million. The taxable windfall means the county’s overall ad valorem tax levy will drop by more than 2 mills to 65.86, better than 5 mills less than in 2014. Commissioners included a capital outlay line item in its general fund of about $2.5 million. “It will allow us to do some projects next year that we’ve been putting off,” Commissioner Jerry Daniels told Iolan Jack Franklin, who dropped by minutes after Tuesday’s meeting was adjourned. As it stands, the county’s assessed valuation for 2016 is $141,103,219. State-assessed valuation totaled $62.5 million, with En-
bridge’s recently constructed Flanagan South pipeline and pumping station accounting for $39.2 million; its Spearhead pipeline, built in the 1950s farther to the east, was assessed at $24,000. Earlier there was consideration of upgrading Enbridge’s Spearhead pipeline, but with significant decreases in the price of oil — it was just over $39 this morning — that apparently has been shelved for the time being, said Daniels, who worked in security for Enbridge during its construction. Allen Community College will benefit the same as the county, since both have the same taxing boundaries. With its budget figured in July on valuation of $100 million, the college’s budget may be expected to decrease roughly 5.5 mills from the published levy of 18.755. The county’s three school districts also were affected, with Humboldt’s USD 258 valuation nearly doubling from $27.4 million to $54.5 million. USD 256 (Moran-Elsmore) did about as well, going from $17.3 million to $33.5 milSee PIPELINE | Page A6
School’s in
Lea Casner, a paraprofessional at McKinley Elementary School, assists incoming kindergartners Dalton Smith, center, and Wyatt Hutton as they look for their name tags. Today marked the first day of school for most USD 257 students. Older middle- and high-school students resume classes Thursday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Allen County Regional Hospital
Trustees debate details of exterior By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
A majority of hospital trustees seemed willing to accept the terms of a warranty with Lusker Masonry, Frontenac, and hope the worst of their worries are behind them. From the get-go the tile and stonework on the face of the hospital have had issues with
cracking and not adhering properly. “Most of those have been replaced,” assured Tim Moore, project engineer with Murray Construction, who has oversight of the construction project. “All masonry is going to have some cracks,” he told trustees Tuesday night. Moore said the 10-year warranty, now in year two, pri-
marily covers the stonework placed above the stone tiles. “Any significant damage would be covered by the warranty,” Moore said. Jay Kretzmeier, trustee, however, wanted more concrete terms. “I don’t want to seem unreasonable but I’m still not at my comfort level,” Kretzmeier See ARCH | Page A6
Gina Storrer
Bidding adieu
New teacher waits 20 years to get behind desk
An eclectic mixture of residents, former patients and employees and other curious onlookers ventured the halls of the old Allen County Hospital one final time Tuesday as part of an open house. The event provided participants an opportunity to reflect on past life events — both joyous and tearful — before the hospital is demolished. At top, Iolans David and Edna Donovan make their way down a darkened corridor. At right, Iolan Maude Burns, right, visits with Damaris Kunkler of Thrive Allen County and County Commissioner Tom Williams. Demolition started this morning in advance of construction of a new grocery store and possibly new apartment complexes.
By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
It was probably hard to tell who was more excited for the first day of school in Gina Storrer’s third grade class — the teacher or the students. Naturally bubbly, Storrer was overflowing with enthusiasm Tuesday morning in preparation for today’s kick-off of the school year.
REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 204
“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.”
— Theophratus, Greek philosopher 75 Cents
You see, she’s waited more than 20 years for this day. “It feels so wonderful to be doing something I’m passionate about. I feel so young! I haven’t talked about any of these things — reading, writing, math — since I was in college. And now, finally, they are my life.” Born and raised in Iola, See STORRER | Page A3
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