Dighton football fans cheer on their Hornets at the state title game Page 17
Home of El Cuartelejo
32 Pages • Four Sections
Volume 24 • Number 16
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Published in Scott City, Ks.
$1 single copy
More risk, more reward with city’s health plan
Sales tax grant deadline nears Application deadline for non-profit organizations seeking sales tax grants through the City of Scott City is Thurs., Dec. 1 Grants are made possible by a one-half percent citywide sales tax that generates about $300,000 annually. Nearly all of that revenue is distributed by the Sales Tax Committee. Last year, 24 organizations received $289,000 in funding. They included Russell Child Development Committee, Scott City Stars, Scott Community Foundation (walking trail project), Scott Community Golf Course, Scott County Arts Council, Scott County Extension, Scott County Fair board, Scott County Historical Society, Scott County Indoor Arena/Activity Center, Scott County VIP Center, Scott Recreation Commission, Spencer Flight and Education Center, and Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center. Application information is available at City Hall.
telling our story
Health Out-of-pocket costs for caregivers to $7,000 annually Page 14
Museum offers a different approach to Scott Co. history A walk through the El Quartelejo Museum is more than a chance to see artifacts that were saved from generations ago. It’s a walk through history . . . the prehistoric age that helped make this region a rich source of fossil discoveries . . . the northern-most pueblo in North America at El Quartelejo . . . a tribute to the Plains Indians which helped to make the Lake Scott region a virtual trading mecca. Eighty-five years after the Scott County Historical Society was first organized, the El Quartelejo Museum is a tribute to their dreams and to the vision of historical board members over the last 20 years who had the vision to make this one of the most unique museums in the region.
“It was People are flabalways the bergasted when board’s goal they come in to make this here. If it’s their museum dif- first time, it’s ferent from nothing like they so many oth- expected. And ers that you then they walk see,” says into the Jerry board presi- Thomas Gallery and it blows dent Patsi their mind to G r a h a m . see artifacts and “ T h e i r paintings of that vision was caliber. to create a Patsy Graham president of time-line Scott County of our hisHistorical Society tory rather than simply have shelves and display cases filled with artifacts. (Photo above) Denny Siegrist points out one of the features on a display at the El Quartelejo Museum. (Record Photo)
“Those artifacts are all interesting, and they have special meaning to the families who donate them, but it’s always been this board’s goal to tell the story of our history . . . of the early pioneers, our agriculture and the Native Americans who were here long before any of us.” A Long Wait Having a facility in which to tell that story didn’t happen quickly. While the historical society was established in 1931, the museum didn’t open its doors until 2000. “Back in 1931, people were concerned about losing our local history as people moved away and important artifacts were either sold off or were distributed among the descendants (See MUSEUM on page eight)
bring on the turkey
Education Former SCHS grad wins entrepreneur competition at FHSU Page 9
Index Opinions...................4-7 Calendar...................... 7 Youth/education.......... 9 LEC report................. 10 Public notices.......10-11 Deaths....................... 13 Church services......... 13 Health care...........14-15 Sports...................17-24 Farm.....................26-27 Classified ads.......29-31 Pigskin Payoff............ 40
Deaths Dottie Fouquet Judith Sager
State Kansas courts seek $20 million for salary increases Page 10
406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com
(See RISK on page two)
Sports Beavers will bring aggressive defense to the court Page 17
Community 4-H youth, leaders recognized during Achievement Banquet Page 25 Agriculture K-State researching weed control without herbicides Page 26 If you wish to subscribe to The Record visit
406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com
By assuming more risk, the Scott City Council is hoping to realize a savings of nearly $33,000 in health insurance costs during the upcoming year. At the same time, the city could see increased costs of $11,722 if employees use the maximum amount of insurance. That tradeoff was enough to convince the council to opt for coverage changes in it’s partially self-funded policy. Under the current plan, the city faces a maximum payout of $20,000 per employee, per year. Starting in 2017, the city’s exposure will increase to $30,000 annually. So far this year, only one city employee has filed medical claims in excess of $20,000. However, in some years there have been as many as four employees, according to City Clerk Brenda Davis. In order to face a payout of about $44,500, each city employee would have to reach the city’s maximum responsibility of $30,000. “The savings would seem to justify the risk,” noted Councilman Fred Kuntzsch. While noting that the cost figures seem to justify the gamble in the upcoming year, Councilman Everett Green cautioned that when assuming risk there is a point of “diminishing returns.” “You have to ask if the gamble that you’re taking is worth the potential savings?” he asked. Councilmen Bo Parkinson and Armando Tarango, who are on the health insurance committee, were asked if the city could go back to a
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Pilgrim Chaysston Anderson, a kindergarten student at Scott City Elementary School, is anxiously waiting to eat the treats in his blessings basket which was among craft stations the students took part in Tuesday morning prior to the start of the Thanksgiving holiday. (Record Photo)