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Sense of Purpose Important in Advancing Rural Kansas

Viewpoint Column by Doug McKinney, NCRPC Executive Director

NCRPC has been working with jurisdictions in the region related to a proposed unmanned aircraft system corridor of training between Fort Riley and the Smoky Hill Weapons Range. Displays such as the one above were set up in courthouses located in the corridor.

Wow, unemployment is below 4 percent nationally and less than 3 percent in north central Kansas. That is near record lows. The overall number of persons in the workforce is not at record levels, yet productivity remains solid with a reputation in this region for strong, efficient and effective work ethics.

Is it a matter of persons in the workforce having high values and a sense of life purpose? It appears that way. I hope the North Central Regional Planning Commission and its affiliates indicate a sense of solid purpose by following its core mission to advance rural Kansas in service provision.

One recent service has been supporting Fort Riley training of unmanned aircraft systems. NCRPC facilitated forums this month in four counties as part of its land use study for the UAS corridor from Wakefield to Ellsworth. Great input, feedback and general dialogue resulted.

Other facets of the organization are extra active as well with a plethora of housing assistance, community development activities and homeland security trainings. Safe journeys.

This article appeared in the July 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

 

 


NCK-WiFi Continues to Expand Locations

A new NCK-WiFi hotspot was added this summer at the Jamestown city park/baseball fields — bringing the number of NCK-WiFi locations to 16 distributed throughout 7 cities. Plans are underway to continue expanding the network throughout North Central Kansas.

This summer NCK-WiFi is also being made available at many events including the Cloud County Fair in Concordia, Mitchell County Fair in Beloit, the NCK Free Fair in Belleville, and Belleville 150th Celebration.

NCK-WiFi is a free Internet service provided by Cunningham Telephone & Cable (CTC) and NCKCN, a NCRPC affiliate. To learn more about NCK-WiFi and the locations currently available, visit www.nck-wifi.com.

This article appeared in the July 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.


Two Communities Awarded CDBG Special Funding for Pool Projects

Two communities in the region were recently awarded funding that will help them replace their city swimming pools.

The funding comes from the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. The latest round of CDBG grants that were awarded to 11 communities across Kansas were part of a special series of funding.

The City of Blue Rapids was awarded $763,411 to demolish the existing pool and construct a zero-entry swimming pool. The city will use $508,942 in bonds for matching funds.

The City of Clyde was awarded $1,000,000 to build a new ADA bathhouse and construct a zero-entry swimming pool. City employees will demolish the existing structure with force account labor estimated at $16,620 and $682,980 in bonds will be used to complete the project.

To be eligible to apply for the CDBG special series, a city had to have a population between 500 and 25,000 and meet the 51% LMI requirements. A minimum match of at least 40% local funds was also required.

The NCRPC assisted with the project development and will provide administration for both projects.

For more information about the CDBG program, visit the website at www.kansascommerce.gov/cdbg or contact the NCRPC community development staff.

This article appeared in the July 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.


Home Ownership Program Expands to Two More Counties

A program that seeks to make home ownership more affordable for eligible buyers purchasing a home in Ellsworth and Lincoln counties launched in June.

The two-county pilot project of the NCK Home Ownership Program assists home buyers by reducing the barriers of down payments and closing costs. The program offers a combination of a down payment assistance loan of $10,000 and closing cost grant of $2,000 when purchasing a home of $50,000 or greater in Ellsworth or Lincoln County. Funds are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

An award from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan, Kansas, is being used to assist in the creation of the loan and grant pool. NCRPC is providing matching funds. Program administration is led by Debra Peters, Program Manager, and Keegan Bailey, Program Coordinator.

“This initiative would not have been possible without assistance from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Ellsworth and Lincoln County banks, Smoky Hill Development Corporation Executive Director Stacie Schmidt, and Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Kelly Larson,” Peters said.

According to Peters, the primary objectives of the pilot program are to reduce the number of homes on the market by making home ownership more affordable, be a catalyst for first time home buyers, benefit employers in recruiting and retaining employees, potentially reduce time/expense commuting to work, and provide an opportunity for alumni to return to North Central Kansas and enjoy the convenience of living closer to friends and family.

A similar program was offered in Cloud and Mitchell counties in 2018-2019. Ultimately the goal is to expand the NCK Home Ownership Program to other counties in the NCRPC service area. Another pilot home ownership program is also underway in Marysville. For more information about the program, contact NCRPC or visit www.ncrpc.org/services/homeownership.

This article appeared in the July 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.


High Radon Levels an Issue in Some Homes

What is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States?

Radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the soil. It cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Outside, radon is diluted to low concentrations and is not considered harmful. Indoors, however, radon can reach elevated levels that are considered dangerous.

In Kansas, 1 in 4 homes has high levels of radon.

According to the county map available at the Kansas Radon Program website, much of the NCRPC 12-county region has high average radon values. If your home tests high, it can be fixed. A radon mitigation system should be installed by a certified radon mitigation contractor. If you already have a radon system in your home, it should be tested every 3 to 5 years to ensure that it is functioning properly.

Testing is the only way to know your level of exposure. You can buy a do-it-yourself radon test kit or hire a professional. NCRPC has a Kansas certified radon measurement technician on staff that can complete this for you. Contact the NCRPC Housing Department at 785-738-2218 for a quote.

If you opt to test yourself, radon test kits can be purchased at many local extension offices or ordered from the National Radon Program at www.sosradon.org. For accurate results, windows should remain closed for the duration of the test.

For more information, visit the Kansas Radon Program website at kansasradonprogram.org/home.

This article appeared in the May 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.


Assistance Available for Small Public Water Supply Systems

Small public water supply systems with populations of 150 or less may qualify for loan forgiveness of up to $500,000. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund established the new qualification for loan forgiveness earlier this year.

Knowing the general scope of the project and having an estimated cost is all you need to fill out the project submittal form to be put on KDHE’s Project Priority List. The deadline to submit a form to be considered for the 2020 Project Priority List is June 17, 2019. Once the project is ranked on the priority list, then cities will have a better idea if they should complete an actual application. Each year the highest ranked projects for the available funds to KDHE will be invited to complete an application.

A preliminary engineering report (PER) is an important part of the application process. Systems without a PER may have difficulty meeting application deadlines. For more information, contact the NCRPC Community Development staff.

This article appeared in the May 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

 


Board Field Trip Focuses on Innovation, Responsiveness

Viewpoint Column by Doug McKinney, NCRPC Executive Director

The invention of keeping mechanical parts held together was created in North Central Kansas 113 years ago. The hitch pin, the locking washer and the bushing were innovatively introduced by Guy Huyett when he created G.L. Huyett Manufacturing in 1906.

Being ready and responsive to basic needs can have great value. Guy Huyett heard and saw a great need for holding wagon and plow parts together and explored ways to make it happen more effectively than ever. Being responsive to needs is something North Central Regional Planning Commission and affiliate NCKCN Co. also strive to be.

The Executive Board Field trip on April 25 included a tour of G.L. Huyett in Minneapolis. Board members also heard from the North Central Kansas Regional Special Response Team that day.

On April 25, 2019 the NCRPC Executive Board continued its annual field trip tradition and convened in Minneapolis. Board members met with modern day owners and managers of G.L. Huyett and toured the company facilities. State of the art highly durable fasteners are still made and efficiently sold all over the continent. Little known area discards such as corn husks are used to polish the pin pieces and round pieces of metal. Zinc plating is done to protect the finished products. Broadband Internet is vital to the web portal as well as to sales and distribution staff. The workforce continues to grow and even more local and regional benefits are gained though the business’ charitable giving. The company is 120 employees strong with many examples of how technical training is significant.

Earlier in the day, board members enjoyed lunch at the Golden Wheel just south of downtown in Minneapolis. It is next door to the unique Ottawa County Museum and near where Mr. Innovation, George Washington Carver, once resided.

The board also heard from representatives of the North Central Kansas Regional Special Response Team. This highly trained and skilled tactical law enforcement group are partially supported with Homeland Security equipment and training, as well as Dane G. Hansen Foundation support; however, they are largely supported through cooperation from several counties in the region. They work together to solve crimes and intervene in situations to protect persons and property. Deputy Sheriff Becker and Deputy Sheriff VanCoevern articulated the value in collaboration before, during and after incidents.

Thank you to all who helped make the April field trip to Ottawa County a success. There are many innovative, positive, undertakings in the region.

This article appeared in the May 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

 

 


Project Spotlight: Waterville Drainage

The City of Waterville, a town of approximately 680 people located in Marshall County, was awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to make drainage improvements throughout the city. Although drainage systems are often overlooked by residents and visitors to a community, problems occur when these systems fail.

The recent drainage improvement project in the City of Waterville included this intersection near the historic Waterville Opera House.

The 2017 award of $199,788 came from the Kansas Department of Commerce Small Cities CDBG Program in the Community Facilities category.  The city provided an equal amount in matching funds through City cash. NCRPC Assistant Director Emily Benedick administered the project.

“Utilizing the CDBG funding, as well as local City cash, Waterville made noticeable improvements to their city’s drainage system throughout town,” Benedick said.

The project consisted of replacing 3,420 linear feet of concrete curb and gutter, installing or replacing 10 inlets, installing 2 manholes, installing a flume grate, 18 linear feet of concrete flume and 10 linear feet of trench drain, and installing 413 linear feet of storm sewer. Also included was the installation of 21 ADA concrete curb ramps and 160 square yards of concrete sidewalk. Additional concrete work included replacement of 215 square yards of driveways connected to the curb & gutter and 1,272 square yards of concrete patching to transition between the new curb and the existing street.

Installing or replacing 10 storm inlets were one part of Waterville’s drainage project.

In the planning process, the city’s governing body and staff worked to review areas of need and prioritize those based on their location and impact to citizens and city maintenance programs. Completion of this project addressed the most problematic areas throughout the city’s drainage system.

“The most noticeable change by far is cosmetically speaking,” Waterville Mayor Josh Stoudt said. “The curbs and guttering look great. I would definitely recommend this program and hope to utilize it again in the future for Waterville.”

For more information about the CDBG Program, visit  www.kansascommerce.gov/cdbg or contact the NCRPC Community Development staff.

There are many great things happening in North Central Kansas. The Project Spotlight series features projects around the region to share ways communities have solved challenges. To view more Project Spotlights, visit https://www.ncrpc.org/tag/project-spotlight/.

This article appeared in the May 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

 


Ophthalmologist Expands Practice to New Salina Location

After renting office space for several years to see patients in Salina, Dr. V. Esther Rettig, M.D., P.A., has purchased a permanent Salina location.

Dr. Rettig is a Mayo Certified Ophthalmologist/Surgeon offering medical eye care, surgical eye care, and cosmetic care. She began practice in May 1998 in McPherson. This practice continues. Rettig has also seen patients in Salina since 2014, but at a space she rented from ophthalmologist Dr. Weiner one day per month. Dr. Rettig routinely partners with optometrists in North Central Kansas to assist their patients with various eye surgeries.

Dr. Esther Rettig, M.D., P.A. expanded to a new permanent location in Salina at 2525 S. Ohio Street in November 2018.

Dr. Rettig’s new Salina location at 2525 S. Ohio Street has 11,800 square foot and was formerly home to Brown Mackie College. In addition to the space utilized by the practice, office space is occupied by Pickel & Bruckner CPA and another 3,000 square feet is available to rent.

The project to purchase the Salina office location was made possible with investment by the owner as well as funding from First Bank Kansas, NCKCN-Four Rivers Business Down Payment Assistance Program, and the NCRPC-Revolving Loan Fund. It is anticipated that four full-time jobs will be created within the next year.

For more information about the financing programs used, contact NCRPC Business Finance Director Debra Peters at 785-738-2218 or visit www.ncrpc.org/services/business. To contact Dr. V. Esther Rettig, M.D., P.A. at its Salina location, call 785-371-2425 or find the business on Facebook.

This article appeared in the May 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.


Strategic Plan Updated for Region

A multi-year strategic planning process that included collaboration among partners and stakeholders has resulted in the completion of the most recent strategic plan for the region.

The plan is formally known as the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS for short. A CEDS is updated every five years and is also a prerequisite for Federal designation as an Economic Development District. The NCRPC Economic Development District includes 12 counties in North Central Kansas and 83 member cities.

A 2018 CEDS survey of individuals who live or work in the region indicate there are many positive and unique attributes in North Central Kansas on which to build. The “word cloud” image below represents responses to the following question: What makes North Central Kansas unique? More survey results are included in the 2019 CEDS.

This word cloud visually represents November 2018 survey responses to the following questions: What makes North Central Kansas unique? How can we capitalize on that?

Through the planning process, NCRPC identified five main visions critical to the success of North Central Kansas:

  • Regional Collaboration
  • Economic Prosperity through Innovation
  • Superior Physical Assets
  • Passionate Leadership from Empowered Citizens
  • Exceptional Quality of Place

The NCRPC appreciates the many partners — cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, banks, businesses, educators, current and past board members, and all leaders and citizens — who participated in this process to plan and strategize for a stronger North Central Kansas.

To learn more or to view the latest CEDS, visit www.ncrpc.org/about/abouttheregion/ceds/.

This article appeared in the March 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.


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