The momentum is picking up and I have been flooded with a mess of invitations to attend group meetings, council gatherings, and requests for private meetings to discuss the many issues that will come before us in the 2008 session.
Today I received invitations to receptions being hosted in Topeka by the parent organizations of some local groups to include, El Dorado Main Street Jan 31st, City Commissioner and Governments Jan 24th, and the County Appraisers on Jan 23rd. These are times for us to meet in the evening for one on one discussion that are of local interest. During the day these people meet with their statewide counterparts and at night legislators take advantage of this time to meet with their constituents. The time is well spent.
Today I met with El Dorado officials Kurt Bookout and Herb Llewellyn to discuss several issues. One main issue was to help plan for the dedication of our wetland project that is a cutting edge water treatment facility in El Dorado at the south end of town. Perhaps we can get some leadership folks from Topeka here to see what progressive ideas are being put into practice with our projects.
Hopefully the week of our next Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt will allow us to showcase this incredible facility to the many visitors to our community. We are looking at Thursday April 10th for the dedication.
Wichita is hoping that they can convince the state to help support their aquifer recharge efforts by providing one million dollars to pump excess water from the Arkansas River back into the ground. This water would only be pumped during high water events and would help recharge the underground water aquifer. Based on the fact they are a designated “Regional Water Supply” the Corps of Engineers is looking favorably and offering their support.
Well guess what? El Dorado Reservoir is also a regional water supply. Maybe we need to some money to insure we have water for the next generation. Our lake at the east edge of town supplies El Dorado and other communities with water and the volume is being diminished by inflow of sediment. There are some innovative plans ahead to reduce this reduction in our water supply. I will write more about them in the weeks to come.
In another lunch meeting I was briefed by the Adult Education group from BCC. While at their office I had the opportunity to discuss the mission and challenges of this group of dedicated instructors that are helping many people rotate into the workforce. If you need to finish your high school, or need additional training this is a place to start. Call 321-4030 and begin your journey to independence.
Butler Community College is going through a self-evaluation process that will help define its mission and direct its efforts in the years to come. I heard that each department is going through this self-evaluation process to define their mission, and to discover what their weakness may be and what they must do to properly achieve their goal of service to the community. I look forward to the findings.
The Kansas Department of Transportation recently released its “Draft Long Range Plan” that indicates the state needs an additional $1.5 billion a year through 2030 for state and local roads, rail, aviation, public transportation and bikes.
The report is essentially planning for the 2009 end of the state’s transportation plan. The state can expect about $1.4 billion in revenues per year for transportation work, including state, federal, and local funds, but will need about $2.9 billion a year.
Not to be outdone, some state senators have announced they want to add $65 million for school funding in FY 2010. This would be tied to a provision of the two-year-old school finance plan that requires the state to increase school funding by at least the rate of inflation as computed by the Consumer Price Index. This is in addition to the $123 million this year already scheduled for schools as part of the last 3-year plan.
The results from my recent questionnaire are about ready for publication. If you responded and provided an address, either email or postal you will get a copy. If you responded but did not give an address or if you would like a copy just let me know where to send it.
I found that we think the local business owners should decide if they are to be non-smoking, the coal plants out west should be allowed and many have concerns about pollution and would consider a nuclear power plant option, the biggest obstacle to retirement here is the promise of run-away property tax increases and other costs of living. The immigration issue is important and needs to be resolved.
I really appreciate all of you that responded and I look forward to furthering our dialog about those other issues of importance to you.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think, please contact me in person, write me at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, or call at 321-2087, email johng@carlisleinc.net, or grange@house.state.ks.us. Or www.johngrange.net.
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