I want to acknowledge the hard work and long hours that were provided by the crews of WESTAR and the other electrical contractors in their efforts to repair the storm damage caused in the 75th District communities that came as a result of the “high wind event” of May 8th.
My thanks and congratulations on a “job well-done” to the city crews, volunteers and neighbors that came to our rescue by providing cleanup, provisions, generators and a helping hand. The well organized clean up and disposal of all the tree limbs although not complete as of this writing is a testimony of the work ethic and volunteerism that abounds in Butler County.
The announced closing the El Dorado Correctional North Unit is occupying quite a bit of my time. We have conducted a “town hall” type meeting where the stakeholders discussed the impact of not having a dedicated free workforce where the inmates provided many thousands of hours labor.
The North Unit, that many continue to refer to as the Honor Camp, was originally put in place to provide maintenance and support workers for the El Dorado Lake and State Park. The Park in our backyard has 1000 campsites and is the largest State Park in Kansas. As a comparison the largest park in the US has only 100 campsites more than we do. We will get 70,000 to 800,000 visitors a year.
I have had numerous discussions with both the state and local corrections officials and I am sad to report that the closing is a reality and that by July 1 and the beginning of FY 2010 the facility will be mothballed, the corrections officers will be reassigned to the EDCF on the hill, and the inmates transferred, some to the central unit (EDCF on the hill) others to the Winfield correctional facility.
By making these transfers the KDOC expects to save approximately $1.2 million annually. They and I continue to hold out hope that the closing is a temporary event and when the economy rebounds and the State of Kansas financial position improves, the facility will once again become operational. With budgets preparation and scheduling I would expect the process would take 1-2 years.
In the meantime KDOC secretary Roger Werholz assures me that they will work in cooperation with the community to mitigate the impact of losing our inmate workforce. I had asked for a 90-day delay in closing the unit and was denied that application simply based on the cash flow and financial picture of the KDOC.
Secretary Werholz has made an offer to supply the inmates at the same staffing level as before with the caveat that we must provide transportation between El Dorado and the Winfield facility. I have been involved in several meetings with the various groups that benefit from this labor and I believe we are quite close to having all the details worked out to provide the required transportation.
One possible solution will be to move to a 4-day, ten-hours-a-day, workweek. This will be a big help to reduce the number of trips necessary to move the inmates. We must also remember these men are working to turn their lives around and by interacting with the population outside of the correctional institution they are becoming more tuned in to the world beyond incarceration. The inmates want to work and we need the help.
Another issue is the use of the North Unit housing capacity and the maintenance of the buildings. We currently are kicking around several ideas on possible uses both temporary and permanent that can be made available to various groups or organization(s). If you have suggestions send them to me.
The Kansas Bioscience authority has approved more $11 million of matching funds for new investments as part of the state’s $581 million initiative to help researchers and businesses thrive in Kansas. The funding decisions made will create bioscience centers of innovation in biomaterials, and plant biology, expand cancer drug development efforts, and create a strong bioenergy research partnership between the University of Kansas and the Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM).
The KBA will invest $4 million in the Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Research to create medical instruments, medical devices, and composite implants that will improve the practice of Orthopaedic medicine.
Partnering to form this center are Wichita State University, the National Institute of Aviation Research, the Wichita Composites Advisory Board, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and Via Christie health. It is expected to increase employment in Kansas by 2,000 over the next 10 years.
Research has shown that children who play outside are more active and more physically fit than those that do not. Time in nature improves a child’s academic performance, concentration, balance, coordination, and self-esteem. Unfortunately, children today spend an average of six and one-half hours a day with electronic media; the amount of time children spend outside has dropped by one-half over the past 20 years.
We have recessed the legislature until Sine Die on June 4th. This will be the last official full legislative day for 2009 and is used to make final votes on any pending legislation or a final veto over-ride. Many do not make this trip for a mostly ceremonial and constitution required meeting. I continue to have meetings with individuals and constitutent groups and am willing to attend your function if my schedule permits.
I have several speaking events scheduled over the next few months and I continue to work with several State of Kansas Agencies on behalf of several constituents.
I consider it and honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka, if I can be of assistance please feel free to contact me. My Topeka office is closed until next January. Thanks John
Rep. John C Grange
1115 Rim Rock Road
El Dorado 67042,
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