“Nobody can go back and make a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending” Maria Robinson.
The Legislature often produces something called a Concurrent Resolution; (SCR originates in the Senate and a HCR originates in the House of Representatives). Upon passage, these resolutions are then forwarded to our Federal Congress and Senate urging them to do or not do a certain thing or at least consider alternatives.
SCR 1623 urges Congress to require the United States Environmental Protection Agency to exclude certain air monitoring data from use in determinations of exceedences and National Ambient Air Quality Standards violations where the emissions are from prairie burning in the tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills, and to treat the data related to burning as exceptional events.
This came about because of several times over the past years and especially during this past April when air quality measurements indicated a large amount of smoke in Wichita, Emporia and on into Kansas City caused by range burning by our Flint Hills ranchers.
The range burning this past spring was an exception in that weather conditions were not cooperating with the timing of the burn. If you burn too quickly you do not kill the weeds, too late and the cattle are arriving for their 60-90 day grazing period. This past year conditions were acceptable for only a few days and that is when everyone had to burn, thus the excessive smoke. Then, of course you have to be cognizant of the wind speed and direction.
Conducted correctly and under ideal conditions the burning is actually a beautiful sight especially at night. Nighttime burns are normal taking into account low wind conditions and a little more moisture so the burn is more controllable and less dangerous. Normally ranchers can coordinate their burns and by helping each other and share the additional ranch hands and cowboys.
The county does require approval for the burns and authorization is given through the Sheriff Dispatch. Local ranchers tell me that Butler County does not allow night burning. When done in a perfect world the county fire districts and rural fire departments can be put on alert to monitor and to make sure everything goes safely. When wind conditions change for the worse; buildings and lives can be put in harms way.
Why do we even burn in the first place? Ranchers tell me it is to remove the dead grass prior to moving cattle in the pastures. With good grass the cattle could gain up to 30 additional pounds per head and with a 1,000 cattle that could translate into as much as an additional $30,000-$35,000 at auction.
Weed control, tree removal and woody brush removal are other reasons. The ranchers normally schedule a pasture for burn every three years and this rotation keeps the weeds and volunteer cedar trees under control.
I have received my official notice of appointment to the Judicial Council Advisory Committee to study the 2010 SB 469 and undertake a comprehensive study of Kansas’s lien law. Along with Senator John Vratil, members of the construction, agriculture, banking and transportation industry and members of the court we will meet to discuss the pros and cons of current law.
Since I have been in the legislature I have worked to bring reform to the lien laws and to make them more easily understandable and effective. Liens are a common factor in the constructing industry and are used to insure compliance with contract requirements. Lien releases are required for payment for completed and undisputed work. The payments are necessary for contractors to meet their financial obligations.
Other liens include home mortgages, purchases of automobiles, boats, motorcycles and anything else purchased on a payment plan. I would welcome any comments you care to share with me as we prepare for our discussions.
We will meet 3 times this year, September 24th, October22d, and December10th. Each meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be held in the Judicial Center, 300 S.W. Tenth Street, Suite 140 Topeka.
The past couple of weeks I have been busy helping several constituents with situations that they have found themselves in and at odds with our SRS. The agency is very large and with several internal divisions that have very defined missions.
The home assessment group that inspects potential homes and families for foster care or adoptive services is totally separate from those that conduct Child in need of care investigations. The group that conducts investigations for removal of children from their parents or work with people that desire to relinquish their
Parental rights are another group too.
On top of that private providers or current foster parents have another layer of bureaucracy to navigate. This has taken me some time to sort it all out and I admit the SRS leadership staff has been helpful. These case workers have a very stressful job and I have met some very caring individuals, on the other hand I have run across some and heard stories about others that are not quite as congenial.
Now go hug your spouse, your children and your grandkids.
If I can be of assistance to you please give me a call. I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka. Thanks, John.
Back to Updates
