With the Reno County Planning Department considering limited zoning for the entire county, some say it won’t happen soon enough. The planning department believes it could take as much as six-months for any zoning to be put in place.

Two residents in the Haven area are asking the Reno County Commission to put a six month moratorium in place to stop Next Era Energy from building any wind farms in the county until zoning is in place to protect residents who live in the area of the proposed wind farm.

Kristina Horsh who lives near Haven read a prepared statement over her request.

Commissioner Dan Deming noted that at the county commission meeting last Friday that the Next Era has made a verbal agreement with the county.

But Horsh was not satisfied with just a verbal commitment, she wants it in writing and also voiced other concerns.

Deming told her that he has a meeting next week and says he’ll work to get a zoning agreement in writing.

RENO COUNTY — With the waters from recent flooding coming down, now comes the task of assessing damage.

Adam Weishaar with Reno County Emergency Management says damage assessment is in progress. He says they have to meet a threshold of $243,000 and the state has to reach a $4.2 million threshold. If that happens, he says they could receive a 75 percent reimbursement for damages. Weishaar expects a lot of roads to be damaged and says he believes damages are already in excess of $400,000. He says that doesn’t include any overtime from the Reno County Sheriff’s Office or other law enforcement agencies.

Two bridges were damaged because of the flooding. One is on Red Rock between Olcott and Netherland.

The total assessment of damage is not known just yet. However, damages appear to have already surpassed the threshold to receive federal dollars.

Weishaar says Cow Creek reached its highest level ever, cresting at 12.91 feet. That tops the 12.81 feet in 2007.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission received an update on another natural gas line that Oneok wants to build. It would run from Bushton in Rice County to the fractionation plant west of South Hutchinson. It would parallel an existing Northline 5 pipeline, according to Michael Gallaspie, who heads government relations for the company.

The pipeline includes around 46 miles of new 20-inch diameter pipe and would have the capacity to transport 100,000 barrels per day of unfractionated gas.

Officials are currently working on right of way acquisition as well as civil, environmental and engineering surveys, permit preparation and submittal activities.

They hope construction can begin late this year or early next year and be completed, and in service, by next summer.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 56-year-old Hutchinson man jailed for drug distribution charges isn’t happy with his $150,000 bond.

Randy Keith Boyd complained to Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen that others in the Reno County Correctional Facility have numerous convictions. Because he doesn’t have any criminal history, Boyd wanted a bond reduction. Judge Allen denied his request, noting that past criminal history is only one factor. She noted that two of the charges against him mean presumptive prison if he’s convicted.

The Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit performed a search warrant on his residence on Oct. 12 and reportedly found methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, morphine, other prescription drugs, marijuana, several firearms — which had the serial numbers ground off — unused packaging material, digital scales, a syringe, pipes with residue, and around $900 in cash.

He faces a total of 10 felony and misdemeanor charges as a result.

Boyd was not happy with the bond and reminded the judge he’s a native of Hutchinson. He claims the drugs were only for his use.

His case will be before the court again on Nov. 14.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after he apparently fired a weapon at an occupied vehicle.

Thirty-five-year-old Elias Delacruz was arrested for criminal discharge of a firearm, felony possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.

Around 7:20 p.m. Friday, officers were called to the report of an armed subject and made contact with Suzan Baca and Carlos Ballesteros, who told the officers that they drove up to the residence at 720 W. 10th when Delacruz came out of the home and fired several shots at their vehicle near a tire on the front driver’s side.

Neither of the vehicle’s occupants were injured, according to Detective Sgt. Dustin Leopp.

The gun Delacruz used was stolen from a vehicle back in May.

Delacruz is free on bond and should make a first court appearance.

He has served time for two drug convictions going back to 2004 and 2007.

*The actual day of the incident was Friday night. We have corrected our mistake and we apologize for the error. 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission Friday seemed to agree to move ahead with some zoning changes in the county. This would apply for such things like wind farms, solar farms, hazardous waste and possibly rendering plants.

There are some areas of the county that have no zoning regulations at all. The commission made it clear, this is not a first step to countywide zoning. Commissioners want some protections for residents of the county if industries want to develop in areas where there is no zoning.

NextEra Energy is still planning a wind farm on land in the southeast part of the county. Officials for the company say they will abide by any zoning regulations the county would put in place.

The discussion centered on placing an overlay zoning district in the county, which the commission favors.

That will come back to the commission at a later date, but commissioners gave the planning department the go-ahead to establish zoning for those types of development.

Commissioners also talked about a proposal from Brady Scott to paint an external mural on the east side of the Reno County Health Department building at a cost of $1,610. The commission decided it wants more information about options. Commissioners want to know how and where it would be placed. The commission is concerned about longevity.