HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to hire a new consulting firm to help with the city’s benefits package.

The council agreed to hire USI Consulting out of Wichita at a cost of $58,500. According to Human Resources Director Tom Sanders, the city sent out a request for proposals to numerous firms earlier this year and got seven replies. These several firms were then interviewed by the Health and Wellness Committee.

Sanders says USI has its own in-house legal staff that will eliminate the need for an outside attorney to handle benefit cases involving city employees.

Also today, the council approved the issuance of $1.36 million in general obligation bonds for various projects, including the next phase of the North Main Street project at $725,000. Preliminary work on that project is already underway. The project will renovate Main from 16th Avenue to 9th Avenue.

The council also took time to sign a proclamation for the Smallville Festival and recognized the graduates from the first Citizens Police Academy.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that Katy Fallon has been named the new Economic Development Coordinator. She assumed her role at the Chamber on Friday, June 1. Fallon will work with Economic Development Manager Abby Stockebrand.

Fallon will assist Greater Hutch, the chamber’s economic development division, with existing business support, workforce initiatives, including coordinating the Intern Hutch program, marketing initiatives and various other economic development programs throughout Reno County, according to a chamber press release.

Fallon is a Hutchinson native. She received her Apparel and Textiles Marketing degree with a Business Minor from Kansas State University. Recently, Fallon has been working in local small businesses in the Hutchinson community.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Another section of Haven Road will be closed for two days starting Wednesday.

Reno County Public Works will be replacing a culvert on Haven Road between Arlington and Lake Cable Roads.

Motorists will be able to detour around the closing within the community of Haven.

The section of road should be open again Thursday evening, weather permitting.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson resident has thrown his hat in the ring for the 104th Kansas House seat currently occupied by Steven Becker.

Paul Waggoner has filed for the August primary. It is the only primary race on the state level.

In a release, Waggoner said Topeka needs more legislators who are business owners with real world private sector experience. He also said the key to growing the Kansas economy is not making government bigger, but by making the private sector stronger.

Waggoner is also in line with staunch Republicans in believing the Supreme Court should butt out of school financing. He said the judicial overreach has made school financing dysfunctional.

Waggoner says he will not accept any PAC or corporate special interest money for financing his campaign.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was a little windy Saturday, but that didn’t keep 96 United Way of Reno County supporters from repelling down the First National Bank building for a great cause.

United Way Chair Lisa Gleason said the event took in more than $92,000. More donations were received Monday.

KWBW’s Glen Grunwald repelled for the second straight year.

All proceeds from the event will help fund the United Way’s 26 agencies in Hutchinson and Reno County.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair is inviting everyone to celebrate the recently-passed sales tax bill.

A special signing ceremony will be held June 13 starting at 4 p.m. at the Domestic Arts Building.

Gov. Jeff Colyer will be on hand for the signing.

The new law allows the fair to collect the sales tax it generates throughout the year. The money will be placed into the fair’s capital improvement fund.

The fund is expected to generate about $400,000 per year.