HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Housing Commission is expected to make a recommendation to the city council within the next couple of months about the rental registration program.

What that will be is still to be seen. “The committee is looking at how can we incentivize the good landlords…and then hopefully, market pressures will put pressure on some of the bad actors to either change up their business practices or maybe decide is it worthwhile to stay int he landlord business,” Ryan Hvitlok City Planning Director said.

Hivtlok says some type of license and the incentives could be a way to improve the situation. “The most recent idea would be some type of a licensing process with the ability that the city could revoke that in very extreme cases and then kind of doing away with the inspection program (interior). And then kind of offering incentives for the landlords.”

Hvitlok admits there is still a long way to go before the final recommendation can be made to the city council. He also wanted to stress the need to communicate with landlords on any new program. “Once we get this in a form that we feel comfortable with, a final draft type version, then we’ll certainly be reaching out to the landlords association and having that conversation.”

Hvitlok says they hope to continue to have better communication between the city and landlords, but admitted it’s still really up to the council to make the final decision.

WICHITA, Kan. — An employee of Siemens in Hutchinson was killed in a motorcycle accident Wednesday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that 54-year-old Gary Blankenship of Wichita was killed when his motorcycle collided with an SUV on I-235 near the Sedgwick County Zoo.

The KHP says in the crash reported a little before 2 p.m., the SUV was traveling north in the right lane on I-235 and Blankenship was behind the vehicle. The SUV changed lanes to the left and began slowing down. Blakenship was unable to slow down and hit the vehicle in the rear.

The driver and two passengers of the SUV were not injured in the crash.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Animal Shelter had a successful weekend in dealing with what has become an overabundance of cats and kittens. The shelter had a short-time offer of waiving adoption fees, and found homes for 25 cats and kittens.

But the shelter continues to deal with a large number of felines, with about 30 cats and kittens in foster care, which are now filling up the shelter again.

In May, the shelter took in 143 cats and another 146 in June.

The shelter wants to stress the need to have your pets spay or neutered to keep the cat population under control. The shelter also has a barn cat program for farmers who want to control mice on their property.

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Former Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce President Jason Ball has a new job. Ball, who currently heads up the chamber in Sioux City, Iowa, will become the new President and CEO of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce in Round Rock, Texas. He will begin his tenure at Round Rock in mid-September.

Ball is a Certified Economic Developer and holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management and Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute.

In 2015, Ball was selected as one of Development Counsellors International, “40 Under 40 – Rising Stars in Economic Development”. He is an active member of the International Economic Development Council, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100.

Ball succeeds Mike Odom, who recently took the leadership role at the Knoxville (Tennessee) Area Chamber of Commerce after five years in Round Rock. Ball will be relocating to Round Rock this summer with his wife and their two children. Round Rock is located just north of Austin, Texas with a population of 124,000.

Ball was president of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce from 2012 to 2016.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Dillon Nature Center will host the annual Farm to Table event Friday, August 2.

The event will feature a three-course dinner and drinks from local producers. The meal is prepared by local chefs and will include live local music. There will be an auction to follow.

Tickets are now on sale at the Dillon Nature Center for $60, or a table of eight for $400.

For more information, contact the Dillon Nature Center at 620-663-7411, or Hutch Rec at 620-663-6179.

NEWTON, Kan. — Four area organizations have been awarded funds from The Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF) as part of the Kids FUNd program. The program is funded from proceeds from the L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children.

The four area organizations included in the grant are:

*Harvey County DV/SA Task Force, Inc., Building Better Lives for Children and Youth, Newton

*Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center, H2HCAC Stewards of Children, Newton

*Mirror Inc., STAND (formally known as Youth as Resources), Harvey County

*CASA A Voice for Children, Inc., Conversations with CASA, Harvey and McPherson Counties

Since 2005, the Kids FUNd has been supporting local projects and programs serving kids. Originally, this fund was supported by the Sand Creek Station Pro/Am Golf Tournament. After 2012 the Pro/Am completed their support of the fund and the Haun Charitable Fund was started as a means of continuing the provision of making grants to kid serving charities.

This year, $23,000 was given to 11 organizations that are providing programs that support area children and families. The organizations listed have received funding this year, and are doing amazing work within our local communities.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals gave their recommendation for the approval on two requests by GEO Chemical LLC during meetings on Tuesday.

GEO wants to establish the facility in the lone building left over from the Consolidated Manufacturing property at 1600 N. Halstead, then add on to the property. The boards approved GEO’s request for a setback variance on the property, and approval to establish the company which will produce chemicals used in oil and gas production with expertise in drilling.

When fully established GEO Chemicals hopes to continue expanding eventually employing more than 100 workers.

Both recommendations go before the Hutchinson City Council during their meeting on Tuesday, August 6.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the school year not far off, summer lunch programs will be coming to an end.

In Hutchinson, USD 308 summer meals will end on Friday, July 26, at all locations. In Nickerson, USD 309 summer meals at the high school will end on Thursday while the South Hutchinson Elementary program finishes up on Friday.

The Haven summer meal program will run a little longer, until August 9.

Again this year, the Reno County Food Bank will have the fill the gap lunch program available at the Salvation Army. Lunches will be served starting Monday and run Monday through Friday until August 14.

Lunch will be served from noon until 1 p.m.