HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will discuss and take possible action in a proposal to reestablish and reorganize what is known as the Hutch Reno Arts and Humanities Council.

In 1990, the council adopted a resolution establishing the Hutchinson/Reno County Cultural Commission for the Arts and Humanities and Activities (the Cultural Commission). Generally, the role of the commission was to promote cultural, social and economic aspects of the community, and development for the arts, humanities, activity organizations and artists.

Membership was limited to nine members who support these efforts but were not current members of any existing art agency board of directors. Six members were appointed by the City, and three members were appointed by Reno County.

Over the years, several other resolutions were adopted to increase the size of the board and change the name of the commission to its present name.

The Hutchinson/Reno Arts and Humanities Council remains under control of the city, although appointments to the council have not been made by the Mayor and City Council since about 2012. The council has also had issues with communication, organization and transparency.

The recommendation that will go before the council will re-establish the HRAH Council with a limit of seven members. Five will be appointed by the city and two by the county commission. All will serve a three-year term. None of the seven will have any connection to any existing art or humanities agency board of directors.

The resolution also provides updated language in its purpose and requires timely submission of budget requests to the city and the county, and includes a requirement to develop, implement and regularly update a program plan.

Hutchinson City Council’s meeting begins Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. at the city offices.

HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven School District and it’s teachers are still divided when it comes to a new collective bargaining agreement for next year.

According to Superintendent Clark Wedel, most of the items in the new contract have been agreed upon. The sticking point is an increase in base salary. The teacher’s original proposal was a $6,000 increase. The district has countered with a raise of $2,000. That offer was rejected and the teachers have countered with an offer of $4,000. The current base pay in the district is $35,986.

Wedel says the board will discuss the offer during their next meeting on Monday, July 8, where the two sides will meet again.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Fire crews responded to 17 Maple Street for a report of a structure fire just before 5 a.m. Thursday morning.

Crews arrived to find 1 ½ story duplex involved. The structure was boarded up and reported vacant. Crews were able to contain the fire, but not before it did extensive damage to one of the duplexes. Smoke and heat damage was also noted through the structure.

Even though the building was reported vacant, fire crews searched the building for individuals, but no one was found and no injuries were reported. Crews were on scene for over two hours.

At the time of the fire, no gas or electricity was provided to the home. Fire investigators have ruled the cause of this fire as careless use of smoking materials. These smoking materials then ignited some nearby clothing.

The Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by the Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County EMS, Kansas Gas and Westar.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism continues to assess the damage at state parks and lakes after the spring flooding. The effects of the flooding could reach far past the recovery.

According to Director Linda Lanterman, several parks and lakes remain closed including Kanopolis and El Dorado and Cheney have just limited service. With areas still underwater, it will be difficult to get the parks cleaned up and operating before the Fourth of July holiday.

Lanterman says the flooding is also eating into the department’s revenue. Lanterman says they had to refund a number of park and camping reservations over Memorial Day and may have to do that again this approaching holiday. That doesn’t include any other camping reservations that have been canceled.

Lanterman says they have funds set aside to keep things running but if conditions persist, it could start to put a financial strain on the department.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Public Works didn’t have to go far to find its new director.

Current Road and Bridge Superintendent Don Brittain has advised the county he would like to stay on and assume the role that will be vacated by Dave McComb, who will retire at the end of the year. With that, the county removed the ad for the vacant position. “We pulled the ad and will be looking to hire from within,” County Administrator Gary Meagher said.

The county had been searching for McComb’s replacement but was having a hard time finding qualified candidates to keep the department running as it should. Meagher says they only had two candidates who were qualified for the job. Brittain will take over pending approval by the county commission.

Meagher says Brittain will be a good fit since he has worked with McComb and said he will recommend Brittain for the position.

McComb has been with the county for 29 years and spent the last 11 as Public Works director.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Animal Shelter has temporarily halted the adoption of any cats from its facility.

The shelter says it stopped the adoption program because of a viral outbreak. The shelter will resume adoptions June 15.

The shelter says it needs to make sure the virus is contained. Those wishing to adopt can submit applications once cats and kittens are placed back up for adoption on Saturday.

The shelter is sorry for any inconvenience, but feels this process is necessary to ensure the health of the animals.

The shelter’s dog center is open and applications are being accepted for dogs.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — While both Interfaith Housing and Disability Supports of the Great Plains were turned down for tax credits on two affordable housing projects, a third area proposal was approved. Investment Resources Corporation has learned that its application for assistance has been given the green light from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.

The developer will use those funds to expand the Commerce Gardens campus on East 11th. The expansion calls for 48 two- and three-bedroom units in four newly constructed buildings at a cost of about $5 million. The income subsidized apartment complex underwent a major renovation several years ago in which all existing buildings were razed and an entirely new complex was built.

Matt Catanese, Vice President with Investment Resources Corporation, says they hope to start construction in early 2020 with completion in 12 months. Catanese says the expansion will be much easier than the first phase of the project since all utilities are in place and no residents will have to be displaced during the work. Catanese says the waiting list is long enough that the units will be spoken for before they are finished.

Kansas Housing denied funding for Manske and Associates proposal to team up with Interfaith Housing to renovate the old St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on West 20th.

The third proposal came from Disability Supports of the Great Plains, who wanted the funds to build an affordable housing project for persons with disabilities on land they already own on Waldron. The proposal included 20 units built in the form of duplexes and triplexes.