HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce continues to push for the NextEra wind project. The Chamber conducted a study to address one of the major concerns of wind farms: property values.

In response to questions regarding the potential property value impacts from wind farms, the Chamber — along with the Greater Hutch economic development partnership — commissioned a study with the assistance of the Wichita State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR). The center is part of the W. Frank Barton School of Business at WSU. The study examined the effects of construction of wind power projects on the appraised rural property values in Kansas counties.

“We have heard the concerns expressed by citizens in the proposed wind farm area related to the Pretty Prairie Wind Farm CUP, and we wanted to be able to study this issue. We believe it is important to consider the facts related to property values,” Debra Teufel, President/CEO of the Hutch Chamber, said. “We share these finding to put the fears to rest related to diminished property values. There has been significant wind farm development all across Kansas in the last two decades, giving a good representative sample of counties with experience.”

For the analysis, the data used included the completion dates of 23 wind projects across Kansas from 2005 to 2015, and county-level appraised rural residential property values for Kansas from 2002 to 2018 for all Kansas counties, excluding the five metropolitan core urban counties.

According to Mike Busch, Senior Research Economist with the CEDBR, “The regression results returned an estimate that following the wind power projects, the wind project counties’ values grew 0.3 percentage points faster than the pre-construction trend, relative to the control group, but that result was not statistically significant, so there is no statistically significant evidence of rural residential home value changes following the completion of the wind power projects.” Busch continued to say, “It appears that wind project counties’ values tend to increase slightly faster than the control counties both before and after the construction, but that trend doesn’t change substantially after the completion of the wind power projects.”

The complete study can be found here.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Galva, Kansas, native is participating in a rigorous training process that transforms officers into U.S. naval aviators.

According to a release from the Naval Office of Community Outreach, Ensign Alyson Bressie-Donelson is a student pilot serving with Training Air Wing 4 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Training Air Wing 4 oversees primary flight training in T-6B Texan II aircraft and advanced multi-engine flight training in T-44C Pegasus aircraft at four squadrons on the base.

“Being a student pilot is special because not everyone who wants to do it gets chosen to do so,” Bressie-Donelson said. “A lot of famous people came through this training before me and I’m proud to carry on their legacy. As a woman, I don’t feel different. The number of women in the pilot program is growing because we are as capable as anyone.”

Bressie-Donelson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Galva.

“My parents taught me the value of hard work and perseverance,” Bressie-Donelson said. “It has gotten me to where I am today.”

The air training program is approximately 18 months long and focuses on the increased complexity of today’s aircraft. Students must complete multiple phases of flight training in order to graduate, including aviation preflight indoctrination, primary flight training and advanced flight training. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”

Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Bressie-Donelson is most proud of her officer commissioning and reaching flight school.

“Both required a lot of hard work,” Bressie-Donelson said. “It makes me feel like I’m part of the aviation community.”

Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Bressie-Donelson, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Bressie-Donelson is honored to carry on the family tradition.

“My grandfather served in the Navy,” Bressie-Donelson said. “Although he did not talk about his Navy career much, his character and the person he was, influenced me.”

CHENEY, Kan. — Lake levels at Cheney Reservoir continue to run well above normal as the park wrestles with the near-record flooding from May.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the lake elevation is currently at 1,427 feet above sea level, which is still about 5 ½ feet above normal. The lake hit a record elevation of 1,430 feet in May causing most of the park’s facilities to close.

At the current level, most of the camping and beach areas remain closed. There is limited access to boat ramps.

There are concerns that the lake may not fall enough for full access to the park by the Fourth of July.

HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven USD 312 School Board gave approval to sell the Partridge Elementary School building during Monday’s meeting.

After several months of negotiations, the board agreed to sell the vacant school to Plainview Church for $100,000. The church has agreed to purchase the building and placed $5,000 upfront with the desire to move into its new home by the end of the calendar year. If that doesn’t happen, the church can put up another $5,000 in earnest money and extend the deadline until May of 2020. District Superintendent Clark Wedel said he fully expects the church to have everything in place by the end of the year.

The building has been empty ever since the school district made the decision to close the elementary school at the end of last year because of declining enrollment.

NICKERSON, Kan. — After some spirited discussion, the Nickerson USD 309 School Board approved a resolution that officially kicks off the effort to pass a major facilities improvement bond issue.

On just a 4-3 vote, the board recently approved a $29.9 million bond proposal for improvements to district schools over 25 years. Before the vote, Board President Dan Schweizer asked the board to reconsider its position and go for a lower bond issue. “I abhor the board to consider two questions, one around that $18 million,” Schweizer said. “Our survey we spent almost $14,000 on said $18.5. If you want to have question two, go up to $30 million, so be it.” Schweizer stressed to the board his belief that the bond would pass at the lower amount.

But Board Vice President Jason Ontjes countered by saying this is what was presented to them and the decision to go with one question on the ballot for the approved amount did not come lightly. “We evaluated all of that on Monday in a meeting called specifically to do that. Each one of these board members spent their time diligently going through this entire process,” Ontjes said. “We came up with a 6-1 favor on one vote and a 5-2 vote on the twenty-nine point nine figure. And we didn’t come to that decision just on a whim.”

Several members who were on the steering committee spoke in favor of the lesser bond amount and adding a second question to increase the amount if desired by the public.

Schweizer was critical of the decision to proceed with the current proposal saying a district as poor as USD 309 cannot take on a $190 per year property tax hike. “It’s not just us who needs money. This flood is going to affect everyone and we don’t even realize some of the expenses that lay ahead of us,” Schweizer noted. “I think this is a very poor time to bet on a 21-mill increase. We’re going to raise . . . property taxes 45% in one shot.”

The decision to proceed with the bond issue comes following more than a year of planning and a recent survey that showed positive feedback from district patrons, though the board was divided on the issue again Monday night.

Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson says they will start a campaign to convince voters in the district to approve the bond issue.

BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler USD 313 School Board will take action on a new collective bargaining agreement with the teachers union during Monday’s regular meeting.

Action on the new contract comes after it was voted on and approved by teachers. If approved, the contract would run the standard one year. The board will go into executive session before returning for a vote.

Also tonight, the board will hear a report on the random drug testing program at the high school and go over state assessment scores. The board will also go into executive session regarding the sale or purchase of property in the district.

Tonight’s meeting of the Buhler USD 313 School Board begins at 6 p.m. at the Burkholder Administration Center in Buhler.