HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council started off the new year with appointing Dave Inskeep as the Mayor for the city and Jade Piros de Carvalho as the Vice Mayor.

Once they got down to business, the Council voted to hire a Human Relations Officer on a trial basis. The employee would work about 20 hours per week and would cost the city about $60,000 per year for wages and services. The approval came after many meetings and much discussion about whether the position could handle case load in the city and whether the program would provide the necessary service. The part time person would be the contact for any issues that arise in regards to human relations which includes age, religion, sex or gender among others.

All cases would still be handled by the Kansas Human Rights Commission, leading many to ask why we should have such a position. The Council was strongly in support of the position but some felt it should have more assistance and be a full time position. Again the position is on a trial basis only, although no timeline was given for how long the position would be in place.

The Council approved the request for $4.5 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for the proposed Genzada Pharmaceuticals facility.

Genzada recently purchased the only Dillon’s property at 30th and Plum and plan to remove the current building and construct a new medical research facility. The company manufacturers and does research on plant derived treatments for certain types of cancer and other diseases. The property will get some tax relief but will remain on the tax rolls. The incentive will hold the properties valuation for 10 years.