Veterans Day signs proposed for the city
Originally published 11:48 a.m., July 9, 2009
Updated 01:04 p.m., July 10, 2009
Emporia’s role as the founding city of Veterans Day might become more prominent if Jesse Solis has his way.
Solis, a native Emporian, gave a presentation on Wednesday to the Emporia city commission in which he proposed acquiring signs declaring Emporia as the day’s founding city. The signs, which will cost roughly $1,100 each, will be placed at the city’s north and south entrances on Highway 99 if Solis can put together a committee to raise enough money for the signs.
“It’s been 55 years and we have nothing around Emporia stating that we are the founding city of Veterans Day,” Solis told the commissioners.
Solis has contacted Lee Holmes, the state traffic signage engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation, who provided Solis with the necessary paperwork to get the project moving.
There are stipulations for the signs, Solis said, including the need for an official request from the city commission and a requirement that the signs be placed within the city limits.
“I think I can raise enough money for two signs,” Solis said. “It would be great to have four, but the state will not pay for these.”
City manager Matt Zimmerman said the idea is to replace the existing green signs at the city’s entrances with the new signs.
Solis said he hopes eventually to be able to acquire four signs, but decided to take “baby steps” to get the first two at the north and south ends of town. One sign would be placed across from the All Veterans Memorial and the other would go up near the intersection of 18th Avenue and Merchant Street.
Commissioners were receptive to the idea and offered to help in whatever way possible.
“I think it’s a great idea and I wish you well with fundraising, and I hope you can raise enough to put more than two signs up,” Commissioner Jim Kessler said.
“I’m pretty sure that the veterans and fellow Emporians will step up to the plate for this project,” Solis said. “I don’t have any doubt that we can raise enough money.”
Commissioners also discussed a program to replace the city’s direct-read water meters with up-to-date radio-read models that might help recoup some of the city’s water losses.
Zimmerman said the city’s water loss rate has jumped to over 25 percent; an estimated two-thirds to three-quarters of that loss could be tied to slow meters.
“We’ve never replaced our meters other than when they break,” Zimmerman said, “and so we decided we should look at an aggressive meter replacement program and the pay back will be a certain number of times. If we could lower our water loss by ten percent ... it would generate about $500,000 more money into the utility fund that are cost savings.”
Assuming the water loss rate could be reduced by ten percent, Zimmerman estimated the $2 million program could see a pay back in five years.
Commissioners questioned whether so much water loss could be attributed to slow meters.
“We don’t know that for a fact, do we?” Kessler said.
“Meters don’t run fast,” Zimmerman said. “They can only run slow, and given their age and the amount of crud that goes through and gums up the gears ... I would say there’s a very high likelihood that most of our meters are running slow.”
City Clerk Susan Mendoza said she has seen many instances of people requesting tests for their meters; most often, the tests reveal the meters are running slow.
“So to pay for this, we would have to bond it, then we’d have to raise rates to cover the bonding, and then whoever got their meter replaced, if it was 50 percent slow, their water bill’s going to double?” asked Mayor Jeff Longbine.
“What’s most likely for most residential users, what they’re doing is just paying the minimum payment even though they’re using more than minimal water because we have such a high flat minimum rate for the first 10,000 gallons,” Zimmerman said. “So they might not double but they will go up because then they’ll be getting into the 11,000, 12,000 or 15,000 gallon range. So to think that their bill will go up four or five dollars a month would not be unreasonable.”
Zimmerman said the program will be progressive, starting with the biggest water users like Tyson and Emporia State University and moving down.
Commissioners decided to hold off taking action on the program until after they can review the utility fund budget.
In other business, commissioners continued to review the city’s separate funds in preparation for the 2010 budget season. Up for review Wednesday were another draft of the prioritized capital improvement plan and the city’s small fund budgets.Emporia’s role as the founding city of Veterans Day might become more prominent if Jesse Solis has his way.
Solis, an Emporia veteran, gave a presentation on Wednesday to the Emporia city commission in which he proposed acquiring signs declaring Emporia as the day’s founding city. The signs, which will cost roughly $1,100 each, will be placed at the city’s north and south entrances on Highway 99 if Solis can put together a committee to raise enough money for the signs.
“It’s been 55 years and we have nothing around Emporia stating that we are the founding city of Veterans Day,” Solis told the commissioners.
Solis has contacted Lee Holmes, the state traffic signage engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation, who provided Solis with the necessary paperwork to get the project moving.
There are stipulations for the signs, Solis said, including the need for an official request from the city commission and a requirement that the signs be placed within the city limits.
“I think I can raise enough money for two signs,” Solis said. “It would be great to have four, but the state will not pay for these.”
City manager Matt Zimmerman said the idea is to replace the existing green signs at the city’s entrances with the new signs.
Solis said he hopes eventually to be able to acquire four signs, but decided to take “baby steps” to get the first two at the north and south ends of town. One sign would be placed across from the All Veterans Memorial and the other would go up near the intersection of 18th Avenue and Merchant Street.
Commissioners were receptive to the idea and offered to help in whatever way possible.
“I think it’s a great idea and I wish you well with fundraising, and I hope you can raise enough to put more than two signs up,” Commissioner Jim Kessler said.
“I’m pretty sure that the veterans and fellow Emporians will step up to the plate for this project,” Solis said. “I don’t have any doubt that we can raise enough money.”
Commissioners also discussed a program to replace the city’s direct-read water meters with up-to-date radio-read models that might help recoup some of the city’s water losses.
Zimmerman said the city’s water loss rate has jumped to over 25 percent; an estimated two-thirds to three-quarters of that loss could be tied to slow meters.
“We’ve never replaced our meters other than when they break,” Zimmerman said, “and so we decided we should look at an aggressive meter replacement program and the pay back will be a certain number of times. If we could lower our water loss by ten percent ... it would generate about $500,000 more money into the utility fund that are cost savings.”
Assuming the water loss rate could be reduced by ten percent, Zimmerman estimated the $2 million program could see a pay back in five years.
Commissioners questioned whether so much water loss could be attributed to slow meters.
“We don’t know that for a fact, do we?” Kessler said.
“Meters don’t run fast,” Zimmerman said. “They can only run slow, and given their age and the amount of crud that goes through and gums up the gears ... I would say there’s a very high likelihood that most of our meters are running slow.”
City Clerk Susan Mendoza said she has seen many instances of people requesting tests for their meters; most often, the tests reveal the meters are running slow.
“So to pay for this, we would have to bond it, then we’d have to raise rates to cover the bonding, and then whoever got their meter replaced, if it was 50 percent slow, their water bill’s going to double?” asked Mayor Jeff Longbine.
“What’s most likely for most residential users, what they’re doing is just paying the minimum payment even though they’re using more than minimal water because we have such a high flat minimum rate for the first 10,000 gallons,” Zimmerman said. “So they might not double but they will go up because then they’ll be getting into the 11,000, 12,000 or 15,000 gallon range. So to think that their bill will go up four or five dollars a month would not be unreasonable.”
Zimmerman said the program will be progressive, starting with the biggest water users like Tyson and Emporia State University and moving down.
Commissioners decided to hold off taking action on the program until after they can review the utility fund budget.
In other business, commissioners continued to review the city’s separate funds in preparation for the 2010 budget season. Up for review Wednesday were another draft of the prioritized capital improvement plan and the city’s small fund budgets.
create (anonymous) says...
Dear Gazette writer, please check your facts. Jesse Solis is not a veteran.
July 10, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Sounds like everbody had better get their own water meter and place it in their home, so you can keep track of your own water usage. I believe the new city manager has found a way to try and shaft the people of Emporia, again, in order to make up for a loss in revenue.
How does the City Manager know that the water loss isn' t caused by water main leakage that doesn't show up as a surface leak ?
How does the average water user in Emporia know whether the existing meters are or ever have been accurate or are even being read accurately ?
How does the citizen of Emporia know whether the new meters are going to be accurate or may be geared to read high ?
Why doesn't the City of Emporia have a regular maintenance and cleaning process of cleaning water meters on a regular basis to ensure proper operation ?
If there is that much gunk and stuff going thru the water lines and meters, does that mean that our watertreatment and line maintenance and inspection is sub-standard or if there is gunk flowing thru the meters, does that mean there is gunk being pulled into the water main by way of a leak or small break in the water main?
If there is gunk in the water mains and flowing thru the existing meters, does that mean that the new meters will also be fouled by the same gunk ?
Visitors center. I would say that if there is a problem with water meters, water lines, etc.. To h-ll with a visitors center. Use the money that would be spent for a visitors center and take care of the more pressing problems the city has, like maintaining, cleaning water meters, etc..
DOUBLE water bill amounts. Bend over people, here it comes !
And does anyone really believe that the $500,000 dollar gained would be used to pay down debt or would it be used for something unnecessary. Like a pay raise for the city manager or even a visitors center !
You know the management of the City of Emporia has become kind of like " Monkey see, Monkey Do". The nation is some 50 or 60 trillion dollars in debt. So its O.K. for the City of Emporia to be 1 billion dollars in debt !
Does anyone else besides me, think that the cost of living in Emporia is getting way out of hand !
You know I am beginning to think it would be cheaper to move out of Emporia and live elsewhere.
July 10, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
create
All of this kind of makes me wonder if I should abandon my efforts to try and get any industry interested in locating in Emporia. If I tell them that Emporia, Ks. has or will have the highest cost of living rate in the State of Kansas, I don't think that would be a very good selling point. However I think being honest with any prospective industry or business is always the best !
I've already mailed 4 letters, etc., but I believe I will hold off on mailing anymore and just see what developes with management or mis-management of Emporia.
July 10, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
NO, no, no, methusla, don't abandon efforts. In fact, just think -- if it works, if one single citizen were able to attract an industry to the area, look at the impact. What would this say about the power of the big wheels who claim to have committees in place for attracting money to Emporia? Please keep mailing the letters.
I'm really interested in any kind of response you get, yay or nay. If it's yay, yippee. If it's nay, I'm sure they will have good reasons that we can use for the future.
July 10, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Try again, midnight rider.
July 10, 2009 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olddog (anonymous) says...
How much water is used at the aquatic center??? Is that water metered or could it be where some of the loss is going?? Does the aquatic center pay for water usage? hmm
How much water is used by the city for fires etc, is that usage monitored or even metered?
July 10, 2009 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
All Emporia really did was rename Armistice Day and change its scope from the end of WWI to include all past and future Veterans. I am amazed that the Gazette wouldn't at least mention this (sarcasm intended). What do they need a sign for. If it were factual it would read, "Emporia, we renamed something that already existed for nearly 30 years." I am sure industry will be beating down the proverbial door when they hear that slogan!! Not to mention that the same day is Polish Independence Day, and a national holiday in many European countries, where it is known by many days. It still signifies the end of the war to end all wars to the people of Europe who can walk the battlefields.
July 10, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
Create is correct. Mr. Solis is not a veteran, nor has he ever claimed to be.
The original confusion came from a poor choice of wording by The Gazette's reporter. The story has been updated to reflect that Mr. Solis is a native Emporian. That could make him a veteran Emporian, but the context was confusing.
The Gazette sincerely apologizes for the error.
I have removed the vitriolic comments directed to Mr. Solis. They were out of line. Because the thread needed to end, I also removed some comments that stuck up for Mr. Solis but continued the misconception.
Because some have called me to request that the comment thread to this story remain open, I have re-opened it. Please confine comments to the subjects at hand: obtaining signs recognizing Emporia's role in the history of Veterans Day and the purchase of new water meters.
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
July 10, 2009 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Thank you Gwen for responding and setting the record straight. I think this is a good idea, (better than the visitor center), and will try to support Mr. Solis in his efforts. My previous offer to match a donations, Up to $500.00, still stands. Wouldn't it be great if something actually tangible came out of these threads; new welcome to Emporia signs, and signs honoring our veterans at the same time, and all done with private money, not tax dollars.
Steve
July 10, 2009 at 7:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Let me see. The City of Emporia hasn't maintained a program of water meter maintenance, cleaning, repairing or checking water meters for correct operation and calibration ! And I am assuming that there has been no conserted effort by the City of Emporia to ascertain the condition of water mains, etc., to check for small underground leaks that do not or will not appear on the surface as visible surface water, alerting the City crews to the possibility of a water main leak !
My father worked for the City of Empora for a number of years in the water service dept. and retired from the City of Emporia water service dept. in 1976. One of his primary jobs was to check and monitor water meters for proper operation. If a meter was found to have a problem, he would remove that water meter, replace it with either a new one or a cleaned or rebuilt one that was working properly. And there was also a City water dept. worker that was certified to clean, rebuild and re-calibrate water meters to the correct operating standards. This ensured that there were always correctly functioning water meters availabel for replacement.
I guess that is not done anymore, because it is easier to bleed 2 million dollars from the paying citizens.
Also if the City of Emporia did not or does not check and maintain the exising water meters or possible leaky water mains, how exactly is it the people of Emporias fault and why should those people that have to have there meters replaced pay double the fee, due to the City of Emporias negligence or lack of will or iniative to check and repair bad or malfunctioning water meters.
And if new water meters are purchased at a cost of $2 million, will the City of Emporia just set back and let the same thing happen to these new meters and then hit the citizens of Emporia with a double water fee again in the future.
I say what is need is regular maintenance, cleaning and rebuilding if need be of water meters to eliminate any future expenses.
I mean would a sensable person just set back and not check his house, car etc., for needed maintenance and repairs ?
I mean the City of Emporia or rather its City Manager and City Commissioners seem to have this penchant for SPEND, SPEND, SPEND and TAKE, TAKE, TAKE from the citizens without any regard to how it is going to affect the average citizens pocketbook and way of living ! This thoughtlessness on the part of our local City and County Governments need to stop this spending attitude and they need to become more in tune with the paying citizens !
July 10, 2009 at 8:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thanks for responding and setting the record straight, Gwen. I think the sign idea is a good one and I plan to drop by a donation tomorrow.
July 10, 2009 at 9:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )