FEB PCP 2014.Indd
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Park City KS 67147 Center, Valley Main W. 120 • 210 PO Box VALLEY CENTER, KS VALLEY Permit No. 10 PRSRT. STD. PRSRT. U.S. Postage 67147 OST PAID Vol. 9, No. 2P FEBRUARY 2014 Complimentary copy ByGroup Matt Heilman resumesto add slot machines,” King said in funding push to reopen the Greyhound for slot machinesIf a group a news release. “In order to achieve Park, King said the benefits would advocating The start of a new legislative that, the Kansas Legislature will be “wide reaching.” for gaming session has a Wichita group re-ener- have to pass legislation allowing “It is estimated that the reopen- in Sedgwick gized in its efforts to push for gam- citizens of Sedgwick County to ing would create 500 new jobs and County has ing in Sedgwick County and the vote on the issue, and the Sedgwick generate an estimated $1.8 mil- its way, the reopening of a mothballed property County commissioners must agree lion in gaming revenue each year blight at neighboring the Kansas Pavilions. to put the question on the ballot. for Sedgwick County along with the Wichita The group called Wichita Wins Sedgwick County voters would additional property tax revenue,” Greyhound is advocating for slot machines at then need to pass the question.” King said. Park prop- the Wichita Greyhound Park. On In 2007, Sedgwick County She said the additional rev- erty could be Jan. 10, Beth King, spokesperson voters rejected a vote for gaming enue would include $770,000 for replaced with for Wichita Wins, confirmed that and Ruffin closed the Greyhound the Valley Center school district, a $50 mil- owner Phil Ruffin is interested in Park. Since then, the Wichita native $367,500 for Sedgwick County, lion to $100 reopening the park if he’s allowed and casino owner has stayed active $228,750 for the Sedgwick County million en- to add slot machines. with his business endeavors in Las Fire Department, $118,750 for tertainment “Mr. Ruffin is planning to invest Vegas. Grant Township, $57,500 for the venue. $50 (million) to $100 million in If slot machines were allowed reopening the park if he is allowed and Ruffin followed through with See GAMING, Page 4 Matt Heilman City sees Tami and Mike spike in Logue in the remodeled kitchen of their Park City home. The couple was burglaries able to move back to their home the day after Christ- mas, about six inBy Matt Heilman 2013 months after they were displaced by an The Park City Police Department made 251 less ar- explosion and rests in 2013 than 2012, down to 395 from 646. While fire caused by a on the surface, the dip in arrests appears to be a posi- gas leak. tive, Park City Police Chief Phil Bostian pointed out a few categories that are cause for concern. Police saw increases in the numbers of aggravated Matt Heilman assaults, domestic violence calls and family or children offenses, which can range from a small child being outside unattended by a parent to physical abuse. But the statistic concerning Park City police most is the number of burglaries that were reported in 2013. Last year, police responded to 55 burglaries, more than double the 27 that were reported in 2012. Bostian said he couldn’t point to any specific factors for the spike in burglary calls. “It’s really kind of hard to know,” he said. “We’re By Matt Heilman basement. A heat surge forcefully where the Logues committed two trying to figure that out too.” There andmade its wayback up the stairs. decadesagain of service. Park City Bostian said he’d like to think residents are being Had Mike been in the base- Tami worked for the district for more alert and calling police more often, but that likely couple settles n a Saturday night ment five minutes later, he says 20 years in a variety of roles at the wouldn’t account for such a large jump in burglary he wouldn’t have survived to talk elementary school level, from the last June, Mike calls. into rebuilt about what happened on that other- front office to the lunchroom to “I’d understand if it was a small bump, but it Logue ascended wise calm, early summer night. the classroom. Most recently, she the stairs from the doubled,” Bostian said. home after The Logue’s world was shaken served as a special education para Recently, a video game available on Android mobile basement of his Park June fire on June 22, 2013. at the intermediate school. Mike devices has led to several suspicious character reports OCity home. The onion-type smell “We won’t forget that date,” served on the school board for in Park City. In the game called “Ingress,” players live at the house on Kerman Street Mike’s wife, Tami Logue, said. 12 years before stepping down in out the video game in a sort of augmented reality. had grown stronger and he made That night, an explosion caused 2005. The first part of the game involves players actually a mental note to call about it on by a gas leak displaced the Logues In the aftermath of the explosion going to a physical location and then virtually tagging, Monday. from the place they’d called home and ensuing fire, the Logues’ im- marking, closing or taking over that location, Bostian Mike returned to the main for nearly 28 years, the home mediate response was to be thank- said. floor after turning on the clothes neighboring Tami’s parents, the ful that nobody was seriously hurt. The most recent suspicious character report con- dryer downstairs. He was putting a home where the couple raised their Mike and Tami had planned firmed to be linked to the game occurred at the Park pitcher of iced tea into the refriger- children and spent time with their to renew their wedding vows City Baptist Church. Bostian said a vehicle occupied ator in the kitchen when there was grandchildren and a home within an explosion that came from the the Valley Center school district See FIRE, Page 4 See CRIME, Page 4 By Matt Heilman were to pursue the construction of a they’d be willing to fund a new pool it would like to see the city be able In 2009, voters in Sedgwick nar- Residentsnew pool, but those who spokesound agreed with a property tax increase. offto open aboutthe pool this summer as the rowly approvedpool the issuance of general On one of the coldest nights in re- that the summertime staple is an ame- Park board chairman John Oswald board continues to explore options obligation bonds to fund a new pool cent memory, the Park City Park Board nity the city should have. said projections from the city’s finance for the future. If residents ultimately at a price not to exceed $800,000. held a public forum to discuss the First to address the board was director estimated how much revenue decide they don’t want a new pool, a Sedgwick, a community north of Park future of an amenity that is typically former city council member Cecil could be accumulated over five years less expensive alternative that has been City on the border between Harvey and more desired when temperatures are at Goldsmith. Goldsmith reminded the with a couple different funding op- discussed is the inclusion of a splash Sedgwick counties, has a population of least 80 degrees warmer. board that he was the lone councilman tions. pad, similar to what Valley Center has about 1,700 residents. After conducting some research as to vote against closing the pool at a He said “exploratory figures” from in McLaughlin Park. If construction of a new pool were a group and weighing options for the special council meeting in October of about three months ago showed that a Each year in Park City, the pool ever given the green light in Park City, city’s public pool, the park board was 2012. two-mill property tax increase over a costs about one mill in property taxes it would be at a new location, the park ready to hear more input from residents At that time, the decision to close five-year period would generate about to open. In 2012, one mill in the city board said. At the pool’s current spot and publicly encouraged them to attend the pool at least through 2013 was $645,160. A one-mill tax increase over generated about $58,700. But that sum- in Hap McLean Park, south of 69th the board’s Jan. 6 meeting. About 10 made in the face of a budget shortfall. that same stretch would generate about mer, the city spent more than $70,000 North and Hydraulic, board members residents answered the call. Goldsmith said the matter should have $322,580. on the pool, including extra expenses said options are limited because the Residents who addressed the park been brought to a vote in the city. A one-cent sales tax over a five-year to fix leaks. Park City Administrator structure sits in a flood plain. board included a former city council With the discussion rekindled, he period in the city would bring in about Jack Whitson said it’s unknown what One option would be to construct a member and a former mayor. Views said he’d like to see residents have $550,000, Oswald said. future repairs would be needed for the differed on funding options if the city the chance to vote on whether or not The park board has expressed that pool if it were kept open.