County's First Baby of 2010 Is Born at Mercy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Priceless Take One Vol. 18 Number 32 Thursday, Jsanuary 7, 2010 County’s First Baby Of 2010 Is Born At Mercy Mercy Regional Health Center late Joseph’s parents, Brian and welcomes the first baby of 2010 – Kelli Cockrell, on their new bun- Joseph Lee Cockrell. dle of joy. Joseph Lee Cockrell was born Mercy Regional Health Center at 3:23 p.m. on New Year’s Day, is located in Manhattan, Kan. giving him the distinction of The regional hospital employs being the very first baby born at close to 1,000 team members Mercy Regional Health Center in from the local and surrounding 2010. Joseph was 7 lb. 11 oz. and communities and supports a med- 21” long. ical staff of more than 140 physi- Mercy would like to congratu- cians. The City will pay $13.4 million for this development and give it to the developer. Lawmakers Call For AG To Object To Health Bill Four top lawmakers today the so-called “Nebraska compro- called on the Kansas attorney mise” in which the cost of Why? general to join attorneys general expanded Medicaid eligibility in from 13 other states in raising Nebraska is forever paid by tax- legal objections to provisions of payers in other states, not in Editorial MEETING: January 5, 2010 with the financing. This amount is the health care bill approved by Nebraska. That provision was By Jon A. Brake SUBJECT: Conference Center – supported based on the number of the United States Senate on included to obtain the vote of Your property taxes are going Issuing General Obligation new jobs the facility would produce Christmas Eve. Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson for up by two mills this year. The Home Rule Economic and the economic impact the facility. Senate Majority Leader Derek the bill. They also raised con- City Commission voted 4-1 Development Bonds At a 15 year debt service schedule, Schmidt, R-Independence; House cerns about the so-called “indi- Tuesday night to fund a new (Editor’s Note: Voters have an the annual payments for the confer- Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R- vidual mandate” in the bill, Conference Center in the opportunity to stop this bond if the ence center total $896,000. This will Stilwell; Senate Vice President which requires every American to Downtown South Redevelop- put together a petition that be reduced by $100,000 annually John Vratil, R-Leawood; and purchase or otherwise obtain ment Area. requires a vote of the taxpayers. If per our agreement from HCW. It is House Speaker Pro Tem Arlen health insurance coverage. But don’t get up set, the City of you want information on a petition forecasted currently to have the first Siegfreid, R-Olathe sent a letter The lawmakers said the time Manhattan is (only) going to pay call the Free Press at 537-8953.) annual debt service payment start in to Attorney General Stephen N. for the attorney general to act is $896,000 principle and interest PRESENTER: Jason Hilgers, 2012, which would result in just Six asking him to join with 13 now, not later, so that the legal for the next 15-years to pay off Assistant City Manager under a 2 mill increase for the 2012 other state attorneys general who analysis of the state attorneys the bonds. Oh, and in 6-years BACKGROUND budget. The City anticipates issuing have raised constitutional objec- could influence Congress’s final they will give the Conference In October of 2009 the City temporary notes for the interim tions to specific provisions in the deliberations on the bill. Center to the hotel company Commission authorized City financing of the design and construc- Senate-passed health care bill. “With luck and a little persua- HCW. Administration and HCW to finalize tion. The 13 attorneys general have sion, perhaps a majority in That is right. The City is going an Economic Development It should also be noted the City conveyed their concerns to U.S. Congress will come to its senses to sell $9.5 million in bonds, pay Agreement to construct a 30,000 sq. and Developer are obligated to come House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D- and conclude that our nation’s back $13.4 million in principle ft. conferenc center within the South up with matching funds in order to California, and U.S. Senate health care can be reformed with- and interest and before they get End Redevelopment. Since that time, leverage the State’s investment in the Majority Leader Harry Reid, D- out disregarding the the bonds paid off they will give the agreement has been executed, South Project Area with STAR Nevada, and have advised that Constitution,” they wrote. “But the property away. and the South Preliminary Rezoning bonds. In order to leverage the $50 they intend to ask courts to inval- if they don’t, then it will be up to This is the deal that the City of the area to a Planned Unit million in State STAR bonds, the idate the unconstitutional provi- you and to us to protect the made with Dial Realty to redevel- Development has been accom- City and Developer are going to be sions unless they are removed Constitution we are sworn to op the Downtown Area. Dial plished. held to a 54/46 split, resulting in a from the bill before it is given uphold and to preserve the liber- received all of the property in the In our agreement the City has total investment of $58 million. final approval. ties of the Kansans we represent.” North Redevelopment Area and agreed to loan $9.5 million to HCW ALTERNATIVE(S) The Kansas lawmakers cited they were to be given the for the design and construction of a It appears the Commission has the Conference Center worth $9.5 conference center. $4.5 million of following alternatives concerning the million in the South. the loan is forgivable, and $5 mil- issue at hand. Where is Dial? It seems the lion will be repaid over the 30 year The Commission may: Fitzpatrick Exhibit Redevelopment Company that term of the agreement. The City will 1. Approve first reading of an ordi- was to take all of the Risk in receive $100,000 annually for the nance issuing up to $9.5 million in To Open January 5th Redeveloping Downtown first 29 years, with a balloon pay- general obligation bonds for the pur- Manhattan is all but out of the ment of $2.1 million in year 30. pose of constructing the Conference K-State student and artist artist when I was very young. I business. DISCUSSION Center. Connie Fitzpatrick presents had a lot of ideas about my future Dial was to Redevelopment Given the nature of the project, the 2. Deny the measure. “Apples and Such” January 5-21 and often daydreamed about both the North and South area but City is able to issue general obliga- 3. Modify or develop alternatives in the William T. Kemper Art them. Creating art is something now they are only doing a small tion bonds for the purposes of eco- if other concerns or factors arise. Gallery, K-State Student Union, that I know I will do for the rest retail area on Forth Street in the nomic development and the construc- 4. Table the request. first floor. of my life. I believe that an indi- South Area. Yes, they own the tion of the conference center. HCW RECOMMENDATION(S) Sponsored by Union Program vidual who chooses to create art North Development Area. anticipates presenting at the January City Administration recommends Council, Fitzpatrick’s exhibit is a as a career knows that they were Oh, and about the property 26th work session to the Commission approving first reading of an ordi- continuation of some exploring born to do so. It is something taxes going up by two mills, with greater detail regarding the con- nance issuing up to $9.5 million for she has been doing to evolve her deeper than following your don’t worry, city plans still show ference center and parking garage. the construction of the conference style. Influenced by many artists heart,” Fitzpatrick said. taxes will go up another 12-13 Ultimately, the City Commission will center. This is consistent with the from the Hutchinson and Wichita mills to pay for the redevelop- consider and authorize the budget, Economic Development Agreement areas, Fitzpatrick was introduced Gallery hours are Monday-Friday ment. design, and construction of both between the City and HCW for the to the method of using a credit 8am-5pm. This event is free and Some people fell that what the facilities. South End Redevelopment. Issuing card as a painting tool a few sum- open to the public. For more Free Press prints is not the truth, FINANCING this debt is a contingency within the mers ago and you will see that information and a complete list of so here is a memo given to the In our current forecast sheets for agreement in order to construct the style in several pieces of her all UPC activities, visit www.k- Commissioners Tuesday night: financing the conference center, we hotel, conference center and parking work. state.edu/UPC or call the UPC FROM: Jason Hilgers, Assistant have included $1.5 million from the garage. “I knew that I wanted to be an office at 785-532-6571. City Manager economic development fund to assist ObituariesObituaries MANHATTAN FREE PRESS - Thursday, January 7, 2010 22AA Obituaries Go Green Curbside Recycling A simple, convenient way to recycle! Leonard Borg Church in Manhattan. His passion for Donna Smith and her husband farming overflowed into collecting Delbert, one granddaughter, Carmen Leonard Borg, age 93, of antique farm machinery and gas Scott and her husband Jason, all of Manhattan, died December 31, 2009, engines, especially two-cylinder John Manhattan and several nieces, at the Mercy Regional Health Center Deere tractors that he used on his nephews and many friends.