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. 6P June 2014 Complimentary copy CityBy Matt Heilman continuesand Hydraulic and 50 to 60 lots inpush the in Bearhill and Saddlebrookto allowedsell Bearhill residential and Saddlebrook) in a tax sale, a slight property taxlots increase to cover Saddlebrook addition near 85th North the city to stop the cycle of properties somebody would pick them up cheap the cost. The situation today isn’t as bleak and Broadway. changing hands while thousands of and sit on them,” Whitson said. A combination of the cuts, an as it once was. The City of Park City When the city purchased the vacant dollars worth of infrastructure work When a property owner “sits” on overall improved housing market and is getting by without having to rely on lots with available reserves for about went unpaid and added to the city’s a lot and doesn’t pay the taxes owed a marketing strategy has city leaders its reserve money, but there are still $2,000 apiece in the summers of 2012 debt. on the property or attempt to get a optimistic that the worst of times are in vacant residential lots that need home and 2013, Park City Administrator In 2012, the city was owed about home built on it, the tax burden is the rear view mirror. construction to plug the financial drain. Jack Whitson explained the process as $750,000 in unpaid special assess- shifted to the city’s tax base if the city “I think it won’t get any worse than Last summer, Park City took owner- a short-term expense to save the city ments for improvements that included, doesn’t have enough money from other what we see right now,” Whitson said. ship of vacant lots in two key develop- money in the long run. water, sewer and paving work. The sources to cover the debt. Since last summer, Whitson said the ments at a pair of sheriff’s sales. The He explained that while the city bulk of that debt was in Bearhill and With the debt load up to about properties include about 70 lots in didn’t want to get into the land busi- Saddlebrook. $750,000 in 2012, Park City had to the Bearhill addition near 85th North ness, temporary ownership of the lots “If we didn’t buy (the vacant lots in implement a mix of budget cuts and See LOTS, Page 4 Troop strength Residents will have a say in pool’s fate City OKs survey By Matt Heilman Residents will have a say. The Park City Council didn’t commit to any ac- tion related to the city’s pool that was closed last year, but the group and May- or Ray Mann seem to agree it’s time to get a pulse on what the city wants. At its May 27 meeting, the coun- cil voted 6-1 to spend up to $4,000 in reserve funds to pay for a study from Kansas State University about recre- ational water-related infrastructure, including options for the city’s pool in Hap McLean Park. “This is a fact-finding expedition to find out what citizens want so we can put it on the ballot and have a vote on it,” Mann said. The study, conducted by represen- tatives from Kansas State, including stu- dents in public affairs, would include a question of what residents want with the pool, whether to keep it closed, reopen it, have a new pool built at a new loca- tion, or use the current pool’s infrastruc- ture to build a splash pad in the park. Courtesy photo The survey, sent to residents in a mailer, would also include the ques- Troop 494 Leader Riley Greenwood shows scouts the details on a “survival stick” during a campout this weekend at Lake tion of how best to fund a new pool or Afton. splash pad. Mann said the reason for calling on a third-party to issue the study is to elimi- nate the potential bias in the questioning that could occur from representatives Boy Scout groups expanding with community support within the city who would be more By Matt Heilman In Boy Scouts, participants stay became scoutmaster about six years time they get to middle school. From likely to have an opinion on the future involved until they either meet their ago. Webelos II, scouts graduate past of the pool. Eagle Scout requirements in high “There are six more that probably a Cub Scout pack to a Boy Scout Council member Tom Jones said he national organization school or age out when they turn will do so in the next couple years,” troop. In Valley Center, Cub Scout agreed that residents should have the that goes back more 18. Most scouts that begin as Cub he said. Pack 494 shares the same number final say on the future of the pool, but than a century has Scouts in early elementary school The scout group that meets at Val- designation and charter organiza- he felt that the cost for the study could have been split with the park board. seen a sharp increase don’t stick with the program long ley Center’s First United Methodist tion as a Boy Scout Troop, allowing enough to become Eagle Scouts, but Church also includes a Cub Scout scouts to grow through the organiza- Jones voted in support of the study, but in its local presence indicated the city should have more over the last several months. The the feat is becoming more com- pack from which 11 scouts moved tion together. A mon for Valley Center’s Troop 494, up to the Boy Scout Troop in Febru- Greenwood, a teacher in the of a say in the study and the cost for it Boy Scouts of America is well rep- could’ve been shared. resented in Valley Center, having its which has seen its participation bal- ary, Greenwood said. Valley Center school district for 30 loon from 23 to 45 members since In scouting, participants usually years, became active with scouts in Council member Mike Alumbaugh participation nearly doubled in the last May. begin as first graders in Cub Scouts. the community when his now 17- was the lone elected official who voted last year. In Park City, there is new Representing Boy Scout Troop They move up the ranks within Cub year-old son became a Cub Scout. against the study. Alumbaugh agreed it life for the organization in a com- 494, Riley Greenwood said there Scouts, starting at the level of Tigers Part of the story for the sharp was a good idea, but he didn’t want to munity that hasn’t had scouting in have been six scouts complete their and working up to the levels of recent years. Eagle Scout requirements since he Webelos I and Webelos II about the See SCOUTS, Page 6 See POOL, Page 4 StandoffBy Matt endsHeilman hisquietly home in the 6300 block of afterA woman inside the home tense nicate with Tharp. momentsShortly before 8 p.m., the One man taken North Ulysses. with Tharp left the residence A neighbor to the residence standoff ended peacefully. A ro- A standoff that lasted about Bostian said the man, later after the shots were fired, but where the standoff occurred bot equipped with a PA speaker into custody four four hours came to a peaceful identified as 48-year-old Don- she was never a hostage, Bos- said he was outside mowing his and microphone approached resolution in Park City April ald Tharp, had fired three shots tian said. He didn’t confirm an backyard when “three or four the front of the residence. hours after call of 25 with one suspect in custody in the residence: one shot to the earlier report that she had made officers” came running through Tharp surrendered peace- and no reported injuries. Park ceiling and two rounds into the the call to 911. his back gate with guns drawn. fully and was transported by shots fired inside City Police Chief Phil Bostian front door of the home. Bostian A reverse 911 call was made “I couldn’t hear anything ambulance to receive a mental said an emergency call was didn’t specify what caliber of to landlines in the area in an over the mower,” the man said. evaluation, Bostian said. a Park City made about 3:55 p.m. alert- firearm the man used, but he attempt to alert residents to stay He said officers told him he ing officers that an individual said the shots weren’t directed in their homes. Officers outside needed to get inside. Later, he residence See STANDOFF, Page 5 had fired several shots inside at anyone. the home attempted to commu- was asked to evacuate. PAGE 2 JUNE 2014 • PARK CITY POST HIGHLIGHTS ByPride The Post staff Foodpantry. Pantry’s At this time, there finalbreak for day the families will of beChisholm June Trail Seniors, 21 Hotel group Park returns seems to be a lack of those children who attend Chisholm Friends of the Library, For the seventh summer, June 21 will be the last willing to step up and help, Trail Elementary School, Chisholm Trail Elementary, receives award the Park City Pride Committee Saturday for the Park City said Linda Holsey with Park Holsey said. Christ Lutheran Church, City Best Western Wichita North presents Movies in the Park, Food Pantry in Park City.