By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
After being rebuffed by the Ellis County Commission in January, the Hays Board of Realtors continues in its effort to bring a proposal to county voters that would increase the number of commissioners from three to five.
To bring the measure to voters the board will need signatures from five percent of Ellis County voters – around 950 signatures.
The effort to collect signatures began after the January meeting, where County Commission chair Butch Schlyer said he was “100-percent opposed” to the effort and asked that as they collect signatures, they tell the public, “This is not in their best interest.”
Past president of the board Robert Readle said he had hoped the commission would be supportive of the measure going into that meeting but were prepared to begin collecting signatures as well.
“We looked into this petition effort and were advised by our counsel, that there were really two avenues to go,” Readle said.
He said the board was advised to approach the commission first to see if they would be supportive of the measure.
“However, we were a little disappointed,” Readle said. “Neither of the commissioners that were there that night – which ironically, one of the commissioners had resigned at the beginning of that meeting, so, we were presenting to two commissioners again – but nevertheless, neither one of them were in support of that.”
And so, by default, they were forced to attempt the second method, collecting signatures in order to bring the measure to voters.
“This is just placing it on the ballot,” Readle said. “This isn't changing anything, it's really just putting it out to the public so that the county can vote on this.”
And while the issue is being talked discussed in the public sphere, he said some have been supportive of the effort itself, to bring the measure to a vote.
“Several people that actually have agreed to sign the petition and said, ‘You know, I'm not saying whether I agree or disagree with your effort, but I do think it should be put to a vote,’” Readle said. “And so, it's really just to put it on the ballot.”
The first signatures were collected shortly after the meeting with the commission, with the hopes of bringing the issue to the voters this year.
After collecting signatures Readle said, “we take it to the county clerk, they certify the petition. They'll have to make sure that everybody that signed it is a registered voter in Ellis County. So that can be a pretty lengthy process. Our goal is to get over 1000 signatures.”
Once certified the measure will be placed on the ballot.
“We’re looking to have this wrapped up by late July,” Readle said. “That should give them plenty of time to certify the petition and put it on the ballot for the November election.”
The board believes the commission should be expanded to help bring more stability to the county government.
“As a board, we've kind of observed a couple of shortcomings with the current county commission, just the way it's structured, not necessarily the members or how they've been voting,” Readle said. “We've seen just a couple of issues arise that we think could be very easily solved by just expanding the commission from three seats to five.”
He pointed to land development projects that were rejected by the commission as examples of why five commissioners would better suit Ellis County, including Blue Sky Acres.
“That was a petitioner coming to the county government to do a development south of Hays,” Readle said. “There were only three commissioners at the time, and one of them had to recuse themselves. And so that left the county commission, with only two voting members deciding on this, and effectively a single commissioner was against it.”
“And so, they effectively had veto power on anything coming through the commission when there's only two commissioners,” he continued. “Whether you agree or disagree with the way she was voting, it's really not the point. What we're concerned with is that we think with five commissioners, it would take at least two commissioners to be against if one of them were to recuse. And we just think two would be better than one. ... Veto power like that is less than ideal in our eyes.”
While Readle said he was doubtful an expanded commission would be an answer to every concern, it may help smooth over contentious issues, that have in the past led to notable incidents during commission meetings.
“I do think that being able to communicate prior to meetings, being able to go back to petitioners prior to them coming into the public meeting, may help keep some of those really hot button issues from boiling over,” Readle said. “I mean, I think one of those commission meetings a gal got arrested during the meeting.”
“And so, you know, just from our experience with the City Commission, being able to come to them talk about the issue, they were able to kind of step back, assess, think through it and come back to us again. I don't know that the county really is able to work through that process as well. And it may just help kind of iron out some of those issues prior to the meeting. And then it isn't such a chaotic scene.”
Readle said while the board believes the expanded commission would be a good move the Ellis County, he understands that with only three commissioners’ conversations, are more public by default.
“Some people that are against it, view a three-member commission, as the best way to keep everything aboveboard,” he said. “With only three commissioners, they cannot visit with each other directly. The Kansas Open Meetings Act prohibits them from discussing things outside of the county commission meeting itself.”
But the group’s experience with the five-member Hays City Commission has demonstrated how well a five-member board can work.
“When there's a five-member commission, they're able to go back and meet with each other on a one-on-one basis, discuss things, gain additional insight, understand somebody else's point of view and oftentimes that leads to more questions,” Readle said. “We were just able to really work through a lot more of their concerns prior to it going to a public meeting, which I think is good, it leads to better-informed decisions.”
“With the county, when there's only three, they can't visit with each other before the meeting. And so sometimes it takes a long time to work through the different issues. And we just feel like sometimes the commissioners aren't seeing eye to eye on some issues. It leads to some pretty wild meetings and on occasion.”
Hays residents interested in signing the petition that would bring place the measure on the November ballot can visit most Hays realtors.
“If you're interested in finding out more you can go in, talk to us,” Readle said. “Or if you're just ready to support our petition again, just to place it on the ballot, stop in and sign up.”