Reese Barrick
NAME: Reese Barrick
AGE: 59
OCCUPATION: Director, Sternberg Museum of Natural History
INCUMBENT? Yes
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: I have served as a City Commissioner for the past two years. I served on the advisory board of the Convention and Visitors Bureau for 12 years.
1. Why have you decided to run for a position on the Hays City Commission?
I am running for re-election to the City Commission because I am excited for the future of Hays and feel that my background and experience have brought a unique perspective to the City Commission the past two years. I hope to be able to continue to serve the citizens of Hays by supporting city departments that are key to our quality of life and to work to bring expanded housing and city. We are very close to bringing water to Hays from the city’s R-9 ranch south of Kinsley. This will solidify Hay’s future water supply for decades and support future growth in Hays.
2. What are the top three issues you believe the city will face in the next four years?
There are a number of challenges and opportunities for Hays in the next four years. The top priority is securing Hays’ water future by establishing the right of the city to bring water from the R-9 ranch and building the infrastructure and pipeline to bring the water to Hays.
The second challenge is to expand housing and housing opportunities. Growth in Hays is dependent upon the availability of all types of housing, including apartments, multi-family, and single-family homes. We will continue to see a growth in seniors, creating a need for senior housing needs. New and growing families within Hays will need to be able to find housing to meet their expanding needs. Growing the housing market is also key in attracting new business, as many retail businesses look at housing when making decisions on where to expand.
There are two issues facing Hays that are of great concern. Growing childcare options is crucial for parents of young families that need two incomes to meet their growing needs. Childcare options are key for many young couples to even choose to have children. There are some great people and organizations in Hays that are actively addressing this concern.
I also am disturbed by a sharp trend in the increase of domestic violence cases in Hays and in western Kansas in general. The city needs to work with health and support organizations as well as law enforcement to find ways to address root causes of domestic violence as well as support victims.
3. Is there something you would like to see change about any Hays city ordinance or program?
I helped to change a city ordinance dealing with animals and pets allowed in the city in the last two years. I am open to addressing any ordinance that some citizens feel the need to be changed, updated, or created. There are some 23 ordinance categories for the City of Hays. The city has worked to simplify or reduce some of these codes, especially for building and development. Many ordinances will come under scrutiny or consideration when a citizen brings a concern to the commission. City staff is presently working on a potential ordinance involving the parking of large vehicles on city streets.
I would like to see the city move eventually to an online billing program for water and garbage.
4. In light of increasing valuations, should the city of Hays reduce its mill levy? Why or why not?
Simple math suggests that we need to maintain the mill levy at its current status, which has not changed in nearly two decades. While valuations have risen rapidly the past two years, so has inflation, increasing the costs of services and equipment. However, the economic forecast for Kansas is that property increases will slow dramatically this year to around 3.5% and stay level in the near future. The property tax levy for the city is 25 mills. Together, the library and its employee benefits have taken 7 mills. This year those 7 mils provided just over $2 million dollars. The cost of the library was $130,000 above levy and needed to be supplemented by vehicle taxes. Public Safety equipment (2 mills) for the police and fire departments exceeds levy funds by $44,000 and airport needs exceeded levy funding by $798,000. City employee benefits (9.5 mills) exceeded funds brought in by the levy by nearly $1.4 million. This requires transfers from other funds as well as vehicle taxes to fully fund. Bond and interest (5 mills) payments similarly require funding above property tax funding. A two-mill cut in the property tax rate would mean a decrease of approximately $600,000. This deficit would require cuts in road, sewer, and park projects. This would put the city behind projects whose regular maintenance have kept Hays from experiencing critical failures in infrastructure experienced by many cities that must create large bonds to pay for repairs.
5. What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city commissioner?
My experience as a city commissioner the past two years has given me insight and experience in understanding the functions, costs, and benefits of the each of the city’s departments. I now have experience in communicating with our federal and state elected officials on the needs of our community. As the director of the Sternberg Museum and a past CVB member, I understand the impact of events and tourism on the economy of Hays. As a scientist with a background in biology and geology, I have an understanding of the water cycle, including the impacts of drought and climate change on the water needs of Hays and western Kansas.
As an employee of FHSU, I know the critical importance of the university’s success on the success and viability of the city.
6. What would you do, if elected, to attract or retain businesses to the community?
One avenue that I will work with the city and others to pursue is a STAR bond to bring an attraction to or expand an attraction in Hays that will ideally be a centerpiece of new retail and housing. Hays is located ideally along I-70 making access to new attractions available to an large number of potential tourists. Increasing housing is also an avenue of making Hays attractive to new business and people who own houses tend to stay and remain fully invested in our community.