TEG
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016
V V V
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895
V V V
Good Evening
VVV
Thank you, Patty!
WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
MORAN SPEAKS AT LYON-COFFEY
COOPERATIVE ANNUAL MEETING
By Jessie Wagoner
[email protected]
JESSIE WAGONER/GAZETTE
Senator Jerry Moran joins
in during the singing of
the National Anthem at the
beginning of the Lyon-Coffey
Electric Cooperative annual
meeting. Moran served as
keynote speaker at the event.
Senator Jerry Moran served as
the keynote speaker at the LyonCoffey Electric Cooperative annual
meeting on Monday evening. The
event, held at William Lindsay
White Auditorium, was attended
by over 300 employees, partners
and customers of the co-op.
Before Moran spoke members of
the co-op’s Board of Trustees conducted the annual business meeting. During that meeting minutes
from the previous meeting were approved before John Evans provided
the treasurer’s report.
Evans advised that the current
assets total almost $40 million,
operating margins from electric
sales total $641,472.76 and other
margins and capital credits total
$518,980.85. For the year ending,
the co-op posted a total operating capital of $1,160,453.61. During 2015, the co-op paid almost
$450,000 in property taxes to the
nine counties served by the co-op
— $120,183.31 of that amount was
paid to Lyon County.
“As evidenced by the printed,
audited financial statement, you
can see that your cooperative is on
firm financial basis,” Evans said.
Co-op President Robert Con-
verse also provided a positive report to those in attendance. Converse expressed that one feature
that sets the co-op apart from other
electric utilities is the concept of
returning profit margins back to
the members. Capital credits are
returned to members on a 30 year
rotation.
“This past December, the coop distributed $417,694 in capital
credits,” Converse said. “Over the
course of the year (we) returned an
additional $146,084 to members.
In addition, throughout the year,
you received a discount on your
monthly bill through the energy
cost adjustment.”
As Moran began his address
he expressed that the federal government would benefit from the
financial example of the co-op. He
complemented the business on
their fiscally responsible business
practices. Moran also spent time
thanking the veterans in the audience.
“Thank you, to you and other
veterans in the audience for your
service to our country,” Moran
said. “Emporia is a special place in
which, historically, veterans have
been honored and revered and it
is pleasing to be back here in the
Please see Moran, Page 3
CATHRYNE SCHARTON/GAZETTE
Fifth grade students at Village Elementary presented their traffic
plans to KDOT representatives, teachers and other fifth grade
students Friday afternoon.
CHILDREN THINK
LIKE ENGINEERS
By Cathryne Scharton
[email protected]
JESSIE WAGONER/GAZETTE
Over 350 individuals attended the Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting on Monday.
Those in attendance enjoyed a meal from the Olpe Chicken House and entertainment by the Emporia
High School drum line prior to the meeting.
Fifth-grade students in the Science and Math Club at Village Elementary presented intersection
control projects to representatives
from the Kansas Department of
Transportation.
Under the direction of teacher
Marcus Cornelius, students were
challenged to think of alternate
ways to control four-way stop intersections.
The idea for the project was
sparked when Cornelius came to
school complaining about how confusing four-way stops can be when
people do not know when it is their
turn. He gave students in the club
the task of creating different ways
to control intersections — but the
ideas had to be real; no flying cars
allowed. In true scientific fashion,
Cornelius took the students to observe how the four-way intersection at 15th Avenue and Prairie
Street functions, and to see if their
idea would work.
The students worked on the
project for about a month when
Cornelius thought to email the
state to see if they had any interest
in seeing what the students came
up with. Mike King, secretary of
transportation came to the school
to give a presentation about traffic
engineering. Bureau Chief Mike
Floberg also attended. The two
went around and listened to each
team’s design idea.
“I thought he (King) was very
Please see Projects, Page 3
PATTY GILLIGAN SET TO RETIRE
Gilligan leaves
Emporia more
accessible
cate for the creation of more curb
cuts, allowing wheelchairs to access sidewalks with ease from the
street.
“I really think this group has
removed a lot of barriers for people with disabilities,” said Toni
Martin. “I think they have really
By Cathryne Scharton
worked hard with us to make it
[email protected]
feel like we are important enough
to make these decisions and put
Monday evening, the Emporia money behind it.”
Accessibility Advisory Committee
One problem with crosswalk
discussed accomplishments and traffic signals in Emporia was the
goals with retiring leader
amount of time the sigPatty Gilligan.
nals gave when people
After working with
pressed the crosswalk
the city of Emporia for
button. AAC worked with
30 years, Gilligan is retirthe city to extend the
ing on April 8. Gilligan
crosswalk timer to allow
is currently the human
disabled persons to cross
relations coordinator and
the street safely.
the Americans with DisWhile not every city
abilities Act coordinator. Gilligan
can be 100 percent in
During her time as ADA
compliance with ADA
coordinator, Gilligan has
laws or please every
done a lot to help bring disability citizen, according to Gilligan, the
accommodations to Emporia.
group communicates compliance
The AAC was formed seven regulations to the city so the reguyears a v