Residents and nonprofits ask for fair signage, volunteer judges and invite commissioners to community trainings

During the public comment period on July 15, three community representatives addressed the Harvey County Board of Commissioners with event requests and invitations.

Gail Lanier, representing the Harvey County Kansas Fair Association, asked permission to place two or three promotional signs on the courthouse lawn to promote the county fair, which runs July 31–Aug. 10. The commissioners indicated permission was appropriate and asked that the signs be removed after the fair.

Mike Fellows described the Harvey County Constitution Contest for high school students and asked that one commissioner volunteer to serve as a judge on the evening of Oct. 16. Fellows said the contest (called the Harvey County Constitution Contest) invites public high school seniors from Newton, Halstead, Sedgwick and Burrton to submit essays on a Constitution-related question; judges will read essays on Oct. 16 and finalists will receive awards at a ceremony at Newton High School. Fellows said the contest is run independently and is not a Hutchinson Community College program; he requested a commissioner volunteer by Aug. 1 to participate as a judge.

Kendra Davila, director at the local nonprofit Peace Connections, invited commissioners to two upcoming programs: an all-day “Bridges Out of Poverty” training on Aug. 1 and a graduation celebration for a 15-week Getting Ahead financial-management class the following Tuesday. Davila said the Getting Ahead class has helped participants open bank accounts and access medical services and asked commissioners to attend if able.

The commission accepted the requests and indicated they would follow up (one commissioner said they might not be available Oct. 16). No formal votes were needed for the invitations; staff noted the fair signs should be removed when the event concluded.