Q: WHERE DOES THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SITUATION STAND NOW IN GUTHRIE COUNTY?
A: On Aug. 5, the Guthrie County Supervisors approved the publishing of an initial public notice to begin the process of designating EMS as an essential service in the county. This is the first step in the process of bringing the matter to a vote again. The timeline for a special election is still under consideration, as are other options.
Q: WHY IS THE WOOD INSIDE THE BARK RED?
A: Carolyn England submitted this photo of reddish-colored inner wood of what she believes is a cottonwood tree located just past the Lenon Mill Park bridge that was damaged in last week’s storms. She asked why it would have such red color inside the bark.
The best answer we could find relates to “tannins,” which are defense chemicals that plants and trees use for various purposes. Tannins bind to proteins making enzymes less effective, so they exist in plants and trees to make them less palatable to herbivores and also to make them more resistant to diseases. The tannin can appear red if it interacts with iron present in small amounts in the water a tree may absorb. High-tannin wood can still decay, but it does so slower because the fungi have to produce a lot more wood-digesting enzymes to overwhelm it, and that costs the fungi energy.
Q: HOW MUCH IS THE PANORAMA SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING TO ASK FOR IN THE BOND ELECTION, AND WHAT WILL IT PAY FOR?
A: Community members in the Panorama School District have signed petitions asking the board of education to place a $19.6 million general obligation bond referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. State law requires that signatures be collected from 168 eligible voters in the Panorama Community School District, which amounts to 25% of the voter total in the most recent board election.
The petition asks the board of directors to call a special election to “contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $19,600,000 to build, furnish, and equip an addition to the secondary building for a competition gymnasium, including site improvements; to remodel, repair, furnish, and equip the secondary building, including improvements to classrooms, common areas, secure entrance, roofing, and site improvements; and to remodel, repair, furnish, and equip the elementary building, including a secure entrance, roofing, and site improvements, including an accessible playground.”
According to Panorama Schools Superintendent Kasey Huebner, the petition will be presented to the school board for verification, and a decision can be made on the referendum request.
Huebner said an advisory committee that included community members provided a recommendation that includes the installation and securing the entrance at the elementary school, a new roof, and an enhanced playground that will improve accessibility for all children.
At the secondary school, the proposal calls for updates to the shop area; heating, ventilation and air conditioning system updates; and renovations to the school’s entrance, commons area, kitchen, restrooms and other spaces.
Additionally, Huebner said the construction of a new competition gymnasium would be made at the secondary school to provide additional space and resources for physical education classes, athletic teams, school events, youth programs and com- munity activities.
The total projected debt service tax rate implication for this potential project would be $1.96 per $1,000 of taxable property value. Panorama’s average total property tax rate over the last 18 years is $13.10. With an approved bond, the projected levy rate would be approximately $12.40.