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We are back...finally.  After almost 18-months Kurth Lancaster and Jeff Hancock explain the lapse in episodes, the format, and the strange world we now live in.  Have fun.

In this episode Jeffrey Hancock visits with John Braun and Nathan Bergman, the current and past Presidents of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Kansas Chapter.  We talk about the purpose of APWA Kansas, the future of APWA Kansas, and the leadership of APWA Kansas.  Along the way we discuss engaging young people, the International Headquarters of Bartlett and West, and many other topics.

Jeffrey and Jen Hancock of SMH sit down with Suzanne Loomis and talk about rubber dams, the greatest old west gun fight that no one knows about, the flour capital of Kansas, golf courses, and men who need to remember it is not 1950.  Seriously, Suzanne is a great asset not only to the City of Newton, but also to Public Works in general and this episode will prove it.

In this episode Kurth Lancaster and Jennifer Hancock visit with Deziree Miller of GMCN Architects in Garden City, Kansas. This episode is a wild ride that will take you from Venezuela, Disney World, and hogs to maple syrup. I'm still amazed that setting a gas pump ablaze came up in this episode, but it did.

This time I traveled to Hays, Kansas and visited with John Braun (pronounced "Brown" I learned) who is the City Project Manager, about all the stuff happening in Hays. Man was I surprised to learn that the little town of 23,000 is bustling with activity, particularly related to infrastructure. Along the way I learned that John was once in the Air Force and he actually soloed in a T-37 jet. I've always found John to be an interesting person and this episode validated my findings. A great guy, an interesting person and in it for the long haul with the City of Hays. Be sure to subscribe to our show!

In this episode we visit with Ray Slattery and Tanner Rutschman of the City of Dodge City about wagon ruts, quiet trains, and eventually a few things going on at the City.  It's always a good time to sit down with our friends from Dodge and visit about the great place Dodge is as well as a number of other things.   

In this episode we have some laughs with Scott Heidner and Travis Lowe, Executive Directors for ACEC-KS and KSPE respectively.  We started with a 2019 legislative update, but the conversation ended talking about cigars and dirty somethings...as usual with these two.  Be sure to subscribe to our show!  

So we took the week of Christmas and the week of New Years off for a little break, but we are back at it this week with a great episode about housing in Manhattan. Guests include Jason Hilgers, Deputy City Manager; Brad Claussen, Assistant Chief of Risk Reduction and Code Services; and City Commissioner Jerred McKee. We talk about a lot of different housing issues in Manhattan, from affordability to programs being contemplated to provide incentives for improving existing homes. This episode is great for anyone interested in housing in Manhattan and the role it plays for our community's success.  Music: www.bensound.com

In this episode we visit with Vince Haines, Principal of Gravity Works Architecture and Mayor of Eldorado, Kansas.  We talk about old lakes, water skiing, oil pipelines, the role of compromise, caves, and yes...even some Mayor things.  Have a listen and get to know Eldorado and the great man they have as their Mayor.  Music: www.bensound.com Please subscribe to our show.

In this episode Jeffrey Hancock visits with Senator Tom Hawk of Kansas's Senate District 22.  Tom and I spend a good deal of time discussing the Transportation Task Force, politics and even tree house projects.  Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show!

Patrick Schutter and Levi Schneider of BHS Construction visit in a very loud Kites Bar and Grill with Jeffrey Hancock of SMH Consultants. I think we might have hit a beer special night. The discussions range from working in different communities and their associated regulatory departments to building sheds at home with kids. This is a good episode that really gives the listener an inside to the way BHS Construction conducts their business and how employees there are family. Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show!

Ever wonder what it is like to manage multiple building and outdoor facilities across a large school district?  John Geist, Director of Plant Facilities for USD 457 in Garden City tackles this wonder daily.  From new HVAC systems to dealing with vandalism from rival schools, John has done a little of it all.  Kurth Lancaster of SMH talks with John about his experiences, time in Garden City and a tangent discussion of John's love of hunting.  Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show!

In this episode Kurth Lancaster and Jeffrey Hancock visit with Hayes Kelman of Boot Hill Distillery. From the field to the glass, listen to Hayes describe how he is taking farming to whole new level by self sourcing ingredients for the best distilled spirits you'll ever have. Beyond whiskey we talk old time Dodge City, the fight for water, oil, high taxes and living the dream. Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show!

In this episode we ponder Downtown Manhattan and Aggieville.  Change is in the air and has been in the air.  This is an insightful conversation about making things happen downtown and shaking things up in Aggieville.  Jason Hilgers and Ben Chmiel of the City of Manhattan join Tracy Anderson of Anderson Knight Architects, Gina Scroggs of Downtown Manhattan Inc. and myself as we talk about everything concerning creating vibrant commercial centers.  Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show! 

In this episode of Out of Scope Kurth Lancaster visits with Matt Bennett and Chris Floyd of First National Bank of Syracuse.  Some of the topics covered include halloween costume contests, bankers as developers, banking in rural Kansas, banking innovations, bank robberies, the impact of hunting on local economies and kids sports.  Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show!

Tribune, Kansas - Kurth Lancaster and Paul Lewis of SMH Consultants visit with Christy Hopkins of Greeley County. Christy is the Director of Greeley County Community Development. This is an episode whose epicenter is surrounded by "rural". Funny mascots, prevailing winds, the unpredictable livelihood of farming, trips to Vegas, unified government, and dairies in western Kansas are all some of the topics discussed in this episode. Christy's drive for success in and for Greeley County is shadowed only by her love of the area and the community she lives in.  Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show! 

Kurth Lancaster and Paul Lewis of SMH Consultants visit with Melissa McCoy of the City of Dodge City. Melissa is the City's Assistant to the City Manager and Project Development Coordinator.  Originating in Copeland, Kansas Melissa has spent time living and working in Albuquerque, Mexico City, and now Dodge City. She shares some of her unique people skills and experiences gathered along the way; and the variety of different things she gets involved with in Dodge City. Such a great person with her heart focused on her community. Everyone will enjoy this episode. Music: www.bensound.com. Be sure to subscribe to our show!  

Jeffrey Hancock and Brett Louk of SMH Consultants ponder county road and bridge business with Justin Mader of McPherson County and Alvin Perez of Riley County.  County mowers, sitting in flood ravaged restaurants, troublesome farmers and ranchers, snarky remarks to constituents, and tractors falling into creeks are all discussed in this interesting and fun episode.  Music: www.bensound.com   Be sure to subscribe to our show!

Jeffrey Hancock, City Commissioner Usha Reddi, Dennis Hadley of Bank of the Flint Hills, and Brad Hartenstein of the Flint Hills Area Builders Association have a good conversation about housing and benefit districts.   One of the more serious subjects discussed on the Out of Scope Podcast; this was an interesting take from different perspectives on the use of benefit districts and housing. In particular how the benefit district tool impacts builders/developers, the risks and benefit to the community as a whole, and long term thinking about what makes and what will make us and others want to live in Manhattan moving forward.   Music: www.bensound.com

Kurth Lancaster and Jeffrey Hancock have a great conversation with a man of many words, Jay Dill.  Jay is the City Manager of Kinsley, Kansas where "water" is a fighting word.  They have it and others want it.  Jay offers his perspectives on the town he grew up in and loves; and some of the sensible and some of the senseless battles that come with being a small town City Manager. Along the way we talk about buried treasure and horses on runways.  Music: www.bensound.com Be sure to subscribe to our show!