How to get essential services in Ellis County
Newcomers might find the chore of obtaining basic services somewhat daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s a list of everything you need to know.PowerMidwest Energy, 1330 Canterbury, provides electricity and natural gas in Hays and Ellis. It also provides natural gas to Ellis County residents and electricity to rural customers in Victoria and the eastern half of the county.A normal deposit for services will be the average bill for two months, but the deposit can be made in four monthly installments. If a resident remains a customer and makes payments on time, the deposit will be returned with simple interest applied after one year of residential service. No deposit is required if the resident has had service, has a letter of credit or has a co-signer.In cases of new construction, the contractor generally purchases a $50 nonrefundable connection fee. The deposit then is based on square footage.After a home is constructed, a “blower door” test is required before the city of Hays will issue a certificate of occupancy. Completed by Midwest Energy, the test makes sure the furnace has enough oxygen to operate correctly without distributing carbon monoxide into the home. The charge ranges from $50 to $100 for residences and is on a case-by-case basis for businesses. This test also is available for older homes.Another available test is an infrared scan. This helps determine where leaks are in a home in order to make the home more efficient. The cost is $75 for residences and on a case-by-case basis for businesses.An account can be established by calling (785) 625-3437 or (800) 222-3121. Once service is established, customers can view their utility usage and current changes and apply to make their payments online at www.mwenergy.com.Rural customers in the western half of the county can obtain electric service through Western Cooperative Electric Association, WaKeeney, at (785) 743-5561.Service can be obtained by calling, but a contract must be signed either in the office or through the mail. A deposit or credit reference is required.Water, sewer, trashFor Hays residents, a deposit of $70 is required of all new customers. Allow 24 hours notice for hookup. Service can be obtained at the city clerk’s office in City Hall, 16th and Main.In Ellis, a one-time connection fee of $30 is required. An application must be completed at City Hall, 815 Jefferson. Residents can be issued polycarts for grass clippings in the summer for $1 a month or polycarts for trash for the same monthly fee.Victoria residents must pay a one-time $40 connection fee. It is waived for first-time homeowners. An application must be completed at City Hall, 1005 Fourth; service can begin the same day.Victoria also offers a senior discount for trash service of $1.50 per month with proof that the resident is older than 65.Rural residents of Ellis County have the option of connecting with rural water districts. For a referral to the nearest water district, contact the Kansas Rural Water Association at (785) 336-3760 or e-mail at krwa@nvcs.com.Cable televisionEagle Cable TV and Internet Services, 2703 Hall, Ste. 13, offers basic cable, digital cable with multichannel movie packages, pay-per-view, parental controls and much more.High-definition programming and digital video recorders also are available from Eagle.For package options and prices, call (785) 625-5910, or toll free at 877-625-9901. Eagle serves Hays and Ellis.Residents of Ellis, Schoenchen and Munjor can obtain service through Golden Belt Telephone, Rush Center, at (800) 432-7965.In Victoria, Nex-Tech, Hays, provides cable service. Call (877) 567-7872 for rates.Child careThe Northwest Kansas Childcare Resource and Referral Agency can help put parents in touch with those offering daycare services throughout northwest Kansas. For referrals, call (877) 678-2548.TelephoneFor local telephone service, the majority of central Ellis County is served by AT&T. Service can be established by calling (800) 222-0300.The city of Ellis and much of the western portion of Ellis County is served by Golden Belt Telephone, Rush Center, (800) 432-7965.Most of eastern Ellis County, including Hays and Victoria, also can obtain local telephone and long-distance service through Rural Telephone Service, Co., Lenora, and its subsidiary, Nex-Tech, Hays. Call (785) 625-7070.Residents in eastern Ellis County can obtain local telephone service through Gorham Telephone Service, Gorham, (785) 637-5300.Eagle Communications offers local phone service to residents of Hays. For more info call (785) 625-5910 or (877) 61-Eagle, or stop by 2703 Hall, Ste. 13.InternetMost of eastern Ellis County, including Hays and Victoria, can obtain high-speed and dial-up service through Nex-Tech, Hays, (888) 792-4638.SBC offers high-speed access, (800) 792-4638.Eagle Cable TV and Internet Services offers high-speed and wireless access in Hays and Ellis. Call (785) 625-5910.MediaNewspapers• The Ellis Review is a weekly community newspaper in Ellis. It is published every Thursday. Subscription rates vary for readers in Ellis County and across the state. For information, call (785) 726-4583.• The Hays Daily news publishes Monday through Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings and serves readers in northwest Kansas. The Hays Daily news also publishes its news on the Web at www.hd news.net. Subscriptions are available for both the print and electronic version. For subscription information, call (800) 657-6017 or (785) 628-1081 or sign up online.• The Stir is a weekly publication of The Hays Daily News, geared toward a younger audience and featuring a mix of humor, news, entertainment and original content. Local radio stations• KPRD, 88.9 FM, non-commercial Christian radio.Eagle Radio manages five radio stations in Hays with various formats:• KAYS-AM, 1400 AM, is full service information and music until 6 p.m. followed by ESPN Sports Radio.• KFIX, 96.9 FM, plays classic rock.• KHAZ, 99.5 FM, plays real country music.• KJLS, 103.3 FM, plays adult contemporary music.• KKQY, 101.9 FM, plays hot country music.Television• Eagle Community TV broadcasts on cable channel 14.• Fort Hays State University boradcasts on channel 67.• KBSH is a CBS affiliate. Its parent station is KWCH, Wichita.• KSNC is an NBC affiliate in Great Bend. Its parent station is KSNW, Wichita.• KOOD is the public television station for western Kansas and is based in Bunker Hill.