Congratulations to Tim Brunner on his promotion to Plant Manager. He is overseeing operations of both the Steam and Chiller Plants. He is working for Casey Lauer.
On The Move!
Author: Lori Hayden
Welcome to Our Team!
John Chubb was hired as a Custodial Specialist. He is working for Araminta Washington on the Vet Med Custodial night crew.
Brandon Boccia was hired as a Utility Worker. He is working for Joe Myers on the Grounds Maintenance main campus crew.
Gina Marker was hired as a Custodial Specialist. She is working for Jerry Negron on the Custodial day crew.
Marylou Nelson was hired as a Custodial Specialist. She is working for Clifford Williams on the Custodial day crew.
John P. Christie was hired as a Custodial Specialist. He is working for Steve Greinke on the Custodial night crew.
Happy Birthday!
SPRING: An Opportunity for Perspective Adjustment
By Casey Lauer, Assistant Vice President
With the washing of sand and salt by the first spring rain – buds of new life are once again visible on the Camps landscape – and if crappie swam in Campus Creek, now would be time to float a bobber.
Daylight savings time was March 13th, which will quickly erode the looming winter darkness; warmer weather bringing dew instead of frost, and evenings with crisp fresh air.
Just like the signs of spring, there are so many things within Facilities to be thankful for, dawning each new day with a spirit of hope and renewal once again.
In the area of Grounds, Custodial and Recycling, there is an opportunity to attract a qualified, talented individual for the Director’s position to provide leadership and guidance. There is a nation-wide search currently underway to fill this position.
Also, the Grounds team is now fully integrated into Dykstra as a home-base that is common for all campus coverage zones, instead of having different teams staged across campus. With the move, the Grounds team also has a much larger space to store equipment and supplies, with a separate work space to service equipment, unlike the previous cramped and crowded facility.
The Custodial team worked proactively to communicate equipment needs to enhance their efficiency of performing custodial duties, and are now enjoying the benefits of utilizing this equipment for cleaning and building upkeep.
The central steam and chilled water plants now have new leadership after a national search. K-State’s own Tim Brunner, was selected for the Plant manager position and has been intricately involved in the start-up of CP-2, the new chilled water plant on campus. As I write this, the chillers are being started for the first time in CP-2, and supporting equipment is being brought online to support the growing campus cooling load.
The Maintenance teams and supervisors are actively supporting work to update building controls and mechanical systems in nearly every building on campus. They have been heavily invested to ensure that the buildings they serve are being equipped with more efficient and responsive systems for them to manage and maintain.
New things are happening in other areas of Facilities – like the centralization of accounting functions and a new model for how the storeroom will operate.
As we conclude this week of spring break – I challenge you to reset. It becomes so easy to let the circumstances in life bog us down, and often times, I find myself worrying most about the things I can’t control, rather than the things I can.
It’s time to wash the sand and salt off to gain a new perspective.
It’s time for a re-set.
In The Spotlight: KSU Central Mail Services
By Tammy Powers, Administrative Specialist for KSU Contract Post Office
Did you know that KSU Central Mail Services includes two functions?
- A contract post office for the personal mailing needs of our faculty, staff and students
- A mail center for the university’s business-related mailing and shipping needs
CONTRACT POST OFFICE:
The Contract Post Office (CPO) is located in the west end of Dykstra Hall at 1628 Claflin Road. The CPO is a full service post office for the United States Postal Service (USPS). We offer:
- Priority Mail Boxes
- Express Mail Boxes
- Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes
- Express Mail Flat Rate Envelopes
- First Class Envelopes
- Forever First Class Stamps (wide assortment)
- Forever Postcard Stamps
- Forever Stamps 2-ounce (wide assortment of various denominations)
- Packing Peanuts
We also sell stamps to departments with an Interfund Voucher (IFV). These include Forever First Class stamps, Additional Ounce, Postcard Stamps, coils of 100, books of 20, and $.01 stamps. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can obtain more information from our website at: http://www.k-state.edu/facilities/operations/cms/ContractPostOffice.html or calling (785) 532-6306.
UNIVERSITY BUSINESS-RELATED MAIL AND SHIPPING SERVICES:
University business-related mail and shipping services are provided for departments year-round. These services include:
- Pick-up, sorting and delivery of interdepartmental and USPS mail
- Applying postage and shipping labels on outgoing letters and packages
- Automation Mail Service for mail that qualifies for postage discounts
- International Mail Service
- Address Management Service which offers assistance with change of addresses and forwarding of departmental mail
Vendors used for these services include:
- USPS
- United Parcel Service (UPS)
- FedEx Ground
- FedEx Express
- FedEx International Courier Service
- DHL (International Mail)
More information about KSU Central Mail Services can be found by visiting our website, http://www.k-state.edu/facilities/operations/cms/ or calling (785)532-7751.
YOU ARE APPRECIATED!
Hye Suk Stoddard, Custodial Specialist working on the Throckmorton crew, received a holiday note and gift of appreciation from the Division of Facilities departments of Central Mail, Moving & Hauling, and the Paint Shop.
WELCOME TO OUR TEAM!
Michael Wopschall was hired as a Custodial Specialist. He is working for Stephanie Brecheisen on the Custodial Day Crew.
Bridgett R. Henry was hired as an Administrative Specialist. She is working for Anne Murphy in Central Mail Services.
Michael Rickenbrode was hired as an Electrician Senior. He is working for Michael Paph in Zone 2.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
WATER COOLER TALK…
Larry McGee, Director of Administration and Finance, Division of Facilities
Lately, I have heard a lot about how employees’ net pay in their paychecks is less. I’d like to provide you some potential explanations. I’ve gone back through recent articles and am re-transmitting them below. If you are like me, not everyone has time to see or digest the information when it first comes out.
Here is my quick synopsis of what changes I have found that may have effected your paycheck.
- Payroll deduction changes based on Health Insurance enrollment options you selected back in October 2015. These went into effect January 2016.
- Federal Income Tax withholding rates increased effective 1 January 2016.
- You may have changed your elected W-4 (federal withholding) or K-4 (state withholding)
- You may have elected KPERS Optional Group Life Insurance for Children
Here are a couple of other tidbits of information you may not have seen or remember.
- You should have already received a new form that you will have to use when filing this year’s A Form 1095-C is the employer-provided health insurance offer and coverage form. Your government is documenting who has insurance coverage and who does not.
- The State of Kansas Health Care Commission has ruled that health coverage will end the last day of employment and premiums pro-rated, effective January 1, 2016. So when you retire or resign your coverage stops effective that day.
Last but not least, I have inserted the Inclement Weather policy to refresh your memory.
My memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Wasn’t it Ford Lincoln Mercury from the movie “Postman” that said, “Things are getting better, they’re- getting better every day.” A positive outlook is a wonderful thing. Hey, the price of gas at the pump has gone down so we aren’t spending as much money there.
Here are the re-transmission of those articles gleaned over that past few weeks:
WHY IS MY PAYCHECK DIFFERENT IN 2016? By Human Capital Services
Starting this month, changes may be reflected on your paychecks.
Beginning January 2016, the following changes may be reflected on your paychecks. To view your paychecks, access HRIS/Employee Self Service and navigate to Employee Self Service > Payroll and Compensation > View Paycheck.
Payroll Deduction and Tax Changes for 2016
- Health insurance enrollment, flexible spending, health saving account, health reimbursement account changes made during October open enrollment.
- If you see a discrepancy from your October open enrollment and your 2016 payroll deduction, please send a detailed e-mail and copy of your State Employee Health Plan (SEHP) open enrollment e-mail confirmation to benefits@ksu.edu. This will allow the benefits team to research the discrepancy and make any adjustments as needed.
- The employee contribution to Health Saving Account (HSA) will be deducted from the 1st and 2nd paychecks of each month, beginning with the paycheck issued January 15, 2016.
- Employer Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) contribution will be paid January 15, 2016 and July 1, 2016. These contributions will each be one-half of the total 2016 KSU contribution. If you are enrolled in Plan C dependent coverage for health insurance, HSA or HRA employer contribution is $2,250.00 for the year. On January 15, 2016 and again on July 1, 2016, K-State will contribute $1,125.00 to your HSA or HRA account for a total of $2,250.00.
- Federal income tax withholding rate changes effective January 1, 2016. Kansas income tax withholding rates remain unchanged for calendar year 2016.
- W-4 (federal withholding) or K-4 (state withholding) changes you made for calendar year 2016.
- You may have premium changes based on the KPERS Optional Group Life Insurance Employee Rate Chart – these changes may be due to a different age bracket or changes to coverage level during the open enrollment period. You may have automatically changed to a different age bracket (for example, from age 44 to age 45) or changed your coverage level during the open enrollment period (for example coverage level from $40,000 to $50,000). Optional Group Life Insurance deduction is taken from the 2nd paycheck of the month.
- You may have premium changes based on the KPERS Optional Group Life Insurance Spouse Rate Chart – these changes may be due to a different age bracket for your spouse or changes to your spouse’s coverage level during the open enrollment period. The optional group life insurance for your spouse may have automatically changed to a different age bracket (for example, from age 44 to age 45) or you may have increased your spouse’s coverage level during the open enrollment period (for example coverage level from $25,000 to $50,000). Optional Group Life Insurance for Spouse deduction is taken from the 2nd paycheck of the month.
- KPERS Optional Group Life Insurance for Child – you may have elected to enroll in the KPERS optional group life insurance for child. Optional Group Life Insurance for child deduction is taken from the 2nd paycheck of the month. The child coverage option and rates are effective January, 2016: child one rate is $1.00 / month and child two rate is $2.00 / month
Form 1095-C employer-provided health insurance offer and coverage form is available
WHO RECEIVES A 1095-C FORM?
Employees eligible for health insurance coverage, including those who decline to participate in the State of Kansas health insurance plan, should receive a 1095-C form for tax filing purposes. The form identifies:
- The employee and the employer
- Which months in 2015 the employee was eligible for coverage
- Minimum monthly premium under the plan
1095-C forms for State of Kansas employees are available to print through the State of Kansas Membership Administration Portal (MAP). K-State employees are able to sign into MAP with their eID and password through HRIS > Employee Self Service> Benefits > Health Insurance Enrollment. When logged into MAP, the 1095-C form is located on the Forms tab on the Account Overview page, under “Tax Forms.”
The 1095-C forms will also be mailed directly to the employee’s mailing address listed in MAP. To view the mailing address, go to “Contact Information” on the Member and Family page tab.
Employees should keep this form with other tax-related documents. It is similar to a W-2 or 1099 form, and will be needed when preparing their 2015 taxes or when providing data to a tax professional.
Questions? Contact benefits @ benefits@k-state.edu or view FAQ.
HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATES FOR 2016
The State of Kansas Health Care Commission has ruled that health coverage will end the last day of employment and premiums pro-rated, effective January 1, 2016. Employees separating or retiring from K-State will have health insurance coverage through the end of the last day they are employed. COBRA coverage and the Retiree coverage will still be available after separation. If you should have specific questions, they may be addressed to benefits@ksu.edu
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
To prepare for possible extreme weather, please become familiar with the Inclement Weather Policy and Procedures.
Special Notes:
If inclement weather declaration becomes active, the following earnings codes will be used for benefit eligible non-essential employees who were scheduled to work, but did not. IWN (Inclement Weather – Nonexempt) and IWE (Inclement Weather – Exempt)
Employees not scheduled to work during the period covered by the Declaration of Inclement Weather, will not be affected by this policy. University Support Staff in temporary positions do not receive Inclement Weather pay.
Employees who work during the period of Declared Inclement Weather shall record hours worked as they normally would, had there not been a Declaration of Inclement Weather.
Employees who received prior approval for authorized leave during the period covered by the Declaration of Inclement Weather shall record the leave they originally requested instead of IWN or IWE.
This policy does not cover hourly student employees. Do not report hours for hourly student employees who did not work during the period of Declared Inclement Weather.
Reporting IWE for exempt employees is optional.
Questions may be directed to Kristi Fronce at fronce@ksu.edu, 785.532.1889 or Frieda Beat at frieda@ksu.edu, 785.532.1884.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Maria Lomibao on her retirement!
Maria worked as a Custodial Specialist for over 25 years and most recently served on the Throckmorton crew.
Several people stopped by to congratulate Maria and wish her the best at her reception on January 29th. Sandy Hoffman, Director of Facilities Safety and Training, had the opportunity to attend Maria’s reception and observed how Maria’s impact was campus-wide;
“I had the privilege to attend the retirement reception for Maria. Notice in the photos how many Non-Facilities employees attended to pay tribute to her many years of dedicated service to Kansas State University. It was a true testimony of how each individual employee makes a difference not only as a Facilities employee but to the campus as a whole. Certain responsibilities have been assigned to each employee to ensure the future of KSU. Witnessing the love and gratitude that was shared that day, I realized the true impact Facilities employees have on campus. Congratulations, Maria!”
