The Chase County Commission approved warrants totaling $132,226.77 and minutes from the June 8 meeting when commissioners met Monday, June 15, at the courthouse in Cottonwood Falls.
Chairman Tony Hazleton opened the meeting, which included several budget discussions with county department heads and outside agencies as commissioners continue preparing for the next budget year.
Chris Burton, Chase County noxious weed director, met with commissioners about future needs for his department, including equipment and building concerns. Burton said the department’s Dodge pickup is aging and will eventually need to be replaced. He said repairs may be less expensive than replacement in the short term, but the county should begin planning for the cost of a future vehicle.
Commissioner Matt Miller said previous commissioners had eliminated capital outlay lines for most departments, with the exception of ambulance because of the size of that expense. He said he was not opposed to considering such a fund but wanted more information about the department’s equipment and future needs.
Burton also discussed the noxious weed building, saying it has served its purpose but continues to have water issues. Commissioners discussed possible drainage improvements, including cutting a trench to move water away from the building. Commissioners indicated they may look at the building after their June 30 meeting.
Ty Wheeler of Kansas Legal Services met with commissioners to request county support for the coming year. Wheeler said Kansas Legal Services is a statewide nonprofit law firm that assists people who cannot afford an attorney. He said the need is especially important in Chase County, where there are few practicing attorneys.
Wheeler said the organization handles cases involving protection from abuse, some court-appointed work, Social Security matters and other civil legal needs. He also discussed an upcoming expungement clinic scheduled for June 25, saying expungements can help people move forward with employment and other parts of life.
Wheeler said Kansas Legal Services is requesting $6,000, about $500 more than last year, because of increased travel and personnel costs. Commissioners said they would consider the request during budget work.
Register of Deeds Kathy Swift presented several budget options for her office. Swift said she does not plan to run again and would like to hire a full-time deputy so that person can be trained before the next election. She said the register of deeds office requires knowledge of legal descriptions, real estate documents and the flow of information between the deeds office, appraiser’s office and clerk’s office.
Swift said mistakes in the deeds office can affect other offices and eventually tax statements. She said a part-time position has been difficult to fill and that training someone with no background in the work takes time.
Swift also discussed her own salary, saying she is the lowest-paid department head inside the courthouse and would like commissioners to consider a more comparable wage. She also raised the idea of a pay scale for courthouse positions. Miller said a formal pay scale is difficult in a small county with different positions and a limited labor pool, but said commissioners rely on department heads to present their budget needs.
Treasurer Bernice Albers also presented her first budget request as treasurer. Albers said the motor vehicle fund had been a concern, but a recently approved $5 local fee should help make the fund more stable. She said the state allows counties to consider an additional $5 fee, which would require commission approval and would take effect in January if adopted.
Albers said she was not necessarily recommending the additional fee yet and did not want to add costs for taxpayers unless needed. Miller asked her to bring projected revenue information if the additional fee is discussed later. Albers said the current fee has a sunset date of three years.
Commissioners held an executive session for non-elected personnel and took no action afterward. Following the session, they voted to advertise for a part-time mowing and yard maintenance position.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Thom Kirk met with commissioners to discuss bridge inspections, drainage work, equipment needs and road projects. Kirk said some bridges are now on one-year inspection intervals because of plans of action or other inspection concerns, although he hopes some can be removed from that list after repair work and inspections.
Kirk also provided information about drainage work completed with the county’s mini excavator since it was put into service in August 2022. He said the machine has logged more than 2,100 hours, although not all county drainage work is reflected in that report because some work is done with other equipment.
Kirk said a second mini excavator similar to the county’s current machine would cost about $145,844 new, while a new backhoe similar to the county’s current backhoe would cost about $148,210. He said the county’s full-size excavator still has useful life but should be watched for replacement planning over the next two or three years.
Commissioners and Kirk also discussed the possible cost of a two-person drainage crew. Kirk estimated two employees at $24 per hour would cost about $100,000 annually in wages, not including equipment and operating costs. He said the cost of drainage work varies widely depending on how much material must be removed and how far dirt must be hauled.
Kirk also updated commissioners on Lake Road, saying he is still gathering information on possible chip seal and stabilization options. He said because some of the options are outside his usual experience, he has arranged for core sampling and soil studies to determine how the road materials may react to different stabilization methods.
The next Chase County Commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 30.