The Morris County Commissioner meeting was called to order on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Jim Barber, David Fox and Wayne Kohler were present. Chelsey Schmidt, County Clerk, and Bill Kassebaum, County Counselor, were present.
Others present: Billy Kryger- Pastor Berean Baptist Church and Samantha Arredondo Jamie Johnson, Public Health Director, gave a report on the health department. The following services were provided in the months of April and May: Immunizations Given: 35 Immunizations Laboratory Testing (Strep): 1 Strep Tests Total Encounters (Contact with People): 678 People In-Home Services: 266 Encounters with 19 Clients The Health Department had a Family Planning Site Visit with KDHE. Jamie attended the Kansas Immunization Conference, the KALHD Mid-Year Meeting and the Wellness Committee Meeting with USD 417. A water safety education booth was set up at the Washunga Days Fishing Derby; life jackets and pool passes were given out. Work continues with the Live Well Morris County Coalition. Discussion was held regarding the Health Department’s 2027 Budget.
Jan Troxell, county resident, visited with the commissioners regarding the large amount of traffic that travels on T Avenue; a request was made to consider chip sealing the remaining portion of the road (approximately ¼ mile).
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve minutes from the June 16th, 2026, Commission Meeting. Motion carried.
Scott Coover, County Sheriff, gave a report on the Sheriff’s Office, Jail and Dispatch. Deputy Ryan Young also attended the meeting. Several grant applications have been submitted for radio encryption that is required to be implemented by the State. The DARE Pancake Feed Fundraiser held during Washunga Days was very successful. The County currently has 15 inmates; 3 are being housed in Osage County, 2 in Wabaunsee County, 2 in Chase County and 8 here in Morris County.
The department’s 2027 budget requests were presented as follows: Sheriff: 2026 Budget: Salaries - $435,000.00 Commodities - $88,600.00 Contractual - $105,950.00 Capital Outlay - $5,000.00 Total - $634,550.00 2027 Budget Request: Salaries - $422,500.00 Commodities - $90,175.00 Contractual - $114,050.00 Capital Outlay - $6,000.00 Total - $633,725.00 Jail: 2026 Budget: Salaries - $124,500.00 Commodities - $18,050.00 Contractual - $111,450.00 Capital Outlay - $6,000.00 Total - $260,000.00 2027 Budget Request: Salaries - $125,556.00 Commodities - $20,052.00 Contractual - $133,750.00 Capital Outlay - $7,000.00 Total - $286,358.00 Dispatch: 2026 Budget: Salaries - $265,000.00 Commodities - $500.00 Contractual - $6,250.00 Capital Outlay - $0.00 Total - $271,750.00 2027 Budget Request: Salaries - $317,416.00 Commodities - $525.00 Contractual - $5,650.00 Capital Outlay - $0.00 Total - $323,591.00 The requests will be considered during the county’s budgeting process.
Shelly Lautt gave the following public works report for the week of June 15th- 19th: Road & Bridge: Asphalt patching was done on Old Hwy 4, Old Hwy 56, Donnon St. and 700 Rd. and the Dunlap Rd.
Creek gravel was hauled to V Ave. from 525-600 and 525 Rd. from V-X Rock was retrieved from ditches on J Ave. from 2400-2600, 2600 Rd. from J-P, P Ave. from 2200-2500, 2500 Rd. from M-P and M Ave. from 2300-2500 Fallen trees were removed from the roadway on CC Ave. from 31003200 and Y Ave. from 2500-2600 Blade men fixed washouts and made repairs to roads on all routes across the county New entrance culvert was installed on K Ave. between 400-500 and covered with Slough Creek Quarry road rock Mowing was done along the Dunlap Rd., Lake Rd., and Old Hwy 4 Retaining wall was built and building pad completed for the new storage shed Shelly and Brett Wright attended a meeting with KDOT Inspector and contractors for the K-177 project regarding the 900 Rd. entrance onto the state highway Shelly attended a Preliminary Damage Assessment Meeting with KDEM regarding the June 4-15th storms The county participated in Farm Bureau’s Touch-A-Truck event at Washunga Days The commissioners commended the road and bridge crews for the recent asphalt patching work that has been done.
Commissioner Fox discussed the area of T Ave. and 1000 Rd.; the road is holding water that is overflowing from a nearby pond.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve Resolution No. 2026-10, A Resolution Granting Temporary Placement of a Gate on 625 Road, as presented. All adjoining landowners have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the temporary placement of the gate. Motion carried.
Jacob Welsh, Chase County Sheriff, and Tony Hazelton, Chase County Commissioner, visited with the commissioners regarding the placement of a Tornado Siren at Kahola Lake. Chase County has received grant funding and would like to place a siren on the north side of the lake which would be located in Morris County. Kahola Lake is split between Morris and Chase Counties and has an average population of 250 people and a population of up to 5,000 people during certain events and times of the year. Approximately 91 of the lake’s 182 cabins are located in Morris County. The purchase and installation cost of the siren is $34,171.35. The amount of grant funding that will not cover the installation is $7,885.25. The Kahola Lake Association will take responsibility for the annual cellular and annual maintenance costs. Chase County will take ownership of the siren and responsibility of any future maintenance or repairs after warranties expire.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve a payment of $7,886.00 to Chase County for the installation and purchase of a Tornado Warning Siren for Kahola Lake. Funds are to be paid from the Equipment Reserve Fund. Motion carried.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve payroll as presented; in the total amount of $115,396.64. Motion carried.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve the accounts payable vouchers as presented; in the total amount of $109,934.21. Motion carried. The breakdown by fund is as follows: General: $24,634.84 Road & Bridge: $46,361.87 Capital Improvement: $38,937.50 Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to nominate Chelsey Schmidt, Morris County Clerk, to the KWORCC Board of Trustees, At-Large Position. Motion carried.
Morris County will be participating in the Kansas Counties State Fair America 250 Celebration.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
--Meeting minutes will be published on the county website: www. morriscountyks.org