The Morris County Commissioner meeting was called to order on Tuesday, May 19th, 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 The commissioners viewed the Court Services office.
Kelley Judd, Dave Cosgrove, Sharon Haun, Sharmon Richardson, Rita Noll, Colleen Battle and Patch MacIntyre with the Morris County Historical Society, gave a report to the commissioners. An appropriation request was made for the 2027 budget year in the amount of $15,000.00; this is $5,000.00 more than the 2026 appropriation. The request will be considered during the county’s budgeting process.
Ty Wheeler, Managing Attorney for Kansas Legal Services, gave a report to the commissioners. Kansas Legal Services provides legal representation for low-income Kansans. They focus on special needs individuals, victims of domestic violence, the homeless, children in foster care, the elderly, farmers and those with disabilities. Kansas Legal Services represented 59 Morris County cases in calendar year 2025. An appropriation request was made for the 2027 budget year, in the amount of $9,000.00; this is $500.00 more than the 2026 appropriation. The request will be considered during the county’s budgeting process.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve the Audit Engagement Letter with Cindy Jensen, Certified Public Accountant, to conduct the financial audit for Morris County for the year ended December 31st, 2025, and to authorize Chairman Barber to sign the agreement. The fee for these services will be $16,000.00; this is $600.00 more than last year’s audit. Motion car- ried.
Chuck Scott, Greater Morris County Development Corporation Director, gave a quarterly report on GMDC projects. An appropriation request was made for the 2027 budget year in the amount of $30,000.00; this is the same amount as the 2026 appropriation. The request will be considered during the county’s budgeting process. Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Rebates for the 2025 Tax Year as presented, and to authorize Chairman Barber to sign the Order for Rebate. Motion carried.
Morris County’s General Public Transportation grant application was approved by the Kansas Department of Transportation for State Fiscal Year 2027 as follows:
• Capital Funding- None Awarded
• Federal Funding for Operating Expenses- $82,301.63
• Federal Funding for Administrative Expenses- $13,840.00
• State Funding for Operating Expenses- $32,920.65 The remaining local match estimated for the county for SFY 2027 is $52,840.98; this amount does not include revenue made from trip fares.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve the Public Transportation Grant Funding from KDOT for State Fiscal Year 2027 as presented. Motion carried.
Zoey Wadick, Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) & Communications Director, and Nick Jones, Council Grove City Administrator, gave a report to the commissioners. An appropriation request was made for the 2027 budget year, in the amount of $25,000.00; this is the same amount as the 2026 appropriation. The request will be considered during the county’s budgeting process.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve the accounts payable vouchers as presented; in the total amount of $128,814.45. Motion carried. The breakdown by fund is as follows: General: $ 27,939.05 Road & Bridge: $10,945.61 Reappraisal: $325.00 Noxious Weed: $3.12 Employee Benefits: $1,310.00 Morris County 911: $166.09 Capital Improvement: $85,457.97 Diversion: $1,132.99 DARE Program: $1,534.62 Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve payroll liabilities as presented; in the total amount of $43,296.22. Motion carried.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve minutes from the May 12th, 2026, Commission Meeting. Motion carried.
The commissioners reviewed the Spring 2026 Deficiency Report provided by Central Mechanical.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve repairing the 4 items listed as “critical”. Repairs to the Exhaust Fan #3 and Fan Coil Units #12 and #11, and replacement of both fan motors in the downstairs foyer are not to exceed $3,600.00. Motion carried.
Commissioner Kohler did not attend the afternoon session.
Brett Wright gave the following public works report for the week of May 11th- May 15th: Road & Bridge: Hamm Quarry road rock was hauled to 1100 Rd. from C-B Slough Creek Quarry road rock was hauled to 1100 Rd. from B-C, A Ave. from 1000-900, D Ave. from 1200-1300 and 1100 Rd. from D-C 133 loads of creek gravel was hauled to the shop stockpile from the County Farm and screened Routine sign work was done across the county Shelly and Brett Samuels attended an online meeting for the Unbound Gravel Race Trees were cut along the Lake Rd. from 975-Kelso Riprap was placed around wing walls at 1200 Rd. and K Ave.
Culvert ends were cleaned at several locations throughout the county Mowing started on the Council Grove, Delavan and White City routes Removed forms and backfilled around the wing walls at 800 Rd. between G-H Commissioner Fox discussed trimming trees in the area of the “hospital corner”. Maps were reviewed to determine the city boundaries vs the county boundaries.
Commissioner Barber discussed the area of 1800 Rd., going west towards B Ave.; there is a drainage issue that is similar to other areas in the county.
Commissioner Fox (Barber) moved to approve the letter of support for USD 481’s grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice School Violence Prevention Program. Motion carried.
Chad Sanford, Matt Palmquist, Logan Zimmerman and Mallory Lee, with the Morris County Conservation District, gave a report to the commissioners. An appropriation request was made for the 2027 budget year in the amount of $35,000.00; this is $3,000.00 more than the 2026 appropriation. The request will be considered during the county’s budgeting process. The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
--Meeting minutes will be published on the county website: www. morriscountyks.org.
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