[0:00] All right, we are back. Most of you didn't know we were here

[0:04] yesterday. We are back. Um, and I'm going to call

[0:09] to order Ford County Commission meeting for September 8th, 2026. This is meeting

[0:13] number 2026-33.

[0:16] Uh, as usual, we will begin with a prayer and a pledge of allegiance.

[0:20] Today, we are led by Pastor Margarite Frell.

[0:28] Lord Jesus, Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to be here. Lord, we thank

[0:31] you for each one here today, Lord. Lord, we stand in the need. Lord, bless this

[0:34] meeting to be what you have it to be, Lord. In the name of Jesus, Lord, in

[0:38] Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen.

[0:43] To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it

[0:48] stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[0:53] for all. Thank you very much.

[0:56] » Yes.

[1:02] » Okay. We will move to our consent agenda. We have meeting minutes for

[1:08] meeting 2026-30 and meeting 2026-31.

[1:15] Uh we also have our credit card statements.

[1:22] And I make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

[1:26] » I'll second that. >> We have a motion and a second. Any

[1:30] further discussion?

[1:34] » All those in favor? >> I.

[1:39] » Okay. We have approval for claims for payment uh totaling 2,531,1958.

[1:50] » Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'd make a motion to approve the claims as presented.

[1:55] » Second. >> With a motion and a second. Any further

[1:59] discussion? >> All those in favor?

[2:03] » I >> I

[2:07] » Okay, we are to open public comment. Uh there will be a limit to five minutes

[2:11] per individual and 15 minutes per topic. Final action may be deferred until the

[2:16] next county commission meeting unless an emergency situation does exist.

[2:22] The microphone is open. Feel free to come forward.

[2:35] » Afternoon. >> Afternoon.

[2:40] » My name Larry Howard. I moved to Fort County in 1975 with United Park Service

[2:49] as a delivery driver who I stayed with for 37 years until I

[2:55] retired. I have

[3:00] never attended a commission. I really had no idea what you did except

[3:08] for road development, you know, and bridge development, things

[3:14] like that. And that's about as far as it went with me. I knew you were involved

[3:18] in EMS shop, sheriff's office,

[3:24] the expo, but I just never took you seriously ever

[3:32] until, you know, the situation has come up with the death and

[3:38] all this. And then I became aware that you involved a lot more than I ever

[3:43] anticipated. And

[3:48] My immediate area of concern is the transparency

[3:55] of Ford County Commission to his constituents

[3:59] by having meetings on a weekday, middle of the afternoon

[4:05] where the general public generally excluded

[4:09] their work. Whereas city commission is extremely

[4:14] transparent and encourages public participation. It

[4:19] seems that you all just by

[4:25] the time setting up your meetings discourage public

[4:31] being involved with what you're doing and it just raised questions in my mind

[4:39] as to why it's set that way. I have asked several

[4:44] people and they said, "Oh, it's been that way as long as I can remember."

[4:47] Well, still it seems like you're excluding the

[4:53] public from your activities and you don't advertise. you know,

[5:00] state your positions to general public as far as the data

[5:06] centers, the battery storage and all that

[5:12] until the last few weeks when all this came up

[5:17] and people started speaking out. 95% of the entire county had no idea

[5:25] that data centers were even an issue in Ford County until we found out. I guess

[5:32] there's already one in North Ford and there's one already being developed

[5:38] around Spearville and apparently there's another one being

[5:43] considered for county and I just wondered why.

[5:51] Nobody seems to know. It just seems like

[5:58] you're not being transparent with us. And I think we

[6:03] deserve that.

[6:10] And that's basically what I came to say. I would like to see become more involved

[6:17] with the citizens of For County. and inform them more what you're up to

[6:27] instead of finding out through little blocks in the public notices in the

[6:32] paper. And since we don't have reporters at the Globe to cover

[6:38] or television station to cover like we used to.

[6:44] Seems like you guys are sort of working in secrecy

[6:48] and that concerns me. That's all I have to say. Okay. Can I

[6:57] can I retort before you walk away?

[7:06] » What's that? >> I just wanted to address a couple of

[7:07] your things. >> Yes.

[7:09] » Yeah, absolutely.

[7:13] We we have been advertising. >> Yeah.

[7:16] » Absolutely. As much as we possibly can on social

[7:20] media. Uh we've had multiple open forums with attendance of 3 to 500 people. Um

[7:30] beyond that I I don't know what what more you want us to do.

[7:33] » Okay. Well, like I say, I've been very ignorant of everything and I only know

[7:42] what I have seen and suspected. >> So, that's why I bring it up.

[7:49] » I was going to I was going to address your comment about the day like the

[7:53] timing of our meetings. Yesterday, we had a meeting and it's it's a day nobody

[7:58] works, right? But we worked, right? because it's a it's a disclosed meeting

[8:01] that was long time ago in in the works. We didn't realize it was going to fall

[8:05] into a holiday, but we worked we had one person show up to our meeting. So,

[8:09] there's not people that are coming in masses to attend these. Even the city

[8:13] meeting that's at night only had like three people there in the audience. But

[8:18] what I can tell you is when I first got on the commission, we met at 8:30 in the

[8:21] morning. and we would meet to do business during the working business day

[8:26] because the people that are in this room next to you are people that are actually

[8:29] physically working on the clock. So, we tried getting the business done and

[8:33] addressed by the 5:00 time frame. We moved it to the 3:30 in the afternoon,

[8:37] 3:00 if there's a work session, maybe 2:00 2:30

[8:41] so that people that actually work within the county can still handle that work.

[8:45] So, it's it's a workload thing. This is more of a active community county

[8:51] facility if that makes sense. >> We go first. A lot of times the city's

[8:55] in our meeting. A lot of times they come and they address us from various forms

[8:59] of their departments. Whether it's the museum, whether it's why not dodge,

[9:02] whether it's the city administrator, they'll actually be in the attendance

[9:06] with us. So they'll ask us to go first. Then we actually make our motions. They

[9:10] go second. So that's why theirs is later at night. Just like the community

[9:14] college will come to our meetings. they'll we'll go first, they'll then go

[9:17] after us. The school district does the exact same thing. So, it's kind of like

[9:21] an honor system, if that makes sense. That's kind of how the the community

[9:25] works together because if we all win at the exact same time, if you wanted to

[9:28] address us and you want to address the city, it just it's too much. So, that's

[9:32] that's where the timing kind of moved. >> Okay. Have you ever considered evening

[9:38] meetings? >> We've had evening meetings. We we've

[9:41] there are certain times of the year where we do different meetings, but we

[9:44] have had evening meetings. >> Okay.

[9:46] » Zoning board. We we have several groups that are in front of us too that give us

[9:51] advice, give us um >> advisory boards.

[9:55] » Advisory boards and and those meetings are at different times. So, we have to

[10:00] we have to like jock. Ours is kind of the one that sets the tone of the rest

[10:03] if that makes sense. >> Okay. I'll carry you forward.

[10:08] » Yeah. I I think the public is misunderstanding that, but I also think

[10:11] there's always been a big push for that. Um, and even when we've had meetings at

[10:15] night or even yesterday when there is nobody working, we're still have having

[10:20] a meeting. We have one person in attendance.

[10:22] » So when you talk about social media, are you talking about Facebook or

[10:29] what? Because I don't ever see anything.

[10:35] » Okay. Yeah. So, you probably have to follow the Ford County

[10:39] » Ford County >> Facebook page.

[10:41] » Okay. >> Yeah, we Yeah, do that because we we all

[10:46] meetings on there. Everything gets advertised on there. There's weather

[10:49] alerts. There's >> everything.

[10:51] » Um >> uh and if you'd ever like to come meet

[10:54] in one-on-one, we we do that as well. Lots of times. We meet with public

[10:59] groups. I met with a group of 15 people a couple weeks ago. I met with a group

[11:04] of two people the other day. I've met one-on-one with a few along with our

[11:08] county administrators. Um, again, we we try to be the accusation of lacking

[11:13] transparency, I think, missed a little bit with this group, but we we try to do

[11:17] the best that we can and >> but I don't mean to be throwing

[11:22] accusations or anything. Like I said, I've just been an ignorant for county

[11:28] resident 51 years. >> It's okay.

[11:31] » Well, and Mr. Howard, if I could if I could ask a question and I ask it in um

[11:40] in the spirit that I'd just like you to consider it. I don't need an answer to

[11:43] it or anything like that, but um but we've we've sat on this side and

[11:50] particularly now with with the data center issue that has really been

[11:55] forefront. We've had a lot of a lot of very similar

[12:00] accusations about you're not being transparent, you're not you're not

[12:04] informing the public, you're not uh you're not doing everything that needs

[12:09] to be done so that all of us are are informed and

[12:14] and to your point where you said, you know, you've really not been very

[12:18] involved for 51 years that you've been here.

[12:22] At what point is it that the public is responsible to

[12:28] find the information they want? Okay. And that's that's something that I've

[12:34] tried to tried to address during this too is it's we as a commission or we as

[12:42] individual commissioners cannot come and feed the public with a

[12:46] fire hose about all the information that we have in order to make sure that

[12:50] everybody's informed. It's there there is a certain responsibility of the

[12:55] public to come and seek the information that they want. So that there's there's

[13:01] a point where we need to be able to get together and and that transfer of ideas

[13:06] and that transfer of information happens and there's responsibilities on both

[13:10] sides of that equation. So >> Oh, one other thing I've heard about

[13:16] these data centers is that there's a nondisclosure

[13:20] agreement you and the developer is that something

[13:25] » that's inaccurate. I have not signed any non-disclosure agreements. Okay, all my

[13:30] questions are answered. >> Thank you.

[13:34] » If you if you do want more information, feel free to email and and we can set up

[13:39] any appointment here. You can come in the offices and and we can sit down and

[13:42] talk. >> I've got a list of all your emails now

[13:45] on my phone. So, >> well, I would even encourage going on

[13:48] the for county website. You can get signed up to where you'll get all of our

[13:52] information of every agenda coming to you. So you can see if there's something

[13:55] on there that you would like to participate in and maybe come listen. I

[13:59] mean that's that's blasted out to I don't know how many people you send that

[14:02] to a week. >> Yeah. 200 something.

[14:05] » Yeah. So I mean that's just something the clerk sends out. Yeah. I mean that's

[14:09] a lot of the reoccurring people throughout the year that we see.

[14:12] » How do I do that? >> Just send me something in writing. You

[14:15] can email me. Say you would like to receive the agendas.

[14:18] » Yeah. >> Okay. You have the clerk's here to help.

[14:21] I know our administration team, Ben's right behind you, getting ready to write

[14:24] something down. Tanda will definitely help you out as well. I mean, we we

[14:29] don't want to exclude anybody in the public that wants to know.

[14:32] » We want you to know. >> Truly appreciate.

[14:35] » Yeah. >> Thank you. Appreciate it.

[14:39] » Thank you, sir.

[14:43] Boy, that was tough.

[14:50] » Okay. Anybody else? >> Okay. Thank you.

[14:59] » All right. We will move on to legal counsel.

[15:10] » Good afternoon. >> Welcome.

[15:14] Okay, we have we have a quick view. Uh, a couple of

[15:20] things. Um, Angela is the Port County Health

[15:25] Officer. She appointed by the commissioner to be the Port County

[15:31] Health Officer. And

[15:35] to do that, she must have a medical doctor or dentist who is supporting her

[15:41] and consult with her and you can list all the different things

[15:47] they do.

[15:53] » Basically, it's pretty much the foundation of all of our operations from

[15:58] client services, hands on to billing for services.

[16:03] Just as a nutshell, >> so we learned over the weekend that we

[16:08] or late last week that we have an opening as far as the consult

[16:13] for county health officer. So here today to propose

[16:18] uh entering into an agreement with Dr. Cody

[16:22] to serve as consultant to the county health officer. So you have

[16:28] before you a consulting agreement with Dr.

[16:32] and also a resolution which is 2026 27.

[16:52] We apologize for adding so late in the game, but we learned this weekend

[17:00] function. We really need to have a consulting person.

[17:09] » Who was our previous consultant manager? >> That's what I was thinking. So, okay.

[17:17] » Do you have any questions? >> Have you had a dentist before? I have

[17:22] not >> I just really learned about that. I

[17:26] didn't even realize that it's an option. >> Yeah.

[17:32] » 100,000 doctor

[17:40] » that I'm aware of. >> Yeah.

[17:44] » Dr. Early is >> she's an MD with family practice.

[17:51] Okay. Not a dentist. >> Okay.

[17:58] And

[18:02] » Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry. I will let you say what you say.

[18:07] » Mr. Chairman, I would make a motion to approve the agreement

[18:12] and adopt resolution 2026 27 as presented.

[18:17] » I will second that. And with the motion a second. Any further discussion?

[18:23] All those in favor? I >> I

[18:27] with regard to consulting agreement. We need to have consulting agreement.

[18:33] You'll see in there

[18:37] going to be paid Dr. That's a that's a math that's been there for a long time

[18:41] and probably something that we're going to need to revisit with her

[18:46] in the near future to make it more. >> Yeah.

[18:54] » Is this uh something that renews annually or

[18:59] » it it stays in place but either party can terminate for 30 days.

[19:04] » Okay. I didn't know if there was a a regular term that that we would be

[19:10] coming to the end of where we can readress that.

[19:13] » Not with this. >> Okay. Is this something we do at budget

[19:16] time or is this just something that does this come out of your budget? I assume.

[19:20] Yeah. >> And I I do work with it at budget time,

[19:23] but I don't know that I'm going to have that luxury with the circumstance. Okay.

[19:28] To wait until that.

[19:32] » Have you been using her to date? like if you leaned on her.

[19:35] » Yeah. >> Um this just today.

[19:37] » Okay. >> Just started.

[19:46] » Everything just kind of transpired Friday afternoon. Okay. Right now. So,

[19:50] » okay.

[19:54] » Is is this something you'll bring back to us for a budget item? Is that

[19:59] » Yes. >> Or is it just change?

[20:00] » We just haven't had an opportunity to really visit

[20:04] expressed. >> This was emergency. Get somebody in

[20:07] place so we can operate.

[20:16] » Okay. >> And and all the duties and I I'll go

[20:19] through everything. We just have not had the time to sit down and do that yet,

[20:24] but we will. >> Okay.

[20:32] » Appreciate it. Thank you.

[20:40] » You're up next. >> Yeah.

[20:43] » We will take it to our county administrator's report.

[20:45] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Good afternoon.

[20:49] » Welcome. >> Thank you. Um I come before you um right

[20:53] now to see to seek approval to purchase flu vaccine

[21:00] for this upcoming year. Not to exceed $40,000 in total. There will be

[21:06] different manufacturers that we were purchased from, but the the whole to

[21:13] all of it will not exceed 30,000. >> Angela,

[21:16] » yep. >> Would you tap that um

[21:20] button on the other side? >> Yeah. I didn't I see people out here

[21:24] straining to hear what you're saying and I'm don't think we're on. I think so.

[21:33] Is that better? >> I don't think the light is on.

[21:38] » Oh, the light's green. >> The light.

[21:39] » Oh, there it is. Okay. >> Thank you. Sorry about that.

[21:43] » Sorry. >> Oh, yeah. I can hear you.

[21:46] » I think Are we okay? >> All right. First.

[21:49] » Okay. Yes. Second. I'm out here. I would like permission to purchase flu vaccine

[21:55] for this coming flu season not to exceed $40,000

[22:01] and we will be purchasing from various manufacturers a few of them but the

[22:06] total and all the purchases will not exceed the $40,000

[22:16] and that would include all of our highdose flu vaccine for 65 five and

[22:22] older flu mist for the ones who don't tolerate the injection and you know the

[22:27] injection. So,

[22:30] Mr. Chairman, I'd make a motion to approve the purchase of the flu vaccine

[22:34] for the 2026 season.

[22:42] I'll second with a motion and a second. Any further

[22:46] discussion?

[22:50] All those in favor? >> I.

[22:53] » Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you, Andrew.

[22:56] » Next up, we have IT Director Matthew.

[23:05] » Hey, gentlemen. Uh we are at the uh at the time frame to

[23:11] do another network replacement. Um right now the uh item before you guys is going

[23:18] to be a refreshing of our existing firewalls that we have in place. Um this

[23:23] is a item that is uh it's covered under the NASPO contract with

[23:29] Cisco in the state of Kansas. Um and with HPS being our primary provider for

[23:36] all of our networking equipment. Um this will replace the u the items the the

[23:40] primary firewalls and our secondary firewalls for our KDI connections. Um

[23:47] the total amount with the service fees and for the project setup is going to be

[23:52] $32,719.81.

[23:56] Um this is under my capital improvement budgeting right now.

[24:13] Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the upgrade in invoices presented.

[24:18] I'll second that

[24:22] with a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

[24:29] » All those in favor? I >> Thank you, gentlemen.

[24:32] » Thank you.

[24:35] Next two items will be for county clerk Debbie Cox. First topic will be uh

[24:39] outdated ballot disposal. Second one in regards to camp.

[24:44] » Gentlemen, I am requesting that you approve us to destroy the ballots for

[24:49] the November 24 election and the November 25 election. By statute, we

[24:54] keep the evenar balance, which is the 24 ballots for 22 months, the odd year,

[25:00] which is a city and county or local city elections for 6 months. So, it is time

[25:05] to distort both of those. Um, and I request that you appoint Nicole Nagel,

[25:11] Republican, and Wayen Falls, Democrat, to witness the procedure.

[25:22] » Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'd make a motion to approve the request for the outdated

[25:26] ballot disposal of years 2024 and 2025 general election ballots and the

[25:31] appointment of Nicole Nagel and Wayen Boltz as witnesses to the process.

[25:43] I will second with a motion and a second. Any further

[25:47] discussion? All those in favor? I

[25:54] » the second one is setting the date for the canvas of the November election. Um

[25:59] I am asking either um Tuesday, November 10th or Thursday, November 12th. We are

[26:05] closed on November 11th for Veterans Day. Um and it will have to be in the

[26:11] morning. The hours are stated in in the statute.

[26:18] » You said 12th or 13th. um the 10th or the 12th.

[26:23] » I'm sorry. >> Tuesday the 10th or Thursday the 12th.

[26:26] We do have to audit before and that has to be once we audit the state has to

[26:30] approve our audit before we can have a campus and we'll be auditing that

[26:34] Thursday before the state time. I think I can make you hear those word.

[26:39] » Sam,

[26:44] you got any credits? Tuition >> Tuesday or Wednesday?

[26:50] » Tuesday or Thursday? >> Tuesday or Thursday? I'm sorry.

[26:52] » No, Wednesday. We're closed.

[26:58] » I think Thursday.

[27:04] And is there a time you said you need to make?

[27:06] » It has to be before I believe 10:30 in the morning. So 9:00. Does that work for

[27:12] you? >> Yeah.

[27:17] » What was the time? I'm sorry. >> 9:00.

[27:22] » So, Mr. Chairman, I'd make a motion to set the date for the canvas the votes of

[27:27] the November 3rd election as Thursday, November 12th at 9:00 a.m.

[27:35] Second with motion and second. Any further

[27:38] discussion?

[27:41] » All those in favor? I >> thank you.

[27:48] » Okay, next up we have HR director Vanessa.

[27:58] Good afternoon.

[28:01] » Um, so in 2023, Ford County invested approximately 45,000 to participate in

[28:08] the legend paro captive stock loss program formally administered through.

[28:15] Uh, now that the county has exited the program, it's eligible to receive the

[28:19] return of its investment. So the agreement uh that you have before you

[28:24] authorizes us to receive those funds and the agreement has been reviewed and

[28:30] approved by legal counsel.

[28:44] » Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the agreement and refund as

[28:48] presented. I'll second that

[28:56] » with a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

[29:01] » All those in favor? >> I I

[29:05] » Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.

[29:09] » Next two items will be for Santa Fe Trail Director.

[29:15] » Welcome. So, um, as you're aware, we are fully

[29:20] funded with grants through the Department of Corrections. Um, so we

[29:24] work on a fiscal year instead of a calendar year. So, because our budgets

[29:28] already been submitted for FY27 due to the pay adjustments with the

[29:36] pay plan, um, we needed to do an overall budget revision for both our adult

[29:41] services and our juvenile services. So I sent those to you as well along

[29:49] with a summary on the changes by our advisor.

[29:56] So we come before five counties in our district that

[30:12] they probably wouldn't take it too well table.

[30:19] I'm just trying to see the font. >> I know. I'm sorry.

[30:24] » Without embarrassing myself. >> You want blue better?

[30:28] » No. Size. >> Yeah. I'm not going to bring out my

[30:33] phone and zoom in in front of all you people.

[30:38] » This ruler got a magnifying glass on it.

[30:47] Yeah.

[31:04] » Can you give us the highlight of what the difference was? So just because of

[31:09] the increase in wages for staff um it resulted in approximately 21,000

[31:19] of an increase on the juvenile side and about 20,000 on the adult side. So, we

[31:25] just had to make some adjustments and some other line items in our budget to

[31:32] accommodate the increase in our salaries and benefits line item.

[31:46] » Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the revised budget as presented.

[31:54] I'll second that.

[31:57] » Both or just adult? >> It's just a

[32:02] » Yeah. Oh, yeah. I just >> two separate

[32:07] » with a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

[32:12] When you when you readjust it, are you taking a hit anywhere important? Super

[32:18] important. >> Nothing that we can't manage.

[32:24] All right, we'll take it to vote. All those in favor? I

[32:30] » Mr. Chairman, I'd make a motion to approve the revised budget for the

[32:33] juvenile services as presented. >> I'll second that one, too.

[32:40] » With a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

[32:44] All those in favor? I >> Thank you. Thank you, Sha.

[32:54] Next up we have John Hobby.

[33:06] » I'm sorry you lurking back there. >> Yeah, hide in the back.

[33:09] » You brought people with you. >> I did.

[33:11] » You're not bringing them up.

[33:19] » Look at this. Look at this.

[33:22] » She's being confident.

[33:28] » Love it. >> On we grow.

[33:32] » This is Maline. She's in our office. >> She's been working on designing the 113

[33:38] road foundation project going north of Highway 50, which is talking about this

[33:43] before. Uh we did a field chair review of the preliminary plans today. question

[33:47] came up see the road in person and build the plans with rope bridge and myself

[33:53] look at some of the details of the project and talk about

[33:57] those details the budget based on current construction dollars our

[34:01] budget's looking good we're still going to be depending on bid looking within

[34:05] that $3 million range that we talked about for cost um so we'll look finalize

[34:11] those plans here in the next two to three months and put out the bids this

[34:14] winter for construction in 2027. Go ahead with that project.

[34:21] Uh we are intending to like I did on Juul Road close the road during this

[34:26] process. We're going to rip up the entire road. Uh I thought it would work

[34:29] pretty well um on Juul Road. Somebody else remember differently to close one

[34:34] mile at a time and just kind of advance it the enclosure. Uh it's been three

[34:38] miles in this case uh from Highway 50 to Garnett Road. So, we'll start at Highway

[34:44] 50 and close off that first mile. Tell the contractor they still have to allow

[34:49] access. We know there is a business right there on Highway 50 and there are

[34:52] a couple homes going north. >> Yeah.

[34:54] » So, they'll have to provide access. >> And is that business expanding?

[34:58] » I'm not sure about it, but it looks like they're working on

[35:02] » Last thing we heard was they're adding on to the parking lot in the back to add

[35:05] more trucks. >> So, that might be something to think

[35:08] about as you bring that access forward. >> Yeah, for me. Uh so one thing we talked

[35:12] about is uh the road is in pretty poor condition right up the edge of highway.

[35:18] Uh and with the reclaiming it that process is kind of a train of equipment

[35:24] which is not going to be real great to be one on the highway. So we actually

[35:26] talk about reconstructing say like the first 250 ft

[35:31] » from the highway north. So we don't have all that reclaiming equipment on the

[35:35] highway itself. So we would tear everything down and build more

[35:39] traditionally just the first 250 or so feet and then reclaim from there on just

[35:45] that way next time we have to have equipment out on the highway reclaim

[35:48] your machine and your packing equipment that kind of stuff

[35:54] reclaimed rehab reclaim where you have your your cement you have the water

[35:57] truck and it's it's kind of long train of equipment right there and they

[36:01] usually want to start and go north from from the beginning.

[36:05] So that be a little bit of a reition to the plans they have now. Shouldn't

[36:10] really change the cost, but it'll just be

[36:12] » staging. >> More like staging.

[36:15] » Yeah. It's kind of a phase one, phase two, but I think it be safer to not have

[36:20] much power on the highway. >> Yeah.

[36:22] » Super busy high back.

[36:26] » Is that Is that Would you normally start on the north and work your way south?

[36:30] » Well, you could do it either way. Um, I think in this case we set the project up

[36:35] to go south to north up to the garnet road.

[36:38] » Okay, >> but if you come the other way around

[36:40] either way, you're going to have to bring that equipment across the highway

[36:43] one way or the other starting there or finishing anyway.

[36:46] » Okay, >> it's pretty slow moving stuff.

[36:52] So, we will look to bid that project like I said this winter around November,

[36:56] December and start construction in the summer of 2027.

[37:02] Um, next month I've been planning to bring an engineering design agreement on

[37:07] the the first two segments of the cap improvement list that we developed over

[37:12] the last couple of months. I have listed there. There's two segments. There's

[37:16] actually two groups I should say of segments. Five different segments all

[37:20] together. The first group was 132 road from Garnet to Juel and then 132 road

[37:27] from Red to Primrose. to reclaim existing asphalt roads on

[37:32] both those and put them back to asphalt again. And then the second group which

[37:37] we may end up wanting to split into two different groups itself just because of

[37:41] cost would be 110 road from Garnett to Denim and then 126 road from Garnett up

[37:49] to the town of Spearville and 126 road down Highway 400.

[37:56] go down by the feed lot makes it west.

[38:03] So the five segments combined are pretty sizable cost

[38:09] budget year wise if you do do it with two groups we made that second group.

[38:17] So they're looking at 2028, 2029, possibly 2030,

[38:22] three years, three, four years out.

[38:28] Couple updates on active projects. Pioneer Creek wind. The only update is

[38:33] things are sort of just going like gate busters out there building turppins. The

[38:38] contractors are working on the electrical substation and the electrical

[38:42] switch yard. Pretty much all passes of the tower. Construction is still

[38:46] underway. They're still actively working on the

[38:50] operation maintenance facility

[38:54] on Marshall Road. It's still projecting construction to be complet by the first

[38:59] of the year. Way I understand foundations. Their goal

[39:03] was to have the concrete foundations done like in October. So that concluded

[39:09] a lot of the dirt work for building street roads to those turbines as well

[39:13] as the concrete trucks running down the roads to

[39:17] concrete foundations. That would eliminate quite a lot of traffic.

[39:27] Um active projects going down the bottom on the first page of my list. bridge off

[39:32] system 101 which was the three span concrete bridge

[39:36] that we're replacing with a single span steel beam construction of the bridge

[39:40] the new bridge itself is complete. Uh the surveyors were out there staking

[39:46] the road alignment today and our contractor supposed to be moving in

[39:50] within the next day or two to start doing the final dirt grading building up

[39:54] the road bed and grading the ditches. Installation of the guardrail on the

[40:00] bridge will be completed right after that and then finally seating grass

[40:05] seating and control its right after that. So the project contractor right

[40:09] now is anticipating be 100% done by the end of next week.

[40:14] things moving along there

[40:21] off to bridge 31 which is the bridge of Duck Creek on low 14 road northeast of D

[40:27] City. We are planning to put in a cost share application to KOT and those

[40:33] applications are due in about two weeks. is working on getting that application

[40:37] put together and get turned in. See if we can get some additional funding from

[40:40] outside the county to help with that project.

[40:45] Depending on the outcome of that, the county can choose to go ahead if if they

[40:50] do get the cost share with the cost share or choose to hold off and try to

[40:55] get cost share money in the future. Um FAS bridge 220. This is the deck

[41:02] repair on the Coronado Bridge. Uh they're on 117 road south of 400. So the

[41:08] contractor has finished patching the west half of the bridge or they will

[41:13] finish this week and then we intend to switch traffic so they can start on the

[41:18] east side of the bridge right after that presumably next week. Once they finish

[41:23] passing both sides they intend to apply the sealant. So we're looking at

[41:27] probably early November or something like that for application of the

[41:32] sealant. Uh so the commissioners do know that once we talked about this before we

[41:37] start tap hammering on bridge that's got deteriorated concrete that vibration can

[41:42] loosen up things that we thought were solid and that seemed to be the case

[41:45] that we ended up having to do more patching on that first side than

[41:49] anticipated. If the second aside turns out the same

[41:54] way that potentially about an $80,000 overrun for the project

[42:00] says that the funding is can handle that overrun if that's the

[42:04] way it goes. We're optimistic that the east side does not look to be as detered

[42:09] as bad. So the overrun percentage wise hope would be less on the east side than

[42:14] the first half. We'll just have to see out there. This bridge hasn't been

[42:19] rehabed since its original construction. So, I said once they started jackhammer,

[42:25] we have been loosening things up for summer.

[42:29] Things are tracking along. So, project completion should be around

[42:33] Thanksgiving. So, that time frame.

[42:41] Next thing I had on my list down here towards the bottom of this solar forge

[42:47] data center planning and zoning district noting that had authorized construction

[42:53] of the data hole data that they that's the building from the data center

[42:58] itself. There's a second building that they're calling the administrator

[43:01] building plans for that is coming in the near

[43:06] future they tell us. We don't have a solid date of solid construction at this

[43:10] time of the project

[43:15] safe streets and roads for all project. The county all five of the counties I

[43:20] should say had involvement project hosting public meetings about a month

[43:25] ago. We also had a website set up so people

[43:29] could put in their uh comments through the website related on the road networks

[43:35] of the counties. I'm not sure if that website's still open or not. I mean,

[43:39] it's probably shut down by now. I do apologies.

[43:46] But the goal is then to have the final plan, safety action plan completed by

[43:50] the end of the year. And the goal of that is to identify areas of

[43:55] improvement. said when hopefully Congress enacts another highway

[44:01] transportation bill 20 billion 50th anniversary

[44:09] that include construction dollars for constructing those projects that

[44:14] typically take the plan and use that to apply for construction in the future.

[44:19] Congress passes that bill.

[44:24] Congress is saying that they do intend to pass a bill that will include safe

[44:27] streets for all some plan pass. >> Do you probably don't know this, but off

[44:34] the top of your head, do you know how many submissions that they got through

[44:36] that website total? >> I do not.

[44:39] » 500,000. >> I was

[44:44] perfect. >> No, that's a good question. I'll ask

[44:47] that question. Just curious what kind of traffic it

[44:53] generated with five counties involved.

[45:06] And I would anticipate that information to be in the report. So they ought to

[45:10] have that information.

[45:14] The railroad crossing across Gardet is another one that we actively pursuing

[45:20] that got anything back from Ka since middle of July. They said they were

[45:24] working with the railroad to get that project going again. They were checking

[45:29] with the railroad to see if they were going to do on-site meeting and I not

[45:33] heard anything back since that time. reaching out to them

[45:39] typically moves at a pretty slow pace after 60 days. Not too long yet

[45:47] to go 90 days without asking a police see where we're at.

[45:51] » Joan, you'll understand. I got four months left here. This

[45:57] project is important to me and

[46:02] time, I guess, is of the essence for me. So,

[46:04] » I understand completely. I will at least restart

[46:10] the next meeting. >> That crossing is west of Spiritville,

[46:13] not east.

[46:21] » I want to make sure we get this done on the right crossing.

[46:30] It's all on the map. We got the right

[46:35] Uh the last item I have is to that's a new business item. The county bridge

[46:40] inspections that are required by federal highway every two years will be due in

[46:45] February. Uh so again on the October 5th meeting of county management agreement

[46:50] to perform the bridge inspection as the past

[46:56] in the past we've included cities in the same agreement

[47:00] and then the city reimburses the county for the cost of getting the bridge

[47:03] inspections done just provides efficiency and helps keep the cost

[47:07] affordable for both sides to buy them together

[47:11] bridge they're okay with doing it that way I'll reach out to the city injury

[47:14] staff and they'll check with still on board with that

[47:19] case then I'll bring that agreement to October 15

[47:36] where you go to school now >> I graduated back

[47:41] » okay what made you pick Kirk and Michael all the way over to Ellsworth

[47:46] One of my goals when I graduate

[47:59] » team's been pretty welcoming. >> Yeah.

[48:08] » Nice. >> Did a great job.

[48:10] » Yeah. >> So, kind of in engineering is sort of

[48:12] like the medical field. Once you graduate, you're an intern, okay?

[48:15] » So to speak, until you're able to get licensed. So we have summer interns who

[48:20] are still at school and then we have engineering interns or at least in

[48:24] training. Now we call them engineering interns.

[48:28] Once she passes her professional exam and get at least four years of

[48:32] experience, she can become a licensed professional this year.

[48:36] » Okay. >> It's a minimum four year process.

[48:42] Nice neat she's been able to come out and join us the field review and the

[48:45] plans she's been working on. >> Yeah.

[48:48] » Thank you for coming out. >> Good to have you.

[48:50] » Stuck her head into see condition. >> Anything scary in there?

[48:56] » Nope. >> No snakes, no possum.

[48:59] » You didn't scream once. >> Scream. We saw birds. We saw cats. We

[49:03] saw bunnies. >> Nice.

[49:08] » Yep.

[49:13] It's great. >> Hey, thank you, gentlemen.

[49:15] » Yeah, appreciate it. Thank you. See you in October.

[49:17] » Looking forward to it. >> Bring cooler weather with you.

[49:24] » It's 107 out there.

[49:30] » All right. Upcoming meetings. Our next border county commission meeting will be

[49:33] on Monday, September 21st at 3:30. The KPG annual meeting will be September

[49:38] 17th and 18th at the casino here in Dodge. I know Chairman Thomas will be

[49:44] speaking on the 17th. I believe uh Commissioner Boy will be on the panel.

[49:50] Um Commissioner Tacid is on the board. So we will have

[49:54] have presence from all commissioners at that event. Uh KAC annual conference

[49:59] will be December 8th through the 10th in Witchah. And that concludes our report.

[50:04] » Thank you. Gentlemen, thank you for stepping up

[50:08] doing the welcome there on on Thursday, chairman and

[50:12] » and panel there. >> Y

[50:16] thank me out the county good. >> The county has been a member of that

[50:21] group since its inception. I think that's been over 30 years ago. So, um,

[50:27] as far as a as far as a lobbying group for the county in the state,

[50:35] I value that one probably more than any other that we've all

[50:40] » Thank you. >> Good to have something local.

[50:48] All right, with that, we've got a few executive sessions to step into

[50:54] here. So, we will kick off the first one here. Um,

[50:59] we are going to step into executive session with attorney client privilege

[51:02] exception of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Uh, I move the board recess into

[51:06] executive session to discuss a pending appeal before the board of tax appeals

[51:11] pursuant to the attorney client privilege exception of the Kansas Open

[51:14] Meetings Act, KSA 75-4319B2.

[51:20] The open meeting to resume at this location at

[51:26] » we will go 4:30 p.m.

[51:32] » I got 4:22. I've given people a minute to get out and then your seven minutes.

[51:37] Uh in addition to the commissioners, the interim county administrator, uh

[51:41] assistant county administrator, the county appraiser, county counselor,

[51:46] assistant county counselor, uh should be included in the executive session.

[51:50] » I have a second >> with a motion and a second. Any further

[51:52] discussion? All those in favor? I

[51:56] » I

[52:00] » Okay, we will commence the meeting. Um, I would like to make a motion to

[52:12] award >> hire

[52:15] » hire uh Keller Craig and Associates um to provide appraisal services on do we

[52:22] need specific property? >> Southerntherlands

[52:26] » on Southerntherlands at 1510 Soul Street. um not to exceed.

[52:34] » We prefer you not put that in there because it's a it's a sliding scale

[52:37] depending upon what we ask to do. >> Okay.

[52:44] » So, just prove this. We have an engagement agreement. Okay.

[52:57] » Okay. Make a motion to hire Keller Craig and

[53:00] Associates uh to provide appraisal services for Southerntherlands at 1510

[53:05] Soul Street, Dodge City, Kansas 67801.

[53:11] » Second with a motion and a second. Any further

[53:15] discussion?

[53:18] All those in favor? >> I I

[53:23] Okay, now we will step back into executive session. Uh, attorney client

[53:28] privilege exception to the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Uh, I move the board

[53:33] recess into executive session to discuss personnel and operational concerns

[53:37] within a Ford County Department pursuant to the attorney client privilege and the

[53:41] personnel matters of non-elected personnel exceptions to the Kansas Open

[53:44] Meetings Act KSA75-4319B1

[53:50] and two. the open meeting to resume at this location.

[53:59] » Okay, we will go for 4:46 p.m.

[54:07] In addition to the commissioners, the interim county administrator, assistant

[54:10] county administrator, human resources director, county counselor, and

[54:13] assistant county counselor should be included in the executive session.

[54:18] » Second with a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

[54:22] All those in favor? >> I I

[54:26] will see. >> Okay, we are uh back from executive

[54:31] session. No action will be taken uh from the last executive session, although we

[54:34] are going to step into a third and final executive session. Uh attorney client

[54:39] privilege exception to the Kansas Open Meetings Act. I move the board into

[54:42] recess into executive session to discuss zoning board processes and procedures

[54:46] pertu pursuant to the attorney client privilege exception to the Kansas open

[54:50] meetings act KSA75-4319B1

[54:55] and2 the open meeting to resume at this location at 501

[55:02] p.m. In addition to the commissioners, the interim county administrator, uh,

[55:06] assistant county administrator, the planning and zoning director, county

[55:09] counsel, and assistant county counselor should be included in the executive

[55:11] session. >> Second.

[55:13] » With a motion, a second. Any further discussion?

[55:17] All those in favor? >> I

[55:20] will not take any action coming out of uh our executive session and all that is

[55:26] left is adjournment. So, I will make a motion to adjurnn.

[55:31] Second >> with a motion and a second. Any further

[55:33] discussion? All those in favor?

Ford County Commission Meeting for September 8th, 2026

Transcript