Tim Deines

The meeting agenda included the introduction of new and promoted employees, an update from High Plains Mental Health, discussion of Appraiser Deadlines including an approved extension request for mailing Certified Valuation Notices, a report on the Health Department closure for the Governor's Public Health Conference, discussion of the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program Agreement, and a resolution regarding Road Maintenance Agreement and Construction Standards. Other topics involved annual township reports, a Library Board appointment, a discussion on the Plat Approval Process, the County Administrator Report, County Commission Reports, and Executive Session(s).

The meeting addressed the reorganization of the 2026 Kansas Public Building Commission, which included the approval of new officers, specifically electing Neal Younger as President and Nathan Leiker as Vice-President. The Commission also confirmed Bobbi Dreiling as Secretary, Vern Ruder as Treasurer, and Darin Myers as Project Manager. Furthermore, the Hays Daily News was designated as the official newspaper, with the Ellis Review as an alternate, and all federally insured banks in Ellis County were approved as official depositories. The Project Manager provided an update and recommended dates for future PBC meetings.

This document provides a roadmap for implementing the Ellis County Comprehensive Plan, focusing on guiding future land use decisions and ensuring the plan's ongoing maintenance and evolution. Key areas of focus include land use regulation, with recommendations for reviewing and aligning zoning, and a comprehensive plan maintenance process involving annual evaluations and multi-year action and capital improvement programs. Development policies and actions are outlined across transportation, infrastructure, facilities, and land use, with recommendations categorized into ongoing, short-term (within 5 years), medium-term (5-10 years), and long-term (10-20 years) efforts.

The County Commission agenda for February 17, 2026, included several key items. The Consent Agenda covered approval of Refunding Warrants, Tax Roll Adjustments, Escape Tax Orders, Adds and Abates, Purchase Orders, Accounts Payable and Payroll, and County Licenses. Departmental reports were scheduled for review, along with a presentation from the Conservation District. Other significant discussion items involved the Recovery Court Grant Award, Opioid Settlement Fund Request, Health Department closure updates related to the Governors Public Health Conference, the 2026 Road Tour, and Property Protection Classification Changes. The commission also planned to finalize parameters for Community Improvement Districts (CID), specifically discussing landowner petition thresholds (considering an increase to two-thirds majority) and standards for road improvements within CIDs, including three options for road base stabilization and seal coating maintenance. Additionally, the parameters for the 2026 Ellis County Commissioner Scholarships were discussed, focusing on shifting the focus to offer $1000 scholarships exclusively to family members of Ellis County employees as a recruitment and retention tool, with $5000 budgeted for the year.

The meeting commenced with condolences for the Treasurer's father. Key discussions included the approval of the consent agenda items A through G and the monthly financial report. A significant portion of the meeting involved employee service awards recognizing staff milestones for five, ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, and forty years of service, as well as recognizing employees with eight, sixteen, twenty-four, thirty-two, and forty-four-year anniversaries through the Kansas Association of Counties. Additionally, the commission discussed and approved the 2026 services agreement with DSNWK (Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas). A detailed review and discussion occurred regarding the preliminary plat for Big Creek Estates third edition, including necessary adjustments and requested variances related to water well locations, lot sizes, road construction standards, lot line perpendicularity, double frontages, drainage, airport vicinity mapping, and centralized sewer/water provisions.