Image courtesy Ryan Duey
The Clay County Commissioners held their regular meeting on February 2, 2026. Some topics discussed include budgets, health updates, county projects, and more.
Commissioners reviewed and approved payroll totaling $148,852.63. The board also reviewed and approved account payables, including $91,579.67 for 2025 and $382,374.70 for 2026.
Commissioner Thurlow, who serves on the Board of the North Central Regional Planning Commission, reminded Clay County residents that NCRPC can assist individuals and businesses with grant applications. While NCRPC charges a fee for this service, Clay County may help cover the application cost for certain grant programs.
The board reviewed and approved abatements 2025A45 through 2025A47, totaling $132.00.
Austin Gillard, CEO of Clay County Medical Center, met with the Board to provide the monthly update. He reported that the hospital delivered 73 babies in 2025 and expects around 80 deliveries in 2026. Gillard is also working on a Rural Health Care Grant through the State of Kansas to fund a full renovation of the former Advena Living, estimated at $8 to $10 million.
Highway Administrator Bobby Shomper gave the Board his weekly report. Last week, the Highway Department completed snow removal, treated roads with salt and sand, performed shop maintenance, cleaned the shop area, transported two lift groups to Foley’s in Concordia, and repaired six mailboxes damaged during snow removal. Shomper provided estimated costs for several road projects, noting they will need to be completed over multiple years due to budget limits.
RMA Construction has dissolved, and Iron Excavation and Utility Inc., now owned by Luke Hood, Garrett Hood, and Nate Ginest, will finish the box at Wakefield, requesting a few extra days next week. The original RMA contract remains valid, and the final bill will come from them.
Shomper presented bids for financing a new motor grader at $275,403.21 over three years. The Board approved the Union State Bank bid at 3.99%. He also proposed purchasing a 2026 Armor Lite Belly Dump Trailer for $40,385, which was approved, with the old trailer to be sold on Purplewave.
The Board discussed replacing the outdated 25-year-old hydraulic crimping machine. Shomper will provide final costs and options from Lawson, including buyback of existing parts, before a decision next week.
Clay Center Family Physicians will welcome Nurse Practitioner Yana Bowen at the end of February. The Medical Center’s Physical Therapy Department continues to grow and plans to add an Assistant Therapist soon. CCMC will also provide Leadership Training for employees over the next six months.
EMS Director Alec Trembath met with the Board to give the weekly report. The EMS Department has responded to 77 emergency runs so far in 2026. Last week, EMS students completed their hands-on certification test, and results from State EMS are still pending. This week, all department employees will take the Protocol test.
Trembath said Zoll is offering a special on AED units and noted that Opioid Settlement funds can be used to purchase them. He received an estimate of $1,495 each for four units, which could be placed at the Clay County Event Center, ESA Building, Medic 1, and Medic 2. The Board asked whether AEDs are available in all small communities, and Trembath said he would check and provide an update next week.
County Health Director Dana Rickley provided the weekly report to the Board, reviewing the 2025 overview. The Health Department documented 2,596 service encounters last year. Family Planning & Women’s Health served 27 individuals through 70 encounters, while immunization services included 2,836 encounters with education provided at each visit. The Maternal & Child Health Program recorded 394 encounters, offering health assessments, developmental screenings, counseling, education, and injury prevention.
In-Home Services completed 3,303 visits for elderly and disabled residents, helping them stay safely in their homes and supporting transitions to higher levels of care when needed; this program is partially funded by the Area Agency on Aging. The Board also approved an employee from the Health Department to attend training in Beloit, Kansas.
Sheriff Alan Benninga met with the Board to give the weekly report and discussed several planned budgeted projects. Repairs are needed for the plumbing in the Law Enforcement Center, and the kitchen, which is heavily used for prisoner meals, requires renovation. The Sheriff also plans to design a padded cell to safely hold certain individuals when necessary.
County Appraiser Danny Mesalles met with the Board to present the 2026 property values. Irrigated and non-irrigated land is projected to decrease by 5-10%, pasture values are expected to rise 3-5%, residential values have increased 8-12%, and commercial properties are up 3-6%. Mesalles also shared an agricultural graph showing yearly changes in values. The Board approved and signed an Event Approval for an Appraiser’s Office employee to attend training in Salina, Kansas.
Landfill Director Rhonda Carroll updated the Board on two violations at the Clay County Landfill related to groundwater sampling. She said the hired company, SCS Engineers, conducted the sampling but failed to report it. SCS Engineers will meet with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment onsite in February to perform confirmation sampling. The Board instructed Carroll to resolve the issue and attend the meeting.
The Board approved repairs to the radiator on the white Ford pickup and reviewed bids for 10 trailer tires. They chose Kansasland Tire and Service at $782.50 for the purchase. The Board also decided to sell the Yellow Recycling Box Truck on Purplewave.
County Treasurer Christine Swaim met with the Board to present bids for title work on 23 properties for the upcoming Delinquent Real Estate Tax Sale. The Board approved Republican Valley Title’s bid of $100 per property with a 60-day completion, totaling $2,300.
Swaim reported that the County earned $50,467.96 in interest during January from CD renewals. She also discussed proposed legislation that would allow vehicles to be registered just once instead of annually, noting that the County’s 2025 Motor Vehicle Distribution totaled $1,373,599, which could be lost if the bill passes.
The Board approved an Event Approval for a Treasurer’s Office employee to attend a meeting in Topeka, Kansas.
The Board adjourned at 1:05 p.m.
