Photo Courtesy of Ryan Duey
Topics discussed during the Clay County Commissioners’ weekly meeting on June 9th included: dust control, maintenance, PRN, Mitigation Plan, Health Assessment, Law Enforcement Coverage, and more.
Blake Stephens, owner of Blake’s Bar in Miltonvale, requested permission to provide a beer garden at the Fairgrounds during the Midget Races on the following dates: June 21, August 16, September 13, and September 27. The Board requested that the area be fenced in for the serving of the beer. A motion was made to allow Stephens to operate a beer garden during the races, passing unanimously.
Dale Bechard, Courthouse Custodian, and Ryan West, County Maintenance, met with the Board to discuss the mowing of Table Mound Cemetery. Bechard stated that if they park the pickup and trailer at the bottom of the steep hill, they are not able to drive the mower up the hill. After discussion, the Board called Randy Milligan, the owner of the property, to ask if it was ok to place some rock on the driveway. Milligan granted permission for the County to place the rock on the driveway.
Bobby Shomper, Highway Administrator, reported that he has been in contact with Austin Ward, Kansas Dirt Inc., about the renting of a reclaimer to use while they are applying the dust control on Meadowlark Rd. The Board instructed Shomper to get a quote from Kansas Dirt Inc. to do the labor and the rental of the equipment for this project. Shomper also stated that he has sent out the bid request for the asphalt parking lot at the Fairgrounds, and it will be opened on June 30th.
Alec Trembath, EMS Director, met with the Board to give the weekly report. Trembath reported that the Department is currently on run 440 compared to run 366 at this same time last year. The PRN Paramedic has completed the in-County training and has been released to work in Clay County. The Zoll monitors have been sent in for the updates that they needed and have been returned to the station for use. Trembath presented quotes on a storage container to be placed at the EMS location. After reviewing the quotes, a motion to accept the bid from USA Containers was made, passing unanimously. Trembath stated that EMS Week went very well last week. The highlights of the week were the Daycare tours and the Fishing with the EMS event. They had 80 individuals attend the fishing event.
Jim Bogart, Emergency Manager, stated that he will be reviewing the Clay County Hazardous Mitigation Plan this week and sending it to the State for approval.
Danny Mesalles, Appraiser, presented a Residential NRP application for 1351 16th Rd, for the building of a basement, an addition, and moving of the house. The Board reviewed and approved the project to be placed in the Clay County NRP Program.
Dana Rickley, County Health Director, reported that Nikki Burwell and Allie Martin attended a class with Can Be Healthy Certification. They have partnered with Little Learners and will be providing the Health Assessment for the children. Rickley reported that County Health has been approved by the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging to provide in-home services or respite care for dementia patients. Rickley also informed the Board that the Community Garden has been planted by volunteers. People who have been actively involved with the garden process are excited to see how it produces.
Alan Benninga, Sheriff, reported that the bathroom remodel materials have arrived, so they will be finishing this project soon. Two of the Corrections Officers have agreed to be the 4-H Shooting Instructors. Benninga also informed the Board that the City of Wakefield would like to enter into a month-by-month contract with the Sheriff’s Department for Law Enforcement coverage for the City. A contract is being drafted for both parties to review.
Jessica Boeckman, Conservation District Manager, met with the Board to present the proposed 2026 budget request. Bevin Law, Board Chairman, Dered James, Vice Chairman, Annelle Chestnut, Treasurer, Colby Lund, Member, Tom Meek, Member, and Carol Adams, Member, joined the meeting. Law talked about SB36 and the 2 to 1 match from the State. James reported that they are trying to bring awareness about the loss of the grassland. Chestnut reported on the 5% increase in the 2026 request and how they plan to use the carryover dollars from the years 2024 and 2025. Meek explained that Lowell Marsh was unable to attend the meeting, but that he was in charge of the new firefighting trailer that they have for farmers to use. This is a trailer with a 500-gallon tank and pump that farmers can use to make grassland management safer for burning. Boeckman made the request to the Board of Commissioners for an increase of 5% for the proposed 2026 budget. The Board stated that they will consider the increase when they are preparing the County’s 2026 budget.
Michael Rezkalla, President of Pawnee Mental Health, met with the Board to give the annual report and present the proposed 2026 budget. Marcy Schooley and Holly Chestnut, Pawnee Mental Health Board Members representing Clay County, joined the meeting. The Board thanked Schooley and Chestnut for serving on the Pawnee Mental Health Board and representing the citizens of Clay County. Rezkalla presented the Board with the Proposed 2026 Budget. Pawnee is a private, not-for-profit licensed community mental health center and substance use treatment facility serving ten counties in north central Kansas. Each County provides budgetary support for mental health resources in its own county. In fiscal year 2024, 71 Clay County residents were served by Crisis Services. Pawnee offered mental health and substance abuse treatment services to 430 duplicated Clay County residents across all agency programs. This number includes 211 unduplicated clients served and 43 clients engaged. Rezkalla stated that Pawnee is requesting that Clay County increase its appropriation for mental health by 5% for the 2026 budget year. The request was left with the Board to consider when preparing the County budget.
Mike Argo, Fair Board President, met with the Board to present the 2026 proposed budget. Income and expenses were also reviewed for the 2025 budget year. Argo stated that the burn pile at the Fairgrounds has not been burned for at least a couple of years and needs to be burned this year. The Board instructed Argo to contact the Fire Department to help with the burn pile and get it burned before the Fair, if possible.
Rhonda Carroll, Landfill Director, met with the Board to present tire bids. A motion was made to purchase two trailer tires from Five Creek Automotive, passing unanimously. Brenda Jordan, County Attorney, joined the meeting. The Board discussed the upcoming meeting with KDHE concerning the Landfill violations with Jordan. Carroll has provided Jordan with all of the documentation on the violations that have been corrected. Jordan will review the documents provided and report back to the Board.
