Photo Courtesy of Ryan Duey
Topics discussed during the Clay County Commissioners’ weekly meeting on June 30th included: 2026 Budgets, parking lot work, radios, ESA location work, Community Garden, and more.
Randy Gassman, Pottberg, Gassman, & Hoffman, met with the Board to hold the first budget workshop to gather all of the information and to start the process of preparing the 2026 budgets for Clay County and the Rural Highway. Gassman will return next week with a budget draft for the Board to review and make changes that need to be made during the budget process. The Board signed the engagement letter not to exceed $5,900 for Gassman to provide the budget service for Clay County.
Kayla Wang, County Clerk, Susan Mall, Register of Deeds, Jeff Gaiser, Museum Curator, Danny Mesalles, County Appraiser, and Whitney Baer, Noxious Weed Director, all presented 2026 proposed budgets to the Board. All Budgets were left for the Commissioners to review.
Bobby Shomper, Highway Administrator, and Mike Argo, Fair Board President, met with the Board. Shomper presented three bids for the asphalting of a parking lot next to the Event Center at the Fair Grounds, street, and parking by the grandstands. After much discussion, a motion was made to share the cost of the total projects with the Fair Board, going with Schilling Construction, passing unanimously. The purchase of new radios and the different brands were also reviewed. Shomper stated that he would need to purchase 30 truck mount radios and 9 handheld radios with a couple of extras for backup. Alec Trembath, EMS Director, stated that EMS will need to purchase 9 radios, and Jim Bogart, Emergency Manager, will need 5 radios. The Board will need to talk to Sheriff Benninga about the number of radios that the Sheriff’s Department will need. The County would like to do one lease purchase agreement for the purchase of all radios.
Alec Trembath, EMS Director, reported the Department is currently on emergency run number 491 and continues to stay busy. The Department’s quarterly meeting was canceled last week but will be rescheduled soon. An informational meeting for the upcoming EMT Class will be held on July 10th at 6:00 p.m.
Jim Bogart, Emergency Manager, reported that the concrete part of the handicap ramp for ESA has been completed. The rail will be installed as soon as it is built. Bogart provided quotes on cutting 5 trees down in the yard behind the ESA location. This is just dropping the trees and piling them until the Highway Department can haul them away. A motion was made to accept the bid from B & B Tree Service, passing unanimously.
Dana Rickley, County Health Director, and Ryan West, County Maintenance, met with the Board. West asked the Board and Rickley about the cleanup of the Community Garden area. There are rocks scattered in the grass, and he is not able to mow or weed-eat. Rickley stated that the garden was all planted by volunteers, and she doesn’t know who would clean up the area. Rickley told the Board that if West kept track of his time, then Clay Counts could reimburse the County for his time in cleaning up the area of the Community Gardens.
Scott Leitzel, Brandon Lee, and Steve McMahan, Grow Clay County Board Members, met with the Board to discuss the contract between the County and Grow Clay County. Leitzel asked to go into Executive Session under the Confidential Data Exception. No action was taken after the Executive Session.
Alan Benninga, Sheriff, asked permission to sign a contract for new software for the Sheriff’s Office. They would like to change from Omnigo Software to Enterpol Software. Enterpol works better in Kansas and will share information between entities. Clay Center Police Department would like to change along with the Sheriff’s Department. The cost for both departments would be considerably less for each annual renewal. A motion was made to allow Sheriff Benninga to sign the contract for the change in software if the Clay Center Police join in on the payment of the annual renewal, passing unanimously. Whitney Baer, Noxious Weed Director, presented the annual Commercial Haulers Permit for the City of Clay Center, City of Morganville, and C & M Refuse for renewal. The Board signed and approved the Commercial Haulers Permits
