The Morris County Commissioner meeting was called to order on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Jim Barber, David Fox and Wayne Kohler were present. Bill Kassebaum, County Counselor, and Chelsey Schmidt, County Clerk, were present.
Others present: Billy Kryger- Pastor Berean Baptist Church Pam Goss, Mayor of Dwight, visited with the commissioners regarding the city’s plans to chip and seal approximately 2 miles of road. The city has applied twice for KDOT’s Cost Share Grant Program and has not been selected for the project. They will be applying again to the Cost Share Program. The county will provide a letter of support for the project to be included in the grant application.
Brett Samuels, Emergency Manager, gave a report on Emergency Management. The courthouse downstairs meeting room is designated as a “cooling station” for anybody in need.
Kevin Leeper, Morris County Hospital CEO, gave a report on Morris County Hospital. Financial reports for June and July were presented and reviewed. The hospital has hired a new Chief Nursing Officer and a new Chief Financial Officer. Discussion was held regarding the Health Department roof. The county has an annual rooftop maintenance contract with Stanfield Roofing. The Health Department is a county owned building; the county will contact Stanfield Roofing to evaluate and perform a roof inspection. The item will be discussed further once the evaluation is done.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve minutes from the August 25th, 2026, Commission Meeting. Motion carried.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve the accounts payable vouchers as presented; in the total amount of $23,088.31. Motion carried. The breakdown by fund is as follows: General: $9,151.75 Road & Bridge: $12,615.57 Noxious Weed: $1,198.90 Ambulance: $49.09 Solid Waste: $73.00 Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve payroll as presented; in the total amount of $110,182.42. Motion carried.
The commissioners received a letter from the Kansas Department of Revenue, Property Valuation Division, reporting that the annual statistical and procedural compliance review for the 2026 appraisal year has been completed; the Morris County Appraiser’s office has been determined to be in substantial compliance.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to publish the Notice of Hearing to Amend the Morris County Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Morris County Commissioner’s Meeting Room. Motion carried.
The commissioners visited the Appraiser’s Office. Shelly Lautt and Brett Wright gave the following public works report for the week of August 17th -21st: Road & Bridge: Slough Creek Quarry road rock was hauled to 2600 Rd. from A-B, 2200 Rd. from B-D, B Ave. from 2200-2300, 1900 Rd. from B-C, C Ave. from 1800-1900, K Ave. from 900-1050, K Ave. from 1900-1950, 1850 Rd. from K-L and L Ave. from 1850-1950 Creek gravel was placed on 200 Rd. from R-T Ditch liner was placed along 300 Rd. from R-T Trees were cleared from the right of way on 1500 Rd. from U-V Brush was removed from the Low Water Crossing on AB Ave. from 400-Dunlap Rd.
Trees and debris were cleaned from the OS-34 Bridge (K Ave. from 2000-2100) and box culverts on M Ave. between 2000-2100 and A Ave. between 2200-2300 Ditch work was done on 1050 Rd. from J-K and 400 Rd. from Q-R Routine sign work was done across the county Mowing was done on the Burdick, Council Grove, Latimer, Wilsey and White City routes Brett Wright and Shelly attended the FEMA Recovery Scope Meeting for the April 2026 rains Hoidale installed the new Veeder Root Monitor for the underground fuel tank Noxious Weed Five letters were mailed to landowners last week for Sericea Lespedeza Discussion was held regarding the remaining Noxious Weed chemical budget for 2026. Information was presented about a new herbicide called HighNoon.
Commissioner Fox discussed the Lake Rd. and 1200 Rd. from T-U; both areas need mowed.
Commissioner Fox discussed a culvert, east of the Dwight County Shop location; there are erosion concerns that need addressed.
Commissioner Barber discussed reviewing the county’s minimum maintenance road policy; specifically, considering allowing private landowners to purchase rock from the county to be placed on minimum maintenance roads. No action was taken.
Andy Benning joined the meeting and visited with the commissioners regarding a work study session with Kaw Valley Engineering, Council Grove City Council and the Planning and Zoning Committee to review the proposed plat map of the Council Grove City Lake. A meeting will be scheduled with the commissioners to review the proposal.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to deem the property located at 1550 Dunlap Rd. as surplus county property and to approve publishing notice for the Sale of County Property by Sealed Bid, for the tract of property located at 1550 Dunlap Rd. in Council Grove. Sealed bids will be opened in the Morris County Commissioner’s Meeting Room on September 15th, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
--Meeting minutes will be published on the county website: www. morriscountyks.org.