The Morris County Commissioner meeting was called to order on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Jim Barber, David Fox and Wayne Kohler were present. Chelsey Schmidt, County Clerk, and Bill Kassebaum, County Counselor, were present. Others present were Billy Kryger-Pastor Berean Baptist Church.
Brett Samuels, Emergency Manager, gave a report on Emergency Management. Discussion was held regarding 911 Funds. There have been several inquiries about using 911 Funds for tornado sirens. The 911 Coordinating Council has confirmed that expenditures related to tornado sirens are not an allowable use of the 911 Funds.
Commissioner Fox and Commissioner Kohler will be attending a conference put on by the Kansas Municipal Utilities regarding data centers. The conference is on July 15th and 16th in Topeka. Brett Samuels, Emergency Manager, will also be attending the presentations.
Kevin Leeper, Morris County Hospital CEO, gave a report on Morris County Hospital. Financial reports were presented and reviewed for the month of May 2026. The hospital is advertising for applicants for the Chief Financial Officer. The current CFO, Ron Christenson, will be retiring this September.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve minutes from the June 30th, 2026, Commission Meeting. Motion carried.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve payroll as presented; in the total amount of $108,442.30. Motion carried.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve the accounts payable vouchers as presented; in the total amount of $48,288.77. Motion carried. The breakdown by fund is as follows: General: $19,497.86 Road & Bridge: $25,690.31 Reappraisal: $236.28 Noxious Weed: $703.96 Ambulance: $741.38 Solid Waste: $1,372.90 Morris County 911: $46.08 The commissioners reviewed the Courthouse Roof Inspection Report provided by Stanfield Roofing.
Chelsey Schmidt, County Clerk, presented the following department’s 2027 budget requests: Clerk: 2026 Budget Salaries-$130,000.00 Commodities-$950.00 Contractual-$11,500.00 Capital Outlay-0.00 Total $142,000.00 Clerk: 2027 Budget Request Salaries-$134,000.00 Commodities-$900.00 Contractual-$11,000.00 Capital Outlay-$00.00 Total $145,900.00 Public Transportation: 2026 Budget Salaries-$154,000.00 Commodities-$25,000.00 Contractual-$30,000.00 Capital Outlay-$0.00 Total $209,000.00 Public Trans: 2027 Budget Request Salaries-$151,000.00 Commodities-$20,250.00 Contractual-$29,725.00 Capital Outlay-$00.00 Total $200,975.00 The requests will be considered during the county’s budgeting process.
Shelly Lautt and Brett Wright gave the following public works report for the week of June 29th- July 4th: Road & Bridge: Asphalt patching was done on Woodbine Rd., 4 Mile Rd., and Dunlap Rd.
Mid States Materials Quarry screenings were hauled to and leveled for the base floor of the new storage building Shoulder work and washout work was done on minimum maintenance road 3100 from G-H Road washout was repaired on 400 Rd. from R-T; a load of oversized creek gravel was used Road washouts were repaired on 575 Rd. from Q-Old 4 and Q Ave. from Old 4-575 Sign maintenance was done across the county Mowing was done on the Delavan Route, Woodbine Route, Skiddy Rd. and Parkerville Rd.
Flood signs were taken down along the Dunlap Rd. and other roads in the area; signs originally had to be posted after the heavy rains on July 4th that caused water to run over the roadways Received the creek gravel permit from the State for the “Picolet North Gravel Pit” Transfer Station: A new scale head is ordered and will be installed Recycle: A load of recyclables was sent out Noxious Weed: Caleb has been spraying for Johnson Grass across the county Three fuel bids were received for 4,000 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline as follows: Bidder: MFA Oil, Reg Unleaded 3.0587/gal, Total $12,234.80 Bidder: FNF Petroleum, Reg Unleaded 3.061/gal, Total $12,244.00 Bidder: Agri Trails, Reg Unleaded 3.05/gal, Total $12,200.00 Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve the bid from Agri Trails as presented, in the total amount of $12,200.00. Motion carried.
Discussion was held regarding the 2026 Noxious Weed Budget. There was an increase in the sales of chemicals last year and this year. The 2025 budget was amended to encompass this additional revenue and to purchase more chemicals before the year end. Due to chemical prices being high at the time, no purchases were made by the county.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to publish Notice to Amend the 2026 Budget. The 2026 Noxious Weed Budget will be amended to increase the spending authority to purchase more chemicals. The hearing will be held on July 21st at 10:00 a.m. Motion carried.
The following department’s 2027 budget requests were presented: Emergency Management: 2026 Budget 2027 Budget Request Salaries- $ 36,160.00 $ 40,468.00 Commodities- $ 4,500.00 $ 5,500.00 Contractual- $ 3,350.00 $ 3,800.00 Capital Outlay- $ 2,500.00 $ 6,000.00 Total-$46,510.00 $ 55,768.00 Noxious Weed: 2026 Budget 2027 Budget Request Salaries- $ 60,000.00 $ 63,000.00 Commodities- $134,150.00 $155,150.00 Contractual- $ 10,600.00 $ 15,150.00 Capital Outlay- $ 2,500.00 $ 12,500.00 Total-$207,250.00 $245,800.00 Transfer Station: 2026 Budget 2027 Budget Request Salaries- $ 95,600.00 $100,780.00 Commodities- $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 Contractual- $273,700.00 $287,350.00 Capital Outlay- $ 5,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Total-$380,800.00 $409,630.00 Recycle: 2026 Budget 2027 Budget Request Salaries- $118,000.00 $123,900.00 Commodities- $ 12,500.00 $ 16,210.00 Contractual- $ 14,000.00 $ 22,100.00 Capital Outlay- $ 10,000.00 $ 35,000.00 Total-$154,500.00 $197,210.00 Road & Bridge: 2026 Budget 2027 Budget Request Salaries- $ 923,000.00 $1,014,250.00 Commodities- $2,000,000.00 $2,841,600.00 Contractual- $ 265,000.00 $ 310,000.00 Capital Outlay- $ 75,000.00 $ 147,500.00 Transfers Out- $ 400,000.00 $ 400,000.00 Total-$3,663,000.00 $4,713,350.00 The requests will be considered during the county’s budgeting process.
Commissioner Kohler discussed plugged culverts in the area of DD Road. Commissioner Barber discussed the area of T Ave. and 2000 Rd.; this is minimum maintenance but there are trees that need trimmed.
Rhonda Fernandez, with PIC Benefit Services, presented potential renewal options for the county’s Blue Cross Blue Shield Renewal. Due to Senate Bill 20, Blue Cross Blue Shield is delayed on proposing renewal plan options. The county will plan to budget the “worst case scenario” for the annual renewal in the amount of $1,505,175.00; this would be a 19% increase. The county is hopeful of having a renewal option in the range of a 14-15% increase but due to budget timelines an amount must be included in the county’s 2027 budget proposal. The item will be discussed further once renewal quotes are provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:43 p.m. --Meeting minutes will be published on the county website: www.morriscountyks. org.