The Morris County Commissioner meeting was called to order on Tuesday, July 28th, 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: Billy Kryger- Pastor Berean Baptist Church Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve minutes from the July 21st, 2026, Commission Meeting. Motion carried.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve payroll liabilities as presented; in the total amount of $149,117.96. Motion carried.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve the accounts payable vouchers as presented; in the total amount of $267,216.62. Motion carried. The breakdown by fund is as follows: General: $14,325.94 Road & Bridge: $12,156.65 Noxious Weed: $3,891.32 Solid Waste: $1,152.50 Capital Improvement: $2,640.21 Bond & Interest: $233,050.00 Discussion was held regarding I.T. re-cabling for the courthouse servers. Great Plains Computers & Networking, the county’s contracted I.T. provider, is recommending updating the cabling to CAT6. While this work is being done it would be an opportunity to also install wireless access points that would allow for Public Wi-Fi. There have been several requests for Public Wi-Fi from district court, attorneys and judges. The estimated cost for materials and labor is approximately $12,955.00.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve moving forward with updating the courthouse with CAT6 cabling, wireless access points and public wi-fi. The estimated cost for materials and labor in the amount of $12,955.00 shall be paid from the Capital Improvement Fund. Motion carried.
Scott Coover, County Sheriff, gave a report on the Sheriff’s Office, Jail and Dispatch. The county currently has 13 inmates in custody. 3 are being housed here in Morris County, 4 in Wabaunsee County, 2 in Chase County, 1 in Dickinson County and 3 in Osage County. Discussion was held regarding the cost of inmate housing. Osage and Dickinson County currently charge $45.00/per day, Wabaunsee County is $50.00/ day, and Chase County is $75.00/ day. The county tries to house as many inmates here in Morris County as possible, however there are challenges with the separation of female and male inmates, as well as the separation of inmates that are involved in the same cases and cannot be housed together. Sheriff Coover anticipates the cost of prisoner housing will continue to increase. There are often delays in the court hearings; this slow-moving process also does not help with the cost of housing, medical care, dental care, etc. that must be provided while inmates remain in custody.
Elisha Bacon presented the Morris County Solid Waste Management Plan. The plan is required to be reviewed annually.
Commissioner Fox (Kohler) moved to approve the updated Morris County Solid Waste Management Plan, as presented. Motion carried.
Shelly Lautt gave the following public works report for the week of July 20th- July 24th: Road & Bridge:
•Slough Creek Quarry road rock was placed on 1800 Rd. from G-H, 1800 Rd. from H-J, K Ave. from 1800-1850, 1900 Rd. from H-J, 500 Rd. from D-G, F Ave. from 500-600 and J Ave. from 1050-1100
•A stone box culvert was collapsing on X Ave. between 400-525; the deck was removed, a 48” culvert was installed, covered with fill and rock, and rip rap was placed on the inlet end
•Trees were cut on F Ave. from 1400-1500, Old Hwy 4 from 575625 and Z Ave. from 1400-1500
•Gravel was retrieved from the ditches on Y Ave. from 100-200 and placed on P Ave. from 200-250, 250 Rd. from M-P, M Ave. from 100200, 200 Rd. from Q-R and 400 Rd. from Q-R
•Washouts were repaired on minimum maintenance roads DD Ave. from 500-600 and J Ave. from 600700
•Routine sign work was done across the county
•Mowing was done on the Dunlap Rd., Dwight routes and Council Grove routes
•Bridge inspection proposals were sent out; bids are due on August 3rd, 2026 Noxious Weed:
•A display on Noxious Weeds was set up at the Morris County Fair Transfer Station:
•Elisha filed the annual Household Hazardous Waste Report with the Big Lakes Regional Facility Emergency Management:
•Brett attended the KEMA Monthly Meeting in Manhattan
•Hosted the Quarterly LEPC Meeting •Obtaining quotes for the UTV Grant for the Homeland Regional Council Commissioner Kohler discussed the facing direction of the stop sign at the City Lake Rd. and Kelso Rd.; the Engineer’s Safe Roads Study specifies that the Kelso Rd. is the “main road”, therefore the vehicles traveling from Lake Rd. are to stop.
Discussion was held regarding the area of BB Ave., east of 3000 Rd.; it appears the asphalt patch is blowing out.
Commissioner Kohler (Fox) moved to approve contracting with K&R Propane for up to 5,000 gallons of propane, at $1.60/per gallon. Motion carried.
Brandon Mann and Andy Brooks with Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties (KWORCC), gave a presentation about forming a Safety Committee. There are premium reductions offered to counties that form and maintain an active Safety Committee.
Others in attendance at the presentation were: Shelly Lautt, Elisha Bacon, Brett Samuels and Scott Coover.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
--Meeting minutes will be published on the county website: www. morriscountyks.org.