Commissioner Proceedings 8/12/25

November 3, 2025

The Wallace County Board of Commissioners met in regular session with, Becky Larson, Chairperson, Will Walker, Commissioner, Brian Gailey, Commissioner, and Micaila Lock, County Clerk present.   

Warrants # 33192-33226 in the amount of $ 25,061.08 were approved for payment. Payroll warrants in the amount of $81,717.59 for the working period of July 20, 2025, through August 2, 2025, were approved for payment.

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Larson for business at 8:30 a.m.

Commissioner Gailey made a motion to approve July 29th, 2025, minutes. Commissioner Walker Seconded  

AYE 3   NAY 0

Commissioner Walker made a motion to approve August 5th, 2025, minutes. Chair Larson Seconded.

 AYE 3  NAY 0

Commissioner Walker moved to go into an executive session at 8:49 am for Personnel exception-Personnel matter of individual NON-ELECTED personnel for 10 minutes and return at 8:59am. Invited are the 3 commissioners. Chair Larson seconded.

AYE 3   NAY 0

Return to regular session 8:59 am. No decision made.

Duane Barber, Building and Grounds Supervisor, entered the meeting

Duane discussed adding concrete over that the health department to make it more accessible for elderly and handicap. He also gave updates on his department.

Eric Oelschlager, Jeff Stewert, and Cody, representing K-DOT, entered the meetings.

Jeff discussed the development of highways and the highway planning meeting on October 15th form 9:00 am to 12:00 pm central time at the City Limits Convention Center. He discussed the funding that helped make it possible to modernize Highway 40 from Wallace to Stateline. The commissioners, Eric and Jeff discussed the speed limit on highway 40 through Sharon Springs from 45 to 30 or lower. Eric explained that they would need speed study to see if they could lower it or if they decide to rise after the study. Eric gave updates on the Smoky Hill Bridge North of Sharon Springs, and it should be finished in October.

Doug Springsteel, Landfill supervisor, entered the landfill.

Doug gave updates on the landfill and on the equipment that needs the AC worked on.

The commissioners discussed vision care on whether the county pay for it all, employee pay 50% or County pays for the employee and the employee pays for family.

Brenda Cress entered the meeting

Brenda discussed the two quotes and explained what each quote is and would rather do one number with a call tree or have all new numbers for all the department. Marshall Unruh, sheriff entered the meeting. Marshall discussed with the commissioners and Brenda his thoughts for the one number and having a call tree.

Commissioner Gaily made a motion to move forward with switching over to S&T Phone Service. Commissioner Walker seconded the motion. AYE 3 NAY 0

Brenda had more discussion on when we could launch the new phone system. She is going to make some calls to see what numbers we can use.

Marshall discussed the highway planning and what the plan is to support and promote Highway 40 to be finished.

Jerry Michaud, Development Services, entered the meeting.

Jerry discussed what development services do for the communities they cover. He also showed charts of all counties they provide services. He broke down what services provided to both children and Adults for the 18 counties in the Northwest Kansas.  

Marshall Sheriff re-entered the meeting.

Marshall discussed replacing the phone at the south doors to a camera and button for those that come into the building after hours.  

Commissioner Gailey made a motion to move forward with the county paying 100% of the vision Care. Commissioner Walker Seconded the motion.

AYE 3 NAY 0

Commissioner Walker made a motion to approve resolution 2025-09. Commission Gaily seconded

AYE 3 NAY 0  

 

RESOLUTION # 2025 - 09

A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION AND

DISBURSEMENT OF A BOOKING AND PROCESSING FEE AS COURT COSTS

WHEREAS, K.S.A. 12-16,119 provides that the Board of County Commissioners are authorized to provide for a booking and processing fee not to exceed $45.00 to be collected as court costs from any person convicted, adjudicated, or diverted under a pre-adjudication program pursuant to K.S.A. 22-2906 et seq., K.S.A. 38-1635 et seq., or K.S.A. 12-4414 et seq., and amendments thereto, of a misdemeanor or felony contained in Chapters 8, 21, 41, or 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, where fingerprints are required pursuant to K.S.A. 21-2501, and amendments thereto;

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Wallace County, Kansas, is the governing body responsible for the funding of the Wallace County Sheriff’s Department that performs the booking and processing procedures in Wallace County.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WALLACE COUNTY, KANSAS that:

Section 1.   A booking and processing fee of $45.00 shall be collected as separate court costs from any person convicted, adjudicated, or diverted under a pre-adjudication program pursuant to K.S.A. 22-2906 et seq., K.S.A. 38-1635 et seq., or K.S.A. 12-4414 et seq., and amendments thereto, of a misdemeanor or felony contained in Chapters 8, 21, 41, or 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, where fingerprints are required pursuant to K.S.A. 21-2501, and amendments thereto.

Section 2.  Said booking and processing fee shall begin being assessed as a separate court cost on September 1, 2025.

Section 3.  Said booking and processing fees shall be deposited in the general fund of Wallace County and used for funding of the Sheriff’s Office.

Section 4.  This Resolution shall be published once in the official county newspaper and shall be in effect from and after its date of publication.

Adopted this 12th day of August, 2025.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WALLACE COUNTY, KANSAS

Commissioner Gaily made a motion to approve resolution 2025-10. Commission Walker Seconded.

AYE 3  NAY 0

RESOLUTION # 2025-10 AND PROCLAMATION

PROCLAMATION of a State of Local Disaster Emergency for Wallace County, Kansas.

WHEREAS on the 24th day of July 2025, the Board of Commissioners of Wallace County, Kansas finds that certain conditions have caused, or eminently threaten to cause widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property in disaster proportion in Wallace County, Kansas.

WHEREAS such conditions have created obstructions which endanger health, safety, and welfare of persons and property within the border of Wallace County, Kansas.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Wallace County, Kansas.

That the Board of Commissioners of Wallace County, Kansas, under and by virtue of the authority vested in it by K.S.A. 1976 Supp. 48-932 does hereby PROCLAIM that a State of Local Disaster Emergency exists.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND PROCLAIMED that the area within the border of Wallace County, Kansas covered by this proclamation/resolution is in the entire area of Wallace County, Kansas.

BE IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that said Board has all rights and/or powers to perform such functions as are vested in said Board by and through the provisions of the Kansas Emergency Preparedness Act of 1975.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND PROCLAIMED that this resolution shall remain in effect for a period of seven (7) days unless terminated earlier or renewed by consent of the governing body.

ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF WALLACE COUNTY COMMISIONERS THIS 12th DAY OF August 2025.

 

Recess for lunch 12:04 pm

Lissa Sexson, Wallace County Community Development entered the meeting.

Reconvene 1:00 pm

Commissioners discussed setting a date for policy manual for the first meeting in September and letting the department heads know that they can pick up copies of the draft before the hearing.

Lissa discussed the RHID would need to go through the city and the county which is like the NRP but they could not both be used by the same person and the state pays the rebate for the RHID. She also went over the value of the lot that the developer is looking at using for new housing development. There was more discussion about what to do with the Noxious Weed department lot. Along with talking about the plans for a possible new firehouse that was brought up by the Rual Fire District #2 in Sharon Springs to the commissioners.

There being no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 2:17PM.

ATTEST:

Micaila Lock, County Clerk    

                           

Becky Larson, Chairperson

Will Walker, Commissioner                                                                                       

Brian Gailey, Commissioner