By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission approved a resolution increasing step salaries for elected officials for 2026 during its Tuesday meeting.
The adjustments follow a countywide pay study and a 2024 compensation policy, ensuring elected officials’ salaries remain competitive with market rates.
"This resolution is asking that all elected officials in the county move to that next step on the pay scale, just like all the other employees have moved at the start of this pay period," Darin Myers, county administrator, said.
The salaries of the county elected officials for 2026 are as follows:
County commissioner (Michael Berges, district one) - $20,746, up from $19,453 in 2025.
County commissioner (Neal Younger, district two) - $21,584, up from $20,241 in 2025.
County commissioner (Nathan Leiker, district three) - $20,746, up from $19,453 in 2025
County attorney - $171,184, up from $163,717 in 2025.
County clerk - $86,840 plus an election stipend of $10,000, up from $83,055 in 2025, with the election stipend remaining unchanged.
County treasurer - $81,828, up from $78,271 in 2025.
Register of deeds - $94,536, up from $92,228 in 2025.
County sheriff - $115,607, up from $110,573 in 2025.
Younger receives a higher salary because he is the longest-serving commissioner, Myers said. The county attorney received the highest salary increase at $7,467.
Consulting services for the Tallgrass Development solar project
The commission heard from Oleg Alba, managing partner of AcreStrong, about potentially providing consulting services for the proposed $275 million Tallgrass Development solar project in southwest Ellis County.
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Alba said his firm helps counties navigate and negotiate complex agreements associated with large-scale projects. Commissioner Nathan Leiker asked about his background and experience.
"I've experience both from the finance perspective and from the field," Alba said. "I know what the field realities look like because one is understanding what these projects look like on a spreadsheet, but the other reality is what these projects look like for your constituents."
Myers said Alba could assist the county with negotiations and agreements related to the proposed project. A potential consulting agreement with AcreStrong will be placed on next week’s agenda.
"The three of us as commissioners recognize that we're not experts in doing this and we're looking for expert help to guide us on the best decision for our constituents," Leiker said.
Before the solar project can move forward, the commission needs to negotiate a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement. Although these are very different projects, the PILOT for Buckeye Wind Farm was hundreds of thousands of dollars.
2026 reorganization
Commissioner Neal Younger was appointed chairman of the commission for 2026, with Commissioner Leiker appointed as vice chairman.
Younger was also appointed to the Northwest Kansas Community Corrections and Juvenile Services board, Leiker to the High Plains Mental Health board, and Michael Berges to the Ellis County Library board and the WorkForceONE chief elected official board.
Other business
The commission heard an update on the county's Rural Opportunity Zone status. Although the county was designated as one in 2021, changes in state law have made it no longer eligible for the program.
The commission approved a resolution to waive generally accepted accounting principles. This will not affect the county's ability to issue bonds in 2026.
The commission approved a resolution to update and formally establish a county policy for moving buildings, structures and other oversized loads on county roads.
The commission renewed the appointment of Ellis County EMS Director Danita Schroeder to the Region One EMS Council.
Bobbi Dreiling, county clerk, received approval and signage of the 2026 departmental inventory report.
Commissioners approved updated job descriptions for the public works department and the solid waste division.