By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission heard a report about infrastructure costs for new housing during its meeting this morning.
Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts, a Kansas Department of Commerce program, have been used in nearby cities but could be used for the first time in rural Ellis County.
Dominic Eck of Gillmore & Bell and Adam Pray with Platinum Builders provided an overview of the process if it were to proceed.
Pray is considering using an incentive district for a development near Reservation Road and Big Creek Drive that includes 15 lots, one designated for water retention. He said the program helps make it possible to build more affordable homes.
2026 budget direction
Darin Myers, county administrator, met with commissioners to begin the 2026 budget process. Commissioners provided direction on financial objectives, mill levy targets, staffing and project priorities.
Commissioner Nathan Leiker said agencies should keep applying for grants, noting that a pause in federal funding has delayed access to about half a million dollars in grants. Commissioner Michael Berges suggested department heads keep budgets flat and maintain current staffing levels.
Myers said there has been about a 3% increase in the county's assessed valuation, a smaller increase than in the last two years.
Leiker said he is still interested in offering county employees cost-of-living raises and step increases on the wage scale.
As part of the budget development, Ellis County will continue its revised approach to outside agency funding. Outside agencies now fall into two groups: Ellis County Care Council agencies and those not included in the Care Council.
Agencies not included in the Care Council review will submit their request to the county administrator by May 31 and present their proposals to the commission on June 10.
Opioid funds for training
Commissioners approved using about $800 from the Opioid Settlement Fund to cover the travel costs of Timothy Beck, a retired narcotics detective.
The detective will teach a class for local law enforcement on fentanyl and opioid overdose death investigations.
Other business
The commission approved the purchase of asphalt emulsion oils from Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions to support the 2025 Asphalt Maintenance Plan. The total cost is $882,837.
The Ellis County Joint Planning Commission chairman received approval from the commission to authorize equipment sales, storage and rental on county property.
Myers discussed the potential sale of a brush truck to a northwest Kansas fire department, which has shown interest in purchasing it.
Curt Hoffman, Road and Bridge supervisor, discussed with commissioners the 2024 County Engineer's annual report, which summarizes the previous year's projects and timesheets. It will be submitted to KDOT for inclusion in the Kansas local infrastructure planning.