Hays Post
A proposed merger of Ellis and Barton County Kansas State Extension districts took another step forward Monday with a resolution approved by the Ellis County Commission.
Earlier this year, the commission directed Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes to begin talking with Barton County about creating an Extension district made up of the two counties. In a joint meeting in Great Bend on June 6, the two commissions agreed to move forward with the proposed merger and get the public’s input.
The resolution approved Monday night by the Ellis County Commission begins the process of merging the Extension offices.
According to Smith-Hanes, the resolution will be published in the newspaper of record and then there will be a 60-day period where people could oppose the merger. Smith-Hanes said if none opposes the merger — and Barton County approves it, as well — they will move forward to form the district.
Smith-Hanes said in his memo to commissioners Monday both commissions would then have to appoint an executive board for the Extension district. An operational agreement would then be drafted by the commissions, the director of Extension and Kansas State University and the Attorney General. When that agreement is adopted, the district would be officially formed on July 1, 2017.
Ellis County has budgeted approximately $256,000 for the Extension Council in 2017. According to Smith-Hanes, if the consolidated district is formed, the district would have independent taxing authority beginning in 2018.
The proposed merger would not reduce staff or services for either office. Instead, joining forces would allow agents to focus on more specialized areas.
There are currently 16 other combined Extension districts throughout Kansas, including the Midway District comprised of Ellsworth and Russell counties, the Walnut District made of Rush, Ness and Lane counties and Logan, Gove and Trego Counties form the Golden Prairie District.
In other business, after an executive session, the commission authorized County Counselor Bill Jeter to bid on five properties that are up for auction on the county tax foreclosure sale on Oct. 26.
Smith-Hanes said the properties have improvements on them and the bids by Jeter are what the property owners owes in taxes, and county officials hope someone will submit a higher bid so the county can recoup the tax money. He also said if they end up high bidder on the properties, they believe they can resell them for a profit.
The county will bid on the following properties:
Track 6 – 403 E 13th – $14,910.13
Track 7 – 2390 E 27th – $54,147.35
Track 13 – 516 E 7th – $5,896.25
Track 16 – 508 W 17th – $12,088.00
Track 20 – 413 W 15th – $5,846.4
The commission also approved a contract for the 2016 road striping project for no more than $60,000.
Commissioners also approved a contract with Kirkham, Michael and Associates of Ellsworth for $17,487. The engineering firm will inspect 201 bridges for Ellis County. They will also inspect bridges in Hays and Ellis.
The Ellis County Public Works department will place stop signs on Feedlot Road at the intersection of Toulon Avenue after the commission approved a resolution Monday. The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department had requested the change because of the number of accidents at the intersection.