Overview of the Reno County Commission Meeting on Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Overview of the August 13, 2025, Reno County Commission meeting:

Agenda items:

1–3. Call to Order, Pledge, Welcome

• Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

• Chair welcomed attendees and outlined meeting procedures.

4. Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)

• City of The Highlands Mayor Carol Moore presented polling results strongly favoring Option One for wastewater system funding which would have the costs spread among all Highlands property owners. Commissioners agreed to consider the recommendation at a later study session.

  Carol Moore, Mayor of The Highlands

5. Additions/Revisions to Agenda

• No revisions.

6. Consent Agenda (All items approved unanimously)

• 6.A Vouchers approved.

• 6.B Juvenile policy updates to meet Kansas DOC standards.

• 6.C Approval of BOCC minutes (May 2025).

• 6.D Addendum to Schwab Eaton agreement for Water District 101 (Yoder) project.

• 6.E Conditional use permit for Scofield property to place a manufactured home at 4501 Scotty Lane, Hutchinson.

• 6.F Renewal of GAINS program grant for detention center.

• 6.G Renewal of youth detention contracts with multiple Kansas counties.
  
  

7. Business Items

Deb Scheibler, Director Kansas WorkforceONEReno County Commissioners

7.A – Kansas WorkforceONE Overview & Agreement

• Executive Director Deb Scheibler presented the Chief Elected Official Board Agreement with Local Workforce Development Area 1 in addition to an overview of their services and impact in Reno County. She also shared their newsletter and a recent finalized audit.

• BOCC approved the Agreement. As stated in the Agenda Packet, Reno County has been a member of the Local Workforce Development Area 1 for many years and there is no cost to the county.

• Scheibler stated that they would like to have a BOCC representative to serve on the Chief Elected Official Board. 

Reno County Counselor Patrick HoffmanNorman Herrera, CEO Sparq RenewablesJohn Bolte, Principal at Small Arrow Engineering

7.B – Landfill Methane Agreement

Reno County Counselor Patrick Hoffman updated commissioners on the Lease, Easement and Landfill Gas Rights Agreement presented to the Commissioners today. The agreement with Meadowlark Renewables, LLC allows that company to collect methane gas, process it onsite, and then transport it into a nearby gas line. 

Some key terms of the agreement are as follows: 
Reno County will receive rent of 18.75% of the cash revenues from the sale of the gas, with a minimum payment to the county of $37,500 per month. (Section 4.1) 
Reno County retains control of design plans for the collection system itself. (Section 2.7) 
Meadowlark is financially responsible for construction of the project. (Section 4.3) 
Upon Reno County’s request, Meadowlark is required to provide financial security for its obligation to remove project facilities and restore the property. (Section 16.19)

• Norman Herrera, CEO of Sparq Renewables, and John Bolte, Principal at Small Arrow Engineering, gave an overview and answered questions on the process to recover gases or other products at the landfill. 

• Meadowlark project to capture methane at 400 SCFM, including nitrogen value in revenue share.

• County retains final design approval, receives royalties, and secures fire suppression coordination with local fire dept.

• Approved unanimously by commissioners.

Reno County Commissioners

7.C – SCKEDD Appointments (South Central Kansas Economic Development District)

• Carissa Paxton and Michelle Inskeep appointed.
  
  

Reno County Human Resources Director Helen Foster

7.D – 2025–2026 Health & Dental Insurance Premium Schedule

• Helen Foster, Director of Reno County Human Resources, presented the health and dental insurance premium schedule for the 2025-2026 plan year.

• Minimal changes: slight increase to PPO family plan, high-deductible plan deductible raised to $3,300 (ACA compliance), dental unchanged.

• Approved for timely open enrollment.
  
  
  Reno County Administrator Randy Partington

8. County Administrator Report

• County Administrator Randy Partington checked with commissioners to see if they had questions concerning the monthly department reports.

• Partington let them know that he will be emailing them about creating a legislative platform with top priorities for the county and that he planned to set up meetings with local legislators this fall.

9. County Commission Report / Comments

• Commissioner Ron Vincent said he had gotten a call about an abandoned trailer house on North Monroe, and an unfinished home at 56th Avenue and Monroe St. He also mentioned the CD rates at the landfill. 

• Commissioner Richard Winger mentioned a dilapidated house on the corner of 9th Avenue and Jefferson. He talked about people asking about the NRP funds, (Neighborhood Revitalization Program). He wanted to say that he appreciated all of the people that work for the county and for the people who work for the cities in the county. He also reminded people that school has begun and asked people to drive slowly and with extreme care in school zones. 

• Commissioner Ron Hirst emphasized to commissioners that they should make sure to be knowledgeable about county departments and the agencies that are funded by Reno County so that they can make informed budget decisions. He also discussed community development initiatives and outreach to municipalities. He and Jason Probst, Family Community Wellness Extension Agent from K-State Research and Extension, will be traveling out to cities in the county to meet County Clerks on Friday to discuss community development initiatives. 

• Commissioner Don Bogner mentioned he received many calls and comments from the ribbon cutting ceremony on the waste injection site. He said that he gave staff a list of questions and was appreciative of the answers. He said that the waste that is stored underground is state-regulated. He reminded people that if they have questions or complaints about this business, they should contact the business or contact the agencies that permit and regulate it, that's the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He said that he received a call from a state senator regarding our RNR notice recently mailed out and that both budgets were listed for the new proposed consolidated Fire District 1 budget and the current nine fire districts. "Those questions would have been better to be asked at the county instead of contacting the state senator," he said. 

• Special topics addressed:

  • Calls for zoning unzoned areas to increase local control, using the example of the Vaulted Deep business is in an unzoned area of the county.

  • Criticism of the revenue-neutral notice process; suggested legislative changes.

10. Adjournment

• Meeting adjourned with thanks; followed by budget study session.