[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6638402,"mediaKeyId","2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe","parentId",2572314,"title","Residents say Evergy plant and 96‑corridor development arrived with little notice; county says cities led annexation and NDAs limited early disclosure","audioSeconds",277,"startMs",1726000,"endMs",2003000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe&start=1726&end=2003","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe/thumbnail_1726000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6638402/Reno-County/Kansas/Residents-say-Evergy-plant-and-96corridor-development-arrived-with-little-notice-county-says-cities-led-annexation-and-NDAs-limited-early-disclosure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638402-1dfb1fc111f442bdee55afbcbccd55e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775513080&Signature=O3rK8T6keLtUtB0t5ODj4JupDpSH5YgOaoUx~J6rW6ZwKgmY3e0XBhBEA26Ei2RMmD~UABqNQJPDvzC6xvR-0YbfOLSzWMtvKehFaWssxJ0FLWxN9-1bT61iNNwrc6BwDuqfYTDBM1WcAI7TK-VNUyhXvGdwqllL2hfQhIBAG7hZm9xIDs8c8EBs0ieFjn-pWEvvYUn~OVHcxUygxfyy3FibrtYQ~VGAuRpOETlgRJ30zG3443L5wPECad1IZzxOKTXuM-6DKOiMs840Zry6pvW6lGarwjMT1dt7teiX8pdwii9cDn-aKI~wZx9nQgwGveyIVlyyH-2MGHTHFYzViQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Reno County Kansas","date","2025-03-12T16:34:38.2Z","article","Karen Drake, a resident who lives near the 96 Corridor, told the Reno County Commission she and her neighbors learned about a proposed Evergy electricity facility only after public notice and said the community lacked advance information on environmental and livability impacts.

Drake said neighbors were concerned about light, noise and air emissions and asked whom to contact about project details. She said she attended a project Zoom meeting where questions were limited and that residents felt the decision was already final.

County officials responded that much of the Evergy project and the associated land annexation and rezoning were city‑level matters, not county actions. Commissioners and staff explained that some negotiations around large projects are handled under nondisclosure agreements while proposals are developed and that public disclosure occurs once negotiations are sufficiently advanced. County staff suggested residents contact the Hutchinson‑Reno County Chamber of Commerce and city planning offices for more information and said the county’s formal review role was limited in the annexation and rezoning items, though the commission had one vote on whether an annexation would impair a neighboring city’s expansion.

Why it matters: Residents living near potential industrial developments seek timely notice so they can assess impacts to property values, light and noise, and public‑health concerns. County officials said they do not control every step of city annexation or private land deals and that county participation can be limited by confidentiality during early site negotiations.

What county officials said: Commissioners acknowledged the community’s concerns and said they will share information when it becomes available. One commissioner noted that the county’s role was narrow — in the annexation matter the county was asked only to determine whether annexation would impair a nearby city’s future expansion — and that broader permitting and environmental review were handled at the city, state or developer level. Staff and one commissioner said the proposed Evergy facility would be air‑cooled (not water‑cooled), reducing impacts on local water resources, but that more technical analysis would be done by the project proponents and permitting authorities.

What residents can do: County staff recommended residents monitor the county website and social media pages for public notices and consult the Hutchinson‑Reno County Chamber for early project information when available. Commissioners also recommended attending city public hearings and meeting notices, since cities generally handle annexation and rezoning processes.

Ending: Residents who want more detail were told to pursue city planning offices, the local chamber and public meetings; county staff said they will publish information as it becomes available and that residents may ask the commission to convene an open forum if enough local interest exists.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Reno County Board of County Commissioners 03.12.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Karen Drake urged the Reno County Commission for more timely public information about an Evergy electricity facility proposed near the county’s 96 Corridor, saying neighbors felt the project appeared to be a done deal before the community was notified.","taxTitle","Reno County, Kansas","taxId",52856,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6638406,"Reno County Commission approves $100,000 USGA support, health grants and zoning measures; appoints planning commissioner",2729,4711000,7440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe&start=4711&end=7440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe/thumbnail_4711000.jpg","/articles/6638406/Reno-County/Kansas/Reno-County-Commission-approves-100000-USGA-support-health-grants-and-zoning-measures-appoints-planning-commissioner","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638406-c0b8c031fcb8cbf10e8b7271b6e05206/orig.mp4?Expires=1775513080&Signature=YeswhMnfTRVgx1ARw4553NLFDpC1ikgSupSWZWCCZbK6jZV7ZEKvQG4Zb9-SVrY8GFG3bCxbUvsXYMlNp2ckQD~qyrtYdpda3nZzx-zlK0ZI2ewdUMmaxUX0HdNvPPtkIr2u3YY1Bh1T03ckRlgK3KSQMgZNejkIDuNdTAybsSNExWM~pAEWMvPjkauu4ge2R2J-ZVQqY3kRgqKb57WZa7W5mNIuofclbMGrmC4k~LFliuz-52oAtHaie-Jm0jzcucsyB2tBHHOb09DYNFnyiVAVsuzB2uaaIVUXLc8DKMWKrHf6MJVKiN1puRDM9PzcDx0qYXqM2Bu2ShZVBKhXOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Reno County Commission approved several items at its meeting, including a $100,000 county contribution toward hosting the U.S. Senior Open at Prairie Dunes in 2029, authorization to apply for state public-health grants totaling roughly $975,950.27 plus a $320,000 pass-through program, the appointment of a planning commission member, and adoption of new commercial solar regulations along with a prohibition on commercial solar projects within a mapped watershed area.

Why it matters: The county’s $100,000 pledge is intended to support a high‑profile national golf championship that local organizers say will generate tens of millions in economic activity and increase long‑term visitation. The health grants fund ongoing public-health programs and a Healthy Families outreach program run by the Kansas Children’s Service League. The land‑use actions create rules for commercial solar projects in the zoned portion of the county and bar such projects inside a designated watershed; the commission also moved to carry the county’s broader solar moratorium forward while it considers rules for currently unzoned areas.

Votes at a glance: the commission recorded the following outcomes on the record during the session:

- Prairie Dunes / U.S. Senior Open (Memorandum of Understanding and county contribution of $100,000): motion to authorize the county administrator to sign the MOU and to commit the funds passed unanimously. The county’s staff said the contribution would be drawn from economic development reserve funds and phased out between now and mid‑2029. County officials and tournament organizers cited a sales‑tax bump after the last U.S. Senior Open in 2006 as partial evidence of local return on investment.

- KDHE public‑health grant application (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) — $975,950.27: motion to authorize staff to submit the grant application passed unanimously. The commission also approved submission of a Kansas Department of Health and Environment pass‑through award to the Kansas Children’s Service League for the Healthy Families outreach and prevention program (about $320,000); that action was approved on the same vote.

- Planning commission appointment (three‑year term): the commission voted to appoint Keith Nisely to the Reno County Planning Commission; the motion carried with a majority of commissioners voting in favor.

- Commercial solar regulations (creation of Article 26) and associated planning commission resolution: the board accepted the planning commission’s recommended commercial solar regulations for the zoned portion of Reno County. That adoption passed on a recorded vote with all commissioners voting in favor.

- Prohibition of commercial solar in mapped watershed area: the commission approved a related zoning text amendment prohibiting commercial solar within the mapped Niensca/Arkansas River watershed zone (the map is included in the planning packet); the measure passed on a recorded unanimous vote.

How the major votes unfolded: County staff described the Prairie Dunes request as a repeat of a 2006 county contribution; staff said sales tax receipts rose in the month of that earlier championship and characterized the county’s outlay as an investment in tourism and long‑term exposure. Representatives from Prairie Dunes and the county’s convention-and‑visitor bureau described a national audience and volunteer and operating costs borne by the club. Commissioners asked about direct financial returns to the club and about the extent of economic spillovers to neighboring jurisdictions; organizers said the U.S. Golf Association does not pay a direct fee to the club but that the event brings national television exposure and visitor spending.

On the health grants, Carla Nichols, director of public health, presented the KDHE application and the pass‑through arrangement for the Healthy Families program, describing the target populations and the grant period and amounts.

On planning and zoning, staff and the planning commission said the new Article 26 provides a regulatory framework for commercial solar projects in the county’s zoned areas and sets developer‑plan and decommissioning expectations. Separately, the planning commission recommended a text amendment that would prohibit commercial solar development within the watershed shown on an included map; the county commission approved that prohibition.

What the votes do not do: The planning commission resolution accompanying the new solar regulations is advisory guidance from planning; the county commission’s adoption of the text amendment is the county’s regulation. County staff noted developers will still need a site‑specific development agreement and that decommissioning terms will be negotiated as part of any future project application. The county’s county‑wide moratorium on commercial solar remains in force for unzoned western areas of the county until the board decides whether to extend zoning or adopt matching regulations there.

Next steps: County staff will finalize documents and contract language for the Prairie Dunes MOU and process the KDHE grant paperwork. Planning staff said the approved commercial solar regulations will guide review of future applications; any change to those regulations will return to the public‑hearing process.

Ending note: All votes reported above were recorded on the meeting transcript and minutes; the commission’s packet includes the Prairie Dunes MOU request, the KDHE grant application documents, the planning commission resolution and zoning maps used in the deliberations.

","The Reno County Commission approved a $100,000 contribution to support the U.S. Senior Open at Prairie Dunes in 2029, authorized roughly $1.3 million in health‑program grant applications and adopted new commercial solar regulations and a watershed ban during its regular meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6638397,"Reno County youth services reports rising demand, longer shelter stays and drug‑use concerns",350,4900000,5250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe&start=4900&end=5250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572314-9d2728d4bd0cc31c9de68e5a285ca1fe/thumbnail_4900000.jpg","/articles/6638397/Reno-County/Kansas/Reno-County-youth-services-reports-rising-demand-longer-shelter-stays-and-druguse-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638397-eac8d3807206fd45d90f25a44d502614/orig.mp4?Expires=1775513080&Signature=F8iLXB9-6HnSXXGahzc8M30OG8zMZqkrT23H0GxeVI4e1~n43-50bWBxI~JwJ8l3QAnRaX2CZHoBWqeSaqYDIoZ5Zez8RMz1VYDrbrA3xXDio3oW7db--qSwY92Pxq-YEX7gEfDl5Y3TB4la2wILd~oo3KEsmIDGriZpTNY9NZr05ZzNu3KG-EtrsoSXXP39bjySz2wqY3AAN2FPVP3-bBO~R1wKRNHhR5oE0eep2N~SXhRoe2RCNjGKrGY4~86BcNgx7NQDnvbXpNCFG95VfudsyXzBmAK0QVY2cm2b2dGJSTqf~q1uPAkej7bE8OGEfG-KfLfXglaSrkAxZw3nDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joe, director of the county\u0000E2\u0000\u0000\u0000's youth services (name shorthand used in the meeting packet), told commissioners that fiscal 2024 ended with higher detention and shelter usage and that the county has adjusted operations to handle more complex youth needs.

He said the county\u0000E2\u0000\u0000\u0000's emergency shelter now houses some young people for extended periods — in some cases a year or more — because it is serving youth with both placement needs and criminal histories after statewide changes to residential placement options. That shift has required physical adjustments at the shelter, including converting a room into two single‑occupancy spaces to meet state square‑footage and security requirements for higher‑risk youth.

On detention, Joe said Reno County charges $150 per youth per day and that staff will raise that rate by about 10% for the coming year to reflect higher costs; he said detention pricing has not changed in nearly a decade. The detention facility continues to accept youth from a wide region of western Kansas, which affects average daily populations.

Staff reported trends of increased drug availability and use among youth, particularly mentioning fentanyl. Youth services described on‑site drug and alcohol assessments and linked treatment with a local program; mental‑health services also come into the facility via a contracted therapist. Joe said the county partners with local schools and community organizations to provide education and credit recovery for youth while they are detained.

Why it matters: County detention and shelter capacity, per‑day charges and treatment services affect county budgets, juvenile outcomes and public safety. Staff described evolving program demands following shifts in state placement policy and persistent drug‑use challenges that affect youth stability and recidivism.

Operational details and next steps: Staff have adjusted shelter rooms to allow single‑occupancy for higher‑risk youth, will increase the detention daily rate by 10%, and will continue to contract with treatment and mental‑health providers for on‑site services. Joe asked the commission for continued support for operations and staffing; commissioners thanked staff and acknowledged the difficult work.

Ending: The commission did not take formal action on the report but recorded the update and acknowledged ongoing program pressures, particularly from substance‑use patterns among young people.","Youth services staff told the county commission that detention and shelter populations rose in 2024, that the emergency shelter now houses some youth long‑term, and that staff are seeing more drug use (including fentanyl) among youth. Detention daily charges will rise to reflect costs; staff described community and school partnerships.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents say Evergy plant and 96‑corridor development arrived with little notice; county says cities led annexation and NDAs limited early disclosure

Reno County Commission approves $100,000 USGA support, health grants and zoning measures; appoints planning commissioner

Reno County youth services reports rising demand, longer shelter stays and drug‑use concerns