[{"_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",6646314,"mediaKeyId","2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53","parentId",2627706,"title","Cottonwood Extension District to seek funding for community health worker; district asks county to monitor roadside trees","audioSeconds",605,"startMs",951000,"endMs",1556000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53&start=951&end=1556","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53/thumbnail_951000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646314/Ellis-County/Kansas/Cottonwood-Extension-District-to-seek-funding-for-community-health-worker-district-asks-county-to-monitor-roadside-trees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646314-075a62aabba791c801d4e69779faf339/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180163&Signature=TJKGxPivoqcLlAyo6Fh9HbjqEzDkAyH5-DBD0l0nlmcSvB2SfJeKCZED7sviFUI44f9t4wLEAYnnwTo365048jRGRgRafOqYgm0ohHmY8jOQ2zIRQgRfWo1IdY4fJOfFJHGPfy4tygH8oqCLZyV6f5k2m8qhhPmPrDaBoJrSTSljsyO46iifncCJqMUA4uC25ktIW8jydzNvxc58MNzxbwpgOcJoM6RG9~d1hKImSR5aNfzCFAIc37B3-NKSSn0IFPkuiqXuOhkXOcVmqVa3Ce-qL6z2Pam8KyrgkkLOs6im-wXTii2pMncblDUW9hzq64RAHkQ79w5IvDQVZYvzjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ellis County, KS","date","2025-02-12T13:57:58.93Z","article","Jay Harris, director of the Cottonwood Extension District (which serves Ellis and Barton counties), briefed commissioners on several programs and staffing updates and asked the commission to consider future support if grants or other funding sources are insufficient.

Harris described the district's plan to add a community health worker principally assigned to Ellis County, a position that could provide outreach on mental health, aging services and benefits enrollment. He said the agent in Barton County who currently performs similar work is resigning and that last year in Barton County the agent helped residents save “over a hundred and $20,000” through Medicare/Medicaid signups. Harris said he was not asking for county funding at the meeting but that the district board will continue to explore K-State grants and other avenues; he said the district hopes the community health worker could start as early as June if funding is secured.

Harris also described the district’s interest in the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) and asked the commission to consider listing extension on the county’s disaster plan; he said his review showed the extension is not currently listed and that EDEN delegates could assist in disaster preparedness. He described local programming — a summer gardening camp and partnership with Harvest Hays (high-tunnel greenhouses run by the Arc of the Central Plains) — and summarized staffing: seven agents district-wide, two full-time office professionals, and one program assistant; the Hays office includes an office professional, program assistant, the director and three agents.

Harris raised a roadside maintenance concern about trees overhanging 200th Avenue south of U.S. Highway 40 where horse trailers use a single-lane stretch of road; he asked county staff to inspect the location. Commissioners and county staff acknowledged the road was on a maintenance list and committed to follow up.

No funding decision was made at the meeting. Harris said the district's board will meet in the next week to continue planning and that the district will return to commissioners if it seeks county assistance in the future.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ellis County, KS Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The Cottonwood Extension District updated commissioners on plans to add a community health worker (pending funding), participation in an Extension disaster education network, staff levels, and a resident request to trim trees on 200th Avenue south of Highway 40.","taxTitle","Ellis County, Kansas","taxId",52148,"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},6646319,"Ellis County approves $5,000 contribution to United Way to support county care council review",303,3105000,3408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53&start=3105&end=3408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53/thumbnail_3105000.jpg","/articles/6646319/Ellis-County/Kansas/Ellis-County-approves-5000-contribution-to-United-Way-to-support-county-care-council-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646319-570050c8c6ebe96b7ea75a060b62ae39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180163&Signature=G1jLMg6460QCd1Y9m-p5qOlY8v5QtpwcGVsr1ojMhpSZw0tq6lQG233f~jPFEpIibLSM7SNb1dt~pC3o32ArypsCfuGJqzpAaPhQnFFkDsKlOHeU9l3ibHbLHAi-e6uFVkXKr4zw9lXC-xECvv6mQopIoOm9oFnLTfXqAh6UC37rHvdl3KHl3M2slnGd5yq~KEmS3tjf8cgMLUqaXqr0NopAylDlRj6re9O0gO9FF4EavkUPHOXDAMWAL2TUYyhavccradN9BplKtZvMSAMgbP8IzUAteiilozL-WQmoLbQoqQ3n6YNZ1TLSLW8WhllMb3D9OotsJ8GQPGJnTVHN6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ellis County commissioners voted to approve a $5,000 contribution to the United Way of Ellis County to support the county’s care council work reviewing funding requests from outside agencies.

Darren Myers, Ellis County administrator, said the contribution would not replace the county’s 0.3-mill funding for agencies but would provide the United Way with funds to coordinate site visits and application reviews for multiple agencies. “That amount was to be $5,000,” Myers said as he summarized discussions between county staff and United Way leadership. Erica Burgess, director of the United Way of Ellis County and coordinator for the care council, said volunteers completed site visits and learned improvements and tweaks that will make the review process stronger in future cycles.

Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the $5,000 contribution; the measure passed by a three-zero vote. Commissioners noted the care council spent more time with agencies than the commission previously could and that the volunteer review and site visits produced useful information for future allocations.

The contribution is intended to pay United Way for administrative assistance in the care council process and is separate from the county’s established 0.3-mill funding allocation to outside agencies. Commissioners did not specify additional conditions on how United Way will spend the $5,000 beyond its role in supporting the care council.","Commissioners approved a $5,000 contribution to the United Way of Ellis County to support the care council’s review and coordination of outside agency funding recommendations.",{"_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},6646323,"Ellis County commissioners ask staff to draft policy on unsecured loads at landfill",1519,1568000,3087000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53&start=1568&end=3087","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627706-51f2d10475e0ac3db5d2a7eb264bde53/thumbnail_1568000.jpg","/articles/6646323/Ellis-County/Kansas/Ellis-County-commissioners-ask-staff-to-draft-policy-on-unsecured-loads-at-landfill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646323-c322f5bfa1352a612485bd2344506c03/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180163&Signature=Lmpf1~mzyVCA1M95YAQETW-duV~z5wEOSSJ08baWnbIAkI0enAlHkcKVYmLord1zChYaaP~XVQIpmho0-BuT55kH8lkfM4XJCbDJ3oXhc2VjffXCOu2Qqd2qy2LWq~3SobCLLUtvIM~sNYjdmc8KckPbpCJ7lqAQBftGam~bzbBZpk3Ld2U~N68Tjcs4mkmQq~xZA6y3sqV9m7k2xnpUihOInVQn~Uf2IoMaZd~FiqHdfSqGHzm~f0oLn39Ehi2e8eR-kl4Tsm1jHov2KFuWR9FAC-GzSkdPXz4W04yHDyFX7CKqnFOWJ~yPG1lrU0o-3kSPd3kr9MgOXrl3XxW7Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ellis County commissioners directed staff to draft a policy to address unsecured loads at the county landfill after a two-hour discussion that covered safety, enforcement and public outreach.

The discussion began with Justin Craig, Ellis County environmental services director, saying the proposal’s intent was not revenue generation but safety: “the purpose of this wouldn't be the intent would not be to generate any additional revenue at the landfill, but it's something that we possibly just need to address as a community,” Craig said. He presented options used by nearby jurisdictions — doubling tipping fees in some counties and a 50% surcharge in another — and a staff recommendation to define “secured load,” pursue an education period, and consider either a percentage surcharge or a flat fee.

County leaders and speakers at the meeting emphasized safety and practicality. A resident who identified himself as Kennedy said he was “really worried about what might happen on the overpass over Interstate 70” if debris blew from unsecured loads, noting the overpass has “no guardrails, no fencing.” Toby Doherty, Hays city manager, told commissioners the city staff supported a measured approach: “it’s a nudge rather than a mandate,” he said, arguing that incentives and outreach could change behavior. Sheriff Scott Brown noted criminal enforcement is an option: “which is actually a misdemeanor. It's, we can write a citation. That is a must appear in front of a judge if we go that route,” he said, adding that the sheriff’s office would enforce when investigators can identify responsible parties.

Craig supplied cost context from 2024-2025 data: the average municipal waste ticket was $35.42; a 50% surcharge on that average would be about $17.74. Construction-and-demolition loads averaged $64.95; a 50% surcharge would be about $32.47. Craig said those figures indicated the worst-case revenue scenarios and that the county should not expect full noncompliance. Commissioners debated implementation details: defining acceptable securing methods (tarps, ratchet straps, rope or other bindings that show an attempt to secure load), how to handle repeat offenders, and whether to require all loads to cross the scale so clerks can verify security.

Commissioners discussed enforcement tools such as installing a camera to let scale-house staff view load security without exiting the booth, printed educational materials, and a lengthy grace period before full enforcement. Commissioners expressed a preference for a simple, implementable approach; one suggested a flat fee for small loads and higher codes for larger loads to keep administration simple. Commissioners also voiced concern that strict enforcement without sufficient outreach could push some people toward illegal dumping rather than secure their loads.

No formal ordinance or rate change was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners asked Craig to return with a tentative written policy and implementation plan, including recommended definitions, an education timeline, potential fee structures (flat fee or percentage), signage and outreach materials, and equipment estimates for a camera. Craig and staff were also tasked to research how nearby jurisdictions handle repeat offenders and fee schedules. Commissioners said they favored a long education period and a clear, documented process to support scale-house clerks who might face disputes.

The item drew multiple public comments and participation from city and county officials; commissioners concluded by asking staff to prepare a draft for future consideration rather than taking immediate regulatory action.","Commissioners told staff to prepare a draft policy, including an education period, definitions of “secured load,” and possible fees or flat charges after a public discussion that included residents, the city manager and the sheriff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cottonwood Extension District to seek funding for community health worker; district asks county to monitor roadside trees

Ellis County approves $5,000 contribution to United Way to support county care council review

Ellis County commissioners ask staff to draft policy on unsecured loads at landfill