[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6648613,"mediaKeyId","2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4","parentId",2627653,"title","Treasurer briefs commissioners on idle funds, unclaimed checks and cleanup of ghost tax bills","audioSeconds",692,"startMs",4233000,"endMs",4925000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4&start=4233&end=4925","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4/thumbnail_4233000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648613/Coffey-County/Kansas/Treasurer-briefs-commissioners-on-idle-funds-unclaimed-checks-and-cleanup-of-ghost-tax-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648613-f68ce8f14d8ba0527212e31f4d8e8ef7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140947&Signature=Pg2lbk1UxzIT4fXHlwKcRmyn8q-W~aAbt2QIsIExGkO5SSXZTZRSG72tjzZu9frPFvo0cAUi5C5KA-S7Gdktg5jJkM37rzcU1-jfOGUhrPIS9zD9dUNK-TmqRPTS5TMfDYaSgRmQd9b2UEjEzZPclYLxso69-LXGY9avLHIHTuwXTpJ6GjD0g2SSCofKZ~OnAjY1sc~FSpzBQ4z-ZUgA8GYQCOX~j0zLwfpvBdcdiHFxtIeU5KiZroxsvTBA~WFud49hisOG5v5t54ydEpe3pkPOP0vks0lxcOKfPlF5fZ0OljewamOfVZvHlTOqzOwEqeE-InFSzMBVNMcQkZKfQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coffey County, KS","date","2025-02-12T13:56:43.79Z","article","Coffey County Treasurer Richard Crowell gave commissioners a routine financial update that included the county's idle funds summary for the past five years, an explanation of interest credits across accounts, and a plan to clean up long-standing erroneous tax statements in the county's tax system.

Crowell said the county's pooled balances rose late last year largely because jail and other funds were temporarily on deposit pending distribution. He also noted that the county's reserve accounts and interest earnings were being managed to protect liquidity for capital projects.

Tax-roll cleanup: Crowell told the board that the county has approximately 680 problematic statements dating back to a software conversion (some records go back to 1988) that represent duplicate or ghost bills and that these items inflate an apparent outstanding tax liability on system reports. He asked for the commission's approval to proceed with a statutory \"tax override\" process in the county system to clear those fictitious bills; Crowell said the operation will not change actual abstracts or payments for taxpayers and that state-assessed properties are not affected.

Unclaimed warrants: Crowell also reviewed a small set of uncashed warrants (checks) eligible for cancellation under statute; he said the county will bring a resolution and a final list to the board in February when staff have completed the required review and disbursement steps.

No action was required at the meeting beyond direction to proceed with the technical cleanup; Crowell said staff would return with the formal resolution and final listings once the work is complete.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Meeting 1-27-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Coffey County treasurer Richard Crowell reported on idle funds, year-end balances and a planned cleanup of erroneous or duplicate tax statements dating back decades; commissioners agreed to allow staff to proceed with fixing the records, and a list of canceled warrants will be brought back in February for formal resolution.","taxTitle","Coffey County, Kansas","taxId",73123,"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},6648618,"Hecate Energy introduces Otter Creek proposal to Coffey County commissioners; company says solar won't disrupt Wolf Creek operations",72,3068000,3140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4&start=3068&end=3140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4/thumbnail_3068000.jpg","/articles/6648618/Coffey-County/Kansas/Hecate-Energy-introduces-Otter-Creek-proposal-to-Coffey-County-commissioners-company-says-solar-wont-disrupt-Wolf-Creek-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648618-07a32fbe195a59a5ba0a0d1afd8d7619/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140947&Signature=iKKjv4aHBhvLSP3byap-E1Z3NNizme5EnrIRm73nFsn71cH2EJuakx-xZH7cnCcZKDlW1UkX367J7~jMaq6gYlCBcwRMp7rCQslTqWKBywgmL~UI28g8NQUqFSf9m2jwegRVT-pIA0s0Jp8~~mu8kmPdenHfqdG36qTHV1sKv9U0wFrwcQLNLQBTTd69Mk0Weoe87kzf7HNGt1HcgOw7I4xaHLPGrgWbOUy90BCRCBOuENhY6xsHvyHNIX9rDtUGMsG3jPMDQglnp598eRxz79RLpFuP~neTKSUyz3ORvxFLNTTiY6xUDs3JxDdhmAJUIDG6T6PuilzNv~yGqil6PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Hecate Energy briefed Coffey County commissioners on the Otter Creek solar project, answered questions about financing, and sought to address community concerns about whether a large renewable project could interfere with nearby Wolf Creek nuclear plant operations.

Harrison Munoz, a Hecate project developer, said the company wanted to be transparent and responsive to local concerns and offered contact information for residents with questions. He said the company is collecting community input and distributing informational materials.

Craig Wakeman, Hecate's senior director of engineering, described how solar plants operate on the grid and said that modern solar installations use inverters that can be ramped up or down to match demand. He said, based on his experience, that Wolf Creek, as a base-load nuclear station, will remain an operating asset for Evergy until retirement and that new renewable facilities are managed to complement, not displace, baseload plants.

Wakeman also said developers can design projects to avoid local transmission conflicts and that grid operators dispatch generation based on demand and economics. Munoz provided a one-page summary of financing structures and told the board Hecate would make further materials available to commissioners and the public.

Commissioners and residents in the meeting asked about community outreach and whether the company conducts door-to-door contact or leaves literature. Munoz said Hecate uses multiple outreach channels and will provide printed materials upon request.

No formal action was taken; the company made an introductory presentation and offered follow-up contacts for technical and financing questions.

","Hecate Energy representatives met with the commission to introduce the Otter Creek solar project, describe financing and respond to community concerns that renewable projects could interfere with power operations at Wolf Creek. Company engineers and outside officials said renewables and nuclear generation can coexist on the grid.",{"_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},6648623,"Officials outline $5.8 million plan for three new Coffey County radio towers, warn of ongoing replacement costs",664,2426000,3090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4&start=2426&end=3090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4/thumbnail_2426000.jpg","/articles/6648623/Coffey-County/Kansas/Officials-outline-58-million-plan-for-three-new-Coffey-County-radio-towers-warn-of-ongoing-replacement-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648623-c7e5c88318d11a19209c7e0667a17be1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140947&Signature=mHNqfVZ5x5N78qHA6w5Gfd5cQ5KGmUFRiM-UN9L4yJi~ypwfTfgYyLh4yYTZbpKv57QHmshRmmwuTgSz-UyOFw7j9Zg0lUXxX~EoeOvGoddsRlxIXGoIepA0ltx7GIYsbpDWoNNWx9qyDVkEmZcdniRjsosxekFT4nORLuqsDt0NxLCzT0qPyylMX2mRaoM4O8l4TQLvjiunIAYAGR0jl79u4O9jHrF756RDGyfo-nZBoxIiYRv2K4EbJi20uFqqWDQXrh9~bHv89D25GTRuQ3nCXL1U~-qMTLL6id~tQPfi2NUdXG~~h6qFhh4074i-qDvjb0m7gOFYhD3t0~Gk-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coffey County emergency management and law enforcement officials presented plans for a county-owned radio simulcast system and three new radio towers designed to improve handheld coverage in rural areas and inside some buildings.

Amber Russell, the county's emergency manager, and Sgt. Scott Farmer of the Coffey County Sheriff's Office described the multi-site system being procured through Motorola and explained the near-term payments and long-term costs.

Why it matters: County officials said current coverage leaves gaps in towns such as LeRoy, Gridley and Levo and that better coverage is critical for firefighters, EMS and deputies. The plan calls for the county to own three towers and a fiber-linked simulcast system so first responders have redundant coverage across most of the county.

Project and timeline: Farmer said the total purchase is about $5.8 million. The county has paid $1.4 million at contract signing. The project will add a 300-foot tower near LeRoy, a 200-foot tower north of Gridley (placed on higher ground so it can be shorter), and a tower near the Levo lagoon. Sites were chosen to maximize line-of-sight and access to fiber optic lines.

Farmer said Motorola has promised about 95% mobile coverage outdoors for handheld radios once the system is installed, and he said the county will pursue additional in-building solutions where necessary (for example, bidirectional amplifiers at Wolf Creek nuclear plant and other hardened facilities).

Costs and budget implications: Farmer described the payment schedule the county faces: an initial quarter payment already made ($1.4 million), a next large payment estimated in roughly 14 months (about $3.5 million), and later smaller payments tied to installation completion and final acceptance. He also warned of recurring costs once the towers are operating: routine inspections, utilities, generator maintenance, insurance, and other operating expenses. He said the county has budgeted capital improvement funds to cover the purchase and is also setting aside money for future radio replacements.

Replacement cycle and future radio purchases: Farmer noted that radio infrastructure and radios have multi-year replacement cycles and that agencies will need to budget for periodic large radio purchases. He told commissioners that car and mobile radios are typically replaced on roughly eight-year cycles and that handhelds can cost several thousand dollars each; he said Coffey County is budgeting in the capital improvement plan to smooth future replacement costs.

Ownership and potential revenue: Commissioners were told the county will own the towers and could lease space to outside companies; officials said private firms would need to demonstrate no radio-frequency interference and meet structural requirements. Officials also described the radio program's governance, including a county radio committee made up of representatives from agencies that use the system.

Next steps: Officials said leases and site engineering must be completed before tower construction begins. Commissioners were asked to continue oversight of the capital plan and reserves; officials said they will return with detailed lease and engineering agreements as the project proceeds.

","Emergency management and law enforcement officials briefed commissioners on a planned county-owned radio simulcast system and three towers to improve handheld radio coverage; project cost is $5.8 million with staged payments and ongoing annual costs expected.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648628,"Coffey County to pay up to $10,000 toward survey for school-owned land to spur housing near rec center",1230,210000,1440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4&start=210&end=1440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627653-57d02a59f9bbc3c3da8e6043343c19c4/thumbnail_210000.jpg","/articles/6648628/Coffey-County/Kansas/Coffey-County-to-pay-up-to-10000-toward-survey-for-school-owned-land-to-spur-housing-near-rec-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648628-7a626d0e039fca7cec4c78cd68b9a8ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140947&Signature=E-UQ8R1qhr~9ueBtJO9PA4QN45bHZUUdqzTitLTxlr8xsRabU9UC~DW9P5xPO7lrFMN53kfel-zqA-EVDB-GeHakAoKJrQHsUCvPfEMYMIO0V6KA1fYXbl5eoPfbmlWqOXAZhETtuHoJlUrg9NxqTHp~gLrZt2xgm03kcPIOJxNw2lHHKDkqG16UezIxe2sp~S6nAo2esrmhheNKk-OGQ-KP6W7HCM9kW5WGyC87i26MqJJ6kAVBOqpxewZzDdi6vj-a3UPunx3DsMEW2GVHZntvEe8lXELaSbO~bJl8L2Uj3f026ajBV6VIyM6I~5XZyGGF~AxJoaDFh9WI2qUVxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coffey County commissioners voted to pay up to $10,000 toward the cost of surveying and a drainage study for a school-owned parcel west of the Burlington Recreation Center, a step proponents say could clear the way for up to six new home lots near the rec center and schools.

The funding, approved by majority vote with one dissent, will cover half the cost of a plot survey and a drainage survey for the parcel on Willett Street, with money to come from the county's community improvement reserve. Commissioners instructed staff to return a formal contract; the board asked that the county be kept informed as work proceeds.

Why it matters: The parcel is owned by USD 244 and sits adjacent to recreational facilities, Burlington Middle School and Burlington High School. School and housing authority officials told the commission their boards want the property developed for housing to help attract and retain employees and to add modest, neighborhood-scale housing in the city.

Housing authority director Rhonda Gilbert and Burlington USD 244 superintendent Craig Marshall presented the proposal and asked the commission to share survey costs so the school board could decide how to proceed. Gilbert said the school board does not foresee needing the property for school functions and wants it to be usable for housing that fits the neighborhood.

\"We don't see a need for that property for the school district,\" Gilbert said, adding the board would be willing to sell or otherwise partner with a housing authority or developer to see homes built. Marshall and Gilbert both said drainage across the parcel is the principal obstacle to subdivision.

Marshall said engineers told him a plot survey would run about $10,000 and a drainage survey about $8,000. He told the commission that if the county supported paying half the survey costs, the housing authority would then present the results to the school board at its Feb. 10 meeting and the school board would decide whether to proceed.

Commission discussion focused on the county's role in getting a usable site prepared while avoiding creating windfalls for speculators. Commissioners said they wanted enforceable language if the land were sold so buyers could not hold parcels without building, and they discussed several options: selling all land to the housing authority, selling lots with build-out conditions, or structuring repayment to the school as houses are sold.

Motion and outcome: The board approved (majority, 2-1) a motion to pay half the cost of the plot and drainage survey, not to exceed $10,000, with funds coming from the community improvement reserve. The motion was moved and seconded at the meeting; the record shows the motion passed with one nay. The board asked staff to work with the housing authority and school district on scope and contract language before payment.

Next steps: Gilbert said the housing authority will return to the school board on Feb. 10 with survey results if the county's support is confirmed, and the county will be provided engineering findings and proposed contract language as the work proceeds.

","County commissioners approved paying up to $10,000 (half the cost) from the community improvement reserve to help fund a plot and drainage survey of school-owned land adjacent to the Burlington Recreation Center so the parcel can be developed for housing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Treasurer briefs commissioners on idle funds, unclaimed checks and cleanup of ghost tax bills

Hecate Energy introduces Otter Creek proposal to Coffey County commissioners; company says solar won't disrupt Wolf Creek operations

Officials outline $5.8 million plan for three new Coffey County radio towers, warn of ongoing replacement costs

Coffey County to pay up to $10,000 toward survey for school-owned land to spur housing near rec center