[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6278860,"mediaKeyId","2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf","parentId",2632006,"title","Residents, colleagues defend Harvey County health staff after quarantine dispute","audioSeconds",2229,"startMs",555000,"endMs",2784000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf&start=555&end=2784","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf/thumbnail_555000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278860/Harvey-County/Kansas/Residents-colleagues-defend-Harvey-County-health-staff-after-quarantine-dispute","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278860-bc5cdca5ac829b1dd4d1b797845c1f60/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442887&Signature=Uy7y8C9zJhtwIRY24T5KDYUVXk38KYRiAvQznPOXlhbtfVCSRd5QajWTWS0JGI0tlcaSyq-IoflD7-14YVjkPD7MtL6bPp9H-6oheYGOpqrZZPByY~b9IRLj~uGmFROF2jd1GdTuBi0spjFzMH9mZjlEoGslu69b54MbbI7c-PNNIvBo-iSo8KTbHqAVrcNpjSorl2a5wJoKWXVhG2if9t2Hu0fhvgYMRcQiKobad2~k6OblW47e5tDPUWTyE5v7hFRJ4BW4upYmwFaiBJfD2eFb12EKaz7WS9T5VJVriwXKMAosG2qQo5lFJJUSEU~U5QBeIxwjQPoQVrlH3uuMmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harvey County, KS","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","More than a dozen residents and former county officials urged the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on March 11 to retain and support Harvey County Health Department staff after public criticism of a quarantine decision involving a likely chickenpox exposure.

Speakers told the board the health department followed established procedures, that staff made difficult public-health choices during the COVID-19 pandemic and that Director Lynette Reddington and medical staff such as Toby Harkins have been valuable to the county.

Public speakers described specific health risks and the county’s response: Alice Janssen, R.N., and others warned that varicella during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects or fatal neonatal infection; John Waltner, a former Harvey County administrator, said the department consulted a medical doctor (identified in public comments as Dr. Detweiler) and followed prescribed procedures. Multiple speakers said Reddington led successful grant and prevention programs that brought state and federal funding into the county.

Multiple residents recounted personal experiences with the health department. Penny Dorado and others said they reviewed statewide directories and local records and found Reddington’s experience and grant track record strong; Laurie Kessler and others cited grant-funded programs and millions in outside funding. Emily Judd and others described mentorship and local projects supported by the department.

Commission discussion and public remarks
Commissioners allowed an extended public-comment period and then addressed the item. One commissioner publicly stated “unwavering support” for Lynette Reddington, Toby Harkins and Dr. Detweiler and thanked department staff for following procedures. The county counselor told the board he would prepare a written opinion on legal questions raised during public comment.

Why it matters
The comments came amid community concern about how the health department enforces communicable-disease rules and communicates with affected families. Several speakers framed the dispute as a personnel and procedural issue but said they believed the department had followed clinical and statutory guidance. The board did not take disciplinary action on the record; instead commissioners and the county counselor signaled additional review and legal counsel.

What the record shows
Speakers repeatedly praised the health department’s past grants and programs, including a Drug-Free Communities grant and local prevention initiatives, and said those contributions had tangible community benefits. Medical risk claims (for example, gestational varicella risks and neonatal varicella mortality) were presented by residents and health professionals during public comment and are attributed to those speakers.

Next steps
The county counselor said he would deliver a written legal opinion about the zoning/authority questions and any legal issues raised; commissioners closed public comment and moved on to the rest of the agenda.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Harvey County Commission meeting - March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","More than a dozen residents and former county officials urged the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on March 11 to retain and support Harvey County Health Department staff after public criticism of a quarantine decision involving a likely chickenpox exposure.","taxTitle","Harvey County, Kansas","taxId",61137,"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},6278841,"City and county discuss East First Street design; county defers decision and schedules work session",3783,3388000,7171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf&start=3388&end=7171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf/thumbnail_3388000.jpg","/articles/6278841/Harvey-County/Kansas/City-and-county-discuss-East-First-Street-design-county-defers-decision-and-schedules-work-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278841-52571681e42f290ea97fd733525a3a99/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442887&Signature=O28g6oAFZMG982ylP09y949PLEx3Tp5ANDnimQ4gyKH0iFDj8jqzij8uVzN~42w~qr8stuQP4Hj9J5IrR1dUW-ibvaP8UuaKbZqwzb54qXa84HHBV1HV3rnIJu6p6lfLj5IRRtOnnA7SJ4FGAJxPVrKmhi-yLxSbKHg7qSJ42g9bsqZVgrkC1FzoDd5apr4djtwFjbz3gdN-FGL7HQCF2OcUfv4fQk3n0ztbKmwWqvavdqp6eIbRVzYHcEyFIpbksA3rWMe-sABoezt1ySOnBhaAhS7ReMOtc2UrrzPCSSKgGULS5TXJ~URNzZSAG0pqQzVR~-3csVLGwL3xPXqxgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Newton staff asked Harvey County commissioners on March 11 to approve participation in design work for East First Street Phase 2 so the county and city can coordinate a two-phase roadway improvement project.

Suzanne Loomis, representing the city, described a plan that splits the corridor into two phases and said design economies of scale would save roughly $50,000 if the city and county proceed together. The city’s review committee selected Garver Engineering to provide engineering and geotechnical services; the Phase 1 design estimate provided to the commission for the combined project was $287,550 (phase costs were shown separately in packet materials).

Commissioner questions and next steps
Commissioners asked for clarifications about cost caps, right-of-way acquisition, property impacts (including concerns about trees and noise attenuation near Hillside), and how construction would be funded and bonded. Road & Bridge Superintendent Jim Meyer joined the discussion and said such improvements will likely be required over the coming years as the area develops; he warned county funds are already strained and that long-range capital planning would identify priorities.

Action taken
The commission did not vote to commit funds at the March 11 meeting. Commissioners scheduled a work session for March 19 at 9:30 a.m. (after a department-head meeting) to review Road & Bridge priorities and to hear a more detailed presentation on this project before any funding decision. City staff will present again at the March 19 discussion and the Newton City Commission was scheduled to consider the agreement the same evening.

Why it matters
East First Street improvements would affect planned commercial development along the corridor and could require right-of-way purchases and bonding. Commissioners emphasized needing a clearer map of county priorities, cost controls (a suggested not-to-exceed cap), and the sequence of improvements before approving any design funding commitment.","City of Newton sought county approval to share design costs for East First Street improvements; commissioners asked for more information and scheduled a work session for March 19 to review Road & Bridge priorities and the proposed two‑phase design.",{"_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},6278844,"County extends compliance deadline for Pete’s Puddle events permit to May 1",232,3255000,3487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf&start=3255&end=3487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf/thumbnail_3255000.jpg","/articles/6278844/Harvey-County/Kansas/County-extends-compliance-deadline-for-Petes-Puddle-events-permit-to-May-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278844-868da4abd0acc7ec342cc2fc38354041/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442887&Signature=WB1fLN4bQzSAr4GyISYo0YrqFDjdzFdvUUdVJdK89qULVivEqgC62wUqaNdLYpK30VXCg8DD0K8W2Tesgsp0UAMSQMs76T-r5o33x6f8Ub4cNHJ7aCWKSF3U9eLUsvHV2FhDZGB~hdXvmXulQm02pMkNFW9zFJDHc3AQxnB3ZVzApwi2kV1iPkoHr8ggadIX6qGBNoBtoYRC~He9FQpOAd-o0CUo6Eu0Df~zKsJ5WaczCQlKRDb6gzVFq-0XRnEop6WmnUsXCL1GOukAIO8x5NDne2D3z5seTaVYXX5P3cXAdqVtCdS-RJiF~2m~k59KwjzMhKnITp~9EDzvgH6~zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harvey County Planning and Zoning asked the board on March 11 to extend the county’s compliance deadline for a conditional-use permit held by an events venue known in materials as Pete’s Puddle.

Planning Director Karen Rothy told commissioners the site still lacked potable water in compliance with state rules and that the property owner was working with Kansas Municipal Utilities and KDHE to resolve water issues. Rothy said a surveyor had been engaged to resolve property-line and floodplain issues and that state regulators had extended a related deadline into early April.

Rothy requested the county extend its deadline for the items under county authority to May 1, 2025, to allow time for the owner to show progress. Commissioners agreed on the record to extend the county’s compliance deadline to May 1 and said further extensions could be considered if state approvals remained outstanding.

Why it matters
The extension preserves the conditional-use permit while county and state agencies continue technical reviews of water supply and site compliance. The county emphasized it expects demonstrable progress before any further deadline extension.

Provenance
Planning and Zoning’s conditional-use file and the county’s extension decision are recorded in the March 11 meeting transcript.","Harvey County Planning and Zoning asked the commission to extend a compliance deadline for the conditional-use permit for “Pete’s Puddle” event venue; commissioners agreed to extend the county’s deadline to May 1 to allow work on potable water and survey issues.",{"_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},6278849,"Halsted residents urge enforcement of county battery-storage ban; county counsel to issue written opinion",278,724000,1002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf&start=724&end=1002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf/thumbnail_724000.jpg","/articles/6278849/Harvey-County/Kansas/Halsted-residents-urge-enforcement-of-county-battery-storage-ban-county-counsel-to-issue-written-opinion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278849-effaaa44f492a916c1840db6c1a9f1ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442887&Signature=NEYeA4GIJ4jRXqzbc2Fwpm3sxefNyhsXmsoQjy7rEGqEp2D3ztvZsKtaqR1pwDQMAMsYPTPqT357d3w6oeKEPLTQJ8KGXR9b9z7Pj-pkFBOwRQF4HUJvYG1PJ2NVo1sNYGJJLyFwywQoP8kx4u4OQED2J95ud98yo4YfQXjQ~K2-jTPOCAULBDvwsg48krPmfzNtasqkWJ1jp6rKpswXOp54mjcGOqXcvdcL~L5577bDhtpCVYweUidpT~B7-6e0TkF6-6RHxRLnGuo3KjQHkIy-HjNALOV~lWZw6PVejUG6GgpZ7XFz5OiWHsKnCJzxJZlijMkuLDLmteC2hNcwKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of Halsted and surrounding areas urged the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on March 11 to enforce a county zoning prohibition on primary battery storage in areas mapped to protect the Equus Beds groundwater system.

Kevin Henderson, a Halsted resident, told commissioners he and many Halsted residents oppose a battery energy storage project and cited a county zoning ordinance (referenced in public comment as “ordinance 13.03, section 10,” on the transcript) that he said bans battery storage in mapped groundwater-protection areas. He said he understood a city limit placement could be used to avoid county restrictions and asked the commission to clarify and enforce the county rule.

Speakers and concerns
Henderson referenced high-profile fires at large battery-storage facilities — he cited the Moss Landing incident in California — and said the county ordinance was intended to protect the Equus Beds groundwater management district. Another speaker, Peter Aversa, warned about toxic gas plumes and urged commissioners to consider the potential consequences of a storage-system failure.

County response
A county counselor told the meeting that he would provide a written opinion on whether the county zoning ordinance applies inside city limits and on related legal questions raised by residents. The commission did not take immediate formal action on a permit or on enforcement at the meeting.

Why it matters
Speakers framed the issue as both an environmental-protection and public-safety concern tied to groundwater protection for the county. At issue is the relationship between county zoning rules and city regulatory authority, and whether a project inside municipal boundaries can effectively circumvent county-level groundwater protections.

Provenance
Public comments and the counselor’s pledge to prepare a written legal opinion are recorded in the March 11 meeting transcript; no permit application was approved or denied during the meeting.","Halsted residents told the Harvey County commissioners they oppose a proposed battery energy storage system inside city limits and said a 2002 county zoning ordinance appears to ban battery storage within mapped Equus Beds protection areas; the county counselor agreed to provide a written opinion.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278854,"Votes at a glance: Harvey County commission approves warrants, grants and detention-range purchase",4915,449000,5364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf&start=449&end=5364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2632006-b66873ee25b54e2f565b10c95abc7fcf/thumbnail_449000.jpg","/articles/6278854/Harvey-County/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Harvey-County-commission-approves-warrants-grants-and-detention-range-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278854-da6ad6ec9a36034af3f51365591ccd46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442887&Signature=jZFAvxAYFvET2oW9-KxV9p1h6mHZnGTWWgjYk5eGvXo-EJf0-z-QxjfDDM7kxDaaIEkWBZKkH5ufHZkVrCnWxdbVwYqPABZkEEa-s9q6N-JoNcYmLUPLnPGbH-P66jqjdBq4Xs1aRys1V5zY9qyuMWlLTOUlZ0gVDecLKOgYWJWsKqb1aktm~0vsdDD4ZnqmaHYIsqRzKkRaQVFfvEWJUQaVLijk0q59FJjkN7gn-~QZW5PNvmZ4iiq~IAZxkmAOEKEjslx4YkAFdtc9gJp-vHv~Xre5vBQfuIJiQpA8xYhYes9fGxsKjSA2XL~OHd0feYbSgpP-Wig12aHvNUZpZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harvey County Board of Commissioners recorded several unanimous voice votes at its March 11 meeting. Actions taken by the commission included approval of minutes, payment warrants, a grant application for Community Corrections and purchase approval for a new detention-center range.

Key outcomes
- Minutes: Commissioners approved minutes for Feb. 11 and a special meeting on Feb. 12, 2025. A motion and second were recorded on the public record and the motion passed.

- Warrant checks: The commission approved warrant checks dated March 7, 2025, totaling $436,559.25. Commissioners also approved an administrative motion permitting payment of next week’s bills in the absence of a scheduled meeting.

- Community Corrections grant application: The commission approved the submission of grant applications and associated FY2026 budgets for Harvey–McPherson County Community Corrections and signed originals were accepted by staff in the meeting.

- Detention center equipment: The commission approved the purchase of a 72-inch commercial Wolf brand range for the detention center at a cost of $17,605. The procurement followed two vendor quotes and a motion to award the purchase to Sunflower Restaurant Supply Company passed by voice vote.

Procedure and voting
All recorded votes in the meeting were taken by voice; the minutes and the on-record motions reflect unanimous aye responses to the approval motions. Where individual votes or roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript, the meeting record indicates that motions passed by general voice vote.

Why it matters
The warrant approval enacted the county’s current weekly payables; the Community Corrections grant approval allows the local corrections agency to pursue state funding for adult and juvenile budgets; the detention-center equipment purchase replaces a long-serving stove and is part of planned capital improvements.

Provenance
Each item above is drawn from the March 11 meeting record: minutes approval and motions to approve appear in the minutes segment of the meeting; warrant checks and payment authority occur later in the agenda; the Community Corrections grant was presented by the agency director and the motion to approve is in the record; the detention-center purchase was presented by Undersheriff Sean Chapman with a bid recommendation and a recorded motion to award the bid to Sunflower Restaurant Supply Company.","At its March 11 meeting the Harvey County Board of Commissioners approved minutes, warrant checks totaling $436,559.25, pre-approval to pay next week’s bills, a community-corrections grant application and the purchase of a 72-inch commercial range for the detention center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents, colleagues defend Harvey County health staff after quarantine dispute

City and county discuss East First Street design; county defers decision and schedules work session

County extends compliance deadline for Pete’s Puddle events permit to May 1

Halsted residents urge enforcement of county battery-storage ban; county counsel to issue written opinion

Votes at a glance: Harvey County commission approves warrants, grants and detention-range purchase