[{"_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",6058943,"mediaKeyId","3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969","parentId",3296329,"title","Commissioners set department budget meetings; staff to schedule 30-minute sessions starting May 30","audioSeconds",105,"startMs",3099000,"endMs",3204000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969&start=3099&end=3204","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969/thumbnail_3099000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058943/Crawford-County/Kansas/Commissioners-set-department-budget-meetings-staff-to-schedule-30-minute-sessions-starting-May-30","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058943-772a023fa3edeb2e52b0bd733fe02ed0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172768&Signature=lrxFAB7fwxaiAOlNMKIga6MI5XmiqGYfLzQ4MaHLrSliB953hTXaaZmp8OV7PcY~hp9SHCGyix1AqhAF0K2HmgDlJ3lNyPSGqneYUKRFtY72-S45NjA8qRo0KWYO1d4uai1~SdqgNZOv91iJ2u8Uw7MqfWH2~8YED7P6BesIDechi3-IpI3-17aTEoMLZb019NVZW27uyqxjMjMo7qP3u5wq33bk~1XVSmpIj6boXpoK~OBMfNIoPJdrlI5us3pXZnnN-6irRZxYLBE267TbC43HuT9FdFria5~pzNp~Ga-2l-y6Q5wQSJfr-WQ4xnBiAkhOZVquUhAGm5Ep~ArMSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Crawford County, KS","date","2025-05-09T13:04:11Z","article","Crawford County commissioners directed staff on May 9 to begin scheduling departmental budget meetings for the coming fiscal cycle, with initial sessions starting the week of May 30.

Why it matters: Early scheduling aims to streamline the county budget review and give department heads time to present needs before fiscal deadlines.

County finance staff said department-request forms were distributed and should be returned in about two weeks; commissioners asked that meetings be scheduled in 30-minute slots, with longer slots available for departments that need extra time.

Rainey (staff) prepared a scheduling spreadsheet; commissioners agreed to begin meetings at 9 a.m. on May 30 and to adjust timing as needed. The commission also discussed availability constraints and asked staff to coordinate on suitable dates.

No budget amounts or department requests were discussed during the May 9 meeting; the item establishes the schedule and procedure for upcoming budget hearings.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Crawford County Live Meeting 05-09-2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff circulated budget-request forms and commissioners agreed to begin departmental budget meetings as early as May 30, with standard 30-minute slots and flexibility for longer presentations.","taxTitle","Crawford County, Kansas","taxId",55170,"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},6058948,"County submits rezoning application to City of Girard for proposed early-childhood program site",85,3347000,3432000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969&start=3347&end=3432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969/thumbnail_3347000.jpg","/articles/6058948/Crawford-County/Kansas/County-submits-rezoning-application-to-City-of-Girard-for-proposed-early-childhood-program-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058948-a08f27884fe67e61e9430925179b41b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172768&Signature=OOCstbfFfRW1dI5fsnzJaMhDxkYKMvLTrG-SxJtBoXvNQpFhqJ0OpDTiAwcByT3u-xJ-U2tEZfXbGMSIeU6y3uBkm88ika2vDd0u-GzLuC6tK7u3mfH7MeB~2SjPbew-HxslvpZXwNPZg0~b5vYTFN8VtkpyfdL~UkhS7Al5cLD4OsQGBrngKLoD~p~my7uapqG6a7vWZ~8T55KSZNgvfGXMPjherReOFUYBwojTFIZ4cBv-9zLHXNU1S6Xl8H-A2WHM~5a4a4YGjsH7fnjm91wDHBvk4gYH5LRm~P8ewj4AyJbosUqiz9XTIFQjR9AZ1cGgGkMt2fRcm0ryGf5Hmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff said May 9 they will re-submit a rezoning application to the City of Girard for a site east of the county barn that a community program (HIPPY) prefers because of utility access.

Why it matters: The county’s application is a preliminary step to determine whether the city will approve a zoning change before the county invests further time in planning a facility at that location.

Lisa (county staff) said the preferred lot east of the county barn offers better access to utilities and would require a city rezoning; the county intends to work with Girard staff and attend any city hearings related to the rezoning application. “This application is nothing more than doing that paperwork beforehand to see if they'll get approval before we even talk about planning the other stuff,” she said.

Commissioners voted to proceed with submitting the paperwork and to ensure county representation at Girard’s zoning hearings. The county will obtain the 200-foot property-ownership notifications and coordinate with city staff, including Terry Ray at the City of Girard, to complete the process.

No final site or funding decisions were made at the May 9 meeting; the item is a procedural step to test whether the city will rezone the parcel to accommodate the proposed program.

","Commissioners agreed to refile a rezoning application with the City of Girard for a site east of the county barn to host an early-childhood program facility; county staff said city rezoning will be handled by Girard and the county will be represented at hearings.",{"_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},6058953,"Crawford County commissioners approve resolution to start cleanup timeline for nuisance property",172,124000,296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969&start=124&end=296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969/thumbnail_124000.jpg","/articles/6058953/Crawford-County/Kansas/Crawford-County-commissioners-approve-resolution-to-start-cleanup-timeline-for-nuisance-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058953-acfc8bc1a7db489fbcb82a12f0e24398/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172768&Signature=b8KyED3mWHNpBsf1xB4vfRb8RXv3nwwFg3nA~3fTUslH0U~qvmfzLU3~qMCL4xjrMy-LkmF8JBaDk79N4~AfpL6pagT5RU~OmBAOJZhHz1wITIDVScGeY5yDyd-TwDOmZOSvQgsw9CHZVHY6qbTnIuubhRNXSR4AVKgTIXgc~vwPPDg5XDUYj9RWTIQzD0MTuBk1zg2m7FgxYfukQqJUIXuJVBoWyOFgQ3hVHj3QiiczDHbydWL~Pgll13ts1ykCkRxCFMJlBfH9c6dKSdPIogLM9Q2r0DTnUUIUTglRuZryrAfKlB7Sc6aNqWBPpIkLZICN6~yMXYhHSrkCcTDOKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crawford County commissioners approved Resolution 2025-019 on May 9 to initiate enforcement and set a timetable for cleanup of a long-standing nuisance property, Zoning Administrator May Smith said.

The resolution notifies property owners and starts a statutory timeline that allows owners to request a hearing before the commission; if they do not act within the prescribed days, county crews may enter the property to abate the nuisance.

Why it matters: This action implements local nuisance-enforcement procedures and follows changes tied to Senate Bill 384 that shift some hearing responsibilities to the commission’s public meetings.

May Smith told commissioners the county has documented repeated failures by the property owner to remedy trash and vehicle abandonment. She said the resolution begins the countdown that gives the owner a final chance to request a hearing and to clean the property before county cleanup begins. “This just begins the countdown so that they can request their hearing,” she said.

Smith noted trash cleanup follows a straightforward timetable, but vehicle removal raises additional legal and logistical questions; she said the county is still developing procedures for removing vehicles and therefore could not give a firm date for vehicle abatement.

Commissioners and staff clarified process points: notice may be hand-delivered or mailed; once signed by commissioners the resolution takes effect; and the hearing, if requested, will be held in the commission chamber rather than in municipal court for these cases, a change Smith tied to Senate Bill 384. “That hearing … will be held in this room in front of you guys. It will no longer be in front of my judge,” Smith said.

The commission signed copies of the resolution and directed county staff to proceed with notices and scheduling, including providing the owner the opportunity to request a hearing before the deadline elapsed.

","The commission approved Resolution 2025-019 to begin enforcement and notification for a chronic nuisance property; county zoning staff explained notice, hearing rights, vehicle removal complexities and the 20-day countdown for owner response.",{"_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},6058958,"Developers, landowners and county debate lifting Crawford County solar moratorium",2725,363000,3088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969&start=363&end=3088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296329-2168a69b0c6232ca7cc5b3caec3b1969/thumbnail_363000.jpg","/articles/6058958/Crawford-County/Kansas/Developers-landowners-and-county-debate-lifting-Crawford-County-solar-moratorium","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058958-2823a0d74473b9b3aa2aa14e3458c92b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172768&Signature=RJFF63nwBwJE1z2qYTBSceD3OLT~cpmJQCZtvno7lQCz7-cyNdg91EITXPoyIGoEDd3F9E0dkpt5~7fwEHEDdbGgfnhXjv2py03ROcsmLCKtAUVh-Yooa3Ftzr8eZxRw2DIL-a7yQAQpXALzlthijz-n9OvP6IY4t8JxeeTtaKwHkLlBkbbrUh-2dH72vQnUqHrpBs1yN70WdqhqG5B8ku9WU~c~2J~wzxLwCbUAvYPT-wEcyVqu0UxrIDVmR4ULcyPj9Rq0JLK1SBBIR6C4p~b2jX8ysQ9inmGNW2AhTch9P~rPDgwFSLnfdyfk0FHkPPO1UKhSsncyVmCUjfH~sA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Kopiak, a representative of Chester Power, urged Crawford County commissioners on May 9 to lift the county's moratorium on large-scale solar so his company and other developers can begin projects that would involve Pittsburg State University students and local farmland.

The request came during the commission's public-comment period as developers described planned investments and county residents and landowners pressed for clarity about taxes, school funding and project guarantees.

Why it matters: Commissioners are weighing a moratorium on utility-scale solar and wind while a consultant finalizes an updated comprehensive plan. Developers said delays risk moving private investment and utility contracts — and tax revenue tied to battery storage — to other counties.

Kopiak said the project would employ about 200 workers for roughly two years and bring “a substantial investment in the area,” and asked the commission to lift the moratorium so permitting and development can proceed. He said Chester Power is working with Pittsburg State University’s materials science program on research and student training at a farm site in the county.

Alyssa Rhodes said the taxable portion of a solar installation is driven largely by battery storage and site infrastructure because Kansas law provides a 10-year exemption for the solar panels themselves. “There is a 10-year exemption on the panels,” she said, adding that “the battery component … is not exempt,” and called the lack of exemption for batteries “a big deal.” Rhodes estimated the first-year benefit to one district could be about $1,700,000 based on projected property-value changes and current state school-aid formulas; she also referenced a current $977,000 state equalization payment to USD 246 that would be affected if local property values rise.

A landowner, identifying himself as Rekke Elniki, told commissioners he had discussed regional utility demand with Evergy and said Evergy plans large solar additions that will require tens of thousands of acres statewide. “They want to add 2,500 megawatts of solar energy … that would take approximately 15,000 acres of land,” he said, arguing Crawford County should move to attract projects.

A company speaker identified as Steve described contractual protections developers typically use: utility power-purchase agreements that commonly run 20 years, decommissioning bonds and the expectation that a buyer of a site would assume or improve existing bonds. “If we commit to a bond … the next company will be required to have a bond of exactly the same substance or better,” he said.

Commissioners and members of the public asked several procedural and substantive questions: whether cities inside the county are exempt from the county moratorium (yes, city permitting remains separate), how school-district shares are calculated (taxes are based on assessed value of taxable components), how the county will screen or validate responses to the comprehensive-plan survey (consultant tools can de-duplicate and segment responses by district), and whether utilities can use eminent-domain powers for solar (speakers said utilities can use eminent domain for transmission but not to acquire land for solar generation without KCC authority).

Speakers repeatedly urged prompt action on the comprehensive plan and the county’s wind-and-solar zoning so the community can move from moratorium to clear permitting standards. Rhodes and others said they are meeting with Pittsburg State University and other regional partners to pursue grants, training and complementary manufacturing.

The record: Commissioners scheduled a consultant update and promised to discuss details at a work session; several speakers said they would meet privately with county officials and the consultant to provide data. Several participants asked the county to consider decommissioning legislation reported to be pending at the state level and to require decommissioning bonds before construction.

Closing note: Commissioners said the comprehensive-plan consultant will attend a May 13 meeting to clarify survey response targets and next procedural steps; the commission did not lift the moratorium during the May 9 meeting.

","Developers and local landowners urged Crawford County commissioners to lift a moratorium on large-scale solar so projects tied to Pittsburg State University and utility contracts can proceed; speakers discussed tax abatement, battery taxation, school-district revenue estimates and the county's comprehensive-plan survey that will inform zoning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners set department budget meetings; staff to schedule 30-minute sessions starting May 30

County submits rezoning application to City of Girard for proposed early-childhood program site

Crawford County commissioners approve resolution to start cleanup timeline for nuisance property

Developers, landowners and county debate lifting Crawford County solar moratorium