[{"_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",6229487,"mediaKeyId","3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e","parentId",3461739,"title","Register of Deeds seeks full‑time clerk, adds passport service and tech investments to reduce future risk","audioSeconds",898,"startMs",9155000,"endMs",10053000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e&start=9155&end=10053","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e/thumbnail_9155000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229487/Miami-County/Kansas/Register-of-Deeds-seeks-fulltime-clerk-adds-passport-service-and-tech-investments-to-reduce-future-risk","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229487-200bf7058060b689343d7b4f93e2a738/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113800&Signature=UT2xTLqohTPswqKVV872Fp94cPyv8ddBAqxQHUTCrt1Z7FifAYh2D1aTR~ExSb~1QEwgsQA~LSNAlCPrKOqaomuC6xzNfvTnblvOircpeU-LLTQrLNNi67EsT7HKjhN8xiZgaRQ2DwgyC~7L2uk272AkYaMvsBIzyMA44MXNjebscb6Vgml78KqN9hH5eyNM3CeVUIp21sR3g9YdKOM160ONWzaU6ZFxMR3GrcyphLPWh8VhrnVAGkG2JKTApGyjGCHWArpebIeQtfOXatIYts~INWEe~CvgApue~UfXYTNT9s6HNyEqetia2jDDfDmE--6buNJ184FtyQNlWtzvUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Miami County,KS","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","At the budget hearing Miami County Register of Deeds Jamie Homer Kalson requested the commission approve converting a part‑time position to full time, and described plans to add passport acceptance and photo services along with technology investments to digitize historic index records.

Kalson told commissioners her office produced significantly more recording revenue than projected last year and that a full‑time clerk plus passport services could be self‑supporting. “We would make $35 on each passport and $15 for each picture that we take,” she said, describing the standard acceptance fee and photo fee revenue the county would retain. She also said Lyon County—used as a comparator—generated hundreds of dollars a day on busy passport days and that Miami County could serve residents from neighboring counties.

Kalson outlined technology needs and preservation risks: the office plans phased imaging of historic index pages (first phase quoted at about $68,000) and has a recurring tech‑system lifecycle payment (approximately $19,470 per year) currently paid from the technology fund. She said the tech fund balance has averaged about $200,000 and that the fund is funded by per‑page recording fees rather than general tax dollars. Kalson expressed reluctance to pay a staff salary from the tech fund, saying she does not feel it is lawful to fund salaries from that account and that she currently pays roughly half of a part‑time clerk from the tech fund.

Commissioners and staff discussed passport logistics (small private area for photos and a camera/printer—capital cost roughly $1,500–$2,000) and possible demand beyond the county. Kalson said she has a federal application in process to become a passport acceptance agent and hopes to start the service early in the coming year; she noted that post offices in Paola and Louisburg currently offer passport services but have limited hours.

Ending

No formal action was taken. Commissioners signaled general support and asked staff to incorporate the requested full‑time position, technology projects and passport startup costs into the budget deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Miami County Budget Workshop - May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Register Jamie Homer Kalson proposed converting a part‑time clerk to full time, starting passport photo/acceptance services and using technology fund dollars for imaging and system upgrades to protect records and generate revenue.","taxTitle","Miami County, Kansas","taxId",5704,"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},6229491,"Miami County Health Department seeks funding to replace shrinking grant support; highlights lab revenue growth",1416,5731000,7147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e&start=5731&end=7147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e/thumbnail_5731000.jpg","/articles/6229491/Miami-County/Kansas/Miami-County-Health-Department-seeks-funding-to-replace-shrinking-grant-support-highlights-lab-revenue-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229491-46d70be3c7b1505a2a2d0559fe34c8af/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113800&Signature=FfGIMWxZOCBiFtG81~vi34cG2JIieZEeLSO1kMVBZTQlT4Br2Vu0nQ-A9dhrRGUUzPyu1mzjYJyuHaMQTkbsPkTM9jeKMIE03RHtBd0w~z3urYDxOCCvTrVh-ei~A3mLYgkHF0s~YJqv6ntpTRNlb6VITNIsqhsCn4I4TDrYgds6uDY90HY2VgWHuTNyQH01BaocZEQKVl-1G4tYBofeInjZFvNuEimU8WNi818ZisJ25uPhQYeRIepmA9Vm5ddz3bJs8~pt3VqUEQQIGFE5DoXdKcBvapaIl96vfA37LqQ8jgJefeoLjueulsHC0dzHLXduhkuHwjD73py28xQG3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Miami County budget hearing Health Department Director Christina Beere outlined a budget that reflects a shift from pandemic-era grant funding toward more traditional, typically smaller grants and fee revenue, and she asked commissioners to consider county funding to maintain service capacity.

Beere described the drop in grant support and the department’s proposed response: staffing built out during the pandemic has increased capacity but some of those positions remain partially grant‑funded. “We went from 6.4 FTEs to 11.6 FTEs, which is an 81% increase in workforce capacity,” Beere said, noting the percentage of staff time funded by grants has fallen from about 80.6% in 2022 to an estimated 30.9% for the department in 2026. She conveyed that the department’s proposed budget is roughly $368 higher (adjusted) than last year after internal cuts, but warned that the department is facing a net reduction in grant revenue compared with the recent past.

Beere highlighted one departmental investment that is becoming self‑sustaining: the public health laboratory partnership with LabCorp. “In 2023, we partnered with LabCorp, and our net revenue was $5,500. In 2024, our net revenue was about $18,000. And in 2025, our net revenue is projected to be about $23,000,” she said, citing year‑over‑year growth as evidence that some public‑health investments can generate recurring revenue. The department also provides other reimbursable services—biometrics and screenings for employers and partners—though reimbursement timing can complicate monthly accounting.

Beere said staff costs remain the largest single budget item and that department staff percentages funded by grants are shifting downward; she presented comparative data showing Miami County spends less, with more services, than many similarly sized Kansas local health departments that published budgets. She also summarized capital requests (an electronic health record system already under contract) and non‑capital maintenance needs (stormwater drainage and parking issues at the health department building) and said the department will continue to pursue grant and stipend opportunities as they arise.

Beere asked that commissioners consider county support to cover gaps created by decreased grant funding; commissioners discussed outside partners—local hospitals and regional university health systems—and broader implications for local health services if funding continues to decline.

Ending

No formal vote was taken. The department will continue to refine budget details and pursue grants; the commissioners will consider the department’s request as part of the county budget process.","Health Department Director Christina Beere told commissioners the department faces a post‑pandemic grant funding decline and requested county dollars to sustain positions and core services while noting growing revenue from a LabCorp lab partnership.",{"_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},6229496,"Miami County Road and Bridge director urges higher asphalt, equipment funding to avoid emergency repairs",4239,231000,4470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e&start=231&end=4470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461739-77cfef1179236952d34d536e80dfce7e/thumbnail_231000.jpg","/articles/6229496/Miami-County/Kansas/Miami-County-Road-and-Bridge-director-urges-higher-asphalt-equipment-funding-to-avoid-emergency-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229496-32134eb32f23f6805bfa0fc1cf71ed6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113800&Signature=WQwjDRZF0HmEq3g~FiUd66xsuDUt-CVhCU7-ycyRU~nO61XWP0Bns3Iam9dGdqh8S8XuMr8OEZ8cWw0DLpLi4Bq21fdegp-BjwLTp3qazSelV1QIEG7UnxLDAyM-gsNHq0kn0XikMdwVrEmidU6W3KrJHQQ4XGP~-e~TLqUntipVpRSKBXCY5Fuq3q-HBTfK~Uo-hFtHui4Yd-qXnjLgH7raUaHIFde8Klx2lKOcvpRLr5ZGhKIaonI5jSzUE7PCgqZG4IXPAMeicb-xNXc8~WdbLg1UlHOy5R1ZCFiIS1D62VQpQf3nu8pL2Cl3jeV6PRbzAmSYbC0CXsoIuEMp6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Miami County budget hearing Road and Bridge Director Eric Samberg presented detailed budget requests tied to a 22-year life cycle for road wearing surfaces and warned that delaying maintenance could lead to emergency reconstruction.

“The feeling we got was about 15.2 miles… at $4,568,000 give or take,” Samberg said, describing the county’s mill-and-overlay plan. “This entire budget isn't based on wants. I'm not adding anything. I'm not adding new desks, security to the building. I'm not adding any fancy anything.”

Samberg told the commission he set the asphalt project line after conversations about the county’s long‑term pavement plan and that the department expects to rely on a mix of transfers and project-line funding. He said roughly $650,000 is allocated internally for ongoing preservation work such as crack sealing, chip sealing and spot patching, while contracted mill-and-overlay work and transfers account for the larger sums. “What's that gonna look like as an emergency repair? We're gonna tear it up, put rock in there till we can figure out how we're gonna get it fixed and have the budget for that. It's kinda what we wanna get away from,” Samberg said.

Equipment replacement was the other major budget pressure. Samberg said many dump trucks are being pushed to about 300,000 miles and the department has only $200,000 budgeted this year for vehicle replacement. He outlined options—buying state‑spec new trucks, searching for used trucks that can be retrofitted, overhauling motor graders at about half the cost of new machines, and leasing—and warned that losing trucks during a snow event would hamper response. He said outfitting a new state‑spec truck for snow work could add roughly $190,000 in costs beyond the truck price.

Samberg also reviewed the chip-seal program and a proposed change in maintenance frequency for non‑asphalt chip‑seal roads. He said there are approximately 60 miles of non‑asphalt chip‑seal roads and proposed reducing the annual renewal cycle to a five‑year rotation for those roads while continuing chip sealing as a preservation tactic on asphalt corridors. “Chip seal's a preservation method that we will do on asphalt roads to… stop water from infiltrating into the base,” Samberg said.

Commissioners and staff asked about tradeoffs between life‑cycle targets and equipment replacements; several commissioners expressed interest in meeting in the middle—extending life cycle targets modestly while increasing equipment funding. Commissioners also discussed a possible reallocation of special bridge mill levy revenue into the road budget (and back if needed) to gain flexibility.

Samberg said he will bring back itemized options and the equipment replacement schedule for further commissioner discussion so the board can weigh a higher asphalt target against additional equipment funding.

Ending

The commission did not take formal action during the session. Staff will return with detailed line‑item options and replacement schedules for further budget sessions so commissioners can decide whether to raise asphalt and equipment allocations or adjust the pavement life‑cycle target.","Road and Bridge Director Eric Samberg told commissioners the department seeks larger asphalt and equipment budgets to sustain a mill-and-overlay program and avoid costly emergency repairs, while proposing changes to chip-seal cycles and equipment replacement timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Register of Deeds seeks full‑time clerk, adds passport service and tech investments to reduce future risk

Miami County Health Department seeks funding to replace shrinking grant support; highlights lab revenue growth

Miami County Road and Bridge director urges higher asphalt, equipment funding to avoid emergency repairs