[{"_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",6555203,"mediaKeyId","3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a","parentId",3846771,"title","County adopts Safe Streets action plan and approves KDOT agreement for Maple Street improvements","audioSeconds",291,"startMs",3381000,"endMs",3672000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a&start=3381&end=3672","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a/thumbnail_3381000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555203/Finney-County/Kansas/County-adopts-Safe-Streets-action-plan-and-approves-KDOT-agreement-for-Maple-Street-improvements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555203-4a5b2f6af9d1247ce141edff3ee01582/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700598&Signature=Ki16r9OZSBvf4BWBOjD2C7Pw~rz2dg7bF7mQsW4L7dS9Yrd5ULsHKk2GnAwLSUE3LLqIBxRB5K9QSDV4c~qy0umYrj32uk3b~VtA7kflC9xFAh4uENIxIuJ2muDYfx1I7RcQAHG9R729w6jlcWn4eY8ufGLtFxBxyBW6uJ4miOR~ltg~TnOyCv7fvV~GoxKnkEI4HRRox-EuRKODssEqv553eoa-acq1S5r-BNPC5f3hY2UFTe9~wqACQEIGSn0OA9hR9Go6ZOGZ2oboosRdg84cx85boEJw6PG-fX-pWgc6C9BdSA8fCePFwoztjhlAVswVmlrUVGW1~ThyAkQbRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Finney County, KS","date","2025-06-17T03:59:31Z","article","Finney County commissioners voted June 16 to adopt the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) action plan and to approve a supplemental agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for safety improvements on a one‑mile stretch of Maple Street.

Safe Streets adoption: Development and administrative coordinator Mackenzie Phillips asked the board to adopt Resolution 17‑2025, the SS4A action plan and a Vision Zero policy committing the county to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The SS4A program is a federal effort administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation; Finney County and partner jurisdictions along the U.S. 83 corridor previously received planning grants to develop the plan. The board adopted the resolution after a brief discussion; one commissioner recorded a dissenting vote but the resolution carried.

KDOT supplemental agreement for Maple Street H3R project: Phillips also presented a supplemental agreement that establishes KDOT’s maximum available funding for the FY2025 High Risk Rural Roads (H3R) project on Maple Street (Taylor Avenue to VFW Road). KDOT set a maximum cap of $546,000 for participating construction and construction‑engineering costs; county staff identified an anticipated total participating cost of $549,000 (pre‑bid estimate), which would make the county responsible for 10% of participating costs up to KDOT’s limit and 100% of any amount above KDOT’s cap (roughly $3,000 in the staff estimate). The county is responsible for non‑eligible costs (preliminary engineering and the 10% match).

Project elements and local concerns: The Maple Street H3R project includes reflective center and edge lines, retroreflective markers for roadside hazards, clearing and grubbing up to 15 feet off the edge of road, removal/relocation of fixed objects in the clear zone and paving two‑foot paved shoulders with a safety edge on both sides. Public works staff indicated they also intend to mill and overlay Maple Street to address wheel ruts. Commissioners asked about rumble strips and mailbox impacts; one commissioner expressed concern that rumble strips on rural blacktop accelerate pavement deterioration. County acting engineer C. W. Harper explained that shoulder rumble strips would be placed on the new paved shoulders (not on the centerline) and that rumble strips are more beneficial at higher speeds because crash reduction is greater where impact speeds are higher.

Fiscal effect and next steps: The county will sign the supplemental agreement to secure the KDOT funding cap and will proceed to bid and public engagement (staff said letters and a public meeting are planned to notify affected property owners and address mailbox relocation and other impacts). If bids exceed KDOT's cap, the county will be responsible for the excess. The board approved the supplemental agreement by motion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finney County Commission Meeting Regular Session (6-16-2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Finney County adopted a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) action plan and approved a supplemental KDOT agreement that sets a $546,000 KDOT funding cap for safety improvements on Maple Street; the county will cover a 10% match up to the cap and any costs above the cap.","taxTitle","Finney County, Kansas","taxId",70642,"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},6555208,"Insurance committee recommends Travelers renewal; commissioners accept recommendation",640,1833000,2473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a&start=1833&end=2473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a/thumbnail_1833000.jpg","/articles/6555208/Finney-County/Kansas/Insurance-committee-recommends-Travelers-renewal-commissioners-accept-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555208-47c87e524a7c159fbfa3332190170ba8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700598&Signature=PZQjxA8XgIYsS8zrZsMchb9LF6pTV-LR9JQI0zk2bFDFoNBA35odc0i7XgDejToBrudNCKabJMTF802uxBw8nntDI8X0V7IuZK3Bxjs~bSe5Hmfq9KwujAe73SfHISmYe80iIMjGQ0IP-WQcWf51GnpGhAATLuJbpO4PQnwz-5LljuIcOmu0arBeT~tUZscl10LGxxqKao-KtBegz2kqQDSxpvqbBQSsckmaeWQF8TjreKjTp6l3cb0s2bFoJpCEHtb166sYZ2QLg5WDFJy0wXjpSWGy9yhUMnbCAZMgKfro~clL2B~-iLBYmQb~tNba~COcaX5Lhvcc23yuT7HTpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finney County Board of County Commissioners on June 16 accepted the insurance selection committee’s recommendation to renew the county’s property and liability package with Travelers Insurance through broker Iron Insurance for an amount presented at $716,338.

What the committee considered: Interim County Administrator Gary Meager described the committee’s June 4 meeting to compare proposals from Iron Insurance (representing Travelers) and KCAMP (the Kansas county pool). Committee members included two commissioners, the county clerk, county treasurer, Captain Orbaugh from the sheriff’s department, the human relations director and the interim county administrator.

Meager told the board the committee favored Travelers because its proposal continued coverage for both buildings and operations of the juvenile detention center (JDC). KCAMP’s proposal, the staff said, would have covered the JDC building but would have limited liability coverage on some lines to $500,000 per claim unless an exception applied; several county agreements require higher limits. The committee concluded there was insufficient time before the July 1 renewal to identify and renegotiate all affected contracts. KCAMP’s quoted premium was $644,124; Travelers’ proposal through Iron Insurance was $716,338.

Why it matters: The board must renew coverage by July 1. The committee judged that the additional premium for Travelers was justified by broader coverage that avoided a potentially complex, time‑consuming contract review and by the need to ensure coverage for high‑liability exposures.

Board action and follow up: The board voted to accept the committee’s recommendation and authorized the administrator to proceed with the renewal. Commissioners discussed evaluating whether to pursue KCAMP again in future renewal cycles and suggested re‑evaluating the county’s contracts that require coverage above statutory tort limits.

Ending: Staff will finalize renewal paperwork and return final policy documents to the board. KCAMP representatives indicated willingness to work on future bids or broker placements for coverage not carried directly by the pool.","After comparing proposals, Finney County's insurance selection committee recommended renewing coverage with Travelers Insurance through Iron Insurance for an annual premium of $716,338; the board accepted that recommendation at the June 16 meeting.",{"_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},6555213,"Finney County updates EMS–fire partnership; new MOU adds emergency vehicle operations",1531,1641000,3172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a&start=1641&end=3172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a/thumbnail_1641000.jpg","/articles/6555213/Finney-County/Kansas/Finney-County-updates-EMSfire-partnership-new-MOU-adds-emergency-vehicle-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555213-6941ef51a7271927a3c789db58ced1eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700598&Signature=VkoNoeisX~y40DxaG9zVFQEL1ZyFX~a-~doAkQeYXGJbz~fTswUkNuTZXhRG3x70fdblTSpLPGlVZB-gSeNThC-paSknQYKadP155ZWIZNY-DVC9BAf38Tr1h141KdmpuGSKp5FxFMQ1wAJm2MoYFHa7OHTeRHT3HPWR48VGAPGf4zkMRzsMWxs4IoJQnivS-x5ttHWxStWZL35nLZBq86245b7D4ZXIf3U0B~v5DB5tND6owXMd-H4CHiAO4hwVC1SmW6canczCfVvpbHptWUFN0mPeg8chsUYMChYrl4R7fCWd3fU2Mwjgz9sfNzyVtzyBnkQY82EvYbFwdYPlJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finney County Board of County Commissioners on June 16 approved an updated memorandum of understanding between Finney County Emergency Medical Services and the Garden City Fire Department that formalizes ongoing operational cooperation and adds emergency vehicle operations to the agreement.

The update continues the arrangement that began in October 2021, when the board first authorized shared response protocols because of high call volume and low EMS staffing. Kenny Smith, director of Finney County EMS, told commissioners that Garden City Fire Department personnel have assisted on “code blues” and other life‑threatening calls and have at times provided certified personnel to render patient care in ambulances and non‑certified personnel to drive ambulances when needed. The updated MOU clarifies training and coverage expectations and adds provisions about emergency vehicle operations so assisting personnel are covered while driving ambulances.

Why it matters: The MOU aims to reduce response delays when ambulance crews are committed by allowing trained fire department staff to augment or back up EMS units and to perform specified vehicle operations in high‑demand periods. The board authorized the chair to sign the agreement.

Operational context and staffing update: Smith also presented an operational report. He said the agency is commonly staffing two ambulances per day and that six new hires (two full‑time, four part‑time/reserve) were beginning the next week, with additional candidates in certification queues. Smith said the reserve squad remains important to cover absences and that the MOU with the fire department remains a key part of surge coverage.

EMS building and public event: Smith said the public grand opening and move‑in for the new combined EMS/fire facility is scheduled for July 1, with a walk‑through and brief remarks around 11 a.m.; the agency plans a come‑and‑go open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. He said the new facility is funded in part by a sales tax program established by voters and that building punch‑list work was in its final stages.

Ending: The board approved the MOU by motion; staff will execute the agreement and return copies to the board. Smith and county staff will continue to report recruiting progress and operational metrics to the commissioners.","The Board approved an updated memorandum of understanding between Finney County EMS and the Garden City Fire Department that codifies expanded assistance and emergency vehicle operations; EMS director reported staffing gains and the EMS building opening July 1.",{"_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},6555217,"Finney County commissioners approve rezoning, multiple plats, MOU and appointments",336,855000,1191000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a&start=855&end=1191","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846771-bd8b3ca36cf7e16ae13142cb62d31c4a/thumbnail_855000.jpg","/articles/6555217/Finney-County/Kansas/Finney-County-commissioners-approve-rezoning-multiple-plats-MOU-and-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555217-014e3205942c78a60fc8fe057478d46f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700598&Signature=iXmaWwdk8M1TVg73xI5pMORAXdeUZysM6SBSZY9fcTKs23gA3kIDXZCIT2RX2PnMnWLhfld5PgSL0vLBUYY6hv69jNJqbhZmlOKxj6jVZMTJSx4pI-y5-e6PF46s8wWvT8lXo-HZhiINIw8mxRZevbXlN9ebHCqkg06J2shWYvjTWxK7rVRrVLUaO8XMXus5HgJnNtzS2~~tWApqTWHC6uJgNZ6f5QkNCuxtJNir2CWWTYkfHs6isaFada9kOqRajEiIAGWUoWcDUXR6buxeakkYDsxcn9N5CEXAS0PSfFbwg~JQS6KZFNgmZBo6kzmXCgay1ibawu-T3M1NyhlKtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finney County Board of County Commissioners on June 16 approved a series of land‑use plats and administrative measures, including the rezoning of a 2.8‑acre property at 5657 West 7 Mile Road, adoption of a countywide road‑safety plan and several routine parcel plats, authorized a memorandum of understanding between Finney County EMS and the Garden City Fire Department, and appointed an interim county appraiser.

Why it matters: The rezoning and plats clear the way for new housing and business uses on multiple properties in the county. The MOU and the interim appraiser appointment affect county operations and continuity in public safety and property valuation. The resolutions adopted affect eligibility for federal and state safety funds.

Key votes and formal actions taken:
- Rezoning at 5657 West 7 Mile Road — The board adopted Resolution 18‑2025 to rezone the vacant, approximately 2.8‑acre parcel from RI (Rural Industrial) to RR (Rural Residential). The planning staff recommended approval, and the Planning Commission had recommended approval at its May 15 meeting. Commissioner German recused from the vote. Motion carried.

- Parcel plats approved — The board approved a string of parcel plats presented by county planning staff: Christian Ranch addition (5657 West 7 Mile Road), Ariola addition (1513 West Mary Street), Can Equip addition (2701 West Jones Avenue), and Gallardo addition (906 West Maple Street). Each plat had been recommended by the Planning Commission and was approved by motion and recorded as carried. Staff noted no fiscal impact for at least one plat.

- MOU between Finney County EMS and Garden City Fire Department — The board approved and authorized the chair to sign an updated memorandum of understanding that continues a partnership begun in October 2021. The updated MOU adds emergency vehicle operations and affirms that Garden City Fire Department personnel may assist on high‑call‑volume incidents (including code blue responses and ambulance transportation support). Motion carried.

- Appointment of interim county appraiser — The board approved Resolution 16‑2025 appointing Darwin Martwick as interim county appraiser for a period not to exceed six months beginning July 1, 2025. Martwick has been with the appraiser’s office since about 2019 and is completing required coursework. Motion carried as amended.

- Insurance renewal authorization — The board accepted the insurance committee’s recommendation to renew the county’s insurance coverage through the proposal submitted by Iron Insurance to continue coverage with Travelers Insurance, as presented by the committee (see separate article on the insurance decision for details). Motion carried.

- Safe Streets for All action plan adopted — The board adopted Resolution 17‑2025 to adopt the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) action plan and a Vision Zero policy committing Finney County to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries; one board member voted nay but the resolution carried. (See reporter’s article on road safety items for details.)

- Supplemental KDOT agreement approved — The board approved a supplemental agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to set a maximum funding limit for the federal FY2025 High Risk Rural Roads project on Maple Street; the supplemental agreement sets KDOT’s maximum at $546,000 toward the project; the county will be responsible for 10% of participating costs up to that limit and 100% of any amount above it. Motion carried.

The meeting record shows the board moved quickly through several routine land‑use items with limited discussion and reserved more time for items with operational or budgetary effect.

Ending note: Commissioners and staff flagged that some members recused on specific items (rezoning) and that the Planning Commission’s minutes and staff memos were included in the packet for each land‑use decision. The county clerk will publish the signed resolutions and plats in the official record.","At their June 16 meeting the Finney County Board of County Commissioners approved a rezoning and several parcel plats, adopted two safety and administrative resolutions, authorized an EMS–fire department memorandum of understanding and appointed an interim county appraiser.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County adopts Safe Streets action plan and approves KDOT agreement for Maple Street improvements

Insurance committee recommends Travelers renewal; commissioners accept recommendation

Finney County updates EMS–fire partnership; new MOU adds emergency vehicle operations

Finney County commissioners approve rezoning, multiple plats, MOU and appointments