[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6657101,"mediaKeyId","5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7","parentId",5089748,"title","Dickinson County commissioners discuss opioid‑settlement spending, favor cautious timing for recovery court and housing grants","audioSeconds",85,"startMs",1831000,"endMs",1916000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7&start=1831&end=1916","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7/thumbnail_1831000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6657101/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Dickinson-County-commissioners-discuss-opioidsettlement-spending-favor-cautious-timing-for-recovery-court-and-housing-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657101-9a0a8385a4aea9379a0af996e6d8c107/orig.mp4?Expires=1775714777&Signature=NPt1UHW-xqjt-1WXAAJ5eHthYhabYAdFf3WEXWin8dqhZPwhxKnO9QURqiwJ8FuaMYy86o55q6muMOOCE3PaX6-SQSq1QOLjpLWDRZtztp-IIBP84XjMClq4jUrm4XzFD2IjcYQ26iR~vQ1WpFsA2RiEMp8pxgFOhyrK6VNrwoxMz-WjEqx-E~Bl9R2tRRGSI438xr5NUeT36pqDHTGRXRY5Y2GjXldHiH5RStXXVFRe9L19l2PlpHp3m2qZXS3cM8QqPa~okYLbntsMSn~iLLRaozsBRngAVMkUWwrdqX9ZaxWJNme8iMFQnY8yJ~orUjb7qJMIbjjXgN1Ks5XGtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dickinson County, KS","date","2025-06-26T23:20:03.327Z","article","Commissioners and county staff discussed how to allocate Dickinson County’s opioid‑settlement funds, balancing immediate operational needs for drug recovery court with requests to fund housing projects and community programs.

County Administrator Janelle Dodson said the county expects further opioid‑settlement distributions in August and recommended waiting to see the next allocation before awarding grants. “I think the whole purpose was so we didn’t have where it's like, okay. This has been allocated, and then this is what's left over,” Dodson said, explaining the preference for methodical allocation once the August figure is known.

Staff and commissioners noted the recovery court has demonstrated local value and suggested applying some funds to cover ongoing recovery‑court expenses, while preserving a portion for competitive grant awards or one‑time allocations for housing projects. Commissioners discussed recent estimates of fund balances in the opioid account, with one participant referring to a figure “in the ballpark” of roughly $85,000–$88,000, but staff said exact amounts and the August disbursement must be confirmed.

Deputy and other participants also noted that the national settlement is a multi‑year arrangement (presenters referenced a 15–18 year term), so county officials said they preferred a cautious, steady approach rather than committing large, recurring operating costs before future distribution levels are known.

Dodson proposed forming oversight or grant review processes and noted the original idea of appointing a committee to oversee grant disbursements in order to provide community input. Commissioners agreed that staff should return in August with confirmed distribution numbers and a proposed application/timing plan for awards to recovery court and housing programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commission Meeting - June 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff and commissioners debated whether to apply opioid‑settlement funds immediately to drug recovery court operations or reserve them for grant allocations and one‑time housing assistance; staff recommended waiting until August distribution figures are known before awarding grants.","taxTitle","Dickinson County, Kansas","taxId",61724,"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},6657106,"Dickinson County emergency management director reviews equipment‑focused budget, training and storm response",466,98000,564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7&start=98&end=564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7/thumbnail_98000.jpg","/articles/6657106/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Dickinson-County-emergency-management-director-reviews-equipmentfocused-budget-training-and-storm-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657106-1761676516de7a40028390af9a6f431d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775714777&Signature=mEWgV069pqZ8PEhy5wdD5ZspfJVtjR5EC5N~SjA~bVo83P~xL2w6931Kmxs27ilC3~ayKft3fGfA7Un-uIDzdF4MiUYgg4lyNawKCYTyR9qmJiwpUEhdSOtvteU-8OktE-mP0lL1btf41ZEx32ItJ9NFsl65cOdPeK-onE4QEAhoDsOlCy9BvnIRBAz-9R-SAbYzPLw4VxlTJNI~2iPwV~5wjZEz2QgYN~Fmwqo9-Q7yz2xCCXJhHfJBrIYG9QNfFiGJIB3WivB5nozH2bMKddS-8eqD5Zrm5qrUe~JuVt~UFD~2mI0GooU6mCeOK91Xcauf4U-SrMZM3lDBvJYUig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chase Smith, Dickinson County’s emergency management director, briefed the commission on recent training activities, interagency coordination and the department’s proposed budget adjustments.

Smith said he recently presented at an appraisers’ conference on courthouse security and “active shooter” response and emphasized the department’s focus on the initial minutes before law‑enforcement arrival. He described a regional advanced weather spotter class taught by Nemaha County’s emergency manager that included radar reading and operational features to help deputies avoid storm cores and reduce liability.

Smith also reviewed line‑item changes in the emergency management budget. He said the department will consolidate multiple maintenance lines (vehicle, equipment, light towers, message boards and generators) into a single maintenance account to make spending clearer. He noted that a fire‑safety training line previously budgeted at $3,000 (2025) and $2,000 (2026) will be handled locally by Harrington Rescue and Abilene Rescue squads, and the county can reduce outside contracted training costs.

Smith described operational accounting details including fuel reporting and past practice of listing some emergency‑management fuel on general administration; he said a reclassification will move certain charges into emergency management, which on paper increases that department’s operational budget by about $1,200 (approximately 10% relative to the department’s baseline) but reflects a transfer of previously administrative expenses rather than new spending.

Smith also discussed intergovernmental assistance: he said Dickinson County assisted Selene County with a large log‑jam removal effort and has fielded requests for funding sources; he referenced prior disaster cleanups and interaction with NRCS after the 2016 tornado.

On fair and event safety, Smith said the county plans to finalize an emergency‑operations plan for the fair after a prior evacuation of grandstands; he argued for a single on‑scene decision maker during high‑risk weather to avoid sending first responders into unsafe conditions. “We need 1 person that can say, it’s done. We're going home,” Smith said, explaining why unified command and clear authority matters for public safety.

Commissioners asked questions about specific line items (training, special supplies) and Smith said staff will adjust budget lines and can return with updated figures. He said he expects to be reimbursed by the state association for some travel related to his role as association president and that the department will continue local training collaborations with area rescue squads.","Emergency Management Director Chase Smith presented his department’s budget and recent activities, including advanced weather spotter training, courthouse active‑shooter preparedness, interagency exercises and consolidation of equipment maintenance costs; commissioners asked clarifying questions about funding lines.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657110,"Dickinson County clerk presents plans to buy electronic poll pads and two DS200 tabulators",0,3997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7&start=3997&end=3997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7/thumbnail_3997000.jpg","/articles/6657110/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Dickinson-County-clerk-presents-plans-to-buy-electronic-poll-pads-and-two-DS200-tabulators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657110-d386f3118f5363a0f3b482b54b21a8ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1775714777&Signature=aDPy5zNAQLfolnrZS-WIoLS1NUYi-ePZ-3TwkmsgsqXnF1XJBEBWr6O4DQBKn18CXzhB7kfSLKdPPzex0o5ma0WWuZIZ-9S37notDq0pRqBWGUcwH5ObUYd2pX7UD1AZ3gANsCKmMd6BObSbJgD77lfMzOgK8Sv-VEOtbLoYfw18q-KwBvR23vrLGvav5hU2K8G43ksPPcCTGdbKV~J4qIWgQ90hkQ560Bs3VwfDrG-pSg2QxWCKjp~VPjsKquJRV6DWZWf1QmpdiXcXISiAL0ayPJint25Qgskvsia4yy9DUQ9LDbyznSM8G5-80YCCrRCYAKz39-vTMJV7YBJ9Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Clerk Jennifer Gayson asked the Dickinson County Commission to consider two election equipment purchases aimed at speeding voter check‑ins and reducing manual processing: electronic poll pads for voter check‑in and two DS200 optical tabulators for precinct tabulation.

Gayson told commissioners the county already uses DS200 equipment in three locations and proposes buying two additional DS200 units to serve Solon and Talmadge precincts, where she said the two polling locations account for 1,386 and 992 registered voters respectively. She said the DS200s “can speedily tabulate votes, eliminating manual counting processes” and provide on‑the‑spot feedback to voters on overvotes so voters can correct ballots before submission. Gayson gave a purchase price of $12,950 for the two DS200 machines and said annual post‑warranty maintenance would be $6.40 per unit as quoted.

On poll pads, Gayson presented quotes totaling $50,539.80 structured as a three‑year payment plan with no interest: $20,736.60 in year one and $14,626.66 in each of years two and three. She said the devices reduce check‑in time (she cited an average 45 seconds per voter) and cut staff needs at polling places. Gayson estimated staff reductions in Abilene from 22 to about 10 workers for a single election and calculated sample savings across multiple elections depending on the cycle.

Gayson requested the purchases be added to a future action agenda. Commissioners discussed funding sources and noted an equipment‑reserve fund is available; County Administrator Janelle Dodson said election equipment could be paid from the county equipment reserve. Dodson said the county currently has roughly $2,085,000 in an equipment reserve fund and that the servers bid discussed earlier came in below estimate. No formal county purchase votes were recorded during the meeting; commissioners indicated the items would be scheduled for a future action item so the board can record a formal motion and vote.

“I am proposing the purchase of 2 additional DS200 machines for our election office,” Gayson said. “Implementing the DS200 machines will streamline the voting process in these areas… The machines are invaluable for their speed and efficiency.”

Gayson and commissioners also discussed poll‑book software and implementation plans, including a trial during the next scheduled election. The clerk said most Kansas counties (she cited 85%) already use electronic poll pads, and she plans staff training and field testing before full deployment.","County Clerk Jennifer Gayson asked commissioners to add and consider purchase of electronic poll‑pads (estimated $50,539.80 over three years) and two DS200 tabulators ($12,950) to speed check‑ins, improve ballot accuracy and reduce manual counting; purchases had not yet been approved at the meeting.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657115,"Dickinson County approves CDBG sponsorship for downtown Abilene historic building rehabilitation",437,2889000,3326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7&start=2889&end=3326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089748-c0ad1228987384ccf9e066f740d8cab7/thumbnail_2889000.jpg","/articles/6657115/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Dickinson-County-approves-CDBG-sponsorship-for-downtown-Abilene-historic-building-rehabilitation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657115-ccb0ecdfb223808eebd8c33491efe0db/orig.mp4?Expires=1775714777&Signature=DmYj~qWQQ~Lpx1gf4HtmOVkFiWYgxM8ocW7h8LezE8jEbG9LdwrJ0MXrJoNU2imwWfsy~qQad127zzo~tbcZxfDp-MzBlGpdziYFaV9d9R17Vm1mqLzBqPDwDhiSlSg8jkgrDiZGnzb1sCHFEuXHR7AQfgS9Ua8-TpDWxQE3f2uf3-fwtA4pReZv0CP9Dnovly9HOP4RgXOG4r12YoRSUXr8ZJ5jUVTEk9FMV5~EEyQzMQzMFO8t4Av18SuVJDR-QWo2w7uQ5Zy1mFILcp9xUSAwfr~7UB4pVwWtoWEU0bGazIOjY8fGozyp7UPozQwwbnsHIZC18XNiq-7qNCDsAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dickinson County Commission voted to sponsor a Community Development Block Grant application to rehabilitate the historic Steinhauser building at 109–113 NW Third Street in Abilene.

The sponsorship, approved by voice vote during the commission's regular meeting, will make the county the applicant and fiscal agent for a CDBG commercial‑rehabilitation application that the North Central Regional Planning Commission will administer on the county’s behalf.

The project scope described at the meeting includes storefront replacement and exterior work to stabilize two connected late‑19th‑century buildings, plus a second‑story conversion to six residential units. Deb Olde, executive director of the North Central Regional Planning Commission, told commissioners the CDBG commercial‑rehabilitation program is a HUD‑funded program administered through the Kansas Department of Commerce and is targeted at eliminating slum and blight by addressing structural problems such as masonry, windows, roofs, lead paint and asbestos.

“The program that we're talking about today is the Community Development Block Grant dollars that come into the state of Kansas … the specific piece of the pie that would be used for this proposed project is what’s called their commercial rehabilitation program,” Olde said. She said the maximum grant is $300,000, a 25% owner match is required and the property owner is responsible for that match.

John (project representative) described the building as historically significant and said the work will also add life‑safety upgrades including sprinklers and an elevator to make the second‑floor units accessible. “This is a historic property … we’re going to end up having to sprinkler it. We're adding an elevator for mobility, life safety,” he told the commission.

County Administrator Janelle Dodson confirmed the county’s role would be largely fiscal: accounts payable, cash receiving and serving as the applicant contact. She also said Marcus (county finance staff) will act as the county lead for administering the grant funds if awarded.

The commission’s sponsorship is a required step for the application to move forward. Commissioners said they view the project as a downtown economic development investment that could both preserve a landmark and add housing. The motion to sponsor the application passed by voice vote; commissioners did not record a roll‑call tally at the meeting.

Next steps described by Olde and staff include finalizing the application materials, bank and tax‑credit coordination, and submission to the Kansas Department of Commerce. If awarded, construction and historic‑tax‑credit coordination will follow under standard CDBG administrative and compliance rules.","The Dickinson County Commission voted to sponsor a Community Development Block Grant application for rehabilitation of the historic Steinhauser building at 109–113 NW Third Street in Abilene, a project that would restore storefronts and create six second‑floor apartments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dickinson County commissioners discuss opioid‑settlement spending, favor cautious timing for recovery court and housing grants

Dickinson County emergency management director reviews equipment‑focused budget, training and storm response

Dickinson County clerk presents plans to buy electronic poll pads and two DS200 tabulators

Dickinson County approves CDBG sponsorship for downtown Abilene historic building rehabilitation