[{"_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",6550981,"mediaKeyId","5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d","parentId",5362338,"title","Leavenworth County attorney requests two part-time positions; office defends public-information role amid fentanyl and scam response","audioSeconds",1852,"startMs",3045410,"endMs",4897965,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d&start=3045&end=4897","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d/thumbnail_3045410.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6550981/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/Leavenworth-County-attorney-requests-two-part-time-positions-office-defends-public-information-role-amid-fentanyl-and-scam-response","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550981-a918b2c9d09c2df3cab4bae37d09e3b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155282&Signature=W8JErfs-Zys6211CDcXArUdb7S3WwC9Lf~8j1~9fpG3hshaTIY~wgk9zgBWJIAOowGaaaOjmkH3W-QZj3~yg0-rDH0JewG8pL0n5MsDz8oJYrYX5Y5pixnlcdU1z-Fiqtw-1cOoUV3LjTi8p4fLZDgQNyd51xwzKdb4swFoykBiHGhp0izsdTsD9M0xqpgBCW3T6uYOkuiiv7s6edz3qQ6zWxUbjZPSLWJZuMAfCiENHWa6nN1u0ehwt2-n8gGQSEb4-6GybHt3RzTgajCMLqahqy3-jsB1gpTkeMSSfwHjHwSq1V9I~mZ-5gL4UkFiTDW2s0XCUUwmEV5SF0GvHGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leavenworth County, KS","date","2025-07-11T03:15:00Z","article","Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson and staff presented the county attorney's 2026 budget request and defended additions of two part-time positions and a public-information role that the office says has reduced paperwork backlogs and improved public education on fentanyl, scams and other criminal matters.

Thompson said the office gained two part-time employees using available funds to handle a surge in paperwork after the state rolled out Odyssey and after the county's previous case-management system was retired and replaced; that technological transition, he said, produced extra manual work for prosecutors and staff. \"We were mandated to work with Odyssey, which is the program the state uses. That has caused such an extra bind and more paperwork,\" Thompson said. He told commissioners the part-time hires are experienced, longtime county employees who helped the office handle work while attorney hiring remained difficult.

Thompson also described the public-information officer (PIO) role as central to public education about fentanyl dangers, scams and ongoing high-profile prosecutions. He said the PIO has helped the office reach residents with warnings about fraudulent calls, to explain court outcomes and to reduce misinformation, and he said that other counties of similar size have PIOs. \"When I campaign ... I promised ... we would have as open communication and open door as possible so everybody can see what this office is doing,\" Thompson said.

Commissioners questioned whether the county attorney's PIO is a necessary line-item during a constrained budget year. Some commissioners described the position as a valuable public-safety and transparency tool; others characterized it as a discretionary expense that could be reduced. Thompson said removing that capacity could increase other offices' workloads and reduce the office's ability to quickly warn residents about scams and drug risks.

Thompson provided caseload figures to commissioners to contextualize staffing needs. He said the office had been underfunded for years and has taken incremental steps to raise staff pay and retain attorneys; he said recent years required heavy trial and backlog work following the COVID pause and that hiring has remained constrained in the legal field generally.

Why it matters: The county attorney's office prosecutes criminal and juvenile matters and leads public communication on drug risks and ongoing investigations. Commissioners raised whether PIO funding is a discretionary luxury or a necessary public-education tool allied to prosecution and prevention.

No formal budget vote was taken at the session. Commissioners asked the county administrator to return with budget scenarios and to include options that avoid employee pay reductions in advance of an insurance change.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOCC Budget Meeting for July 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County Attorney Todd Thompson requested two part-time positions and defended the office's public-information role, citing work from a state case-management change, fentanyl education and a need to reduce misinformation and scams.","taxTitle","Leavenworth County, Kansas","taxId",53898,"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},6550985,"District court judgeship opening presented; judges explain merit selection process",90,2778165,2868625,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d&start=2778&end=2868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d/thumbnail_2778165.jpg","/articles/6550985/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/District-court-judgeship-opening-presented-judges-explain-merit-selection-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550985-0d0c4e90e2a237eb0b34b0b4e50dba59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155282&Signature=K2tA06BpgGB8uEJp2R3qj05al8Yvwq2rfPZ4Ft2iizc47cvjAXU9N3X3mac-5mEEXf4xjdexO-hZvYVkOJiR-bwtm7wgOPCVYoRx9~j0D-1X7jSUafg-EjjFk6jcDA387UeFBjV68-Lsw08r~xHeMZa82uzdNaj2uLo5g0xkq0fupYqFP7E0ryv30fJlgQvn2FSaulNSLjmhTfXN84mSmuhOtX4wmzSOwTDSSYlA7nAGg11D3r5wo9h-8yshn6Hm0emZE--HNRntNNiy6nax21YcGZxa8WlB-TRxG4Hx-szfYxT88SU1I3G~sAnc9uSnjlodoQ-wKHSa5eFKfsqyMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Judge Joan Loudon, chief judge of the First Judicial District, and Steve Crossett, court administrator, presented the district court's proposed 2026 budget and answered commissioners' questions on judicial selection and caseloads.

The presenters said the district's 2026 request seeks the same funding level the court has previously received. Loudon explained that Kansas has 31 judicial districts and that selection methods vary: about half of districts use election, and roughly half use a merit-selection process.

In the First Judicial District (Leavenworth and Atchison counties), Loudon described a local nominating commission that includes four attorney members (voted on by local attorneys) and four non-attorney members (two appointed by the Leavenworth County Commission and two by the Atchison County Commission). The commission will interview applicants for a recently posted judgeship; applications are due in July with interviews in late August. By statute the nominating body forwards three to five candidates to the governor, who has 60 days to make the appointment. Loudon said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducts background checks and other vetting during the governor's review period.

Why it matters: The district court's budget and the filling of judicial vacancies affect court operations, docket capacity and scheduling for civil, juvenile and criminal matters. Commissioners were briefed on the process so that the board and the public understand the local role in nominating non-attorney commission members and the timeline for the governor's appointment.

The court's budget presentation drew no formal vote at the session; Loudon said she would take questions and that the court will proceed with the posted vacancy timetable.","Chief Judge Joan Loudon and court administrator Steve Crossett presented the district court's 2026 budget request at the county budget session and explained how district judges are selected via a local nominating commission and gubernatorial appointment process.",{"_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},6550989,"Leavenworth County sheriff cites 911 funding shortfall, rising radio maintenance and staffing gaps in 2026 budget presentation",1558,19355,1578350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d&start=19&end=1578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d/thumbnail_19355.jpg","/articles/6550989/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/Leavenworth-County-sheriff-cites-911-funding-shortfall-rising-radio-maintenance-and-staffing-gaps-in-2026-budget-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550989-58740a07ead0d4233a542b7b81cffcf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155282&Signature=IT-m4jahZaJCPfS2ok9NPSmN7z7LjgjG5kAThUOPWRazc4S0IGKcvGytCXTbqbCpSzO5oBUW3DzG8NTlDwAibH-dKcYoyPqra667sdC-UXt8h1Zrz86C8fvtG-HOVVcwhc61C9Tl9FW9fR44kKV3U~J~PlhDiWK3qpVIgWXZGNw3Vk77F0grnkU03~hTwDoTG~KnC-ZKh2OeY-b2EOnYe9VOn6E9Ec1V4L8PL~XRo~IzkLEljU-wQ2AIooToh~TLQLNs0pI754FP9x0BUfLjBDFJKJsrayL64fqkAtmeD-3yGKwrobjj8A-8eQ7X4O19zWoNxWNXEzCgVkuF3EZsew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Andy, Leavenworth County sheriff, told the County Commission during a budget work session that his 2026 request exceeds the board's 2.8% guideline because of costs beyond his office's control, primarily a roughly $400,000 transfer to 9-1-1 and a multi-year increase in a Motorola radio maintenance contract.

The sheriff said the $400,000 transfer is to make up a shortfall created by a change in state funding that affects the county's 9-1-1 operations. He described the Motorola maintenance contract as a recurring cost that will be about $347,000 next year to keep dispatch and tower equipment operating, and said the county also faces costs to replace equipment that will not interoperate with newer systems.

\"So the $400,000 for the 9-1-1 transfer is to make up the shortfall due to the change in funding through the state,\" the sheriff said. He told commissioners the maintenance contract increase is for continuing operation of towers, dispatch and assorted tower equipment.

The sheriff said he received an unexpected reimbursement to the equipment reserve that lets him reduce his equipment-reserve request from $300,000 to $250,000 for 2026. He also said the department will carry a new, modest line item of $5,000 in 2026 for food, maintenance and medical care for a newly acquired K-9 named Knox; the initial costs were paid by outside sources.

The sheriff described continuing recruitment and retention challenges across the department, including patrol, jail and communications positions. He said vacancies are spread across divisions, and that pay differentials with neighboring Johnson County agencies and federal employers have contributed to departures. \"It becomes a financial decision for them and their family,\" he said of departing deputies.

On staffing levels, the sheriff said the county should aim to have at least five patrol deputies on duty as a minimum and ideally seven or eight. \"To answer your question, no. I think a county this size's minimum amount of patrol deputies I have at any given time would be 5. Ideally, it's 7 or 8,\" he said.

The sheriff reviewed the county's animal-control practice and history in response to commissioners' questions. He said state statute makes the sheriff's office responsible for animal-control duties where cities do not provide the service, and that the office focuses on vicious animals, cruelty and other criminal animal matters rather than picking up every loose pet in rural areas. He recounted a prior contract with a local shelter, later switching to a different shelter under similar terms, and said the county has a part-time staff member whose duties are to handle animal complaints and who has been in place about six years. He said current county resolutions and overlapping state language about animal control are being reviewed and that the county may consolidate older resolutions into a single, updated document.

Commissioners questioned costs tied to building security and to 9-1-1. In budget discussion later in the meeting they debated whether to maintain two deputies staffing the courthouse entrances and two metal-detector screening points. Several commissioners and the sheriff recounted incidents and risks that, they said, supported continuing on-site sworn coverage.

The sheriff also addressed operational details including psychological evaluations (\"It can be anywhere from 5 to 10 a year\"), volunteer insurance used by emergency management volunteers, vetting and fit-for-duty evaluations, and the office's use of donated microchip readers to reunite animals with owners.

Why it matters: The sheriff's presentation ties a large portion of any 2026 county budget increase to mandated or contract-driven costs outside the sheriff's direct policy control'chiefly 9-1-1 funding shifts and a multi-year maintenance agreement for critical radio infrastructure. Commissioners will weigh that context while deciding how or whether to offset the request with cuts elsewhere in the county budget.

The meeting closed with commissioners asking County Administrator Mark to prepare budget options and scenario detail, including alternatives to avoid employee pay reductions tied to an impending change in the county's health insurance plan.","Sheriff Andy told commissioners his 2026 budget exceeds the County's 2.8% target because of a $400,000 transfer to 911, a multi-year jump in a Motorola radio maintenance contract and continued staffing and recruitment pressures. He also described a new K-9 expense line and the county's approach to animal control.",{"_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},6550972,"Commissioners debate security staffing, public-information funding and uniform pay increase as they shape a constrained county budget",3743,6929835,10673710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d&start=6929&end=10673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d/thumbnail_6929835.jpg","/articles/6550972/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/Commissioners-debate-security-staffing-public-information-funding-and-uniform-pay-increase-as-they-shape-a-constrained-county-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550972-3217f343fe6ae0a333e25e300664db82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155283&Signature=KeAjsDEOlIkE128dPFIwOM2cOWcq29~2EkhiqpYYkSlSVlkP1N4uWf-hCwAjBF5nJzQOpB4qjx0UWN-vdoCNgg8GLH-Ix-xlgK42Av0e0GeVHhlJrzgYjxi~ACPgTh74uyphicqNPf4r1gKnq37LiGV57wSOdkA-hlgy1uFRsk27YoupuReYv6wQQNMyegQesM1kDos6~vsSy4eD-1fKlwfoGsomNik~CQR5Pk-qFJPqxqPotMenUpHxINVZb1IdTz8dv-xlsGiYnqaR51FRTkYhGUOi13mJC9ejrm6BZC~fSpb8Sf3bPyV-a2DaqElTWXNjMsKO0Ldrd5REtKMPNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leavenworth County commissioners spent the budget work session discussing proposed reductions and directional decisions affecting courthouse security, the county attorney's public-information officer (PIO), salary-increase targets and the placement of emergency management.

Security at courthouse entrances: Commissioners reviewed the 2021-era decision to install two metal-detector screening points and to staff entrances with deputies. Some commissioners supported keeping two deputies and two screening stations, citing incidents and a deterrent effect. Others proposed reducing to a single public entry point to save roughly $100,000 or to remove sworn on-site coverage entirely to save a larger amount. Several commissioners and Sheriff Andy described incidents'including an instance involving a concealed blade inside a walking cane'that they said demonstrated the value of deputies and on-site screening. The board did not vote; the prevailing direction was to keep funding for courthouse security in the 2026 draft while staff prepare precise cost comparisons and alternatives.

County attorney PIO: Commissioners pressed County Attorney Todd Thompson on whether his office's PIO is a discretionary luxury or a necessary public-safety function, given a constrained budget. Thompson said the PIO has been central to timely public alerts on fentanyl and scams and provides a communications infrastructure other offices lack. Commissioners were split: some favored keeping the PIO funding citing public-safety benefits; others said the commission, which sets the budget, should consider removing the line item and leave it to the county attorney to make staffing choices. No formal budget reduction was adopted; commissioners asked the county administrator to return with options.

Salaries and pay guidance: The county administrator and commissioners reviewed a prior guideline that departments submit budgets reflecting a 2% wage increase and a roughly 2.8% department-level increase for inflation. The sheriff's office requested a 4% wage increase to address recruitment and retention. Commissioners discussed making the 2% guidance uniform across departments or allowing targeted, position-specific adjustments where recruitment difficulties are acute. The administrator said a 1% countywide salary change is roughly $280,000; commissioners asked him to prepare options that could avoid employees' take-home pay reductions tied to an upcoming change in the county's health insurance plan.

Emergency management and other items: Commissioners asked whether emergency management should revert from the sheriff's office to the county administrator and whether that move would lower costs; the county administrator said he would review grants and staffing and return with analysis. Commissioners requested the administrator implement several small agreed reductions department heads had already accepted (for example trimmed training lines) and to return with scenario options, including a revenue-neutral alternative.

Why it matters: The session shows commissioners balancing public-safety and service-level priorities against an overall budget constraint. Courthouse security, communications funding and requested pay differentials are among the most politically salient choices for the commission as it prepares the final county budget.

No formal adoption of budget changes occurred at the meeting; the administrator will return with refined options.","Leavenworth County commissioners debated whether to keep two deputies and two metal-detector screening points at courthouse entrances, whether to cut the county attorney's public-information officer, how to treat sheriff's 4% pay proposal versus a 2% countywide target, and whether to move emergency management back under administration.",{"_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},6550977,"County appraiser trims budget after adopting oblique aerial photography; staffing shift credited",153,3554265,3707510,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d&start=3554&end=3707","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362338-de67a7ae4540c8898c920e87afad042d/thumbnail_3554265.jpg","/articles/6550977/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/County-appraiser-trims-budget-after-adopting-oblique-aerial-photography-staffing-shift-credited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550977-698d87fea3aacc61ab8dcca772bb7ff7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155283&Signature=GYW8HvYbXokedJ0lrnVAPaBSdwlH63Yn9JOauAg442215H6NyIzrYk7uc81PHLkx1cMQ-GVacFgxTwaLpLyDqG9VktuY7N2Hjrnxvwvo-4ryeXi3WXxJVRZZnfX3oHNNLTXe5puJ~8EY6nOISN2imQlDdgheZpLqXGKPWJVUGwHfMIxUNmLkxCCCxQVOP4GvSgZ74cAYFB6K1C~0gPCBY2CrcIxOKUIkdjSax0n7logXxxa0wcoaaasLS71SKO1PGjG9KKWJP7qmKAy4aiXQS55IKiUlZwMncnal-ZkLD5W~JjjDh4nfsYQo1SG8AYQkLnfrYT8yzXi5CFII4L6S2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leavenworth County appraiser presented the office's proposed 2026 budget and said the total request is $922,950, down about 6% from the 2025 budget. The presenter (identified as Appraiser Bob) said savings derive from contracting for oblique aerial photography and from a staffing reclassification after a long-term employee retired.

The appraiser said the office contracted for oblique imagery that produces oblique and orthorectified outputs, enabling the office to reduce some prior contracts and eliminate a higher-level supervisory vacancy by hiring at a lower classification. The office noted a prior cooperative arrangement with the county's mapping partner had provided ortho imagery more cheaply in the past; the presenter said the county may still participate in the partner's future flights, but the new contract allows the appraiser's office to accomplish appraisal functions (measurements, footprints, structure heights) without as much external dependency.

Why it matters: Accurate aerial imagery is central to mass appraisal and property valuation; moving to a newer imagery contract can reduce recurring external costs and enable staff reallocation.","Leavenworth County appraiser reported a roughly 6% decrease in the 2026 office budget tied to contracting for oblique aerial photography and a reclassification of a supervisory position; the office said that obliques and orthorectified outputs will reduce reliance on prior arrangements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Leavenworth County attorney requests two part-time positions; office defends public-information role amid fentanyl and scam response

District court judgeship opening presented; judges explain merit selection process

Leavenworth County sheriff cites 911 funding shortfall, rising radio maintenance and staffing gaps in 2026 budget presentation

Commissioners debate security staffing, public-information funding and uniform pay increase as they shape a constrained county budget

County appraiser trims budget after adopting oblique aerial photography; staffing shift credited