[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6484019,"mediaKeyId","5504610-626e7d367d5cbd9129d29444e2a3c864","parentId",5504610,"title","Votes at a glance: Osage County Commission actions, July 29, 2025","audioSeconds",965,"startMs",5140000,"endMs",6105000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504610-626e7d367d5cbd9129d29444e2a3c864&start=5140&end=6105","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504610-626e7d367d5cbd9129d29444e2a3c864/thumbnail_5140000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484019/Osage-County/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Osage-County-Commission-actions-July-29-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484019-49b9d2d7dc673c70bf9d6d53001c4634/orig.mp4?Expires=1773566515&Signature=mYJB~7ioITg6aC9X0raER2UxKO0MSOgq~Iah9wifpQ47CfH3v9evfWfRvXZljfE2mUFqPGYsm-4Nsk4At-vHWmunNJq-YrqZuRQEHD57R1DK7SZkoO-neNs6TKfgiRvVi7a6drA1dIIKaxghqC72ZBuE9OhqdvpDTp0fvab2cLb3ls1FOYjj~af28u~7RGjGRp1RheiOghKwXdRqAMfuzNJpB9L08Q2sgrU5s3mfCxWt4jhnIZFvECVTdtM083lBDUHbVet8IqNJgZydFpm~s9jFJ5MZTqB~IyBXj0X3f80P9TRdA2nJMIuYD3egSfx4pQcbFQh4OGcYtyYKO61Dhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Osage County, KS","date","2025-07-29T21:53:11Z","article","The Osage County Board of County Commissioners took the following recorded actions on July 29, 2025. Where roll-call names were not spoken during the motion, votes were recorded by voice and the clerk recorded the outcome in the minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda with one deletion and three additions: Motion carried (voice vote recorded as \"Aye\").

- Enter executive sessions (several motions during the meeting) for non-elected personnel and payroll discussions: motions carried by voice vote.

- Approve payroll action forms (sheriff's personnel and other payroll actions): motions carried by voice vote.

- Approve appointment of an interim county appraiser: Resolution 2025-20 was adopted to appoint Michelle Rooks as interim county appraiser effective July 2025 for a period not to exceed six months. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve signing a franchise agreement letter with Cox and request a 5% franchise fee: Motion to sign the Cox agreement and request a 5% franchise fee carried (voice vote).

- Accept Scranton Township recommendation and appoint Alan Roney to fill a trustee vacancy: Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve the July 22, 2025 meeting minutes with requested corrections and spelling changes: Motion carried.

- Approve payment of bills in the amount of $116,434.47: Motion carried.

Details and formal actions

Appointment (Resolution 2025-20): The board approved Resolution 2025-20 setting Michelle Rooks as interim county appraiser of Osage County, Kansas, effective July 2025 for a term not to exceed six months. The motion was moved and seconded and recorded as carried.

Franchise agreement: Commissioners moved to sign the Cox franchise agreement letter and to request a 5% franchise fee. The motion passed; staff was directed to verify whether other local providers hold similar agreements and to follow up with affected companies.

Payroll and personnel forms: The board approved payroll action forms presented by the sheriff and a personnel payroll action form for a county employee; motions were carried by voice vote.

Township appointment: The board approved the county recommendation to appoint Alan Roney to the trustee position in Scranton Township based on township officer recommendations.

Other procedural approvals: The board approved meeting minutes and the bills list and adjourned the meeting.

Ending: Most votes were recorded as unanimous voice votes; the minutes reflect \"motion carries\" entries and do not show recorded roll-call 'yes'/'no' tallies in the transcript for every item. The clerk's official record should be referenced for any formal roll-call documentation required for contracting or legal purposes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Osage County Commission Meeting 7-29-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its July 29 meeting the Osage County Commission approved a set of routine personnel and administrative motions, appointed an interim county appraiser, approved a 5% franchise fee request from Cox, and appointed a township trustee; the board also approved payroll forms, meeting minutes and payment of bills.","taxTitle","Osage County, Kansas","taxId",73452,"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},6484022,"Osage County reviews draft 2026 budget; commissioners press for clearer midyear projections",3875,729000,4604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504610-626e7d367d5cbd9129d29444e2a3c864&start=729&end=4604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504610-626e7d367d5cbd9129d29444e2a3c864/thumbnail_729000.jpg","/articles/6484022/Osage-County/Kansas/Osage-County-reviews-draft-2026-budget-commissioners-press-for-clearer-midyear-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484022-818c0d3dfc4dc35f1159e672288832f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773566515&Signature=BFuE-QlhmfDuIPW9ir7~NDnUNWvczMS70e9o~kHSaTGsZ5aq5IxRMm8L1SXt7TB8tz51axNc2VO~4pqydxJVgRZV8Fpzk1wX0c2IXBaPQsR7Caazp~nWD4HGkjwF6nAgBwSY96p9E6VyrIqlSGRbglogSKVNlbxAp3dC~K38cwwEl4pea2s74VR6ABLnWC6n269oJKI9zy5XZaEWE35~OE0LJr5jFwMCHe-YKDOZ~xQYejLFkO9jRyvTYRxiCGdVYnS54llVGi0244FrQ2RTGvc~yaKa2pHSZdEnWj9no8HxVEwwDsmd~hVRVig7Dj~eZK~DLyg6A6jfHeCct4Vgxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Osage County commissioners on July 29 reviewed a draft 2026 budget and a page-by-page list of edits from staff, with presenter Scott Lloyd summarizing recent reconciliations, fund changes and items that need follow-up before the county publishes its formal hearing notice.

The discussion centered on three practical problems: (1) reconciling 2024 numbers so the county can close that audit cycle, (2) clearing up a negative carryover shown in the mid-column projections for 2026 in the general fund, and (3) confirming capital and lease payments already committed for equipment purchased late in 2024 and early 2025.

Why it matters: the commissioners set the mill levy earlier in July at the same rate as last year, but county staff told the board the assessed value rose roughly $10.9 million. That increase produces additional tax revenue if the county keeps the levy steady, but commissioners were warned the year-end “middle column” (budget-to-actual projections for 2025) still needs department-by-department checks to avoid drawing down reserves.

Scott Lloyd, who presented the packet of changes assembled by county staff, said audit cleanup is nearly complete and noted staff moved an ARPA balance into capital improvements so the ARPA fund shows zero, as expected. Lloyd also walked commissioners through the mill-levy math staff used to preserve a revenue-neutral levy and cited a line that the change in assessed value would generate roughly $490,007 in tax revenue at the current levy.

Commissioners and staff drilled into expenditures: Lloyd repeatedly urged each department to run a budget-to-actual projection from today to year end so the county can judge whether existing appropriation levels for 2026 are realistic or need trimming. He pointed out a pattern of using one-time cash balances to hold rates down and warned that repeated use of reserves could force future levy increases if not corrected.

Capital and equipment: staff added a 2025 Kenworth dump truck (noted as a lease entered in December 2024) and showed two lease amounts: $133,164.82 (three payments) for one truck and $127,289.91 for the other. Lloyd said the payments were in the packet and asked staff to add any missing payment history so the board could see which payments have been made.

Election fund and other problem areas: the packet shows the election fund with a negative unencumbered cash line in future columns; Lloyd attributed that to timing differences in election-cycle expenditures and encouraged review before publication. He also flagged a high \"miscellaneous\" line in 2024 and asked finance staff to reclassify items rather than rely on the catchall category.

Public-safety and service contracts: commissioners asked staff to check the ambulance contract terms (length and price escalations). Lloyd said the county’s ambulance arrangement is comparable with several nearby counties but that contract review timing should be confirmed.

Solid waste and recycling: commissioners and staff discussed landfill and recycling costs, including the county's disposal fees and the operational costs of separating recyclables. Lloyd and others urged creating a discrete budget line for recycling expenses so the county can track the program's true cost instead of burying it in commodities.

Capital improvement and multi-year planning: staff showed a multi-year capital plan concept and noted the capital improvement fund now holds capital outlay lines moved out of department budgets. Lloyd recommended the board adopt a 5- to 7-year capital plan to improve transparency and public understanding of how those dollars will be spent.

Administrative items and timing: Lloyd reviewed page-numbered handouts and circled cash balances across funds for commissioner review. He said the county needs to finalize the middle-column department projections and suggested the board plan to publish budget notice documents in mid-August to meet hearing deadlines; the budget hearing was scheduled for Sept. 15 in the evening. Lloyd advised planning for two publication attempts in case the first notice is not printed correctly.

Next steps: commissioners asked department heads to provide updated budget-to-actual projections immediately, to confirm personnel and benefit calculations (including social security and related figures), and to supply missing documentation such as lease and contract details. Lloyd said staff will continue reconciling 2024 and that the board will finalize figures for publication in August.

Ending: commissioners closed the item by directing staff to compile the requested department-level projections and contract/lease documentation and to return with finalized numbers before the publication window for the September hearing.","Commissioners examined a detailed draft budget presented July 29, focusing on unencumbered cash, a projected election-fund shortfall, capital purchases including two leased dump trucks, ARPA accounting, and a timeline to publish the budget for hearings in September.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Osage County Commission actions, July 29, 2025

Osage County reviews draft 2026 budget; commissioners press for clearer midyear projections