[{"_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",6482056,"mediaKeyId","5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182","parentId",5529956,"title","Fire chief seeks new tanker and pumper; commissioners debate phased CIP funding","audioSeconds",524,"startMs",2372000,"endMs",2896000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182&start=2372&end=2896","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182/thumbnail_2372000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482056/Geary-County/Kansas/Fire-chief-seeks-new-tanker-and-pumper-commissioners-debate-phased-CIP-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482056-14610bdcd4a93e6b88c3f27f0905fbe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773616561&Signature=gqE-1MdfWspbBvW1kIHtp68a6BavancDi~XBa2GmVJuhJCcWZ3nlQe8l2mGvzjwFYhh9n5ppM1iotI9lJBJ9tsuZK3fysdS5ergpANtVCqGx1UP5zxAqc29kwKIq0gTHTOZEYAUAdcJZu1eKoEYDtRb7H5xKy1XAwF8Vps6IE60O-euaF2N6GzbDfwFJsGR59zrkA3FY02bFRpOdqF-3REEE4eYuFgIabCbAvP~S9Rh662FN8qeBPTcGYwZ4endkDnxV0StgZyOlVMy738R-U1USXMMN3ik8UPUIWIjUnNjnfBoYjktJeZRbMSxqo9LxsNiVVio3cxISUrx2MCGImg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Geary County, KS","date","2025-08-05T09:17:58Z","article","Mister Gary Burgess returned to the commission to present a capital-improvement request for the county’s rural fire service and seek a funding path for aging trucks and equipment.

Burgess outlined a $285,000 immediate request to replace a 1991 pickup with a 4-wheel-drive replacement and to obtain a 2,000-gallon tanker pumper to augment coverage in the east part of Geary County. He told commissioners: “Both of these are necessary for us to keep the little fire department work going. I don't wanna go backwards.”

Commissioners pressed for a capital-improvement plan (CIP) rather than a single-year request. One commissioner recommended building a reserve and proposed a spreading mechanism discussed in the meeting as \"$1.75 a year\" (the transcript uses that figure without specifying the unit of levy or tax base). Tammy said a steady contribution would allow the fire district to obtain the four items on Burgess’s list within two years if the board committed to a recurring funding level: “If we do 1.75 this year and 1.75 next year, he’ll get all 4 of those things.”

Other commissioners pushed for a formal CIP schedule and cautioned against approving a large one‑time levy spike. Several members stressed the need to protect taxpayers from large year-to-year swings and recommended placing money into a dedicated fund for fire capital so proceeds from vehicle sales or insurance recoveries would be preserved for replacement.

Burgess and multiple commissioners discussed alternative approaches: buy used apparatus after independent inspection, seek grants for self-contained-breathing-apparatus replacements (air packs), and create a rolling replacement schedule so not all equipment needs replacement in the same year. Commissioners debated trade-offs between immediate procurement and multi-year planning; one commissioner said she would not vote for a “wish list” without a funding plan, while others supported a phased levy increase to start the reserve.

No formal roll-call vote was taken; commissioners agreed to revisit the fire CIP at the next meeting and staff were asked to prepare a plan and pricing options. Burgess was told that, with a committed multi-year funding approach, he could obtain one or more vehicles during 2026–27 depending on timing and procurement lead times.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Geary County Budget Session 08/04/25","oneSentenceSummary","Fire representative Gary Burgess requested a replacement pickup and a 2,000-gallon tanker pumper, and commissioners debated whether to fund the requests through a phased capital-improvement plan or a larger one-time levy increase.","taxTitle","Geary County, Kansas","taxId",63542,"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},6482060,"Commissioners discuss pictometry/aerial-imagery contract and frequency options",142,1896000,2038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182&start=1896&end=2038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182/thumbnail_1896000.jpg","/articles/6482060/Geary-County/Kansas/Commissioners-discuss-pictometryaerial-imagery-contract-and-frequency-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482060-09449d43140bc92398f7929bd932ba18/orig.mp4?Expires=1773616561&Signature=G-9VyM2dS6ETwwjKjINMU8trBUfjtUJhPD2jxvOBeUJPiUX19rK9amU8HLpTb8ZSYFsfKnH1SMgIym0FYZ3lBiLBc0LgBEHUxvgtVXhvwCJ16WIqeZa2hBWCKoMlVxlHnlDwSZo2sGZ9ovnyaeLy3BbTkJ490DPipKgHkqG-Gc2aA8VEcdNDlCKJJYBSWe316eSeZ6cVuwmet~vZNjHJPt5l2tj1-0Z8SwMAY6oG2ZJHOQcuHA69~lDaPc34~B9TS92LCG0OFnMXsjbFdlyh2OjCyIY7TEji-m9lr-A7u6tlGGuYK5Yh-BGHjEMA251VmqzxnZqPxmpOIv5m7i9jYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners reviewed the county’s existing pictometry (aerial imagery) contract and discussed whether to reduce frequency to save money or to pay a small additional annual amount to secure a third flight.

Commissioner Troy explained that the county is under a six-year contract that spreads payments annually and that the baseline annual payment is currently about $34,000 and is expected to rise toward $36,000 in coming years. Troy said the county can pay an extra amount to add another flight: “for that extra $2,000 spread over 6 years for that $12, you get a third flight.”

Some commissioners suggested reducing frequency because they perceived limited change in county building patterns since the last flight in 2023. Troy countered with construction figures, noting “there’s been over a 100 … 104 dwellings and single family dwellings and duplexes built since 2023,” and said more frequent flights help first responders and allow the county’s GIS data to be uploaded to the provider for use by appraisers and other departments.

Staff described technical trade-offs: paying slightly more to get an additional flight gives more up-to-date imagery, while choosing less frequent flights reduces annual costs. Troy noted higher resolution options increase cost and that the county’s chosen resolution meets state standards for horizontal accuracy (within roughly one foot), which some departments prefer over more frequent but lower-resolution data.

No final decision or roll-call vote was recorded in this session; commissioners asked staff to incorporate the information into budget worksheets.","The commission considered the county's multi-year pictometry contract, cost spread and the trade-off between higher resolution and more frequent flights; staff described the six-year contract and the option to add a third flight for roughly $2,000 per year.",{"_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},6482065,"Commissioners adjust CVV budget, agree to $30,000 for Main Street and $1,500 for Juneteenth",1249,222000,1471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182&start=222&end=1471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529956-7864e28a295f2b1bec8a29fb5d99f182/thumbnail_222000.jpg","/articles/6482065/Geary-County/Kansas/Commissioners-adjust-CVV-budget-agree-to-30000-for-Main-Street-and-1500-for-Juneteenth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482065-36aaab4d31095e63f44eb32699ae940c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773616561&Signature=k5xU9F1DVpoH66UnK8HxEPDIUNUnyLzfNs1K4ZSmHMImGKLBZtadyfQSvreZR628ssRQcPH4CZhJjkPWIslJ98Z7VlPPRmG3Ni4BJNfztOivpuTt1ZqYiRKwBao0CEmbN5t7kAOumA2R90~DXAxc7YgqE44FfEm3MVq7K1TGlX8CpcBruumNz~gqfp~gmY1VEdOTIAaIMbiZbYQX8KoYxZRsSYT6jkt~0KG6U5NjqQej6yIa2MoGrv~iJhKhXxuslKwckeiq8Oki38e4i5TskI8Yx67dL95vZhBP-vx1N1jeqGXC2Dw1dAU6XhYEkQ3bBFdehHdF-IwaxQHkV~aLkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Geary County commissioners spent a portion of their budget work session reviewing revisions to the CVV budget and reached agreement on several event appropriations and internal budget items.

Commissioner Tammy summarized changes, saying, “I did send you information on the CDB's budget, and we've made some adjustments.” Commissioners discussed personnel, insurance and overtime projections for 2025 and 2026. Tammy noted the CVV will now pay property and liability insurance directly because “CVV is not part of that alarm tax, so they're responsible for those costs themselves.”

The board discussed overtime and holiday pay for CVV staff after staff reported personnel-service changes. Tammy said personnel overtime had been increased from $1,000 to $2,500 at the director’s request; she noted past overtime varied and described how exempt status affects overtime. Human Resources director Crystal (identified in the meeting) explained how holiday pay interacts with hours worked, emphasizing department adherence to policy: employees must work a full eight-hour day to receive full holiday pay or will be paid only for hours actually worked.

Commissioners and staff discussed one-time equipment purchases and larger balancing adjustments. Tammy pointed to a proposed $30,000 line for backdrop equipment in 2025 and described a $318,000 balancing figure used to bring the 2026 projected budget to zero; she said Main Street, Juneteenth, FreedomFest and potentially the Opera House would be paid from that balancing amount if approved.

On specific appropriations, commissioners agreed the previously approved FreedomFest allocation would be removed from CVV and funded from the CBP source; they approved preliminary allocations of $30,000 to Main Street (to be paid from CVV) and $1,500 for Juneteenth. Commissioners also discussed a $25,000 figure for the Opera House but agreed to move Opera House funding back to the county’s operating budget for now and revisit it later. Tammy summarized the agreed items: “So 15 with Juneteenth, Main Street's 30. 1500. Right. 1500. Yeah.”

Staff flagged a $26,500 net change tied to those allocations that would alter the transfer figures and beginning cash balances; Tammy said she would make the numerical adjustments in the worksheet and circulate the updated worksheet. She also noted a $65,000 repayment to the sports complex that was approved earlier would affect transfers.

Commissioners discussed CVV’s advisory-board participation and reporting requirements. Tammy said the CVV board would provide quarterly updates and fundraising reports, and commissioners agreed that serving on all outside advisory boards could overburden county staff and commissioners.

The commissioners asked staff to refine the worksheet and carry the agreed changes forward; no formal roll-call vote was recorded on the allocations during this session.

Ending: Staff will update the budget worksheets to reflect the commissioners’ preliminary allocations and bring the revised figures to the next meeting for formal action.","Geary County commissioners reviewed proposed changes to the Convention/Visitor/Visitor (CVV) budget, agreed on specific event funding and clarified personnel and holiday-pay items; final budget adjustments and some transfers were deferred to the next meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Fire chief seeks new tanker and pumper; commissioners debate phased CIP funding

Commissioners discuss pictometry/aerial-imagery contract and frequency options

Commissioners adjust CVV budget, agree to $30,000 for Main Street and $1,500 for Juneteenth