Dickinson County commissioners discussed attending the Kansas Department of Transportation District 2 local consult meeting on Oct. 23 in Salina so county officials can present local transportation priorities and press KDOT on proposed approaches and right‑of‑way changes. County staff and commissioners said state engineers have suggested some work normally done by KDOT — for example approaches to bridges, some right‑of‑way maintenance and guardrail replacement — could fall to counties, increasing local costs.

County Administrator Janelle Dodson said the local consult meeting is the best opportunity to “talk about what the transportation region priorities are going to be,” and commissioners discussed altering the Oct. 23 schedule so at least one commissioner could attend the KDOT meeting in the morning and reconvene county business later that day.

Public works staff (Martin) and commissioners described examples that prompted concern, including a county‑adjacent overpass where KDOT design or right‑of‑way changes might create new county maintenance obligations, and a guardrail installed adjacent to a bridge that county crews did not install but might be expected to maintain. A county speaker said a prior District 2 engineer had been “adamant” that counties should not do work in state right‑of‑way; commissioners said recent discussions at the state level seemed to be shifting some approaches and roadside work toward local responsibility.

Commissioners emphasized they have limited authority to make changes on state‑owned highways and said they want to press KDOT on where responsibility and funding will sit if a project places work onto county roads or approaches. No formal motion was recorded; the conversation closed with agreement to monitor planning documents and confirm attendance as the Oct. 23 meeting approaches.

The commissioners also discussed KDOT’s consultation on a planned Celina interchange and other major interchange projects; they said heavy reconstruction could be costly and disruptive during construction and that some proposals include extended state right‑of‑way that county staff do not believe the county should be required to maintain.

What happened next: county officials plan to confirm who will attend the KDOT local consult meeting and to raise county priorities and concerns at that session. The commission did not vote or issue formal direction at the meeting recorded here.

Why it matters: if KDOT expects counties to maintain approaches, guardrails or roadside slopes that were historically KDOT responsibilities, Dickinson County could face new, unfunded maintenance costs. Commissioners said they intend to use the Oct. 23 consult to press for clear assignment of responsibility and funding.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to keep them updated as the consult meeting approaches and to provide specific project maps and cost estimates before the session so the county’s requests can be specific and substantiated.