Ellis County reappoints Jeff Ridgeway to Northwest Kansas Homeland Security Council
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Summary
The Ellis County Commission voted Oct. 21 to reappoint Jeff Ridgeway as Ellis County’s representative to the Northwest Kansas Homeland Security Council for a two-year term.
The Ellis County Commission voted Oct. 21 to reappoint Jeff Ridgeway as Ellis County’s representative to the Northwest Kansas Homeland Security Council for a two-year term. The motion passed on a 3-0 voice vote by the three commissioners present.
Darren Myers, county administrator, described the council’s role and funding. “These meetings are held once a quarter up in Hoxie,” Myers said, and the region receives about $300,000 a year in federal funds that are distributed after the council reviews project proposals from member counties. Myers said the council includes county appointees and representatives from law enforcement, fire, emergency management and health-care coalitions.
Myers outlined past awards to Ellis County, including replacement radios for emergency operations centers, a Polaris Ranger for EMS that cost about $40,000–$50,000, and a $75,000 grant awarded for a pickup to tow a water-supply trailer. He said equipment awarded through the council is housed and maintained by the recipient county but can be returned to the council for reallocation if a county stops participating in a project.
Myers also noted local representation on the regional bodies: Lyle Pantle represents the Emergency Management Association for Northwest Kansas and Sheriff Scott Brown represents law enforcement on related regional groups. Commissioners said continued county representation is important given the county’s history of receiving regional equipment and funding.
The commission did not record a named mover or seconder in the meeting transcript; the motion passed unanimously with all three commissioners voting in favor.
The vote record in the meeting showed Chair Michael Burgess and Commissioners Neil Younger and Nathan Leiker present; the motion passed 3-0.
The commission’s appointment covers the council duties described by county staff; specific start and end dates beyond the two-year term length were not specified in the transcript.