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Geary County extends emergency proclamation, briefs on snow response and FEMA options
Summary
The Geary County Commission extended a county emergency proclamation for seven days to support snow removal, discussed ongoing public-works operations and recordkeeping for potential FEMA reimbursement, and agreed to pursue local coordination on essential personnel and road clearing priorities.
The Geary County Commission voted to continue an emergency proclamation tied to the recent heavy snowfall, a move county emergency management officials said will facilitate overtime and equipment use for snow removal.
The proclamation continuation came after Gary Burgess, Geary County emergency management and rural fire chief, asked the commission to keep a verbal declaration in place and said: "Go ahead and continue it today for another 7 days, which will help with snow removal or if we have other problems." The commission approved the extension by motion.
The request was framed as a practical step to support road crews and first responders during an ongoing recovery phase. Burgess said the state may consider a separate declaration depending on documented losses, which could affect reimbursement for overtime and equipment costs. "The state is possibly looking at a declaration because the amount of record snowfall we had depends on the losses and that kind of stuff. So that could help with snow removal, overtime, equipment," he said.
Public Works Administrator Jeremy Myers and emergency-management staff described operational cooperation during the storm: crews coordinated with the sheriff's office and Fort Riley, shared tactical radio channels when needed and kept running logs. Myers said crews were prioritizing emergency routes and clearing based on safety needs, and that new telematics and dash-camera equipment recently procured will help the county track routes and improve public communication.
Commissioners and staff discussed the need to keep thorough time and expense records to support any future state or federal reimbursement requests. Burgess and Myers said they have been instructing crews and partner agencies to preserve records and receipts, and to log overtime and equipment usage.
Commissioners also discussed lists of essential personnel at county critical facilities, including the hospital, so county crews can prioritize access and plowing when necessary. Jeremy Myers said the county will work with hospital leadership to compile a list so public works can coordinate priority assistance.
The county will publish public notices about altered service schedules and landfill/recycling changes tied to the storm; staff said a brief delay in some services was unavoidable while crews focused on primary roadways.
The commission carried the motion to continue the proclamation by voice vote. No specific vote tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.
