Linn County commissioners approve jail bed contract, release $332,000 to STARS and several routine budget and personnel items

Linn County commissioners approved several routine and contractual items during their Sept. 8 meeting, including a three-year agreement to provide jail bed space to Wyandotte County at a daily rate of $67.50, the release of $332,000 budgeted for STARS, the conservation district budget for 2026 and multiple personnel appointments and hires.

The commission voted by voice to approve an agreement described in the meeting as “between Linn County, Kansas and the unified government and sheriff of Wyandotte County for the available bed spaces in our jail at $67.50 for the daily rate for an additional 3 years and allow the chair to sign.” The motion was made and seconded and approved by voice; no roll-call tally by name was recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners also approved releasing $332,000 in 2025 budgeted funds to STARS, a nonprofit program the commission had previously budgeted for; the motion to release the funds passed on a voice vote. The conservation district’s 2026 budget request of $43,000 was approved to be signed and sent to the state.

Other actions approved during the meeting included: hiring Mike Nation as an equipment operator at a specified pay grade for the north shop; appointments to the planning and zoning committee (Steve Miller and Cheryl Carney for District 2; Michael McVicker for District 1); approval of claims in the amount of $523,036.42; approval of burial permit 2025-15 for a road bore for Rural Water District No. 3; and selection of Peppercorn Engineering as the consultant for the K-1095 high-risk rural road project.

Several procurement and budget items were discussed and advanced for later documentation. Commissioners reviewed propane bids opened at the meeting (bids from MFA Oil and Heartland Propane and a lower price offer from C & J Propane) and did not award a contract immediately; staff was directed to qualify bids and return next week. A Terracon invoice of $7,139 related to landfill berm and vertical expansion work was presented and identified to be paid from ARPA funds.

The meeting record shows motions were moved and seconded for each item and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally by member name for those votes.

Votes at a glance

- Agreement with Wyandotte County for jail bed spaces — outcome: approved (daily rate $67.50, three years). Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded. - Release of 2025 budget funds to STARS — outcome: approved ($332,000). Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded. - Conservation District 2026 budget — outcome: approved ($43,000). Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded. - Approval of claims — outcome: approved ($523,036.42). Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded. - Hire: Mike Nation as equipment operator (north shop) — outcome: approved. Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded. - Planning & Zoning appointments: Steve Miller and Cheryl Carney (District 2), Michael McVicker (District 1) — outcome: approved. Motions moved and seconded; voice votes recorded. - Burial permit 2025-15 (Rural Water District No. 3 road bore) — outcome: approved. Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded. - Selection of Peppercorn Engineering as consultant for the K-1095 high-risk rural roads project — outcome: approved. Motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded.

Context and next steps

County staff will finalize and sign contracts where required (including the Wyandotte County bed-space agreement), qualify opened bids for propane and return with recommendations, and proceed with paperwork for personnel hires and planning-and-zoning appointments. The commission scheduled routine follow-ups (agenda items and reports) for subsequent meetings.

The commission’s approvals were made by voice vote; the transcript records “aye” responses but does not provide a named roll-call tally.

Ending

Several action items will be returned to staff for completion and brought back to the commission for documentation and signature as needed.