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County counselor details staffing, litigation deadlines and easement signings
Summary
Riley County Counselor Jacob Vance updated commissioners on staffing for a legal vacancy, active litigation timelines including a conditional cross-petition to the Kansas Supreme Court and a December trial, and upcoming easement-signing logistics requiring title verification.
Jacob Vance, Riley County Counselor, briefed commissioners Aug. 25 on staffing, litigation, and property-easement logistics.
Vance said county staff is continuing recruitment for a vacant legal position; three applications have been received, though he said one applicant lacked required law-school credentials. “So far, there has been a total of 3. However, I wouldn't consider 1, an applicant because they didn't even go to law school,” Vance said. He described only one full week of advertising so far and said staff expects more applicants as outreach continues.
On litigation, Vance outlined several upcoming deadlines. He said the county has a conditional cross-petition due to the Kansas Supreme Court and motions tied to a criminal case scheduled for trial in December involving property owned by Gary Kilner. “One of them is a conditional cross petition for the Kansas Supreme Court. The other is, some motions regarding our criminal case that I have set for trial in December,” Vance said.
Vance also described preparations for a planned easement-signing event. He said most signings will involve temporary construction easements and will not require notary services, which he expects will make the process quicker. To confirm signers’ ownership, the county will request abstract or ownership reports from outside counsel (Charleston and Wilson) before finalizing easement documents. “One of the things we have to do legally is make sure that the people who are signing these easement documents are the people that actually own the land,” Vance said.
Vance reported that staff are moving forward on an “insurance audit” document and are referencing a 1975 American Bar Association guidance in balancing confidentiality concerns. He also said county contracts remain active and that staff work continues to process them.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the timing of easement activities and litigation; Vance said he and other staff will be present to facilitate signings and to bring most, though not all, documents for signatures. No formal board action or vote was recorded on the matters Vance described during the update.
