Riley County commissioners approve grant application, contracts and personnel actions; several items receive unanimous consent

Riley County commissioners on July 17 approved a series of motions including authorizing a grant application tied to a housing relocation program, signing a cancer-care services agreement, issuing a request for proposals for the Health Department’s electronic medical records replacement, and making several personnel and administrative approvals.

Commissioners voted unanimously on each item when asked “All in favor? Aye.” The meeting record shows no roll-call tallies attached to those votes.

The board authorized staff to submit a “Home in the Heartland”/Make My Move grant application and instructed county staff to sign and submit required documents. Commissioners then approved a contractual services agreement with Schneider Beacon to provide cancer-care services to the county and directed county staff to sign the contract.

Separately, the board approved issuing an RFP for the Health Department’s electronic medical records (EMR) replacement; the Capital Improvement Plan previously allocated $250,000 for that project. Commissioners also approved a title change in the IT department—changing an incumbent’s title to network systems engineer—and authorized advertising for a network systems administrator; they approved several routine employee action forms and minutes of prior meetings.

The board recessed into an executive session under the attorney–client consultation exception to the Kansas Open Meetings Act to discuss legal advice related to sewer districts; the publicly recorded motion identified attorney‑client consultation under the Open Meetings Act as the authority for the closed session.

Votes at a glance - Authorize submission of Home in the Heartland / Make My Move grant application: motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Approve contractual services agreement with Schneider Beacon (cancer-care services): motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Approve issuance of RFP for Health Department EMR replacement (CIP $250,000): motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Approve title change to Network Systems Engineer and advertise Network Systems Administrator position: motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Approve routine employee action forms and signings: motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Approve minutes (July 7 and July 17): motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Approve textual/tax corrections (as presented): motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Authorize refill/advertise custodial position in Public Works: motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye). - Recess into executive session pursuant to attorney–client consultation exception to the Kansas Open Meetings Act: motion made, seconded, approved (voice vote: aye).

Why it matters: These approvals carry forward county procurement and personnel steps (contract signing, vendor selection, and position recruitment) and advance a county-supported grant application that is intended to support local housing relocation work. The RFP approval starts a procurement process for a major county information system used by public-health staff.

Meeting context and next steps County staff were directed to finalize and sign the approved contracts and applications and to proceed with the RFP schedule as posted in the meeting packet; no funding changes beyond the previously approved CIP allocation were made at the meeting. The board scheduled follow-up budgeting work sessions and asked staff to return with requested adjustments where necessary.