Sherman County commissioners approve vouchers, pay two Glassman inspection bills and hear preliminary pipeline outreach

At a meeting of the Sherman County Board of Commissioners, the board approved payment vouchers including two invoices from Glassman and added a five-minute executive session on nonelected personnel, commissioners said.

The actions matter because one of the Glassman invoices covered asbestos inspection work linked to courthouse renovation planning and commissioners discussed how abatement could affect courthouse access. Commissioners also heard preliminary outreach from Tallgrass Energy that a future pipeline project could include a route through Sherman County, raising possible impacts on county roads and landowner easements.

The board approved routine business at the opening of the meeting, including the agenda (with an added five-minute executive session) and previous minutes from 07:18 and 07:31. Commissioner 3 made the motion to approve payment vouchers that included an item described in the meeting as $6,045.42 and a second described as $141,003.30 52; the motion to approve the vouchers passed on voice vote.

Commissioners noted a courthouse bid from Glassman for $35,100 but did not take a formal vote to accept the bid at the meeting. The board approved payment of two Glassman invoices after discussing them: a sewer inspection bill transcribed as "$7.55 55" and an asbestos inspection for $2,013.90. Commissioner 3 moved to pay the two bills; the motion was seconded and approved on a voice vote.

Commissioner 2 said, "I am okay with the asbestos abatement, you know, removal." Commissioners discussed that asbestos removal will require sealing off some work areas and that parts of the courthouse—primarily the basement—would not be available for work during abatement. They asked staff to contact Glassman and invite representatives to the next meeting to discuss the full scope of work and any additional proposals beyond the two inspected items.

The board voted to enter a five-minute executive session described by commissioners as concerning nonelected personnel. The session occurred and the meeting resumed; no public actions stemming directly from the session were announced at the meeting.

Separately, Commissioner 3 reported a preliminary outreach from Tallgrass Energy. "It's real preliminary. They're they are doing some pipeline work through the area in the future, and there could be some pipeline going through Sherman County," Commissioner 3 said. Commissioners discussed that Tallgrass acquired an earlier project from Phillips 66 and that company representatives told the county they are beginning to contact landowners. Commissioners expressed concern about potential road use during construction and noted that private easements vary by landowner; in the discussion they referenced construction easements of about 100 feet and an "actual" easement near 25 feet, described as observations from prior projects. No formal county action or agreement on the pipeline was taken.

Other matters mentioned briefly: a reminder that a first-responder recognition ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 23 at the high school auditorium at 7 p.m., and that Senator Jerry Moran will be in town with a visit at the hospital at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, as noted in the meeting's closing remarks.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed on voice vote.