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Riley County keeps permitting authority for EM/fire EOC remodel, approves temporary relocation of offices
Summary
Commissioners voted to retain Riley County as authority having jurisdiction for the emergency management/fire/EOC remodel, to submit plans to the State Fire Marshal for review, and to temporarily relocate EM/fire staff to a county office until remodel completion.
Riley County commissioners voted April 24 to retain county authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for the planned emergency management (EM) and fire department remodel that will convert the former EMS building into a combined fire/EM operations center and emergency operations center.
Why it matters: Retaining local AHJ authority means Riley County will use the county permitting process and submit plan review to the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office rather than follow the city permitting route. Commissioners said that approach should speed the review for this remodel and keep county oversight of a facility that will house 24‑hour staffing.
Russell Stuckey, fire and emergency management, described the building committee’s recommendation that the county use its own permitting process and submit plans to the state fire marshal for review. County legal staff told the commission it is legally permissible for the county to retain permitting authority for county‑owned projects, though they acknowledged the city could take a different view and that some jurisdictions still choose to pull city permits for convenience.
The commission approved a motion to retain AHJ and to submit plans to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Commissioners also approved a second separate motion instructing staff to temporarily relocate EM/fire offices to existing county office space (the former Konza/cons space) until the remodel is complete. County IT staff reported they have reviewed the temporary space and found networking and office placement suitable; Public Works and EM staff estimated moving and light preparations would be modestly expensive.
The AHJ vote and the temporary relocation vote were both unanimous. County staff said the County will proceed with plan submittal to the State Fire Marshal and coordinate the move in coming weeks.
