Franklin County Commission approves 5-acre rezone, extends employee agreement; hears jail and grant updates

The Franklin County Commission on July 30 approved a request to rezone 5 acres for a family homestead, voted to extend an employment agreement addendum for county staff member Derek Denton, and approved payroll, while receiving updates on a federal grant application and jail staffing.

The rezone application, filed as 24090021 and described by staff as “commonly known as 4672 John Bridal,” would change 5 acres of a 75-acre tract to the RE district while leaving the remaining 70 acres in agricultural zoning. County staff told the commission the 5-acre parcel is mostly timber, that a rural water meter (Rural Water 6) is already in place to serve the lot, and that the applicant plans to sell the parcel to a family member to allow construction of a homestead. Planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval. The commission voted in favor of the rezoning; Commissioners Wehmeyer, Meador, Dickinson, Sotomayor and Chair Harris were recorded voting yes during the roll call.

The commission also approved a consent item extending an employment agreement addendum for Derek Denton. Denton spoke to the commission, saying the addendum “kind of speaks for itself” and that it would extend his employment term without increasing compensation or adding benefits. He told the commission the addendum does not go into effect immediately but begins at the end of his current agreement so renewals can occur on a four-year cadence, allowing either party a year to make other arrangements. The extension was moved and seconded and approved by the commission; recorded yes votes included Commissioner Meador, Commissioner Dickinson, Commissioner Saldemeyer (recorded as Stoudemire in the roll call), Commissioner Wehmeyer and Chair Harris.

Earlier in the meeting the commission approved payroll for the period of June 21 to July 20, in the amount stated during the meeting as $1,436,573.89. The motion to approve payroll was seconded and the recorded roll call included yes votes from Commissioner Sotomayor, Commissioner Wehmeyer, Vice Chair Meador, Commissioner Dickinson and Chair Harris.

During staff reports the commission heard a brief update on a federal grant application. A county staff member reported the full grant award was “over $800,000” and that the state had indicated it would likely participate in the required match but that Franklin County’s share of the match would be “a tad over $8,000.” The county staff member said the county was working to resubmit paperwork to the federal agency and expected to complete the resubmission within a day or two.

The commission also heard a lengthy report from a representative of the sheriff’s office. The speaker asked the commission to note the office’s condolences and described a recent delegation visit to Wyandotte County following the death of a Wyandotte County deputy, identified in the meeting as Elijah Ming. The sheriff’s office representative said the county’s inmate counts had improved, reporting the jail population was “down in the sixties” at the last check, and discussed an incoming staffing change: a new nurse will be placed in the jail and that change may affect the existing nursing contract price. The speaker said an interim nurse is currently covering and that advertising for the vacancy would be forthcoming; he also summarized prior discussion about the cost trade-offs of farm-outs versus expanding local capacity.

Commissioners also offered brief community updates: several commissioners praised Main Street staff for recent downtown events in Ottawa, and one reported that the local hospital board is preparing to reopen its obstetrics unit, with an anticipated start in September. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance - Payroll approval (June 21–July 20): $1,436,573.89 — approved (recorded yes votes: Commissioner Sotomayor; Commissioner Wehmeyer; Vice Chair Meador; Commissioner Dickinson; Chair Harris). - Rezoning application 24090021 (5 acres to RE, commonly known as 4672 John Bridal) — approved (recorded yes votes: Commissioner Wehmeyer; Vice Chair Meador; Commissioner Dickinson; Commissioner Sotomayor; Chair Harris). - Employment agreement addendum, Denton (extend term; no pay/benefit changes; effective after current agreement) — approved (recorded yes votes: Vice Chair Meador; Commissioner Dickinson; Commissioner Saldemeyer (recorded as Stoudemire in roll call); Commissioner Wehmeyer; Chair Harris).