Votes at a glance: High Prairie detached from Fire District 1; bridge contract approved; plats cleared; other actions

Leavenworth County commissioners took multiple formal votes during their meeting, approving a mix of contracts, plats and boundary changes and rejecting a single bid for a bridge replacement.

The board voted to: detach High Prairie Township from Rural Fire District No. 1 and to authorize an agreement allowing High Prairie Township to provide fire protection for its territory beginning April 1, 2025. The board also amended the county's contract with the City of Lansing to exclude High Prairie Township effective April 1, 2025. The board approved conditional final plats for Elsin Estates Number 2 and Cheyenne Crossings Number 2. The board rejected all bids for replacement of Bridge K-19 after receiving a single bid 22% above the engineer's estimate, and separately approved a construction contract with Brian Ohlmeyer Construction for the replacement of Bridge ST-26 (Fairmount Road) in the amount of $1,094,319.45 (including specified contingency). After an executive session on real-property acquisition, the board approved a letter of support to acquire ground from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Votes and key motions (as stated in the meeting): - Resolution 2025-10: Authorize county to enter agreement with High Prairie Township to provide fire protection beginning 04/01/2025 — motion approved (recorded ayes during roll call). Staff noted High Prairie had formed its own township fire department; the agreement covers service until High Prairie is no longer part of Fire District 1 or until year-end (as presented). - Motion to amend county contract with City of Lansing to exclude High Prairie Township effective 04/01/2025 and direct staff to notify Lansing — motion approved. - Resolution altering boundaries of Rural Fire District No. 1 by detaching High Prairie Township — motion approved; staff explained the petition met the 10% landowner signature threshold, and publication and a 30-day protest petition window (19% threshold to stop the action) will follow statutory notice requirements. - Final plat (DEV-24157158) Elsin Estates No. 2: 16-acre parcel into 5 lots; one planning-commission exception; planning commission recommended approval 8–0; board conditionally approved the final plat. - Final plat (DEV-24-147) Cheyenne Crossings No. 2: 34-acre parcel into 13 lots; planning commission exception for minimum road frontage calculation; board conditionally approved the final plat. - Motion to reject all bids for replacement of Bridge K-19 (A Hundred and 70 Ninth Street): motion approved. Staff recommended rebidding because the single bid received was approximately 22% (about $300,000) above the engineer's estimate and the county received only one bid. - Motion to approve contract with Brian Ohlmeyer Construction for replacement of Bridge ST-26 (Fairmount Road) in the amount of $1,094,319.45 (including contingency) — motion approved; preconstruction work has begun and the project is scheduled to start in the coming weeks. - After an executive session limited to legal interest in county property acquisition, the board approved a letter of support to acquire property from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The board recorded votes as part of the formal roll calls and motions; recorded “aye” votes appeared during the meeting for each motion above. The meeting transcript lists the procedural next steps where required by statute: required public notice (publication) for fire district boundary change and a 30-day protest petition period with a 19% threshold for stopping the detachment.

The board also set follow-ups and staff directions associated with each item (notify City of Lansing and take required actions to implement the contract amendment; proceed with contract execution for ST-26; rebid K-19 as recommended by staff).