Shawnee County commissioners approve routine contracts, replenish DA cold‑case fund and grant conditional use permit

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on March 13 approved a series of routine contracts, budget actions and land‑use approvals, voted to replenish the district attorney's cold case fund by $150,000, and granted a conditional use permit for a demo landfill and recycling facility on a 36.05‑acre parcel in Minokin Township.

The board, chaired by Commissioner Aaron Mays, approved the consent agenda and routine financial items early in the meeting. County clerk payments (vouchers) totaling $2,232,475.62 were approved, including two Solid Waste Fund payments noted in the clerk's presentation: $292,099 to TLG Operations for a heavy‑duty recycling truck and $82,462 to Key Equipment & Supply Company for a roll‑off truck.

In a separate, debated item, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagee told commissioners the cold case fund (established in February 2014 to support prosecution of cold and capital cases) was depleted and requested $150,000 from contingency to restore it to its original level. Kagee said investigators have recently reviewed at least 48 unsolved homicides at various stages of inquiry and that trial and expert costs are difficult to predict. Commissioners approved the request by a 3‑0 vote.

During the planning department's public hearing, the board considered Resolution No. 2025‑20: a conditional use permit to establish a demolition landfill and recycling facility on a 36.05‑acre property…