Residents say Evergy plant and 96‑corridor development arrived with little notice; county says cities led annexation and NDAs limited early disclosure

Karen Drake, a resident who lives near the 96 Corridor, told the Reno County Commission she and her neighbors learned about a proposed Evergy electricity facility only after public notice and said the community lacked advance information on environmental and livability impacts.

Drake said neighbors were concerned about light, noise and air emissions and asked whom to contact about project details. She said she attended a project Zoom meeting where questions were limited and that residents felt the decision was already final.

County officials responded that much of the Evergy project and the associated land annexation and rezoning were city‑level matters, not county actions. Commissioners and staff explained that some negotiations around large projects are handled under nondisclosure agreements while proposals are developed and that public disclosure occurs once negotiations are sufficiently advanced. County staff suggested residents contact the Hutchinson‑Reno County Chamber of Commerce and city planning offices for more information and said the county’s formal review role was limited in the annexation and rezoning items, though the commission had one vote on whether an annexation would impair a neighboring city’s expansion.

Why it matters: Residents living near potential industrial developments seek timely notice so they can assess impacts to property values, light and noise, and public‑health concerns. County officials said they do not control every step of city annexation or private land deals and that county participation can be limited by confidentiality during early site negotiations.

What county officials said: Commissioners acknowledged the community’s concerns and said they will share information when it becomes available. One commissioner noted that the county’s role was narrow — in the annexation matter the county was asked only to determine whether annexation would impair a nearby city’s future expansion — and that broader permitting and environmental review were handled at the city, state or developer level. Staff and one commissioner said the proposed Evergy facility would be air‑cooled (not water‑cooled), reducing impacts on local water resources, but that more technical analysis would be done by the project proponents and permitting authorities.

What residents can do: County staff recommended residents monitor the county website and social media pages for public notices and consult the Hutchinson‑Reno County Chamber for early project information when available. Commissioners also recommended attending city public hearings and meeting notices, since cities generally handle annexation and rezoning processes.

Ending: Residents who want more detail were told to pursue city planning offices, the local chamber and public meetings; county staff said they will publish information as it becomes available and that residents may ask the commission to convene an open forum if enough local interest exists.