Dickinson County Commission approves consent agenda, conditional use permit and vehicle purchase

The Dickinson County Commission on March 6 approved a consent agenda of routine business, unanimously granted a conditional use permit for a contractor's office near 14th Street and Fair Road, and voted to purchase a used 2022 Chevrolet Suburban for the county's community paramedicine program.

The consent agenda passed without discussion. The county clerk read expenditures that included $223,143.20 in general expenditures, a $50 hand check, a utility wire payment of $22,015.35, a wire for indigent defense of $17,400 and a security wire of $4,161. The commission voted to approve the consent agenda by voice vote; all three commissioners present voted in favor.

On a separate agenda item, the commission approved Conditional Use Permit 25-02 to allow a contractor’s office and storage facility on a roughly 27-acre parcel at the southeast corner of 14th Street and Fair Road. Tim Hamilton of Planning and Zoning told commissioners the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval in February subject to conditions including shielded outdoor lighting, consultation with environmental services on well and septic installation, placement of outdoor storage behind a privacy fence or landscape screening (not including vehicles), and required building permits. The commission voted to approve the conditional use permit; the motion passed by voice vote and was recorded as carried.

Later in the meeting the commission considered a request from John Holcomb, director of Dickinson County EMS and the health department, to buy a used 2022 Chevrolet Suburban to support a county community paramedicine program. Holcomb said Dickinson County was one of three services in Kansas selected for a three-year grant administered through the Patterson Foundation in Kansas City, and that a vehicle is required to see patients and store equipment. The commission voted to purchase the Suburban for $54,403 (the price discussed included sales tax and an administrative fee; final accounting will reflect applicable tax exemptions), with funding drawn from the grant category for vehicle and equipment. The motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (yes 3, no 0). Key items read into the record included general expenditures of $223,143.20 and several wire payments. - Conditional Use Permit 25-02 (Taylor Wifnau — contractor's office and storage, southeast corner of 14th St. and Fair Rd.): approved (yes 3, no 0). Conditions: shielded/aimed lighting, environmental services consultation for well/septic, outdoor storage behind screening or fence (excluding vehicles), building permit required. - Purchase of 2022 Chevrolet Suburban (for community paramedicine program): approved (yes 3, no 0). Purchase price discussed as $54,403; funded within the Patterson Foundation grant awarded to implement the community paramedicine program.

The meeting concluded with adjournment. Several administrative and departmental updates were given earlier in the agenda, and the commission indicated follow-up items will appear on upcoming agendas where required.