Geary County commissioners discuss Fort Riley transportation, childcare needs, taxes and set swearing-in time

Commissioner 2 told the Geary County Commission on Oct. 27 that leaders and military liaisons are exploring transit options to connect Fort Riley with nearby communities, saying, "One of the big things was transportation for single soldiers." The discussion covered possible bus stops near downtown Junction City and a new early childhood center to serve military families.

The transportation conversation arose from a multi-stakeholder meeting organized by local staff, the senator's office and Fort Riley representatives. Commissioner 2 said participants discussed a mix of approaches, including traditional bus service and smaller, lower-cost micro-rideshare options, and the need to consider both single soldiers and families when planning routes and funding.

Commissioner 2 noted the challenge of funding such a service: "It's tricky when you start mixing state federal funds and all those fun things," and indicated local partners plan to break the work into smaller groups to develop concrete proposals early next year. Commissioners discussed community concerns that spending on transit serving post personnel may face public resistance unless the benefits are clearly explained.

Childcare and early education capacity also drew attention. Commissioner 4 reported attending a childcare steering committee meeting with the new director and described priorities to support existing providers and coordinate with industry to address the county's high demand for childcare.

Commissioner 4 addressed public confusion about property valuation and tax bills during a report on a recent meeting with retired civil servants, saying, "Just because your valuation goes up 10% does not mean we should be raising our taxes 10%." The commissioner urged clearer public communication about mill levies, assessed valuations and the local budget process.

The commission highlighted a grant opportunity for small towns. Commissioner 4 briefed the panel on the TOWNS (T-O-W-N-S) grant program, which targets communities under 5,000 that have not received commerce funding since 2019; the program offers awards in the range of $6,000 to $11,000 for small capital projects such as park benches, trash receptacles or lighting for a helipad.

Commissioner 4 also recognized local public-health efforts, noting that a program called Delivering Change contributed to a marked reduction in infant mortality rates in the county since 2013.

On procedural business, the commission approved a motion to swear in all elected officials and complete reorganization at 10 a.m. on the designated swearing-in day. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

At the end of the report period covered by the transcript, a commissioner requested a five-minute executive session for personnel matters; the transcript fragment does not record whether that session was convened.

The meeting included several community-event updates and ceremonial remarks but no formal ordinances or budget votes were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.