Riley County opts out of annual school inspections under state rule change

Riley County commissioners on Feb. 3 approved Charter Resolution No. 11, exempting the county from K.S.A. 65-202(c) and ending the county’s long-standing practice of conducting annual school inspections.

Amanda Webb, Riley County planning director, told commissioners the state issued a rule last summer that effectively allows local health officers to opt out of the county-run annual inspections. Webb said county staff found the county inspections are largely repetitive of work already done by certified officials — for example, building officials, fire marshals, insurance adjusters and state food inspectors — and that the county receives no specific funding for the work.

"There was a variety of things — restrooms, playground equipment, minimal structural items — but many of those inspections are already performed by trained, certified personnel," Webb said. "We found a lot of repetition and it was costing us time and resources."

Webb said county staff consulted with school districts and other Kansas health departments before preparing the charter resolution. If adopted by the commission, the resolution must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks; if no appeal follows, the exemption becomes effective 60 days after publication.

County staff and the county counselor explained this is an opt-out under state law; the statutory inspection requirement persists unless the county exercises the opt-out. Jacob Hansen, county staff handling fence-view and land matters, and County Counselor Bridal Parker were present during the presentation and answered procedural questions.

Commissioners voted to adopt Charter Resolution No. 11 by unanimous voice vote; staff will publish the resolution and complete the statutory notice period.