Riley County commissioners back wildfire mitigation letter, approve HR hire and routine corrections

Riley County commissioners on Feb. 6 unanimously approved a letter of support for a Community Wildfire Defense Grant application aimed at wildfire mitigation in the Baldwin Park area and voted to create a part‑time human resources clerical position, along with approving tax‑roll corrections, payroll and routine personnel items.

The commission heard a brief presentation from emergency‑management staff seeking the support letter. "We're asking for a letter of support for the mitigation that we're recommending for Baldwin Park area," the staff member said, and told commissioners the grant application should be finished by the end of the following week. A commissioner moved to approve the letter of support, a second was recorded, and the motion passed with all three commissioners voting aye.

The meeting also included unanimous approval of corrections to the county tax roll, approval of payroll and accounts payable, and formal acceptance of employee actions that the clerk presented, including a new hire in emergency management and several separations. The board approved a motion to add a part‑time HR clerical assistant in the clerk's office (limited‑hours position); that motion likewise passed unanimously.

Planning and development director Amanda Webb provided a monthly staff update. Webb said the county's Kansas Water Office technical assistance grant remains on schedule and that applications for a separate Kansas Water Office project grant remain under review; "As soon as I know, I'll let everybody know," she told the commission. Webb said USDA Rural Development underwriting is in progress and that the county learned individual property owner user agreements are not required for the project under discussion, which should speed processing.

Webb said the county's comprehensive plan update has resumed with consultant Stantec after an unexpected hiatus; the comp‑plan committee met recently with about 25–30 participants and more community outreach workshops are planned for April. She reported the Rural Economic Development Advisory Board (transferred recently from extension to planning) will invite commissioners to speak at upcoming monthly meetings, and she said the county will open a second round of LEPP grant applications in the coming days.

Webb also reported on a Solid Waste Management Committee tour of household hazardous waste and noxious‑weed facilities and said the Riley County Planning Board changed its meeting time from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The planning director said the county will discuss short‑term rental regulations at an upcoming Monday meeting.

The county appraiser provided the office's monthly report and valuation work update. The appraiser said January recorded 19 sales (14 residential) with a median sale price of about $225,000 and an average sale price of $290,935. He said the office's 2025 reinspection plan includes 2,982 properties (about 2,161 residential home sites and 96 vacant parcels). He reported there are 29 pending Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) exemption cases submitted in the last two years and gave estimated taxable‑value figures associated with those filings for 2023 and 2024. The appraiser also said several larger BOTA cases have been dismissed since the prior report.

No controversial items or unanimous dissent were recorded during the business section. Commissioners also approved minutes from the Feb. 3 meeting and signed several routine documents.

Votes at a glance - Letter of support for Community Wildfire Defense Grant (Baldwin Park mitigation): moved, seconded, approved (3–0). Motion noted application expected to be complete by end of next week. - Tax‑roll corrections as presented: moved, seconded, approved (3–0). - Payroll and accounts payable: moved, seconded, approved (3–0). - Personnel items (separations/new hire): accepted and signed (3–0). Names recorded on personnel list included Curtis Haslett (volunteer firefighter, separation), Ruth Oftman (Lehi Health Department, separation), Robert Cox (new hire, Emergency Management Planner I), Rachel White (human resources assistant, separation). - Creation/approval of part‑time HR clerical assistant (clerk's office): moved, seconded, approved (3–0).

What happened next / context Commissioners asked staff to continue work on items already planned (comp‑plan outreach, LEPP second round, USDA underwriting). Staff flagged that upcoming budget and legislative activity could change timing or priorities; department heads continue to coordinate on committee work and outreach.

Sources: meeting transcript and presentations on Feb. 6, 2025; statements by Emergency Management staff and Amanda Webb, planning director.