Chase County commissioners adopt 2026 budget, approve fire-truck purchase and bridge design contract

The Chase County Commission adopted the county’s 2026 budget and voted to levy a property tax above the revenue-neutral rate during its Sept. 15 meeting. Commissioners moved to exceed the revenue-neutral rate of 58.345 and then adopted Resolution 2025-04 to levy the tax above that threshold; both motions carried by voice vote.

The commission then adopted the 2026 budget. Commissioners concluded the revenue-neutral rate budget hearing and returned to regular business without recorded opposition.

The board approved a series of other routine and substantive actions. The commission accepted the resignation of Chase County treasurer L. Dow Wilson, effective Aug. 31, 2025, and approved warrants dated Sept. 15, 2025. Commissioners also authorized the sheriff to access SafeBank records from 2017 to the present as part of an ongoing criminal investigation; that motion passed on a voice vote.

In a capital purchase, the commission approved a motion to purchase a new wildland apparatus from Watts Manufacturing. During discussion county staff and a fire-department representative described contract terms, including a typical delivery window the manufacturer lists as 360 days (staff noted roughly nine months in current practice) and a contractual $50-per-day credit for delivery after 360 days. County staff said the chassis had been paid previously from county funds and requested the county pay half of the apparatus cost now from Fire District 1’s equipment fund; the motion carried by voice vote. Transcript remarks gave two price figures during the discussion: a staff-cited figure of $208,005.47 as the total cost and a separate remark stating $208,547; the commission recorded that half of the apparatus (one payment now) would be paid from fund number 31, Fire District 1 equipment fund. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript; the outcome was recorded as ‘motion carries.’

The commission also authorized the county to sign a design agreement with Cook Flat for county bridge Y‑13.7, a structure selected for the off-system bridge program. Staff presented a Cook Flat design contract for $64,300 and said KDOT had allowed a maximum funding cap of $1,100,000 for the project (with a required local match); commissioners approved moving forward and signing the agreement so the county could meet KDOT’s Oct. 10 paperwork deadline.

Votes at a glance • Motion to exceed revenue-neutral rate (58.345): passed by voice vote. (See related policy: Resolution 2025-04.) • Resolution 2025-04 (levy tax exceeding revenue-neutral rate): adopted by voice vote. • Adopt 2026 Chase County budget: adopted by voice vote. • Accept resignation of Chase County treasurer L. Dow Wilson (effective 8/31/2025): accepted by voice vote. • Approve warrants (09/15/2025): approved by voice vote. • Authorize sheriff to access SafeBank records (2017–present) for investigation: approved by voice vote. • Purchase new wildland apparatus from Watts Manufacturing (50% now from Fire District 1 equipment fund): approved by voice vote. (Transcript shows differing total amounts in discussion: $208,005.47 and $208,547.) • Approve Cook Flat design agreement for county bridge Y‑13.7 (design contract $64,300): approved by voice vote. • Resolution 2025-05 (amend detention excess revenue fund language related to 2019-03): adopted by voice vote.

What’s next The commission’s next regular meeting was set for Sept. 30 at 9:00 a.m. Several projects approved on Sept. 15 — including the Cook Flat bridge design agreement — will require follow-up paperwork and contract signatures to meet outside deadlines (KDOT for the bridge; vendor coordination for the truck).