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Commission reviews local service budget requests; agrees preliminary contribution for ag building
Summary
Southeast Kansas Mental Health, Tri Valley Developmental Services, the Area Agency on Aging and the Conservation District presented 2025 funding requests; commissioners agreed in principle to commit $50,000 per year for four years (total $200,000) toward a high-school ag/FFA building if grant matching funds are secured.
Several local service providers presented budget requests and program updates to the Bourbon County Commission on June 24. The board heard from Southeast Kansas Mental Health (CEO Nathan Fossen), Tri Valley Developmental Services (CEO Bill Fiscus), the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging (executive director Kathy Brennan) and the Bourbon County Conservation District (representative Jared).
Southeast Kansas Mental Health asked for mill‑levy support of $95,963, describing a range of services including 24/7 crisis intervention, outpatient therapy and psychiatry; Nathan Fossen said the center recently served roughly 2,320 clients and provided more than 50,000 hours of services to the community. Tri Valley requested $55,000, noting residential and day habilitation services and a county waiting list of local clients. Kathy Brennan said the Area Agency on Aging leverages county funds to draw state and federal dollars, highlighted nutrition and in‑home support programs and said the agency is not seeking an increase this year but will open a waiting list for home-delivery meals due to rising costs.
Separately, Vance Eden (representing a local agricultural/FFA effort) described a potential grant to rebuild an ag shop and asked whether the commission would contribute. Chair offered to commit $50,000 per year for four years (a total of $200,000) from anticipated energy‑donation funds if the grant and other matching funding materialize. The motion to commit the funds was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: County funds are often used to match state and federal grants for health, aging and developmental services. Local support can directly affect service capacity, waiting lists and program continuity.
Numbers and clarifications: Speakers provided program counts and waiting‑list numbers during their presentations; some figures in the transcript are garbled and the commission’s staff should be consulted for exact accounting. The motion to commit $50,000 annually is contingent on the arrival of expected energy‑donation funds and confirmation of grant awards and board budget availability.
What happens next: Providers will receive direction from county staff on formal budget requests and mill‑levy allocations during the county’s budget process; county staff will confirm whether the $50,000 per year commitment can be honored contingent on incoming funds.
