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Commission approves Whispering Gales plat, funds historic society and authorizes tax-foreclosure process
Summary
The commission approved the Whispering Gales final plat after discussion of water and HOA responsibilities, approved a special alcohol fund grant for the Ellis County Historical Society, authorized a tax-foreclosure resolution, and approved surplus-property auction items.
The Ellis County Commission approved a set of land-use and administrative items including the Whispering Gales final plat (Resolution 2024-13), a grant of special alcohol (parks) funds to the Ellis County Historical Society, and a resolution authorizing initiation of the annual tax-foreclosure process (Resolution 2024-14). The commission also approved a list of surplus vehicles and equipment to be sold through Purple Wave.
Justin Craig, the countys Environmental Services Director, presented the Whispering Gales final plat and summarized planning and public-notice steps and the main issues raised during review: groundwater availability and the flex-zone commercial parcel. Craig said the planning record relied on a letter from Karst Well Service concluding the proposed 18 domestic wells would have "no appreciable effect" on regional water sustainability, and he described potential KDHE and Division of Water Resources permits if a future use qualifies as a public water supply.
James Meisz, the developers land surveyor, told the commission that private roads will be maintained by a homeowners association (HOA) the developer will form after plat approval. Meisz said the plat dedication documents include minimum dwelling-size restrictions and limits on outbuildings and that the HOA would be able to set additional use restrictions (including ATV/UTV rules).
Local residents raised safety and water concerns. Jelissa Haynes said she worried that the flex commercial lot near I-70 could become a gas station and that the increased traffic would be a safety risk for nearby children; staff and the developer responded that no business application exists now and that the flex designation means a commercial use could be proposed in future. Resident Dylan Wiesner asked whether rural water was an option; the developer said the local rural-water provider has an on-and-off moratorium on new meters and that three test wells on the property hit water.
The commission voted to approve the Whispering Gales final plat; staff indicated final mylar documents will be prepared for signatures.
Bill Jeter, county counselor, briefed the commission on the annual tax-foreclosure sale process and the statutory basis (spoken in the meeting as '79 dash 28 0 1'). Jeter said the county currently lists 19 properties with delinquent taxes totaling more than $61,000; he asked the commission to authorize him to start the legal proceedings. The commission approved the resolution directing the counselor to begin the process; Jeter said the sale for last years petition was expected in October and the foreclosure process can take about a year from initiation.
Amanda Rupp of the Ellis County Historical Society requested the county disburse special alcohol (parks) funds to support museum work and asked the commission for a letter of support for additional grant applications; the commission approved the disbursement and agreed to sign grant paperwork.
Other routine business approved at the meeting included sending county equipment to auction via Purple Wave and two executive sessions (personnel and attorney-client) during which the commission later said no decisions were reached.
