County staff used the Nov. 26 Chase County commissioners meeting to report several operational updates and grant developments that will shape near-term projects.

Speaker 5 told the commissioners Chase County did not receive FEMA Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) funding this cycle for vehicle acquisition. "We were not awarded funding for our fire truck," Speaker 5 said, adding that of the 11 Kansas awards announced, none were for vehicle purchases and most awards were for smaller operational or equipment grants. Staff plan to contact the FEMA program officer to learn where the application could be improved.

On hazardous household waste, Speaker 5 said two KDHE staff members (Jeff Walker and Kevin Hite) visited the site and advised that Chase County, as a satellite, is unlikely to receive funding for a large modular building. According to Speaker 5, KDHE staff said, "You're just a satellite," and indicated the agency would consider paying for a Connex unit if the county resubmits the application. Speaker 5 reported the sheriffs department has two 20-foot Connex units and that the county could repurpose one for hazardous-waste collection; funds saved by avoiding a $16,000 modular purchase could be redirected toward heating, cooling and ventilation upgrades for the Connex.

Speaker 5 cautioned that an on-site boxcar long used to store hazardous household waste cannot be sold or auctioned unless toxins are mitigated: mitigation would require removing waste, washing the interior, and collecting and disposing of contaminated wash water at additional expense. County staff described this as a current constraint requiring decisions on whether to mitigate, leave the boxcar in place, or repurpose it for nonhazardous storage.

Other updates included a delayed Safe Streets for All grant announcement (attributed to a federal shutdown) despite the county receiving a comprehensive report from the Safe Streets cohort; uncertainty about a rural and tribal assistance pilot and a bridge improvement program whose grant webpage was removed; and an ongoing Kansas FLAP (Federal Lands Access Program) proposal to repair and restore County Road 227 (described as clearing brush, improving drainage and restoring stone surfacing rather than replacing it). Speaker 5 said she had collected letters of support from emergency services and the school district and requested a support letter from the commission.

Staff also reported local emergency-communications progress: Speaker 2 said dispatch consoles are operational and TBS will complete programming by early next week for testing, and staff are collecting quotes for relocating sirens. Speaker 1 reported progress on installing a repeater on the Cedar Point tower but cautioned additional cabling and wiring expenses remain possible.

Next steps identified in the meeting included contacting grant program officers for feedback, resubmitting hazardous-waste grant proposals consistent with KDHE guidance, and compiling extension-office inventory records to settle ownership of surplus items. Several of these items are contingent on grant announcements or further engineering review.