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Seward County adopts formal KDHE grant workflow after public concerns about bonuses
Summary
After a public comment alleging undisclosed bonus allocations in health department grant applications, the Seward County Commission adopted a formal KDHE grant approval and implementation workflow, approved a hospital MOU for a breast-pump lending library, and accepted KDHE grants totaling $283,298.
Carolyn Huddleston told the Seward County Board of County Commissioners she had reviewed a maternal-and-child-health grant application and urged the board to require the health department to disclose and obtain approval before writing bonuses into grant applications. "I think it's important for the commission to make it part of their policy to have grant applications made available for their review," Huddleston said during public comment.
The commission then considered a new KDHE grant approval and implementation workflow proposed by Seward County Health Department Director Bree Greason. Greason told the board the procedure adds a requirement that the commission authorize submission of grant applications and receive a summary sheet outlining known programs and deliverables. "My goal is always to be fully transparent, and I will ensure that the commission is fully informed of all grant deliverables as they become available," Greason said.
Commissioners debated whether past practice had routinely included grant details in budget packets. Several commissioners and staff said prior health department directors had followed similar procedures, and staff acknowledged historical documentation was uneven. After discussion, the board moved to adopt the formal workflow by motion and second.
Greason also presented a memorandum of understanding with Southwest Medical Center to house a community breast-pump lending library. She said there is no county financial obligation and that the hospital will handle sterilization between rentals. The commission authorized signatures and set an effective date of Nov. 17, 2025.
Following those procedural changes, the health department asked the commission to accept several KDHE grant awards. Greason listed amounts including a state formula grant ($38,560), preparedness ($14,365), family planning ($55,972), maternal and child health ($147,282), pregnancy maintenance ($13,830) and immunization action plan ($13,289), totaling $283,298. A motion to accept the grants was moved, seconded and approved by the board.
The commission acknowledged that reallocations and deliverables can change as grant terms are finalized, and Greason said she would bring proposed reallocations back to the board for approval before any changes affecting county match or bonuses were finalized.
The commission's adoption of a formal workflow and the acceptance of the KDHE awards represent steps to increase transparency around grant applications, county matching funds and any future decisions about employee bonuses tied to grant funding.
