Departing commissioner thanked as board approves routine items and moves into workshop

Commissioners opened their weekly Atchison County session with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance and moved through routine business, including several unanimous voice votes. The board recognized Commissioner Noel, whose attendance at this session was noted as his last meeting; colleagues thanked him for more than a decade of service.

A county Republican Party convention to elect a county treasurer and a second-district commissioner was announced for Jan. 29 at 5:15 p.m. in the District Court Room upstairs. An official also reported that the Board of Tax Appeals had reviewed and summarily dismissed a property owner's appeal of a county valuation, finding the county appraiser's work met legal standards.

Commissioners publicly commended Roadbridge crews for their work during a recent significant snow event and extended thoughts and prayers to the road-bridge superintendent who remains on the mend. Near the end of the session, the board voted to adjourn into a workshop until 11:00 a.m.

Votes at a glance (all voice votes recorded in the meeting): - Agenda amended to add IT purchase order (Peopleware PO): approved, 2-0. - Consent agenda (minutes from Jan. 20): approved, 2-0. - Application to KDHE for cleanup of two illegal-dump sites: approved, 2-0. - 2026 Peopleware purchase order with CIC ($53,020): approved, 2-0. - 2026 Noxious Weed management plan (KDA-required): approved, 2-0. - Adjourn into workshop until 11:00 a.m.: approved, 2-0.

Next steps mentioned: staff will submit the KDHE application and the noxious-weed management plan to the appropriate state agencies; the county will process the approved IT purchase order. Several items lacked budget or schedule specifics in the public record of the meeting.