Leavenworth County Commission approves equipment upgrades, aging programs and leases; denies crane-yard special use permit
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
At a regular meeting the commission approved an election equipment upgrade purchase, Council on Aging bylaw changes and Older Americans Act grant submissions, a five-year lease for two JCB loaders, and a special use permit amendment for Countryside Chile; it denied a permanent contractor-yard special use permit for Tri Hole Crane Rental.
Leavenworth County commissioners met and took several formal actions affecting county operations, aging services, public works equipment and land use.
Among the votes: the commission accepted the consent agenda and approved a $254,245 quote from Election Systems & Software to upgrade county election tabulation/reporting equipment, noting staff considered a full new system would cost substantially more. Elections staff said the purchase is an upgrade to existing tabulators and that ongoing maintenance is covered by periodic service fees; they also reported applying for a security grant with a $40,000 maximum award that could offset costs.
The board approved amendments to the Council on Aging advisory board bylaws—reducing membership from nine to seven and moving the annual public hearing from April to March—and authorized submission of Older Americans Act Title III grant applications totaling approximately $197,529.58 with associated local match requirements. The commission also reappointed Jennifer (name as recorded) to the Council on Aging advisory board for a three-year term.
Public works staff presented and the board approved a five-year lease agreement with Canequip for two JCB articulated wheel loaders (lowest-price machine in the bid process); staff described line-item bid adjustments and an annual per-machine lease cost of $55,334.72.
On land use, the commission conditionally approved an amendment to the special use permit for Countryside Chile event center (Case DEV25-134), allowing an increase in the number of events per year (from 40 to 80) while keeping building occupancy limits unchanged and allowing pursuit of a state alcohol-service license. By contrast, the board denied a request (Case DEV25-137) by Tri Hole Crane Rental for a permanent contractor laydown yard at 24838 Maureen Road, citing incompatibility with residential/agricultural zoning, concerns about road structural capacity, the type of heavy equipment and prior BOCC limitations on continued use; the applicant was told of a 30-day window to appeal.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Consent agenda: approved (vote recorded as ayes in transcript). - Election equipment quote (ES&S) for $254,245: approved (motion and board vote in meeting record). - Council on Aging bylaws amendment and Older Americans Act Title III grant submission: approved (record shows vote and "5 to 0" notation in discussion). - Five-year lease for two JCB loaders (Canequip): approved (motion and recorded ayes). - Countryside Chile special use permit amendment (DEV25-134): conditionally approved (motion carried). - Tri Hole Crane Rental special use permit (DEV25-137): denied (board motion to deny carried; applicant advised of 30-day appeal period).
The board recessed for a 20-minute executive session to consult counsel about contract negotiations and legal matters under the Kansas Open Meetings Act and returned with no action taken. The meeting adjourned following remaining agenda items.