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Elk County approves 2026 organizational appointments, pay scale and routine financial items
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting the Elk County Board of Commissioners elected Doug Hendricks chair for 2026, appointed Kandy Dowell as health officer, adopted a GAAP resolution and approved the 2026 pay scale, memberships and routine payroll and warrants. The board also approved a merit increase for an employee and scheduled the county audit for April.
The Elk County Board of Commissioners met Jan. 12 and approved a slate of routine organizational and administrative actions to set county operations for 2026. Commissioners elected Doug Hendricks chairman for the year, appointed Kandy Dowell as health officer and designated the Prairie Star Newspaper as the county’s official newspaper; all motions carried 3-0.
The board adopted the 2026 holiday schedule and approved its meeting calendar, payroll and warrant dates for the year; those schedules will be posted on the county website. The board retained Rachel Ware as the county Investment Officer and approved a list of authorized bank signature users at Howard State Bank and the Bank of Commerce, including Ware, County Clerk Kerry Harrod and several county staff members.
Commissioners adopted GAAP Resolution #26-01, exempting Elk County from the provisions of KSA 75-1120a, and set meal reimbursement at $15 per meal and $30 per day. The board also approved membership renewals with KWORCC (estimated premium $29,946) and KAC ($1,339.55) and adopted Resolution 26-02 for the ROZ Student Loan Repayment Program.
On personnel matters, the county recessed to an executive session on non-elected personnel and, after reconvening, approved a merit increase for Abigail Bowman from $13.38 per hour to $15.00 per hour; the motion carried 3-0. The board approved the 2026 pay scale as presented.
Operational reports included an EMS update from Director Gillian Beaumont, who reported 10 runs and $5,121.96 in collections for December 2025, and a Register of Deeds report from Stephanie Ollenborger noting 48 instruments recorded in December with deposits of $2,460.25. Community Development Director Diane Cucar informed the board of upcoming events (E-Community and a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge) and noted a T-Mobile Hometown Grant opportunity for $50,000; she said a meeting on site certification for 1285 Evergreen in Moline will be held next week.
The board approved abatements PP26-001, PP26-004 and TK26-003, accepted payroll totaling $293,941.54 and approved warrants of $64,477.04; each vote was 3-0. County Clerk Kerry Harrod reminded the board that the county audit is scheduled for April 6-7, 2026.
The meeting recessed briefly for legal matters and other procedural items and adjourned at 2:18 p.m.
