Cloud County commissioners approve procurement, personnel actions and review 2026 budget requests

The Cloud County Board of Commissioners on May 12 approved a series of routine procurement and personnel actions, reviewed department budget requests for 2026 and recorded payroll totals during its regular meeting in the commissioners’ room at 811 Washington in Concordia.

Chairman Michael Cleveland called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and the board heard reports from county staff. Jeff Thoman, Maintenance Manager, told commissioners the Highway Department will perform concrete repairs to courthouse sidewalks, had assisted the Health Department with a water‑pipe leak, and that a fire inspection is scheduled this week. James Quillen, Emergency Preparedness Director, said emergency books will be ready for departmental pickup and discussed the Local Emergency Operations Plan, the Mesonet tower and a generator grant.

Representatives from OCCK — Sheila Nelson‑Stout, Kendra Krier, Susan Sprague and Kevin Hess — presented a 2026 budget request for $70,000, unchanged from 2025. The board also received budget requests for the County Treasurer ($38,714, before motor‑vehicle transfers), Solid Waste ($1,295,000), Recycling ($42,000), Road & Bridge ($4,330,424.48) and Noxious Weed ($124,610); the clerk noted budgets do not include personnel costs.

On motions by Commissioner Ron Copple and seconded by Commissioner Dannie Kearn, the board unanimously approved several items: accepting presented tire bids from Budreau Muffler and Kansasland Tire by tire price; accepting the Glasco Locker Plant bids totaling $53,987.19 with a limited payout of $50,000 from the CDBG program (the higher bid was recommended for quality and parts availability); approving Transfer 2025‑0512‑1 to correct a $75.00 receipt that should be recorded as Crisis Pantry reimbursement (receipt #30626); hiring Samuel Caito as a sheriff deputy effective May 6, 2025; approving a classification change for Tiffanie Wriston from Corrections Sergeant to Sheriff’s Deputy retroactive to April 20, 2024; and approving May employee reviews as presented.

The board recognized the resignation of Sheriff Deputy Timothy Wogomon Jr., effective Dec. 18, 2024, and approved payroll expenses totaling $199,620.17 and payroll deductions and benefits totaling $84,387.89. The clerk advised that full expense details are available at the County Clerk’s office and on the clerk’s public records webpage.

The meeting also included a phone update from Mike Montoya of Montoya Law about Trail Road and a note from Jeff Reece of Lindburg Vogel Piece Faris Chartered that the firm would be onsite this week for the fiscal year‑end audit. Commissioner Dannie Kearn reported attending the Chemical Dependency Committee and a Leadership meeting on May 9.

Votes at a glance • Tire bids (Budreau Muffler and Kansasland Tire) — motion by Commissioner Ron Copple, second Commissioner Dannie Kearn; unanimous approval (Cleveland, Kearn, Copple). • Glasco Locker Plant bids ($53,987.19; CDBG payout limit $50,000) — motion by Commissioner Ron Copple, second Commissioner Dannie Kearn; unanimous approval. • Transfer 2025‑0512‑1 (correct receipt #30626, $75.00) — motion by Commissioner Dannie Kearn, second Commissioner Ron Copple; unanimous approval. • Hire: Samuel Caito, Sheriff Deputy (effective May 6, 2025) — motion by Commissioner Ron Copple, second Commissioner Dannie Kearn; unanimous approval. • Classification change: Tiffanie Wriston to Sheriff’s Deputy (retroactive April 20, 2024) — motion by Commissioner Ron Copple, second Commissioner Dannie Kearn; unanimous approval. • May employee reviews — motion by Commissioner Ron Copple, second Commissioner Dannie Kearn; unanimous approval. • Abatements 2025‑83 & 2025‑84 (net change ($30.28), refund $11.61) — unanimous approval. • May 5, 2025 minutes — unanimous approval.

The board adjourned at 11:58 a.m. and is scheduled to reconvene Monday, May 19, 2025.