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Seward County commissioners approve sheriff pay changes, temporary burn ban and JCAPS grant after debate
Summary
At its March 2 meeting the Seward County Board approved a series of routine and substantive actions: a sheriff pay-restructure to address retention, a temporary countywide burn ban, $366,980.32 in encumbrances, and a JCAPS FY2027 grant application—approved after commissioners removed proposed pay raises; several other procurement and agenda motions also passed.
The Seward County Board of County Commissioners on March 2 approved a slate of administrative, budgetary and personnel measures, including a pay-restructuring for the sheriff’s office, a temporary countywide burn ban and acceptance of a state juvenile corrections grant after the board removed proposed salary increases.
The board unanimously approved a budget-neutral restructuring of the sheriff’s pay plan that funds salary adjustments by permanently eliminating two vacant deputy positions. Commissioners also approved a $3,400 additional purchase for two landfill truck bodies (to add top doors), and accepted $366,980.32 in encumbrances from 2025.
JCAPS Director Chelsea presented the FY2027 comprehensive plan showing $815,231.25 in Kansas Department of Corrections allocations for salaries and agency costs. After commissioners debated whether to include proposed raises tied to an OJA pay matrix, the board approved the grant application but voted to return pay line items to prior-year levels (effectively removing the proposed raises); that motion passed with four votes in favor and one abstention. Because the KDOC filing deadline is March 15, the commission then authorized the chairman to sign the revised application.
The board adopted a temporary open-burning ban, citing drought and wildfire risk; the resolution prohibits open burning (propane grills excepted) countywide and is effective until the commission’s April 6 meeting. Officials described enforcement as case-by-case, with the sheriff’s office preparing affidavits for district court when violations occur.
Other actions included approval of the amended agenda and the consent agenda, and direction to the county clerk to issue a special check for the $3,400 truck-body work. The board also appointed Braden “Brady” Steckle as interim fire chief and interim emergency management director and increased his salary to $82,000 annually following executive-session discussion.
Votes at a glance - Additions to agenda (Southwest Medical Center report; landfill truck bodies): motion passed 5-0 (SEG 467–476). - Approve amended agenda: passed 5-0 (SEG 499–507). - Consent agenda: passed 5-0 (SEG 508–515). - Sheriff pay-restructure (funded by eliminating two vacant deputy positions): mover Commissioner Louderback, second Commissioner Vasquez; passed 5-0 (SEG 836–846). - Additional $3,400 for two landfill truck top doors: passed 5-0 (SEG 863–889). - JCAPS FY2027 comprehensive plan grant application ($815,231.25) approved with pay raises removed (return pay line items to prior year): mover Commissioner Metland, second Commissioner Stanton; result 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention (SEG 1352–1385). - Chairman authorized to sign revised JCAPS grant application (to meet March 15 deadline): passed 5-0 (SEG 1401–1414). - Temporary open-burn ban (resolution 2026-07): passed 5-0; effective until April 6, 2026 (SEG 1415–1594). - Approval of 2025 encumbrances totaling $366,980.32: passed (SEG 1595–1609). - Appointment and salary increase for interim fire chief / interim emergency manager (Braden Steckle): passed (SEG 1736–1760).
The meeting included a presentation from Amber Williams, CEO of Southwest Medical Center, about staffing, billing remediation and recruitment; and multiple public commenters urged greater local control and a moratorium on large-scale wind projects. The commission adjourned after routine administrative comments.
