Elk County commissioners approve rural fire equipment, employee raises and warrants

The Elk County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 23 approved equipment purchases for the rural fire department, merit increases for several county employees and payment of warrants totaling $146,741.50.

Chairman Doug Hendricks opened the regularly scheduled meeting at 1:00 p.m. and the board unanimously approved the minutes from its Feb. 9 meeting after a motion by Commissioner Jake Liebau and a second by Commissioner Perry Russell.

Gillian Beaumont, Elk County EMS director, told commissioners that ambulance unit 205 passed its yearly inspection and that "206 will be needing new brakes in about two thousand miles." Beaumont also presented quotes for outsourcing EMS billing for the board's consideration.

Don Sanders, public works supervisor, said the Osage Trail bridge should be finished by the end of the week and reported that a bridge project at Pioneer and Road 6 near the Elk River has an estimated cost of $1.6 million; if funding is awarded, the project would be scheduled for 2028. Sanders also requested the county purchase a small asphalt roller to help with roadway repairs; he estimated the cost at about $30,000.

Todd Winscher, representing Rural Fire, asked the board to fund remote water monitors mounted on deuce fire trucks so crews would not need a firefighter standing on the truck front. The commission approved purchase of two remote water monitors at roughly $10,000 each, with a plan to acquire two more next year. The motion passed 3-0 following a motion by Commissioner Jake Liebau and a second from Commissioner Perry Russell.

During a series of executive sessions on non‑elected personnel, with County Counselor Paul Dean present, the board discussed employee performance and reviews. After returning to open session the commission approved merit increases: Stefni Hebb from $19.33 to $20.03 per hour and Malarie Chamberlain from $16.85 to $17.55 per hour (motions carried 3-0). Later the board approved a merit increase for Community Development Director Diane Cucar from $20.56 to $21.56 per hour, raised her maximum hours to 30 per week and enrolled her in KPERS; that motion also passed unanimously.

Register of Deeds Stephanie Ollenborger reported 46 instruments recorded in January 2026 with deposits totaling $3,667.00. Cucar said the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge had 22 businesses, 36 participants and 22 volunteers; a Moline food drive distributed 96 boxes. She also reported that Professional Engineering Consultants are conducting site certification at 1285 Evergreen in Moline and are working to remove an Evergy lien on the property.

The commissioners approved warrants in the amount of $146,741.50 by a 3-0 vote and adjourned at 2:34 p.m.

Votes at a glance: minutes approval (motion: approve Feb. 9 minutes; mover: Commissioner Jake Liebau; second: Commissioner Perry Russell; outcome: approved 3-0); rural fire purchase (motion: purchase two remote water monitors at ~$10,000 each; mover: Commissioner Jake Liebau; second: Commissioner Perry Russell; outcome: approved 3-0); merit increases for Stefni Hebb and Malarie Chamberlain (mover: Commissioner Perry Russell; second: Commissioner Jake Liebau; outcome: approved 3-0); merit increase/hours/KPERS enrollment for Diane Cucar (mover: Commissioner Perry Russell; second: Commissioner Jake Liebau; outcome: approved 3-0); warrants approval (mover: Commissioner Jake Liebau; second: Commissioner Perry Russell; outcome: approved 3-0).

The board discussed but did not vote on Public Works' requested $30,000 roller or the $1.6 million bridge beyond noting the submitted estimate and timeline; any funding and scheduling for the Pioneer and Road 6 bridge would depend on award of external funding and is tentatively slated for 2028.