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Jefferson County commissioners approve road vacation, equipment purchase, multiple land-bank sales and a medical contract
Summary
At their Jan. 26 meeting, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved vacating a portion of 182nd Street, authorized purchase of a used excavator, approved several agricultural-split exceptions and land-bank property sales, authorized sewer-district bids through April 1, 2027, and approved a medical-services contract; one commissioner recused on that vote.
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 26 approved a series of routine but consequential items, including vacating a segment of 182nd Street, buying a used excavator for public works, several land-bank property transactions, authorization to solicit bids for sewer-district repairs and a contract to move county employee physicals to F.W. Huston Medical Center.
The meeting opened at 1 p.m. with Commissioners David Christy, Richard Malm and Doug Walbridge present. The Board approved the Jan. 12 minutes and reviewed vouchers before taking up agenda items.
Public Works Director Ben Domann asked the Board to proceed with a request to vacate 182nd off Sherman Road that had been raised by a neighbor. The Board voted unanimously to vacate 182nd Street to Sherman Road (1,984.23 feet), and County Counselor Josh Ney was directed to draft the formal language to make the vacation official.
Domann also reported on equipment options and asked for approval to purchase a used tracked excavator from Foley Equipment. He said he had demoed two machines: a 2022 John Deere with roughly 1,000 hours priced at $196,800 and a 2023 Caterpillar at $198,000; he noted a new model would cost about $280,000. After discussion — including a request to review warranty options — the Board approved the purchase of the used excavator.
Community Development Director Stephan Metzger presented two agricultural split exceptions. The Board approved an exception for a five-acre Pangburn parcel with less-than-required road frontage and a separate exception for a Campbell property on Phillips Road and 27th Street where proposed frontage would be roughly 30 feet per lot.
The Board recessed and reconvened as the Jefferson County Land Bank Board to handle property matters. The Land Bank approved selling 7233 North Quail Run Road for $500 now and 7225 North Quail Run Road for $500 in March, waived the application fee for the purchaser, and authorized Chair David Christy to sign a previously approved quitclaim deed transferring Lots 69, 71, 80 and 82 in Block S, Lake Shore Estates to Nicole Pickens. Later the Board approved additional lots (613, 614 and 636 in the Walnut Grove section of Lakeside Village) to be transferred into the Land Bank.
Metzger also updated the Board on erosion conditions in the Lakeshore Estates–Ferguson Road sewer district and said repairs should be paid from sewer-district funds. The Board voted to solicit bids for those projects, setting a project end date of April 1, 2027.
Treasurer Doug Bond reported the county is preparing distributions. The Board approved the Oskaloosa Old Settlers Reunion dates (June 25–27, 2026) and agreed to publish a State Public Notice (KS-AG-26-012) regarding proposed NPDES permits for agricultural and related wastes on the county website and in the courthouse.
The Board considered a contract to have county employee physicals performed by F.W. Huston Medical Center (408 Delaware St., Winchester), replacing services previously done at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Commissioner Doug Walbridge recused himself from that vote; Commissioner Richard Malm moved to approve the contract and Chair David Christy seconded. The motion carried 2–0 with Walbridge recused.
The Board also appointed Judge Brian Yearout to represent the Board of County Commissioners on the Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board for the 2nd Judicial District pursuant to KSA 75-7044(a)(7) after Assistant County Counselor Jonathan Ehrlich recommended the appointment.
Travel and training requests were approved: Crystal VanHoutan, Wanda Agnew, Beth Brown, Stephanie Cox and Melinda Pringle to attend training tied to the All-Hands on Deck Grant and the Jefferson County Drug Endangered Children Coalition May 4–8, 2026 (to be paid from grant funds), and Krystal Waters and Wanda Agnew to attend a public-health billing training in Wichita April 27–29, 2026.
The Board recessed into three short executive sessions during the meeting to discuss attorney-client matters, Planning and Zoning legal advice, and non-elected personnel/interagency issues. In each case the Chair announced that no binding action was taken during the executive sessions.
There being no further business, the Board adjourned and scheduled its next regular session for Monday, Feb. 2 at 1:00 p.m.
Notes: motions and outcomes recorded in the county’s unofficial minutes show unanimous votes unless noted; the medical-contract vote was recorded as 2–0 with one recusal.
