Labette County commissioners reorganize leadership, approve routine resolutions, IT upgrades and Fair Board budget request

The Labette County Board of Commissioners reorganized its leadership and approved a bundle of routine resolutions and expenditures during its Jan. 13 meeting in the commission room.

Chairman Vincent B. Schibi was elected board chairman for 2025 after a motion by outgoing Chairman Terry Weidert and a second from Commissioner Tom Barrett; all three commissioners voted yes. The board also elected Terry Weidert as vice chairman for 2025 in a unanimous vote.

The board opened an NRP public hearing at 9:04 a.m.; no members of the public spoke and the hearing was closed at 9:05 a.m.

Why it matters: The reorganizational votes set the board’s formal leadership for the year and the other actions include administrative resolutions and vendor approvals that determine county operations and small capital investments.

Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 2025-01-A (county holidays for 2025): Approved unanimously. Holidays adopted include Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20, 2025), Memorial Day (May 26, 2025), Independence Day (July 4, 2025), Labor Day (Sept. 1, 2025), Veterans Day (Nov. 11, 2025), Thanksgiving (Nov. 27, 2025) and the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28, 2025), Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2025), Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2025), Day after Christmas (Dec. 26, 2025), and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2026). - Resolution No. 2025-02-A (GAAP waiver): Approved unanimously; the board found GAAP-based financial statements are of no significant value to the governing body or general public for 2025. - Resolution No. 2025-03-A (designated county depositories): Approved unanimously; named Commercial Bank, Bank of Commerce, Community National Bank, Labette Bank and Great Southern Bank as depositories for 2025. - Resolution No. 2025-04-A (legal county newspaper): Approved unanimously; designated the Labette Avenue as the county’s legal newspaper for 2025 in compliance with KSA 64-101(b). - Resolution No. 2025-05-A (meal allowances): Approved unanimously; established meal allowances (Breakfast $17, Lunch $20, Dinner $35) and adopted a related meal policy prohibiting alcoholic beverages. - Other formal outcomes: the board rejected a proposed abatement change for the Parsons Area Foundation (motion approved), approved minutes for Dec. 31, 2024, and authorized increases in bonding requirements for certain county officers (Sheriff $40,000; Treasurer $100,000; Clerk $100,000; Attorney $25,000). All motions recorded passed by unanimous vote unless noted.

IT and cybersecurity approvals The board approved a $27,965.00 quote to purchase four SonicWall appliances to be installed at the courthouse, Public Works, Noxious Weed and the Sheriff/Dispatch building after a presentation by Higher Calling IT Specialist Mike Meyer and Brandy Scott. The board also approved an additional monthly cybersecurity service at $1,289.75 per month. Both motions passed unanimously.

Fair Board budget request Labette County Fair Board President Kayla O’Brien and members J. J. Bebb and Rick McKinzie met with commissioners to discuss improvements to the fairgrounds and requested 2026 budget funding. The board confirmed the 2025 Labette County Fair dates as July 19–26, 2025. Commissioners did not take a final funding vote on the Fair Board request at this meeting.

Personnel, property and other administrative items Chairman Vincent B. Schibi was authorized to sign a position transfer moving the Deputy Register of Deeds from pay range 18 to 19. The board authorized the chairman’s signature on a settlement statement for the sale of the Katy Hospital property at 412 Katy Ave, Parsons, for $50,548.00. Commissioners also authorized the chairman to sign an Agent of Record form to change K9 insurance coverage.

Accounts payable and recess The board approved two batches of accounts payable: checks 36347–36422 totaling $68,763.04 (2024) and checks 36423–36487 totaling $514,004.05 (2025). The board recessed for 30 minutes to observe a public demonstration of new election equipment and reconvened at 11:30 a.m.

Executive sessions The board entered two brief executive sessions: one for security-related matters concerning a public body or its information systems with County Counselor Brian K. Johnson and Deputy County Clerk Lorrie Boulware present (15 minutes), and a second for attorney–client privileged consultation regarding potential litigation or administrative proceedings with County Counselor Brian K. Johnson present (15 minutes). Both sessions were approved by unanimous vote.

What’s next The meeting adjourned at 12:53 p.m.; the board scheduled its next regular session for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.