Jewell County office heads report staffing, funding and program updates at July 28 meeting

At the Jewell County Commissioners meeting on July 28, 2025, a group of county office heads provided brief updates on operations, staffing and upcoming events. Commissioners Ed Duskie and Brent Beck and County Clerk Myka Zadina presided while department heads summarized current priorities.

Nora Rhoades, Post Rock Extension Director, told the board the district "just completed the last of five fairs" and that the fair board meets tonight to debrief and begin planning for next year. Rhoades said federal funding cuts to the Post Rock District "have caused a position to be lost," and the office will hold strategic planning and an RNR hearing to determine how to respond to that staffing reduction. Health Administrator Cindy Becker said the Health Department has received an All-Hands-on-Deck grant through 2026 and a Kansas Suicide Prevention grant and is finishing quarterly grant work.

Other departmental items included Solid Waste Director David Walton reporting improvements at the C&D pit and plans for burn-pit work and recycling staging; Kevin Peroutek, Noxious Weed Director and Emergency Preparedness Director, describing spraying schedules and certification trainings; and Anna Porter, County Appraiser, noting work on the 2025 tax roll so statements will be correct. County Clerk Myka Zadina said bill pay is this week, township budgets are being finalized and preparations for the November election are under way.

The meeting's office-head updates also included operational notes about equipment repairs and training, and a summary of outreach events such as the Health Department's planned booth at a July 29 back-to-school event. The board did not take formal action on these reports during the meeting.