Cherokee County commissioners approve multiple pay increases, adopt Stop Sign resolution

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners met on March 17, 2025, in the Commission Room at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Columbus. Chair Myra Carlisle Frazier presided; Commissioners Cory Moates and Jack Garner were present. The Board unanimously approved several personnel pay increases and adopted two resolutions recorded in the minutes.

Commissioner Frazier moved to raise Road & Bridge employee Sean Shipman’s hourly rate from $19 to $21 and to raise JR Neil’s hourly rate from $17 to $19; Commissioner Moates seconded both motions and each passed unanimously. Later in the meeting Commissioner Moates moved to increase County Maintenance employee Mike Thomas’ pay from $18 to $21 per hour; Commissioner Frazier seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The minutes record the payroll and payables approvals and the motions as passing unanimously with the three commissioners.

The Board also approved the County Functional Classification Resolution and adopted Stop Sign Resolution 07-2025; both motions were seconded and recorded as passed unanimously. No detailed amendments to either resolution were recorded in the minutes.

The meeting included two short executive sessions—a 10-minute non-elected personnel session with the County Appraiser and a 15-minute attorney-client session—both approved by unanimous votes; the minutes state no action was taken after either session. The Board tabled consideration of a fence-viewing letter, took no action on a KACC invoice, and heard a Kansas Department of Transportation update on county projects including paperwork related to turnover of the old U.S. Highway 166 alternate route. The meeting adjourned after the final motions.