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Road/Bridge head reports two bridge funding denials, musk thistle on private field may trigger county treatment
Summary
Road/Bridge/Noxious Weed head Kurt Demel reported Pawnee County was not selected for two bridge funding rounds, outlined equipment repairs and a $253,000 proposed increase to his 2027 budget, and warned that an untreated musk thistle infestation could require county treatment billed to the landowner.
Kurt Demel, Road/Bridge/Noxious Weed/Zoning Department head, told commissioners Pawnee County was not selected for the 2028 Off-System Bridge Program for the OS 73 (Ash Valley Township Bridge) and was not selected for the 2027 Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program for the FAS 420 Bridge (North Rozel Road). He also described equipment maintenance problems (a backhoe not repaired correctly and a vac trailer undergoing repairs in Wichita).
Demel reported a musk thistle infestation in a field where repeated conversations with the landowner have not fully resolved the problem; he explained that if the county must treat the field, the costs would be charged to the landowner's tax statement. He presented a proposed 2027 budget with a $253,000 increase and requested a 5% wage increase for his department; Commissioners said they would review wage comparisons and follow up. Commissioner Rein noted a previous step-scale change for Road/Bridge wages and said raises need objective review. The board also discussed a $23,000 invoice from Kirkham Michael for additional reports and per diem.
