[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6634413,"mediaKeyId","3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d","parentId",3515348,"title","Commission amends agenda to remove NRP public hearing; schedules joint meeting outreach","audioSeconds",108,"startMs",208000,"endMs",316000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d&start=208&end=316","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d/thumbnail_208000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634413/Geary-County/Kansas/Commission-amends-agenda-to-remove-NRP-public-hearing-schedules-joint-meeting-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634413-271783c6f04513e96f4d170051aa9a68/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436903&Signature=jTg7VW7Ojy8Gb7mvnkboKovDd0Jb8~3ojcLgJs1bNxy7Xb1us8g2ncqj~t5t4z2bjRNreEOMRNRbc9CIHOBEaJCAKm2f5rDm8AXzlYSwCbTW8d8tR5vj6ea7afUEDmzVyVMp0X7SMoAV8G2psvJYw1bzVmh~z5umyJY9RoohHREUw6KbeKkQir7w9Hj9747gJw7UzyZ6arRluCJ6tvC~YHtYtDV~l9AgDsuaDOvq1mTO2ux7iI9X8R~j6A42RK~-8o~yHMkC30tCdQSxZA3sKicVP4yqTXYq1B7cAXoRI2ElUY1T5Ezs2eNe-Z1n~~B-LCNUj7chxP3mIIn87byNUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Geary County, KS","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Geary County Commission voted at the start of Tuesday's meeting to amend the agenda and remove a scheduled NRP public hearing.

A commissioner moved to amend the agenda to remove the NRP public hearing; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Commissioners said the county intends to pursue a joint hearing with the city and school district instead of holding a separate county hearing; one commissioner said she would contact the school district to coordinate. The commission advised staff and the public that the NRP item would be handled via a joint publication and joint meeting at a later date.

No substantive policy decision on the NRP itself was reached at the meeting; the amendment was procedural and the item was deferred to the planned joint process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Geary County Commission Meeting 05/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners voted to amend the agenda and remove a scheduled NRP public hearing, citing plans for a joint hearing with city and school officials and further outreach to the school district.","taxTitle","Geary County, Kansas","taxId",63542,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634419,"Sheriff reports jail food contract change, inmate counts average 87; transport and enforcement metrics provided",556,2804000,3360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d&start=2804&end=3360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d/thumbnail_2804000.jpg","/articles/6634419/Geary-County/Kansas/Sheriff-reports-jail-food-contract-change-inmate-counts-average-87-transport-and-enforcement-metrics-provided","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634419-29bd5de123e7d0725cad611f49d74d74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436903&Signature=FS32JzKVeY-yL8KQMfUsKAdTsN1HUw57Dr900m5hhWYJR~gVOhMFVnhz7vOvTpDtnfXmgRJYfoabU-0uNCqtv-PzLb4z4ZGereD8tpu9uNUXPVu4HQfbUtBeqb4LvGa5cjMPtODvAq36Z4DPa8rsTUdEtNd88vuvUDv0X98MPkwY1Yrxic2bp7Ao5Zb38tIkY1qB9xNhjdtE-CPSW4Ru-YWykfiRIaRjovDyprFmFsMfYeSq3Ey4yRj88D0pQisCg8IlNaDVERJG1aTiDIFdJWtQT61sMRF-KV5Fwr~PJ1AsSMtpFS~n3tpmuX17mDDXZS-v44ASLEbLEZ2nBI0oWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Geary County sheriff updated commissioners on detention operations, including a new food-service contract that will start Aug. 12 and current staffing and medical-vendor negotiations.

The sheriff said the county selected a new vendor for detention food services; the contract paperwork was signed and the vendor will assume service on Aug. 12. The sheriff reported the negotiated price is lower than several prior years and said the vendor will keep existing kitchen staff and increase their pay modestly.

On medical coverage, the sheriff said staff have forwarded a draft contract to county leadership for review; the current medical provider's contract has been extended through June while final terms are negotiated. The sheriff also reported that the department considered whether the juvenile detention center could share food services with the adult jail but said those discussions did not progress due to scheduling and communication issues with the juvenile facility.

Operational statistics for the two-week period May 7 to May 20 were presented: an average daily inmate population of 87; 11 prisoner transports; 214 traffic stops; 73 citations; 108 civil papers served; 30 total arrests; two DUI investigations; one drug investigation; three batteries/assaults; and zero motor vehicle thefts or weapon violations.

The sheriff said VIN inspection revenue is at risk because the current VIN inspector is retiring; staff are recruiting a part-time replacement to preserve that revenue stream.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about contractor outreach and inmate trends. The sheriff noted a planned reconstitution of a joint investigations unit with Junction City, and cautioned that proactive investigations could increase arrests and inmate population in the future.

No formal commission action was taken during the report; commissioners received the update and asked staff to continue vendor and staffing negotiations.","The sheriff briefed commissioners on a new food-service contract beginning Aug. 12, staff and medical contract negotiations, and two-week operational statistics including an average daily population of 87 inmates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634422,"Chamber, EDC push for DOD infrastructure grant, tackle energy and spec-building constraints",0,7656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d&start=7656&end=7656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d/thumbnail_7656000.jpg","/articles/6634422/Geary-County/Kansas/Chamber-EDC-push-for-DOD-infrastructure-grant-tackle-energy-and-spec-building-constraints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634422-db85ab2b18b7180438f8284dabad753d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436903&Signature=Z4iuSrvAaIVUXT-RYwotrUznsnaLEkSPeQ~shoCenAwIyICFNuom0NYUCl9N3xgqBHyAPmygoe1PiMLc0jXa7HLmBYYljSx1ezyKgCC7cw4r1VrUWmrJaPgfR23zy1EqYP7uUojJ-~KqON65rLKH3V7bJCviWUmigkiM~1gWZjqLPU9ALuS0Xgy3QHN7RDIISmVYC-aC~RekzW8~KB80knd~s6Rtn2d5MIJZGEeMrIZkOvm6kN8SnxghwtLVRRhGhYrMvJMOn2kt76nzNlL9sDhwTxzeNKBZmhvhG4AVpJY-gYE5-OL-ZYcc3TEL3IPwRqPx-8DaQ86JmCqhKG-Dqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the consolidated chamber, its economic development corporation and the county gave the commission a multifaceted update Tuesday on business recruitment and a pending federal grant application to support infrastructure near Fort Cavazos.

Nikki Thurney, president of operations for the consolidated chamber, and Kelly Cook, director of membership relations, said the chamber's VetEpic pitch competition and other membership events have grown attendance and that business-support programming will continue. Winners from the local veteran entrepreneur competition included Bluebird (first), Mata Aviation (second) and Coachworks (third); Network Kansas provided extra prize funding after the chamber's pilot event.

On economic development, staff said they have been working on a Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot (DCIP) application that would fund infrastructure projects to support Fort Cavazos and surrounding communities. The committee has been meeting monthly since last fall and expects to submit an application when the Department of Defense releases the NOFO. County and chamber staff said the NOFO has not yet been released and that if it is released late the deadline would likely not be extended.

EDC and county staff said their draft application aims to stay under the highest award amounts observed in past grants (the team cited a target near $14.4 million with contingencies) and that they have identified a NEPA exclusion that helps avoid lengthy environmental review because the project would not directly touch certain waterways or bridges that would trigger a full NEPA study.

Economic developers also reported active outreach to commercial prospects through SelectUSA and other channels but said a key constraint on recruitment is the lack of 'ready-to-occupy' industrial buildings. To address that need they have a June meeting with a prospective investor to discuss a speculative (spec) building or a virtually pre-planned spec building to make a site more marketable.

Energy availability was a recurring concern. The chamber and EDC said they have raised the county's electricity constraints with state officials and will use a recently arranged contact with an Evergy executive (facilitated by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office) to press the utility for clarity on distribution capacity and transformer availability. Developers said regional competition for transformers and utility capacity has previously affected economic development in other parts of the state.

Commissioners and chamber/EDC staff agreed the DCIP application and the energy discussions are priorities; staff said they will keep the commission updated as the NOFO is released and as meetings with potential investors and utility officials proceed.","The chamber and economic development staff told commissioners they are finalizing a Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot application (DCIP), pursuing spec-building options, and pressing state contacts on regional energy supply issues ahead of anticipated grant NOFO release.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634426,"Consultant: Geary County's Blue Cross plan posted favorable 2024 loss ratio; county should remain fully insured for now",1092,3660000,4752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d&start=3660&end=4752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d/thumbnail_3660000.jpg","/articles/6634426/Geary-County/Kansas/Consultant-Geary-Countys-Blue-Cross-plan-posted-favorable-2024-loss-ratio-county-should-remain-fully-insured-for-now","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634426-eb043d4258955575237688aaf59513dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436903&Signature=b86z5f4PiZaMa7GlM2P0q9ZnSSysKLBQRbls59GrPgEniV0lIiTqHmU4H~nN4hl6gl1FXiDNZ7EuFUCgwPHmIxPLmAnxygg1K9me3j0-0jSrGg5R-7KpE6TBf~pm0tySbvfE0Fr-nTCyIXcjYwgvOudIgslkXAb1uRg2xv6VftNDqDka68n3tSBPV-9CsLJAsQpAMoUQAMSOqHP~48-YdK0L5yLPE~th~MGwvc-~8y4iebG3JJZwBRy0ScYXB1oICdOwfPo78Mxm~IiM0Y~4ZCRo4FYJCWMMKs0xCPYRd8I-ZlCoWKMZkE0U3Eol~qgoAuMuMe-I~y1XMDHdcoYisw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants reviewing Geary County's employee health plan told the commission that the county's fully insured Blue Cross of Kansas plan produced a favorable loss ratio in 2024 and recommended staying fully insured for now.

Courtney Bickelmeyer, a benefits consultant working with the county, said the county's 2024 loss ratio was about 74% (reported as 74% for the year and a rolling 81% over a multi-year window), a level carriers view as manageable. She also told the commission the most recent renewal produced a roughly 2.5% increase.

Bickelmeyer highlighted several items for commissioners and staff to watch: one pharmacy claimant driving six-figure pharmacy costs, a handful of high medical claims (including low-back, cerebrovascular and septicemia cases), and a recent uptick in claims in February through April. She said pharmacy costs overall were performing well for a group the county's size and noted 87% of prescriptions filled with generics.

The consultant explained the difference between fully insured and self-funded options, saying county estimates show self-funding would currently expose the county to higher near-term outlays.

\"Right now, you want to stay fully insured because you want the risk to stay on the insurance company,\" Bickelmeyer told commissioners, adding the consultant team would continue monitoring claim trends and market the renewal broadly at renewal time to push carriers to compete.

County HR said staff would continue running member outreach and cost-saving programs, for example promoting Blue Cross' smart-shopper options to encourage members to seek lower-cost facilities for imaging and elective procedures.

The consultant said the county should expect renewal materials in late September and recommended staff use the summer months to gather more data before finalizing July budget assumptions. No formal vote was required during the presentation; commissioners received the report and asked staff to continue monitoring and to coordinate with finance during budget season.","A benefits consultant briefed the commission on the county's 2024 health-plan performance, recommended continued monitoring and said the fully insured arrangement remains preferable given recent claims.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634428,"Geary County register of deeds seeks and wins pay step after certification",854,1938000,2792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d&start=1938&end=2792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3515348-5c63043dd2a0c94cc32d9743bc423c1d/thumbnail_1938000.jpg","/articles/6634428/Geary-County/Kansas/Geary-County-register-of-deeds-seeks-and-wins-pay-step-after-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634428-7d85308ce71df4f9195e92ace2ffadb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436903&Signature=UiUEGjQocCg~tPwJnZLJdkFkDNRe0De-QLUb1yCSUw80IYGNjtI5gs0d4XCCaC3d4QtsE4hJQm4P6XawcUMDG8cVcuSSKmRl8~QZ~sRwIQnIxNilme2eSUmQV7OoDHsXiv~ad8xm1KjTFTaSl58bU3B~ltL6xIzBCJkd290rA02pUNxUguizku4b78vqmhBOU7OrYfBJgMOKc6rcT8UdEWNhqBRbJ7DPX4P0kHUlDb8SfqXUPK87VWcQIvsY3ov4~cG-K81kLts2tgL3myBxQoxE3xIA4yO1zYPhCEzmUQ2YAOTXoUUr91OnPrm6CrAqz9qdX6Ql0Lw3pp8Rjze-qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Geary County Commission on Tuesday accepted a recommendation to raise the county register of deeds' pay by one step after the official completed a voluntary Kansas register of deeds certification.

The request was made by the register of deeds, who said she recently completed the 36-hour Kansas Registered Deeds Association certification program and earned 38 continuing-education hours required for the credential. She told commissioners she did not expect an immediate answer but wanted a decision before presenting the office's budget on June 9.

The register of deeds said the certification covered Kansas statutes, land-record management, document preservation and technology, and other topics specific to the office. She also described encountering two people earlier this year who identify as 'sovereign citizens' and recorded nonstandard documents, noting the training helped staff handle those situations.

Crystal Malchow, Geary County HR director, told the commission she has drafted a policy to make voluntary certifications eligible for pay adjustments and that the policy would apply prospectively. Malchow and finance staff reviewed the register's budget and said the county could absorb half a year of the step increase beginning with the first paycheck in July; they estimated the cost to the current fiscal year, including benefits, at about $1,270.

Commissioners moved to accept the recommendation from the consultant group (Arnold Group) that evaluated the certification and recommended a step increase. The motion was approved by voice vote.

Commissioners and HR emphasized the pay change is contingent on the official maintaining the certification; Malchow said ongoing continuing education (six hours per year was mentioned) would be required to keep the higher step. County staff also said a broader policy on certification-based pay for elected officials is being finalized so future requests are handled consistently.

The register of deeds asked for the change now so payroll and the department budget can be finalized for presentation on June 9; commissioners directed staff to implement the step increase beginning with the July payroll, subject to the policy and certification maintenance.

The commission did not take additional formal action during that discussion.","The county's elected register of deeds requested a pay-step increase tied to completion of a professional certification; commissioners agreed to the recommendation and budgeted a small, immediate cost for the remainder of the year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission amends agenda to remove NRP public hearing; schedules joint meeting outreach

Sheriff reports jail food contract change, inmate counts average 87; transport and enforcement metrics provided

Chamber, EDC push for DOD infrastructure grant, tackle energy and spec-building constraints

Consultant: Geary County's Blue Cross plan posted favorable 2024 loss ratio; county should remain fully insured for now

Geary County register of deeds seeks and wins pay step after certification