Dickinson County commissioners reaffirmed their prior guidance that the Eisenhower Marathon should not use a state highway segment that the county does not own and cannot close. Staff said the county previously told the event organizer, Lorelei Veil, that the marathon route needs to be moved onto county roads or that the organizer must obtain permits and cover applicable costs for staffing and traffic control.

Commissioners said they will not close state highways the county does not control and that KDOT does not permit the county to close those roads. County staff described typical costs associated with providing support for the event — including overtime for staff and potential contractor costs to place and remove traffic control devices — and said there is precedent for asking event organizers to reimburse such costs. Staff cited an example where it cost organizers roughly a small delivery charge (reported as about $5 at the meeting) to deliver equipment and said some organizers had inquired about hiring private traffic control services (RoadSafe) and about shared costs.

Commissioners discussed alternatives they would accept: move the course to county‑owned roads so the county can properly permit and manage the event, or have the organizer apply for the necessary permits and pay for staffing and any third‑party traffic control. The group also discussed that the marathon is a Boston qualifying course that requires a certified measurement and that significant course changes would trigger recertification and additional administrative steps.

What happened next: staff said they will notify the marathon organizer that the county’s position remains the same — the route must be moved off the state highway or the organizer must obtain permits and arrange to cover costs. Commissioners encouraged the organizer to meet with county staff to discuss alternatives, permit requirements and possible cost‑sharing arrangements; no funding commitment was made.

Why it matters: public safety, liability and staffing costs are the basis for the county’s position. Moving a large event onto county routes or requiring a permit with cost reimbursement is the county’s method of managing liability and direct costs.