The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to enter a series of short executive sessions during a single meeting to consult with legal counsel on multiple pending legal matters, then reconvened with no action taken and adjourned.

Commissioner Hanslick moved the first recess at 11:40 a.m., saying, “I move the board recess its open meeting and convene in executive session at 11:40AM for a total period of 5 minutes for the purpose under KSA 75 43 19 b 2 of consultation with legal counsel, which would be privileged in the attorney client relationship to discuss a matter involving a fire district and to reconvene in open session in this room at approximately 11:45AM.” He named the county manager, deputy county manager, assistant county manager Adam Norris and the chief counsel as attendees. The motion was seconded and the clerk announced the roll call: Commissioners Fast, Myers, Brewer, Hanslick, Ashcraft, Allen Brand and Chairman Kelly each recorded “aye.” The clerk confirmed, “That’s 7 in favor and none against.”

After returning to the record and stating that “No action is being taken at this time,” the board considered a second executive-session motion. Commissioner Hanslick moved at 11:48 a.m. to convene a five-minute session under the same statute to consult counsel “relating to Kansas Open Records Act” litigation; Commissioner Allen Brand seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call.

The board approved a third motion at 11:56 a.m. to convene a 20-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319(b)(2) to consult counsel about pending litigation relating to Attorney General opinion number 2025-0013, reconvening at about 12:16 p.m. That motion, and a subsequent 10-minute extension moved at 12:19 p.m., also passed unanimously after roll-call votes.

Minutes show the clerk calling the roll for each motion and the chair confirming the unanimous counts; each motion's vote was announced as seven in favor and none against. At multiple points after returning from executive session, the chair said publicly that no action had been taken in open session. The meeting concluded when the chair noted there were no other items on the written agenda and, “Absent objection by the board, we are adjourned.” The session closed with holiday greetings.

Why it matters: Executive sessions under KSA 75-4319(b)(2) allow elected bodies to consult with legal counsel in private when the consultation would be privileged. The board cited that statute for all motions and named litigation topics including a fire district matter, a Kansas Open Records Act dispute and an Attorney General opinion (2025-0013). The transcript records only the board’s decisions to hold the executive sessions and their unanimous approvals; it records no substantive public action or decision taken in open session.

Votes at a glance: Motion to enter executive session (11:40 a.m., five minutes, fire district) — Passed, 7-0. Motion to enter executive session (11:48 a.m., five minutes, Kansas Open Records Act) — Passed, 7-0. Motion to enter executive session (11:56 a.m., 20 minutes, AG opinion 2025-0013) — Passed, 7-0. Motion to extend executive session (12:19 p.m., 10 minutes) — Passed, 7-0.

Attendees and roles noted in the transcript: Commissioners Fast, Myers, Brewer, Hanslick, Ashcraft and Allen Brand; Chairman Kelly; the county manager, deputy county manager, assistant county manager Adam Norris; and the chief counsel. The transcript identifies the clerk as the person calling roll for votes. The record does not include first names for the commissioners; the article uses the titles and surnames as recorded.

The board provided no further public detail on the legal matters discussed in executive session and did not take public action before adjourning. The meeting adjourned with a holiday greeting.