Last week’s Allen County delinquent tax sale brought in around $341,000. County Counselor Bob Johnson told Allen County Commissioners Tuesday an additional $581,000 in back taxes was redeemed prior to the sale. About 100 people were in attendance at the sale, which is still subject to confirmation by Allen County District Court and deed work.
Two of the properties that sold during the sale were associated with Arlyn Briggs of Moran, who addressed the Commission by phone and claimed those two properties were not to be sold. Briggs had redeemed two properties prior to the sale and said the $14,000 involved in that was all that had to be redeemed.
County Treasurer Darolyn “Cricket” Maley though said the actual amount of delinquent taxes owed for all of his properties was more like $40,000. Briggs also repeated his contention he’s been charged taxes for property he does not own, tax statements being incorrect, and other issues.
After the discussion, Commissioner Jerry Daniels voiced his frustration with Briggs, saying “this has to stop.”
A tank truck purchased for the Allen County Landfill is expected to be delivered next week, but it won’t be the one originally purchased. Public Works Director Mitch Garner said the truck originally purchased was stolen from the dealer and subsequently wrecked. However, it located another truck, same year but having much less mileage, for the same price as the original one.
In his weekly update Garner said a compactor at the landfill was expected to be returned from a rebuild today. He also reported a four-section recycling trailer the county is purchasing is also expected to be delivered next week. When all four sections are filled, it will have about a one-ton capacity.
Last weekend’s torrential rains, which brought over six inches of rain to parts of western Allen County, did wash out some culverts, one of which ended up in the Neosho River and where it went is not known. Road and Bridge Supervisor Jeremy Hopkins reported a noxious weed truck will have equipment installed next week, and chip seal work in the Carlyle area is being delayed due to an equipment breakdown. Commissioners were also told additional quotes will be solicited for material crushing at the county’s quarry and approved a $6,435.34 bid from Van Diest for additional chemical purchases.
Commissioners continued discussions on the 2027 budget, which is getting closer to a point where the mill levy could remain the same as for next year as for this. Last week the county was needing to cut $1.6 million from proposed budgets to get to that level, and since then adjustments have been made that brought it down to around $1.1 million.
During the meeting a suggestion was made to reduce by half the $1 million increase that had been proposed for the Road and Bridge Department, which would cut, on its own, the remaining shortfall by nearly half. Commissioners also discussed the potential of going to a set dollar amount for funding provided to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, which current gets one mill of tax support.
Also being looked at is adjusting what was allocated for cost of living raises for 2027, which the submitted budgets figured at five percent. Budget discussions will continue at the next Commission meeting, which will be a night meeting July 7th at 5 Pm.
A recent familiarization tour that brought industrial site consultants to southeast Kansas is being called a success. Thrive Allen County Vice President of Economic Development Camille Lavon told Commissioners the group toured the three available industrial parks and showed them around the community to show why Allen County is a great place to do business.
Allen County was one of four counties that were spotlighted on the tour. From that, Lavon said she’s been contacted by a number of the site electors who wanted additional information. The recruitment process is very “deliberate” on her part, seeking companies that would fit into the existing fabric of the community.
One item that was initially on Tuesday’s agenda was taken off, that the discussion with Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center’s interim CEO Doug Wright.
