ALLEN COUNTY, Kan. — Allen County Commissioners heard an update Tuesday on issues regarding truck parking along Montana Road presented to them last week. Sheriff Anthony Maness said in checking with Iola Police Chief Jared Warner, it was confirmed that the entire section of Montana Road in question is within the city limits of Iola.
“They are going to respond to and address the concerns as needed to determine if there are traffic signs that need to be installed,” Maness told Commissioners, adding this will be an issue for the city.
Maness also said he has directed his deputies to increase enforcement activity along the segment of US 169 between Hawaii and Minnesota Roads due to significant safety issues including several accidents and many near misses. He’s also asking the Kansas Highway Patrol to keep a closer eye on traffic in that area. Allen County deputies otherwise have been doing enhanced patrolling along gravel roads in the county per directive from the sheriff.
SEK Multi-County Health Department administrator Becky Johnson is requesting a three percent increase in the proposed 2026 budget. Johnson told Allen County Commissioners Tuesday this reflects the current year cost of living increases along with what they pay for goods and services, and is their first budget increase request since 2021
“Since then we’ve absorbed increased costs in staffing, medical supplies, fuel, and overall service delivery,” Johnson explained , adding this increase isn’t about keeping up but continuing to serve the communities with the quality of care they have come to expect.
The Commission indicated they are supportive of approving this increase, especially given the length of time since they last increased for additional county funds.
Emergency Management Director Jason Trego reported the Kansas Division of Emergency Management has forwarded to FEMA the county’s grant request for installation of electronic modules in the three county-owned sirens that would provide redundancy to an existing radio based control system. Trego and 911 director Chelsie Becker also reported on a recent conference they attended in Florida where they were among the presenters, for which conference organizers covered a substantial part of their expenses to attend.
During a report from Thrive Allen County’s recent Thrive Allen County Community Conversation in Humboldt, City Administrator Cole Herder said there will be some issues regarding a suggestion to make the intersection of 8th and Bridge a four way stop.
It currently has stop signs on 8th, with Bridge a through street, there is also a traffic signal on Bridge a block away. One of the issues there has to do with larger trucks, not semi’s, that tend to park on the ends of the blocks, as those spots are easier for wide vehicles to park at. While he’s not aware of any accidents there, motorists are having to “creep through” the intersection, something Herder noted he does twice a day.
A four-way stop would also require some parking spots to be removed due to safety standards.
