RENO COUNTY, Kan. – Wednesday’s Reno County Commission meeting opened with a special presentation from Jacey Combs, a Reno County 4-H Ambassador and long-time 4-H member, who shared both excitement and nerves about the upcoming Reno County 4-H Fair. The fair begins with the dog show on Saturday the 18th, and continues with additional events from the 22nd through the 27th. Jacey expressed gratitude to supporters and invited everyone to come out and see the projects and accomplishments the youth have poured their energy into over the past year.
The commission began new business with a presentation on the Meadowlark Project. This project centers on the innovative use of methane from the county landfill, turning what would have been flared off as waste into renewable natural gas and a potential revenue stream for the county. Representatives, including County Bond Counsel Kevin Cowan, explained that the Commission was not being asked to approve the final issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs), but rather a resolution of intent. This step is crucial as it opens up eligibility for federal tax-exempt interest, giving both incentive and reimbursement potential moving forward. Clarification was provided that no county incentives or property tax abatements – other than the IRB mechanism – are part of the deal, making the project’s largest draw the federal tax benefit tied to local government-issued bonds. Construction has moved forward, with contracts secured and easements nearly finalized. Commissioners noted the benefits of this “green” project to both public revenue and environmental safety, emphasizing the importance of moving away from simply burning off landfill gases.
The commission also set a date for canvassing votes following the August 4th gubernatorial primary. That meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 12th, at 9:00 AM at the Courthouse annex. Commissioner Don Bogner will be unable to attend due to a conflict, and will have an alternate (likely the Register of Deeds) fill in.
Budget discussions followed, with the commission setting a required “maximum” budget for public notice ahead of the final adoption. Randy Partington, County Administrator, provided an overview showing that, while county operating budgets have slightly outpaced inflation over the years, past budget cuts often depended on one-time savings, deferred capital projects, or drawing down reserve funds. Commissioners agreed to approve a maximum levy for the coming year, underlining that further meetings would allow for more detailed, department-level cuts before the final budget hearing scheduled for September 9th.
To close, the commission highlighted an upcoming transparency measure: the development of a public-facing online tool that will allow Reno County residents to look up the tax breakdown for specific properties. With this, residents will be able to see exactly how much they pay to each taxing entity – bringing more clarity to tax statements and accountability to the budgeting process.
