Abilene – Week of June 29 2025
Downtown Revitalization Project; Airport Hangar Debate; Jail Maintenance Budget; Opioid Settlement Funds; Log Jam Expertise
County Backs Major Downtown Abilene Revitalization Project
Abilene City Commission Deadlocks on Airport Hangar Plan, Opts to Bid Two Options
Ongoing Plumbing, Inmate Issues Drive Up County Jail Maintenance Budget
County Debates Use of Opioid Settlement Funds
Dickinson County Expertise Helps Saline County with “$750,000 Log Jam”
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County Backs Major Downtown Abilene Revitalization Project
The Dickinson County Commission voted to sponsor a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for the redevelopment of the historic Steinhauser building in downtown Abilene. The project, brought forward by Rural Rental LLC, aims to transform the property at 109-113 Northwest 3rd Street into a mixed-use facility featuring six second-story apartments and multiple first-floor commercial storefronts. The grant, part of a state-run commercial rehabilitation program, could provide up to $300,000 to address code violations, preservation, and stabilization of the building, which is considered a “key downtown building.” The total project is estimated to cost around $1.6 million and will include the addition of an elevator to make the residential units accessible. Commissioners expressed strong support, seeing it as a “big win” for the community by adding needed housing and retail traffic to the downtown area.
Abilene City Commission Deadlocks on Airport Hangar Plan, Opts to Bid Two Options
The Abilene City Commission engaged in a lengthy debate over the reconstruction of T-hangars at the municipal airport, ultimately deciding to seek bids for both a six-place and an eight-place hangar to get firm costs before committing. The eight-place option, preferred by the airport board, is projected to have an out-of-pocket cost to the city of approximately $175,000 after federal grants and insurance funds are applied. The smaller, six-place hangar would have a zero out-of-pocket share. Commissioners grappled with the financial risk, the ability of hangar rents to service the debt, and the potential loss of over $150,000 in annual federal funding if the airport falls below its required number of based aircraft. The decision to bid both options allows the city to stay on its timeline while providing flexibility if the preferred eight-unit plan proves too costly once actual bids are received.
Ongoing Plumbing, Inmate Issues Drive Up County Jail Maintenance Budget
The Dickinson County Jail’s building-maintenance budget has been doubled due to persistent and costly issues, primarily with plumbing and damage caused by inmates. During a budget review, the Sheriff’s Office reported that frequent calls to plumbers to clear toilets intentionally clogged by inmates, fix leaks in the kitchen, and repair damaged intercoms account for the majority of the expense. It was noted that some of the plumbing problems may stem from the original installation, but the facility is past its warranty period. To better track the problem, the county has started separating the jail’s maintenance costs from the general courthouse maintenance budget. The total jail budget is seeing a roughly 30 % increase, largely to cover inmate medical costs and these facility repairs.
County Debates Use of Opioid Settlement Funds
The Dickinson County Commission is weighing how to best utilize funds received from national opioid-lawsuit settlements. A key point of discussion is whether to first use the money to cover existing county expenses related to drug recovery before granting funds to outside organizations. The county currently budgets approximately $30,000 for its drug-court program, an expense that could potentially be covered by the opioid funds. Commissioners debated the merits of funding their own successful programs versus allocating money to a proposed housing project for those in recovery. The commission plans to wait until the next distribution of funds arrives in August to see the total amount available before creating a formal application process and making final decisions.
Dickinson County Expertise Helps Saline County with “$750,000 Log Jam”
Dickinson County’s Emergency Management Director, Chancy Smith, recently provided critical assistance to neighboring Saline County in dealing with a massive log jam in one of its parks. The jam, described as 300 yards long by 100 yards wide, was initially not thought to be an accountable expense under a disaster declaration. Drawing on Dickinson County’s own experience cleaning out creeks after a tornado, where expenses reached $1.2 million, Smith advised Saline County that the log jam likely represented a “three-quarters-of-a-million-dollar” problem and was eligible for disaster funding. This guidance enabled Saline County to begin the process of seeking aid to clear the blockage, which posed a major flooding risk.
Ryan Newton
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