Cowley County Commission opts to use existing equipment for road striping

Resolution mandates center lines on narrow Cowley County roads

Additional surveying funds approved for bridge project

Township rejects dust petition ahead of annual county meeting

Cowley County transitions disability services to DPOK amid retirements

Cowley County to pursue block grant for rural fire departments

Cowley County Commission approves fiscal year 2027 adult and juvenile corrections plans

Local students win inaugural 'I Voted' sticker design contest

Cowley County Commission opts to use existing equipment for road striping

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, the Cowley County Commission voted to continue using the county's 1988 and 1991 pavement marking equipment for the upcoming year rather than hiring a private contractor or purchasing new machinery.

Cowley County officials expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of last year's contracted road striping and balked at the estimated $80,000 to $125,000 cost of a used skid-mounted painter. County crews will lay down an 11- to 12-mil thickness of paint this year while the board spends the next 12 months researching affordable equipment upgrades.

Resolution mandates center lines on narrow Cowley County roads

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - Addressing safety concerns from local residents, the Cowley County Commission approved a county resolution updating guidelines for painting roadway markings on paved county roads.

The measure was introduced to ensure that center lines are painted on the county's 116 miles of narrow roadways measuring under 21 feet wide. The policy directs that hazardous areas — including bridges and blind curves on narrow routes — receive proper striping regardless of daily traffic counts.

Additional surveying funds approved for bridge project

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - Cowley County Commissioners approved a not-to-exceed expense of $10,000 for additional surveying services tied to the county's ongoing bridge work associated with the federal Bridge Investment Program.

Surveyors reported that several section corner ties — markers typically set at regular intervals and used to establish boundaries — were missing near five bridge sites and must be located or reset to determine right-of-way easements. Officials said the markers are important not only for current bridge planning but for future land surveying across the county.

Township rejects dust petition ahead of annual county meeting

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - Cowley County Administrator Lucas Goff informed the Cowley County Commission that a local township formally rejected a citizen petition requesting dust mitigation on a township-maintained dirt road behind a sale barn.

Because the road falls under township jurisdiction, the county will not intervene, though officials acknowledged the ongoing challenges rural townships face with road maintenance. Those issues, including the possibility of neighboring townships sharing road graders and personnel, will be a focus at the county's annual township meeting scheduled for early May.

Cowley County transitions disability services to DPOK amid retirements

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - Faced with the upcoming retirements of key staff members and declining state funding, the Cowley County Commission unanimously approved a service contract with Disability Planning Organization of Kansas (DPOK) to manage the county's Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO) services.

DPOK, which provides CDDO-related services in parts of Kansas and partners with multiple CDDOs, will lease the county's existing CDDO office space and hire two full-time staff members to serve the area. Cowley County Administrator Lucas Goff said outsourcing the operations was the most financially efficient way to maintain care standards in light of state funding cuts expected over the next five years.

Cowley County to pursue block grant for rural fire departments

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Cowley County Commission gave Cowley County Administrator Lucas Goff the green light to apply for a Community Development Block Grant aimed at repairing or replacing aging rural fire department facilities.

The county will invest approximately $15,000 in third-party preparation and surveying to apply for the grant, which operates on an 80/20 funding split and could result in a $1.4 million to $1.5 million project. A rural fire department facility, which county officials said currently relies on temporary posts to support part of its roof, was identified as the first priority for potential upgrades.

Cowley County Commission approves fiscal year 2027 adult and juvenile corrections plans

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Cowley County Commission unanimously approved the fiscal year 2027 comprehensive plans for both adult and juvenile community-based services, totaling more than $1.3 million.

Community Corrections Director Brennan Hadley said the budgets — $591,287 for adult programs and $776,270 for juvenile services — focus heavily on personnel, client services and staff training to reduce recidivism and improve decision-making. The plans use an evidence-based approach to address primary behavioral drivers such as substance abuse and lack of accountability across both populations.

Local students win inaugural 'I Voted' sticker design contest

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - Two local students were recognized Tuesday night as the winners of the county's first "I Voted" sticker design contest.

An elementary student and a high school student won their respective age divisions, and their artwork will be featured on stickers handed out to voters at the polls during the upcoming 2026 election cycle.

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