Commission denies tax relief for fire-damaged Herington property

Appraiser's office prepares for potential state property tax changes

New 305-foot cell tower approved near Abilene airport

County sees significant increase in building permits

Local entities prepare for FEMA reimbursements following summer storms

Emergency management director receives lifetime achievement award

County successfully beta tests AI technology to streamline operations

Sheriff's office upgrades jail technology and training

District court clerk retires after 24 years of service

1. Commission denies tax relief for fire-damaged Herington property

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — The Dickinson County Commission unanimously denied a real property tax relief application for a fire-damaged residence in Herington. While state statute allows the commission discretionary power to grant tax credits for destroyed properties, the commission noted the property's taxes have been delinquent since 2020 and it is currently slated for a tax foreclosure sale. The commission concluded that granting the credit would not serve the county's best interests or be fair to current taxpayers given the lack of payment history.

2. Appraiser's office prepares for potential state property tax changes

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — The Dickinson County Appraiser's Office is closely monitoring potential state legislative changes to property tax assessments, including discussions regarding an assessment rate cap. County Appraiser Lisa Berg and staff reported they are finalizing a report related to House Bill 2644, which expands requirements for appraisers to limit post-appeal property value increases to 5% or order a fee-simple appraisal when a property value is reduced through a final valuation appeal. The office is scheduled to meet with State Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-District 12) next week to discuss the potential impacts of proposed valuation changes on local tax burdens and funding mechanisms.

3. New 305-foot cell tower approved near Abilene airport

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — The Dickinson County Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Vertical Bridge to construct a 305-foot guyed telecommunications tower on a 31.7-acre parcel south of Abilene. The tower, which will primarily serve Verizon, is located within the Abilene Municipal Airport buffer overlay. The applicant previously secured a height variance from the Abilene Board of Zoning Appeals in July to build above the standard limits. Planning and zoning director Tim Hamilton noted the tower meets all setback and structural requirements, and the airport determined it will not impede the runway approach zone.

4. County sees significant increase in building permits

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — The region is experiencing a surge in construction and development, with planning and zoning director Tim Hamilton reporting over 80 building permits issued year-to-date. This marks a substantial increase from the 58 permits issued during the same period last year. Hamilton also highlighted the growing success of the county's online permitting platform, which has processed nearly 20 applications this year compared to just four in all of last year, significantly cutting processing time for both residents and government staff.

5. Local entities prepare for FEMA reimbursements following summer storms

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — Seventeen local townships, cities and departments will meet Sept. 16 to begin the formal public assistance process for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster reimbursements following severe storms on June 8 and 10. Emergency management director Chancy Smith announced the storms, which were part of a recognized June 4-15 severe weather event, received a presidential major disaster declaration, opening the door for federal funds to help local governments cover the costs of lost gravel, fuel spills and extensive debris removal. The city of Woodbine was also recently added to the reimbursement list just before the state deadline.

6. Emergency management director receives lifetime achievement award

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — Emergency management director Chancy Smith was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Kansas Emergency Management Association conference. Smith, who also served as the association's president this year, was recognized for his decades of service and leadership in local disaster response. During the meeting, Smith shared insights from the conference, including national discussions with the National Weather Service regarding the transition from traditional weather radios to smartphone-based emergency alerts.

7. County successfully beta tests AI technology to streamline operations

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — The county is saving hundreds of staff hours and thousands of taxpayer dollars by beta-testing a new artificial intelligence program called GovAI. Dickinson County IT/GIS Director Dustin Parks reported the AI agent successfully downloaded and organized more than 270 complex emergency operations files from an outdated state system, saving an estimated 200 hours of staff time. The county secured an annual subscription for $5,000 as an initial beta tester, avoiding higher commercial rates, and plans to use the technology to improve internal directories and draft administrative documents.

8. Sheriff's office upgrades jail technology and training

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — The sheriff's office is implementing several new technology upgrades at the jail, including two new fingerprint machines that will connect directly to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Sheriff Jerry Davis announced the department is purchasing an interface for under $5,000 to link the jail's management system with the new fingerprinting equipment. Additionally, the jail is adopting new medical management software for its handheld guard units to accurately document inmate medication administration.

9. District court clerk retires after 24 years of service

DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. — Dickinson County District Court Clerk Cindy MacDonald is retiring after 24 years of service with the county, with her final day set for Sept. 14. Marsha Lindsay was appointed by the chief district judge to take over as the new clerk of the district court effective Sept. 15. MacDonald noted the office will be short-handed until early November as staff members are trained and a new trial court clerk is hired. The court is also bringing in a new civil mediator, as their previous criminal mediator has stepped down.

Click here for local obituaries

Click here for local jail logs

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us