Ellis County Commission Summary
Week of March 18, 2026
County warns of potential burn ban amid dry conditions
County jail operating at full capacity, outsourcing inmates
County warns of potential burn ban amid dry conditions
ELLIS COUNTY, Kan. — Ellis County Administrator Darin Myers warned the Ellis County Commission that a burn ban for unincorporated areas of Ellis County may be implemented soon if the area does not receive rainfall. Citing rising temperatures, dry conditions and massive wildfires burning hundreds of thousands of acres in neighboring Nebraska, Myers advised residents to prepare for the restriction. If significant rain does not fall before Tuesday, April 7, 2026, a ban is expected to be issued, with the public to be notified via social media and the Hays Post.
County jail operating at full capacity, outsourcing inmates
ELLIS COUNTY, Kan. — The Ellis County Sheriff's Office reported that the Ellis County Jail is running at full capacity, which forced the county to house inmates at out-of-county facilities during February 2026. The jail has a maximum capacity of 72 beds, but practical limits dictate a lower operational capacity to safely separate individuals based on gender, crime severity, and other factors. Although the exact number of inmates outsourced last month was not immediately released, recent county data shows an average of 14 inmates are typically housed elsewhere at any given time. Outsourcing inmates costs Ellis County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, factoring in daily housing fees to other facilities, medical expenses, and transportation costs.
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