Commission returns controversial housing rezoning to planners

Commission approves land lease for new data mining facility

Power contract signed for crypto-mining operations

City annexes land for electrical infrastructure

Airport parking lot expansion moves forward

Airport reports record growth and appoints board members

City authorizes purchase of $1 million fire truck to avoid delays

City announces date for Tet New Year celebration

Commission elects Germann as first female chair

PTO policy amended to aid recruitment

Commission retains official newspaper amidst criticism of state law

Board approves Highway 83 safety grant despite dissent

KDOT to launch engineering study for new bypass

County signals intent for tax abatement on dairy expansion

County adopts financing strategy for jail and LEC projects

Commission returns controversial housing rezoning to planners

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Garden City Commission voted 4-0 to remand a rezoning request for the Lost River addition back to the planning commission following significant opposition from neighbors near 1503 Stonebridge Lane. The developer intended to rezone 12 lots from single-family residential to a townhouse district for duplex construction, but residents raised concerns about increased density, undefined building plans, and potential impacts on property taxes. Although city staff stated the project aligned with comprehensive plan goals, an initial motion to override the planning commission's denial failed for lack of a second, and Vice Mayor Tom Nguyen recused himself from the proceedings.

Commission approves land lease for new data mining facility

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The commission authorized a five-year lease agreement with Radiant Power Solutions LLC for one acre of city-owned land adjacent to the Lewis Electrical Substation at 2840 N. VFW Road. Radiant will install data mining equipment with a 7.5-megawatt load capacity and is responsible for all site maintenance and utility connections. The lease terms require the company to pay approximately $5,333 in initial annual rent, subject to a 5 percent annual increase, generating nearly $29,500 for the city over the five-year term.

Power contract signed for crypto-mining operations

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — In conjunction with the new land lease, the city finalized a special retail electric services contract to supply 7.5 megawatts of power to the Radiant Power Solutions facility. The agreement stipulates that Radiant will cover the actual cost of power plus demand and customer charges, including an upfront payment of $150,890 for necessary electrical infrastructure upgrades. City staff projects the deal will produce approximately $225,000 in annual net revenue for the electric department, while retaining the city's right to interrupt service during emergency energy alerts.

City annexes land for electrical infrastructure

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The commission voted to annex 8.33 acres of city-owned property near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and North Farmland Road to facilitate the expansion of an electrical substation. Purchased by the city in May 2025, the land is contiguous to current corporate limits, and staff confirmed the annexation would have no negative fiscal impact as the site is designated for utility use.

Airport parking lot expansion moves forward

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Commissioners approved a $15,517 contract with H.W. Lochner for the design and construction oversight of an expanded parking lot at Garden City Regional Airport to address ongoing congestion. The project, which aims to eliminate the need for vehicles to park on gravel overflow areas during peak times, will be bid alongside an existing federally funded taxiway project to potentially lower construction costs.

Airport reports record growth and appoints board members

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Garden City Regional Airport recorded 33,987 enplanements in 2025, a record-breaking figure that officials say highlights the facility's role in regional transportation. Following the traffic report, the commission appointed Blair Loving, Anna Halling, and Brad Kowalski to serve on the Airport Advisory Board through 2028, selecting them from a pool of six applicants.

City authorizes purchase of $1 million fire truck to avoid delays

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Facing a three-year manufacturing backlog for custom vehicles, the commission authorized the $1.026 million purchase of a stock Pierce pumper truck from Conrad Fire Equipment to replace an aging 2007 engine. Fire Chief Jon Irsik advised that ordering a custom unit would delay delivery until 2029 or 2030, whereas the stock truck is scheduled to arrive in June 2026. The department intends to finance the acquisition through a capital lease.

City announces date for Tet New Year celebration

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — City Manager Matt Allen announced that the annual Tet New Year celebration will take place on Feb. 14, 2026, at Garden City High School. The event, which honors the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is scheduled to begin around noon.

Commission elects Germann as first female chair

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — In a historic vote during the commission's reorganization, Commissioner Vicki Germann was elected as chair of the Finney County Commission for 2026, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the board's history. The appointment was unanimously approved by the board following a nomination from the outgoing chairman. Commissioner Mike Utz was subsequently elected as vice chairman. Germann thanked the board for their confidence and stated she hopes to lead the county into a year of future successes.

PTO policy amended to aid recruitment

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Commissioners voted 4-1 to amend the county's paid time off policy, eliminating the three-month probationary waiting period for new hires to use accrued leave and allowing the county administrator to "frontload" paid time off for qualified candidates. Human Resources Director Kelly Munyan stated the changes are intended to enhance recruitment and streamline administration. The dissenting vote was cast amid concerns regarding how the policy would apply to elected department heads versus appointed staff, with the oversight structure described during discussion as "vexing."

Commission retains official newspaper amidst criticism of state law

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The board voted to retain The Garden City Telegram as the official county newspaper for legal publications, though the decision prompted criticism of current state mandates regarding public notice. Objections were raised during the meeting concerning the statutory requirement to publish legal notices in a physical newspaper, with the practice described as a "dark ages" requirement that places an extraordinary financial burden on taxpayers. Commissioners discussed the need to lobby the state legislature to modernize publication laws, though it was acknowledged that the Telegram is currently the only publication meeting statutory requirements.

Board approves Highway 83 safety grant despite dissent

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The commission voted 4-1 to approve an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for a $600,000 High-Risk Rural Road grant to improve safety on Old Highway 83. The project includes adding rumble strips, widening shoulders, and improving slope flattening to address safety concerns on the corridor. The dissenting commissioner argued that the funds might be better spent on revenue-generating entities like the county fair and questioned the efficacy of the improvements, while the majority noted the county's obligation to public safety and the low cost to local taxpayers.

KDOT to launch engineering study for new bypass

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — County officials announced that the Kansas Department of Transportation will begin preparations this month for an engineering study regarding a new bypass connecting the airport to the four-lane U.S. Highway 83. Remarks made during the meeting emphasized the need to accelerate the project, urging the commission to push for construction within the next two to three years rather than the standard 10-year planning cycle, citing the project as a critical infrastructure need for the community.

County signals intent for tax abatement on dairy expansion

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Commissioners unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with a local dairy operator, signaling the county's intent to grant a 60 percent property tax abatement for 10 years to support a $27 million expansion project. The project, located within the Unified School District 457 boundaries, is expected to create new jobs and represents a significant retention effort in the local agriculture sector. County Administrator Derek Ramos noted that the project is projected to have a payback period of 4.4 years, after which the taxing entities will receive the full benefit of the increased valuation.

County adopts financing strategy for jail and LEC projects

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Following a report from County Administrator Derek Ramos, the board provided consensus direction to proceed with a financing plan for the new jail and Law Enforcement Center that retains bond premiums to maximize project contingency funds. Ramos explained that while the jail construction is the primary focus, the renovation of the existing LEC involves significant uncertainty regarding construction costs. The approved strategy is designed to ensure sufficient financial capacity remains to complete the LEC remodel without reducing the project's scope.

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

Contact Us