Road and bridge department faces unprecedented staffing shortage

Aging bridges shift county's infrastructure priorities

Solid waste department requests funds for severe weather shelter

County parks plan overhaul of outdated playground equipment

Sheriff's office requests new deputy for federal inmate transports

Surge in child care cases drives up legal notice costs

Child advocacy center survives state grant cuts, seeks continued county support

Prairie View seeks 15 percent funding increase amid record service numbers

Economic development council reports $31 million in capital investments

Road and bridge department faces unprecedented staffing shortage

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Road and Bridge Department is bracing for the imminent departure of five critical employees, including a foreman with 35 years of experience. During the May 28 budget hearings, Road and Bridge Director Jim Meier reported that three positions will be vacant immediately due to retirements and military deployments, with two more retirements scheduled by January. The department has struggled to attract qualified applicants with commercial driver's licenses, raising concerns about the county's ability to maintain road operations and train new hires before the highly seasoned staff members depart.

Aging bridges shift county's infrastructure priorities

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Deteriorating bridges built in the 1950s and 1960s are forcing Harvey County to shift its capital improvement funding away from road paving and toward critical bridge replacements. Road and Bridge Director Jim Meier warned that several bridges are now load-rated too low to support asphalt paving equipment, complicating road maintenance and increasing contractor mobilization costs. The department plans to prioritize replacing at least two bridges per year — including upcoming projects on South Herzler and Northeast 60th — to prevent the closure of paved routes, acknowledging that the trade-off will result in increased in-house patching and road maintenance.

Solid waste department requests funds for severe weather shelter

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Solid Waste Department is seeking capital improvement funds to install a severe weather shelter and replace aging roof exhaust fans at the transfer station. The department plans to construct an above-ground concrete shelter near the citizen drop-off bins to protect employees and customers without requiring them to drive to another location during a severe storm. In addition to the safety upgrades, the department reported successfully diverting more than 460 tons of construction waste and 160 tons of metal from the landfill over the past year.

County parks plan overhaul of outdated playground equipment

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Harvey County Parks is requesting capital improvement funds to replace aging, potentially dangerous playground equipment across its facilities. Parks Director Kass Miller noted that current structures, including chain-link swings and unguarded metal slides, pose significant liability risks and are no longer standard for public parks. The department plans to remove three separate, deteriorated playgrounds at West Park and consolidate them into a single, modern centralized playground to save on installation labor and future maintenance costs.

Sheriff's office requests new deputy for federal inmate transports

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Sheriff's Office is requesting funding for an additional detention center deputy as the county resumes housing federal inmates. Sheriff Chad Gay reported that the new federal contract requires the county to transport inmates to facilities in Kansas City and an Oklahoma facility, which mandates two deputies per trip. The new deputy would backfill shifts for the facility's designated court and transport officer, ensuring the detention center remains adequately staffed during the lengthy federal transport runs and potential off-site local court proceedings.

Surge in child care cases drives up legal notice costs

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — A dramatic increase in child in need of care cases has prompted the Harvey County Attorney's Office to request an additional $2,700 for legally mandated publication notices. County Attorney Heather Figger reported that these cases spiked from 22 in 2023 to 65 in 2025. Because state statutes dictate that the county must publish legal notices in authorized newspapers when parents cannot be located, the sheer volume of cases — combined with recent Kansas Court of Appeals rulings altering the procedures for termination of parental rights — has driven up the office's unavoidable publication expenses.

Child advocacy center survives state grant cuts, seeks continued county support

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center is asking Harvey County to continue funding 0.7 percent of its budget after a challenging financial year that forced the elimination of a full-time advocate position. Executive Director Veronica Mosqueda stated the agency successfully managed 168 cases last year despite drastic cuts to federal and state grants that historically funded operations. The center, which played a pivotal role in the recent high-profile prosecution of Christopher M. McAhren — who pleaded guilty to violent child sex crimes and received four consecutive life sentences with a 100-year minimum before parole eligibility — plans to rely heavily on its multidisciplinary partnerships and local investments to maintain operations as its caseload continues to grow.

Prairie View seeks 15 percent funding increase amid record service numbers

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Prairie View is requesting $222,000 from Harvey County for the 2027 budget year, a 15 percent increase from its previous allocation, following a 36 percent surge in behavioral health services provided to residents since 2022. Representatives stated the organization served more than 3,500 county residents last year and has more than doubled its staff to implement a same-day access model. Despite absorbing an estimated $2 million annual loss to operate its mission-critical behavioral urgent care unit for underinsured and uninsured patients, the organization continues to expand its school-based and emergency response programs.

Economic development council reports $31 million in capital investments

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Economic Development Council (EDC) reported 117 new jobs and $31 million in capital investments across four manufacturing and industrial projects since September. While presenting a flat funding request for the 2027 budget, Executive Director Beth Shelton noted the council is operating at a slight deficit after Sedgwick County withdrew its financial participation last year. Despite the budget tightening, the EDC anticipates announcing another major project in the coming months that is expected to bring an additional $40 million in investment and over 200 jobs to the region.

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

Contact Us