Commissioners approve airport ground lease to prevent jet engine damage

First quarter financial report shows $1 million revenue increase

Harvey County Detention Center passes inspection, negotiates federal inmate rate

Sheriff defends constitutionality of license plate cameras

New counseling program launched for local farmers

Deputies request badge numbers on patrol vehicles for accountability

Commissioners approve airport ground lease to prevent jet engine damage

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an airport ground lease agreement with Ballard Aviation to lease 17 acres of land south and west of the company's hangar at the Newton City/County Airport. The company requested the lease to stop agricultural activities on the parcel, as dust and debris from harvesting operations threaten to cause foreign object damage to multimillion-dollar jet engines. To secure the 60-day severable lease, the company agreed to pay $150 per acre, fully replacing the $95 per acre previously generated by the county's agricultural lease.

First quarter financial report shows $1 million revenue increase

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Harvey County revenues are up slightly over $1 million for the first quarter of 2026, largely driven by an $835,000 increase in property tax collections, Harvey County Director of Finance Shannon Kingsley reported Tuesday. Meanwhile, county expenses rose by about $252,000 compared to the same time last year, which tracks with an overall $1 million budgeted increase for 2026. Kingsley also noted that county investment returns decreased, averaging a 3.85% interest rate compared to 4.79% in 2025 due to dropping interest rates and a reduction in reserve funds.

Harvey County Detention Center passes inspection, negotiates federal inmate rate

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Detention Center recently passed an inspection by the U.S. Marshals Service, clearing the way to negotiate a new daily rate for housing federal inmates. Sheriff Chad Gay reported the county currently receives $85 per day but hopes to negotiate a rate over $100. Gay noted that the region's limited pool of about 140 federal inmates is mostly absorbed by facilities in Butler and Sumner counties, meaning Harvey County will likely only house a small number of overflow inmates to help generate supplementary revenue for the Harvey County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff defends constitutionality of license plate cameras

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Addressing recent public inquiries, Sheriff Chad Gay defended the county's use of Flock Safety automated license plate reading cameras, stating they do not violate constitutional rights. Gay explained that the cameras capture tags and vehicle descriptions on public roads, which he said courts have generally upheld as being in plain view and not subject to Fourth Amendment privacy protections. In April alone, the county's cameras read over 812,000 license plates, leading to eight arrests, the seizure of narcotics and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.

New counseling program launched for local farmers

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Board of Commissioners highlighted a new counseling program launching at Prairie View Inc., a behavioral health organization, to help local farmers and ranchers cope with mounting industry pressures. The board noted that low commodity prices, high input costs and difficult spring weather are severely threatening multi-generational family farms. According to the National Rural Health Association, the suicide rate among agricultural producers is 3.5 times higher than the general population, underscoring the critical need for targeted mental health resources in the rural community. Farmers can access the program by contacting Prairie View at 800-992-6292 or walking into their offices in Newton, McPherson or Hillsboro.

Deputies request badge numbers on patrol vehicles for accountability

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Harvey County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles now prominently display deputies' badge numbers, a move Sheriff Chad Gay said was requested by the deputies themselves. The large decals on the sides and rear of the vehicles aim to increase transparency and accountability, allowing the public to easily identify and report specific deputies if they observe traffic violations or other issues. Gay also noted that the Harvey County Sheriff's Office is currently fully staffed on the patrol side following the recent hiring of two new deputies.

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