Reno County commissioners table lodging tax changes to Sept. 9, with Parks opposed

Reno County commissioners pushed a decision on how the county's lodging tax is collected and divided to Wednesday, Sept. 9, the same meeting where they will decide whether to exceed the revenue-neutral property tax rate. The commission voted 4-1 on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to table the proposed changes to the county's transient guest tax provisions, with Commissioner Randy Parks opposed.

County Administrator Randy Partington asked that the item be held for additional informational discussions among staff and commissioners, prompting the delay. The record of the meeting does not say what the proposed changes would do — it gives no rate, no collection method and no distribution formula — and it records no reason for Parks' vote.

In his commissioner report Aug. 26, Chairman Ron Hirst discussed conversations regarding transient guest tax revenue and opportunities to promote lodging in rural Reno County, though the meeting record does not say whether a rural component is part of the tabled proposal.

Sept. 9 also brings the revenue-neutral rate hearing

Commissioners are required to hold a public hearing that day on the revenue-neutral rate — the levy that would raise the same amount of property tax revenue as the current year — before deciding whether to exceed it. At the start of the budget discussion in the Aug. 26 study session that followed the regular meeting, the proposed 2027 budget reflected a mill levy of 39.486, compared with the current 37.8 mills and a revenue-neutral rate of 35.704 mills.

Partington estimated that roughly $3.09 million in additional reductions would be needed to reach the revenue-neutral rate and about $1.3 million to hold the levy flat. By the end of the session, he estimated commissioners had identified about $1 million in potential reductions. Partington said departments that evaluated the reductions necessary to reach revenue neutral indicated personnel cuts would be required.

He said previous reductions to contractual and commodity expenses have left departments with little additional budget cushion. Citizen Journal reported in July that commissioners set a maximum 2027 budget and faced $1.9 million in cuts to keep the tax rate flat.

After discussing employee pay increases ranging from 2.5% to 4.5%, commissioners reached consensus to use a 3% increase in the next round of budget calculations, a figure for staff to work with rather than an approved raise. Partington said the General Fund cash balance was about $4 million, roughly one month of General Fund expenses.

Eminent domain authorized for road easements

Commissioners voted 4-1, again with Parks opposed, to approve Resolution 2026-33 exercising the right of eminent domain for easements needed for the S. McNew Road and Mills Avenue road construction and improvement project. County Counselor John Settle said approval authorizes the county to begin eminent domain proceedings if necessary, that it does not prevent continued negotiations with property owners, and that a case could be dismissed if an easement is obtained through negotiation.

Settle said ownership of one tract is difficult to establish because the last known owner has been deceased for many years and multiple potential heirs may be involved. He said the eminent domain process could obtain the limited easement the project needs without resolving ownership of the entire tract. Commissioners discussed property rights, the size and location of the easements, taxpayer costs, economic development and their general reluctance to use eminent domain.

Failing sewer and HVAC drive Health Department remodel cost

Facilities Director Kyle Stewart told the study session that the rough-order estimate for the proposed Health Department remodel was substantially more than originally anticipated. He said problems with the sanitary sewer system, electrical service and HVAC ductwork account for more than $800,000 of the estimate. Assistant Director of Clinical Services Karen Hammersmith and Assistant Director of Community Health Operations Megan Gottschalk described recurring sewer and HVAC problems, deteriorating windows and an entrance that does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Commissioners and staff discussed whether to renovate the existing building in phases or look for another location, one that could also house county functions that may need space later, including Emergency Management and Information Technology. Landmark Architects had previously been selected as architect and Icon Structures as contractor through the construction manager at risk process, in which the builder is brought on during design. The commission reached consensus for staff to return the Icon Structures agreement to the Sept. 9 meeting while continuing to evaluate alternatives, with the ADA entrance and sewer system identified as immediate priorities if the building stays in use.

Public comment urges more research on data centers, battery storage

Karen Drake urged commissioners during public comment to keep researching the potential effects of proposed data center and battery energy storage system development — BESS, banks of batteries that store electricity for later release to the grid — citing electricity demand, water use, noise, air quality, traffic, rural land impacts, employment, tax incentives, public return and transparency. She asked commissioners to weigh whether conditional use permits, which allow a specific use on a property under conditions the county sets, or specific regulations would be the better approach, and suggested a meeting with two people who have been researching such developments.

Commissioner Don Bogner said in his report that commissioners need adequate information before making decisions, and he referenced litigation involving similar development issues in other Kansas counties. He also encouraged the commission to provide additional guidance to the Planning and Zoning Commission. No meeting was formally scheduled as a result of the discussion.

This article was written using our proprietary AI system, Cronkite. The final decision to publish this article was made by a human. For more info, read our AI policy.

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