2025 county audit shows healthy cash balance

Big Lakes Developmental Center faces significant budget cuts

Commission finalizes legislative priorities on property taxes

County clerk issues plea for election poll workers

Commission tables decision on vacant county parcel sale

Public works announces Swede Creek Road closure

Fire District No. 1 receives federal grant for wildland firefighting

Community corrections reports youth detention overrides

2025 county audit shows healthy cash balance

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County received a clean, unmodified regulatory opinion on its 2025 financial audit from James Gordon & Associates, according to auditor Russell Shipley. The county ended the year with approximately $8 million in long-term debt and saw a $1 million decrease in overall cash balances after spending the remainder of its disaster funds on the new emergency medical services building. The audit noted no material weaknesses and only minor infractions, including an apparent $4,000 budget discrepancy in the city alcohol fund and a temporary cash violation in a grant fund caused by a holiday system outage.

Big Lakes Developmental Center faces significant budget cuts

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Big Lakes Developmental Center President and Chief Executive Officer Liz Holle informed the commission that recent funding cuts from the county have reverted the center's appropriations back to 2014 levels. To balance the budget, the center is increasing client transportation fees by $10, bringing the cost to $85 per month, and may need to consolidate trips or limit travel distances. Holle also noted the center is struggling with 89 open staff positions and a statewide funding waitlist of 5,348 individuals, with some residents waiting nearly 10 years for critical services.

Commission finalizes legislative priorities on property taxes

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — County Counselor Jacob Hansen received direction from the commission to support Kansas Association of Counties legislative priorities regarding constitutional home rule and property tax procedural fixes. The county will advocate for state legislation to correct unworkable statutory deadlines imposed on the county clerk's office for property tax disclosure notices. Hansen also noted he is finalizing a memorandum of understanding for the proposed Flint Hills Event Complex, which will soon be presented to the board to show official support for the project.

County clerk issues plea for election poll workers

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — With the upcoming Nov. 3 general election, Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo issued a public plea for at least 25 additional poll workers. Vargo, who recently announced his upcoming retirement effective Nov. 30, noted the county operated at the bare minimum during the primary election and urged residents to apply online to help serve the community. The election division will close on the morning of Sept. 30 to conduct mandatory training for current poll workers. Advance voting by mail and in person officially begins Oct. 14.

Commission tables decision on vacant county parcel sale

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — The commission delayed a decision on whether to sell a vacant, county-owned parcel after discovering that a property sale requires unanimous consent, and Commissioner John Ford was absent. The property, valued at $26,100, is the site of a former water and sewer treatment plant. Residents offered varying accounts during the meeting regarding the lot's buildability and remaining underground concrete infrastructure, prompting commissioners to wait for a full board before considering a public or private sale.

Public works announces Swede Creek Road closure

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County Public Works announced that a section of Swede Creek Road will be closed to through traffic starting Monday, Oct. 5, for a culvert replacement project. The construction is located approximately one mile east of Halls Ravine Road, fully blocking the route between Halls Ravine Road and Rose Hill Road. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday, Oct. 7, weather permitting.

Fire District No. 1 receives federal grant for wildland firefighting

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County Fire District No. 1 has been awarded a $27,815 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior to purchase a wildland firefighting "skid unit." Emergency Services Director David Adams said the unit includes a high-pressure pump, hoses, hand tools and a 400-gallon water tank that will be mounted on the back of a flatbed truck. The fire department plans to purchase a used heavy-duty pickup from its replacement budget to carry the new equipment, which will replace a 30-year-old vehicle currently in the fleet.

Community corrections reports youth detention overrides

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Community Corrections Director Megan Lewis reported that her staff had to perform mandatory overrides to send juveniles to the detention center twice over the past two months. The department recorded 16 total youth intakes in August, with 11 released to parents or guardians, three placed in emergency shelters, and the two mandatory overrides accounting for the remaining cases. Lewis also announced the department is preparing to apply for an additional federal grant in November to support the local Recovery Court program, which currently has 26 active participants.

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