State property tax bill could cap county budget increases

County awards $136,000 contract for road paint and beads

New $154,000 dump truck approved for road department

Underground gas line complicates rural culvert repair

Crews barricade entrances to old county jail

New brush cutters save county time and money

County prepares FEMA claims for summer flooding damages

County seeking applicants for Planning and Zoning Commission

State property tax bill could cap county budget increases

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - Saline County officials are closely monitoring a Kansas legislative bill that would replace the revenue-neutral rate process with a strict 3 percent cap on local government budget increases. Deputy County Administrator Hannah Bett noted that House Bill 2745, which recently passed the Kansas House of Representatives, would allow citizens to force a return to the previous year's budget figures by gathering a protest petition signed by 5 percent of voters who cast ballots in the local taxing jurisdiction during the most recent general election for the office of secretary of state. Bett added that the pending legislation could significantly alter how the county builds its 2027 budget, though questions remain regarding its potential impact on future municipal debt issuance and tax increment financing districts.

County awards $136,000 contract for road paint and beads

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - A $136,707 contract for waterborne latex traffic paint and reflective glass beads to restripe Saline County roads was unanimously approved. While the cost of yellow and white paint from Diamond Vogel decreased by roughly 6 percent from last year, the price of reflective glass beads from Potters Industries jumped by 29.5 percent. County Engineer Justin Mader attributed the steep bead price hike to new county delivery requirements; the county now mandates safer flatbed truck deliveries to address safety concerns crews experienced last year when unloading 1-ton shipping containers of materials.

New $154,000 dump truck approved for road department

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - Saline County will purchase a 2027 Freightliner 108SD dump truck for $154,803 to replace a 2003 Kenworth model that has logged more than 380,000 miles. The bid from Truck Center Companies of Wichita was unanimously approved, utilizing a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract to secure the vehicle. Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel noted that the old truck will first be offered to the Saline County Expo Center for potential use before being listed for sale on the public auction site Purple Wave.

Underground gas line complicates rural culvert repair

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - An underground utility line forced the Saline County Road and Bridge Department to pivot during a recent culvert repair at the intersection of Magnolia Road, Water Well Road and Ohio Street. Crews discovered a 4-inch gas line running near the bottom of a collapsed 30-inch pipe, preventing contractors from safely expanding a pipe liner without risking a rupture. Instead, county crews inserted a 24-inch protective pipe over the gas line, and engineers are now working with a manufacturer to custom-build a pipe liner that will safely fit the non-standard dimensions without requiring crews to excavate the busy intersection.

Crews barricade entrances to old county jail

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - In an effort to deter trespassing and unauthorized dumping, the county has barricaded the vehicle entrances to the old Saline County Jail. Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel reported that his department recently used heavy machinery to place large concrete blocks across the site's access points. The physical barriers were installed at the request of Saline County Administration to keep unwanted vehicle traffic off the abandoned property.

New brush cutters save county time and money

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - Recent equipment upgrades are paying large efficiency dividends for the Saline County Road and Bridge Department's right-of-way maintenance. Administrator Darren Fishel showcased photos of recent tree and brush clearing along county roads, noting that work completed in two days using newly purchased skid-steer brush cutter attachments would have previously taken a hand-cutting crew an entire week. Despite initial public complaints about the aesthetics of the resulting wood chips left in the ditches, Fishel noted the debris naturally integrates into the ground cover within a year and saves mower gearboxes from hidden stumps.

County prepares FEMA claims for summer flooding damages

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - Saline County is actively compiling financial and operational data to secure federal reimbursement for damages sustained during severe storms last summer. Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel noted that staff members are currently pulling documentation related to the Federal Emergency Management Agency-declared flooding disaster that struck the region between July 17 and July 22. The final reimbursement request will help cover the costs of deploying heavy equipment and clearing heavy driftwood from county infrastructure.

County seeking applicants for Planning and Zoning Commission

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. - The county is asking civic-minded residents to apply for four upcoming vacancies on the Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission. Deputy County Administrator Hannah Bett announced that the county has received two applications so far for the three-year terms, which will run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029. Interested citizens are encouraged to submit an expression of interest form via the county website before final appointments are made on March 17.

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