County implements temporary burn ban amid severe drought

Interim fire chief appointed, emergency management role separated

Southwest Medical Center projects financial turnaround for 2026

Hospital hires key medical providers, retains National Beef clinic staff

Commission strips pay raises from juvenile corrections grant

Sheriff's office eliminates vacancies to fund deputy pay raises

Residents demand moratorium on large-scale wind farms

Landfill receives funding to secure trash during transport

County implements temporary burn ban amid severe drought

LIBERAL, Kan. - Due to severe drought conditions and high fire risks, the Seward County Commission unanimously passed a resolution establishing a temporary ban on all open burning in Seward County. The ban, which excludes enclosed propane grills, will remain in effect until April 6. Interim Fire Chief Braden Steckel noted that enforcement will be handled jointly with the Seward County Sheriff's Office, and violations will be prosecuted via affidavits submitted to the 26th Judicial District Court.

Interim fire chief appointed, emergency management role separated

LIBERAL, Kan. - Following two executive sessions, the Seward County Commission unanimously agreed to appoint Braden Steckel as the county's interim fire chief following the resignation of Chief Andrew Barkley. However, the commission opted to separate the county's emergency management duties from the fire department, a structural change requested by staff to ensure firefighters are not overwhelmed and remain focused on active fire incidents. Steckel will serve as interim fire chief while the county evaluates options for a separate emergency management director.

Southwest Medical Center projects financial turnaround for 2026

LIBERAL, Kan. - Southwest Medical Center CEO Amber Williams presented a positive financial outlook for 2026, projecting a net income of $476,000 following the implementation of a strict cost-reduction plan. Williams reported that the hospital has successfully reduced its reliance on expensive contract labor, dropping from a peak of 45 contract employees during the COVID-19 pandemic to just 12 today, with plans to decrease that number further in the coming quarters.

Hospital hires key medical providers, retains National Beef clinic staff

LIBERAL, Kan. - During her quarterly update to the Seward County Commission, Southwest Medical Center CEO Amber Williams announced the hiring of a new orthopedic spine specialist, Dr. Firas Kawtharani, and two highly sought-after nurse practitioners, Heidi Riley and Tiffany Landa. Riley and Landa previously staffed the recently closed Southwest Family Medicine clinic that served a large portion of National Beef employees. The pair will begin seeing patients at the new Liberal Family Medicine Care Center location at 121 E. 11th St. during the spring transition period, with Landa beginning March 30 and Riley beginning April 20, ensuring continued access to care for the local workforce.

Commission strips pay raises from juvenile corrections grant

LIBERAL, Kan. - The Seward County Commission approved an $815,231 grant application for the Juvenile Corrections and Prevention Services Comprehensive Plan Grant for fiscal year 2027, but only after removing all requested employee pay raises. After substantial debate over the alignment of county and state pay scales, concerns were raised regarding the county's current budget constraints and a need to keep salaries equitable with other county departments. The amended motion to approve the grant with salaries returned to previous-year levels passed 4-0, with one commissioner abstaining.

⚠ FLAG — Incomplete information: The abstaining commissioner is not identified. A 4-0 vote with one abstention on a five-member commission is a matter of public record; the abstaining commissioner's name should be obtainable and included.

Sheriff's office eliminates vacancies to fund deputy pay raises

LIBERAL, Kan. - To combat severe retention issues, the Seward County Commission unanimously approved a budget-neutral reorganization of the Seward County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Gene Ward. The plan permanently eliminates two vacant deputy positions to fund competitive wage increases for the remaining 18 deputies. According to the proposal, the department recently lost four deputies to higher-paying agencies, as the previous $20 per hour entry-level wage was no longer competitive in the current job market.

Residents demand moratorium on large-scale wind farms

LIBERAL, Kan. - Multiple rural residents, including Neal Coffey and Ryan Martin, urged the Seward County Commission during public comment to implement a temporary moratorium on large-scale wind energy projects in Seward County. Citizens expressed concerns regarding property values, road damage from heavy industrial traffic and the potential health effects of turbine noise and shadow flicker. Residents asked Seward County commissioners to establish stricter setbacks and conduct further environmental and economic studies before approving any new wind farm permits.

Landfill receives funding to secure trash during transport

LIBERAL, Kan. - The Seward County Commission unanimously approved a $3,400 expenditure to add top doors to two new trash truck bodies for the Seward County Landfill. Landfill Director Tyler Antrim requested the last-minute modification, which costs $1,700 per truck, to ensure loose refuse remains securely contained during transport. The addition brings the total cost of the specialized truck bodies to $126,000.

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