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MITCHELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – Monday, May 19, 2025

By Terry Bailey

The Mitchell County Commissioners conducted their regular weekly meeting on Monday morning, May 19. All commissioners and the County Clerk were present.
First up was Tony Miller representing the North Central CASA. This organization provides services for children who have been removed from the home for abusive situations. In such situations trained interviewers spend time with the child to become aware what may or may not have happened in the homes from which the children have been removed. These forensic interviews are then submitted to the judge as evidence in the alleged abuse cases.
Miller said NCK CASA completed 44 forensic interviews last year, of which 37 involved possible sex related charges. Children as young as three years of age and as old as 18 years old have been interviewed.
Numerous department heads were on hand to present proposed budgets for 2026. Some were able to hold the line and did not ask for an increase in their 2025 budgets. Other departments were asking for minimal increases.
Those attending were: Virgil Jeardoe and Daryl Streit from the Tipton Rural Fire District; Amanda Johnson, Soil Conservation District; Alan Eilert, Rural Fire District #3; Fred Severance, Rural Fire District #1; and Cortney Murrow, County Health Department.
Most fire districts found it necessary to ask for increases in their 2026 budget. Much of the equipment used by the rural fire districts has been acquired from the national forestry department or military surplus. Items acquired in this manner are retrofitted by the fire district members using their own time and equipment.
Alan Eilert said, "Much of our equipment is getting old and we have used 'band-aid' fixes as much as we can. The old equipment is suffering from metal fatigue. We have all put off requesting newer equipment for a long time. We soon may not have a choice."
Deb Olde stopped by to say "Hello." Olde is the new Executive Director of the North Central Kansas Regional Planning Commission. Ohlde has over 30 years' experience working with the Regional Planning Commission and is very familiar with its mission and its affect on the 83 communities in its service area. The Commissioners expressed their thanks for the many and varied services provided by the Planning Commission.
Years of service certificates were awarded to:
Five years: David Dohe, Andrew Allen and Janet Gengler
10 years: Jason Miner and Nathan Gentry
20 years: Galen Gengler, Randy Sprague and Kristen Kadel
And Dale Lewis for 40 years of service to Mitchell County
Jeff Reece, Mitchell County's auditor from Lindberg, Vogel, Pierce, Farris Chartered, stopped by to introduce himself to the Commissioners.
A cereal malt beverage license was approved for the Glen Elder Marina for off premises consumption.
A license for fireworks sales was approved for Wholesale Fireworks. Their stand will be on North Independence Avenue.
Missy McGinnis, EMS director, requested a 10 minute executive session to discuss land acquisition. No decisions were made as a result of that closed session.
McGinnis then requested a five minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. No decisions were made as a result of that closed session.
Having addressed all the items on the printed agenda, the meeting was adjourned.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA