RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Reno County Public Works Director Don Brittain brought some very good news to the Reno County Commission at the start of their meeting Wednesday related to two sewer districts in the Yoder area. Brittain told Commissioners a just over $6.1 million Small Town Water and Sewer Assistance Grant has been awarded by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
This grant will essentially cover the entire construction cost of project, for which land had been purchased and design work is in progress. The County has been seeking grants for some time to address ongoing issues with Sewer District 201, serving Yoder and District 202 which covers the HABIT area including Hutchinson Community College’s south campus and the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
The two sewer districts will be combined into one for this project. Sewer rates have already been increased once for the project, and while there will still be a small increase down the road, it’s nowhere near what it could have been.
Following a public hearing, Commissioners have adopted a Neighborhood Revitalization Program for the County. The only person to address the Commission was Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel who supported the plan as a means to address housing issues, which has been identified as a major need in Reno County, describing the plan as a “game changer.”
The program provides a rebate of the property taxes on the increased value of improvements on a property over a ten year period, the amount of which declines over the latter years of the rebate period. This plan will incorporate existing NRP plans adopted by the cities of Buhler, Haven and Hutchinson.
Commissioners appointed a new medical consultant for the Health Department. Dr. Ellen Losew practices pediatric medicine in Hutchinson, and also has experience in infectious disease. Dr Losew will replace Dr. DeAnna Marshall, who resigned at the end of 2024.
Commissioners approved a resolution that starts the process for this year’s delinquent tax sale. This resolution authorizes the County Counselor to file a tax foreclosure suit in Reno County District Court, which if successful will allow a tax sale to be held this fall for properties on which taxes remain unpaid.
Commissioners also approved purchase of new infrastructure for the county’s IT network that will accommodate ongoing security and stability The $221,000 cost came in below budget.
The Commission approved purchase of four flex wing mowers from Kan-Equip in South Hutchinson for just over $89,000. Originally three mowers had been bid for, but an additional mower was added to Kan-Equip’s low bid of five received, all from local bidders.
The Commission accepted a material bid of just over $8,000 from Western Supply for remodeling of the four showers in the Youth Services Building. The quote includes everything except individual plumbing valves and fittings. The work is being done in-house at a cost savings of around S30,000.
A change order on an elevator project at the Law Enforcement Center was approved by Reno County Commissioners Wednesday. This change order,amounting to just over $34,000, covers the drilling and installation of a new casing for the cylinder beneath the elevator, which at the time it was originally bid was not known if it would be needed.
A bid was also approved from Salt City Electric for an about $34,500 project at the Correctional Facility to replace existing lighting with LED lights,which significantly reduced electricity costs… It’s funded through revenues generated by the commissary at the facility.
The Commission also accepted bids for replacement of the HVAC system at the Public Works Maintenance building in South Hutchinson, to be done by Decker-Madison for just under $16,000, and of a rooftop unit at the Health Department by Eck Services for just over $8,300.
