Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda Summary, March 16, 2026

Submitted Story

3 hours ago

Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda

March 16, 2026 | 5:30 PM

I. Call Meeting To Order
II. Pledge Of Allegiance
III. Prayer
IV. Approval Of Agenda
V. Approval Of Minutes (03.09.26)
VI. Approval Of Accounts Payable ($151,687.49)
VII. Public Comments
VIII. Executive Session (K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1))
IX. Department Updates
- a. Public Works: Hard surface road plan
- b. County Clerk Updates
X. Old Business
- a. 108 W 2nd Listing
- b. Salary Resolution
- c. Forensic Audit Point of Contact (POC)
XI. New Business
- a. KORA (Kansas Open Records Act)
XII. Future Agenda Topics
XIII. Commissioner Comments
XIV. Adjournment (Page 1)

The Commission reviewed the minutes from the March 9 session. Key highlights included:

New Transparency Measures: Commissioner Tran introduced a process where all commissioners review check packets and expenditures before meetings to ensure collective oversight.
Public Comments: Residents discussed several high-profile issues, including requests for an independent forensic audit and concerns regarding commissioner compensation and potential recalls.
Executive Sessions: The Commission held multiple closed sessions to discuss non-elected personnel matters, specifically regarding code enforcement and a neighborhood septic system dispute.
Salary Resolution Debate: A motion to maintain current salary levels for commissioners (while allowing for voluntary donations back to the county) failed in a 2-3 vote. The discussion was tabled for one week.
Forensic Audit: The Commission voted 3-2 to engage an independent firm for a forensic audit of county transactions to maintain public confidence. (Pages 2–7)

Valuation Compliance: Preliminary 2026 property valuations show a projected 7% increase for residential properties and a 4% increase for commercial properties.
Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP): Officials addressed software issues that affected 34 properties, resulting in incorrect bond and interest processing. Manual corrections are underway.
County Clerk: Deadlines were announced for candidate filing (June 1) and voter registration (July 14). A recent KPERS audit of $10.7 million in payroll showed a near-perfect accuracy rate (0.0009% error). (Pages 4–5)

The packet includes a detailed breakdown of accounts payable. Significant departmental totals include:

General Fund: $0.00 (Standard payroll clearing entries)
Landfill: $10,101.90 (Includes equipment repairs and waste processing fees)
Sheriff / Correctional: $11,126.70 (Includes vehicle leases, medical care, and training)
Road and Bridge: $39,463.89 (Largest expenditure category, including equipment parts, fuel, and road maintenance supplies)
County Treasurer Motor Fund: $1,603.25 (Pages 8–14)

Building Access: The Commission discussed security concerns regarding key card access for employees and the need for a comprehensive audit of building security.
Infrastructure Approvals: Recent approvals were granted for a picnic area at the Sixth Judicial District, a CMB license for Sugar Valley Home Lake Association, and culvert/water line installations on Unity Road and Eagle Road. (Pages 6–7)

The packet contains educational material regarding KORA, emphasizing that most county records are public. It outlines:

Response Times: Counties must typically respond to records requests within three business days.
Fees: Charges for staff time and copying must be “reasonable.”
Exemptions: Specific records (medical, certain personnel files, attorney-client privilege) may be legally withheld. (Pages 36–37)