Brown County approves hay lease, payroll and permits, and sets regular work sessions

Brown County commissioners cleared multiple routine items during their meeting: they accepted a lone bid of $935 per year for a three-year lease of county landfill hay ground (bidder: Ray Vonerschmidt), approved accounts payable and payroll as presented, and approved a utility permit (25-6) for pole removal and replacement by Evergy after discussing right-of-way and pole-placement concerns.

Staff presented an estimated KWORK premium of about $49,864 for 2026; commissioners approved payment of the invoice and asked staff to follow up with the broker for trend details. The board also discussed a bridge replacement project that had experienced higher-than-expected costs; commissioners emphasized the need for clearer procurement terms and possible not-to-exceed language on future engineering and construction contracts.

The commission approved 2025 year-end journal entries to carry forward unspent appropriations where appropriate and set a standing weekly work session on Thursdays at noon for 2026. The meeting concluded with a short work session and adjournment.

Votes taken in open session were recorded by voice; roll-call tallies were not captured in the transcript. Commissioners directed staff to follow up on outstanding punch-list items for a dumpsite project and to continue negotiations on outstanding MOUs, including one involving the Kickapoo Tribe.