Rawlins County commissioners approve waiver allowing Finley-linked companies to apply for CVR grant

The Rawlins County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously May 31 to approve a waiver permitting Finley Construction and Atwood Lumber to apply for CVR-010 grant funding, despite objections raised during a formal conflict-of-interest hearing.

The hearing opened at 10:00 a.m. with Corina Cox of the Northwest Kansas Planning & Development Commission explaining that the proceeding was a formality when an application presents a perceived conflict of interest and that an approved local waiver proceeds to the Kansas Department of Commerce for review. "This was a formality due to this being a perceived conflict of interest," Cox said.

Citizen Dale Luedke objected, saying he believed the application presented a conflict because, he stated, Rachel Finley was one of the owners of Finley Construction and Atwood Lumber. "I felt it was a conflict," Luedke said during public comment. Luedke also said that the statements of county employees should not be counted the same as outside public commenters.

Commissioners and other speakers pushed back on those concerns. Commissioner Lincoln Pochop and others noted the county's small population and the difficulty of finding business owners with no ties to county employees. Economic development director Deb Minkler said she has seen local businesses fail after being unable to secure funding and argued the grant funds should be used as intended. Resident Corey Castens said county employment or family ties should not automatically disqualify applicants.

After public comment, Commissioner Mark Mosley moved to close the hearing; Commissioner Pochop seconded and the motion carried. Commissioner Alan A. Solko then moved to approve and sign the waiver allowing Finley Construction and Atwood Lumber to apply for the CVR-010 grant; Commissioner Mosley seconded. "All commissioners voted in favor," the minutes state; the waiver will be submitted to the Kansas Department of Commerce for its review.

The waiver does not itself award grant money; it clears a procedural hurdle so the named businesses may be considered by the state agency reviewing CVR applications. The county did not record additional conditions or restrictions on the waiver in the minutes.

Next steps: the waiver and application materials will go to the Kansas Department of Commerce for final determination and any further review required by that agency.