Crawford County commissioners approve KDHE cleanup resolution, restorative justice plan and museum funding

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 unanimously approved a resolution to cooperate with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on cleanup of a nuisance property at 260th and Highway 160, accepted a restorative justice FY2027 plan and grant, and approved a one-time $5,000 county payment to Heritage Hall Museum in Frontenac.

County Counselor Jim Emerson told the board KDHE will pay 75% of the cleanup costs and the county is responsible for the remaining 25%; county labor and equipment can serve as the county’s match. "This has been an ongoing problem with this property for over a year now," Commissioner Tom Moody said, adding he receives frequent constituent complaints and is "hoping this will alleviate the problem" as KDHE assists.

On motions recorded in the minutes, the board adopted Resolution #2026-009 (motion 26-087), approved the Restorative Justice Authority Fiscal Year 2027 Comprehensive Plan and grant (motion 26-088), and authorized $5,000 from the Operating Reserve Fund to the Heritage Hall Museum in Frontenac (motion 26-089). The board also approved a corrected ARPA signature sheet related to prior drawdown allocations (motion 26-090). All recorded motions passed with Commissioners Moody, Wood and Blair voting in the affirmative.

The board recessed twice into short executive sessions to discuss non‑elected personnel matters in the Maintenance Department and EMS; County Counselor Jim Emerson and appropriate staff attended each session and no action resulted from those closed meetings.

What’s next: Emerson said cleanup work could begin in three to four weeks if paperwork is approved. Commissioners noted upcoming hearings and bid openings in early March, including a March 5 Planning and Zoning public hearing.