Commissioner Dan outlines 2018 accomplishments: infrastructure projects, economic development and budget measures

Commissioner Dan presented a year-in-review of Reno County’s 2018 accomplishments, cataloguing planning, infrastructure, economic development and budget actions the commission and county staff completed or advanced.

Dan highlighted the start of public discussion about a proposed wind farm in southeastern Reno County and said NextEra Energy made its initial public presentation on March 27, 2018. He noted adoption of a new comprehensive plan following consultant work and a planning commission recommendation, and recapped economic development approvals that include projects projecting roughly 51 and 56 jobs and the issuance of $4 million in industrial bonds for a new agri center in South Hutchinson.

Infrastructure and capital projects Dan cited included a nearly $800,000 courthouse hydronic piping project, a $465,000 contract to design six county bridges (one to cross Union Pacific tracks to improve access near Prairie Hills Middle School), a $1,052,000 sewer project in the Highlands area, and a $308,000 addition to a joint fire district station. He also noted the county’s entry into litigation with the Oaks Law Firm to pursue national opioid-related recovery, a clean audit, investment in broadcasting equipment for meetings (about $24,000), and adoption of the 2019 budget without increasing the county property tax levy while funding step increases and additional staffing in several departments.

Dan concluded that staff and department heads deserve credit for completing many of these projects and that an annual recap helps taxpayers understand what their taxes fund.