MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Reno County Commissioners Approve Election Canvass Date, Vehicle Purchases, and Addiction Treatment Grant
HUTCHINSON — The Reno County Board of County Commissioners approved a slate of routine and business items during its meeting Wednesday morning at the Reno County Courthouse.
Among actions taken on the consent agenda, commissioners set the official canvass date for the City of Hutchinson’s March 3 special sales tax election. County staff recommended, and commissioners approved, holding the canvass on Wednesday, March 11, at 8 a.m. in the Reno County Courthouse Annex conference room, in compliance with state election law.
Commissioners also approved several vehicle purchases as part of the county’s 2026 budget. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office will replace aging patrol units with three new 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles at a total cost of $135,612. The purchases will be funded through the county’s Special Equipment Fund.
In addition, commissioners considered awarding a bid for a replacement Youth Services van. The county plans to purchase a 2026 Ford Transit 350 for $57,074 to replace a 2010 model that has exceeded its planned service life. The older van will be transferred to county facilities for continued use.
On the business agenda, commissioners approved a $100,000 grant from the Reno County and City of Hutchinson Fights Addiction Fund to Mirror Incorporated. The funding will support Mirror’s Door to Door Access program, which is designed to reduce wait times for residential substance use disorder treatment for individuals struggling with opioid addiction in Reno County.
According to county documents, the program aims to move individuals from assessment into residential treatment within 72 hours, eliminating what officials describe as a current two-month wait for care. The grant will serve as gap funding for uninsured or underinsured residents after other funding sources have been exhausted. County officials say the program focuses on low-barrier, immediate access to treatment to help save lives.
Commissioners also approved a services agreement tied to the McNew and Mills Road development project between U.S. Highway 50 and Highway 96. The agreement authorizes Anthem Consulting to act as Reno County’s representative in contacting affected landowners, explaining the project, and negotiating property acquisitions needed for planned roadway improvements.