MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Reno County Commission delayed action on several major issues Wednesday after two commissioners and the county counselor were absent from the Aug. 12 meeting.
Commissioners Don Bogner and Richard Winger were absent, leaving three of the five commissioners present.
At County Administrator Randy Partington’s recommendation, the commission removed an executive session concerning the acquisition of easements for improvements to McNew Road and Mills Avenue. A related resolution authorizing the use of eminent domain to acquire easements was also removed.
County Counselor John Settle was not in attendance. Commission Chairman Ron Hirst said he also preferred having the entire commission present before considering the matters.
Transient guest tax tabled
The commission also tabled a charter resolution concerning the county’s transient guest tax until Aug. 26.
Kevin Cowan with the county’s bond counsel, Gilmore and Bell, said charter resolutions require approval from two-thirds of the entire commission. With only three commissioners present, the resolution could not pass.
The commission approved a charter resolution May 13 allowing the county to establish a transient guest tax of up to 10%, including the ability to set different rates in different locations.
Cowan said the Kansas Department of Revenue subsequently informed the county it would not collect the tax if Reno County established different rates based on location. Cities that already impose their own transient guest taxes could, however, be exempted from the county tax.
“You can’t say, ‘We want 10% at Salt Lick, and we want 5% somewhere else in the county,’” Cowan said, summarizing the state’s position.
The county could establish different rates but would then be responsible for collecting and administering the tax itself.
The May resolution was approved at the request of Salt Lick LLC, with plans to use transient guest tax revenue generated at the proposed Salt Lick Golf & Hunting Resort to help finance the project's sales tax and revenue, or STAR, bonds.
During public comment, Steve Westfahl, who owns and operates Irish Creek Outfitters and Irish Creek Lodge with his wife, Margy, questioned whether the proposal would put existing businesses at a disadvantage.
“I’m concerned that some of what you’re doing has the flavor of picking and choosing winners and losers,” Westfahl said.
Westfahl said Salt Lick would be able to use sales and guest tax revenue to help pay project debt while businesses such as his have had to pay their own debt.
“I didn’t realize I can ask for that, too,” he said.
Westfahl also asked whether guest tax revenue could be used to promote existing hunting, guiding and lodging businesses in Reno County. He said his business has lost about half of its customer base since the COVID pandemic.
He also raised questions about how the tax would apply to his operation because lodging is included in the price of a hunt rather than charged separately.
Meadowlark Renewables agreement extended
In other business, commissioners approved a six-month extension of the county’s lease, easement and landfill gas rights agreement with Meadowlark Renewables.
Methane produced by decomposing waste at the Reno County Landfill is captured through gas wells but is currently burned off. Under an agreement signed last year, Meadowlark Renewables plans to capture the methane and sell it to natural gas utilities, providing payments to Reno County in return.
Partington said the company has needed more time than expected to obtain easements necessary to pipe the gas to a nearby pipeline. He said the six-month extension should provide enough time to complete the remaining conditions.
Former Turon fire station sold
The commission also accepted a $1,515.60 bid from the City of Turon for the county’s former fire station at 208 N. Burns St. Turon submitted the only bid.
Commissioner Randy Parks said the city can make use of the property while the sale eliminates maintenance and insurance expenses for Reno County.
Commissioners also supported allowing the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition, of which Reno County is a member, to join two lawsuits involving federal Endangered Species Act regulations.
One lawsuit concerns the repeal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s definition of “harm,” while the other involves the repeal of a rule addressing distinctions between endangered and threatened species.
County considers marketing video
The commission also asked Partington to further investigate options for producing a video marketing Reno County.
WebsEdge, a Washington, D.C.- and London-based company, proposed producing a video for $27,300. The video would be shown at the International City/County Management Association conference in California in October and distributed online.
Partington said the video could highlight Reno County’s economic development efforts, quality of life and collaboration with other organizations.
However, Partington said he contacted a local filmmaker who estimated a comparable video could be produced locally for around $10,000. He noted the two approaches could reach different audiences.
Parks said he would prefer to see the project “stay home,” but wanted the full commission involved before making a decision. Hirst also expressed support for using local businesses and suggested discussing the project with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce.