By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of Reno County Commissioners wants any feedback they are getting from community stakeholders about spending of federal funds to come to them sooner than later.
"They originally told us they'd have something back in 60 days," Ron Sellers said Tuesday. "I thought that was way too short to have good thoughts back, but now they haven't even decided how to proceed. I think that they need to get with it and make something happen and get a report, or at least an interim report back to us by the end of August or shortly thereafter. If they can't move somewhat quickly, I don't see the relevance of that group moving at all."
Sellers comments were prompted by a question from Commissioner Daniel Friesen on how the process was going and if they could get any work product from the group soon. County Administrator Randy Partington who has been attending their meetings told the commission that they are waiting on final guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department before making their recommendations.
"They're still working on putting the process together," Partington said. "They're working with Kansas State University, some professors, on kind of overseeing, kind of convening some of these meetings with up to, I believe 60 stakeholder groups or special interest groups throughout the entire county."
The next meeting is scheduled for July 16. Ultimately, it will be up to the governing bodies that receive funds to make final decisions on how it is spent.