MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved a resolution Wednesday authorizing the use of eminent domain to acquire easements for road improvements connected to Evergy’s planned power plant.
Commissioners approved the resolution 4-1, with Commissioner Randy Parks voting against the measure.
The easements are along McNew Road between U.S. Highway 50 and Mills Road and along Mills Road between K-14 Highway and McNew Road. The county plans to improve both roads ahead of construction of the Evergy facility.
County Counselor John Settle said the resolution does not prevent the county from continuing negotiations with property owners to purchase the necessary easements.
Settle said one small easement involves property whose ownership is unclear. The last confirmed owner has died and left multiple possible heirs, creating a potentially complicated inheritance issue. He said eminent domain proceedings may be easier than determining ownership through that process.
Commissioner Richard Winger said he did not take the use of eminent domain lightly. He noted that no homes are at stake and said the Evergy project would benefit Reno County and the wider region. Winger said he hoped the county and affected property owners could reach agreements on fair compensation.
Commissioner Ron Hirst added that the easements would not take away anyone’s livelihood.
Commissioner Parks said he understood the project’s economic development purpose but had campaigned in support of small businesses and private property rights.
Commissioner Don Bogner said he did not like eminent domain but believed it had a legitimate purpose.
“We have to get this thing off of dead center, one way or another,” Bogner said.
The vote followed a 10-minute executive session involving County Administrator Randy Partington and Settle.
In other business, commissioners corrected the sale of the former Turon fire station to the City of Turon.
During the Aug. 12 meeting, Hirst mistakenly identified the city’s 10% earnest money deposit as its full bid, leading the commission to approve the sale for the wrong amount.
Settle took responsibility for the error, saying he was not present to explain the county’s requirement for a 10% deposit. He said state law requires the county to accept the best bid, making the Aug. 12 action null and void.
Commissioners rescinded the previous action and accepted the City of Turon’s winning bid of $15,156.