The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on October 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald.

Present

• Donald Oswald, Chairman
• Howard “Butch" Robertson, Commissioner
• Mike Lening, Commissioner
• Adrienne Vates, County Clerk
• Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Members of Audience

• Chairman Donald Oswald called to order at 9:00 a.m.
• Commissioner Robertson opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance
• Commissioner Oswald moved to approve the minutes from September 24, 2026. Lening seconded. Motion carried.
• Commissioner Robertson moved to approve the vouchers as presented; Lening seconded, motion carried.
• Commissioner Oswald moved to approve the agenda with 2additions to new business, Robertson seconded. Motion carried.

Old Business

• Grant Updates: Mini-grants: Adamson has tried to contact SECED for assistance with logging into the online portion for updating applications. Adamson will reach out to someone else to try to get that moving forward. Other grants: Adamson has applied for the underfunded courthouse grant for the generator but has been told the grant does not cover equipment, but no denial has come yet. The transit building should be ready for cement next week.
• Landfill/ Recycling Update: Adamson will be meeting with Jeff Scranton about needs at the landfill regarding a buildIng for recycling, moving the scales, or anything else that should be prioritized. There was discussion about purchasing the material handler due to the amount of waste coming in every week. Adamson will discuss other short-term options with Scranton, until a final decision is made. There was discussion about purchasing the crusher that is currently at the landfill,
• Housing Update: Cactus Corner is still waiting for some repairs, no time frame currently for fixes.
• Planning & Zoning/Fee Schedule Update: Land Use would like to raise some fees as well as add impact fees to the fee schedule. Lening moved to increase pre-application fee from $2500 to $5000, Robertson seconded, motion carried. Voting was unanimous to increase. Xcel has created a second lay down yard without any approval or permitting from the county or state. Adamson is waiting to hear back from the attorneys on how to proceed.
• Road & Bridge Update/Brandon Streets: Adamson has received information from the attorney for the process of changing the streets in Brandon.
• Election Update: As of this date about 10% of mailed ballots have been returned.
• Repairs Update: ESRTA Is in the process of updating courthouse phones. TREMCO reviewed the roof and patched some wet spots at the courthouse. Adamson has received 2 bids for HVAC at the transit building. Oswald moved to approve installation of generator and HVAC and with Evergreen for a cost $34,560 at the transit building, Lening seconded. Motion carried.

Appointments

• Audrey Johnson, Director of Social Services: Audrey Johnson, Director of Social Services entered the meeting at 1:00 p.m.; Johnson handed out a draft of her 2027 budget to the board. Johnson said her HR-1 spending was approved. Funds will be available after January 1 and are good for 3 years, the funds were not put Into the budget. Johnson said her new employee is attending trainings virtually and learning the office. Johnson exited the meeting 1:24 p.m.
• R&B Foreman/Equipment: Shane Lessenden, R&B Foreman entered the meeting at 1:20 p.m. Lessenden discussed an issue with one of the John Deere graters needing a new engine harness. He has been advised that the model is obsolete and If one Is found, they are around $3500 for the equipment without labor and installation. Lessenden has been approached by a couple of residents requesting gravel hauled, due to short staffing and timing It was recommended to not do the requests at this time. Staff Is working on mowing and blading as quickly as they can. The board discussed with Lessenden about the need and staffing needed if the crusher that Is at the landfill was purchased. Lessenden outlined reasons it would be helpful especially when pulllng out of some of the local gravel pits. Lessendenexited the meeting at 2:00 p.m. Lenning moved to purchase the rock crusher for $300,000, Robertson seconded. Motion carried.
• Sheriff's Office/Equipment Estimate: Sheriff Wllllams and Undersherlff Marlow enteredthe meeting at 2:00 p.m. Marlow explained his meetings with other vendors for new body worn cameras and in vehicle cameras. One vendor Is G-Tech who Prowers County uses and Is happy with and just re-signed a contract with. G-Tech does not sell lasers, those are exclusive to Axon. A 5 year contract with G-Tech is $199,830 for all cameras that would be needed, In vehicle computers with Installation, redaction tools, and other tools Axon offered. No decision was made today, the board will consider the options presented.

New Business

• Monthly reports were handed out to the Board.
• Time-Off Requests: None
• New Hire Report: None
• 2027 Budget: The auditor will be at the October 29th meeting to go over the audit after which time the budget can be handed over to the departments.
• E911 Authority IGA: Robertson moved to sign the IGA, Lening seconded. Roll Call -Robertson; yes, Lening; yes, Oswald; yes. Motin carried. Robertson moved to ratify the MOU, Lening seconded, motion carried.
• CAT Equipment Service Contracts: Adamson handed out service agreements for 4 CAT graders, and the shredder. Oswald moved to approve the service agreements on the shredder, Robertson seconded. Motion carried. The board
• KCHD- Equipment Request: Oswald moved to approve purchase of new Radios for $35,200 to be taken out of funds allocated to the hospital. Robertson seconded, motion carried.
• Clerk Postage Meter: Clerk Yates presented a possible rental of a postage meter for the courthouse. There was discussion about savings vs how we do It now. Yates will check to see if the local post offices would get the credit for purchasing the postage. Oswald moved to approve purchasing a postage meter for the courthouse, Robertson seconded. Motion carried.
• R&B Complaint: Adamson handed out a letter received in the office from an anonymous source for the board to review.
• Letter of Interest for West End Rec Board: Robertson moved to approve letter of interest, Lening seconded. Motion carried.
• Prairie Pines Real Estate Tax: Prairie Pines is requesting a waiver of property taxes for an unknown time frame as they restructure and get a positive cash flow position. Oswald moved to give a 50% discount for 2027, 38% for 2028, 25% for 2029, 12.5% for 2030, and 0% for 2031 and forward. Robertson seconded. Roll Call; Robertson -yes, Lening- abstained, Oswald - yes.

Adjournment

With no further business, Oswald moved to adjourn at 2:33 p.m. Robertson seconded. Motion carried. Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Donald Oswald, Chairman BOCC