06/10/2026
**THESE MINUTES ARE A DRAFT AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. **
Graham County Commissioner Meeting
June 9, 2026
Commissioner Irby called the meeting to order at 10:00 am with the flag salute with Commissioner Irby, Commissioner Nelson, Commissioner Crouch, County Clerk Kendra Robinson & Graham County Hospital CEO, Jonathan Gleason all present.
Graham County Hospital CEO, Jonathan Gleason
Jonathan reported that Graham County Hospital was not awarded the grant for which it had previously applied. He also reported that the new generator project has been completed. Additionally, Jonathan reported that the annual walkthrough of the clinic had been completed. During the walkthrough, a few landscaping issues were identified and will be addressed. He further noted that the HVAC warranty has been extended for an additional year. Jonathan reported that they are currently working on a swing bed growth plan. Commissioner Nelson asked Jonathan to explain what a swing bed entails. Jonathan explained the swing bed process and what it means for the hospital, noting that swing bed services are essentially the "bread and butter" of many smaller hospitals. Jonathan further reported that the hospital receives a reduced daily rate from CMS when swing bed utilization exceeds certain levels. Commissioner Crouch asked how many swing bed patients the hospital could accommodate. Jonathan reported that the hospital is set up for 15 swing bed patients, as every bed in the facility has the capability to be utilized as a swing bed if needed. However, the hospital's goal moving forward is to maintain an average of six swing bed patients per day. Jonathan concluded his report by stating that everything else appears to be going well.
Graham County Sheriff, Les Burton
Les reported that he was following up on the INA Alert quote that had been previously presented. He stated that the County currently utilizes Secure Tech, which was installed in 2014. Les reported that he had contacted Secure Tech and was awaiting a return call to determine whether additional components could be added to the existing system. Les noted that the representative he initially spoke with believed the County's current panic button system was too outdated to allow for expansion; however, he was still waiting for confirmation from Secure Tech. Les presented two quotes from Trego, which currently utilizes File Safe. He reported that the Sheriff had advised against using File Safe due to legal issues involving the company. However, Bankers Security has since taken over File Safe, and Bankers Security is the same company Graham County currently utilizes for its vault locks. Les also presented a quote from Secure Tech, which is the system currently being utilized by Sheridan County. Les requested that the INA Alert quote be tabled until he could speak with several entities currently using INA Alert and receive additional information from Secure Tech regarding the possibility of expanding the County's existing system. The Board of County Commissioners agreed to table consideration of the INA Alert quote until Les had gathered further information.
New Business, Part 1
Clerk Robinson reported that she had received a phone number for a locksmith from Norton Glass. She contacted the locksmith, who is scheduled to be at the courthouse on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, to assess the exterior locks. Clerk Robinson also presented an updated Employee Handbook for review and approval. Commissioner Irby requested that approval be tabled until the following week to allow him sufficient time to review the handbook in its entirety. The Board agreed to table consideration of the updated handbook. Clerk Robinson reported that a representative from Aflac had met with her and advised that the company was offering a one-time opportunity for employees to enroll in a life insurance policy through payroll deduction. She noted that a minimum of five employees would need to enroll before the plan could be implemented. Commissioner Irby made a motion to allow Aflac to present the new life insurance policy to County employees and to authorize Clerk Robinson to sign any necessary documentation to implement the plan for employees. Commissioner Nelson seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0. Clerk Robinson confirmed that the Commissioners had received the information provided by Community Development Coordinator Jason Luginbill regarding data centers that he had previously discussed. Clerk Robinson presented the abstract of the Board of County Commissioners meeting minutes from May 26, 2026, for signature by the Chairman. Commissioner Irby reviewed and signed the abstract. Commissioner Crouch advised the Board that he would not be present for the meeting scheduled on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Clerk Robinson also advised that she would be absent from that meeting and that Deputy Clerk Julie Breinig would be filling in on her behalf.
Graham County Road & Bridge Supervisor, Steve Kreutzer
Steve reported that Road & Bridge crews are working hard on road maintenance projects now that conditions have dried out. He stated that crews are currently laying material on Double C Road, Taylor is working on Double D Road, and they are hauling material on A Road. Steve reported that Allen Anderson and Cliff Rohr worked the previous Saturday and were able to complete additional blading work. Steve also reported that John Deere had not yet been out to inspect the grader that is in need of repairs. Commissioner Crouch advised that as Road & Bridge continues to modernize its operations, consideration should be given to available electronic capabilities. He provided Steve with a link to review computerized assistance modules that may be beneficial to the department. Steve further reported that the County pickup truck driven by Cliff Rohr is experiencing mechanical issues again. He stated that when Taylor diagnosed the vehicle, the system indicated that two cylinders were not functioning properly. Steve noted that both the engine and transmission, which has also been showing signs of weakness, should still be covered under warranty.
Graham County District Court Clerk, Tiffany Breinig
Tiffany reported on the delinquent property tax collections she had previously discussed with the Board. She stated that during the first round of delinquent property tax notices, Bri mailed more than 1,000 notices. In the second round, only 128 notices were required. Tiffany noted that she had never seen the number of delinquent notices that low. Tiffany further reported that her office recoups a $36 filing fee on delinquent tax cases. Since March 1, Bri has remitted $8,028 in filing fees, which is equivalent to 223 cases being paid. Tiffany noted that $22 of each $36 filing fee is remitted back to the Judicial Branch, making the collections beneficial to both the County and the court system. Tiffany stated that she wanted to provide the Board with an update and recognize Bri for her efforts, noting that she has been working extremely hard and doing an excellent job.
Graham County EMS/Fire Director, Mickie Helberg
Mickie reported that her department frequently receives donations from families and that funds were currently available in both the EMS Donation Fund and the Fire Donation Fund. She stated that she wished to utilize those funds for a project that would benefit Graham County citizens while also honoring the generosity of the families who made the donations. Mickie explained that she had previously attempted to complete the project using COVID-19 funds but was unsuccessful. After extensive planning, preparation, and consideration, she felt this project would be an appropriate and meaningful use of the donated funds. Mickie presented the Board with two quotes for a stationary, double-sided LED sign to be installed in front of the EMS building. She explained that the sign could be used to provide real-time information to the public, including severe weather alerts, county road closures, and other important County announcements. Mickie stated that she believed the sign would be a valuable way to honor the donors by helping keep the community informed and safe. Mickie and the Commissioners reviewed both quotes. Mickie reported that she had already consulted with City Administrator Dennis Mersch and KDOT District 3 Supervisor Kevin Zimmer to ensure that the proposed location would be permissible. She further reported that she had contacted Elliott's regarding the electrical work and was advised that they would coordinate with Bodee to bore beneath the concrete as needed. Commissioner Crouch inquired about warranty coverage and whether the sign would be insured in the event of damage. Mickie reported that the sign would be covered under the County's insurance policy as personal property and that it came with a limited lifetime warranty. Mickie reiterated that the sign would be used exclusively for County-related information. Clerk Robinson asked whether the sign could also be utilized to provide election-related information to the public. Mickie indicated that such use would be acceptable. Commissioner Irby made a motion to approve the purchase of the 3' x 6' LED sign at a total cost of $23,153.83, with funding to be provided from the EMS Donation Fund and Fire Donation Fund. Commissioner Nelson seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
New Business, Part 2
Commissioner Irby presented a chart titled "Graham County 2026 Levy Analysis" to the Board, outlining the levies included within the County's 95.216 mill levy rate. Commissioner Irby noted that the information was being presented for informational purposes only and encouraged the other Commissioners to review and study the chart. The Commissioners discussed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) raises and directed the County Clerk to have department heads include a 2% COLA increase in their budget requests. The Commissioners also requested that individual budget meetings be scheduled with each department head to discuss budget concerns and needs. The Board agreed to begin those discussions the following week with a work session scheduled for 9:00 a.m. The Commissioners requested the presence of County Attorney Michael Abbott to discuss the legal implications of re-keying the courthouse. Abbott and the Board reviewed the circumstances surrounding the lost courthouse keys. Abbott advised that it would be in the County's best interest to cut its losses and proceed with re-keying the building to ensure that courthouse security was not compromised. Grant Fellhauer, locksmith, addressed the Board and reported that the courthouse contained several worn or obsolete locks. He further advised that one door was dragging significantly and was causing damage to the scuff plate. The Commissioners asked Grant to provide an estimate for re-keying both the courthouse and the library. Grant estimated the cost would be approximately $40 to $80 per door, with one door requiring a replacement cylinder at an additional cost of approximately $35 to $45. Grant advised that he would leave briefly for lunch and then return to the Clerk's Office for further instructions regarding the scope of work requested by the County. He thanked the Commissioners for the opportunity to provide services to the County. The Commissioners then requested the presence of Ethan Edwards. Commissioner Irby asked Ethan to explain the circumstances surrounding the missing keys. Ethan provided the same information previously shared by the County Attorney regarding the tax sale property and stated that he had used the keys as a punch while changing locks at the property and inadvertently failed to place them back in his pocket. Commissioner Irby reiterated that the County Attorney had advised the County not to pursue recovery of the missing keys but instead to proceed with re-keying the courthouse to ensure the security of the building. Ethan apologized to the Board of County Commissioners for misplacing the keys. Commissioner Nelson asked Ethan how operations were otherwise progressing. Ethan reported that things were going well but stated that he still needed to clean the gutters. He explained that he did not have a ladder capable of providing safe access to the roof. Commissioner Irby requested that Ethan contact him on June 10, 2026, to arrange a time for Commissioner Irby to assist with cleaning the gutters. Commissioner Nelson also asked Ethan whether the mini-split system had been cleaned and whether salt had been added to the water softener. Ethan stated that he would add cleaning the mini-split system to his task list and would contact Elliott's regarding the water softener, as he had been unaware that the building had a water softener requiring salt. Commissioner Irby clarified that responsibility for maintaining the water softener, including adding salt as needed, would fall to Ethan rather than Elliott's. Commissioner Nelson made a motion to approve the Commissioner minutes from June 2, 2026. Commissioner Crouch seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
With no further business to come before the Board, Commissioner Nelson moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Crouch seconded the motion. Motion carried 3–0.
**THESE MINUTES ARE A DRAFT AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. **
