Kris Miller
Hiawatha World
Last week, green lights around the courthouse were set up to acknowledge veterans and Veterans Day.
Brown County Treasurer Betty J. Spiker spoke to the commissioners at the beginning of the commission meeting that took place on Thursday, Oct. 31 about setting up the lights. Spiker said that Kansas communities work to support veterans by setting up the green lights. These lights are displayed from Nov. 4 to Nov. 11. She said, “I was wondering if the county would be willing to spend less than $25 for some green lights to put in our lamps around the courthouse to support our veterans for the next week.”
The commissioners gave their approval for Spiker to set up ordering the green lights to place in the lamps around the courthouse.
At the beginning of the Nov. 4 meeting, Hiawatha resident Ian Schuetz came in to speak about purchasing property adjacent to the Brown County Landfill. Schuetz also asked if the land could be surveyed; he added that the land’s title was under the name of his grandmother, Phyllis J. Henry.
Schuetz also went into detail about maintenance topics of the land, from working on tubing to clearing the road to improving the area close to leeching ponds. Schuetz also remarked that the road did not exist anymore due to nature taking over, with the only semblance being of bridge remains. He also showed images of the land, with details of interest.
Commissioner Lamar Shoemaker remarked that 195th Road was not present on the map and someone needed to check the area to see if the road was vacated; it was discussed that a correction needed to be applied to match the Brown County Appraiser’s record. Shoemaker also remarked that there was no easement on the appraiser’s map.
Schuetz asked if a sale could be negotiated and if a fair market price could be discussed. He also asked if he and the commissioners could review in a few weeks, with Commissioner Shoemaker agreeing and stating that the next meeting date on Nov. 18 would work regarding revisiting the topic.
Below are some other items that were discussed during the Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 meetings:
• On Nov. 4, all commissioners passed Resolution 2024-12 Solid Waste Management Plan.
• On Nov. 4, Commissioners Richard Lehmkuhl and William Pollock voted to approve a Solid Waste Hauling Agreement, with Commissioner Shoemaker voting not to support it.
