The Cloud County Commission met for its regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, in the Commissioner Room at the Cloud County Courthouse, 811 Washington Street in Concordia.
At this regular meeting, commissioners Ron Copple, Dannie Kearn and chairman Mike Cleveland approved a proclamation, worked through routine business and discussed various department activities.
Other county employees present during the meeting included clerk Shella Thoman, 12th Judicial District Juvenile Services Director Dawn Snyder, solid waste director Mike Hake, highway administrator Rod Michaud, health department administrator Tonya Sulanka, health department business manager Taylynn Thomas and emergency management director Makenna Haas.
A few residents and organization or business representatives attended the meeting as well, including DVACK Rural Outreach Victim Advocate Julie Willoughby, Cloud County Chemical Dependency Committee Chair Jordan Budreau and Lowell Thoman.
Willoughby had the first appointment for the meeting, where she requested that Cloud County proclaim February 2026 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which the commission unanimously approved.
Alongside DVACK’s proclamation, commissioners awarded Hake as the February 2026 Employee of the Month.
Later on in routine business, the commissioners approved five tax abatements with adjustments totaling $18,367.56 and approved the 2026 funding agreement of $34,133 with the Chemical Dependency Committee. Cleveland said that the county sources this funding through the county’s collection of alcohol taxes.
In further routine business, the commission approved the transfer of $1,598 between two grant funds within juvenile services that are part of the 12th Judicial District.
Outside routine business, Budreau and Snyder approached the commission to discuss the approved funding agreement, alongside a committee reappointment.
“Brian Cleveland was reappointed to the non-lawyer representative position, to the 12th Judicial District Nominating Committee, effective March 2026,” Cleveland said.
After Budreau and Snyder finished their presentation to commissioners, with the accepted funding agreement listed earlier, the commission moved to discuss solid waste activities with Hake.
Hake reported a significant jump in the purchase price for mixed paper and cardboard, with the mixed paper costing $75 per ton and cardboard costing $80 per ton. Commissioners commented that this is a large price increase from $20 to $40 per ton at the end of 2025.
The center sold 43,533 pounds of mixed paper and 43,396 pounds of cardboard at these increased prices, totaling $1,480.97 for the mixed paper and $1,574.73 for the cardboard.
Further in Hake’s report, he detailed new updates to the new solid waste hauling agreement formed with Republic County. Hake informed the commission that he has filed updated plans for the department’s construction and demolition pit (commonly called a C&D pit or CD pit) and a possibility to compost part of the solid waste with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Hake finished his presentation to commissioners, where Michaud took over to discuss highway department updates. During routine business items, commissioners approved a few things pertaining to Michaud’s department, including an employee transfer out, approval of another employee’s CDL training, approval of a waterline crossing at Camp and 60th roads for water line repair for U.S. Highway 24 and a $5,400 Kirkham Michael inspection agreement for 20 bridges.
After a few simple updates on some bridge and road projects throughout the county, Michaud entered into executive session with commissioners and Clerk Thoman for 5 minutes. Commissioners took no action after returning to the regular meeting.
Sulanka and Thomas approached the commission for the final appointment of the day, where both discussed regular operations at the department. Beyond the department’s normal activities, Sulanka reported that the 2025 Workforce Grant that was awarded to Cloud County, but temporarily suspended, has been fully restored.
In further informational items, some hours for the health department will change this week.
“Please note that due to illness and staff shortages, there will be no walk-in clinic on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the health department,” Cleveland said.
The commission then adjourned at 11:53 a.m. and will reconvene at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, due to the Presidents’ Day holiday.
