Commission hearings for 2023 recommended budget upcoming
The Harvey County Commission will hold departmental budget hearings May 31, June 1 and June 2 as it prepares the 2023 recommended budget.
All budget hearings are open to the public. The hearings will also be streamed online through Zoom.
The 2023 recommended budget is scheduled to be presented June 28. You can view the approved budgets for previous years here.
The budget hearing schedule is below - dates and times for each meeting are subject to change:
May 31
- 10:45 a.m.: Budget and Capital Improvement Project Overview
- 11 a.m.: Noxious Weed
- 11:15 a.m.: 911 Communications
- 1 p.m.: Kansas State Research and Extension (appropriation)
- 1:30 p.m.: Planning, Zoning and Environmental
- 1:45 p.m.: Treasurer's Office
- 2 p.m.: Harvey-Marion County CDDO (appropriation)
- 2:15 p.m.: Appraiser's Office
- 2:30 p.m.: Information Technology
- 2:45 p.m.: District Court
- 3:15 p.m.: Harvey County Conservation District (appropriation)
- 3:30 p.m.: Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center (appropriation)
June 1
- 9 a.m.: Register of Deeds
- 9:15 a.m.: Road and Bridge
- 10 a.m.: Health
- 10:30 a.m.: Solid Waste
- 11 a.m.: Caring Hands Humane Society (appropriation)
- 11:15 a.m.: Newton Saddle Club (appropriation)
- 11:30 a.m.: Clerk's Office, Elections and Clerk Technology
- 11:45 a.m.: Bond and Interest
- 1 p.m.: Attorney's Office
- 1:15 p.m.: Commission
- 1:30 p.m.: Sheriff's Office
- 2 p.m.: Emergency Management
- 2:15 p.m.: Harvey County Economic Development Council (appropriation)
- 2:30 p.m.: Harvey County Historical Society (appropriation)
- 2:45 p.m.: Coroner's Office
- 3 p.m.: Administration
June 2
- 9 a.m.: SafeHope (appropriation)
- 9:15 a.m.: Parks
- 9:45 a.m.: Harvey County Free Fair (appropriation)
- 10 a.m.: Prairie View (appropriation)
- 10:15 a.m.: Mid-Kansas CAP (appropriation)
- 10:30 a.m.: Aging
- 11 a.m.: Courthouse General
(Updated May 20, 2022)
Hesston Road project to continue farther northwest
The first section of resurfacing included a stretch of roadway from the Newton city limit to Northwest 48th Street. That section will reopen to traffic later this week, with some additional tasks to be completed later.
Work will now move to a section that includes Northwest 48th Street to the Hesston city limit. That section of road will be closed to traffic in both directions. Drivers are encouraged to plan an alternate route.
As the resurfacing project moves forward in the coming months, work will later move to the most northwestern section of Hesston Road from the city of Hesston to the county line, followed by work inside the Hesston city limits.
Homeowners and businesses will continue to have access to their properties throughout.
The Hesston Road improvement project began March 14. The entirety of the project is anticipated to be completed in September.
Pearson Construction is the primary contractor for the project.
(Updated May 10, 2022)
Road and Bridge 2022 patching program underway
Harvey County Road and Bridge has started its annual asphalt patching schedule.
Routes set for patching work include:
- West Dutch Avenue from North Hesston Road to North Emma Creek Road
- West Dutch Avenue from North Spring Lake Road to North Golden Prairie Road
- West Dutch Avenue from North Wheat State Road to North Woodberry Road
- South Ridge Road from Southwest 48th Street to Southwest 60th Street
- North Halstead Road from West Dutch Avenue to Northwest 108th Street
- Northwest 36th Street from Harvey County West Park to North Golden Prairie Road.
Residents along the routes will continue to have access to their properties.
(Updated April 1, 2022)
Kingsley brings financial background to County
Kingsley brings a wealth of experience to the position. She briefly previously worked for Harvey County in the Planning and Zoning Department before pursuing her accounting career. Her career in financials most recently led her to Sedgwick County as its internal financial auditor for the past five years.
Among her goals, Kingsley is eager to introduce herself to employees and apply her expertise to the County's current financial policies.
"Just meeting with all the departments and looking at their procedures - probably anything finance-related would be what I focus on first," Kingsley said. "Just identify things that can reduce risk and exposure."
Kingsley is a Newton native and Newton High School graduate. She studied accounting at Wichita State University, and is a certified public accountant.
"Getting to come back here now is pretty exciting, back to my home town," Kingsley said. "I love this community tremendously."
(Updated April 6, 2022)
Rothe receives promotion to PZE director
Rothe joined Harvey County in 2014 as a customer service representative for the Planning, Zoning and Environmental office. She also served as a customer service representative for Harvey County Parks.
Prior to her promotion to the director position, Rothe helped the office with the establishment of regulations regarding renewable energy, dam breaches and an update to land divisions regarding home building.
As the County works to compose its latest comprehensive plan, Rothe is prepping to pursue several new updates, including to its sanitary regulations.
"Systems have changed. Methods have changed. They've got to be updated," Rothe said. "Organization has been one thing I've really been working on, trying to get this office a little more organized so that everything is easier to find, I can make quicker decisions."
Rothe grew up in Newton. She is a graduate of Newton High School.
(Updated March 30, 2022)
