Ellis County Commission Chair Michael Berges and Commissioner Nathan Leiker both indicated on June 17, 2025, that they would support, when the matter is presented is on July 1, 2025, for formal vote, the County providing $25,000 in funding assistance to the City of Victoria for reconstruction of the East Main St. approach to Old Hwy 40 reconstruction.
Kansas farm income in 2025 is expected to be among the strongest in the last 20 years, bolstered by $2 billion in government payments for depressed crop prices and weather conditions, an agricultural economics expert said Tuesday.
On June 17, 2025, Ellis County Administrator Darin Myers presented the $262,320 Proposed 2026 Commissioners Budget for review, which includes a 6% Commissioner salary increase, per the pay scale adopted in Apr. 2024 for County employees and elected officials, with the stated goal to have wage adjustments made equally where each employee and elected officials moves one pay step to the right in their respected grades.
No preliminary election will be held in Ellis County this year because there are not enough candidates running for each position; however, multiple contested races will be decided in the Nov. 4, 2025 election, including three spots on the Hays City Commission and three on the USD489 Board of Education (BOE.) Nine candidates are running in the Hays City Commissioner at-large election for two four-year terms and one two-year term.
Hays Water Conservation Specialist Holly Dickman used her time during the City’s June 17, 2025, Press Briefing to urge residents to use water conservation measures through the summer.
Fort Hays State had seven individuals named to the 2025 CSC Academic All-District Teams for men's and women's at-large sports, released on Tuesday (June 17). The Tigers had four honorees for men's golf, two for men's wrestling, and one for women's golf.
Hays Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser presented City Commission with PWC’s initial interior design and preliminary exterior renderings to renovate the existing Astra Bank facility at 1100 Fort Street into the new Police Station / Municipal Court Facility as he submitted PWC’s $5,991,250 Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) and Design-Build Agreement for Phase II services for acceptance. Bielser reminded the Commission that in Nov., 2024, the Commission awarded PWC, Inc.
The Hays City Commission on June 12, 2025, authorized a $590,944 property/liability insurance package renewal for effective July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. Finance Director Kim Rupp, who presented the renewal for approval, stated that the renewal cost was increased 30% increased ($136,723) more than the prior period, the result of he called “a perfect storm.” Rupp stated that the three factors which contributed to the rate increase did include overall insurance market trends.
Parks Director Jeff Boyle confirmed for Commissioner Reese Barrick that a general burial will now cost a family $1040 for a full space (total cost for space, opening burial and monument setting fees.) during the June 12, 2025, Hays City Commission meeting. Boyle, who presented the fee increase and Ordinance updates, reminded the Commission that no fee increases have been implemented in over 20 years for the city-owned cemeteries, Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mount Allen Cemetery.
The $47,773 purchase of a new Welcome Center marquee from Commercial Sign, the lowest of two bids received by the City of Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau was approved by the Hays City Commission on June 12, 2025. The sign will replace the LED video board and static panels on the Welcome Center marquee sign currently on Vine Street.