Thomas County closes September with road repair agreement, battery storage discussion

Thomas County commissioners closed out September by securing repairs to a deficient stretch of Gem Road, reviewing a proposed utility-scale battery storage project and raising concerns about a planned regional transmission line.

During their Sept. 30 meeting, commissioners also approved employee raises in the county appraiser’s office, accepted the treasurer’s accounting of the 2025 tax roll and authorized September payroll.

Commissioner Brad Flipse attended the meeting virtually.

Commissioners question transmission project rollout

The meeting opened with continued discussion of Sunflower Electric’s proposed high-voltage transmission project following a public meeting the previous evening.

Thomas County resident Missy Leavitt asked commissioners to consider holding a public forum similar to one previously organized for a proposed highway intersection project. She said landowners still have unanswered questions about the transmission route, compensation and the process for becoming an intervener before the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Commissioners shared concerns about how Sunflower communicated with affected communities and landowners.

Chairman Mike Baughn said testimony at the earlier meeting suggested the proposed route could change. Concerns raised included the height of the transmission lines, the width of a proposed 150-foot easement and whether large farm equipment could safely maneuver around the towers.

Commissioner Brian Luedke said he became less comfortable with the project as the previous evening’s meeting progressed, particularly after hearing about the company’s communication with landowners and the possibility of eminent domain if voluntary easement agreements cannot be reached.

Flipse said Thomas County may want to work with Sherman and Logan counties to present regional concerns to state regulators. He questioned whether a one-time easement payment adequately compensates property owners and whether the proposed easement could be reduced.

Commissioners also discussed testimony that the proposed route would cross five existing transmission lines, compared with two crossings under a possible alternative route. No formal action was taken, but commissioners said they would continue monitoring the KCC proceedings and seek more information about intervener status.

Battery project proposed near East Fork substation

Rhea Cherian of ENGIE North America introduced plans for a battery energy storage facility near the intersection of County Road 26 and County Road O, across from the East Fork Wind substation.

The proposed facility would have a capacity of between 110 and 196 megawatts and could store electricity for up to four hours. ENGIE hopes to use the wind project’s existing grid connection, avoiding the need for major transmission upgrades.

The earliest anticipated operating date is during the fourth quarter of 2029, although the project remains subject to grid studies, equipment procurement and local agreements.

Cherian said the operating facility would likely occupy 10 to 15 acres, although ENGIE currently has an option involving approximately 40 acres. The final size and number of battery units will depend on engineering work and the results of a Southwest Power Pool study.

Because Thomas County does not have zoning regulations specifically covering battery storage, ENGIE is interested in negotiating development, road-use and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with the county.

Much of the discussion focused on safety.

Baughn questioned the company about thermal runaway, a condition in which overheating lithium-ion batteries can ignite and create a difficult-to-control fire. He also raised concerns about hazardous gases, contaminated firefighting runoff, groundwater protection and the eventual disposal or reuse of the batteries.

Cherian said the battery units would have to meet applicable fire codes and pass large-scale fire testing intended to determine whether a fire could spread between units. ENGIE would also prepare hazard-mitigation and emergency-response plans in coordination with local firefighters and other first responders.

The company is beginning environmental studies, including reviews of cultural resources and wildlife. Cherian said the project would have an estimated 20-year operating life, although the company’s financial planning assumes 15 years of contracted performance.

Commissioners requested additional information about battery fires at other facilities, environmental risks, decommissioning and the locations of ENGIE projects already operating or under construction. They took no action on the proposal.

County holds back $100,000 on Gem Road project

Commissioners approved an agreement with Bettis Asphalt to correct an unsatisfactory mile of pavement on the northbound lane of Gem Road.

Bettis representative Rob Percival acknowledged that the finished surface was unacceptable. He said problems developed while asphalt was being transferred directly from trucks into the paving equipment without a material-transfer vehicle, contributing to segregation in the pavement.

The company will remove and replace the affected northbound lane and install a new 1.5-inch asphalt overlay. Because colder weather makes paving unreliable, Bettis proposed returning in the spring and completing the repair by May 15, 2027.

Bettis agreed to perform the corrective work without increasing the original contract price. The overall 12-mile project was valued at approximately $1.5 million.

The company initially proposed that the county withhold $73,192 until the repair was finished. Commissioners instead approved withholding $100,000, saying the larger amount would provide an additional incentive for timely completion.

Any related corrections needed on the southbound lane within the affected section will also be completed at no additional cost to the county. County Attorney Chris Rohr will prepare a written contract addendum documenting the agreement.

Road Supervisor Clair Schrock supported working with Bettis, noting that the county has generally had a good relationship with the company and that relatively few asphalt contractors bid on the county’s smaller projects.

Treasurer accounts for $25.7 million tax roll

County Treasurer Layn Bruggeman presented the ending abstract for the 2025 tax year.

The county began with a certified tax roll of $25,782,183.14. After accounting for added or escaped taxes and abatements, the adjusted roll totaled $25,719,590.92.

The county distributed $25,336,779.97, while $379,584.72 remained delinquent. Bruggeman reported that 98.52% of the adjusted tax roll had been collected and 1.48% remained uncollected.

She emphasized that the total includes taxes collected for schools, cities, townships, fire districts, libraries, the college and other taxing entities — not only county government. Approximately 27% of the money collected, or about $7 million, remained with Thomas County.

Bruggeman said the ending abstract balanced to zero, meaning every dollar was accounted for as collected and distributed, legally adjusted or still outstanding.

Other business

Following a 10-minute executive session concerning nonelected personnel, commissioners approved raises of $1 per hour and $2 per hour for an employees in the appraiser’s office. Appraiser Rachelle Standley said the office is down one full-time position and these employees have assumed additional duties.

Commissioners also: