Thomas County Town Hall Calls for Unity Ahead of KDOT Consult
October 6, 2025
With the commissioner’s chambers filled to capacity and more than three dozen residents joining remotely, the Thomas County Department of Roads and Bridges hosted a spirited town hall meeting Monday evening to discuss potential safety improvements at the “Nine-Mile Corner” the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and Kansas Highway 24 east of Colby.
The purpose of the meeting was to gather public input ahead of next week’s Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) bi-annual community consult, set for Wednesday, October 15, from 9–11 a.m. at City Limits in Colby. That session will determine which regional projects advance for state consideration and possible funding.
Road and Bridges Director Clair Schrock opened the meeting by emphasizing the goal: “We’re trying to find out if there’s support for something safer than what we have now — so that we can go to that meeting and try to get it put on the list as a priority for northwest Kansas.”
Schrock shared data from the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office showing that roundabouts can significantly reduce both total crashes and fatality accidents. A comparable intersection near Pratt, he noted, has recorded no serious crashes in five years since a roundabout was installed.
That data didn’t quiet the debate. Dozens of residents spoke, weighing safety against cost, efficiency, and the character of rural Kansas highways.
Former commissioner Paul Steele drew applause for his stance that “you can’t compare convenience to safety,” supporting a roundabout if it saves lives. Others, like Bill Miller, questioned whether a four-way stop with stronger rumble strips and better signage could achieve similar results for less money.
A local farmer and trucker proposed switching the current traffic priority so that Highway 24 stops instead of 83, while Lucas Haag urged decision-makers to “consider context and data” before choosing a design, reminding the crowd that “every option has trade-offs between safety and efficiency.”
Residents shared both data and personal stories. Jenna Flanagin, who lives east of the intersection, said she’s narrowly avoided multiple serious collisions in the past four years. Others who have driven the route for decades without incident, argued that safe driving habits remain the best prevention: “If people would just obey the law, it would be a lot safer.”
Commercial traffic also emerged as a concern. Phyllis Ziegelmeier warned that detouring trucks through Gem could damage rural roads, while cattle producer Michelle Foote said as both a parent and business owner, “I’m all for safety and progress — we just need to work together.”
Many agreed that improved lighting, longer rumble strips, and clearer warning signs could offer immediate relief while longer-term solutions are studied.
The discussion turned toward strategy as the meeting neared its close. County leaders reminded attendees that Thomas County will be competing with 17 other northwest Kansas counties for a limited pool of state transportation dollars.
“If our community wants to see a project funded,” Schrock said, “we need to show up unified next week. The counties that speak with one voice — calm, organized, and clear about their priorities — are the ones that get noticed.”
Steele echoed that message, describing the process as both political and practical: “At these KDOT consults, every county gets a few stickers to place on projects they support. The ones with the most backing move forward. If we go in divided, our project drops off the list.”
With the public in attendance at the town hall meeting, Commissioners took away that Thomas County doesn’t want a roundabout in their region, and would rather use simpler means to limit casualties at the notorious intersection.
“Whether it’s slowing traffic, adding lights, or building something new,” Schrock concluded, “what matters most is that we stand together and make sure our community’s needs are heard.”