Thomas County Commissioners Approve Transportation Grant Letters, Review Election Turnout

The Thomas County Commission met Monday morning, November 12, at the courthouse, with Chairman Mike Baughn and Commissioners Brad Flipse and Brian Luedke in attendance. The regular session included updates on road and bridge items, county grant applications, and certification of the 2025 municipal election results.

During the early portion of the meeting, the board revisited a previously tabled discussion regarding road and bridge equipment, which was officially dropped after staff confirmed no further action was needed.

Attention then turned to the county’s aging public transportation van. County Clerk Keesa Mariman explained that Thomas County had applied for a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) grant last year to replace the vehicle but did not receive funding. Given that the van continues to “nickel and dime” the county with repairs, the board approved three letters of support to submit with the next grant cycle in hopes of securing assistance for an additional van.

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In the meantime, the county plans to purchase a replacement vehicle outright through its budget. Mariman noted that while the ideal mid-sized model that better accommodates wheelchairs isn’t available this cycle due to KDOT’s vehicle specifications, the county will move forward with acquiring a standard minivan to ensure uninterrupted service. The new van, expected to be purchased with county funds in 2026, will continue to serve residents who rely on the program for transportation to medical appointments, work, and shopping.

Commissioners also approved accounts payable totaling $66,778.06 from the general fund and $6,401.97 from the road and bridge department.

Following routine business, the commission recessed until 10 a.m. to reconvene as the Board of Canvassers for the November 4 general election. According to Clerk Mariman, Thomas County had 5,487 registered voters. Of those, 1,201 ballots were cast in person on Election Day, 300 through early voting, and 284 by mail. Including provisional ballots, the county recorded 1,503 total votes cast—representing a 27 percent turnout, nearly triple that of the 2021 municipal election.

Mariman credited the higher participation rate to several competitive local races and ballot questions, noting that for a municipal cycle, “27 percent is actually pretty good.”

With the election canvass complete, the commissioners closed their session after reviewing October bank reconciliations, the Brewster Senior Center newsletter, and department reports from Road and Bridge and Noxious Weed.

The next regular meeting of the Thomas County Commission is scheduled for November 26 at the courthouse.