July 2022 Leavenworth County Newsletter
The Board of County Commissioners serves as the Chief Legislative and Executive Branch of the County Government. Composed of five members, with each Commissioner representing a district of the County.
The duties of the Board of County Commissioners include:
- Approving the County budget and expenditures
- Appointing the various department heads of the County
- Exercising powers of local legislation
The Leavenworth County Commission is scheduling the 2023 budget hearing for August 24th at 9:00 AM in the Leavenworth County Courthouse. The County Commission, despite facing record inflation, is proposing reducing the county-wide mill levy by one-quarter of a mill. This is the fourth time in the past five years that the Commission has reduced the mill levy.
The total ad valorem taxes on your home varies depending upon which area of the County you live in. With 53 different taxing districts in the County, the best way to see which entities collect and how much is to review your tax bill.
In general, the County’s portion of your tax bill is between 25% to 40%. The proposed county-wide mill levy is 36.421 mills. One mill is equal to $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Assessed valuation is calculated by taking the appraised value of a home times 11.5%. For example, a home appraised at $300,000.00 has an assessed value of $34,500.00. That home would pay $1,256.53 in county taxes based on the proposed 36.421 mill levy.
County taxes are used for services like road maintenance, snow removal, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and numerous administrative services. The use of property tax to fund services breaks out like this for 2023.
| Proposed 2023 Budget Ad Valorem Taxes Breakdown | Property Tax per Service Area | Percentage of Levied Tax Dollars |
| Law Enforcement (Courts, Detention, Sheriff, Attorney) | $10,586,621 | 31.00% |
| Public Works (Roads, Noxious Weeds, GIS, Surveyor, Engineering) | $9,741,836 | 28.53% |
| Administration (Commission, Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Planning, HR, Appraiser, Elections, IT, Buildings) | $5,580,664 | 16.34% |
| Health Department & Emergency Medical Services | $4,189,435 | 12.27% |
| Council on Aging | $2,606,418 | 7.63% |
| Outside Requests (CASA, Riverside Resources, Alliance Against Family Violence, Museums, Guidance Center, Extension Office, Conservation District, St. Vincent's Clinic, Fair Board) | $635,484 | 1.86% |
| Employee Benefits | $520,388 | 1.52% |
| Economic Development | $289,968 | 0.85% |
| Total Ad Valorem Taxes | $34,150,813 | |
With a total general operations budget in excess of $56,000,000.00 you can see roughly 40% of operations are funded by other sources of revenue for the County.
For a complete look at the budget please follow this link.
Mark Your Calendar - Important Dates
July 13th - Advance voting began.
July 26th Deadline for voters to apply for advance mail ballots.
You can use this link to view the list of candidates for this election and use this link to view your sample ballot.
With summer in full swing these are tips for preventing heat-related illness.
Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library, even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
- Keep in mind: Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it's coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you're not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions. Look for sunscreens that say broad spectrum or UVA/UVB protection on their labels- these products work best.
Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:
- Never leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
- To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
- When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.
Avoid Hot and Heavy Meals: They add heat to your body!
Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
- Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
- Stay away from sugary or alcoholic drinks, these cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area. When walking your pet, remember if it is hot for you, it is hot for them. Keep your pet off the heated surfaces when walking; they also need shade like us when outside.
Check for Updates: Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.
Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
Monitor Those at High Risk: Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:
- Infants and young children
- People 65 years of age or older
- People who are overweight
- People who overexert during work or exercise
- People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation
Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
Heat Exhausting vs. Heat Stroke: Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions. Heat exhaustion begins with general muscle weakness, sudden excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting, and possible fainting. A heat stroke is when your body's internal temperature reaches over 103 degrees. Heat Stroke is very dangerous, and you should call 911 for immediate treatment.
Be safe, Leavenworth County!
Are you looking for a new career?
Leavenworth County is a great place to work!
You can find all of our current job openings on our job opening section of our website.
One of our greatest resources at Leavenworth County is our hard-working employees. Weekly we take a moment to post an employee spotlight to recognize a job well done and to help our residents understand a little more about how local government works.
The first spotlight of the month is to congratulate each employee celebrating a work anniversary milestone! We are proud to have dedicated employees on our team!
Treasurer's Office
Read more about Stacy's new role at Leavenworth County and what she enjoys doing in her free time.
How long have you worked at Leavenworth County?
I have been with the Treasurer's Office for just a short time and was the former Register of Deeds for many years with Leavenworth County.
What do you love about working at the Treasurer's Office?
I love working with the community and my co-workers. We are a team! I am a problem solver and enjoy helping customers work through any issues they are having also love bringing simplicity to customers. This can be super confusing and make people very anxious, so being able to help them understand is very rewarding.
Sometimes people get anxious when they have to deal with the government. What would that be if you could give the general public some advice or a tip to make the process easier?
I am on the Real Estate side of the Treasurer's Office and deal with the collections of real estate taxes. Patience is important. There is no need to worry if you are not prepared when you come. We are always available for questions or to offer guidance.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I stay busy remodeling houses, helping others, and spending time with my grand kids.
Rosalind Chapman, Assistant CAMA Manager
County Appraiser's Office
This employee spotlight focuses on Rosalind "Roz" Chapman, Assistant CAMA Manager, in the Appraiser's Office. Roz has been with Leavenworth County for 20 years this January! Her knowledge and history of Leavenworth County and its properties are invaluable to the Appraiser's Office. You can almost always find Roz at her desk, ready with a smile to find the correct answers to taxpayers' questions.
Read more about Roz's role at Leavenworth County and what she enjoys doing while not working.
Roz, can you give us a brief explanation of your job as Assistant CAMA Manager?
We haven't used the CAMA system for what we do in the Appraiser's office since 2011, we now use the ORION system, and I must say it was an adjustment, but after using it for this long, today it's a breeze. I am the copilot to almost everything the office manager Wendy Murray has to process. I take pride in everything I do when it comes to customer service because we deal with the public a lot. Over the years, I've tried my best to learn as much as possible, so when taxpayers come in or call in, I go through as much of my learned knowledge to answer their questions, and if all else fails, I will go and find someone that can. Doing it for this long, I must say I really enjoy giving people more information than they ask for, just about all of it is public record. I go out of my way when it comes to being helpful because I'm not always an assistant manager. I'm a customer also, so I treat people the way I want to be treated. It's such a rewarding feeling knowing they leave the office more knowledgeable than they came. We are often told by outside businesses and other county offices that we are so helpful, it just makes my day brighter.
What is the best or favorite part about your job?
The Appraiser's Office isn't a loved office. We are in charge of market valuing real property. This year alone was a rough one, but in the midst of it all, I still tried to do what I could to calm some situations and give more knowledge in the areas that sometimes people just aren't aware of. My favorite part of coming to work daily is I spend five days a week with some of the most wonderful people I know, a few of them I've had the pleasure of being around for the whole 20 years. Being around them makes me better at what I do in helping people understand the process of why we do what we do, and if they aren't happy with certain things or something is incorrect, well, there's a process for that too.
What is most challenging about your job?
The most challenging part of what I do is calming upset taxpayers that don't understand the process of property valuating and why we are required by the State of Kansas to do it. By no means do we want anyone leaving the office without answers. I let them know that I do understand how they feel and give them all the information that would allow them to understand the process more clearly and also paint a better picture of the things they can do to be heard, and if necessary, they can speak directly to an Appraiser when they are in the office and not in the field.
If there was one thing you could make Leavenworth County residents aware of about property valuations, what would it be?
Please open your valuation notices that are mailed the first week in March of every year. Property is valued as it is as of January 1st of every year. There are so many things that can be answered before tax bills come out in the Fall if you have questions. We can even estimate your upcoming taxes from that new valuation. When I started working here, I had no clue what an Appraiser's office was or what they did. I do now.
I would also tell them to call the County Appraiser's Office to find out the current value of a property they are interested in buying before they EVER purchase. We will provide you with that information and also give you an estimate of taxes before you purchase for the dollar amount you are considering paying and/or on the value already set if after March 1st of that year. ALL of that matters. If you have that in hand, you will not be surprised at the end of the year when you get your tax bill, and knowing the value beforehand will also assist you in negotiating what you are willing to pay for your dream/forever home.
What do you enjoy doing on your time off work?
All of the kiddos are grown, and my grandchildren (who call me Tu2) live out of state, so what I find myself doing to enjoy life right now until I can go and see them more often is being spontaneous on weekends. I went to a Greek Festival recently and had a blast. I'm still working on doing more reading. So when it's cold in Kansas, I want to sit on a tropical Island, visit another era, travel to another universe, and stop on a planet with three moons and look at the stars or be a mermaid, a book can easily take me there. I see my future filled with more traveling here in the US and abroad. I do not have a bucket list, but I want to do more and see more, especially with my grandchildren. I'm on a mission to start visiting State Fairs across the US for the food and entertainment. We only live once, and if we don't take in some of the world's goodness and fun while we can, we'll miss out. I want to enjoy absolutely all that life has to offer me while I'm still able to enjoy it.
Connie Harmon, Director,
Council on Aging
To wrap up the month of July, we are excited to feature Connie Harmon our Director of Council on Aging.Let's get to know a little about her.
Connie, tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I am a central Kansas girl, born and raised, and I currently reside in Basehor with my husband and our two dogs. After earning my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Kansas, I spent 24 years serving in various roles in educational settings as a teacher, school district leader, consultant, and an executive for an education technology and publishing company. For the last 11 years, I traveled extensively for work, and I guess you could say the pandemic allowed me to slow down long enough to rethink a career in service a little closer to home. I became the Director of the Council on Aging in October 2020, and I'm currently completing coursework to become a Certified Public Manager through KU's Public Management Institute.
What exactly is the role of Council on Aging?
Our mission is pretty simple. The Council on Aging (COA) assists Leavenworth County residents, age 50 and better, to live and age well. One way we do that is by offering a variety of programs and services to foster their independence and promote their safety. Our agency is probably best known for two of these essential programs and services: Meals on Wheels and Senior Express Transportation, but there are many others. We also prioritize emotional and physical well-being with our Leisure and Learning Program's classes, activities, events and trips, and our agency helps connect residents to community-based supports and services through our Human Services department.
What are you most excited about at the Council on Aging?
There are so many things to be excited about right now! We are thrilled to share that over 200 new participants have taken part in one of our events, activities, classes, or trips since January. Check out our monthly calendar and announcements on our website and try something new! We are adding 1-2 new activities each month in addition to our recurring programming. We are also excited to be moving in to our newly-renovated space at the Cushing building in early fall, and we can't wait to share this amazing facility with the community.
What do you like to do in your time off?
I love spending time with my family, playing golf, and listening to live music.
At the end of June, EMS hired three new full-time EMTs. 
Zac Morgan (far left in the attached photo) is joining us after having recently graduated from Washburn Tech's EMT program. He just received his certification this past May. Zac lives locally and is part of a first responder family.
Peyton Parker (middle in attached photo) has lived in Tonganoxie most of his life and is a recent graduate from Johnson County Community College's EMT program. He is excited to get started with his EMS career.
Jillian Wilson (far right in the attached photo) received her EMT from Johnson County Community College a couple of years ago and has been working in community-based medicine since then.
Our new employees have already completed their on-boarding academy and are working with their preceptors.
We want to welcome them to our team.
Leavenworth County Health Department
We are happy to announce that many of our services are available again. If you need Family Planning Services, including STD, Birth Control and Well Woman, Well Child Physicals, Immunizations, or a TB test, please call our office at 913-250-2000 to set up an appointment.
Here is an easy to use reference tool on the processes of law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Judge. For instance, the judge decides bonds not this office.
Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson recently was honored with a plaque to recognize his time as president of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association. The organization works to promote, improve and facilitate the administration of justice in the state of Kansas.Thompson's term was from 2019-2020, but due to COVID-19 he previously was unable to receive this recognition.
The COA dining sites are now open!
The Congregate Dining Centers serve a hot, delicious and nutritious meal to the more active older adult. The centers not only provide a nutritious meal, they also provide individuals with a place to meet for socializing. Throughout the year, the COA will sponsor bingo at the dining centers.
There are four Dining Center locations within Leavenworth County:
Hickory Villa, Basehor
Bethel A.M.E. Church, Leavenworth
Florence Riford Senior Center, Tonganoxie
Trinity Lutheran Church, Leavenworth
Reservations are required. Please contact our Nutrition Staff at 913.684.0777 for more information.
The Leavenworth County Meals on Wheels program works to fight both senior hunger and isolation, allowing older adults to live independently in their homes and community longer. The need for services is rapidly growing, and is the need for your generous support.
Each year, the COA works to raise awareness and money for the meals on Wheels program. Later this fall the COA will host a Dueling Piano dinner in October. Successful fundraisers ensure we are able to serve over 97,000 delicious lunches to congregate and home-bound seniors, regardless of their ability to pay.
The requested donation for each meal served is $2.00. Unfortunately, many seniors with limited or fixed incomes struggle to pay that donation. Nearly 40% of Meals on Wheels participants in Leavenworth County face food insecurity and financial challenges. With your support, we can continue to address senior isolation and hunger in our community. Contact the COA for more information.
We hope to see you at one or both of our fundraising events!
Come visit the Council on Aging at the fair!
Vehicle renewals for customers with the last name starting with "J", "K", and "L" will be due by July 31st..
- Taxpayers may renew their vehicles up to 60 days in advance of their renewal deadline.
- Effective 7/1/2022 as per 2022 Kansas Legislation Session HB2476 there shall be two categories of plates for disabled veterans. If you currently have a disabled veteran plate or plan on ordering one please refer to our website for more information.
- Driver's License renewals are open at the Annex by appointment only, Tuesday through Friday. Please call the Annex at 913-364-5730 to set up an appointment.
For more information about renewing your vehicle, visit this section of our website: Renewing Your License Plate.
Here is a map of May's Planning Commission Cases. The Planning Commission heard these cases at their July 13, 2022 meeting.
The purpose of the Planning Commission is to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on land use applications, regulations, and policies presented by the Planning and Zoning Department.
These cases will be heard by the Board of County Commissioners for a final determination. The Commission Agenda is posted on the Leavenworth County website and is available for public viewing.
Here are links to the Planning Commission Schedule and Board of County Commissioner Schedule.
NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE - July 2022
NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE
July 2022
I met SueAnn at the Carroll Mansion Museum during a genealogy research presentation. She had just moved to Leavenworth and offered to help our office during her free time.
She has reduced some back-logged tasks and always brings her smile. Thank you, SueAnn!
More Than One Reason To Celebrate July
Kansas Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act Identity Theft or Identity Fraud; Sub. for SB 300 Became effective July 1, 2022.
Sub. for SB 300 amends definitions in the Kansas Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (Kansas RICO Act), as follows: The bill adds to the definition of covered person a person who has engaged in identity theft or identity fraud. The bill also adds identity theft or identity fraud to the list of crimes for which committing, attempting, or conspiring to commit or soliciting, coercing, or intimidating another person to commit a misdemeanor or felony violation constitutes racketeering activity under the Kansas RICO Act.
The Senate passed SB 300 by a 40/0 vote on February 10, 2022. The House of Representatives passed by a vote of 121/1 on March 21, 2022., and the Governor signed on April 1, 2022. As a result, criminals perpetrating property fraud on Leavenworth County land owners can now be charged with stiffer penalties.
Register of Deeds Hosts Chamber of Commerce Coffee
After waiting over a year, we were excited to host the Monthly Chamber of Commerce Coffee on July 13 at 8 am. We were surprised to have a larger crowd than usual since it was summer.
Attendees were treated to a peek at the methodology of the Register of Deeds from 1858 compared to today's process, and a tour of our research vault.
We displayed the 1858 Reception Book used to record Register of Deeds transactions, showing $1.00 charged fro document requests. According to Mr. Google, $1.00 in 1858 is equivalent in purchasing power to $35.65 in today's dollars. Compared to the $35.65 charge of yesteryear, our $7.00 charge for a document is a bargain..jpg)
In the research vault, we took a real-life document from the 1800s and explained the process of how we research request using the index books and old deeds. To our own surprise, we discovered a detailed story of 160 acres sold for $7,500 ($237,375.00 in today's value), gifted by President Abraham Lincoln for meritorious military service during the Indian Wars in Texas, The death of the land owner's wife, and possibly the first documented case of property fraud!.jpg)
Sharing the FREE Property Fraud Alert from Register of Deeds
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In these uncertain times, I encourage you to protect your property by also researching the benefits of the Transfer on Death Deed and talking with your attorney on any questions you may have about how that would affect your property ownership. We have forms you may print off for free on our website.
If you are part of a club or organization looking for a speaker, I am available to share this community service message in person. Call or email requests to TMashburn@LeavenworthCounty.gov. I would be happy to share a program or Register of Deeds services with your group.
For more information or to subscribe to Property Fraud Alert, call the Register of Deeds at 913-684-0424 or email tmashburn@leavenwothcounty.gov.
Recycling Lawn Mowers at the Leavenworth County Transfer Station
When you have an old lawn mower, you know that getting rid of it can be difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming.
Simply throwing them on the curb or in a dumpster just isn't an option. So often they are just too big and heavy. Plus, it probably has dangerous fuel and oil residues still in it. The good news is that there are options for getting rid of your old lawn mowers.
If the mower still works, you can sell it or give it away to someone that needs one. But if your mower no longer works, recycling is a great option!
Recycling your old lawn mower means keeping them out of landfills where they leach dangerous chemicals and fumes into the air, soil, and water, plus they simply fill up our landfills.
To Recycle:
- Drain all fluids from the mower 24 hours before recycling it. Drain all the oil out of the lawn mower by removing the oil drain plug underneath the engine block and letting the oil pour out into a sealable plastic or metal container. Siphon out any leftover gasoline from the tank into a sealable container.
- Never pour oil or gasoline down a drain or into storm waste systems. Seal up the containers after you drain out all the liquids so you can properly dispose of them.
- Leavenworth County Residents can bring their old gasoline to the Leavenworth County Transfer Station to dispose as Household Hazardous Waste. We do not take motor oil, but you can take oil to any auto parts store.
At the Leavenworth County Transfer Station when you bring in your mower to recycle, we'll have you drop it in a bay, where the attendants will make sure all fluids have been removed. If the mower has no fluids, the attendant will take it to our metal bin for recycling. If removing the fluids just wasn't an option for you, you will pay a trash fee to dispose of your mower.
You can also use this method to dispose of weed eaters, edgers, and hedge trimmers.
Community Corrections
COME CELEBRATE WITH US
We invite people to stop by and celebrate staff throughout the week.
The week of July 17th, 2022, Community Corrections will be celebrating the 23rd annual Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (#PPPSweek).
What is PPPS Week?
In 1999, APPA began lobbying for every state to proclaim that one week in July is "Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week." This was a simple and powerful statement each state could make in celebration of the nearly 100,000 men and women who spend their days working to improve outcomes, both for the individual AND for the public safety of our communities. The first #PPPSWeek Proclamation was made by Governor Bill Owens of Colorado that year. Since that first Proclamation, all states have joined in the celebration.
In the past few years, APPA Executive Director Veronica Cunningham and a team of dedicated staff have visited offices in 10 states to show our appreciation. That can mean bringing small baskets of goodies, trumpeting your achievements to our membership, and learning new ways we can help make your lives easier. We have since implemented many of the ideas suggested. Ideas like APPA Connect, which is an online community that gives pretrial, probation, and parole professionals the ability to reach out and talk to each other. Another example is student membership rates for those continuing their education on the career hunt.
Leavenworth County has multiple job openings in the Public Works Department. 
Project Engineer
Engineering Assistant/Intern
Noxious Weed Operator I
Please visit the job opportunities on the County website to learn more information.
Leavenworth County would like to communicate with as many residents as possible. Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter and a variety of other alerts and news from our County Departments.
Leavenworth County is also on Facebook , so residents can follow their local government and stay informed about the latest news and events.
