Lyon County Commissioners will further consider a conditional use permit request in two weeks.
During their regular action meeting Thursday, commissioners voted unanimously to table consideration of an Agriculture CUP from US Stone for a quarry in the 1200 block of Road C. Plans are to use the quarry for the extraction of rock and stone with no plans for blasting or crushing on the property.
The stone would then be transported out of the county for further operations through a hauling route taking Road 120 to Road D before moving north to Road 140, then west to Road A. The hauls would then move to US Highway 50.
Road C was also included as an alternate route for transportation. According to the applicant, operations would see no more than 10 loads transported per week, which averages to 2 loads per day.
During their discussions, commissioners overheard concerns from local residents and expressed some of their own, mainly regarding the proposed hauling route for the quarry. Specifically, commissioners pointed to the condition of Roads C and D, among others, noting they are both minimum-maintenance roads, which could lead to several safety concerns.
Commissioner Chris Bartel.
Commissioner Doug Peck shared these concerns, adding he does not want to stand in the way of private business, however, safety has to be the chief concern. With that in mind, he believes giving the experts a few more weeks to examine the roads and find a way to make the process safer for all is a worthwhile venture.
While US Stone has stated only 10 loads would be transported per week, it was stated the permit would allow for up to 50 loads per week. Commissioners stated they wanted the limitations on hauling and speed limits for the roads in writing and tasked the Lyon County Engineer’s Office to conduct a traffic survey with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office to find possible ways to mitigate safety concerns before approving the CUP. The survey will begin immediately, with a report expected to come before commissioners at their June 12 meeting.
New County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield, who began his role Tuesday, says he is confident they can meet that deadline. Scritchfield’s comments to local media followed his official introduction as the new County Engineer as part of Thursday’s meeting.
Scritchfield, a native of Ellsworth, Kansas, has been involved in the engineering field for more than 30 years and comes to Lyon County after serving as the Assistant County Engineer and County Surveyor for Saline County since 2021. Scritchfield tells KVOE News he is acclimating well to his new environment, noting he already had prior relationships with many individuals in the Highway Department, which has helped make the transition a smoother process.
That said, Scritchfield says there are some clear differences between Lyon County and his previous locations, which will result in a bit of a learning curve.
Scritchfield will take over for longtime engineer Chip Woods, who officially retires October 17. In the meantime, Woods will remain on with the department as the county’s surveyor and ADA Coordinator while also acting as an advisor and “mentor” to Scritchfield.
Additionally Thursday:
*Commissioners approved a proposal from KOMTEK Systems Corporation for RNR notices to be mailed out. The cost of the service is just over $14,700 and will be paid for out of the Lyon County Clerk’s miscellaneous fund. This is an annual statutory required service that is budgeted for and will be reimbursed by the state of Kansas.
*Commissioners held a public hearing for a CDBG Application to the State Department of Commerce for the Imaginarium Rehabilitation. This was simply a measure to inform the public of Imaginarium’s plans to submit for the grant and is part of the CDBG process. No action was taken on the matter.
The Lyon County Commission will reconvene for a study meeting Wednesday at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers for discussions on the 2026 budget.
