News

Box to commissioners: Restricted fund required

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

The first constituent to come forward to the podium to voice their concerns about Seward County’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget and a hike of more than 13 mills at Monday’s public hearing was resident Dave Box, who initially asked if the funds being collected by the county to pay back Conestoga Energy were only for the years 2018 to 2020 or if additional funds were being saved to pay for what company officials feel was a wrongful appraisal of a facility.

Commission Chairman Scott Carr said when he, Presephoni Fuller and Tammy Sutherland-Abbott came on board the commission in 2024, they decided to start setting aside $500,000 a year for the case.

Citizens question payback, tax hike

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

As discussion continued at Monday’s public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, more constituents sounded off, as did Seward County staff and commissioners.

Much of the talk around the Conestoga Energy case in which the company appealed its appraisal to the Board of Tax Appeals concerned the accruing interest on a potential payback currently sitting at nearly $6 million being asked for at this time.

Administrator April Warden said that number is set by Kansas statute and is subject to change, but it currently sits at 8.25 percent based on BOTA’s most recent ruling.

Special community event provides opportunity to CHANGE HISTORY

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The staff at the Coronado Museum and Dorothy’s House is always looking for ways to enhance visitors’ experience, and next month will feature something particularly new.

The theatre troupe Live History will be making its way to the Coronado Museum and Dorothy’s House Saturday, Oct. 11, and they will be performing a show titled ‘In Time.’ The show is interactive, with multiple members of the troupe playing certain characters, and the show is also something visitors will be able to participate in. Session start times will be available every fifteen minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and tickets are $8. As Coronado Museum Director Nathan Dowell tells it, the experience should be fun for all.

Menu, atmosphere make Chilakilez and Cheers a great option

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Those looking for a new restaurant with a great atmosphere now have that option with Chilakilez and Cheers located at 7-8 Village Plaza.

As owners Isabel Trejo and Hugo Rosales tell it, the idea for the restaurant had been cooking for quite a while.

“In April of last year, we started doing the planning. We wanted to take our time and make sure everything was right, and we slowly started building everything up,” Rosales said. “We had the vision and just started slowly putting everything together, and it was the beginning of this year when we started putting in all the decorations and furniture and everything else.”