Brad Roether wants to serve in the 1st District seat on the Geary County Commission. He met with about 30 members of the public during a candidate meet and greet Wednesday evening at the Geary County 4-H / Senior Center.
Transparency and conservative budgeting were themes along with a call for a better working relationship between the county, city and Fort Riley.
Roether noted afterwards for JC Post that he was part of a financial revival in Milford that utilized conservative spending based on research before purchases. "Very conservative how we spend money up there. I think I can bring that to the table for the county."
He was critical of the numerous county commission executive sessions. "We can't do these things behind closed doors and then come out and say here's what we're doing. I'm not that guy. I think the whole thing with the county is, I think there's too many deals they're doing that's behind closed doors and the public doesn't get to know about it." There have been many executive sessions to discuss legal matters related to Geary Community Hospital.
Roether feels the relationship between the county and city is at an all time low. "I sit on the 911 board, I was on the CVB board. It's not good." He added he is hopeful he can bring improvement to the relationship between the county, the city and Fort Riley as well.
On the status of Geary Community Hospital Roether believes a hospital is needed but the County will be in the hole about $83 million that the taxpayers will have to pay. "My understanding is that we have a five year contract ( lease ) with them ( Stormont Vail Health ) starting in January with no guarantees that they're going to buy it for a dollar after five years, or walk away like the last people did."
The current plan is for Stormont Vail Health to assume oversight of Geary Community Hospital under a five-year lease, with the possibility of future renewal.
The county plans to issue $32 million in revenue bonds to pay for operating expenses at GCH until the end of the year and needed infrastructure improvements. A current property tax levy of six mills already used to support the hospital will be used to retire those bonds and also cover existing general obligation bonds, existing revenue bonds through the Public Building Commission, and no-fund warrants that remain. The $32 million bond issue would be scheduled for payoff in 2048.
Roether also criticized a poor working relationship between his opponent in the election, Trish Giordano, and the sheriff's department plus the decision to reduce the property tax levy for 2023 in the county budget by about 10 mills. That impacts carryover funds that could be used in the event of a crisis. Sheriff Dan Jackson who was in attendance, did note however, that the rise in property valuation is why the tax levy was dropped.
If he is elected Roether said he would start by working to improve the relationship between the city and county and the morale of the county employees. "I really feel it's at an all-time low."
Roether, a Republican, is running against incumbent Trish Giordano, an Independent candidate.