HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission appears ready to approve a rate increase for residents of the county to raise additional revenue for the Reno County Landfill.

Currently, property owners pay about $70.75 on their property taxes, but under a plan presented to the commission, the cost would increase $9.25 next year, making the total $80.00. There would then be gradual increases each year to cover increasing cost associated with running the landfill. The cost for residents on their property taxes would rise to $100 by 2021. Commissioner Dan Deming had reservations on increasing the cost because of those in the city and county who live on fixed incomes, but later called it a “necessary evil.”

The commission didn’t make a final decision Tuesday, but that could come as early as next week.

The County Commission also seemed OK with vacating part of Cottonwood Hills subdivision.

The owners of the property have determined that it wouldn’t be economically feasible to provide the infrastructure improvements to the Cottonwood Hills subdivision, that being a road as it’s currently platted, in order to develop properties. The owners have apparently commenced the process of platting the subdivision in stages in its entirety, so they want the old platting to be vacated.

The commission will also recognize two deputies, Travis Vogt and Matthew Tatro, for recent lifesaving efforts involving a young child. They apparently responded to a six month old that had gone into cardiac arrest. They attempted to save the child with deputy Vogt actually arriving at the home in eastern Reno County before EMS. Unfortunately, the child later died from other medical issues.