2022 YEAR IN REVIEW: Cloud County Appoints New Health Administrator, New Appraisor

As we turn the calendar to 2023, this week KNCK News concludes our annual look back, revisiting some of the biggest stories from the past year.

The emergency declaration that qualified Cloud County for aid and assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and others resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end in April 2022, 686 days after the initial declaration.

Cloud County first declared a Public Healthy Emergency in Cloud County on May 18, 2020, and extended it on July 6, 2020, until rescinded.  The decision to end the emergency was recommended by Cloud County Health Administrator Brandi Bray and Cloud County Emergency Preparedness/Safety Director James Quillen.  It also came four days after Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced their continued efforts to shift to the next chapter of the COVID-19 response, pivoting from emergency pandemic response to endemic normalcy.

A month later, Bray resigned as Director of the Cloud County Health Department, effective May 11, 2022.  Bray had been Cloud County Health Administrator since March 2017, leading Cloud County through two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.  In February 2021, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and her administration recognized Bray as the state's Public Health Hero of the Week.

At their April 25th regular meeting, the Cloud County Commission appointed Tonya Sulanka as Interim County Health Administrator.  Sulanka, who previously served as the Office Manager at the Cloud County Health Department, served as interim for three months before taking over full-time as the Director of the Cloud County Health Department in July.

The Cloud County Health Department assists in serving the public health needs of residents.  Services include maternal and child health, immunizations, family planning, Home Health, the WIC nutrition program, and more.

Longtime Cloud County Appraiser Barry Porter announced in February his plans to retire after 26 years with Cloud County.  Porter's official last day was July 15, 2022.

Porter told KNCK News he enjoyed serving the people of Cloud County.

Porter became Cloud County Appraiser in March 1996.  He also served 30 years as Republic County Appraiser.

The Cloud County Commission signed an Interlocal Agreement with Republic County on the appointment of Toby Marco of Abilene as Appraiser in July 2022.  Marco is an experienced Registered Mass Appraiser in commercial, industrial, and residential appraisal practice.  Since 2014, Marco had worked as a Commercial and Residential Field Appraiser for Saline County in Salina.

Marco told KNCK News it's been a goal of his to become a county appraiser.

Marco is a member of the Kansas County Appraisers Association and the International Association of Assessing Officers.

The Cloud County Appraiser's Office maintains maps of the county, ownership and valuation records of each property in the county.  By Kansas statute, their office is responsible for the valuation of all property in Cloud County.

The City of Concordia welcomed a new Director of Public Works in 2022, following the retirement of Ron Copple.  Copple stepped down in December 2021 after 37 years with the City of Concordia, including more than 20 years as Public Works Director.

Concordia City Manager Amy Lange said she's appreciated Copple's willingness to work collaboratively with their team to address some very significant challenges facing the city. 

Fuller Bates, a municipal service worker for the Concordia Parks Department, was selected as the new Director of Public Works.  Bates began his new role on March 21st.  

Originally from Prosper, Texas, a small town north of Dallas, Bates moved to Concordia in 2018 with his wife, Koral.  Bates feels like he's had a lot of experience doing a variety of things, but feels there's a lot more he could offer the city and the community.  Bates is looking forward to continuing to help the community grow.

The Director of Public Works performs a variety of professional, administrative and supervisory tasks in planning, directing and participating in the maintenance and improvement of city paved and unpaved streets, alleys, storm drains, traffic control systems, airport, city-owned fueling stations, and all equipment.

In 2022, Brenda Gilliland was named the new Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Cloud County.  The Community Foundation for Cloud County is a member of the Greater Salina Community Foundation's affiliate network in North Central Kansas.  The Foundation's mission is to enhance quality of life, today and in the future, by enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires, building a permanent endowment, facilitating prudent management and care of funds, and meeting needs through grants, awards, and scholarships.

Gilliland replaced previous director Bob Steimel who passed away in April 2021.  Brenda said she looks forward to using her passion for helping and educating people by working with the wonderful residents of North Central Kansas to grow the Community Foundation for Cloud County.

The Community Foundation for Cloud County celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022.  The Foundation was founded on October 15, 2002.

NCK CASA, Inc. and Hope's Place Child Advocacy Center named Chelsey Wilson of Clyde as their next Executive Director.  As Executive Director, Wilson will be responsible for the overall management of the agency and all aspects of the agency's operations.

Wilson officially joined NCK CASA and Hope's Place Child Advocacy Center over the summer.

Wilson, originally from the North Central Kansas region, previously served on the board of NCK CASA.

NCK CASA advocates for abused and neglected children in Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Washington and Republic Counties.  Hope's Place Child Advocacy Center is a program of NCK CASA that provides immediate response to a child's outcry of abuse.

The River Valley Extension District also welcomed three new agents in 2022.

Kaitlin Moore, who previously served as a SNAP-Ed Program Assistant in the River Valley District, joined the district as a Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent, implementing research-based educational programming related to nutrition, food, and multiple facets of community health.

Kaitlyn Hildebrand joined the staff of K-State Research and Extension – River Valley District as their new Livestock Production Extension Agent in May 2022.

Hildebrand earned both her bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences and Industry and her master's degree in Agricultural Education from Kansas State University.

And Luke Byers became the new Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent for the River Valley District of K-State University Research and Extension in October 2022.

Byers, who is originally from Pennsylvania, told KNCK News he's deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve this community and is extremely excited to get to know so many of you.

Each year, the K-State Research and Extension - River Valley District recognizes entities that go above and beyond to assist them in their extension mission.  At an appreciation dinner in the fall, the district presented the 2022 Extension Appreciation Awards to River Valley District Board member Marilyn Martin of Concordia and Cloud County Resource Center Executive Director Tonya Merrill.