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Director of Saline County Expo Center, Weed, and Farm Department David Flaherty II provided a quarterly update at Tuesday’s Saline County Commission meeting, covering activities from March through May 2025.
Highlights from each area are outlined below:
Expo Center:
The Expo staff supported 80 event days this spring, including major events like Equifest and the Farm Show, as well as new bookings such as Ducks Unlimited and the South Central Stock Horse Show.
Maintenance improvements included plumbing repairs, installation of new speakers and an AED in Barn 2, and the completion of a demo aluminum horse stall. Groundskeeping and facility prep continue, with staff also supporting other departments as needed. An Administrative Aide has been hired to support operations.
Noxious Weed:
Crews have de-winterized spray equipment, begun right-of-way spraying, and introduced two truckloads of new chemicals for testing. The new Weed Supervisor has completed the required state training, and the team continues to address noxious weed complaints, attend monthly training, and support other county operations.
The department has used 30.41% of its annual budget, with a capital outlay balance of $94,433.32.
Farm Operations:
The farm team repaired fencing along the east side. Future projects include evaluating additional fencing needs and reviewing bids for maintaining all county grounds.
Valerie VanZant and Landon Albrecht were each awarded $1000 Oliver Hagg Scholarships. VanZant, a recent graduate of Salina Central, will attend the University of Minnesota Crookston to study Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Albrecht, a recent graduate of Southeast of Saline, will attend Kansas University to study Agronomy.
Looking Ahead:
All three departments will continue supporting events, maintaining public spaces, handling inspections and weed control, and coordinating shared staffing needs across the county.
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