The process to draft a new seven-year Hazard Mitigation Plan for Saline County will take its first steps with the meeting of the mitigation planning committee later this month in Marshall.

Saline County Emergency Management Director Brad Hinz says the process to update the plan needs to begin well before the current plan expires.

The committee will meet the morning of July 18. Hinz assumed the full mantle of Emergency Management Director this week, following the retirement of previous director Tony Day. Hinz reflected on Day’s years of service to Saline County.

Hinz provided his update during Wednesday morning’s session of the Saline County Commission. The commission also opened bids for financial services, having received them from Bank 21, Exchange Bank, and Wood and Huston Bank. Commissioners also approved a motion to refund a portion of taxes paid by Jennifer Smith on her real estate from 2019 to 2025, totaling $1625.13. In making the motion, Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden noted that a building on Smith’s property had been torn down, but hadn’t been reflected in subsequent assessments.

Commissioners also reminded residents that the Saline County Courthouse will close Friday in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday.