County Commission Declines $4,900 Visioning Session, Opts for Self-directed Goal Setting

The Saline County Commission has decided to forgo hiring an outside consultant for a visioning session, instead choosing to conduct their own goal-setting meeting in early 2026.

County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes presented a proposal from consultant Ty Lasher, who had previously facilitated commission visioning sessions, to conduct a new session in February 2026 at a cost of $4,900.

"I would recommend that it would be a good time to do a new visioning exercise when you have new year, new administrator coming on board," Smith-Hanes told commissioners.

Commissioners expressed concerns about the cost and necessity of hiring an outside facilitator. Commissioner Hay noted, "I think we can sit down in a study session ourselves and take a look at different visioning we have or different ideas that we have for the year and you know then in spending you know five grand on a team building exercise."

Commissioner Shadwick suggested the commission's current dynamic made an outside facilitator unnecessary, stating, "This commission is different than any commission that I've been with before. There's nobody that actually dominates. I think an outside person is good when you have maybe a dominator on the commission, but I don't see that with us right now."

The commission agreed to have Smith-Hanes, who is retiring, facilitate their goal-setting session. They also discussed moving the timing of the session closer to January, when the commission leadership changes, rather than waiting until February.

Smith-Hanes confirmed he would inform Lasher that his services would not be needed and work on scheduling an earlier date for the commission's self-directed goal-setting session.