Looking for the new license plate design? Treasurer says it’s delayed and not everybody will get one

Grant County Treasurer Terri Trotman gave an update on happenings at the county treasurer’s office at the July 2 county commission meeting and was asked when the new license plate design would be issued. County Commissioner Marty Long asked Trotman during the staff comments portion of the meeting, and Trotman said the state was having issues with the company making the new plates.

“They originally told us July 1 but we don’t have it,” Trotman said. “They’re waiting on 3M to get the product; sometime this summer, they say. It may be September, who knows?”

The new design features the Kansas Statehouse dome within a cutout of the state with a yellow, white, and blue gradient background. The phrase “To the Stars” is inscribed across the bottom of the design in homage to the Kansas state motto.

The state held a contest in 2023 that allowed residents to vote on the design for a new, flat plate to be introduced in 2024. Only individuals with older embossed plates - those with raised letters and numbers - will be replaced with the new, flat design that will also include a new alphanumeric sequence - four numbers and three letters. New vehicle registrations in Grant County already receive a flat blue and white plate with the state seal on it. Kansas is a little late to the flat-plate game as Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas switched to flat plates years ago.

The flat plates are easier for law enforcement to see, especially at night.

“Not everybody will get (the new design),” Trotman added. “If you have a flat plate now that’s a blue and white, you won’t get a new design, unless you want to pay the 50 cents to get one.”

Trotman said the state began issuing five or six new tags at the beginning of June with more coming at the beginning of 2025. A Kansas City Chiefs tag is available, as well as a new “Back the Blue” plate, and several city plates for places such as Topeka and Wichita.

Long mentioned that “Cashless Tolls” went into effect July 1, where drivers on the turnpike do not have to stop at a toll booth and the toll will be billed based on the license plate. Long said drivers who use the Kansas Turnpike can purchase a K-Tag, which he said is popular for those who regularly drive the turnpike.

•Trotman told the commission that the new office chairs approved in June were to be delivered that day (July 2), and reported that her office was unable to process tags for a couple of days because of a problem with AT&T.

“We couldn’t print any of our decals,” Trotman said. “We just collected people’s paperwork; it was mainly renewals, we just kept it and just processed it when we could print.”

•EMS Director Jeff Baier reported they received 35 calls in June, which is down from the normal call volume of 50-60 calls, Baier also reported the AMT class has finished and the six attendees are studying for testing; of the six, three are local and three are from out of town, but Baier said the three out of town attendees will work for the Grant County EMS a minimum of 20 hours per month for a year once they pass.

Baier also reported he will be in Topeka this week for an emergency management class on disasters.

•Grant County Senior Center director Ludivina Gonzales reported that they took several patrons to the Garden City Zoo for an education class with different turtles. She also mentioned that the disposal went out the previous week so she is getting bids for that, which will cost in the neighborhood of $3,000 to replace the system.

Gonzales also reported to the commission that the white bus was temporarily out of commission due to a safety latch issue on one of the windows.

•Health Department Administrator Denise James reported that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be doing a road show in August, September ad November at various locations in Kansas, including Ulysses, Dodge City and Pratt to discuss the county board of health, importance of public health, and public health funding. James also reported that two employees were sent to an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training by the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition to help recognize and know the symptoms and what to do for those in need.

James said the new Health Department location on East Kansas is working out well, and the building will play host to the Chamber Coffee at 10 a.m. July 19.