Treece Voluntary Relocation Program

Bob Jurgens, Section Chief
Phone: (785) 296-1914 Fax: (785) 296-4823
Email: bjurgens@kdheks.gov

1000 SW Jackson, Suite 410
Topeka, KS 66612-1367

Treece, Kansas is a small community located in Cherokee County and was part of the Tar Creek mining area. This area was a heavy supplier of lead, zinc, and iron ore. This southeast Kansas town is located on the Oklahoma state line and is less than a mile north of the former community of Picher, Oklahoma, a town which has been closed due to contamination from past mining activities. Citizens of Picher were bought out and relocated over the last several years by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, primarily using funds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Citizens of Treece are also impacted by the same environment and signed a resolution on March 13, 2006 stating their interest to be included in the relocation efforts. The Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) and the EPA met with citizens of Treece in 2006 to discuss potential relocation efforts. During the 2007 Kansas legislative session, Senate Bill 2168 was enacted, forming a state public trust to facilitate relocation of the citizens in this community. Federal funding was allocated on October 29, 2009, and EPA is providing $3.5 million to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) to fund the buyout of qualified occupants in the affected area. KDHE is providing $388,888 for their 10% match. The five-member Treece Relocation Assistance (TRA) Trust was appointed by Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson in early 2010 and along with the support of KDHE is managing the relocation program.

Citizens within the Treece Relocation Area are encouraged to contact KDHE at (785) 291-3252 for more information concerning this voluntary relocation program.

What's New

Public Notices

Auction: June 2, 2012: Mobile home and Above Ground Storage Tanks. More information is available at Chestnutt Auctions. The final property auction for land purchased by the TRA Trust is planned for Fall 2012.

City of Treece: In accordance with House Bill 2412, the City of Treece was dissolved effective April 5, 2012. The City of Treece local government has permanently closed and the Lyon's Township currently manages city financial accounts. The City's physical assets were deeded to the TRA Trust in exchange for paying off the last city bond.

Utilities: All City of Treece utilities (sewer and water) have been permanently taken out of service; natural gas service is no longer available in the city limits and electrical and telephone service is being removed from vacated properties. Any questions can be directed to Bob Jurgens at bjurgens@kdheks.gov or by calling 785-291-3252.

Meeting Notice

Treece Relocation Assistance Trust: The next Trustee meetings are scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2012, and Monday June 11, 2012; both at 11:00 AM. Trustee meetings are held at the Cherokee County Courthouse, Garden Level Break Room, in Columbus, Kansas.

Citizens Public Meeting: No general Public Information Meetings are currently scheduled.