Staff writer
A county geographic information system project began this year will cost about twice as much as the initial estimate.
Appraiser Cindy Magill, Communications and Emergency Management Director Michele Abbott, and Planning and Zoning Director Bobbi Strait met with County Commission Monday to discuss the project.
Seven departments are sharing the cost of the project, which will provide a base map that will be used to make maps with different kinds of data.
Everything from locations of fire hydrants to day-care providers could be mapped, Magill said.
The original estimated cost was between $50,000 and $60,000. The newest estimate is about $120,000.
The first estimate was just too low, Magill said. The project requires a lot of skilled, specialized labor, which is the biggest cost.
Magill, Abbott, and Strait asked that the project become a line item in the general fund instead of being pulled from the seven departments. They said it would simplify accounting.
Lake meeting canceled
A meeting that was scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the county lake hall was canceled because of the death of Dan Crumrine, a lake resident who pressed for the meeting. Commissioners plan to reschedule it in August.
In other business:
- The intersection of Alfalfa and 50th roads is being washed out by a changing creek bed, Road and Bridge Superintendent John Summerville said. The National Resource Conservation Service said there is nothing the county can do about it. Commissioners will look into creating a watershed district for the area.
- Commissioners met in closed session for 15 minutes to discuss trade secrets with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman and Dickinson County employees Janelle Dockendorf, Gina Bell, and Cindy Roberts. Dickinson County has an economic development project that will affect Marion County. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Road and bridge employees Wade Knust, Gene Lanning, and Dale Nellens were promoted from equipment operator I to equipment operator II. The promotion includes a $50 per month raise.
- Butler County Landfill will raise its rate $1 per ton beginning Jan. 1, Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt said.
- Fair Association President Chuck McLinden asked for the same county allocation as years past, $14,707. The association made $600 from the circus, he said.
- Kansas will cut contributions for the Senior Care Act, Elderly Department Director Gayla Ratzlaff said. Previously state funding was $2 for every dollar the county funded.
- Commissioners met in closed session for 85 minutes to discuss department head evaluations with Abbott, Magill, Summerville, Schmidt, and Park and Lake Director Steve Hudson. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Commissioners met in closed session for 10 minutes with Magill, 10 minutes with Summerville, three minutes with Abbott and Sheriff Rob Craft, 10 minutes with Abbott, and 11 minutes alone to discuss personnel and five minutes with Huffman to discuss trade secrets. No action was taken on return to open session.
Commission will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday for department budget presentations with Scot Loyd of accounting firm Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk, and Loyd of McPherson.
The next regular meeting is Monday.