Community corrections agreement on hold
Marion County Commission decided Monday to meet with officials regarding an interlocal agreement with community corrections.
Eighth Judicial District Chief Judge Michael Powers said the agreement needed to be reorganized to address lines of authority.
Currently community corrections employees are hired and paid through Geary County with participating counties paying a percentage, based on the number of cases.
Powers said he was "astounded" with the amount that was being requested but added "something has to be determined."
County clerk Carol Maggard said she was told by community corrections the county's share could total between $8,000 and $9,000 for possible expenses. Maggard said $800 was quoted for liability insurance for Aug. 1 through Jan. 1, and $3,000 for worker's compensation. Unemployment has not been addressed.
Powers suggested a member of the commission meet with appropriate personnel from participating counties and community corrections to determine an agreement.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta asked if the community corrections department could "stand alone" as its own entity.
Powers said state statute allows an administrative county. Counties are required to have a community corrections program, Powers said. The program cannot support itself. Grant money and funds from participating counties is needed to offset expenses.
Wetta said he was concerned about Marion County paying for Geary County's experience rating for insurance rates. Powers said this was why he wanted the commissioners to get together and discuss the issue.
The commission was concerned about the Aug. 1 deadline. Powers said Dickinson had already approved the agreement.
Powers said Geary County has a personnel issue on hold, therefore is anxious to have agreements signed.
Wetta asked Powers if the issues could be resolved in 30 days. Powers answered he thought they could.
Wetta noted the agreement mentioned the county contributing to employees health insurance. It was understood the employees were covered by the state's health insurance.
Wetta also commented on the clause in the agreement that stated "unexpected, extraordinary expense due upon receipt."
Powers said basically Geary County has gone all this time without any issues and now "all of a sudden, there are issues. Geary County doesn't want to carry all of the costs."
The agreement will be modified to go in affect Sept. 1 instead of Aug. 1, Powers said.
Powers was asked to make contact with appropriate personnel and arrange a meeting. Commissioner Howard Collett was appointed to attend the meeting.
In other business:
— Bid deadline for Marion County Park and Lake trash Dumpster collection was extended to Friday. Dale Snelling, lake director, said he did not receive any responses to the request for bids due to the time constraint.
Snelling reported the lake received four inches of rain this past week which raised the water level in the lake a foot.
— Commission approved a bid of $880 from Navrat's of Emporia for a metal desk. Diedre Serene, county public health administrator, presented the bid from Navrat's and a bid from Sunflower Office Products of Newton for $948. The metal desk has a lifetime warranty.
— Maggard reported she had been notified Senator Sam Brownback and Congressman Jerry Moran are organizing a committee to discuss the algae situation at Marion Reservoir. Maggard said she was hoping it was a result of the letters that recently were sent.
— David Brazil, county planning and zoning director, distributed an updated draft of county zoning regulations. Marion County Planning Commission sent back additional corrections to the consultant. The planning commission will review the corrected regulations at the Aug. 26 meeting. A public hearing will be scheduled in September, Brazil said.
Brazil also suggested the wording of the job descriptions for environment health director and planning and zoning director be changed. He wanted the positions to "require a four-year degree in a related field."
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said he wanted the word "preferred" instead of "required." Commissioner Howard Collett agreed.
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. Friday in the courthouse. There will not be a meeting Monday.
