County approves budget for 2006; includes six-mill increase years ago
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission approved the proposed budget for 2006 which is a six-mill increase from the previous year.
During the public hearing, emergency medical services director Darryl Thiesen questioned the commission and auditor Scot Loyd of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd about a line item in his department's budget for a new ambulance.
Currently there is $100,000 for a new ambulance in the ambulance department's budget but in the 2006 budget the amount was reduced to $70,000.
Thiesen asked if there were sufficient funds in the 2006 budget to purchase a new ambulance, to keep the three-year rotation in place.
Loyd explained to Thiesen that the budget was reduced because the funds weren't expended. He told Thiesen there has to be cash available in order to spend budgeted funds.
"If there is more cash available than budget, then the budget could be amended," Loyd said, which would allow departments to spend additional funds.
Thiesen said he was concerned about the decrease because the average age of emergency vehicles was more than 13 years old. He added there are some vehicles that are 25 years old.
Later in the meeting, commissioner Dan Holub asked the other commissioners if years were more important than mileage regarding ambulances.
Commissioner Randy Dallke responded the age of the vehicle was a consideration but questioned the logic of determining the average age using all emergency equipment.
County clerk Carol Maggard said the ambulance department's annual budget is $458,500. She said there may not be sufficient funds if $100,000 was spent on a new ambulance in 2005. The department's expenses are $31,500 per month.
In other business:
— According to a county treasurer's report, cash on hand as of Aug. 31 was $8,029,685. Of that, $1,228,586 was in the general fund, and $1,249,905 was in the road and bridge fund.
— An increase in county retail sales tax revenue has been attributed to the new compensating or destination sales tax, reported Maggard.
The tax is paid in the county where the goods and services are delivered and received.
— A new desk, computer, and printer were approved for the county lake office.
Lake superintendent Dale Snelling reported a new desk and computer were needed to accommodate new programs implemented by the lake.
Two desk bids that were received were $1,428 from Sunflower Office Products of Newton, and $1,591 from Navrat Office Supplies of Emporia. The commission approved the low bid from Sunflower Office Products.
Great Plains Computers & Networking of Marion had the low bid for a computer at $1,417. Other bids were $1,531 from Dell, and $1,420 from Gateway. A printer also will be purchased from Great Plains Computers & Networking for $164.
— The refurbishing of three historic stone grills at the county lake was approved.
Lake resident Jack Boese of Frontier Construction Company will do the work for a total of $1,400.
— Snelling reported the county did not receive a grant for a new boat dock. There were nine grants awarded and Marion County was ranked 10th.
— High fuel prices may have contributed to the reduction of campers and spectators at the fireworks display at the lake during the Labor Day weekend.
Snelling reported an income of $4,613 for the weekend, which was $1,000 less than Labor Day 2004.
— Bill Smithhart, county noxious weed director, distributed maps of roadside areas that have been treated for noxious weeds.
— Dallke requested and received a five-minute executive session with Smithhart to discuss personnel. Maggard also remained in the session.
The meeting reconvened with no action.
— The commission reviewed the budget report for August. Maggard said she will closely watch the cash in the county's general fund the remainder of the year. A third transfer will need to be made to the capital outlay fund and Maggard wants to be assured there are sufficient funds to do so.
— There were $1,754 in expenses during August from the special vehicle fund.
— The commission approved a four-year term for newly appointed county appraiser Cindy Magill. The term will expire June 30, 2009.
— David Brazil, county zoning administrator, distributed minutes from the August planning commission meeting.
At the next planning commission meeting Sept. 22, a work session is planned with the county commission to discuss zoning changes. Consultant Jim Kaup also will be asked to attend.
— Maggard was instructed to write a letter to Northview Development Services of Newton to inform the agency the commission will not provide additional funding as requested by the agency.
The county contributes $59,500 annually to the agency for services. The agency had requested additional funds to cover expansion and improvements.
— Bob Maxwell, a Marion Reservoir resident and a county representative on the eighth judicial community corrections board, reported he had recently attended a seminar regarding children endangered by the presence of methamphetamine in the home.
The seminar addressed issues related to meth and how it's produced.
"It makes me scared as all get out and mad as all get out," said Maxwell. He said he was not aware of the effects meth labs have on children and neighboring residents.
He asked the commission to support (non-monetarily) a countywide program. Linda Ogden, the director of Communities in Schools, is seeking grant funds to operate the program.
"We need to get a handle on it," Maxwell said.
— Holub requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting is 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
