Day-care providers will pay more for county license
Staff reporter
Fees for licensing day-care providers and providing annual inspections of day-care facilities will increase.
To keep pace with expenses, Marion County Commission approved a request for an increase from county health department administrator Diedre Serene. She reported Marion County had the lowest fees compared with other counties. She suggested the county charge $50, which was what most counties charged for licenses. The commission also approved $2 per child, registered at the facility at the time of licensing, and $25 for Kansas Department of Health and Environment compliance checks.
Previously the county charged $15 for licenses, and no charge for compliance inspections.
The new fees will become effective Sept. 1.
In other business:
— The commission approved an agreement between the county health department and Marion County Special Education Cooperative.
There was some hesitation from the commission regarding concerns recently made public by the cooperative that the cooperative may relocate to a new facility which could result in some school districts no longer participating in the co-op.
The agreement, same as previous years, would reimburse the county health department for free screenings of all children in county public schools.
Commission chairman Dan Holub said he wanted to make sure all schools would be served regardless of the outcome with the special education cooperative.
County health department administrator Diedre Serene said new contracts could be made between the county and new schools if such an event were to occur.
— Via telephone conference, county park and lake superintendent Dale Snelling reported two air conditioning units had broke down at the county lake hall. He explained that there were four air conditioning and heating units for the building, two at each end. Of the four, three were still the original units that were installed when the building was constructed in 1976. One recently had been replaced, he said.
The commission instructed Snelling to do what was necessary, including the replacement of the two units that were not working.
— County appraiser Cindy Magill reported townships that will be inspected this summer as per state statute are posted on the county's web site.
The purpose of the inspections is to verify property characteristics as required by the state.
— Magill reported Dana Wear had resigned and she would hire a replacement.
— Immunizations will not be available at the county health office Sept. 20 because Serene and health worker Anita Hooper will be attending an immunization conference.
— The commission canvassed the primary election results and reviewed the proposed budget. A public hearing for the budget will be held Aug. 21.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
County stays
with mill increase
No significant changes were made Monday by Marion County Commission to the proposed 2007 budget for Marion County other than the reduction of one new position in the county appraiser's office.
County appraiser Cindy Magill had requested the additional position to handle personal property.
A proposed increase of 3.348 mills or approximately $325,500 more in expenses will be considered during a public hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 21 in the courthouse.
Across the board cost increases which included fuel costs were blamed for the proposed increase.
