EMS budget will be short, general fund will cover expenses
The interim director of Marion County Emergency Medical Services, Larry Larsen, wanted to obtain bids for office equipment when he discovered the department's budget was depleted.
Marion County Commission discussed their options Friday regarding the shortage of budgetary power.
The cash is available but the budget had been used up.
A new ambulance was purchased earlier in the year. Seventy thousand dollars was budgeted for the purchase but $90,000 was approved by the commission and spent, leaving a budget shortage.
An addendum to the budget which would require the budget to be republished should have been done by former director Darryl Thiesen but was not. As a result, the county's general fund will absorb the expenses. County clerk Carol Maggard said if necessary, the county would not make the third payment to the risk management fund.
It also was suggested by Maggard that new furniture not be purchased until a permanent director is hired. Other furniture was located for Larsen to use in the meantime.
Advertising for the director position will end Jan. 12 with applications being reviewed and the position filled before the end of the month.
The commission also had to rescind a motion made Dec. 19 when Larsen was appointed. Instead of paying Larsen an hourly wage, he will be paid $2,800 per month based on a 37.5-hour work week. The change had to be made because Larsen already is considered a county employee as a member of the Peabody EMS crew.
In other business:
— The county was notified that the first groundwater samples from the former landfill and sent to Kansas Department of Health and Environment has resulted in the agency requiring additional well(s). Consultant Jack Chappelle will be contacted.
— Nearly $162,000 of 2006 funds were approved to be encumbered and spent in 2007.
Those encumbrances included a copier, chairs, and materials for a generator project by communications department; $7,500 set aside for a new vehicle for emergency management; two computers and monitors for a total of $2,288 for the clerk's office; the treasurer requested $8,451 for software, $1,260 for hand-held scanners, and $2,288 for two computers and monitors; $3,107 for a justice full court system for the county attorney; $36,378 to B&G Consultants for jail design and $7,500 to Great Plains Computers and Networking for service and maintenance; $3,000 for microfilming judicial documents, $435 for painting judge's office, and $3,581 for 15 chairs and table in jury room; $32,080 for bridge engineering services; $3,495 for gas monitoring of former landfill; $15,000 for lot purchase and fence and $1,500 for gravel at the transfer station; $7,445 for a copier at the health department; and $10,400 previously held back by the appraiser for a new CAMA system.
— The commission approved a CMB license for Canada Bait and Tackle, the removal of $1,228 in outstanding checks that were more than two years old, and the purchase of a love seat for the judge's chambers. Two bids were provided with Hillsboro Furniture Store having the low bid of $749. Baker Furniture of Peabody presented a bid for $999.
— Former community corrections director Michael Krueger has filed a claim with Marion County after being terminated by the Corrections Advisory Board of the Eighth Judicial District. The information was turned over to Steve Opat of Geary County.
